10-K 1 d10k.htm FORM 10-K Form 10-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 10-K

FOR ANNUAL AND TRANSITION REPORTS

PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

(Mark One)

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008

or

 

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

For the transition period from                    to

Commission file number 001-15451

 

 

LOGO

 

United Parcel Service, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   58-2480149

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

55 Glenlake Parkway, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia   30328
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(404) 828-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

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

 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Class B common stock, par value $.01 per share   New York Stock Exchange

 

 

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

Class A common stock, par value $.01 per share

(Title of Class)

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 Section 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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “accelerated filer”, “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Check one:

 

Large accelerated filer  þ

   Accelerated filer  ¨   Non-accelerated filer  ¨  

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 class B common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $42,078,109,321 as of June 30, 2008. The registrant’s class A common stock is not listed on a national securities exchange or traded in an organized over-the-counter market, but each share of the registrant’s class A common stock is convertible into one share of the registrant’s class B common stock.

As of February 17, 2009, there were 306,493,075 outstanding shares of class A common stock and 688,945,611 outstanding shares of class B common stock.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its annual meeting of shareowners scheduled for May 7, 2009 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC.

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

   PART I   

Item 1.

   Business    1
  

Overview

   1
  

Operations

   2
  

Products and Services

   5
  

Technology

   6
  

Sales and Marketing

   7
  

Employees

   7
  

Competition

   8
  

Competitive Strengths

   8
  

Government Regulation

   9

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors    11

Item 1B.

   Unresolved Staff Comments    12

Item 2.

   Properties    12
  

Operating Facilities

   12
  

Fleet

   13
  

Safety

   14

Item 3.

   Legal Proceedings    14

Item 4.

   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    15
   PART II   

Item 5.

  

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

   16
  

Shareowners Return Performance Graph

   17

Item 6.

   Selected Financial Data    18

Item 7.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    19
  

Operations

   19
  

Liquidity and Capital Resources

   32
  

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

   40

Item 7A.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    47

Item 8.

   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    49
  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

   49
  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   50
  

Consolidated Balance Sheets

   51
  

Statements of Consolidated Income

   52
  

Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income

   52
  

Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows

   53
  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   54

Item 9.

   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    97

Item 9A.

   Controls and Procedures    98

Item 9B.

   Other Information    98
   PART III   

Item 10.

   Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance    99

Item 11.

   Executive Compensation    100

Item 12.

  

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

   100

Item 13.

   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence    100

Item 14.

   Principal Accountant Fees and Services    101
   PART IV   

Item 15.

   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules    102


Table of Contents

PART I

 

Item 1. Business

Overview

United Parcel Service, Inc. (“UPS”) is the world’s largest package delivery company, a leader in the U.S. less-than-truckload industry, and a global leader in supply chain management. We were founded in 1907 as a private messenger and delivery service in Seattle, Washington. Today, we deliver packages each business day for 1.8 million shipping customers to 6.1 million consignees in over 200 countries and territories. In 2008, we delivered an average of 15.5 million pieces per day worldwide, or a total of 3.92 billion packages. Total revenue in 2008 was $51.5 billion.

Our primary business is the time-definite delivery of packages and documents worldwide. In recent years, we have extended our service portfolio to include global supply chain services and less-than-truckload transportation, primarily in the U.S. We report our operations in three segments: U.S. Domestic Package operations, International Package operations, and Supply Chain & Freight operations.

 

   

U.S. Domestic Package. U.S. Domestic Package operations include the time-definite delivery of letters, documents, and packages throughout the United States.

 

   

International Package. International Package operations include delivery to more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, including shipments wholly outside the United States, as well as shipments from or to the United States with another country as the destination or origin point.

 

   

Supply Chain & Freight. Supply Chain & Freight includes our forwarding and logistics operations, UPS Freight, and other related business units. Our forwarding and logistics business provides services in more than 175 countries and territories worldwide, and includes supply chain design and management, freight distribution, customs brokerage, mail and consulting services. UPS Freight offers a variety of less-than-truckload (“LTL”) and truckload (“TL”) services to customers in North America. Other business units within this segment include Mail Boxes, Etc. (the franchisor of Mail Boxes, Etc. and The UPS Store) and UPS Capital.

Transportation and Infrastructure.    We operate a ground fleet of approximately 107,000 vehicles, which reaches all business and residential zip codes in the contiguous U.S. We also operate an air fleet of about 570 aircraft, the ninth largest airline in the world. Our primary air hub is in Louisville, KY. Regional air hubs are located in Columbia, SC; Dallas, TX; Hartford, CT; Ontario, CA; Philadelphia, PA; and Rockford, IL. Our largest international air hub is in Cologne, Germany, with other regional international hubs in Miami, FL; Canada; Hong Kong; Singapore; Taiwan; China; and the Philippines.

We have established a global transportation infrastructure and a comprehensive portfolio of services. We support these services with advanced operational and customer-facing technology. Our supply chain solutions enable customers’ inventory to move more effectively. As a consequence, they can concentrate on their own core competencies.

Outlook.    We believe that the following trends will allow us to continue to grow our business over the long term:

 

   

Globalization of trade is a worldwide economic reality, which will continue to expand as trade barriers are eliminated and large consumer markets, in particular China, India and Europe, experience economic growth.

 

   

To be effective, just-in-time inventory management, increased use of the Internet for ordering goods, and direct-to-consumer business models require transportation services.

 

   

Outsourcing supply chain management is becoming more prevalent, as customers increasingly view effective management of their supply chains as a strategic advantage rather than a cost center.

 

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Our vision for the future is to synchronize the world of commerce, addressing the complexities of our customers’ supply chain needs. Our goal is to develop business solutions that create value and competitive advantages for our customers, enabling them to achieve supply chain efficiencies, better customer service for their customers and improved cash flow.

Operations

We believe that our integrated global network is the most extensive in the industry. It is the only network that handles all levels of service (air, ground, domestic, international, commercial, residential) through one integrated pickup and delivery service system.

U.S. Domestic Package

The U.S. business consists of air and ground delivery of small packages—up to 150 pounds in weight—and letters to and from all 50 states. It also provides guaranteed, time-definite delivery of certain heavy-weight packages. Substantially all of our U.S. small package delivery services are guaranteed.

This business is built on an integrated air and ground pick-up and delivery network. We believe that this model improves productivity and asset utilization, and provides the flexibility to transport packages using the most reliable and cost-effective transportation mode or combination of modes.

In 2006, we made the most significant upgrade ever to our U.S. ground package delivery network, accelerating the transit times for more than a half-million packages nationwide by one day or more. Additional lane enhancements were introduced in February 2008.

We believe that our broad product portfolio, reliable package delivery service, experienced and dedicated employees and unmatched, integrated air and ground network provide us with the advantages of reputation, service quality and economies of scale that differentiate us from our competitors. Our strategy is to increase domestic revenue through cross-selling services to our large and diverse customer base, to control costs through effective network modification and limited expense growth, and to employ technology-driven efficiencies to increase operating profit.

International Package

The International Package segment provides air and ground delivery of small packages and letters to more than 200 countries and territories around the world. Export services cross country boundaries; domestic services move shipments within a country’s borders. UPS’s global presence grew out of its highly refined U.S. domestic business.

 

   

Europe is our largest region outside the United States—accounting for approximately half of our international revenue. In Europe we provide both express and domestic service, much like the service portfolio we offer in the U.S., and based on the same integrated network.

 

   

Through more than two dozen alliances with Asian delivery companies that supplement company-owned operations, we serve more than 40 Asia Pacific countries and territories. Two of the fastest growing economies in the world, China and India, are among our most promising opportunities.

 

   

Our Canadian operations include both domestic and import/export capabilities. We deliver to all addresses throughout Canada.

 

   

We are also the largest air cargo carrier in Latin America and the Caribbean.

We have built a strong international presence through significant investments over several decades. Some of our recent acquisitions and investments include the following:

 

   

In 2006, to capitalize on growth opportunities across the whole of Europe, we completed the expansion of our automated package sorting hub at the Cologne/Bonn airport in Germany. The expansion doubled

 

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the hub’s sorting capacity to 110,000 packages per hour, largely through the use of new automation technology.

 

   

In 2007, we implemented the largest service expansion of our international shipping portfolio in more than a decade. UPS began offering customers three, rather than two, daily time-definite delivery options to and from the world’s most active trading markets, giving customers greater flexibility in managing their businesses.

 

   

In 2008, we completed construction of a new hub in Tamworth, England, UPS’s largest ground hub outside the U.S. It replaces three smaller facilities, and adds more capacity and better efficiencies than existed with the three separate facilities.

 

   

Also in 2008, we acquired our partner’s interest in the small package joint venture operation in Romania.

Growth in Asia is being driven by global demand, which is stimulating improved demographic and economic trends throughout the region, particularly in China and India. Over the last few years UPS has steadily increased air service between the U.S. and Asia.

 

   

In 2006, we added three additional daily flights between Shanghai, China and the U.S., and another new flight between Qingdao, China and Incheon, Korea. We also began direct air service between Shanghai and Cologne. Those flights support international express volume into and out of China, which has seen dramatic growth in recent years.

 

   

In 2007, we added six daily flights between the U.S. and Nagoya, Japan. This new service complements our 78 weekly flights into and out of Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. These flights connected to Shanghai in 2008, enhancing intra-Asia service.

 

   

In 2008, we opened a new air hub in Shanghai, the first constructed in China by a U.S. carrier. It links all of China via Shanghai to UPS’s international network with direct service to the Americas, Europe and Asia. It also connects points served in China by UPS.

 

   

Also in 2008, we broke ground on a new intra-Asia air hub in Shenzhen, China, which is expected to be operational in 2010. We also acquired our partner’s interest in a small package shipping joint venture in Korea.

The international package delivery market has been growing at a faster rate than that of the U.S., and our international package operations have historically been growing faster than the market. We plan to use our worldwide infrastructure and broad product portfolio to grow high-margin premium services. We will also implement cost, process and technology improvements in our international operations. We believe that both Europe and Asia offer significant opportunities for long-term growth.

Supply Chain & Freight Segment

The Supply Chain & Freight segment consists of our forwarding and logistics capabilities as well as our UPS freight business unit.

In today’s global economy, companies’ supply chains are growing increasingly complex, as shown in Diagram 1 below. Many of our customers, large and small, have outsourced all or part of their supply chains to streamline and gain efficiencies, to improve service, to support new business models and to strengthen their balance sheets.

 

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LOGO

This increasing complexity creates demand for a global service offering that incorporates transportation, distribution and international trade services with financial and information services. We believe that we can capitalize on this opportunity because:

 

   

We manage supply chains in over 175 countries and territories, with about 35 million square feet of distribution space worldwide.

 

   

We focus on supply chain optimization, freight forwarding, international trade services and management-based solutions for our customers rather than solely on more traditional asset-based logistics such as warehouses and vehicle fleets.

 

   

We provide a broad range of transportation solutions to customers worldwide, including air, ocean and ground freight, as well as customs brokerage, and trade and materials management.

 

   

We provide service, information technology systems and distribution facilities adapted to the unique supply chains of specific industries such as healthcare, technology, and consumer/retail. We call this “configurable solutions.” In a configurable solution, multiple customers share standardized IT systems and processes as well as a common network of assets. A configurable solution is repeatable for multiple customers and has a package transportation component.

 

   

We offer a portfolio of financial services that provides customers with short-term and long-term financing, secured lending, working capital, government guaranteed lending, letters of credit, global trade financing, credit cards and equipment leasing.

UPS Freight is an LTL service, which offers a full range of regional, inter-regional and long-haul LTL capabilities in all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and Mexico. This business also offers a TL service.

Our growth strategy is to increase the number of customers benefiting from repeatable supply chain solutions, particularly in the healthcare, high tech and retail sectors, and to increase the amount of small package transportation from these customers. We intend to leverage our small package and freight customers through cross-selling the full complement of UPS services.

 

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Products and Services

Our goal is to provide our customers with easy-to-use products and services. We seek to streamline their shipment processing and integrate critical transportation information into their own business processes, helping them create supply chain efficiencies, better serve their customers and improve their cash flows. These products and services support LTL and air freight shipments, as well as small package transportation. UPS offers a variety of technology solutions for automated shipping, visibility and billing. We believe we have the most comprehensive suite of such services in the industry.

Global Small Package.    Our global small package portfolio consists of a spectrum of export and domestic services. Export services are those provided for packages crossing a country’s borders, while domestic services are for packages that stay within the borders of a single country. We provide domestic services in 23 major countries outside the United States. This portfolio includes guaranteed delivery options to major cities around the world. We handle packages that weigh up to 150 pounds and are up to 165 inches in combined length and girth. We offer same-day pickup of air and ground packages. We also offer worldwide customs clearance service for any mode of transportation.

Additional products that provide enhanced shipping, visibility, billing and returns services are available to customers who require customized package solutions.

Our enhanced, data-driven package pick-up and delivery technology is the basis for new services introduced in 2007. For example, UPS introduced a unique paperless invoice service for international small package shippers that integrates order processing, shipment preparation and commercial invoice data and then transmits that data to customs offices across the globe, eliminating the need for paper commercial invoices. Another new offering, UPS Returns, is the first industry offering that facilitates international commerce for any size customer by simplifying package returns to 98 countries or territories. Package recipients can obtain international return labels and commercial invoices via e-mail, local post or from a UPS driver picking up the return package.

We provide our customers with easy access to UPS. There are almost 150,000 domestic and international access points to UPS. These include: 38,800 branded drop-boxes, 1,000 UPS Customer Centers, 6,000 independently owned and operated The UPS Store® and Mail Boxes Etc.® locations worldwide, 2,800 alliance partner locations, 13,200 Authorized Shipping Outlets and commercial counters, and 87,000 UPS drivers who can accept packages given to them.

Supply Chain Services.    Our freight forwarding and logistics businesses meet customers’ supply chain needs through a comprehensive portfolio of services, including:

 

   

Freight Forwarding: international air, full container load (“FCL”) and less than container load (“LCL”) ocean, rail and ground freight for all size shipments utilizing UPS and other carriers, and multimodal transportation network management.

 

   

Logistics and Distribution: supply chain management, distribution center design, planning and management, order fulfillment, inventory management, receiving and shipping, critical parts logistics, reverse logistics and cross docking.

 

   

International Trade Management: customs brokerage and international trade consulting.

 

   

Industry-specific Solutions: for healthcare, retail, high tech, automotive, industrial manufacturing and government customers.

 

 

 

UPS CapitalSM provides asset-based lending, global trade finance and export-import lending services.

In 2008, UPS launched a new, simplified global portfolio for shipping air freight, with guaranteed day-specific, door-to-door service as well as non-guaranteed service options.

 

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Freight Services.    UPS Freight provides LTL services through a network of owned and leased service centers and carrier partnerships. UPS Freight also provides our customers with truckload and dedicated truckload transportation solutions. Since expanding into the freight transport market, we have enhanced our value proposition through improvements in technology, operations and the customer experience. In 2007, we integrated all freight products, into our small package visibility systems, enabling shippers to view the status of package and freight shipments from a single web page. Since mid-2007, UPS Freight has accelerated transit times on over 12,000 lanes. Significant service and reliability improvements for freight transportation enabled us to implement a no-fee, guaranteed delivery service in early 2008 and expand it to Canadian deliveries later in the year.

Technology

Technology is the backbone of everything we do at UPS. It is at the heart of customer access to the company.

 

   

UPS.com processes over 18 million package tracking transactions daily. A growing number of those tracking requests now come from customers in countries that have wireless access to UPS tracking information.

 

   

Package tracking, pickup requests, rate quotes, account opening, wireless registration, drop-off locator, transit times and supply ordering services are all available at customers’ desktops or laptops. The site also displays full domestic and international service information and allows customers to process outbound shipments as well as return labels for their customers.

 

   

Businesses in a number of countries also can download UPS OnLine Tools SM to their own websites for direct use by their customers. This allows users to access the information they need without leaving our customers’ websites.

 

   

In 2007, we integrated all freight products, including international air freight forwarding shipments, into our small package visibility systems. Now a shipper can view the status of package and freight shipments from a single web page.

Technology is also the foundation for process improvements within UPS that enhance productivity, improve efficiency and reduce costs. The most comprehensive improvement to our U.S. small package handling facilities was completed in 2007. This multi-year effort re-engineered our domestic business, based on a data-driven platform, and included software, hardware and process changes. It enables a package center to produce an optimized dispatch plan for every driver and detailed loading instructions for every vehicle before center employees handle any packages. This plan reduces mileage driven, resulting in substantial savings in fuel usage. The re-engineered system provides the basis for unique customer-focused services based on the customer-specific data which powers the system.

In 2008, we began deploying Telematics, a technology that combines information from our drivers’ hand-held computers with GPS and automotive sensors to help us better manage our ground fleet operations. It will help us to improve vehicle maintenance, enhance safety and fine-tune delivery and pick-up service. This technology will also help us improve on-road performance by reducing vehicle expense, fuel consumption, and carbon emissions. In 2008, we equipped 3,226 of our U.S. vehicles with the sensors needed to achieve the benefits from this technology.

Sustainability

UPS takes seriously its commitment to operate in a socially, environmentally and economically sustainable manner. In 2003, the company was the first in its industry to publish a sustainability report that set forth its five-year goals – and then to provide annual updates on progress toward attaining those goals. The website sustainability.ups.com provides complete information on these efforts.

 

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UPS constantly reviews our processes, programs and policies to ensure we are operating in a sustainable and responsible manner that benefits all our stakeholders—customers, employees, shareowners and the communities in which we operate. Multiple recognitions in 2008 attest to our success, such as:

 

   

Included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the sixth consecutive year and the FTSE4Good Index for the fourth consecutive year,

 

   

Listed in the top tier of the World’s Most Respected Companies by the Reputation Institute,

 

   

Named as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Magazine,

 

   

Cited as one of 100 Best Corporate Citizens by CRO Magazine,

 

   

Received the 2007 Green Cross for Safety from the National Safety Council,

 

   

Received the Corporation of the Year award from the National Minority Supplier Development Council,

 

   

UPS Supply Chain Solutions ranked among top “Green” Outsourcers,

 

   

Ranked No. 11 in Barron’s World’s Most Respected Companies.

Sales and Marketing

The UPS worldwide sales organization is responsible for the complete spectrum of UPS products and services. This field sales organization consists primarily of locally based account executives assigned to our individual operating units. For our largest multi-shipping-site customers, we manage sales through an organization of regionally based account managers, reporting directly to executive management.

Our sales force also includes specialized groups that work with our general sales organization to support the sale of customer technology solutions, international package delivery, LTL and freight transportation, and warehousing and distribution services.

In 2007, we completed a major sales force reorganization to better align our sales resources and integrate with customer business processes. Our goal is to enhance the customer experience when dealing with the extensive scope of UPS capabilities, at any point in the shipping or supply chain management process.

Our worldwide marketing organization also supports global small package and our supply chain and freight businesses. Our corporate marketing function is engaged in market and customer research, brand management, rate-making and revenue management policy, new product development, product portfolio management, marketing alliances and e-commerce, including the non-technical aspects of our web presence. Advertising, public relations, and most formal marketing communications are centrally developed and controlled.

In addition to our corporate marketing group, field-based marketing personnel are assigned to our individual operating units and are primarily engaged in business planning, bid preparation and revenue management activities. These local marketing teams support the execution of corporate initiatives while also managing limited promotional and public relations activities pertinent to their local markets.

Employees

As of December 31, 2008, we had approximately 426,000 employees.

Approximately 260,000 of our employees are employed under a national master agreement and various supplemental agreements with local unions affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (“Teamsters”). These agreements run through July 31, 2013.

 

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We have approximately 2,900 pilots who are employed under a collective bargaining agreement with the Independent Pilots Association (“IPA”). The current contract becomes amendable at the end of 2011. Our airline mechanics are covered by a collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local 2727, which became amendable on November 1, 2006. We began formal negotiations with Teamsters Local 2727 in October 2006. In addition, the majority of our ground mechanics who are not employed under agreements with the Teamsters are employed under collective bargaining agreements with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (approximately 3,000). These agreements run through July 31, 2009.

We believe that our relations with our employees are good. We survey all our employees to determine their level of job satisfaction. Areas of concern receive management attention as we strive to keep UPS the employer of choice among our employees.

We consistently receive numerous awards and wide recognition as an employer-of-choice, resulting in part from our emphasis on diversity and corporate citizenship.

Competition

We are the largest package delivery company in the world, in terms of both revenue and volume. We offer a broad array of services in the package and freight delivery industry and, therefore, compete with many different local, regional, national and international companies. Our competitors include worldwide postal services, various motor carriers, express companies, freight forwarders, air couriers and others. Through our supply chain service offerings, we compete with a number of participants in the supply chain, financial services and information technology industries.

Competitive Strengths

Our competitive strengths include:

Integrated Global Network.    We believe that our integrated global ground and air network is the most extensive in the industry. It is the only network that handles all levels of service (air, ground, domestic, international, commercial, residential) through a single pickup and delivery service system.

Our sophisticated engineering systems allow us to optimize our network efficiency and asset utilization on a daily basis. This unique, integrated global business model creates consistent and superior returns.

We believe we have the most comprehensive integrated delivery and information services portfolio of any carrier in Europe. In other regions of the world, we rely on both our own and local service providers’ capabilities to meet our service commitments.

Leading-edge Technology.    We are a global leader in developing technology that helps our customers optimize their shipping and logistics business processes to lower costs, improve service and increase efficiency.

Technology powers virtually every service we offer and every operation we perform. Our technology initiatives are driven by our customers’ needs. We offer a variety of on-line service options that enable our customers to integrate UPS functionality into their own businesses not only to conveniently send, manage and track their shipments, but to provide their customers with better information services. We provide the infrastructure for an Internet presence that extends to tens of thousands of customers who have integrated UPS tools directly into their own web sites.

Broad Portfolio of Services.    Our portfolio of services enables customers to choose the delivery option that is most appropriate for their requirements. Increasingly, our customers benefit from business solutions that integrate many UPS services in addition to package delivery. For example, our supply chain services—such as freight forwarding, customs brokerage, order fulfillment, and returns management—help improve the efficiency of the supply chain management process.

 

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Customer Relationships.    We focus on building and maintaining long-term customer relationships. We serve 1.8 million pick-up customers and 6.1 million delivery customers daily. Cross-selling small package, supply chain and freight services across our customer base is an important growth mechanism for UPS.

Brand Equity.    We have built a leading and trusted brand in our industry—a brand that stands for quality service, reliability and product innovation. The distinctive appearance of our vehicles and the friendliness and helpfulness of our drivers are major contributors to our brand equity.

Distinctive Culture.    We believe that the dedication of our employees results in large part from our distinctive “employee-owner” concept. Our employee stock ownership tradition dates from 1927, when our founders, who believed that employee stock ownership was a vital foundation for successful business, first offered stock to employees. To facilitate employee stock ownership, we maintain several stock-based compensation programs.

Our long-standing policy of “promotion from within” complements our tradition of employee ownership, and this policy reduces the need for us to hire managers and executive officers from outside UPS. The majority of our management team began their careers as full-time or part-time hourly UPS employees, and have spent their entire careers with us. Many of our executive officers have more than 30 years of service with UPS and have accumulated a meaningful ownership stake in our company. Therefore, our executive officers have a strong incentive to effectively manage UPS, which benefits all our shareowners.

Financial Strength.    Our balance sheet reflects financial strength that few companies can match. As of December 31, 2008, we had a balance of cash and marketable securities of approximately $1.049 billion and shareowners’ equity of $6.780 billion. As of December 31, 2008, our Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) short-term credit ratings were P-1 and A-1+, respectively, and our Moody’s and S&P long-term credit ratings were Aa2 and AA-, respectively, with a stable outlook from both of these credit rating agencies. This reflects our strong capacity to service our obligations. Our financial strength gives us the resources to achieve global scale; to invest in technology, transportation equipment and buildings; to pursue strategic opportunities that facilitate our growth; and to return value to our shareowners in the form of dividends and share repurchases.

Government Regulation

Air Operations

The U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”), the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, through the Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”), have regulatory authority over United Parcel Service Co.’s (“UPS Airlines’”) air transportation services. The Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended, is the statutory basis for DOT and FAA authority and the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001, as amended, is the basis for TSA aviation security authority.

The DOT’s authority primarily relates to economic aspects of air transportation, such as discriminatory pricing, non-competitive practices, interlocking relations and cooperative agreements. The DOT also regulates, subject to the authority of the President of the United States, international routes, fares, rates and practices, and is authorized to investigate and take action against discriminatory treatment of U.S. air carriers abroad. International operating rights for U.S. airlines are usually subject to bilateral agreement between the U.S. and foreign governments. UPS Airlines has international route operating rights granted by the DOT and we may apply for additional authorities when those operating rights are available and are required for the efficient operation of our international network. The efficiency and flexibility of our international air transportation network is dependent on DOT and foreign government regulations and operating restrictions.

The FAA’s authority primarily relates to safety aspects of air transportation, including aircraft operating procedures, transportation of hazardous materials, record keeping standards and maintenance activities, personnel and ground facilities. In 1988, the FAA granted us an operating certificate, which remains in effect so long as we meet the safety and operational requirements of the applicable FAA regulations.

 

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FAA regulations mandate an aircraft corrosion control program, along with aircraft inspection and repair at periodic intervals specified by approved programs and procedures, for all aircraft. Our total expenditures under these programs for 2008 were $12 million. The future cost of repairs pursuant to these programs may fluctuate according to aircraft condition, age and the enactment of additional FAA regulatory requirements.

The TSA regulates various security aspects of air cargo transportation in a manner consistent with the TSA mission statement to “protect the Nation’s transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.” UPS Airlines, and specified airport and off airport locations, are regulated under TSA regulations applicable to the transportation of cargo in an air network. In addition, personnel, facilities and procedures involved in air cargo transportation must comply with TSA regulations.

UPS Airlines, along with a number of other domestic airlines, participates in the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (“CRAF”) program. Our participation in the CRAF program allows the U.S. Department of Defense (“DOD”) to requisition specified UPS Airlines wide-body aircraft for military use during a national defense emergency. The DOD compensates us for the use of aircraft under the CRAF program. In addition, participation in CRAF entitles UPS Airlines to bid for military cargo charter operations.

Ground Operations

Our ground transportation of packages in the U.S. is subject to the DOT’s jurisdiction with respect to the regulation of routes and to both the DOT’s and the states’ jurisdiction with respect to the regulation of safety, insurance and hazardous materials.

We are subject to similar regulation in many non-U.S. jurisdictions. In addition, we are subject to non-U.S. government regulation of aviation rights involving non-U.S. jurisdictions, and non-U.S. customs regulation.

The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 created the U.S. Postal Service as an independent establishment of the executive branch of the federal government, and vested the power to recommend domestic postal rates in a regulatory body, the Postal Rate Commission. We participate in the proceedings before the Postal Rate Commission in an attempt to secure fair postal rates for competitive services.

We are subject to numerous other laws and regulations in connection with our non-package businesses, including customs regulations, Food and Drug Administration regulation of our transportation of pharmaceuticals, and state and federal lending regulations.

Customs

We are subject to U.S. customs laws and related DOT regulations regarding the import and export of shipments to and from the U.S. In addition, our customs brokerage entities are subject to those same laws and regulations as they relate to the filing of documents on behalf of client importers and exporters.

Environmental

We are subject to federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations across all of our business units. These laws and regulations cover a variety of processes, including, but not limited to: proper storage, handling, and disposal of hazardous and other waste; managing wastewater and storm water; monitoring and maintaining the integrity of underground storage tanks; complying with laws regarding clean air, including those governing emissions; protecting against and appropriately responding to spills and releases; and communicating the presence of reportable quantities of hazardous materials to local responders. UPS has established site- and activity-specific environmental compliance and pollution prevention programs to address our environmental responsibilities and remain compliant. In addition, UPS has created numerous programs which seek to minimize waste and prevent pollution within our operations.

 

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Where You Can Find More Information

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 these reports available free of charge through our investor relations website, located at http://investor.shareholder.com/ups, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with or furnished to the SEC. Additional information about UPS is available at www.ups.com. Our sustainability report, which presents the highlights of our activities that support our commitment to acting responsibly and contributing to society, is available at www.sustainability.ups.com.

We have adopted a written Code of Business Conduct that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer and senior financial officers. It is available in the governance section of the investor relations website, located at http://investor.shareholder.com/ups. In the event that we make changes in, or provide waivers from, the provisions of the Code of Business Conduct that the SEC requires us to disclose, we intend to disclose these events in the governance section of our investor relations website.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charters for our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are also available in the governance section of the investor relations website.

See Footnote 12 to our consolidated financial statements for financial information regarding our reporting segments and geographic areas in which we operate.

The information on websites maintained by the Company is not incorporated by reference into this annual report on Form 10-K.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The following are some of the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the expected results described in our forward-looking statements:

 

   

The effect of general economic and other conditions in the markets in which we operate, both in the United States and internationally. Our operations in international markets are also affected by currency exchange and inflation risks.

 

   

The impact of competition on a local, regional, national, and international basis. Our competitors include the postal services of the U.S. and other nations, various motor carriers, express companies, freight forwarders, air couriers and others. Our industry is undergoing rapid consolidation, and the combining entities are competing aggressively for business.

 

   

The impact of complex and stringent aviation, transportation, environmental, labor, employment and other governmental laws and regulations, and the impact of new laws and regulations that may result from increased security concerns following the events of September 11, 2001. Our failure to comply with applicable laws, ordinances or regulations could result in substantial fines or possible revocation of our authority to conduct our operations.

 

   

Strikes, work stoppages and slowdowns by our employees. Such actions may affect our ability to meet our customers needs, and customers may do more business with competitors if they believe that such actions may adversely affect our ability to provide service. We may face permanent loss of customers if we are unable to provide uninterrupted service. The terms of future collective bargaining agreements also may affect our competitive position and results of operations.

 

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Possible disruption of supplies, or unanticipated changes in the prices, of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel for our aircraft and delivery vehicles, as a result of war, actions by producers, or other factors. We require significant quantities of fuel and are exposed to the commodity price risk associated with variations in the market price for petroleum products.

 

   

Cyclical and seasonal fluctuations in our operating results due to decreased demand for our services.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable.

 

Item 2. Properties

Operating Facilities

We own our headquarters, which are located in Atlanta, Georgia and consist of about 735,000 square feet of office space on an office campus, and our UPS Supply Chain Solutions group’s headquarters, which are located in Alpharetta, Georgia and consist of about 310,000 square feet of office space.

We also own our 27 principal U.S. package operating facilities, which have floor spaces that range from about 310,000 to 693,000 square feet. In addition, we have a 1.9 million square foot operating facility near Chicago, Illinois, which is designed to streamline shipments between East Coast and West Coast destinations, and we own or lease over 1,100 additional smaller package operating facilities in the U.S. The smaller of these facilities have vehicles and drivers stationed for the pickup of packages and facilities for the sorting, transfer and delivery of packages. The larger of these facilities also service our vehicles and equipment and employ specialized mechanical installations for the sorting and handling of packages.

We own or lease almost 600 facilities that support our international package operations and over 900 facilities that support our freight forwarding and logistics operations. Our freight forwarding and logistics operations maintain facilities with about 35 million square feet of floor space. We own and operate a logistics campus consisting of approximately 3.5 million square feet in Louisville, Kentucky.

UPS Freight operates approximately 200 service centers with a total of 5.9 million square feet of floor space. UPS Freight owns 135 of these service centers, while the remainder are occupied under operating lease agreements. The main offices of UPS Freight are located in Richmond, Virginia and consist of about 240,000 square feet of office space.

Our aircraft are operated in a hub and spokes pattern in the U.S. Our principal air hub in the U.S., known as Worldport, is located in Louisville, KY. The Worldport facility consists of over 4.1 million square feet and the site includes approximately 596 acres. We are able to sort over 300,000 packages per hour in the Worldport facility. We also have regional air hubs in Columbia, SC; Dallas, TX; Hartford, CT; Ontario, CA; Philadelphia, PA; and Rockford, IL. These hubs house facilities for the sorting, transfer and delivery of packages. Our European air hub is located in Cologne, Germany, and we maintain Asia-Pacific air hubs in Shanghai, China; Pampanga, Philippines; Taipei, Taiwan; Hong Kong; and Singapore. Our regional air hub in Canada is located in Hamilton, Ontario, and our regional air hub for Latin America and the Caribbean is in Miami, FL.

In 2008, work continued on our Worldport facility expansion that will increase sorting capacity by 37 percent to 416,000 packages per hour. The expansion involves the addition of two aircraft load / unload wings to the hub building, followed by the installation of high-speed conveyor and computer control systems. The overall size of the Worldport facility will increase by 1.1 million square feet to 5.2 million square feet, and the facility will be able to accommodate the Boeing 747-400 aircraft currently on order. The expansion will cost over $1 billion and is expected to be completed by 2010.

 

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Over the past five years, UPS has made a successful transition to become the first wholly-owned foreign express carrier in China. In 2008, we opened the UPS International Air Hub at Pudong International Airport, which was built on a parcel totaling 1 million square feet with a planned sorting capacity of 17,000 packages per hour. The new hub links all of China via Shanghai to UPS’s international network with direct service to the Americas, Europe and Asia. It also connects points served in China by UPS through a dedicated service provided by Yangtze River Express, a Chinese all-cargo airline.

In the fourth quarter of 2008, we began construction of a new intra-Asia air hub at Shenzhen International Airport in China. Once completed, the Shenzhen facility will replace our current intra-Asia air hub at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, and will serve as our primary transit hub in Asia. The facility is expected to open in 2010. The facility is being built on a parcel of almost 1 million square feet, and will have a planned sorting capacity of 18,000 packages per hour.

Our primary information technology operations are consolidated in a 435,000 square foot owned facility, the Ramapo Ridge facility, which is located on a 39-acre site in Mahwah, New Jersey. We also own a 175,000 square foot facility located on a 25-acre site in Alpharetta, Georgia, which serves as a backup to the main information technology operations facility in New Jersey. This facility provides production functions and backup capacity in the event that a power outage or other disaster incapacitates the main data center. It also helps us to meet our internal communication needs.

We believe that our facilities are adequate to support our current operations.

Fleet

Aircraft

The following table shows information about our aircraft fleet as of December 31, 2008:

 

Description

   Owned and
Capital
Leases
   Short-term
Leased or
Chartered
From
Others
   On
Order
   Under
Option

McDonnell-Douglas DC-8-71

   19    —      —      —  

McDonnell-Douglas DC-8-73

   25    —      —      —  

Boeing 747-100

   7    —      —      —  

Boeing 747-200

   4    —      —      —  

Boeing 747-400F

   7    —      5    —  

Boeing 747-400BCF

   2    —      —      —  

Boeing 757-200

   75    —      —      —  

Boeing 767-300

   32    —      27    —  

Boeing MD-11

   38    —      —      —  

Airbus A300-600

   53    —      —      —  

Other

   —      309    —      —  
                   

Total

   262    309    32    —  
                   

We maintain an inventory of spare engines and parts for each aircraft.

All the aircraft we own meet Stage III federal noise regulations and can operate at airports that have aircraft noise restrictions. We became the first major airline to successfully operate a 100% Stage III fleet, more than three years in advance of the date required by federal regulations.

During 2008, we took delivery of four Boeing 747-400F aircraft and two Boeing 747-400BCF aircraft. We have firm commitments to purchase 27 Boeing 767-300ER freighters to be delivered between 2009 and 2012,

 

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and five Boeing 747-400F aircraft scheduled for delivery during 2009 and 2010. Also, during 2008 we sold eight Boeing 727-100 aircraft, two Boeing 727-200 aircraft, one McDonnell-Douglas DC-8-71 aircraft and one McDonnell-Douglas DC-8-73 aircraft.

Vehicles

We operate a ground fleet of approximately 107,000 package cars, vans, tractors and motorcycles. Our ground support fleet consists of 31,000 pieces of equipment designed specifically to support our aircraft fleet, ranging from non-powered container dollies and racks to powered aircraft main deck loaders and cargo tractors. We also have 37,000 containers used to transport cargo in our aircraft.

Safety

We promote safety throughout our operations. Our Automotive Fleet Safety Program is built with the following components:

 

   

Selection. Five out of every six drivers come from our part-time ranks. Therefore, many of our new drivers are familiar with our philosophies, policies, practices and training programs.

 

   

Training. Training is the cornerstone of our Fleet Safety Program. Our approach starts with training the trainer. All trainers are certified to ensure that they have the skills and motivation to effectively train novice drivers. A new driver’s employment includes extensive classroom and on-line training as well as on-road training, followed by three safety training rides integrated into his or her training cycle.

 

   

Responsibility. Our operations managers are responsible for their drivers’ safety records. We investigate every accident. If we determine that an accident could have been prevented, we retrain the driver.

 

   

Preventive Maintenance. An integral part of our Fleet Safety Program is a comprehensive Preventive Maintenance Program. Our fleet is tracked by computer to ensure that each vehicle is serviced before a breakdown or accident is likely to occur.

 

   

Honor Plan. A well-defined safe driver honor plan recognizes and rewards our drivers when they achieve success. We have over 4,450 drivers who have driven for 25 years or more without an avoidable accident.

Our workplace safety program is built upon a comprehensive health and safety process. The foundation of this process is our employee-management health and safety committees. The workplace safety process focuses on employee conditioning and safety-related habits. Our employee co-chaired health and safety committees complete comprehensive facility audits and injury analyses, and recommend facility and work process changes.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

We are a defendant in a number of lawsuits filed in state and federal courts containing various class-action allegations under state wage-and-hour laws. In one of these cases, Marlo v. UPS, which was certified as a class action in a California federal court in June 2004, plaintiffs allege that they improperly were denied overtime, and seek penalties for missed meal and rest periods, and interest and attorneys’ fees. Plaintiffs purport to represent a class of 1,300 full-time supervisors. In August 2005, the court granted summary judgment in favor of UPS on all claims, and plaintiff appealed the ruling. In October 2007, the appeals court reversed the lower court’s ruling. In April 2008, the Court decertified the class and vacated the trial scheduled for April 29, 2008. We have denied any liability with respect to these claims and intend to vigorously defend ourselves in this case. At this time, we have not determined the amount of any liability that may result from this matter or whether such liability, if any, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

 

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In another case, Hohider v. UPS, which in July 2007 was certified as a class action in a Pennsylvania federal court, plaintiffs have challenged certain aspects of the Company’s interactive process for assessing requests for reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Plaintiffs purport to represent a class of over 35,000 current and former employees, and seek back-pay, and compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorneys’ fees. In August 2007, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Company’s Petition to hear the appeal of the trial court’s certification order. Oral argument took place in November 2008. The appeal will likely take one year. We have denied any liability with respect to these claims and intend to vigorously defend ourselves in this case. At this time, we have not determined the amount of any liability that may result from this matter or whether such liability, if any, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

UPS and Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. are defendants in various lawsuits brought by franchisees who operate Mail Boxes Etc. centers and The UPS Store locations. These lawsuits relate to the rebranding of Mail Boxes Etc. centers to The UPS Store, The UPS Store business model, the representations made in connection with the rebranding and the sale of The UPS Store franchises, and UPS’s sale of services in the franchisees’ territories. We have denied any liability with respect to these claims and intend to defend ourselves vigorously. At this time, we have not determined the amount of any liability that may result from these matters or whether such liability, if any, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

UPS Freight, along with several other companies involved in the LTL freight business, is a defendant in a Multi-District Litigation pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The lawsuits allege that the defendants conspired to fix fuel surcharge rates, and they seek injunctive relief, treble damages and attorneys’ fees. We have denied any liability with respect to these claims and intend to vigorously defend ourselves in these cases, and defendants’ motion to dismiss is pending for decision by the Court. These cases are at a preliminary stage and at this time, we have not determined the amount of any liability that may result from this matter or whether such liability, if any, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

We are a defendant in various other lawsuits that arose in the normal course of business. We believe that the eventual resolution of these cases will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

We have denied any liability with respect to these claims and intend to defend ourselves vigorously. At this time, we have not determined the amount of any liability that may result from these matters or whether such liability, if any, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

Other Matters

We received grand jury subpoenas from the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) regarding the DOJ’s investigations into certain pricing practices in the air cargo industry in July 2006, and into certain pricing practices in the freight forwarding industry in December 2007. In October 2007 and June 2008, we received information requests from the European Commission relating to its investigation of certain pricing practices in the freight forwarding industry. We also received and responded to related information requests from competition authorities in other jurisdictions. We are cooperating with these inquiries.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None

 

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PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Our Class A common stock is not listed on a national securities exchange or traded in an organized over-the-counter market, but each share of our Class A common stock is convertible into one share of our Class B common stock.

The following is a summary of our Class B common stock price activity and dividend information for 2008 and 2007. Our Class B common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “UPS.”

 

     High    Low    Close    Dividends
Declared

2008:

           

First Quarter

   $ 73.95    $ 65.37    $ 73.02    $ 0.45

Second Quarter

   $ 75.08    $ 59.30    $ 61.47    $ 0.45

Third Quarter

   $ 70.00    $ 56.11    $ 62.89    $ 0.45

Fourth Quarter

   $ 64.41    $ 43.60    $ 55.16    $ 0.45

2007:

           

First Quarter

   $ 75.98    $ 68.66    $ 70.10    $ 0.42

Second Quarter

   $ 74.48    $ 69.54    $ 73.00    $ 0.42

Third Quarter

   $ 78.99    $ 72.70    $ 75.10    $ 0.42

Fourth Quarter

   $ 77.00    $ 70.00    $ 70.72    $ 0.42

As of January 29, 2009, there were 170,327 and 206,558 record holders of Class A and Class B common stock, respectively.

The policy of our Board of Directors is to declare dividends out of current earnings. The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on various factors, including our net income, financial condition, cash requirements, future prospects, and other relevant factors.

On February 11, 2009, our Board declared a dividend of $0.45 per share, which is payable on March 10, 2009 to shareowners of record on February 23, 2009.

In January 2008, we announced a new financial policy regarding our capital structure to enhance shareowner value. We intend to manage our balance sheet to a target debt ratio of approximately 50%-60% funds from operations to total debt. In connection with this policy, the Board of Directors authorized an increase in our share repurchase authorization to $10.0 billion. Share repurchases may take the form of accelerated share repurchases, open market purchases, or other such methods as we deem appropriate. The timing of our share repurchases will depend upon market conditions. Unless terminated earlier by the resolution of our Board, the program will expire when we have purchased all shares authorized for repurchase under the program.

A summary of repurchases of our Class A and Class B common stock during the fourth quarter of 2008 is as follows (in millions, except per share amounts):

 

    Total Number
of Shares
Purchased(1)
  Average
Price Paid
Per Share(1)
  Total Number
of Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Program
  Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares that
May Yet be Purchased
Under the Program
(as of month-end)

October 1—October 31, 2008

  3.3   $ 49.73   3.3   $ 6,666

November 1—November 30, 2008

  1.0     52.56   1.0     6,615

December 1—December 31, 2008

  0.8     54.25   0.8     6,572
                   

Total October 1—December 31, 2008

  5.1   $ 50.96   5.1   $ 6,572
                   

 

(1) Includes shares repurchased through our publicly announced share repurchase program and shares tendered to pay the exercise price and tax withholding on employee stock options.

 

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Shareowner Return Performance Graph

The following Performance Graph and related information shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates such information by reference into such filing.

The following graph shows a five-year comparison of cumulative total shareowners’ returns for our class B common stock, the S&P 500 Index, and the Dow Jones Transportation Average. The comparison of the total cumulative return on investment, which is the change in the quarterly stock price plus reinvested dividends for each of the quarterly periods, assumes that $100 was invested on December 31, 2003 in the S&P 500 Index, the Dow Jones Transportation Average, and the class B common stock of United Parcel Service, Inc.

LOGO

 

     12/31/03    12/31/04    12/31/05    12/31/06    12/31/07    12/31/08

United Parcel Service, Inc.

   $ 100.00    $ 116.40    $ 104.17    $ 106.00    $ 102.29    $ 82.04

S&P 500 Index

   $ 100.00    $ 110.88    $ 116.32    $ 134.69    $ 142.09    $ 89.52

Dow Jones Transportation Average

   $ 100.00    $ 127.73    $ 142.60    $ 156.60    $ 158.84    $ 124.81

 

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following table sets forth selected financial data for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2008 (amounts in millions, except per share amounts). This financial data should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and other financial data appearing elsewhere in this report.

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2008     2007     2006     2005     2004  

Selected Income Statement Data

          

Revenue:

          

U.S. Domestic Package

   $ 31,278     $ 30,985     $ 30,456     $ 28,610     $ 26,960  

International Package

     11,293       10,281       9,089       7,977       6,809  

Supply Chain & Freight

     8,915       8,426       8,002       5,994       2,813  
                                        

Total revenue

     51,486       49,692       47,547       42,581       36,582  

Operating expenses:

          

Compensation and benefits

     26,063       31,745       24,421       22,517       20,823  

Other

     20,041       17,369       16,491       13,921       10,770  
                                        

Total operating expenses

     46,104       49,114       40,912       36,438       31,593  

Operating profit (loss):

          

U.S. Domestic Package

     3,907       (1,531 )     4,923       4,493       3,702  

International Package

     1,580       1,831       1,710       1,494       1,149  

Supply Chain and Freight

     (105 )     278       2       156       138  
                                        

Total operating profit

     5,382       578       6,635       6,143       4,989  

Other income (expense):

          

Investment income

     75       99       86       104       82  

Interest expense

     (442 )     (246 )     (211 )     (172 )     (149 )
                                        

Income before income taxes

     5,015       431       6,510       6,075       4,922  

Income tax expense

     (2,012 )     (49 )     (2,308 )     (2,205 )     (1,589 )
                                        

Net income

   $ 3,003     $ 382     $ 4,202     $ 3,870     $ 3,333  
                                        

Per share amounts:

          

Basic earnings per share

   $ 2.96     $ 0.36     $ 3.87     $ 3.48     $ 2.95  

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 2.94     $ 0.36     $ 3.86     $ 3.47     $ 2.93  

Dividends declared per share

   $ 1.80     $ 1.68     $ 1.52     $ 1.32     $ 1.12  

Weighted average shares outstanding:

          

Basic

     1,016       1,057       1,085       1,113       1,129  

Diluted

     1,022       1,063       1,089       1,116       1,137  
     As of December 31,  
     2008     2007     2006     2005     2004  

Selected Balance Sheet Data

          

Cash and marketable securities

   $ 1,049     $ 2,604     $ 1,983     $ 3,041     $ 5,197  

Total assets

     31,879       39,042       33,210       34,947       32,847  

Long-term debt

     7,797       7,506       3,133       3,159       3,261  

Shareowners’ equity

     6,780       12,183       15,482       16,884       16,378  

 

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Operations

The following tables set forth information showing the change in revenue, average daily package volume, and average revenue per piece, both in dollars or amounts and in percentage terms:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
   Change  
     2008    2007    $     %  

Revenue (in millions):

          

U.S. Domestic Package:

          

Next Day Air

   $ 6,559    $ 6,738    $ (179 )   (2.7 )%

Deferred

     3,325      3,359      (34 )   (1.0 )

Ground

     21,394      20,888      506     2.4  
                        

Total U.S. Domestic Package

     31,278      30,985      293     0.9  

International Package:

          

Domestic

     2,344      2,177      167     7.7  

Export

     8,294      7,488      806     10.8  

Cargo

     655      616      39     6.3  
                        

Total International Package

     11,293      10,281      1,012     9.8  

Supply Chain & Freight:

          

Forwarding and Logistics

     6,293      5,911      382     6.5  

Freight

     2,191      2,108      83     3.9  

Other

     431      407      24     5.9  
                        

Total Supply Chain & Freight

     8,915      8,426      489     5.8  
                        

Consolidated

   $ 51,486    $ 49,692    $ 1,794     3.6 %
                        

Average Daily Package Volume (in thousands):

           #    
                

U.S. Domestic Package:

          

Next Day Air

     1,186      1,277      (91 )   (7.1 )%

Deferred

     947      974      (27 )   (2.8 )

Ground

     11,443      11,606      (163 )   (1.4 )
                        

Total U.S. Domestic Package

     13,576      13,857      (281 )   (2.0 )

International Package:

          

Domestic

     1,150      1,132      18     1.6  

Export

     813      761      52     6.8  
                        

Total International Package

     1,963      1,893      70     3.7  
                        

Consolidated

     15,539      15,750      (211 )   (1.3 )%
                        

Operating days in period

     252      252     

Average Revenue Per Piece:

           $    
                

U.S. Domestic Package:

          

Next Day Air

   $ 21.95    $ 20.94    $ 1.01     4.8 %

Deferred

     13.93      13.69      0.24     1.8  

Ground

     7.42      7.14      0.28     3.9  

Total U.S. Domestic Package

     9.14      8.87      0.27     3.0  

International Package:

          

Domestic

     8.09      7.63      0.46     6.0  

Export

     40.48      39.05      1.43     3.7  

Total International Package

     21.50      20.26      1.24     6.1  

Consolidated

   $ 10.70    $ 10.24    $ 0.46     4.5 %
                        

 

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     Year Ended
December 31,
   Change  
     2007    2006    $     %  

Revenue (in millions):

          

U.S. Domestic Package:

          

Next Day Air

   $ 6,738    $ 6,778    $ (40 )   (0.6 )%

Deferred

     3,359      3,424      (65 )   (1.9 )

Ground

     20,888      20,254      634     3.1  
                        

Total U.S. Domestic Package

     30,985      30,456      529     1.7  

International Package:

          

Domestic

     2,177      1,950      227     11.6  

Export

     7,488      6,554      934     14.3  

Cargo

     616      585      31     5.3  
                        

Total International Package

     10,281      9,089      1,192     13.1  

Supply Chain & Freight:

          

Forwarding and Logistics

     5,911      5,681      230     4.0  

UPS Freight

     2,108      1,952      156     8.0  

Other

     407      369      38     10.3  
                        

Total Supply Chain & Freight

     8,426      8,002      424     5.3  
                        

Consolidated

   $ 49,692    $ 47,547    $ 2,145     4.5 %
                        

Average Daily Package Volume (in thousands):

           #    
                

U.S. Domestic Package:

          

Next Day Air

     1,277      1,267      10     0.8 %

Deferred

     974      993      (19 )   (1.9 )

Ground

     11,606      11,537      69     0.6  
                        

Total U.S. Domestic Package

     13,857      13,797      60     0.4  

International Package:

          

Domestic

     1,132      1,108      24     2.2  

Export

     761      689      72     10.4  
                        

Total International Package

     1,893      1,797      96     5.3  
                        

Consolidated

     15,750      15,594      156     1.0 %
                        

Operating days in period

     252      253     

Average Revenue Per Piece:

           $    
                

U.S. Domestic Package:

          

Next Day Air

   $ 20.94    $ 21.14    $ (0.20 )   (0.9 )%

Deferred

     13.69      13.63      0.06     0.4  

Ground

     7.14      6.94      0.20     2.9  

Total U.S. Domestic Package

     8.87      8.73      0.14     1.6  

International Package:

          

Domestic

     7.63      6.96      0.67     9.6  

Export

     39.05      37.60      1.45     3.9  

Total International Package

     20.26      18.70      1.56     8.3  

Consolidated

   $ 10.24    $ 9.88    $ 0.36     3.6 %
                        

 

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The following tables set forth information showing the change in UPS Freight’s less-than-truckload (“LTL”) revenue, shipments, and gross weight hauled, both in dollars or amounts and in percentage terms:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
   Change  
     2008    2007    $     %  

LTL revenue (in millions)

   $ 2,062    $ 2,013    $ 49     2.4 %

LTL revenue per LTL hundredweight

   $ 18.68    $ 17.41    $ 1.27     7.3 %

LTL shipments (in thousands)

     10,036      10,481      (445 )   (4.2 )%

LTL shipments per day (in thousands)

     39.5      41.4      (1.9 )   (4.6 )%

LTL gross weight hauled (in millions of pounds)

     11,037      11,560      (523 )   (4.5 )%

LTL weight per shipment

     1,100      1,103      (3 )   (0.3 )%

Operating days in period

     254      253     
     Year Ended
December 31,
   Change  
     2007    2006    $     %  

LTL revenue (in millions)

   $ 2,013    $ 1,831    $ 182     9.9 %

LTL revenue per LTL hundredweight

   $ 17.41    $ 15.93    $ 1.48     9.3 %

LTL shipments (in thousands)

     10,481      9,638      843     8.7 %

LTL shipments per day (in thousands)

     41.4      38.2      3.2     8.3 %

LTL gross weight hauled (in millions of pounds)

     11,560      11,498      62     0.5 %

LTL weight per shipment

     1,103      1,193      (90 )   (7.5 )%

Operating days in period

     253      252     

Operating Profit and Margin

The following tables set forth information showing the change in operating profit (loss), both in dollars (in millions) and in percentage terms, for each reporting segment:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
    Change  
     2008     2007     $     %  

Reporting Segment

        

U.S. Domestic Package

   $ 3,907     $ (1,531 )   $ 5,438     N/A  

International Package

     1,580       1,831       (251 )   (13.7 )%

Supply Chain & Freight

     (105 )     278       (383 )   N/A  
                          

Consolidated Operating Profit

   $ 5,382     $ 578     $ 4,804     N/A  
                          
     Year Ended
December 31,
    Change  
     2007     2006     $     %  

Reporting Segment

        

U.S. Domestic Package

   $ (1,531 )   $ 4,923     $ (6,454 )   N/A  

International Package

     1,831       1,710       121     7.1 %

Supply Chain & Freight

     278       2       276     N/A  
                          

Consolidated Operating Profit

   $ 578     $ 6,635     $ (6,057 )   (91.3 )%
                          

 

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The following table sets forth information showing the operating margin for each reporting segment:

 

       Year Ended December 31,    
     2008     2007     2006  

Reporting Segment

      

U.S. Domestic Package

   12.5 %   (4.9 )%   16.2 %

International Package

   14.0 %   17.8 %   18.8 %

Supply Chain & Freight

   (1.2 )%   3.3 %   0.0 %

Consolidated Operating Margin

   10.5 %   1.2 %   14.0 %

U.S. Domestic Package Operations

2008 compared to 2007

U.S. domestic package revenue increased $293 million, or 0.9%, for the year, largely due to a 3.0% improvement in revenue per piece, partially offset by a 2.0% decrease in average daily package volume.

Next Day Air volume, deferred air volume and ground volume declined 7.1%, 2.8%, and 1.4%, respectively for the year, primarily as a result of the current U.S. recession. These declining volume trends worsened through the year with Next Day Air, deferred air, and ground volume declining 8.6%, 3.5%, and 2.1%, respectively, during the fourth quarter. Relatively high energy costs during most of the year combined with the deepening recession and weak output within the industrial production and retail sales sectors adversely affected the small package market, which places additional pressure on our domestic package volume.

The increase in overall revenue per piece of 3.0% resulted primarily from a rate increase that took effect during the first quarter and higher fuel surcharge rates, but was partially offset by an unfavorable shift in product mix. Next Day Air and Deferred revenue per piece increased 4.8% and 1.8%, respectively, and were positively impacted by the base rate increase and a higher fuel surcharge rate for air products (discussed further below). This increase was adversely impacted by lower average package weights, a mix shift toward lower yielding products, and hedging losses. Ground revenue per piece increased 3.9%, mainly due to the rate increase, as well as a higher fuel surcharge rate due to increased diesel fuel prices in 2008 compared with 2007.

On November 9, 2007, we announced a rate increase and a change in the fuel surcharge that took effect on December 31, 2007. We increased the base rates 6.9% on UPS Next Day Air, UPS 2nd Day Air, and UPS 3 Day Select, and 4.9% on UPS Ground. Other pricing changes included a $0.10 increase in the residential surcharge, and an increase of $0.10 in the delivery area surcharge on both residential and commercial services to certain ZIP codes.

We also modified the fuel surcharge on domestic air services by reducing the index used to determine the fuel surcharge by 2%. This fuel surcharge continues to be based on the U.S. Energy Department’s Gulf Coast spot price for a gallon of kerosene-type jet fuel. Based on published rates, the average fuel surcharge on domestic air products was 25.17% in 2008, an increase from the 12.17% in 2007, due to the significant increase in jet fuel prices in early and mid-2008, but partially offset by the 2% reduction in the index. The ground fuel surcharge rate continues to fluctuate based on the U.S. Energy Department’s On-Highway Diesel Fuel Price. Based on published rates, the average fuel surcharge on domestic ground products increased to 7.97% in 2008 from 4.30% in 2007, due to significantly higher diesel fuel prices in early and mid-2008. Total domestic fuel surcharge revenue, net of the impact of hedging losses, increased by $1.119 billion in 2008 compared with 2007, primarily due to the higher fuel surcharge rates discussed above, but partially offset by the decline in volume for our air and ground products.

U.S. domestic package operating profit increased $5.438 billion in 2008 compared with 2007. Operating profit for 2007 was adversely affected by a charge to withdraw from the Central States, Southeast and Southwest

 

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Areas Pension Fund (“Central States Pension Fund”), an aircraft impairment and a Special Voluntary Separation Opportunity (“SVSO”) charge (all discussed further in the “Operating Expenses” section), which reduced domestic operating profit by $6.100 billion, $159 million and $53 million, respectively. The absence of these charges in 2008 favorably affected the operating profit comparison between periods.

Operating profit in 2008 was adversely impacted by the current U.S. recession, lower asset utilization due to the decline in volume, lower average package weights, and a shift in product mix away from our premium services, partially offset by the increase in the fuel surcharge relative to the cost of fuel. Because fuel costs decreased rapidly in the latter half of the year, operating profit benefited from the approximate two month time lag between the fuel price changes and when the monthly surcharge rates are applied to package shipments. Because of this time lag, fuel positively impacted the change in operating profit during 2008, which is opposite of the effect the company experienced in 2007, when fuel costs rose much faster than the fuel surcharge rate and operating profit was adversely impacted.

2007 compared to 2006

U.S. Domestic Package revenue increased $529 million, or 1.7%, in 2007, due to a 1.6% improvement in revenue per piece and a 0.4% increase in average daily package volume. Next Day Air volume increased 0.8% and Ground volume increased 0.6% for the year, largely as a result of a solid peak season in the fourth quarter, when our Next Day Air volume rose 2.2% and Ground volume increased 1.5%. Deferred air volume declined 1.9% in 2007. Our domestic air and ground products have been impacted by the slowing U.S. economy and weak small package market in 2007. Trends in U.S. industrial production and business-to-consumer shipments in 2007 were not favorable to the overall small package market, which places pressure on our domestic package volume.

The increase in overall revenue per piece of 1.6% in 2007 resulted primarily from a rate increase that took effect earlier in the year, but was negatively impacted by lower fuel surcharge revenue and an unfavorable shift in product mix. Next Day Air revenue per piece declined 0.9%, and was negatively impacted by strong growth in our lower-yielding Next Day Air Saver products. Deferred revenue per piece increased only 0.4%. The change in revenue per piece for all our air products was negatively impacted by a lower fuel surcharge rate (discussed further below). Ground revenue per piece increased 2.9%, primarily due to the rate increase, but was also impacted slightly by a higher fuel surcharge due to higher diesel fuel prices in 2007 compared with 2006. Overall product mix reduced revenue per piece, as our premium air products suffered volume declines while our ground volume grew 0.6%.

Consistent with the practice in previous years, a rate increase took effect on January 1, 2007. We increased the base rates 6.9% on UPS Next Day Air, UPS 2nd Day Air, and UPS 3 Day Select, and 4.9% on UPS Ground. Other pricing changes included a $0.10 increase in the residential surcharge, and a $0.75 increase in the charge for undeliverable packages after three delivery attempts.

In January 2007, we modified the fuel surcharge on domestic air services by reducing the index used to determine the fuel surcharge by 2%. This fuel surcharge continued to be based on the U.S. Energy Department’s Gulf Coast spot price for a gallon of kerosene-type jet fuel. Based on published rates, the average fuel surcharge on domestic air products was 12.17% in 2007, a decline from the 14.02% in 2006, primarily due to the 2% reduction in the index. The ground fuel surcharge rate continued to fluctuate based on the U.S. Energy Department’s On-Highway Diesel Fuel Price. Based on published rates, the average fuel surcharge on domestic ground products was 4.30% in 2007, an increase from 4.13% in 2006, due to higher diesel fuel prices. As a result of the air products index rate reduction and fuel market price movements, total domestic fuel surcharge revenue decreased by $110 million in 2007.

U.S. Domestic Package incurred an operating loss of $1.531 billion in 2007, compared with a $4.923 billion operating profit in 2006, largely due to a $6.100 billion charge related to our withdrawal from the Central States Pension Fund. Additionally, Domestic Package operating results were negatively impacted by low revenue

 

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growth, the aircraft impairment charge, the SVSO charge, and the impact of fuel. The aircraft impairment and SVSO charges reduced domestic operating profit by $159 million and $53 million, respectively. Fuel negatively impacted the change in operating profit during 2007, as fuel costs rose much faster than the fuel surcharge rate. These factors were partially offset by cost controls, including, among other categories, lower self-insurance expense. The expense associated with our self-insurance accruals for workers’ compensation claims, automotive liability and general business liabilities declined as a result of several factors. The Central States Pension Fund withdrawal, aircraft impairment, and SVSO charges, as well as the impact of lower self-insurance expense, are discussed further in the “Operating Expenses” section.

International Package Operations

2008 compared to 2007

International Package revenue improved $1.012 billion, or 9.8%, for the year, driven by a 6.8% volume increase for our export products and a 6.1% increase in total revenue per piece. The growth in revenue per piece was primarily due to rate increases, the impact of currency exchange rates, and increased fuel surcharge rates. However, as the global economic recession deepened throughout the year, fourth quarter revenue trended downward compared to the prior year fourth quarter, declining $230 million, or 8.0%, including the impact of unfavorable currency exchange rate fluctuations discussed later.

Export volume increased in each region throughout the world in 2008, however volume began to slow in the latter half of 2008 due to difficult worldwide economic conditions. Intra-regional volume continued to experience solid growth, especially in Europe. Asian export volume continued to benefit from our geographic service expansion, including the connection of several cities to our new air hub in Shanghai, China. Export volume growth was negatively impacted by declines in shipments to the U.S. from other regions in the world, due to the slowing U.S. economy. Export volume trends weakened in the latter half of the year, due to the severe global economic slowdown, with fourth quarter export volume increasing at a much slower rate than what has been experienced over the last several years. Non-U.S. domestic volume increased 1.6% for the year, and was impacted by volume growth in our domestic businesses in the Euro zone and Canada, but negatively affected by the weak economic conditions in the United Kingdom.

Export revenue per piece increased 3.7% for the year, largely due to base rate increases, higher fuel surcharge rates, and favorable currency exchange rates, but was adversely impacted by relatively higher growth in lower revenue per piece transborder products and a shift away from our premium services. Domestic revenue per piece increased 6.0% for the year, and was affected by rate increases, higher fuel surcharge rates, and favorable exchange rates. Total average revenue per piece increased 2.7% on a currency-adjusted basis, and the overall change in segment revenue was positively affected by $324 million during the year due to currency fluctuations, net of hedging activity. Total revenue per piece declined 8.2% in the fourth quarter of 2008, primarily due to the strengthening of the U.S. Dollar (currency-adjusted revenue per piece declined 3.0%), but also impacted by an acceleration in the shift away from our premium services and lower package weights. Fourth quarter 2008 total segment revenue was negatively impacted by $144 million due to the currency fluctuations, net of hedging activity.

On December 31, 2007, we increased the base rates 6.9% for international shipments originating in the United States (Worldwide Express, Worldwide Express Plus, UPS Worldwide Expedited and UPS International Standard service). Rate changes for international shipments originating outside the United States vary by geographical market and occur throughout the year.

Additionally, we modified the fuel surcharge on certain U.S.-related international air services by reducing the index used to determine the fuel surcharge by 2%. The fuel surcharge for products originating outside the United States continues to be indexed to fuel prices in our different international regions, depending upon where the shipment takes place. Total international fuel surcharge revenue increased by $586 million in 2008, due to higher fuel surcharge rates caused by increased fuel prices as well as an increase in international air volume.

 

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International Package operating profit decreased $251 million, or 13.7%, in 2008, and the operating margin declined to 14.0% from 17.8% in 2007. The decline in operating profit and operating margin were affected by reduced asset utilization resulting from changes in economic conditions and trade flows, such as the reduced import volume into the United States. Operating profit and margin were also negatively affected by a shift in product mix away from our premium services, as well as expenses associated with integration activities in our delivery network. Global economic weakness resulted in a weakening operating profit trend, with fourth quarter operating profit declining 34.3%.

Because fuel costs decreased rapidly in the latter half of the year, operating profit benefited from the approximate two month time lag between the fuel price changes and when the monthly surcharge rates are applied to package shipments. As a result of this time lag, fuel positively impacted the change in operating profit during 2008, which is opposite of the effect the company experienced in 2007, when fuel costs rose much faster than the fuel surcharge rate and operating profit was adversely impacted. The change in operating profit was also positively affected by $136 million during the year due to favorable currency exchange rates, net of hedging activity.

Operating profit in 2008 was adversely impacted by a fourth quarter $27 million impairment charge incurred on certain intangible assets in our domestic package business in the United Kingdom (discussed further in the “Operating Expenses” section). Operating profit for 2007 was adversely affected by the aircraft impairment and SVSO charges ($62 million of the aircraft impairment charge and $7 million of the SVSO charge impacted the International Package segment), and the absence of these charges in 2008 favorably affected the operating profit comparison between periods.

2007 compared to 2006

International Package revenue improved $1.192 billion, or 13.1% in 2007, driven by a 10.4% volume increase for our export products and an 8.3% increase in total revenue per piece. The growth in revenue per piece was positively impacted by base rate increases and the weakening of the U.S. Dollar against several major foreign currencies in 2007, but was adversely affected by a lower fuel surcharge rate applied to our U.S. origin international air products.

Export volume increased throughout the world. Asian export volume grew strongly in key markets during the year, especially China. Asian export volume continues to benefit from our geographic service expansion, as well as strong economic growth, which benefits our intra-Asian package business. To continue this expansion, we received authority in 2007 to operate six daily flights between the U.S. and Nagoya, Japan, and began constructing a package and freight air hub in Shanghai, China that will link Shanghai to our international air network, with direct service to Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

European export volume also grew solidly, largely due to continued growth in the transborder business and improved economic and industrial output in the European Union. U.S. export volume increased at a slower pace. Non-U.S. domestic volume increased 2.2% for the year, and was impacted by growth in several major European countries and Canada.

Export revenue per piece increased 3.9% for the year, largely due to rate increases and favorable exchange rates, but was adversely impacted by relatively higher growth in lower revenue per piece transborder products, and a reduction in certain fuel surcharge rates. Non-U.S. domestic revenue per piece increased 9.6% for the year, and was affected by rate increases and favorable exchange rates. Total average revenue per piece increased 2.7% on a currency-adjusted basis, and the overall change in segment revenue was positively affected by $464 million in 2007 due to currency fluctuations, net of hedging activity.

In January 2007, we increased rates 6.9% for international shipments originating in the United States (Worldwide Express, Worldwide Express Plus, UPS Worldwide Expedited and UPS International Standard service). Rate changes for international shipments originating outside the United States vary by geographical market and occur throughout the year.

 

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Also in January 2007, we modified the fuel surcharge on certain U.S.-related international air services by reducing the index used to determine the fuel surcharge by 2%. The fuel surcharge for products originating outside the United States continues to be indexed to fuel prices in our different international regions. Total international fuel surcharge revenue increased by $12 million during the year due to increased volume, but was partially offset by the reduction in the fuel surcharge index.

International Package operating profit increased $121 million, or 7.1%, for the year, primarily due to the volume and revenue per piece improvements described above. The change in operating profit was also positively affected by $153 million during the year due to favorable currency exchange rates, net of hedging activity. International Package operating profit was adversely affected in 2007 by charges related to the aircraft impairment ($62 million) and the SVSO ($7 million), both of which are discussed further in the “Operating Expenses” section. Operating profit was negatively impacted by fuel, as the increase in fuel surcharge revenue was more than offset by the increase in fuel expense. The adverse impact of the aircraft impairment, SVSO charge, and fuel were the primary causes of the 100 basis point decline in operating margin to 17.8%.

Supply Chain & Freight Operations

2008 compared to 2007

Supply Chain & Freight revenue increased $489 million, or 5.8%, for the year. Forwarding and logistics revenue increased $382 million, or 6.5%, for the year, primarily due to growth in international air freight, North American air freight, distribution services and mail services. Revenue growth in this business was affected by fuel and security surcharges, expanded air freight service offerings, overall market growth and improved customer retention rates. Growth was negatively impacted by weakness in the ocean freight business. Revenue declined by $98 million in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared with 2007, as difficult worldwide economic conditions, slowing world trade, and unfavorable currency exchange rate movements negatively impacted the forwarding and logistics business. The overall change in forwarding and logistics revenue was positively affected by $166 million during the year due to favorable currency exchange rates, but was negatively impacted by $58 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.

UPS Freight increased revenue $83 million, or 3.9%, for the year, as a result of improved yields and higher fuel surcharge rates, but partially offset by a decline in average daily LTL shipments. Average LTL shipments per day decreased 4.6% during the year, reflecting the weak LTL market in the United States in 2008 as compared with 2007. However, LTL revenue per hundredweight increased 7.3% for the year, due to an increase in base rates in 2008 and an increase in fuel surcharge revenue as a result of higher diesel prices. The weak U.S. LTL market declined further in the fourth quarter of 2008, which led to a revenue decline of $41 million, or 7.8%, from the comparable quarter of 2007. Fourth quarter average LTL shipments per day decreased 8.2%, with LTL revenue per hundredweight declining 2.4%, partially due to declining fuel surcharge rates.

In January 2008, UPS Freight announced a general rate increase averaging 5.4% covering non-contractual shipments in the United States and Canada. The increase became effective on February 4, 2008, and applies to minimum charge, LTL and TL rates.

The other businesses within Supply Chain & Freight, which include our retail franchising business and our financial business, increased revenue by 5.9% during the year. This revenue growth was impacted by increased revenue from our contract to provide domestic air transportation services for the U.S. Postal Service.

Operating profit for the Supply Chain & Freight segment decreased by $383 million for the year, primarily due to a $548 million goodwill impairment charge recorded in the fourth quarter in the UPS Freight business unit, as discussed further in the “Operating Expenses” section. Operating profit improved in the forwarding and logistics business, primarily resulting from revenue management initiatives and a focus on asset utilization. The change in operating profit was also positively affected by $12 million in 2008 due to favorable currency exchange rates.

 

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Operating profit for this segment was negatively impacted in 2007 by $8 million due to the SVSO charge and by $46 million as a result of a charge for restructuring and disposing of certain non-core business units in France, as discussed further in the “Operating Expenses” section. The absence of these charges in 2008 favorably affected the operating profit comparison between periods.

2007 compared to 2006

Supply Chain & Freight revenue increased $424 million, or 5.3%, in 2007. Forwarding and logistics revenue increased $230 million, or 4.0%, for the year, and was affected by favorable exchange rate movements and revenue management initiatives begun in 2006. Favorable exchange rate movements positively affected the growth in revenue by $178 million during the year. Revenue growth in this business was driven by improvements in international air freight and mail services, which were impacted by overall market growth and lower customer turnover rates.

UPS Freight increased revenue $156 million, or 8.0%, for the year as a result of improved yields and a strong increase in average daily shipment volume. Average LTL shipments per day increased 8.3% during the year, driven by new customer wins and leveraging our existing small package customer base for new sales opportunities. LTL revenue per hundredweight increased 9.3% during the year, due to an increase in base rates in 2007 and a focus on higher-yielding customer segments. The increase in revenue per hundredweight and average daily shipments were somewhat offset by a 7.5% decrease for the year in the LTL weight per shipment.

The other businesses within Supply Chain & Freight, which include our retail franchising business, our financial business, and our U.S. domestic cargo operations, increased revenue by 10.3% during the year. This revenue growth was primarily due to increased revenue from our contract to provide domestic air transportation services for the U.S. Postal Service.

Operating profit for the Supply Chain & Freight segment was $278 million in 2007, compared with a profit of $2 million in 2006, resulting in a 330 basis point improvement in the operating margin. This improvement was largely due to improved results in the forwarding and logistics business as a result of cost controls, a focus on asset utilization, and revenue management initiatives. Cost improvements were realized as a result of the restructuring program that began in 2006, which included a reduction of non-operating staff of approximately 1,400 people. Additionally, margin improvements are being realized by focusing on capacity utilization in the air freight business, through better utilizing space available on our own aircraft. Finally, revenue management initiatives put into place last year are producing better returns through reducing less profitable accounts, and ensuring that new accounts meet specific criteria that allow us to better utilize our existing transportation assets.

Operating profit in 2007 for this segment was reduced by $46 million as a result of a charge for restructuring and disposing of certain non-core business units in France, as well as by $8 million due to the SVSO charge. These charges are discussed further in the “Operating Expenses” section. Currency fluctuations positively affected the growth in operating profit by $18 million in 2007.

Operating Expenses

2008 compared to 2007

Consolidated operating expenses decreased by $3.010 billion, or 6.1%, for the year, primarily due to a reduction in compensation and benefits expense. Currency fluctuations in our International Package and Supply Chain & Freight segments accounted for approximately $342 million of increased operating expenses from 2007 to 2008.

Compensation and benefits expense decreased by $5.682 billion, or 17.9%, for the year, and was impacted by several items. The primary reason for the decrease was a reduction in pension expense for our multiemployer pension plans, largely relating to a $6.100 billion charge in 2007 to withdraw from the Central States Pension

 

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Fund. Partially offsetting this was a $216 million increase in expense for UPS-sponsored pension plans in the U.S., which was impacted by expense recognition now being required for the new UPS IBT Pension Plan. Non-pension benefits expense increased largely due to higher employee health and welfare program costs, which is impacted by medical cost inflation. Employee payroll costs increased due to contractual wage increases for our union employees and normal merit increases for our non-union employees. Compensation and benefits expense also declined due to the absence in 2008 of the SVSO and France restructuring charges, which had increased compensation and benefits expense by $68 and $42 million in 2007, respectively.

The 3.2% increase in repairs and maintenance was largely due to increased aircraft maintenance, somewhat offset by reduced vehicle maintenance expense. The 4.0% increase in depreciation and amortization was influenced by several factors, including higher depreciation expense on aircraft and vehicles resulting from new deliveries, but partially offset by reduced amortization expense on capitalized software resulting from a decrease in software development projects. The 11.0% increase in purchased transportation was driven by a combination of higher volume in our international package and forwarding businesses, the impact of currency exchange rates, and increased fuel surcharge rates charged to us by third-party carriers. The 39.0% increase in fuel expense was impacted by higher prices for jet-A fuel, diesel, and unleaded gasoline as well as lower hedging gains. The 7.2% increase in other occupancy expense was influenced by higher electricity and natural gas costs, as well as higher rent and property tax expense. During the fourth quarter of 2008, declining energy prices impacted costs such as purchased transportation, which decreased $132 million, or 7.6%, and fuel, which decreased $118 million, or 12.7%, compared with the fourth quarter of 2007.

Other expenses increased 14.9% for the year primarily due to goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges. In addition, we also experienced increased expenses for leased transportation equipment, data processing, advertising, professional services, and bad debts. These factors were partially offset by the absence in 2008 of a $221 million aircraft impairment charge recorded in 2007.

We test our goodwill for impairment annually, as of October 1st, on a reporting unit basis in accordance with FASB Statement No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“FAS 142”). Our reporting units are comprised of the Europe, Asia, and Americas reporting units in the International Package reporting segment, and the Forwarding & Logistics, UPS Freight, MBE / UPS Store, and UPS Capital reporting units in the Supply Chain & Freight reporting segment. The impairment test involves a two-step process. First, a comparison of the fair value of the applicable reporting unit with the aggregate carrying values, including goodwill, is performed. We primarily determine the fair value of our reporting units using a discounted cash flow model, and supplement this with observable valuation multiples for comparable companies, as applicable. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, we perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test to determine the amount of impairment loss. The second step includes comparing the implied fair value of the affected reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying value of that goodwill.

In the fourth quarter of 2008, we completed our annual goodwill impairment testing and determined that our UPS Freight reporting unit, which was formed through the acquisition of Overnite Corporation in 2005, had a goodwill impairment of $548 million. This impairment charge resulted from several factors, including a lower cash flow forecast due to a longer estimated economic recovery time for the LTL sector, and significant deterioration in equity valuations for other similar LTL industry participants. At the time of acquisition of Overnite Corporation, LTL equity valuations were higher and the economy was significantly stronger. We invested in operational improvements and technology upgrades to enhance service and performance, as well as expand service offerings. However, this process took longer than initially anticipated, and thus financial results have been below our expectations. Additionally, the LTL sector in 2008 has been adversely impacted by the economic recession in the U.S., lower industrial production and retail sales, volatile fuel prices, and significant levels of price-based competition. By the fourth quarter of 2008, the combination of these internal and external factors reduced our near term expectations for this unit, leading to the goodwill impairment charge. None of the other reporting units incurred an impairment of goodwill in 2008, nor did we have any goodwill impairment charges in 2007 or 2006.

 

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As a result of weak performance in our domestic package operations in the United Kingdom, we reviewed our long-lived assets, including intangible assets, for impairment within our U.K. domestic package entity. Based on recent performance and near-term projections, the value assigned to a customer list intangible asset acquired within the U.K. domestic package business was determined to be impaired. This was the result of both higher than anticipated customer turnover and reduced operating margins associated with an acquired business. Accordingly, an intangible asset impairment charge of $27 million was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2008.

2007 compared to 2006

Consolidated operating expenses increased by $8.202 billion, or 20.0%, in 2007 compared with 2006. Currency fluctuations in our International Package and Supply Chain & Freight segments resulted in consolidated operating expenses increasing by $471 million for the year.

Compensation and benefits expense increased by $7.324 billion for the year, and was impacted by several items including the charge for the withdrawal from the Central States Pension Fund, higher wage rates in the union workforce, increased stock-based compensation, higher expense for union pension and welfare programs, the SVSO charge, and the restructuring charge in our Supply Chain & Freight business in France. These increases were slightly offset by lower workers compensation expense.

Our national master agreement with the Teamsters allowed us, upon ratification, to withdraw employees from the Central States Pension Fund and to establish a jointly trusteed single-employer plan for this group (“UPS IBT Pension Plan”). Upon ratification of the contract in December 2007 and our withdrawal from the Central States Pension Fund, we recorded a pre-tax $6.100 billion charge to establish our withdrawal liability, and made a December 2007 payment in the same amount to the Central States Pension Fund to satisfy this liability.

The withdrawal liability was based on computations performed by independent actuaries employed by the Central States Pension Fund, in accordance with the plan document and the applicable requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). We negotiated our withdrawal from the Central States Pension Fund as part of our national master agreement with the Teamsters, which included other modifications to hourly wage rates, healthcare and pension benefits, and work rules. We sought to negotiate our withdrawal from the Central States Pension Fund, as we believed the fund would likely continue to have funding challenges, and would present a risk to UPS of having to face higher future contribution requirements and a risk to the security of the pension benefits of those UPS employees who participated in the fund. We believe that we benefited financially from the ability to achieve a ratified national master agreement seven months before the expiration of the previous agreement, as well as by gaining better control over the future cost and funding of pension benefits by limiting our obligations solely to UPS Teamster employees through the new UPS IBT Pension Plan. As the UPS IBT Pension Plan matures, we believe that it will become cost beneficial from a cash flow and earnings standpoint compared with having remained in the Central States Pension Fund.

In December 2006, we offered the SVSO to approximately 640 employees who work in non-operating functions. This program was established to improve the efficiency of non-operating processes by eliminating duplication and sharing expertise across the company. The SVSO ended in February 2007, and 195, or 30% of eligible employees, accepted the offer. As a result, we recorded a charge to expense of $68 million in the first quarter of 2007, to reflect the cash payout and the acceleration of stock compensation and certain retiree healthcare benefits under the SVSO program.

In the third quarter of 2007, we initiated a restructuring plan for our forwarding and logistics operations in France. The objective of this restructuring plan was to reduce our forwarding and logistics cost structure and focus on profitable revenue growth in the Europe region. The restructuring principally consisted of an employment reduction program, which was ratified by our company’s trade union representatives in France in

 

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July 2007. Employees participating in this program were entitled to severance benefits, including certain bonuses for employees participating in the voluntary termination phase. These severance benefits were formula-driven and were in accordance with French statutory laws as well as the applicable collective bargaining agreements. We recorded a restructuring charge of $46 million ($42 million related to severance costs, and thus recorded in compensation and benefits expense) in 2007 related to this program.

Stock-based and other management incentive compensation expense increased $113 million, or 17.7%, during 2007, primarily due to 2007 awards of stock options, restricted performance units, and restricted stock units. Pension and healthcare expense increased during the year, largely due to higher expense associated with plans covering union employees, but was somewhat offset by a $59 million decrease in expense for the UPS-sponsored pension plans in the U.S.

The expense associated with our self-insurance accruals for workers’ compensation claims, automotive liability and general business liabilities was $46 million lower in 2007 compared with 2006. Insurance reserves are established for estimates of the loss that we will ultimately incur on reported claims, as well as estimates of claims that have been incurred but not yet reported. Recorded balances are based on reserve levels, which incorporate historical loss experience and judgments about the present and expected levels of cost per claim. The lower expense reflects favorable claims experience resulting from several company initiatives put into place over the last several years and other factors, including initiatives to decrease accident frequencies, improved oversight and management of claims, improved trends in health care costs, and favorable state legislative reforms.

The 0.2% increase in repairs and maintenance reflects higher maintenance expense on aircraft, largely offset by lower maintenance expense on vehicles and buildings. The 0.2% decrease in depreciation and amortization was influenced by several factors, including lower depreciation expense on aircraft and amortization expense on capitalized software, partially offset by increased depreciation expense on vehicles. The 7.4% increase in purchased transportation was impacted by volume growth in our International Package business and currency fluctuations, as well as growth in our international forwarding business. The 12.0% increase in fuel expense for the year was primarily due to higher prices for jet and diesel fuel, as well as higher usage, but was partially mitigated by hedging gains. Other occupancy expense increased 2.1% for the year, and was affected by increased rent expense and property taxes, but partially offset by lower utilities expense. The 3.0% increase in other expenses for the year was affected by a $221 million aircraft impairment charge, discussed further below, but partially offset with cost controls in several areas. The comparison in other expenses was also affected by an $87 million charge to settle class action litigation in 2006.

As a result of business changes that occurred in the first quarter of 2007, including capacity-optimization programs in our domestic and international air freight forwarding business as well as changes to our aircraft orders and planned delivery dates, we began a review process of our aircraft fleet types to ensure that we maintain the optimum mix of aircraft types to service our international and domestic package businesses. The review was completed in March 2007, and based on the results of our evaluation we accelerated the planned retirement of certain Boeing 727 and 747 aircraft, and recognized an impairment and obsolescence charge of $221 million for the aircraft and related engines and parts in 2007. This charge is included in the caption “Other expenses” in the Statement of Consolidated Income, of which $159 million impacted our U.S. Domestic Package segment and $62 million impacted our International Package segment.

Investment Income and Interest Expense

2008 compared to 2007

The decrease in investment income of $24 million was primarily due to a lower average balance of interest-earning investments, investment impairment charges, and a lower yield earned on our investments. During 2008, we recorded impairment losses on two auction rate securities that were collateralized by preferred stock issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”). The impairment followed actions by the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing

 

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Finance Agency with respect to FNMA and FHLMC. Additionally, we recorded impairment losses on a municipal auction rate security and on holdings of several medium term notes issued by Lehman Brothers Inc., which declared bankruptcy during 2008. We do not hold any other securities in any of these entities. The total of these credit-related impairment losses during 2008 was $23 million, which was recorded in investment income on the income statement.

Interest expense increased $196 million in 2008, primarily due to a higher average balance of outstanding debt. In early 2008, we completed the issuance of $4.0 billion in long-term debt, the proceeds of which were used to reduce our commercial paper balance. Our commercial paper balances had previously increased to fund the $6.100 billion Central States Pension Fund withdrawal payment in December 2007. The impact of increased debt balances was partially mitigated, however, by lower average rates incurred on our variable rate debt and interest rate swap agreements as a result of declines in short-term interest rates in the United States throughout 2008.

2007 compared to 2006

The increase in investment income of $13 million was primarily due to higher realized gains on sales of investments, but partially offset by a lower average balance of interest-earning investments and increased equity-method losses on investment partnerships.

Interest expense increased $35 million in 2007, primarily due to higher average debt balances outstanding, largely related to commercial paper. Our commercial paper balances increased in the fourth quarter of 2007, causing a corresponding increase in interest expense, as a result of the payment made to withdraw from the Central States Pension Fund. Increased interest charges were somewhat offset, however, by higher capitalized interest related to various construction projects, including aircraft purchases and our Worldport expansion.

Income Tax Expense

2008 compared to 2007

Income tax expense increased by $1.963 billion in 2008 compared with 2007, primarily due to higher pre-tax income. Pre-tax income in 2007 was adversely impacted by the Central States withdrawal charge, as noted previously. The effective tax rate was 40.1% in 2008, compared with 11.4% in 2007. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to several factors resulting from the Central States withdrawal charge in 2007. These factors included having proportionally lower tax credits in 2008, and the effect of having a much higher proportion of our taxable income in 2008 being subject to tax in the United States, whereas a relatively greater proportion of taxable income in 2007 was subject to tax outside the United States, where effective tax rates are generally lower. The effective tax rate in 2008 was also 4.1 percentage points higher due to the lack of tax deductibility of the $548 million goodwill and $27 million intangible impairment charges discussed previously.

2007 compared to 2006

Income tax expense declined by $2.259 billion in 2007 compared with 2006, due to lower pre-tax income primarily resulting from the Central States Pension Fund withdrawal charge. The effective tax rate was 11.4% in 2007 and 35.5% in 2006. During 2007, our effective tax rate was reduced primarily due to proportionally higher tax credits and the effect of having a relatively larger proportion of our taxable income being earned in international jurisdictions with lower tax rates.

Net Income and Earnings Per Share

2008 compared to 2007

Net income for 2008 was $3.003 billion, compared with the $382 million achieved in 2007, resulting in an increase in diluted earnings per share to $2.94 in 2008 from $0.36 in 2007. The increase in net income was largely due to the absence in 2008 of some of the previously discussed charges to expense in 2007. In 2007, net

 

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income was negatively impacted by the after-tax impact of the charge recorded to reflect our withdrawal from the Central States Pension Fund ($3.772 billion), the charge related to the restructuring and disposal of certain logistics operations in France ($31 million), the aircraft impairment charge ($141 million), and SVSO charge ($43 million). The combination of these four charges reduced 2007 diluted earnings per share by $3.75.

In 2008, net income was adversely affected by the UPS Freight goodwill impairment charge ($548 million) and customer list intangible asset impairment charge in the United Kingdom ($27 million). The combination of these two charges reduced 2008 diluted earnings per share by $0.56. Net income during 2008 was also adversely impacted by the deteriorating worldwide economic situation, as previously discussed. Earnings per share was favorably impacted by a reduction in outstanding shares as a result of our ongoing share repurchase program, as the total number of outstanding shares declined by 4.3% during 2008.

2007 compared to 2006

Net income for 2007 was $382 million, a decrease from the $4.202 billion achieved in 2006, resulting in a decrease in diluted earnings per share to $0.36 in 2007 from $3.86 in 2006. This decrease in net income was largely due to the after-tax $3.772 billion charge recorded to reflect our withdrawal from the Central States Pension Fund. Additionally, 2007 net income was adversely impacted by $31 million as a result of the restructuring charge in our France Supply Chain & Freight business, $141 million as a result of the aircraft impairment charge, and $43 million as a result of the SVSO charge. These items were partially offset by the improved results in our International Package and Supply Chain & Freight segments.

The reduction in basic and diluted earnings per share were largely due to the pension withdrawal, aircraft impairment, France restructuring, and SVSO charges noted above. These items reduced basic and diluted earnings per share by $3.77 and $3.75 in 2007. Earnings per share was favorably impacted by a reduction in outstanding shares as a result of our ongoing share repurchase program, as the total number of outstanding shares declined by 2.7% during 2007.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $8.426, $1.123, and $5.589 billion in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. The increase in 2008 operating cash flows compared with 2007 was impacted by several items, including changes in pension fundings, tax payments and refunds, and rates for our delivery services.

In 2007, operating cash flow was adversely impacted by the $6.100 billion payment made to withdraw from the Central States Pension Fund. Total contributions to our pension and postretirement benefit plans declined in 2008 compared with 2007, even excluding the Central States Pension Fund withdrawal payment. As discussed in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements, total multiemployer pension plan fundings decreased by $473 million in 2008 compared with 2007 (excluding the $6.100 billion withdrawal charge in 2007), largely due to the lack of contributions to the Central States Pension Fund in 2008 subsequent to our withdrawal. Additionally, contributions to our company-sponsored pension and postretirement plans declined by $441 million in 2008 compared with 2007, as we had no material minimum funding requirements in 2008 and we made no significant discretionary contributions to our plans. As discussed further in the “Contractual Commitments” section, we do have minimum funding requirements in the next several years, primarily related to the UPS IBT Pension Plan.

The increase in operating cash flow was also favorably impacted by the timing of tax refunds and estimated tax payments in both 2008 and 2007. In 2008, we received an $850 million U.S. federal tax refund due to prior overpayments of our estimated tax liability, primarily resulting from the deductibility of the Central States Pension Fund withdrawal payment for tax purposes. Additionally, the amount of U.S. federal quarterly estimated

 

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income tax payments was lower in 2007 compared with 2006, also primarily relating to the deductibility of the pension withdrawal payment. As of December 31, 2008, we have received substantially all of the expected cash tax benefits resulting from the withdrawal payment.

Changes in package volume and pricing affect operating cash flow. As noted previously, we increased rates in our package delivery and LTL services at the end of 2007. Additionally, in October 2008, we announced a base rate increase and a change in the fuel surcharge that took effect on January 5, 2009. We increased the base rates 6.9% on UPS Next Day Air, UPS 2nd Day Air, and UPS 3 Day Select, and 5.9% on UPS Ground. We also increased the base rates 6.9% for international shipments originating in the United States (Worldwide Express, Worldwide Express Plus, UPS Worldwide Expedited and UPS International Standard service). Other pricing changes included a $0.10 increase in the residential surcharge, and an increase of $0.10 in the delivery area surcharge on both residential and commercial services to certain ZIP codes. These rate changes are customary, and are consistent with previous years’ rate increases. Additionally, we modified the fuel surcharge on domestic and U.S.-origin international air services by reducing by 2% the index used to determine the fuel surcharge. The UPS Ground fuel surcharge continues to fluctuate based on the U.S. Energy Department’s On-Highway Diesel Fuel Price. Rate changes for shipments originating outside the U.S. are made throughout the year and vary by geographic market.

In October 2008, UPS Freight announced a general rate increase averaging 5.9% covering non-contractual shipments in the United States and Canada. The increase took effect on January 5, 2009, and applies to minimum charge, LTL and TL rates.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $3.179, $2.199, and $2.340 billion in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. The increase in cash used in 2008 compared with 2007 was primarily due to increased net purchases of marketable securities. Net (purchases) sales of marketable securities were ($278), $621, and $482 million in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. The net sales of marketable securities in 2007 and 2006 were primarily used to fund our pension and postretirement medical benefit plans, as well as to repurchase shares.

Capital expenditures represent a primary use of cash in investing activities, as follows (in millions):

 

     2008    2007    2006

Buildings and facilities

   $ 968    $ 853    $ 720

Aircraft and parts

     852      1,137      1,150

Vehicles

     539      492      831

Information technology

     277      338      384
                    
   $ 2,636    $ 2,820    $ 3,085
                    

As described in the “Contractual Commitments” section below, we have commitments for the purchase of aircraft, vehicles, equipment and other fixed assets to provide for the replacement of existing capacity and anticipated future growth. We fund our capital expenditures with our cash from operations. The reduction in capital expenditures was largely due to the timing of aircraft deliveries. Capital expenditures on buildings and facilities increased in 2008, primarily resulting from our Worldport hub expansion, as well as the expansion and new construction projects at other facilities in Europe, Canada, and China. In the fourth quarter of 2008, we opened our new international air hub in Shanghai, China, and also began construction of our new intra-Asia air hub in Shenzhen, China.

We had a net cash use of $49 and $39 million in 2008 and 2007, respectively, and net cash generation of $68 million in 2006, due to originations, sales, and customer paydowns of finance receivables, primarily in our commercial lending, asset-based lending, and leasing portfolios.

 

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Other investing activities reflected a cash outflow of $363 million in 2008 as compared with a $46 million outflow in 2007 and a $120 million cash inflow in 2006, and was impacted by cash settlements of derivative contracts used in our energy and currency hedging programs, the timing of aircraft purchase contract deposits on our Boeing 767-300 and Boeing 747-400 aircraft orders, and increases in restricted cash balances. In 2008, we entered into an escrow agreement with an insurance carrier to guarantee our self-insurance obligations. This agreement required us to provide $191 million in cash collateral to the insurance carrier, which is classified as restricted cash within other non-current assets on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2008. We received (paid) cash related to purchases and settlements of energy and currency derivative contracts of ($208), ($140), and $233 million during 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.

Financing Activities

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities was $(6.702), $2.297, and ($3.851) billion in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. Our primary uses of cash flows for financing activities are to repurchase shares, pay cash dividends, and make debt principal repayments.

We repaid debt principal, net of issuances, of $921 million in 2008, compared with net issuances of debt of $6.509 billion in 2007. In 2007, we increased our commercial paper borrowings to fund the $6.100 billion withdrawal payment to the Central States Pension Fund (commercial paper increased $6.575 billion at December 31, 2007 over December 31, 2006) upon ratification of our labor contract with the Teamsters, as previously discussed. In 2008, we repaid most of this commercial paper with the proceeds from a $4.0 billion senior notes offering, as well as the $850 million U.S. federal tax refund received. In January 2008, we completed an offering of $1.750 billion of 4.50% senior notes due January 2013, $750 million of 5.50% senior notes due January 2018, and $1.500 billion of 6.20% senior notes due January 2038. All of these notes pay interest semiannually, and allow for redemption of the notes by UPS at any time by paying the greater of the principal amount or a “make-whole” amount, plus accrued interest. After pricing and underwriting discounts, we received a total of $3.961 billion in cash proceeds from the offering. Concurrent with the issuance these notes, we settled certain derivatives that were designated as hedges of the notes offering, resulting in a cash outflow of $84 million (which is reported in other financing activities on the cash flow statement).

Other than commercial paper, repayments of debt consisted primarily of scheduled principal payments on our capital lease obligations, redemption of certain tranches of UPS Notes, and principal payments on debt related to our investment in certain partnerships. During 2008, we called for the redemption of $327 million of notes issued under our UPS Notes program, and the associated swaps on the notes were terminated. We consider the overall fixed and floating interest rate mix of our portfolio and the related overall cost of borrowing when planning for future issuances and non-scheduled repayments of debt.

In January 2008, we announced a new financial policy regarding our capital structure to enhance shareowner value. We intend to manage our balance sheet to a target debt ratio of approximately 50%-60% funds from operations to total debt. In connection with this policy, the Board of Directors authorized an increase in our share repurchase authorization to $10.0 billion. Share repurchases may take the form of accelerated share repurchases, open market purchases, or other such methods as we deem appropriate. The timing of our share repurchases will depend upon market conditions. Unless terminated earlier by the resolution of our Board, the program will expire when we have purchased all shares authorized for repurchase under the program. During 2008, 2007, and 2006, we repurchased a total of 53.6, 35.9, and 32.6 million shares of Class A and Class B common stock for $3.558, $2.618, and $2.455 billion, respectively ($3.570, $2.639, and $2.460 billion reported on the statement of cash flows due to timing of settlements).

Our quarterly cash dividends declared were $0.45, $0.42, and $0.38 per share in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. Additionally, in 2008 the Board of Directors approved an earlier payment schedule for the November dividend declaration, as in prior years this dividend was payable the following January. As a result, a total of five dividend payments were made in 2008. This extra dividend payment, along with the higher quarterly

 

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dividend per share, resulted in an increase in total cash dividends paid to $2.219 billion in 2008 from $1.703 billion in 2007 and $1.577 billion in 2006. The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on various factors, including our net income, financial condition, cash requirements, future prospects, and other relevant factors. We expect to continue the practice of paying regular cash dividends. On February 11, 2009, our Board declared a dividend of $0.45 per share, which is payable on March 10, 2009 to shareowners of record on February 23, 2009.

Sources of Credit

We are authorized to borrow up to $10.0 billion under our U.S. commercial paper program. We had $2.922 billion outstanding under this program as of December 31, 2008, with an average interest rate of 0.55%. At December 31, 2008, we classified $1.0 billion of our commercial paper as long-term debt on our balance sheet, based on our intent and ability to refinance this debt on a long-term basis in the future. We also maintain a European commercial paper program under which we are authorized to borrow up to €1.0 billion in a variety of currencies, however no amounts were outstanding under this program as of December 31, 2008.

We maintain two credit agreements with a consortium of banks. One of these agreements provides revolving credit facilities of $4.5 billion, and expires on April 16, 2009. The second agreement provides revolving credit facilities of $1.0 billion, and expires on April 19, 2012. Interest on any amounts we borrow under these facilities would be charged at 90-day LIBOR plus 15 basis points. At December 31, 2008, there were no outstanding borrowings under these facilities.

In addition to these credit facilities, we have an automatically effective registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC that is available for registered offerings of short or long-term debt securities.

As of December 31, 2008, our Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) short-term credit ratings were P-1 and A-1+, respectively, and our Moody’s and S&P long-term credit ratings were Aa2 and AA-, respectively, with a stable outlook from both of these credit rating agencies.

Our existing debt instruments and credit facilities do not have cross-default or ratings triggers, however these debt instruments and credit facilities do subject us to certain financial covenants. These covenants limit the amount of secured indebtedness that may be incurred by the Company, and limit the amount of sale-leaseback transactions that the Company may engage in, to 10% of net tangible assets each. As of December 31, 2008 and for all prior periods, we have satisfied these financial covenants. As of December 31, 2008, 10% of net tangible assets is equivalent to $2.156 billion, however we have no qualifying sale-leaseback transactions or secured indebtedness outstanding. We do not expect these covenants to have a material impact on financial condition or liquidity.

Guarantees and Other Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have guarantees or other off-balance sheet financing arrangements, including variable interest entities, which we believe could have a material impact on financial condition or liquidity.

 

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Contractual Commitments

We have contractual obligations and commitments in the form of capital leases, operating leases, debt obligations, purchase commitments, pension fundings, and certain other liabilities. We intend to satisfy these obligations through the use of cash flow from operations. The following table summarizes the expected cash outflow to satisfy our contractual obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2008 (in millions):

 

Year

   Capital
Leases
   Operating
Leases
   Debt
Principal
   Debt
Interest
   Purchase
Commitments
   Pension
Fundings
   Other
Liabilities

2009

   $ 83    $ 344    $ 2,007    $ 331    $ 708    $ 778    $ 74

2010

     121      288      18      326      658      593      71

2011

     29      217      5      326      667      828      69

2012

     30      147      22      325      406      945      67

2013

     31      109      1,768      285      —        964      65

After 2013

     246      423      5,658      4,526      —        —        139
                                                

Total

   $ 540    $ 1,528    $ 9,478    $ 6,119    $ 2,439    $ 4,108    $ 485
                                                

Our capital lease obligations relate primarily to leases on aircraft. Capital leases, operating leases, and purchase commitments, as well as our debt principal obligations, are discussed further in Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements. The amount of interest on our debt was calculated as the contractual interest payments due on our fixed-rate debt, in addition to interest on variable rate debt that was calculated based on interest rates as of December 31, 2008. The calculations of debt interest do not take into account the effect of interest rate swap agreements. For debt denominated in a foreign currency, the U.S. Dollar equivalent principal amount of the debt at the end of the year was used as the basis to calculate future interest payments.

Purchase commitments represent contractual agreements to purchase goods or services that are legally binding, the largest of which are orders for aircraft, engines, and parts. As of December 31, 2008, we maintain orders for 27 Boeing 767-300ER freighters to be delivered between 2009 and 2012, and five Boeing 747-400F aircraft scheduled for delivery during 2009 and 2010. These aircraft purchase orders will provide for the replacement of existing capacity and anticipated future growth.

Pension fundings represent the anticipated required cash contributions that will be made to the UPS IBT Pension Plan, which was established upon ratification of the national master agreement with the Teamsters, as well as the UPS Retirement Plan and the UPS Pension Plan. These plans are discussed further in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements. The pension funding requirements were estimated under the provisions of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, using discount rates, asset returns, and other assumptions appropriate for these plans. To the extent that the funded status of these plans in future years differs from our current projections, the actual contributions made in future years could materially differ from the amounts shown in the table above.

As a result of losses experienced in the global equity markets, our U.S. domestic pension plans experienced a negative return on assets of approximately 26% in 2008, however these losses did not trigger any minimum funding requirement for contributions in 2009 in the UPS Retirement Plan or UPS Pension Plan. The amount of any minimum funding requirement, as applicable, for these plans could change significantly in future periods, depending on many factors, including future plan asset returns and discount rates. A sustained significant decline in the world equity markets, and the resulting impact on our pension assets and investment returns, could result in our domestic pension plans being subject to significantly higher minimum funding requirements. Such an outcome could have a material adverse impact on our financial position and cash flows in future periods.

The contractual payments due under the “other liabilities” column primarily includes commitment payments related to our investment in certain partnerships. The table above does not include approximately $388 million of unrecognized tax benefits that have been recognized as liabilities in accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 48,

 

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“Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”), because we are uncertain if or when such amounts will ultimately be settled in cash. In addition, although we have recognized and disclosed unrecognized tax benefits in accordance with FIN 48, we also have outstanding recognized tax benefits in excess of the recorded liabilities such that we do not believe a net contractual obligation exists to the taxing authorities. FIN 48 is discussed further in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements.

As of December 31, 2008, we had outstanding letters of credit totaling approximately $2.132 billion issued in connection with routine business requirements. We also issue surety bonds as an alternative to letters of credit in certain instances, and as of December 31, 2008, we had $262 million of surety bonds written. As of December 31, 2008, we had unfunded loan commitments totaling $885 million associated with our financial business.

We believe that funds from operations and borrowing programs will provide adequate sources of liquidity and capital resources to meet our expected long-term needs for the operation of our business, including anticipated capital expenditures, such as commitments for aircraft purchases, for the foreseeable future.

Contingencies

We are a defendant in a number of lawsuits filed in state and federal courts containing various class-action allegations under state wage-and-hour laws. In one of these cases, Marlo v. UPS, which was certified as a class action in a California federal court in June 2004, plaintiffs allege that they improperly were denied overtime, and seek penalties for missed meal and rest periods, and interest and attorneys’ fees. Plaintiffs purport to represent a class of 1,300 full-time supervisors. In August 2005, the court granted summary judgment in favor of UPS on all claims, and plaintiff appealed the ruling. In October 2007, the appeals court reversed the lower court’s ruling. In April 2008, the Court decertified the class and vacated the trial scheduled for April 29, 2008. We have denied any liability with respect to these claims and intend to vigorously defend ourselves in this case. At this time, we have not determined the amount of any liability that may result from this matter or whether such liability, if any, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

In another case, Hohider v. UPS, which in July 2007 was certified as a class action in a Pennsylvania federal court, plaintiffs have challenged certain aspects of the Company’s interactive process for assessing requests for reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Plaintiffs purport to represent a class of over 35,000 current and former employees, and seek back-pay, and compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorneys’ fees. In August 2007, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Company’s Petition to hear the appeal of the trial court’s certification order. Oral argument took place in November 2008. The appeal will likely take one year. We have denied any liability with respect to these claims and intend to vigorously defend ourselves in this case. At this time, we have not determined the amount of any liability that may result from this matter or whether such liability, if any, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

UPS and Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. are defendants in various lawsuits brought by franchisees who operate Mail Boxes Etc. centers and The UPS Store locations. These lawsuits relate to the rebranding of Mail Boxes Etc. centers to The UPS Store, The UPS Store business model, the representations made in connection with the rebranding and the sale of The UPS Store franchises, and UPS’s sale of services in the franchisees’ territories. We have denied any liability with respect to these claims and intend to defend ourselves vigorously. At this time, we have not determined the amount of any liability that may result from these matters or whether such liability, if any, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

UPS Freight, along with several other companies involved in the LTL freight business, is a defendant in a Multi-District Litigation pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The lawsuits allege that the defendants conspired to fix fuel surcharge rates, and they seek injunctive relief, treble damages and attorneys’ fees. We have denied any liability with respect to these claims and intend to vigorously

 

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defend ourselves in these cases, and defendants’ motion to dismiss is pending for decision by the Court. These cases are at a preliminary stage and at this time, we have not determined the amount of any liability that may result from this matter or whether such liability, if any, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

We are a defendant in various other lawsuits that arose in the normal course of business. We believe that the eventual resolution of these cases will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

We file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, most U.S. state and local jurisdictions, and many non-U.S. jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2008, we had substantially resolved all U.S. federal income tax matters for tax years prior to 1999. In February and July 2008, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) completed its audit of the tax years 1999 through 2002 and tax years 2003 through 2004, respectively, with only a limited number of issues that will be considered by the IRS Appeals Office by the end of 2009. In late 2008, the IRS began the initial planning phase of the income tax audit for tax years 2005 through 2007. Along with this audit for tax years 2005 through 2007, the IRS is currently examining non-income based taxes, including employment and excise taxes on transportation of property by air and fuel purchases, which could lead to proposed assessments. The IRS has not presented an official position with regard to these taxes at this time, and therefore we are not able to determine the technical merit of any potential assessment; however, we do not believe that the resolution of this matter would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to U.S. state and local and non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for tax years prior to 1999, but certain U.S. state and local matters are subject to ongoing litigation.

As of December 31, 2008, we had approximately 260,000 employees employed under a national master agreement and various supplemental agreements with local unions affiliated with the Teamsters. In September 2007, we reached a new national master agreement with the Teamsters, which was ratified in December 2007. The new agreement provides for wage increases as well as contributions to healthcare and pension plans, and most economic provisions of the new five year agreement took effect on August 1, 2008, with the exception of our withdrawal from the Central States Pension Fund which occurred in 2007. We have approximately 2,900 pilots who are employed under a collective bargaining agreement with the Independent Pilots Association, which becomes amendable at the end of 2011. Our airline mechanics are covered by a collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local 2727, which became amendable in November 2006. We began formal negotiations with Teamsters Local 2727 in October 2006. In addition, the majority of our ground mechanics who are not employed under agreements with the Teamsters are employed under collective bargaining agreements with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (approximately 3,000). These agreements run through July 31, 2009.

We participate in a number of trustee-managed multi-employer pension and health and welfare plans for employees covered under collective bargaining agreements. Several factors could cause us to make significantly higher future contributions to these plans, including unfavorable investment performance, changes in demographics, and increased benefits to participants. At this time, we are unable to determine the amount of additional future contributions, if any, or whether any material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity would result from our participation in these plans.

Other Matters

We received grand jury subpoenas from the Antitrust Division of the DOJ regarding the DOJ’s investigations into certain pricing practices in the air cargo industry in July 2006, and into certain pricing practices in the freight forwarding industry in December 2007. In October 2007 and June 2008, we received information requests from the European Commission relating to its investigation of certain pricing practices in the freight forwarding industry. We also received and responded to related information requests from competition authorities in other jurisdictions. We are cooperating with these inquiries.

 

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New Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 157 “Fair Value Measurements” (“FAS 157”), which was issued to define fair value, establish a framework for measuring fair value, and expand disclosures about fair value measurements, and is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. In February 2008, the FASB deferred the effective date of FAS 157 for one year for certain nonfinancial assets and liabilities, and removed certain leasing transactions from its scope. We adopted FAS 157 on January 1, 2008, and the impact of adoption was not material to our results of operations or financial condition. The disclosures required by FAS 157 are discussed in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 158 “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans (an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R))” (“FAS 158”). This statement requires us to recognize the funded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans as an asset or liability in the balance sheet, and required delayed recognition items, consisting of actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs and credits, to be recognized in other comprehensive income and subsequently amortized to the income statement. On December 31, 2006, we adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of FAS 158, which resulted in a reduction to AOCI of $2.097 billion and a reduction of long-term deferred tax liabilities of $1.258 billion.

Additionally, we previously utilized the early measurement date option available under Statement No. 87 “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions”, and we measured the funded status of our plans as of September 30 each year. Under the provisions of FAS 158, we were required to use a December 31 measurement date for all of our pension and postretirement benefit plans beginning in 2008. As a result of this change in measurement date, we recorded a cumulative effect after-tax $44 million reduction to retained earnings as of January 1, 2008. The adoption of FAS 158 is discussed in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 159 “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“FAS 159”), which gives entities the option to measure eligible financial assets, financial liabilities and firm commitments at fair value (i.e., the fair value option), on an instrument-by-instrument basis, that are otherwise not accounted for at fair value under other accounting standards. The election to use the fair value option is available at specified election dates, such as when an entity first recognizes a financial asset or financial liability or upon entering into a firm commitment. Subsequent changes in fair value must be recorded in earnings. Additionally, FAS 159 allows for a one-time election for existing positions upon adoption, with the transition adjustment recorded to beginning retained earnings. We adopted FAS 159 on January 1, 2008, and elected to apply the fair value option to our investment in certain investment partnerships that were previously accounted for under the equity method. Accordingly, we recorded a $16 million reduction to retained earnings as of January 1, 2008, representing the cumulative effect adjustment of adopting FAS 159. The adoption of FAS 159 is discussed in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements.

In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 requires that we determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. Once it is determined that a position meets this recognition threshold, the position is measured to determine the amount of benefit to be recognized in the financial statements. On January 1, 2007, we adopted the provisions of FIN 48, and the impact of this Interpretation is discussed in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements.

In June 2007, the EITF reached consensus on Issue No. 06-11, “Accounting for Income Tax Benefits of Dividends on Share-Based Payment Awards.” EITF 06-11 requires that the tax benefit related to dividend equivalents paid on restricted stock units, which are expected to vest, be recorded as an increase to additional paid-in capital. EITF 06-11 is applied prospectively for tax benefits on dividends declared in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007. We adopted the provisions of EITF 06-11 beginning in the first quarter of 2008. This adoption did not have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.

 

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In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 141(R) “Business Combinations” (“FAS 141(R)”). FAS 141(R) requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize the full fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction (whether a full or partial acquisition); establishes the acquisition-date fair value as the measurement objective for all assets acquired and liabilities assumed; requires expensing of most transaction and restructuring costs; and requires the acquirer to disclose in its financial statements the information needed to evaluate and understand the nature and financial effect of the business combination. FAS 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after January 1, 2009. The impact of FAS No. 141(R) on our consolidated financial statements will depend upon the nature, terms and size of the acquisitions we consummate after the effective date.

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51” (“FAS 160”). FAS 160 requires reporting entities to present noncontrolling (minority) interests as equity (as opposed to as a liability or mezzanine equity) and provides guidance on the accounting for transactions between an entity and noncontrolling interests. As of December 31, 2008, we had approximately $5 million in noncontrolling interests classified in other non-current liabilities. FAS 160 applies prospectively as of January 1, 2009, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements which will be applied retrospectively for all periods presented.

In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133” (“FAS 161”), which requires additional disclosures about the objectives of derivative instruments and hedging activities, the method of accounting for such instruments under FAS 133 and its related interpretations, and a tabular disclosure of the effects of such instruments and related hedged items on our financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. We adopted FAS 161 on January 1, 2009. FAS 161 only impacts our disclosures, and does not impact our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. These new disclosures will be required for us beginning in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.

In October 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position No. FAS 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset is Not Active” (“FSP 157-3”). FSP 157-3 clarifies the application of FAS 157, which we adopted as of January 1, 2008, in cases where a market is not active. We have considered the guidance provided by FSP 157-3 in our determination of estimated fair values as of December 31, 2008, and the impact was not material.

In December 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 132(R)-1, “Employers’ Disclosure about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets”, which amends Statement 132(R) to require more detailed disclosures about employers’ pension plan assets. New disclosures will include more information on investment strategies, major categories of assets, concentrations of risk within plan assets, and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets. This new standard requires new disclosures only, and will have no impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. These new disclosures will be required for us beginning in our Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2009.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. As indicated in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements, the amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses reported in our financial statements are affected by estimates and judgments that are necessary to comply with generally accepted accounting principles. We base our estimates on prior experience and other assumptions that we consider reasonable to our circumstances. Actual results could differ from our estimates, which would affect the related amounts reported in our financial statements. While estimates and judgments are applied in arriving at many reported amounts, we believe that the following matters may involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity.

 

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Contingencies—As discussed in Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements, we are involved in various legal proceedings and contingencies. We have recorded liabilities for these matters in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies” (“FAS 5”). FAS 5 requires a liability to be recorded based on our estimate of the probable cost of the resolution of a contingency. The actual resolution of these contingencies may differ from our estimates. If a contingency is settled for an amount greater than our estimate, a future charge to income would result. Likewise, if a contingency is settled for an amount that is less than our estimate, a future credit to income would result.

The events that may impact our contingent liabilities are often unique and generally are not predictable. At the time a contingency is identified, we consider all relevant facts as part of our FAS 5 evaluation. We record a liability for a loss that meets the recognition criteria of FAS 5. These criteria require recognition of a liability when the loss is probable of occurring and reasonably estimable. Events may arise that were not anticipated and the outcome of a contingency may result in a loss to us that differs from our previously estimated liability. These factors could result in a material difference between estimated and actual operating results. Contingent losses that meet the recognition criteria under FAS 5, excluding those related to income taxes and self insurance which are discussed further below, were not material to the Company’s financial position as of December 31, 2008. In addition, we have certain contingent liabilities that have not been recognized as of December 31, 2008, because a loss is not reasonably estimable.

Goodwill and Intangible Impairment—We account for goodwill in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“FAS 142”), which requires annual impairment testing of goodwill for each of our reporting units. Our reporting units are comprised of the Europe, Asia, and Americas reporting units in the International Package reporting segment, and the Forwarding & Logistics, UPS Freight, MBE / UPS Store, and UPS Capital reporting units in the Supply Chain & Freight reporting segment. Our annual goodwill impairment testing date is October 1st for each reporting unit. The impairment test involves a two-step process. First, a comparison of the fair value of the applicable reporting unit with the aggregate carrying values, including goodwill, is performed. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, we perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test to determine the amount of impairment loss. The second step includes comparing the implied fair value of the affected reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying value of that goodwill.

We primarily determine the fair value of our reporting units using a discounted cash flow model (“DCF model”), and supplement this with observable valuation multiples for comparable companies, as applicable. The completion of the DCF model requires that we make a number of significant assumptions to produce an estimate of future cash flows. These assumptions include projections of future revenue, costs and working capital changes. In addition, we make assumptions about the estimated cost of capital and other relevant variables, as required, in estimating the fair value of our reporting units. The projections that we use in our DCF model are updated annually and will change over time based on the historical performance and changing business conditions for each of our reporting units. The determination of whether goodwill is impaired involves a significant level of judgment in these assumptions, and changes in our business strategy, government regulations, or market conditions could significantly impact these judgments. We will continue to monitor market conditions and other factors to determine if interim impairment tests are necessary in future periods. If impairment indicators are present in future periods, the resulting impairment charges could have a material impact on our results of operations.

In the fourth quarter of 2008, we completed our annual goodwill impairment testing and determined that our UPS Freight reporting unit, which was formed through the acquisition of Overnite Corporation in 2005, had a goodwill impairment of $548 million. This impairment charge resulted from several factors, including a lower cash flow forecast due to a longer estimated economic recovery time for the LTL sector, and significant deterioration in equity valuations for other similar LTL industry participants. At the time of acquisition of Overnite Corporation, LTL equity valuations were higher and the economy was significantly stronger. We invested in operational improvements and technology upgrades to enhance service and performance, as well as

 

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expand service offerings. However, this process took longer than initially anticipated, and thus financial results have been below our expectations. Additionally, the LTL sector in 2008 has been adversely impacted by the economic recession in the U.S., lower industrial production and retail sales, volatile fuel prices, and significant levels of price-based competition. By the fourth quarter of 2008, the combination of these internal and external factors reduced our near term expectations for this unit, leading to the goodwill impairment charge. None of the other reporting units incurred an impairment of goodwill in 2008, nor did we have any goodwill impairment charges in 2007 or 2006.

All of our recorded intangible assets other than goodwill are deemed to be finite-lived intangibles, and are thus amortized over their estimated useful lives. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144 “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (“FAS 144”), impairment tests for these intangible assets are only performed when a triggering event occurs that indicates that the carrying value of the intangible may not be recoverable based on the undiscounted future cash flows of the intangible. If the carrying amount of the intangible is determined not to be recoverable, a write-down to fair value is recorded. Fair values are determined based on a DCF model. As a result of weak performance in our domestic U.K. package operations, we reviewed our intangible assets for impairment within our U.K. domestic package entity. Based on recent performance and near-term projections, the value assigned to a customer list intangible asset acquired within the UK domestic package business was determined to be impaired. This was the result of both higher than anticipated customer turnover and reduced operating margins associated with an acquired business. Accordingly, an intangible asset impairment charge of $27 million was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2008. No other intangible asset impairments were recognized in 2008, nor were any such impairments recognized in 2007 or 2006.

Self-Insurance Accruals—We self-insure costs associated with workers’ compensation claims, automotive liability, health and welfare, and general business liabilities, up to certain limits. Insurance reserves are established for estimates of the loss that we will ultimately incur on reported claims, as well as estimates of claims that have been incurred but not yet reported. Recorded balances are based on reserve levels, which incorporate historical loss experience and judgments about the present and expected levels of cost per claim. Trends in actual experience are a significant factor in the determination of such reserves. We believe our estimated reserves for such claims are adequate, but actual experience in claim frequency and/or severity could materially differ from our estimates and affect our results of operations.

Workers’ compensation, automobile liability and general liability insurance claims may take several years to completely settle. Consequently, actuarial estimates are required to project the ultimate cost that will be incurred to fully resolve the claims. A number of factors can affect the actual cost of a claim, including the length of time the claim remains open, trends in health care costs and the results of related litigation. Furthermore, claims may emerge in future years for events that occurred in a prior year at a rate that differs from previous actuarial projections. Changes in state legislation with respect to workers compensation can affect the adequacy of our self-insurance accruals. All of these factors can result in revisions to prior actuarial projections and produce a material difference between estimated and actual operating results.

We sponsor a number of health and welfare insurance plans for our employees. These liabilities and related expenses are based on estimates of the number of employees and eligible dependents covered under the plans, anticipated medical usage by participants and overall trends in medical costs and inflation. Actual results may differ from these estimates and, therefore, produce a material difference between estimated and actual operating results.

Pension and Postretirement Medical Benefits—As discussed in Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements, we maintain several defined benefit and postretirement benefit plans. Our pension and other postretirement benefit costs are calculated using various actuarial assumptions and methodologies as prescribed by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions” and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other than

 

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Pensions.” These assumptions include discount rates, health care cost trend rates, inflation, rate of compensation increases, expected return on plan assets, mortality rates, and other factors. Actual results that differ from our assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods and, therefore, generally affect our recognized expense and recorded obligation in such future periods. We believe that the assumptions utilized in recording the obligations under our plans are reasonable, and represent our best estimates, based on information as to historical experience and performance as well as other factors that might cause future expectations to differ from past trends. Differences in actual experience or changes in assumptions may affect our pension and other postretirement obligations and future expense. A 25 basis point change in the assumed discount rate, expected return on assets, and health care cost trend rate for the U.S. pension and postretirement benefit plans would result in the following increases (decreases) on the Company’s costs and obligations for the year 2008 (in millions):

 

     25 Basis Point
Increase
    25 Basis Point
Decrease
 

Pension Plans

    

Discount Rate:

    

Effect on net periodic benefit cost

   $ (44 )   $ 52  

Effect on projected benefit obligation

     (605 )     639  

Return on Assets:

    

Effect on net periodic benefit cost

     (42 )     42  

Postretirement Medical Plans

    

Discount Rate:

    

Effect on net periodic benefit cost

     (7 )     6  

Effect on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation

     (80 )     82  

Health Care Cost Trend Rate:

    

Effect on net periodic benefit cost

     2       (3 )

Effect on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation

     25       (26 )

Fair Value Measurements—In the normal course of business, we hold and issue financial instruments that contain elements of market risk, including derivatives, marketable securities, finance receivables, other investments, and debt. Certain of these financial instruments are required to be recorded at fair value, principally derivatives, marketable securities, and certain other investments. Fair values are based on listed market prices, when such prices are available. To the extent that listed market prices are not available, fair value is determined based on other relevant factors, including dealer price quotations. Certain financial instruments, including over-the-counter derivative instruments, are valued using pricing models that consider, among other factors, contractual and market prices, correlations, time value, credit spreads, and yield curve volatility factors. Changes in the fixed income, equity, foreign exchange, and commodity markets will impact our estimates of fair value in the future, potentially affecting our results of operations. A quantitative sensitivity analysis of our exposure to changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, and equity prices is presented in the “Market Risk” section of this report.

Our assets and liabilities recorded at fair value have been categorized based upon a fair value hierarchy in accordance with FAS 157. Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are based on other observable market data, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities, and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable, such as interest rates and yield curves. Level 3 inputs are developed from unobservable data reflecting our own assumptions, and include situations where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability.

 

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The following is a general description of the valuation methodologies used for financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value, including the general classification of such assets and liabilities pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.

Derivative Contracts—Our foreign currency, interest rate, and energy derivatives are largely comprised of over-the-counter derivatives, which are primarily valued using pricing models that rely on market observable inputs such as yield curves, currency exchange rates, and commodity forward prices, and therefore are classified as Level 2.

Marketable Securities—Marketable securities utilizing Level 1 inputs include active exchange-traded equity securities and equity index funds, and most U.S. Government debt securities, as these securities all have quoted prices in active markets. Marketable securities utilizing Level 2 inputs include non-auction rate asset-backed securities, corporate bonds, and municipal bonds. These securities are valued using market corroborated pricing, matrix pricing, or other models that utilize observable inputs such as yield curves.

We have classified our auction rate securities portfolio as utilizing Level 3 inputs, as their valuation requires substantial judgment and estimation of factors that are not currently observable in the market due to the lack of trading in the securities. These valuations may be revised in future periods as market conditions evolve. These securities were valued as of December 31, 2008 considering several factors, including the credit quality of the securities, the rate of interest received since the failed auctions began, the yields of securities similar to the underlying auction rate securities, and the input of broker-dealers in these securities.

Other Investments—Financial assets and liabilities utilizing Level 3 inputs include our holdings in certain investment partnerships. These partnership holdings do not have any quoted prices, nor can they be valued using inputs based on observable market data. These investments are valued internally using a discounted cash flow model based on each partnership’s financial statements and cash flow projections.

Depreciation, Residual Value, and Impairment of Fixed Assets—As of December 31, 2008, we had $18.265 billion of net fixed assets, the most significant category of which is aircraft. In accounting for fixed assets, we make estimates about the expected useful lives and the expected residual values of the assets, and the potential for impairment based on the fair values of the assets and the cash flows generated by these assets.

In estimating the lives and expected residual values of aircraft, we have relied upon actual experience with the same or similar aircraft types. Subsequent revisions to these estimates could be caused by changes to our maintenance program, changes in the utilization of the aircraft, governmental regulations on aging aircraft, and changing market prices of new and used aircraft of the same or similar types. We periodically evaluate these estimates and assumptions, and adjust the estimates and assumptions as necessary. Adjustments to the expected lives and residual values are accounted for on a prospective basis through depreciation expense.

In accordance with the provisions of FAS 144, we review long-lived assets for impairment when circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable based on the undiscounted future cash flows of the asset. If the carrying amount of the asset is determined not to be recoverable, a write-down to fair value is recorded. Fair values are determined based on quoted market values, discounted cash flows, or external appraisals, as applicable. We review long-lived assets for impairment at the individual asset or the asset group level for which the lowest level of independent cash flows can be identified. The circumstances that would indicate potential impairment may include, but are not limited to, a significant change in the extent to which an asset is utilized, a significant decrease in the market value of an asset, and operating or cash flow losses associated with the use of the asset. In estimating cash flows, we project future volume levels for our different air express products in all geographic regions in which we do business. Adverse changes in these volume forecasts, or a shortfall of our actual volume compared with our projections, could result in our current aircraft capacity exceeding current or projected demand. This situation would lead to an excess of a particular aircraft type, resulting in an aircraft impairment charge or a reduction of the expected life of an aircraft type (thus resulting in increased depreciation expense).

We continually monitor our aircraft fleet utilization in light of current and projected volume levels, aircraft fuel prices, and other factors. Changes in any of these factors, including a continuation of the rapid economic

 

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decline experienced in the second half of 2008, could result in modifications to our current aircraft fleet plan. Such modifications could result in a reduction in the expected useful life of an aircraft type or in impairment losses related to the early retirement of particular aircraft.

As a result of business changes that occurred in the first quarter of 2007, including capacity-optimization programs in our domestic and international air freight forwarding business as well as changes to our aircraft orders and planned delivery dates, we began a review process of our aircraft fleet types to ensure that we maintain the optimum mix of aircraft types to service our international and domestic package businesses. The review was completed in March 2007, and based on the results of our evaluation, we accelerated the planned retirement of certain Boeing 727 and 747 aircraft, and recognized an impairment and obsolescence charge of $221 million for the aircraft and related engines and parts in 2007.

During 2006, we reevaluated the anticipated service lives of our Boeing 757, Boeing 767, and Airbus A300 fleets, and as a result of this evaluation, increased the depreciable lives from 20 to 30 years and reduced the residual values from 30% to 10% of original cost. This change did not have a material effect on our results of operations.

Income Taxes—We make certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense for financial statement purposes. These estimates and judgments occur in the calculation of income by legal entity and jurisdiction, tax credits, benefits, and deductions, and in the calculation of certain tax assets and liabilities, which arise from differences in the timing of recognition of revenue and expense for tax and financial statement purposes, as well as the interest and penalties related to these uncertain tax positions. Significant changes to these estimates may result in an increase or decrease to our tax provision in a subsequent period.

We assess the likelihood that we will be able to recover our deferred tax assets. If recovery is not likely, we must increase our provision for taxes by recording a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets that we estimate will not ultimately be recoverable. We believe that we will ultimately recover a substantial majority of the deferred tax assets recorded on our consolidated balance sheets. However, should there be a change in our ability to recover our deferred tax assets, our tax provision would increase in the period in which we determined that the recovery was not likely.

The calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. In the first quarter of 2007, we adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of SFAS No. 109” (“FIN 48”), and related guidance (see Note 13 in the consolidated financial statements). As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, we recognize liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on a two-step process prescribed in the interpretation. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step requires us to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to estimate such amounts, as we have to determine the probability of various possible outcomes. We reevaluate these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, effectively settled issues under audit, and new audit activity. Such a change in recognition or measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision.

Accounts Receivable—We utilize the reserve method for recognizing bad debt expense associated with our accounts receivable. This requires us to make our best estimate of the probable losses inherent in our customer receivables at each balance sheet date. These estimates require consideration of historical loss experience, adjusted for current conditions, trends in customer payment frequency, and judgments about the probable effects of relevant observable data, including present economic conditions and the financial health of specific customers and market sectors. Our risk management process includes standards and policies for reviewing major account exposures and concentrations

 

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of risk. Continued deterioration in macro economic variables could result in our ultimate loss exposures on our accounts receivable being significantly higher than what we have currently estimated and reserved for in our allowance for doubtful accounts. Our total allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $155 and $163 million, respectively. Our total provision for doubtful accounts charged to expense during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006 was $277, $225, and $159 million, respectively.

Forward-Looking Statements

“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and other parts of this report contain “forward-looking” statements about matters that inherently are difficult to predict. The words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “we see,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include statements regarding our intent, belief and current expectations about our strategic direction, prospects and future results. We have described some of the important factors that affect these statements as we discussed each subject. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and certain factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements.

 

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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We are exposed to market risk from changes in certain commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, and equity prices. All of these market risks arise in the normal course of business, as we do not engage in speculative trading activities. In order to manage the risk arising from these exposures, we utilize a variety of foreign exchange, interest rate, equity and commodity forward contracts, options, and swaps.

The following analysis provides quantitative information regarding our exposure to commodity price risk, foreign currency exchange risk, interest rate risk, and equity price risk. We utilize valuation models to evaluate the sensitivity of the fair value of financial instruments with exposure to market risk that assume instantaneous, parallel shifts in exchange rates, interest rate yield curves, and commodity and equity prices. For options and instruments with non-linear returns, models appropriate to the instrument are utilized to determine the impact of market shifts. There are certain limitations inherent in the sensitivity analyses presented, primarily due to the assumption that exchange rates change in a parallel fashion and that interest rates change instantaneously. In addition, the analyses are unable to reflect the complex market reactions that normally would arise from the market shifts modeled.

A discussion of our accounting policies for derivative instruments and further disclosures are provided in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements.

Commodity Price Risk

We are exposed to changes in the prices of refined fuels, principally jet-A, diesel, and unleaded gasoline. Currently, the fuel surcharges that we apply to our domestic and international package and LTL services are the primary means of reducing the risk of adverse fuel price changes. Additionally, we use a combination of options contracts to provide partial protection from changing fuel and energy prices. The net fair value of such contracts subject to price risk, excluding the underlying exposures, as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 was an asset (liability) of $0 and $(179) million, respectively. The potential loss in the fair value of these derivative contracts, assuming a hypothetical 10% adverse change in the underlying commodity price, would be approximately $0 and $42 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. This amount excludes the offsetting impact of the price risk inherent in the physical purchase of the underlying commodities.

In the fourth quarter of 2008, we terminated several energy derivatives and received $87 million in cash. Additionally, in the second quarter of 2006, we terminated several energy derivatives and received $229 million in cash. These transactions are reported in other investing activities in the statement of cash flows. As these derivatives qualified for hedge accounting, were designated as hedges, and maintained their effectiveness, the gains associated with these hedges were recognized in income over the original term of the hedges. The hedges that were terminated in the fourth quarter of 2008 will be recognized in the income statement through the first quarter of 2009.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

We have foreign currency risks related to our revenue, operating expenses, and financing transactions in currencies other than the local currencies in which we operate. We are exposed to currency risk from the potential changes in functional currency values of our foreign currency-denominated assets, liabilities, and cash flows. Our most significant foreign currency exposures relate to the Euro, the British Pound Sterling and the Canadian Dollar. We use a combination of purchased and written options and forward contracts to hedge cash flow currency exposures. These derivative instruments generally cover forecasted foreign currency exposures for periods of 12 to 24 months. As of December 31, 2008 and 2007, the net fair value of the hedging instruments described above was an asset (liability) of $241 and $(42) million, respectively. The potential loss in fair value for such instruments from a hypothetical 10% adverse change in quoted foreign currency exchange rates would be approximately $239 and $387 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. This sensitivity analysis

 

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assumes a parallel shift in the foreign currency exchange rates. Exchange rates rarely move in the same direction. The assumption that exchange rates change in a parallel fashion may overstate the impact of changing exchange rates on assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency.

Interest Rate Risk

As described in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements, we have issued debt instruments, including debt associated with capital leases, that accrue expense at fixed and floating rates of interest. We use a combination of derivative instruments, including interest rate swaps and cross-currency interest rate swaps, as part of our program to manage the fixed and floating interest rate mix of our total debt portfolio and related overall cost of borrowing. These swaps are generally entered into concurrently with the issuance of the debt that they are intended to modify, and the notional amount, interest payment, and maturity dates of the swaps match the terms of the associated debt. We also utilize forward starting swaps and similar instruments to lock in all or a portion of the borrowing cost of anticipated debt issuances. The net fair value of our interest rate swaps at December 31, 2008 and 2007 was a liability of $388 and $94 million, respectively.

Our floating rate debt and interest rate swaps subject us to risk resulting from changes in short-term (primarily LIBOR) interest rates. The potential change in annual interest expense resulting from a hypothetical 100 basis point change in short-term interest rates applied to our floating rate debt and swap instruments (excluding hedges of anticipated debt issuances) at December 31, 2008 and 2007 would be approximately $41 and $100 million, respectively.

We have investments in debt and preferred equity securities (including auction rate securities), as well as cash-equivalent instruments, some of which accrue income at variable rates of interest. The potential change in annual investment income resulting from a hypothetical 100 basis point change in interest rates applied to our investments exposed to variable interest rates at December 31, 2008 and 2007 would be approximately $6 and $15 million, respectively.

Additionally, as described in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, we hold a portfolio of finance receivables that accrue income at fixed and floating rates of interest. The potential change in the annual income resulting from a hypothetical 100 basis point change in interest rates applied to our variable rate finance receivables at December 31, 2008 and 2007 would be immaterial.

This interest rate sensitivity analysis assumes interest rate changes are instantaneous, parallel shifts in the yield curve. In reality, interest rate changes are rarely instantaneous or parallel. While this is our best estimate of the impact of the specified interest rate scenarios, these estimates should not be viewed as forecasts. We adjust the fixed and floating interest rate mix of our interest rate sensitive assets and liabilities in response to changes in market conditions.

Equity Price Risk

We hold investments in various common equity securities that are subject to price risk, and for certain of these securities, we utilize options to hedge this price risk. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the fair value of such investments was $30 and $35 million, respectively. The potential change in the fair value of such investments, assuming a 10% change in equity prices net of the offsetting impact of any hedges, would be approximately $3 and $4 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007.

Credit Risk

The forward contracts, swaps, and options previously discussed contain an element of risk that the counterparties may be unable to meet the terms of the agreements. However, we minimize such risk exposures for these instruments by limiting the counterparties to financial institutions that meet established credit guidelines. We do not expect to incur any material losses as a result of counterparty default.

 

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Board of Directors and Shareowners

United Parcel Service, Inc.

Atlanta, Georgia

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of United Parcel Service, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of United Parcel Service, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008, and the related statements of consolidated income, comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2008 and our report dated February 27, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Atlanta, Georgia

February 27, 2009

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Shareowners

United Parcel Service, Inc.

Atlanta, Georgia

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of United Parcel Service, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related statements of consolidated income, comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of United Parcel Service Inc. and subsidiaries at December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

As described in Notes 1, 5, and 13 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109),” on January 1, 2007, the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment,” on January 1, 2006, and the recognition and disclosure provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans (an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R)),” on December 31, 2006.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 27, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Atlanta, Georgia

February 27, 2009

 

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UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions)

 

     December 31,  
     2008     2007  
ASSETS     

Current Assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 507     $ 2,027  

Marketable securities

     542       577  

Accounts receivable, net

     5,547       6,084  

Finance receivables, net

     480       468  

Deferred income tax assets

     494       606  

Income taxes receivable

     167       1,256  

Other current assets

     1,108       742  
                

Total Current Assets

     8,845       11,760  

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

     18,265       17,663  

Pension and Postretirement Benefit Assets

     10       4,421  

Goodwill

     1,986       2,577  

Intangible Assets, Net

     511       628  

Non-Current Finance Receivables, Net

     476       431  

Other Non-Current Assets

     1,786       1,562  
                

Total Assets

   $ 31,879     $ 39,042  
                
LIABILITIES AND SHAREOWNERS’ EQUITY     

Current Liabilities:

    

Current maturities of long-term debt and commercial paper

   $ 2,074     $ 3,512  

Accounts payable

     1,855       1,819  

Accrued wages and withholdings

     1,436       1,414  

Dividends payable

     —         440  

Self-insurance reserves

     732       704  

Other current liabilities

     1,720       1,951  
                

Total Current Liabilities

     7,817       9,840  

Long-Term Debt

     7,797       7,506  

Pension and Postretirement Benefit Obligations

     6,323       4,438  

Deferred Income Tax Liabilities

     588       2,620  

Self-Insurance Reserves

     1,710       1,651  

Other Non-Current Liabilities

     864       804  

Shareowners’ Equity:

    

Class A common stock (314 and 349 shares issued in 2008 and 2007)

     3       3  

Class B common stock (684 and 694 shares issued in 2008 and 2007)

     7       7  

Additional paid-in capital

     —         —    

Retained earnings

     12,412       14,186  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (5,642 )     (2,013 )

Deferred compensation obligations

     121       137  
                
     6,901       12,320  

Less: Treasury stock (2 shares in 2008 and 2007)

     (121 )     (137 )
                

Total Shareowners’ Equity

     6,780       12,183  
                

Total Liabilities and Shareowners’ Equity

   $ 31,879     $ 39,042  
                

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME

(In millions, except per share amounts)

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2008     2007     2006  

Revenue

   $ 51,486     $ 49,692     $ 47,547  

Operating Expenses:

      

Compensation and benefits

     26,063       31,745       24,421  

Repairs and maintenance

     1,194       1,157       1,155  

Depreciation and amortization

     1,814       1,745       1,748  

Purchased transportation

     6,550       5,902       5,496  

Fuel

     4,134       2,974       2,655  

Other occupancy

     1,027       958       938  

Other expenses

     5,322       4,633       4,499  
                        

Total Operating Expenses

     46,104       49,114       40,912  
                        

Operating Profit

     5,382       578       6,635  
                        

Other Income and (Expense):

      

Investment income

     75       99       86  

Interest expense

     (442 )     (246 )     (211 )
                        

Total Other Income and (Expense)

     (367 )     (147 )     (125 )
                        

Income Before Income Taxes

     5,015       431       6,510  

Income Tax Expense

     2,012       49       2,308  
                        

Net Income

   $ 3,003     $ 382     $ 4,202  
                        

Basic Earnings Per Share

   $ 2.96     $ 0.36     $ 3.87  
                        

Diluted Earnings Per Share

   $ 2.94     $ 0.36     $ 3.86  
                        

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(In millions)

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2008     2007     2006  

Net income

   $ 3,003     $ 382     $ 4,202  

Change in foreign currency translation adjustment

     (119 )     190       54  

Change in unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities, net of tax

     (69 )     (3 )     1  

Change in unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges, net of tax

     143       (318 )     (15 )

Change in unrecognized pension and postretirement benefit costs, net of tax

     (3,597 )     323       16  
                        

Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ (639 )   $ 574     $ 4,258  
                        

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS

(In millions)

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2008     2007     2006  

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

      

Net income

   $ 3,003     $ 382     $ 4,202  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     1,814       1,745       1,748  

Pension and postretirement benefit expense

     726       513       568  

Pension and postretirement benefit contributions

     (246 )     (687 )     (1,625 )

Deferred taxes, credits and other

     187       (249 )     99  

Stock compensation expense

     516       447       369  

Self-insurance reserves

     87       69       180  

Asset impairment charges

     575       221       —    

Other (gains) losses

     634       243       128  

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions:

      

Accounts receivable

     197       (380 )     (77 )

Income taxes receivable

     1,161       (1,191 )     17  

Other current assets

     (144 )     (3 )     82  

Accounts payable

     87       (37 )     24  

Accrued wages and withholdings

     44       108       12  

Other current liabilities

     (184 )     56       (120 )

Other operating activities

     (31 )     (114 )     (18 )
                        

Net cash from operating activities

     8,426       1,123       5,589  
                        

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:

      

Capital expenditures

     (2,636 )     (2,820 )     (3,085 )

Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment

     147       85       75  

Purchases of marketable securities and short-term investments

     (3,391 )     (9,017 )     (9,056 )

Sales and maturities of marketable securities and short-term investments

     3,113       9,638       9,538  

Net (increase) decrease in finance receivables

     (49 )     (39 )     68  

Other investing activities

     (363 )     (46 )     120  
                        

Net cash (used in) investing activities

     (3,179 )     (2,199 )     (2,340 )
                        

Cash Flows From Financing Activities:

      

Net change in short-term debt

     (2,016 )     2,613       (513 )

Proceeds from long-term borrowings

     3,613       4,094       649  

Repayments of long-term borrowings

     (2,518 )     (198 )     (90 )

Purchases of common stock

     (3,570 )     (2,639 )     (2,460 )

Issuances of common stock

     169       174       164  

Dividends

     (2,219 )     (1,703 )     (1,577 )

Other financing activities

     (161 )     (44 )     (24 )
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (6,702 )     2,297       (3,851 )
                        

Effect Of Exchange Rate Changes On Cash And Cash Equivalents

     (65 )     12       27  
                        

Net Increase (Decrease) In Cash And Cash Equivalents

     (1,520 )     1,233       (575 )

Cash And Cash Equivalents:

      

Beginning of period

     2,027       794       1,369  
                        

End of period

   $ 507     $ 2,027     $ 794  
                        

Cash Paid During The Period For:

      

Interest (net of amount capitalized)

   $ 359     $ 248     $ 210  
                        

Income taxes

   $ 760     $ 1,351     $ 2,061  
                        

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Financial Statements and Business Activities

The accompanying financial statements include the accounts of United Parcel Service, Inc., and all of its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively “UPS” or the “Company”). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

UPS concentrates its operations in the field of transportation services, primarily domestic and international letter and package delivery. Through our Supply Chain & Freight subsidiaries, we are also a global provider of specialized transportation, logistics, and financial services.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

U.S. Domestic and International Package Operations—Revenue is recognized upon delivery of a letter or package, in accordance with EITF 91-9 “Revenue and Expense Recognition for Freight Services in Process”.

Forwarding and Logistics—Freight forwarding revenue and the expense related to the transportation of freight is recognized at the time the services are performed, and presented in accordance with EITF 99-19 “Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal Versus Net as an Agent”. Material management and distribution revenue is recognized upon performance of the service provided. Customs brokerage revenue is recognized upon completing documents necessary for customs entry purposes.

Freight—Revenue is recognized upon delivery of a less-than-truckload (“LTL”) or truckload (“TL”) shipment, in accordance with EITF 91-9.

Financial Services—Income on loans and direct finance leases is recognized on the effective interest method. Accrual of interest income is suspended at the earlier of the time at which collection of an account becomes doubtful or the account becomes 90 days delinquent. Income on operating leases is recognized on the straight-line method over the terms of the underlying leases.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into cash. We consider securities with maturities of three months or less, when purchased, to be cash equivalents. The carrying amount of these securities approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments.

Restricted cash and cash equivalents relate to our self-insurance requirements. In 2008, we entered into an escrow agreement with an insurance carrier to guarantee our self-insurance obligations. This agreement required us to provide $191 million in collateral to the insurance carrier, which is classified as “other non-current assets” on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2008, and in “other investing activities” in the cash flow statement. This restricted cash is invested in money market funds and similar cash equivalent type assets.

 

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UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Marketable Securities

Marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value, with related unrealized gains and losses reported, net of tax, as accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), a separate component of shareowners’ equity. The amortized cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity. Such amortization and accretion is included in investment income, along with interest and dividends. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method; realized gains and losses resulting from such sales are included in investment income.

Investment securities are reviewed for impairment in accordance with FASB Statement No. 115 “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities” and FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) 115-1 “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments.” We periodically review our investments for indications of other than temporary impairment considering many factors, including the extent and duration to which a security’s fair value has been less than its cost, overall economic and market conditions, and the financial condition and specific prospects for the issuer. Impairment of investment securities results in a charge to income when a market decline below cost is other than temporary.

Accounts Receivable

We utilize the reserve method for recognizing bad debt expense associated with our accounts receivable. This requires us to make our best estimate of the probable losses in our customer receivables at each balance sheet date. These estimates consider historical loss experience, adjusted for current conditions, trends in customer payment frequency, and judgments about the probable effects of relevant observable data, including present economic conditions and the financial health of specific customers and market sectors.

Our total allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $155 and $163 million, respectively. Our total provision for doubtful accounts charged to expense during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006 was $277, $225, and $159 million, respectively.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost. Depreciation and amortization are provided by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are as follows: Vehicles—5 to 15 years; Aircraft—12 to 30 years; Buildings—20 to 40 years; Leasehold Improvements—terms of leases; Plant Equipment—6 to 10 years; Technology Equipment—3 to 5 years. The costs of major airframe and engine overhauls, as well as routine maintenance and repairs, are charged to expense as incurred. During 2006, we reevaluated the anticipated service lives of our Boeing 757, Boeing 767, and Airbus A300 fleets, and as a result of this evaluation, increased the depreciable lives from 20 to 30 years and reduced the residual values from 30% to 10% of original cost. This change did not have a material effect on our results of operations.

Interest incurred during the construction period of certain property, plant and equipment is capitalized until the underlying assets are placed in service, at which time amortization of the capitalized interest begins, straight-line, over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Capitalized interest was $48, $67, and $48 million for 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

In accordance with the provisions of FASB Statement No. 144 “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” we review long-lived assets for impairment when circumstances indicate the carrying

 

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UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

amount of an asset may not be recoverable based on the undiscounted future cash flows of the asset. If the carrying amount of the asset is determined not to be recoverable, a write-down to fair value is recorded. Fair values are determined based on quoted market values, discounted cash flows, or external appraisals, as applicable. We review long-lived assets for impairment at the individual asset or the asset group level for which the lowest level of independent cash flows can be identified.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Costs of purchased businesses in excess of net assets acquired (goodwill), and intangible assets are accounted for under the provisions of FASB Statement No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“FAS 142”). Under FAS 142, we are required to test all goodwill for impairment at least annually, unless changes in circumstances indicate an impairment may have occurred sooner. We are required to test goodwill on a “reporting unit” basis. A reporting unit is the operating segment unless, for businesses within that operating segment, discrete financial information is prepared and regularly reviewed by management, in which case such a component business is the reporting unit.

A fair value approach is used to test goodwill for impairment. An impairment charge is recognized for the amount, if any, by which the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its fair value. We primarily determine the fair value of our reporting units using a discounted cash flow model, and supplement this with observable valuation multiples for comparable companies, as applicable.

Finite-lived intangible assets, including trademarks, licenses, patents, customer lists, non-compete agreements, and franchise rights are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 2 to 20 years. Capitalized software is amortized over periods ranging from 3 to 5 years.

Self-Insurance Accruals

We self-insure costs associated with workers’ compensation claims, automotive liability, health and welfare, and general business liabilities, up to certain limits. Insurance reserves are established for estimates of the loss that we will ultimately incur on reported claims, as well as estimates of claims that have been incurred but not yet reported. Recorded balances are based on reserve levels, which incorporate historical loss experience and judgments about the present and expected levels of cost per claim.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” (“FAS 109”). FAS 109 is an asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. In estimating future tax consequences, FAS 109 generally considers all expected future events other than proposed changes in the tax law or rates. Valuation allowances are provided if it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

We recognize liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step requires us to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to estimate such amounts, as we have to determine the probability of various possible outcomes. We reevaluate these

 

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uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, effectively settled issues under audit, and new audit activity. Such a change in recognition or measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision.

Foreign Currency Translation

We translate the results of operations of our foreign subsidiaries using average exchange rates during each period, whereas balance sheet accounts are translated using exchange rates at the end of each period. Balance sheet currency translation adjustments are recorded in AOCI. Net currency transaction gains and losses included in other operating expenses were pre-tax gains of $46, $26, and $23 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation is accounted for under FASB Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“FAS 123(R)”). FAS 123(R), which was adopted on January 1, 2006 using the modified-prospective transition method, requires all share-based awards to employees to be measured based on their fair values and expensed over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award (the vesting period). Prior to January 1, 2006, we accounted for stock-based compensation under the recognition and measurement provisions of FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”. We issue employee share-based awards under the UPS Incentive Compensation Plan that are subject to specific vesting conditions; generally, the awards cliff vest or vest ratably over a five year period, “the nominal vesting period,” or at the date the employee retires (as defined by the plan), if earlier. For awards that specify an employee vests in the award upon retirement, we accounted for the awards using the nominal vesting period approach prior to the adoption of FAS 123(R). Under this approach, we record compensation expense over the nominal vesting period. If the employee retires before the end of the nominal vesting period, any remaining unrecognized compensation expense is recorded at the date of retirement.

Upon our adoption of FAS 123(R), we revised our approach to apply the non-substantive vesting period approach to all new share-based compensation awards. Under this approach, compensation cost is recognized immediately for awards granted to retirement-eligible employees, or over the period from the grant date to the date retirement eligibility is achieved, if that is expected to occur during the nominal vesting period. We continue to apply the nominal vesting period approach for any awards granted prior to January 1, 2006, and for the remaining portion of the then unvested outstanding awards.

If we had accounted for all share-based compensation awards granted prior to January 1, 2006 under the non-substantive vesting period approach, the impact to our net income and earnings per share would have been immaterial for all prior periods.

Derivative Instruments

Derivative instruments are accounted for in accordance with FASB Statement No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“FAS 133”), as amended, which requires all financial derivative instruments to be recorded on our balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives not designated as hedges must be adjusted to fair value through income. If a derivative is designated as a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in its fair value that are considered to be effective, as defined, either offset the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities, or firm commitments through income, or are recorded in AOCI until the

 

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hedged item is recorded in income. Any portion of a change in a derivative’s fair value that is considered to be ineffective, or is excluded from the measurement of effectiveness, is recorded immediately in income.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2007, the EITF reached consensus on Issue No. 06-11, “Accounting for Income Tax Benefits of Dividends on Share-Based Payment Awards.” EITF 06-11 requires that the tax benefit related to dividend equivalents paid on restricted stock units, which are expected to vest, be recorded as an increase to additional paid-in capital. EITF 06-11 is applied prospectively for tax benefits on dividends declared in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007. We adopted the provisions of EITF 06-11 beginning in the first quarter of 2008. This adoption did not have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 141(R) “Business Combinations” (“FAS 141(R)”). FAS 141(R) requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize the full fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction (whether a full or partial acquisition); establishes the acquisition-date fair value as the measurement objective for all assets acquired and liabilities assumed; requires expensing of most transaction and restructuring costs; and requires the acquirer to disclose in its financial statements the information needed to evaluate and understand the nature and financial effect of the business combination. FAS 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after January 1, 2009. The impact of FAS No. 141(R) on our consolidated financial statements will depend upon the nature, terms and size of the acquisitions we consummate after the effective date.

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51” (“FAS 160”). FAS 160 requires reporting entities to present noncontrolling (minority) interests as equity (as opposed to as a liability or mezzanine equity) and provides guidance on the accounting for transactions between an entity and noncontrolling interests. As of December 31, 2008, we had approximately $5 million in noncontrolling interests classified in other non-current liabilities. FAS 160 applies prospectively as of January 1, 2009, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements which will be applied retrospectively for all periods presented.

In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133” (“FAS 161”), which requires additional disclosures about the objectives of derivative instruments and hedging activities, the method of accounting for such instruments under FAS 133 and its related interpretations, and a tabular disclosure of the effects of such instruments and related hedged items on our financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. We adopted FAS 161 on January 1, 2009. FAS 161 only impacts our disclosures, and does not impact our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. These new disclosures will be required for us beginning in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.

In October 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position No. FAS 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset is Not Active” (“FSP 157-3”). FSP 157-3 clarifies the application of FAS 157, which we adopted as of January 1, 2008, in cases where a market is not active. We have considered the guidance provided by FSP 157-3 in our determination of estimated fair values as of December 31, 2008, and the impact was not material.

In December 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 132(R)-1, “Employers’ Disclosure about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets”, which amends Statement 132(R) to require more detailed disclosures about employers’ pension plan assets. New disclosures will include more information on investment strategies, major categories of assets, concentrations of risk within plan assets, and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan

 

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assets. This new standard requires new disclosures only, and will have no impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. These new disclosures will be required for us beginning in our Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2009.

Changes in Presentation

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

NOTE 2. MARKETABLE SECURITIES

The following is a summary of marketable securities classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 2008 and 2007 (in millions):

 

     Cost    Unrealized
Gains
   Unrealized
Losses
   Estimated
Fair Value

2008

           

Current marketable securities:

           

U.S. government and agency debt securities

   $ 93    $ 2    $ —      $ 95

Mortgage and asset-backed debt securities

     278      3      11      270

Corporate debt securities

     158      5      3      160

Other debt securities

     2      —        —        2

Preferred equity securities

     26      —        13      13

Common equity securities

     2      —        —        2
                           

Current marketable securities

     559      10      27      542

Non-current marketable securities:

           

Asset-backed debt securities

     150      —        34      116

U.S. state and local municipal debt securities

     116      —        29      87

Preferred equity securities

     21      —        8      13

Common equity securities

     25      3      —        28
                           

Non-current marketable securities

     312      3      71      244
                           

Total marketable securities

   $ 871    $ 13    $ 98    $ 786
                           

 

     Cost    Unrealized
Gains
   Unrealized
Losses
   Estimated
Fair Value

2007

           

U.S. government and agency debt securities

   $ 59    $ 2    $ —      $ 61

Mortgage and asset-backed debt securities

     251      2      2      251

Corporate debt securities

     152      2      —        154

U.S. state and local municipal debt securities

     4      —        —        4

Other debt securities

     2      —        —        2

Preferred equity securities

     103      —        —        103

Common equity securities

     2      —        —        2
                           

Current marketable securities

     573      6      2      577
                           

Non-current common equity securities

     25      8      —        33
                           

Total marketable securities

   $ 598    $ 14    $ 2    $ 610
                           

 

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The gross realized gains on sales of marketable securities totaled $19, $23, and $12 million in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. The gross realized losses totaled $10, $9, and $21 million in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. Impairment losses recognized on marketable securities and short-term investments totaled $23 million during 2008 (discussed further below), with no such losses recognized in 2007 or 2006.

At December 31, 2008, we held $287 million in principal value of investments in auction rate securities. Some of these investments take the form of debt securities, and are structured as direct obligations of local governments or agencies (classified as “U.S. State and local municipal securities”). Other auction rate security investments are structured as obligations of asset-backed trusts (classified as “Asset-backed debt securities”), generally all of which are collateralized by student loans and are guaranteed by the U.S. Government or through private insurance. The remaining auction rate securities take the form of preferred stock, and are collateralized by securities issued directly by large corporations. Substantially all of our investments in auction rate securities maintain ratings of A / A1 or higher by Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s, respectively.

During the first quarter of 2008, market auctions, including auctions for substantially all of our auction rate securities portfolio, began to fail due to insufficient buyers. As a result of the persistent failed auctions, and the uncertainty of when these investments could successfully be liquidated at par, we have classified all of our investments in auction rate securities to non-current marketable securities (which are reported in “Other Non-Current Assets” on the consolidated balance sheet), as noted in the table above, as of December 31, 2008. The securities for which auctions have failed will continue to accrue interest and be auctioned at each respective reset date until the auction succeeds, the issuer redeems the securities, or the securities mature.

Historically, the par value of the auction rate securities approximated fair value due to the frequent resetting of the interest rate. While we will continue to earn interest on these investments in failed auction rate securities (often at the maximum contractual interest rate), the estimated fair value of the auction rate securities no longer approximates par value due to the lack of liquidity. We estimated the fair value of these securities after considering several factors, including the credit quality of the securities, the rate of interest received since the failed auctions began, the yields of securities similar to the underlying auction rate securities, and the input of broker-dealers in these securities. As a result, we recorded an after-tax unrealized loss of approximately $47 million on these securities as of December 31, 2008 in other comprehensive income ($71 million pre-tax), reflecting the decline in the estimated fair value of these securities.

During the third quarter of 2008, we recorded impairment losses on two auction rate securities that were collateralized by preferred stock issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”). The impairment followed actions by the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Agency with respect to FNMA and FHLMC. Additionally, we recorded impairment losses on a municipal auction rate security and on holdings of several medium term notes issued by Lehman Brothers Inc., which declared bankruptcy during the third quarter. We do not hold any other securities issued by these entities. The total of these credit-related impairment losses during the year was $23 million, which was recorded in “investment income” on the income statement.

For the remaining auction rate securities and other debt securities, we have concluded that no additional other-than-temporary impairment losses existed as of December 31, 2008. In making this determination, we considered the financial condition and prospects of the issuer, the magnitude of the losses compared with the investments’ cost, the length of time the investments have been in an unrealized loss position, the probability that we will be unable to collect amounts due according to the contractual terms of the security, the credit rating of the security, and our ability and intent to hold these investments until the anticipated recovery in market value occurs.

 

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The following table presents the age of gross unrealized losses and fair value by investment category for all securities in a loss position as of December 31, 2008 (in millions):

 

     Less Than 12 Months    12 Months or More    Total
     Fair
Value
   Unrealized
Losses
   Fair
Value
   Unrealized
Losses
   Fair
Value
   Unrealized
Losses

U.S. government and agency securities

   $ 12    $ —      $ —      $ —      $ 12    $ —  

Mortgage and asset-backed securities

     179      41      31      4      210      45

Corporate securities

     43      2      5      1      48      3

U.S. state and local municipal securities

     81      29      —        —        81      29

Other debt securities

     —        —        —        —        —        —  
                                         

Total debt securities

     315      72      36      5      351      77

Common equity securities

     1      —        —        —        1      —  

Preferred equity securities

     26      21      —        —        26      21
                                         
   $ 342    $ 93    $ 36    $ 5    $ 378    $ 98
                                         

The unrealized losses in the U.S. state and local municipal securities, preferred equity securities, and mortgage and asset-backed securities primarily relate to the auction rate securities discussed previously. The unrealized losses for the non-auction rate securities within those categories are primarily related to various fixed income securities, and are primarily due to changes in market interest rates. We have both the intent and ability to hold the securities contained in the previous table for a time necessary to recover the cost basis.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of marketable securities and short-term investments at December 31, 2008, by contractual maturity, are shown below (in millions). Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because the issuers of the securities may have the right to prepay obligations without prepayment penalties.

 

     Cost    Estimated
Fair Value

Due in one year or less

   $ 21    $ 21

Due after one year through three years

     160      162

Due after three years through five years

     27      26

Due after five years

     589      521
             
     797      730

Equity securities

     74      56
             
   $ 871    $ 786
             

NOTE 3. FINANCE RECEIVABLES

The following is a summary of finance receivables at December 31, 2008 and 2007 (in millions):

 

     2008     2007  

Commercial term loans

   $ 420     $ 351  

Investment in finance leases

     126       143  

Asset-based lending

     345       309  

Receivable factoring

     90       109  
                

Gross finance receivables

     981       912  

Less: Allowance for credit losses

     (25 )     (13 )
                

Balance at December 31

   $ 956     $ 899  
                

 

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Outstanding receivable balances at December 31, 2008 and 2007 are net of unearned income of $26 and $30 million, respectively.

When we “factor” (i.e., purchase) a customer invoice from a client, we record the customer receivable as an asset and also establish a liability for the funds due to the client, which is recorded in accounts payable on the consolidated balance sheet. The following is a reconciliation of receivable factoring balances at December 31, 2008 and 2007 (in millions):

 

     2008     2007  

Customer receivable balances

   $ 90     $ 109  

Less: Amounts due to client

     (62 )     (74 )
                

Net funds employed

   $ 28     $ 35  
                

Non-earning finance receivables were $94 and $42 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, of which $57 and $19 million are U.S. government guaranteed portions of loans. The following is a rollforward of the allowance for credit losses on finance receivables (in millions):

 

     2008     2007  

Balance at January 1

   $ 13     $ 22  

Provisions charged to operations

     28       2  

Charge-offs, net of recoveries

     (16 )     (11 )
                

Balance at December 31

   $ 25     $ 13  
                

The carrying value of finance receivables at December 31, 2008, by contractual maturity, is shown below (in millions). Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because some borrowers have the right to prepay these receivables without prepayment penalties.

 

     Carrying
Value

Due in one year or less

   $ 487

Due after one year through three years

     68

Due after three years through five years

     32

Due after five years

     394
      
   $ 981
      

Based on interest rates for financial instruments with similar terms and maturities, the estimated fair value of finance receivables is approximately $957 and $895 million as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. At December 31, 2008, we had unfunded loan commitments totaling $885 million, consisting of standby letters of credit of $136 million and other unfunded lending commitments of $749 million.

 

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NOTE 4. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment as of December 31 consists of the following (in millions):

 

     2008     2007  

Vehicles

   $ 5,508     $ 5,295  

Aircraft (including aircraft under capitalized leases)

     14,564       13,541  

Land

     1,068       1,056  

Buildings

     2,836       2,837  

Building and leasehold improvements

     2,702       2,604  

Plant equipment

     5,720       5,537  

Technology equipment

     1,620       1,699  

Equipment under operating leases

     136       153  

Construction-in-progress

     944       889  
                
     35,098       33,611  

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (16,833 )     (15,948 )
                
   $ 18,265     $ 17,663  
                

As a result of business changes that occurred in the first quarter of 2007, including capacity-optimization programs in our domestic and international air freight forwarding business as well as changes to our aircraft orders and planned delivery dates, we began a review process of our aircraft fleet types to ensure that we maintain the optimum mix of aircraft types to service our international and domestic package businesses. The review was completed in March 2007, and based on the results of our evaluation, we accelerated the planned retirement of certain Boeing 727 and 747 aircraft, and recognized an impairment and obsolescence charge of $221 million for the aircraft and related engines and parts in 2007. This charge is included in the caption “Other expenses” in the Statements of Consolidated Income, of which $159 million impacted our U.S. Domestic Package segment and $62 million impacted our International Package segment. No impairments of aircraft or other long-lived assets were recognized in 2008 or 2006.

We continually monitor our aircraft fleet utilization in light of current and projected volume levels, aircraft fuel prices, and other factors. Changes in any of these factors, including a continuation of the rapid economic decline experienced in the second half of 2008, could result in modifications to our current aircraft fleet plan. Such modifications could result in a reduction in the expected useful life of an aircraft type or in impairment losses related to the early retirement of particular aircraft.

NOTE 5. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

We sponsor various retirement and pension plans, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans which cover our employees worldwide. In the U.S. we maintain the following defined benefit pension plans: UPS Retirement Plan, UPS Pension Plan, UPS IBT Pension Plan, and one non-qualified plan, the UPS Excess Coordinating Benefit Plan.

We also sponsor various defined benefit plans covering certain of our International employees. The majority of our International obligations are for defined benefit plans in Canada and the United Kingdom. In addition, many of our International employees are covered by government-sponsored retirement and pension plans. We are not directly responsible for providing benefits to participants of government-sponsored plans.

 

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The UPS Retirement Plan is noncontributory and includes substantially all eligible employees of participating domestic subsidiaries who are not members of a collective bargaining unit, as well as certain employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement. This plan generally provides for retirement benefits based on average compensation levels earned by employees prior to retirement. Benefits payable under this plan are subject to maximum compensation limits and the annual benefit limits for a tax qualified defined benefit plan as prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service.

The UPS Excess Coordinating Benefit Plan is a non-qualified plan that provides benefits to certain eligible participants in the UPS Retirement Plan for amounts that exceed the benefit limits described above.

The UPS Pension Plan is noncontributory and includes certain eligible employees of participating domestic subsidiaries and members of collective bargaining units that elect to participate in the plan. This plan provides for retirement benefits based on service credits earned by employees prior to retirement. Additionally, retirement benefits for certain participants are determined by an earnings-based formula.

We also sponsor postretirement medical plans in the U.S. that provide health care benefits to our retirees who meet certain eligibility requirements and who are not otherwise covered by multi-employer plans. Generally, this includes employees with at least 10 years of service who have reached age 55 and employees who are eligible for postretirement medical benefits from a Company-sponsored plan pursuant to their domestic subsidiary company or collective bargaining agreements. We have the right to modify or terminate certain of these plans. These benefits have been provided to certain retirees on a noncontributory basis; however, in many cases, retirees are required to contribute all or a portion of the total cost of the coverage.

Our national master agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (“Teamsters”) allowed us, upon ratification, to withdraw employees from the Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund (“Central States Pension Fund”), a multi-employer pension plan, and to establish a jointly trusteed single-employer plan (“UPS IBT Pension Plan”) for this group of employees. We recorded a pre-tax charge of $6.100 billion to establish our withdrawal liability upon ratification of the national master agreement, and made a $6.100 billion payment to the Central States Pension Fund in December 2007. In connection with the national master agreement and upon establishment of the UPS IBT Pension Plan, we restored certain benefit levels to our employee group within the new plan, which resulted in the initial recognition of a $1.701 billion pension liability and a corresponding $1.062 billion reduction of AOCI and $639 million reduction of long-term deferred tax liabilities.

The withdrawal liability was based on computations performed by independent actuaries employed by the Central States Pension Fund, in accordance with the plan document and the applicable requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). We negotiated our withdrawal from the Central States Pension Fund as part of our national master agreement with the Teamsters, which included other modifications to hourly wage rates, healthcare and pension benefits, and work rules. We sought to negotiate our withdrawal from the Central States Pension Fund, as we believed the fund would likely continue to have funding challenges, and would present a risk to UPS of having to face higher future contribution requirements and a risk to the security of the pension benefits of those UPS employees who participated in the fund. We believe that we benefited financially from the ability to achieve a ratified national master agreement seven months before the expiration of the previous agreement, as well as by gaining better control over the future cost and funding of pension benefits by limiting our obligations solely to UPS Teamster employees through the new UPS IBT Pension Plan. As the UPS IBT Pension Plan matures, we believe that it will become cost beneficial from a cash flow and earnings standpoint compared with having remained in the Central States Pension Fund.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 158 “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans (an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R))” (“FAS 158”). This statement requires us to recognize the funded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans as an asset or liability in the balance sheet, and required delayed recognition items,

 

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consisting of actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs and credits, to be recognized in other comprehensive income and subsequently amortized to the income statement. On December 31, 2006, we adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of FAS 158, which resulted in a reduction to AOCI of $2.097 billion and a reduction of long-term deferred tax liabilities of $1.258 billion.

Additionally, we previously utilized the early measurement date option available under Statement No. 87 “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions”, and we measured the funded status of our plans as of September 30 each year. Under the provisions of FAS 158, we were required to use a December 31 measurement date for all of our pension and postretirement benefit plans beginning in 2008. As a result of this change in measurement date, we recorded a cumulative effect after-tax $44 million reduction to retained earnings as of January 1, 2008.

Net Periodic Benefit Cost

Information about net periodic benefit cost for the pension and postretirement benefit plans is as follows (in millions):

 

     U.S. Pension Benefits     U.S. Postretirement
Medical Benefits
    International
Pension Benefits
 
     2008     2007     2006     2008     2007     2006     2008     2007     2006  

Net Periodic Cost:

                  

Service cost

   $ 707     $ 520     $ 474     $ 96     $ 101     $ 102     $ 26     $ 31     $ 24  

Interest cost

     1,051       835       726       202       182       170       31       31       26  

Expected return on assets

     (1,517 )     (1,302 )     (1,106 )     (49 )     (46 )     (43 )     (35 )     (31 )     (22 )

Amortization of:

                  

Transition obligation

     5       3       3       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Prior service cost

     184       57       36       (4 )     (8 )     (8 )     1       1       1  

Actuarial (gain) loss

     8       109       148       20       22       29       —         5       7  

Settlements / curtailments

     —         —         —         —         3       —         —         —         1  
                                                                        

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 438     $ 222     $ 281     $ 265     $ 254     $ 250     $ 23     $ 37     $ 37  
                                                                        

Actuarial Assumptions

The table below provides the weighted average actuarial assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost.

 

    Pension Benefits     Postretirement Medical
Benefits
    International Pension
Benefits
 
    2008     2007     2006     2008     2007     2006     2008     2007     2006  

Discount rate

  6.47 %   6.00 %   5.75 %   6.25 %   6.00 %   5.75 %   5.57 %   4.97 %   4.93 %

Rate of compensation increase

  4.50 %   4.50 %   4.00 %   N/A     N/A     N/A     3.64 %   3.40 %   3.94 %

Expected return on assets

  8.96 %   8.96 %   8.96 %   9.00 %   9.00 %   9.00 %   7.54 %   7.53 %   7.67 %

The table below provides the weighted average actuarial assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations of our plans.

 

     Pension Benefits     Postretirement
Medical Benefits
    International
Pension Benefits
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Discount rate

   6.75 %   6.47 %   6.66 %   6.25 %   6.17 %   5.56 %

Rate of compensation increase

   4.50 %   4.50 %   N/A     N/A     3.65 %   3.64 %

 

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UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Our pension and other postretirement benefit costs are calculated using various actuarial assumptions and methodologies as prescribed by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions” and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions.” These assumptions include discount rates, expected return on plan assets, health care cost trend rates, inflation, rate of compensation increases, mortality rates, and other factors. Actuarial assumptions are reviewed on an annual basis.

A discount rate is used to determine the present value of our future benefit obligations. For plans in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., the discount rate is determined by matching the expected cash flows to a yield curve based on long-term, high quality fixed income debt instruments available as of the measurement date. In 2008, a modification was made to the population from which the bond portfolio was chosen. We believe this change more closely approximates the population from which we would select bonds to settle our pension and postretirement medical benefit obligations. This particular change had an impact of raising the discount rate on average 23 and 17 basis points for the pension benefits and postretirement medical benefits, respectively. Each basis point increase in the discount rate decreases the projected benefit obligation by approximately $24 million and $3 million for pension and postretirement medical benefits, respectively. For all other plans outside the U.S., the discount rate is selected based on high quality fixed income indices available in the country in which the plan is domiciled. These assumptions are updated each year.

An assumption for return on plan assets is used to determine the expected return on asset component of net periodic benefit cost for the fiscal year. This assumption for our U.S. plans was developed using a long-term projection of returns for each asset class, and taking into consideration our target asset allocation. For our U.S. plans, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield is the foundation for all other asset class returns, and various risk premiums are added to determine the expected return for each allocation.

For the UPS Retirement Plan, we use a market-related valuation method for recognizing investment gains or losses. Investment gains or losses are the difference between the expected and actual return based on the market-related value of assets. This method recognizes investment gains or losses over a five year period from the year in which they occur, which reduces year-to-year volatility in pension expense. Our expense in future periods will be impacted as gains or losses are recognized in the market-related value of assets.

For plans outside the U.S., consideration is given to local market expectations of long-term returns. Strategic asset allocations are determined by country, based on the nature of liabilities and considering the demographic composition of the plan participants.

Health care cost trends are used to project future postretirement benefits payable from our plans. For year-end 2008 obligations, future postretirement medical benefit costs were forecasted assuming an initial annual increase of 8.0%, decreasing to 5.0% by the year 2014 and with consistent annual increases at that ultimate level thereafter.

Assumed health care cost trends have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the U.S. postretirement medical plans. A one-percent change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects (in millions):

 

     1% Increase    1% Decrease  

Effect on total of service cost and interest cost

   $ 6    $ (6 )

Effect on postretirement benefit obligation

     91      (94 )

 

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UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Benefit Obligations and Fair Value of Plan Assets

The following table provides a reconciliation of the changes in the plans’ benefit obligations and fair value of plan assets as of the respective measurement dates in each year (in millions). The measurement date for 2007 was September 30. Under the provisions of FAS 158, we began to use a December 31 measurement date for all of our pension and postretirement benefit plans beginning in 2008.

 

     U.S. Pension Benefits     U.S. Postretirement
Medical Benefits
    International
Pension
Benefits
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Benefit Obligations:

            

Net benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 15,469     $ 13,558     $ 3,153     $ 2,992     $ 574     $ 551  

Service cost

     707       520       96       101       26       31  

Interest cost

     1,051       835       202       182       31       31  

Gross benefits paid

     (418 )     (342 )     (192 )     (190 )     (14 )     (11 )

Plan participants’ contributions

     —         —         14       12       2       2  

Plan amendments

     20       1,722       182       47       —         —    

Actuarial (gain)/loss

     (782 )     (824 )     (324 )     8       (70 )     (95 )

Foreign currency exchange rate changes

     —         —         —         —         (113 )     46  

Curtailments and settlements

     —         —         —         —         (4 )     (6 )

Effect of eliminating early measurement date

     256       —         34       —         12       —    

Other

     —         —         1       1       (6 )     25  
                                                

Net benefit obligation at end of year

   $ 16,303     $ 15,469     $ 3,166     $ 3,153     $ 438     $ 574  
                                                

Fair Value of Plan Assets:

            

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

   $ 17,954     $ 15,374     $ 598     $ 551     $ 470     $ 348  

Actual return on plan assets

     (5,124 )     2,445       (145 )     73       (83 )     37  

Employer contributions

     120       477       82       152       44       56  

Plan participants’ contributions

     —         —         14       12       2       2  

Gross benefits paid

     (418 )     (342 )     (192 )     (190 )     (14 )     (11 )

Foreign currency exchange rate changes

     —         —         —         —         (103 )     32  

Curtailments and settlements

     —         —         —         —         (4 )     6  

Effect of eliminating early measurement date

     277       —         (8 )     —         31       —    
                                                

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

   $ 12,809     $ 17,954     $ 349     $ 598     $ 343     $ 470  
                                                

 

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UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Funded Status

The following table discloses the funded status, as of the respective measurement dates in each year, of our plans and the amounts recognized in our balance sheet as of December 31, on a pre-tax basis (in millions):

 

     U.S. Pension Benefits     U.S. Postretirement
Medical Benefits
    International
Pension Benefits
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Funded Status:

            

Fair value of plan assets

   $ 12,809     $ 17,954     $ 349     $ 598     $ 343     $ 470  

Benefit obligation

     (16,303 )     (15,469 )     (3,166 )     (3,153 )     (438 )     (574 )
                                                

Funded status

     (3,494 )     2,485       (2,817 )     (2,555 )     (95 )     (104 )

Employer contributions in the fourth quarter

     —         4       —         25       —         24  
                                                

Net amount recognized at December 31

   $ (3,494 )   $ 2,489     $ (2,817 )   $ (2,530 )   $ (95 )   $ (80 )
                                                

Amounts Recognized in AOCI:

            

Unrecognized net transition obligation

     4       9       —         —         —         —    

Unrecognized net prior service cost / (benefit)

     2,017       2,197       137       (51 )     10       13  

Unrecognized net actuarial loss

     5,963       113       534       683       42       5  
                                                

Net unrecognized cost at December 31

   $ 7,984     $ 2,319     $ 671     $ 632     $ 52     $ 18  
                                                

Amounts Recognized in our Balance Sheet:

            

Pension and postretirement benefit assets

   $ —       $ 4,406     $ —       $ —       $ 10     $ 15  

Other current liabilities

     (10 )     (36 )     (78 )     (65 )     (5 )     (3 )

Pension and postretirement benefit obligations

     (3,484 )     (1,881 )     (2,739 )     (2,465 )     (100 )     (92 )
                                                

Net asset (liability) at December 31

   $ (3,494 )   $ 2,489     $ (2,817 )   $ (2,530 )   $ (95 )   $ (80 )
                                                

The accumulated benefit obligation for our pension plans as of the measurement dates in 2008 and 2007 was $15.301 and $14.419 billion, respectively.

Employer contributions and benefits paid under the pension plans include $24 and $19 million paid from employer assets in 2008 and 2007, respectively. Employer contributions and benefits paid (net of participant contributions) under the postretirement medical benefit plans include $81 and $80 million paid from employer assets in 2008 and 2007, respectively.

As a result of losses experienced in the global equity markets, our U.S. domestic pension plans experienced a negative return on assets of approximately 26% in 2008. This negative return on assets, combined with a change in the discount rate, will increase pension costs by approximately $121 million in 2009 compared to 2008. The negative return on assets also had a significant adverse impact on shareowners’ equity in 2008, as the unrealized pension losses reduced AOCI by $3.717 billion, after-tax.

 

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UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

At the respective measurement dates in 2008 and 2007, the projected benefit obligation, the accumulated benefit obligation, and the fair value of plan assets for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets were as follows (in millions):

 

     Accumulated Benefit Obligation
Exceeds the Fair Value of Plan
Assets
         2008            2007    

U.S. Pension Benefits

     

Projected benefit obligation

   $ 4,274    $ 1,920

Accumulated benefit obligation

     4,249      1,883

Fair value of plan assets

     1,908      —  

International Pension Benefits

     

Projected benefit obligation

   $ 165    $ 180

Accumulated benefit obligation

     137      150

Fair value of plan assets

     89      99

The accumulated postretirement benefit obligation exceeds plan assets for all of our U.S. postretirement benefit plans.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The amounts in AOCI expected to be amortized and recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost in 2009 are as follows (in millions):

 

     U.S. Pension Benefits    U.S. Postretirement
Medical Benefits
   International Pension
Benefits

Transition obligation

   $ 4    $ —      $ —  

Prior service cost / (benefit)

     178      6      1

Actuarial loss

     46      14      2
                    
   $ 228    $ 20    $ 3
                    

Plan Asset Investment Policy

The asset allocation for our U.S. pension and other postretirement plans as of the respective measurement dates in 2008 and 2007, and the target allocation as of December 31, 2008, by asset category, are as follows:

 

     Weighted Average
Target Allocation
2008
   Percentage of
Plan Assets
 
        2008     2007  

Equity securities

   45% – 60%    44.2 %   59.0 %

Debt securities

   20% – 35%    31.0 %   25.0 %

Real estate / other

   10% – 25%    24.8 %   16.0 %
               

Total

      100.0 %   100.0 %

 

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UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Equity securities include UPS Class A shares of common stock in the amounts of $338 million (2.6% of total plan assets) and $460 million (2.5% of total plan assets), as of December 31, 2008 and September 30, 2007, respectively.

The applicable benefit plan committees establish investment guidelines and strategies, and regularly monitor the performance of the funds and portfolio managers. Our investment strategy with respect to pension assets is to invest the assets in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The long-term primary objectives for our pension assets are to (1) provide for a reasonable amount of long-term growth of capital, without undue exposure to risk; and protect the assets from erosion of purchasing power, and (2) provide investment results that meet or exceed the plans’ actuarially assumed long-term rate of return.

Expected Cash Flows

Information about expected cash flows for the pension and postretirement benefit plans is as follows (in millions):

 

     U.S.
Pension Benefits
   U.S. Postretirement
Medical Benefits
   International Pension
Benefits

Employer Contributions:

        

2009 (expected) to plan trusts

   $ 778    $ —      $ 29

2009 (expected) to plan participants

     11      81      5

Expected Benefit Payments:

        

2009

   $ 462    $ 184    $ 13

2010

     535      199      14

2011

     612      217      15

2012

     696      229      16

2013

     783      247      18

2014 - 2018

     5,457      1,355      99

Expected benefit payments for pensions will be primarily paid from plan trusts. Expected benefit payments for postretirement medical benefits will be paid from plan trusts and corporate assets. Our funding policy for U.S. plans is to contribute amounts annually that are at least equal to the amounts required by applicable laws and regulations, or to directly fund payments to plan participants, as applicable. International plans will be funded in accordance with local regulations. Additional discretionary contributions will be made when deemed appropriate to meet the long-term obligations of the plans.

Other Plans

We also contribute to several multi-employer pension plans for which the previous disclosure information is not determinable. Amounts charged to operations for pension contributions to these multi-employer plans were $1.069, $7.642, and $1.405 billion during 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. The 2007 amount includes the $6.100 billion payment to withdraw from the Central States Pension Fund, as previously discussed.

We also contribute to several multi-employer health and welfare plans that cover both active and retired employees for which the previous disclosure information is not determinable. Amounts charged to operations for contributions to multi-employer health and welfare plans were $990, $919, and $862 million during 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.

 

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UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

We also sponsor several defined contribution plans for all employees not covered under collective bargaining agreements, and for certain employees covered under collective bargaining agreements. The Company matches, in shares of UPS common stock or cash, a portion of the participating employees’ contributions. Matching contributions charged to expense w