UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015

 

OR

 

 

For the transition period from __________ to ____________

 

Commission File Number 1-6075

 

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

1400 DOUGLAS STREET, OMAHA, NEBRASKA

(Address of principal executive offices)

68179

(Zip Code)

(402) 544-5000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

☒ Yes     ☐ No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

☒ Yes     ☐ No

 

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

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

 

☐ Yes     ☒ No

 

As of April 17,  2015, there were 875,590,576 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock outstanding.

 

 

 

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 

 

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION 

 

 

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

Union Pacific Corporation and Subsidiary Companies

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)

Union Pacific Corporation and Subsidiary Companies

 

 

 

[a] Net of deferred taxes of $(3) million and $5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited)

Union Pacific Corporation and Subsidiary Companies

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

Union Pacific Corporation and Subsidiary Companies

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Common Shareholders’ Equity (Unaudited)

Union Pacific Corporation and Subsidiary Companies

 

 

 

[a]AOCI = Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) (Note 10)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

(Unaudited)

 

For purposes of this report, unless the context otherwise requires, all references herein to the “Corporation”, “Company”, “UPC”, “we”, “us”, and “our” mean Union Pacific Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Union Pacific Railroad Company, which will be separately referred to herein as “UPRR” or the “Railroad”.

 

1. Basis of Presentation

 

Our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited and reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring adjustments) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for their fair presentation in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Our Consolidated Statement of Financial Position at December 31, 2014, is derived from audited financial statements. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto contained in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015, are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year ending December 31, 2015.

 

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are presented in accordance with GAAP as codified in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC).

 

2. Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (ASU 2014-09), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition guidance in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods and services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in the exchange for those goods or services. This standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. ASU 2014-09 is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03 (ASU 2015-03), Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30). ASU 2015-03 changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in the financial statements to present such costs as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. Amortization of debt issuance costs will be reported as interest expense. This standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. ASU 2015-03 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

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3. Operations and Segmentation

 

The Railroad, along with its subsidiaries and rail affiliates, is our one reportable operating segment. Although we provide and analyze revenue by commodity group, we treat the financial results of the Railroad as one segment due to the integrated nature of our rail network. The following table provides freight revenue by commodity group:

 

 

 

Although our revenues are principally derived from customers domiciled in the U.S., the ultimate points of origination or destination for some products transported by us are outside the U.S. Each of our commodity groups includes revenue from shipments to and from Mexico. Included in the above table are revenues from our Mexico business which amounted to $544 million and $540 million, respectively for the three months ended March 31, 2015, and March 31, 2014.

 

4. Stock Split

 

On June 6, 2014, we completed a two-for-one stock split, effected in the form of a 100% stock dividend. The stock split entitled all shareholders of record at the close of business on May 27, 2014, to receive one additional share of our common stock, par value $2.50 per share, for each share of common stock held on that date. All references to common shares and per share amounts have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the stock split for all periods presented.

 

5. Stock-Based Compensation

 

We have several stock-based compensation plans under which employees and non-employee directors receive stock options, nonvested retention shares, and nonvested stock units. We refer to the nonvested shares and stock units collectively as “retention awards”. We have elected to issue treasury shares to cover option exercises and stock unit vestings, while new shares are issued when retention shares are granted. Information regarding stock-based compensation appears in the table below:

 

 

 

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Stock Options – We estimate the fair value of our stock option awards using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The table below shows the annual weighted-average assumptions used for valuation purposes:

 

 

 

The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant; the dividend yield is calculated as the ratio of dividends paid per share of common stock to the stock price on the date of grant; the expected life is based on historical and expected exercise behavior; and volatility is based on the historical volatility of our stock price over the expected life of the option.

 

A summary of stock option activity during the three months ended March 31, 2015, is presented below:

 

 

Stock options are granted at the closing price on the date of grant, have ten-year contractual terms, and vest no later than three years from the date of grant. None of the stock options outstanding at March 31, 2015, are subject to performance or market-based vesting conditions.

 

At March 31, 2015, there was $31 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested stock options, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years. Additional information regarding stock option exercises appears in the table below:

 

 

 

 

Retention Awards – The fair value of retention awards is based on the closing price of the stock on the grant date. Dividends and dividend equivalents are paid to participants during the vesting periods.

 

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Changes in our retention awards during the three months ended March 31, 2015, were as follows:

 

 

 

Retention awards are granted at no cost to the employee or non-employee director and vest over periods lasting up to four years. At March 31, 2015, there was $131 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested retention awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.2 years.

 

Performance Retention Awards – In February 2015, our Board of Directors approved performance stock unit grants. Other than different performance targets, the basic terms of these performance stock units are identical to those granted in February 2013, and February 2014, including using annual return on invested capital (ROIC) as the performance measure. We define ROIC as net operating profit adjusted for interest expense (including interest on the present value of operating leases) and taxes on interest divided by average invested capital adjusted for the present value of operating leases.

 

Stock units awarded to selected employees under these grants are subject to continued employment for 37 months and the attainment of certain levels of ROIC. We expense the fair value of the units that are probable of being earned based on our forecasted ROIC over the 3-year performance period. We measure the fair value of these performance stock units based upon the closing price of the underlying common stock as of the date of grant, reduced by the present value of estimated future dividends. Dividend equivalents are paid to participants only after the units are earned.

 

The assumptions used to calculate the present value of estimated future dividends related to the February 2015 grant were as follows:

 

 

 

Changes in our performance retention awards during the three months ended March 31, 2015, were as follows:

 

 

 

At March 31, 2015, there was $66 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested performance retention awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years. This expense is subject to achievement of the ROIC levels established for the performance stock unit grants.

 

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6. Retirement Plans

 

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

 

Pension Plans – We provide defined benefit retirement income to eligible non-union employees through qualified and non-qualified (supplemental) pension plans. Qualified and non-qualified pension benefits are based on years of service and the highest compensation during the latest years of employment, with specific reductions made for early retirements.

 

Other Postretirement Benefits (OPEB) – We provide medical and life insurance benefits for eligible retirees. These benefits are funded as medical claims and life insurance premiums are paid.

 

Expense

 

Both pension and OPEB expense are determined based upon the annual service cost of benefits (the actuarial cost of benefits earned during a period) and the interest cost on those liabilities, less the expected return on plan assets. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is applied to a calculated value of plan assets that recognizes changes in fair value over a five-year period. This practice is intended to reduce year-to-year volatility in pension expense, but it can have the effect of delaying the recognition of differences between actual returns on assets and expected returns based on long-term rate of return assumptions. Differences in actual experience in relation to assumptions are not recognized in net income immediately, but are deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income and, if necessary, amortized as pension or OPEB expense.

 

The components of our net periodic pension and OPEB cost/(benefit) were as follows for the three months ended March 31:

 

 

 

Cash Contributions

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, we did not make any cash contributions to the qualified pension plan. Any contributions made during 2015 will be based on cash generated from operations and financial market considerations. Our policy with respect to funding the qualified plans is to fund at least the minimum required by law and not more than the maximum amount deductible for tax purposes. At March 31, 2015, we do not have minimum cash funding requirements for 2015.

 

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7. Other Income

 

Other income included the following:

 

 

 

[a] 2014 includes $14 million related to the sale of a permanent easement.

 

8. Income Taxes

 

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) examinations have been completed and settled for all years prior to 2009, and the statute of limitations bars any additional tax assessments. The IRS has completed their examinations and issued notices of deficiency for tax years 2009 and 2010. We disagreed with many of their proposed adjustments, and went to IRS Appeals for those years.

 

In the first quarter of 2015, we reached an agreement in principle with IRS Appeals to resolve all issues related to tax years 2009 and 2010, except for calculations of interest. We anticipate signing a closing agreement with the IRS within the next 12 months. Once formalized, this agreement will have an immaterial effect on our income tax expense and result in an immaterial payment of tax and interest.

 

Additionally, several state tax authorities are examining our state income tax returns for years 2006 through 2010.

 

At March 31, 2015, we had a net liability for unrecognized tax benefits of $141 million. Of that amount, $29 million is classified as a current liability in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

 

9. Earnings Per Share

 

The following table provides a reconciliation between basic and diluted earnings per share:

 

 

 

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10. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)

 

Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2015, and 2014, were as follows (net of tax):

 

 

 

[a] The accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) reclassification components are 1) prior service cost/(benefit) and 2) net actuarial loss which are both included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See Note 6 Retirement Plans for additional details.

 

11. Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivable includes freight and other receivables reduced by an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance is based upon historical losses, credit worthiness of customers, and current economic conditions. At both March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, our accounts receivable were reduced by $5 million. Receivables not expected to be collected in one year and the associated allowances are classified as other assets in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. At March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, receivables classified as other assets were reduced by allowances of $14 million and $16 million, respectively.

 

Receivables Securitization Facility – The Railroad maintains a $650 million, 3-year receivables securitization facility maturing in July 2017 under which it sells most of its eligible third-party receivables to Union Pacific Receivables, Inc. (UPRI), a wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary that may subsequently transfer, without recourse, an undivided interest in accounts receivable to investors. The investors have no recourse to the Railroad’s other assets except for customary warranty and indemnity claims. Creditors of the Railroad do not have recourse to the assets of UPRI.

 

The amount outstanding under the facility was $400 million at both March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014. The facility was supported by $1.2 billion of accounts receivable as collateral at both March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, respectively, which, as a retained interest, is included in accounts receivable, net in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

 

The outstanding amount the Railroad is allowed to maintain under the facility, with a maximum of $650 million, may fluctuate based on the availability of eligible receivables and is directly affected by business volumes and credit risks, including receivables payment quality measures such as default and dilution ratios. If default or dilution ratios increase one percent, the allowable outstanding amount under the facility would not materially change.

 

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The costs of the receivables securitization facility include interest, which will vary based on prevailing benchmark and commercial paper rates, program fees paid to participating banks, commercial paper issuing costs, and fees of participating banks for unused commitment availability. The costs of the receivables securitization facility are included in interest expense and were $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, and 2014.

 

12. Properties

 

The following tables list the major categories of property and equipment, as well as the weighted average estimated useful life for each category (in years):

 

 

 

 

 

[a]Other roadway includes grading, bridges and tunnels, signals, buildings, and other road assets.

 

 

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13. Accounts Payable and Other Current Liabilities

 

 

[a]Beginning in 2015, the timing of the dividend declaration and payable dates was aligned to occur within the same quarter. The 2015 dividends paid amount includes the fourth quarter 2014 dividend of $438 million, which was paid on January 2, 2015, as well as the first quarter 2015 dividend of $484 million, which was paid on March 30, 2015.

 

14. Financial Instruments

 

Strategy and Risk – We may use derivative financial instruments in limited instances for other than trading purposes to assist in managing our overall exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and fuel prices. We are not a party to leveraged derivatives and, by policy, do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes. Derivative financial instruments qualifying for hedge accounting must maintain a specified level of effectiveness between the hedging instrument and the item being hedged, both at inception and throughout the hedged period. We formally document the nature and relationships between the hedging instruments and hedged items at inception, as well as our risk-management objectives, strategies for undertaking the various hedge transactions, and method of assessing hedge effectiveness. Changes in the fair market value of derivative financial instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting are charged to earnings. We may use swaps, collars, futures, and/or forward contracts to mitigate the risk of adverse movements in interest rates and fuel prices; however, the use of these derivative financial instruments may limit future benefits from favorable interest rate and fuel price movements.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments – The fair value of our short- and long-term debt was estimated using a market value price model, which utilizes applicable U.S. Treasury rates along with current market quotes on comparable debt securities. All of the inputs used to determine the fair market value of the Corporation’s long-term debt are Level 2 inputs and obtained from an independent source. At March 31, 2015, the fair value of total debt was $14.1 billion, approximately $1.8 billion more than the carrying value. At December 31, 2014, the fair value of total debt was $13.0 billion, approximately $1.5 billion more than the carrying value. The fair value of the Corporation’s debt is a measure of its current value under present market conditions. It does not impact the financial statements under current accounting rules. At both March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, approximately $163 million of debt securities contained call provisions that allow us to retire the debt instruments prior to final maturity, with the payment of fixed call premiums, or in certain cases, at par. The fair value of our cash equivalents approximates their carrying value due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

 

15. Debt

 

Credit Facilities – At March 31, 2015, we had $1.7 billion of credit available under our revolving credit facility (the facility), which is designated for general corporate purposes and supports the issuance of commercial paper. We did not draw on the facility during the three months ended March 31, 2015. Commitment fees and interest rates payable under the facility are similar to fees and rates available to comparably rated, investment-grade borrowers. The facility allows for borrowings at floating rates based on London Interbank Offered Rates, plus a spread, depending upon credit ratings for our senior unsecured debt. The facility matures in May 2019 under a five-year term and requires the Corporation to maintain a debt-to-net-worth coverage ratio. At March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014 (and at all times during the periods presented), we were in compliance with this covenant.

 

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The definition of debt used for purposes of calculating the debt-to-net-worth coverage ratio includes, among other things, certain credit arrangements, capital leases, guarantees and unfunded and vested pension benefits under Title IV of ERISA. At March 31, 2015, the debt-to-net-worth coverage ratio allowed us to carry up to $42.1 billion of debt (as defined in the facility), and we had $12.4 billion of debt (as defined in the facility) outstanding at that date. Under our current capital plans, we expect to continue to satisfy the debt-to-net-worth coverage ratio; however, many factors beyond our reasonable control could affect our ability to comply with this provision in the future. The facility does not include any other financial restrictions, credit rating triggers (other than rating-dependent pricing), or any other provision that could require us to post collateral. The facility also includes a $125 million cross-default provision and a change-of-control provision.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we did not issue or repay any commercial paper, and at March 31, 2015, we had no commercial paper outstanding. Our revolving credit facility supports our outstanding commercial paper balances, and, unless we change the terms of our commercial paper program, our aggregate issuance of commercial paper will not exceed the amount of borrowings available under the facility.

 

Shelf Registration Statement and Significant New Borrowings – We filed an automatic shelf registration statement with the SEC that became effective on February 9, 2015. The Board of Directors authorized the issuance of up to $4 billion of debt securities, replacing the $4 billion authorized under our shelf registration filed in February 2013, which was fully utilized after our January 2015 debt offering noted below. Under our current shelf registration, we may issue, from time to time, any combination of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, or warrants for debt securities or preferred stock in one or more offerings.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we issued the following unsecured, fixed-rate debt securities under our prior shelf registration:

 

 

 

We used the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including the repurchase of common stock pursuant to our share repurchase program. These debt securities include change-of-control provisions. At March 31, 2015, we had remaining authority to issue up to $4.0 billion of debt securities under our current shelf registration.

 

Receivables Securitization Facility – As of both March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, we recorded $400 million of borrowings under our receivables securitization facility as secured debt. (See further discussion of our receivables securitization facility in Note 11).

 

16. Variable Interest Entities

 

We have entered into various lease transactions in which the structure of the leases contain variable interest entities (VIEs). These VIEs were created solely for the purpose of doing lease transactions (principally involving railroad equipment and facilities) and have no other activities, assets or liabilities outside of the lease transactions. Within these lease arrangements, we have the right to purchase some or all of the assets at fixed prices. Depending on market conditions, fixed-price purchase options available in the leases could potentially provide benefits to us; however, these benefits are not expected to be significant.

 

We maintain and operate the assets based on contractual obligations within the lease arrangements, which set specific guidelines consistent within the railroad industry. As such, we have no control over activities that could materially impact the fair value of the leased assets. We do not hold the power to direct the activities of the VIEs and, therefore, do not control the ongoing activities that have a significant impact on the economic performance of the VIEs. Additionally, we do not have the obligation to absorb losses of the VIEs or the right to receive benefits of the VIEs that could potentially be significant to the VIEs.

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We are not considered to be the primary beneficiary and do not consolidate these VIEs because our actions and decisions do not have the most significant effect on the VIE’s performance and our fixed-price purchase options are not considered to be potentially significant to the VIEs. The future minimum lease payments associated with the VIE leases totaled $2.8 billion as of March 31, 2015.

 

17. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Asserted and Unasserted Claims – Various claims and lawsuits are pending against us and certain of our subsidiaries. We cannot fully determine the effect of all asserted and unasserted claims on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity. To the extent possible, we have recorded a liability where asserted and unasserted claims are considered probable and where such claims can be reasonably estimated. We do not expect that any known lawsuits, claims, environmental costs, commitments, contingent liabilities, or guarantees will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity after taking into account liabilities and insurance recoveries previously recorded for these matters.

 

Personal Injury – The cost of personal injuries to employees and others related to our activities is charged to expense based on estimates of the ultimate cost and number of incidents each year. We use an actuarial analysis to measure the expense and liability, including unasserted claims. The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) governs compensation for work-related accidents. Under FELA, damages are assessed based on a finding of fault through litigation or out-of-court settlements. We offer a comprehensive variety of services and rehabilitation programs for employees who are injured at work.

 

Our personal injury liability is not discounted to present value due to the uncertainty surrounding the timing of future payments. Approximately 93% of the recorded liability is related to asserted claims and approximately 7% is related to unasserted claims at March 31, 2015. Because of the uncertainty surrounding the ultimate outcome of personal injury claims, it is reasonably possible that future costs to settle these claims may range from approximately $299 million to $327 million. We record an accrual at the low end of the range as no amount of loss within the range is more probable than any other. Estimates can vary over time due to evolving trends in litigation.

 

Our personal injury liability activity was as follows:

 

 

 

We have insurance coverage for a portion of the costs incurred to resolve personal injury-related claims, and we have recognized an asset for estimated insurance recoveries at March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014.

 

Asbestos – We are a defendant in a number of lawsuits in which current and former employees and other parties allege exposure to asbestos. We assess our potential liability using a statistical analysis of resolution costs for asbestos-related claims. This liability is updated annually and excludes future defense and processing costs. The liability for resolving both asserted and unasserted claims was based on the following assumptions:

 

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Our liability for asbestos-related claims is not discounted to present value due to the uncertainty surrounding the timing of future payments. Approximately 22% of the recorded liability related to asserted claims and approximately 78% related to unasserted claims at March 31, 2015.

 

Our asbestos-related liability activity was as follows:

 

 

 

We have insurance coverage for a portion of the costs incurred to resolve asbestos-related claims, and we have recognized an asset for estimated insurance recoveries at March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014.

 

We believe that our estimates of liability for asbestos-related claims and insurance recoveries are reasonable and probable. The amounts recorded for asbestos-related liabilities and related insurance recoveries were based on currently known facts. However, future events, such as the number of new claims filed each year, average settlement costs, and insurance coverage issues, could cause the actual costs and insurance recoveries to be higher or lower than the projected amounts. Estimates also may vary in the future if strategies, activities, and outcomes of asbestos litigation materially change; federal and state laws governing asbestos litigation increase or decrease the probability or amount of compensation of claimants; and there are material changes with respect to payments made to claimants by other defendants.

 

Environmental Costs – We are subject to federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. We have identified 274 sites at which we are or may be liable for remediation costs associated with alleged contamination or for violations of environmental requirements. This includes 29 sites that are the subject of actions taken by the U.S. government, 16 of which are currently on the Superfund National Priorities List. Certain federal legislation imposes joint and several liability for the remediation of identified sites; consequently, our ultimate environmental liability may include costs relating to activities of other parties, in addition to costs relating to our own activities at each site.

 

When we identify an environmental issue with respect to property owned, leased, or otherwise used in our business, we perform, with assistance of our consultants, environmental assessments on the property. We expense the cost of the assessments as incurred. We accrue the cost of remediation where our obligation is probable and such costs can be reasonably estimated. Our environmental liability is not discounted to present value due to the uncertainty surrounding the timing of future payments.

 

Our environmental liability activity was as follows:

 

 

 

The environmental liability includes future costs for remediation and restoration of sites, as well as ongoing monitoring costs, but excludes any anticipated recoveries from third parties. Cost estimates are

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based on information available for each site, financial viability of other potentially responsible parties, and existing technology, laws, and regulations. The ultimate liability for remediation is difficult to determine because of the number of potentially responsible parties, site-specific cost sharing arrangements with other potentially responsible parties, the degree of contamination by various wastes, the scarcity and quality of volumetric data related to many of the sites, and the speculative nature of remediation costs. Estimates of liability may vary over time due to changes in federal, state, and local laws governing environmental remediation. Current obligations are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity.

 

Insurance – The Company has a consolidated, wholly-owned captive insurance subsidiary (the captive), that provides insurance coverage for certain risks including FELA claims and property coverage which are subject to reinsurance. The captive entered into annual reinsurance treaty agreements that insure workers compensation, general liability, auto liability and FELA risk. The captive cedes a portion of its FELA exposure through the treaty and assumes a proportionate share of the entire risk. The captive receives direct premiums, which are netted against the Company’s premium costs in other expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. The treaty agreements provide for certain protections against the risk of treaty participants’ non-performance, and we do not believe our exposure to treaty participants’ non-performance is material at this time. In the event the Company leaves the reinsurance program, the Company is not relieved of its primary obligation to the policyholders for activity prior to the termination of the treaty agreements. We record both liabilities and reinsurance receivables using an actuarial analysis based on historical experience in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

 

Guarantees – At March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, we were contingently liable for guarantees of $78 million and $82 million, respectively. We have recorded a liability of $5.2 million and $0.3 million for the fair value of these obligations as of March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, respectively. We entered into these contingent guarantees in the normal course of business, and they include guaranteed obligations related to equipment financings and affiliated operations. The final guarantee expires in 2022. We are not aware of any existing event of default that would require us to satisfy these guarantees. We do not expect that these guarantees will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

 

Indemnities – We are contingently obligated under a variety of indemnification arrangements, although in some cases the extent of our potential liability is limited, depending on the nature of the transactions and the agreements. Due to uncertainty as to whether claims will be made or how they will be resolved, we cannot reasonably determine the probability of an adverse claim or reasonably estimate any adverse liability or the total maximum exposure under these indemnification arrangements. We do not have any reason to believe that we will be required to make any material payments under these indemnity provisions.  

 

Operating Leases – At March 31, 2015, we had commitments for future minimum lease payments under operating leases with initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year of approximately $3.6 billion.

 

Gain Contingency – UPRR and Santa Fe Pacific Pipelines (SFPP, a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.) currently are engaged in a proceeding to resolve the fair market rent payable to UPRR commencing on January 1, 2004, for pipeline easements on UPRR rights-of-way (Union Pacific Railroad Company vs. Santa Fe Pacific Pipelines, Inc., SFPP, L.P., Kinder Morgan Operating L.P. “D” Kinder Morgan G.P., Inc., et al., Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, filed July 28, 2004). In February 2007, a trial began to resolve this issue, and in May 2012, the trial judge rendered an opinion establishing the fair market rent and entering judgment for back rent, including prejudgment interest.  SFPP appealed the judgment.  On November 5, 2014, the Second District Circuit Court of Appeal in California issued an opinion holding that UPRR was not entitled to collect rent from SFPP for easements on the portions of the property acquired solely through federal government land grants issued during the 1800s.  The Appellate Court also reversed the award of prejudgment interest and remanded the case to the trial court.  A favorable final judgment may materially affect UPRR's results of operations in the period of any monetary recoveries.  Due to the uncertainty regarding the amount and timing of any recovery or any subsequent proceedings, we consider this a gain contingency and have not recognized any amounts in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of March 31, 2015.

 

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18. Share Repurchase Program

 

Effective January 1, 2014, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 120 million shares of our common stock by December 31, 2017, replacing our previous repurchase program. As of March 31, 2015, we repurchased a total of $13.4 billion of our common stock since the commencement of our repurchase programs in 2007. The table below represents shares repurchased under this repurchase program during this reporting period.

 

 

Management's assessments of market conditions and other pertinent factors guide the timing and volume of all repurchases.  We expect to fund any share repurchases under this program through cash generated from operations, the sale or lease of various operating and non-operating properties, debt issuances, and cash on hand.  Repurchased shares are recorded in treasury stock at cost, which includes any applicable commissions and fees.

 

From April 1, 2015, through April 22, 2015, we repurchased 2.3 million shares at an aggregate cost of approximately $244 million.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2015, Compared to

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014

 

 

For purposes of this report, unless the context otherwise requires, all references herein to “UPC”, “Corporation”, “Company”, “we”, “us”, and “our” shall mean Union Pacific Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Union Pacific Railroad Company, which we separately refer to as “UPRR” or the “Railroad”.

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and applicable notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Item 1, and other information included in this report. Our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited and reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for their fair presentation in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP).

 

The Railroad, along with its subsidiaries and rail affiliates, is our one reportable business segment. Although we provide and analyze revenue by commodity group, we treat the financial results of the Railroad as one segment due to the integrated nature of our rail network.

 

Available Information

 

Our Internet website is www.up.com. We make available free of charge on our website (under the “Investors” caption link) our Annual Reports on Form 10-K; our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q; eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) documents; our current reports on Form 8-K; our proxy statements; Forms 3, 4, and 5, filed on behalf of directors and executive officers; and amendments to any such reports filed or furnished pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We also make available on our website previously filed SEC reports and exhibits via a link to EDGAR on the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov. We provide these previously filed reports as a convenience and their contents reflect only information that was true and correct as of the date of the report. We assume no obligation to update this historical information. Additionally, our corporate governance materials, including By-Laws, Board Committee charters, governance guidelines and policies, and codes of conduct and ethics for directors, officers, and employees are available on our website. From time to time, the corporate governance materials on our website may be updated as necessary to comply with rules issued by the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange or as desirable to promote the effective and efficient governance of our company. Any security holder wishing to receive, without charge, a copy of any of our SEC filings or corporate governance materials should send a written request to: Secretary, Union Pacific Corporation, 1400 Douglas Street, Omaha, NE 68179.

 

References to our website address in this report, including references in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Item 2, are provided as a convenience and do not constitute, and should not be deemed, an incorporation by reference of the information contained on, or available through, the website. Therefore, such information should not be considered part of this report.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

We base our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations upon our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The preparation of these financial statements requires estimation and judgment that affect the reported amounts of revenues, expenses, assets, and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. If these estimates differ materially from actual results, the impact on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements may be material. Our critical accounting policies are available in Item 7 of our 2014 Annual

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Report on Form 10-K. There have not been any significant changes with respect to these policies during the first three months of 2015.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Quarterly Summary

 

We reported earnings of $1.30 per diluted share on net income of $1.2 billion in the first quarter of 2015 compared to earnings of $1.19 per diluted share on net income of $1.1 billion for the first quarter of 2014. Freight revenues decreased 1%, or $35 million, in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2014. The decrease was due to lower fuel surcharge revenue and a 2% decline in volume, partially offset by higher average revenue per car (ARC) resulting from core pricing gains and positive business mix. The decline in volume in international intermodal, coal, and crude oil more than offset the growth in domestic intermodal, automotive and agricultural products. Lower fuel expense, partially offset by labor inflation and costs associated with increased resources, more than offset the lower revenue, resulting in a first quarter record for operating ratio.

 

Throughout 2014, we focused on adding resources to improve fluidity and service with increasing demand. Expecting another strong year of demand in 2015, we continued to add resources during the quarter and are now sufficiently resourced and focused on continuing to drive better customer service and operating efficiencies. However, the West Coast port slowdown and lower crude oil and natural gas prices drove volume declines, requiring us to adjust our resources. At the end of the quarter, we had approximately 500 employees either furloughed or in alternate work status and about 475 locomotives in storage, which replenished a portion of our surge resources. We will continue to monitor and adjust our resources in light of changing volumes, notable in our coal business.

 

As reported to the Association of American Railroads (AAR), average train speed for the first quarter of 2015 essentially was flat compared to the first quarter of 2014. Lower volumes, a strong resource position and more favorable weather were offset by the impact of more extensive track maintenance projects. Average terminal dwell time improved slightly compared to the first quarter of 2014. The slight improvement was achieved despite a 1% increase in manifest traffic volumes. Although operations improved, we remained below optimal levels.

 

Operating Revenues

 

 

 

We generate freight revenues by transporting freight or other materials from our six commodity groups. Freight revenues vary with volume (carloads) and ARC. Changes in price, traffic mix and fuel surcharges drive ARC. We provide some of our customers with contractual incentives for meeting or exceeding specified cumulative volumes or shipping to and from specific locations, which we record as reductions to freight revenues based on the actual or projected future shipments. We recognize freight revenues as shipments move from origin to destination. We allocate freight revenues between reporting periods based on the relative transit time in each reporting period and recognize expenses as we incur them.

 

Other revenues include revenues earned by our subsidiaries, revenues from commuter rail operations that we manage, accessorial revenues, which we earn when customers retain equipment owned or controlled by us or when we perform additional services such as switching or storage, and miscellaneous contract revenue. We recognize other revenues as we perform services or meet contractual obligations.

 

Freight revenues, before the impact of lower fuel surcharge revenue, increased for five of the six commodity groups during the first quarter of 2015 compared to 2014, reflecting strong pricing gains. Volume levels decreased for four of the six commodity groups, driven by declines in international intermodal, coal and crude oil shipments.

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Each of our commodity groups includes revenue from fuel surcharges. Freight revenues from fuel surcharge programs were $447 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to $651 million in the same period of 2014. Lower fuel surcharge revenue resulted from lower fuel prices and lower volumes, partially offset by the lag impact of our fuel surcharge programs (it can generally take up to two months for changing fuel prices to affect fuel surcharge recoveries). We estimate the lag impact added just over $100 million to operating income this quarter.

 

Other revenues increased in the first quarter of 2015 compared to 2014 due to accessorial revenue resulting from the West Coast port slowdown. This increase was partially offset by lower revenues at our subsidiaries, primarily those that broker intermodal and automotive services.

 

The following tables summarize the year-over-year changes in freight revenues, revenue carloads, and ARC by commodity type:

 

 

 

 

 

[a]   Each intermodal container or trailer equals one carload.

 

Agricultural Products – Core price improvements and increased volume, partially offset by the decline in fuel surcharge revenue, drove the increase in freight revenue from agricultural shipments in the first quarter of 2015 compared to 2014. Strong export shipments of soybeans and milo drove the volume increase in the first quarter of 2015 compared to 2014. The higher demand for soybeans and milo was 

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partially offset by lower exports of wheat which was not competitive in the world market. Strong demand for ethanol in both export and U.S. markets resulted in first quarter corn refining growth.

 

Automotive – Freight revenue from automotive shipments increased compared to the first quarter of 2014.  Higher volume from finished vehicle shipments and core price improvements, partially offset by reduced fuel surcharge revenue, drove the increase in freight revenue. Higher production and sales levels during the quarter resulted in volume growth.

 

Chemicals – Core price improvements offset lower fuel surcharge revenue and volume as freight revenue from chemicals in the first quarter of 2015 increased slightly compared to 2014. Crude oil shipments declined as a result of the drop in crude oil prices and other market factors, primarily regional pricing differences for various types of crude oil that displaced some of the former Gulf Coast shipments to the East and West Coast. Strength in the plastics and fertilizer markets increased shipments of these commodities.

 

Coal – Lower volume and fuel surcharge revenue, partially offset by core price gains, drove the decline in freight revenue from coal shipments in the first quarter of 2015 compared to 2014.  Shipments out of Colorado and Utah declined over 30% compared to the first quarter of 2014 due to lower domestic demand for Colorado and Utah coal. This lower demand was driven by several utilities switching to other fuel sources as a result of lower natural gas prices. In addition, coal exports declined due to a soft global market.

 

Industrial Products – Core pricing gains, partially offset by lower volume and fuel surcharge revenue, increased freight revenue from industrial products in the first quarter of 2015 compared to 2014. Steel shipments declined driven by reductions in shale drilling activities and increased imports associated with the strength of the U.S. dollar. These declines were partially offset by growth in construction-related materials that increased from the first quarter of 2014. Despite the decline in shale drilling activity due to lower oil prices, non-metallic mineral (primarily frac sand) shipments increased modestly as companies continued to increase the amount of sand used per well.

 

Intermodal – Freight revenue from intermodal shipments decreased in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. Lower fuel surcharge revenue and declines in international shipments were partially offset by core pricing improvement and increased domestic shipments. First quarter volume levels from international traffic decreased 12%, compared to the first quarter of 2014, driven by West Coast port labor negotiations and the resulting port congestion. The dispute severely restrained volumes through February creating a large backlog of freight. Once the recovery began in March, international volume levels surpassed last year’s levels during the same time period. Domestic volume increased 9% in the first quarter, driven by continued conversions from trucks and new premium services.

 

Mexico Business – Each of our commodity groups includes revenue from shipments to and from Mexico. Revenue from Mexico business increased 1% to $544 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. Volume levels were flat compared to first quarter of 2014, as increases in automotive and chemicals offset the decline in intermodal.

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

Operating expenses decreased $147 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the comparable period in 2014. Lower fuel price was partially offset by wage and benefit inflation, a larger workforce,

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depreciation, higher property taxes and increased locomotive material expense. In the first quarter of 2014, weather related costs increased expenses by approximately $35 million.

 

Compensation and Benefits – Compensation and benefits include wages, payroll taxes, health and welfare costs, pension costs, other postretirement benefits, and incentive costs. General wage and benefit inflation, hiring and training related costs and a larger workforce drove the 9% increase compared to the first quarter of 2014. Reduced weather-related expenses partially offset these increases. 

 

Purchased Services and Materials – Expense for purchased services and materials includes the costs of services purchased from outside contractors and other service providers (including equipment maintenance and contract expenses incurred by our subsidiaries for external transportation services); materials used to maintain the Railroad’s lines, structures, and equipment; costs of operating facilities jointly used by UPRR and other railroads; transportation and lodging for train crew employees; trucking and contracting costs for intermodal containers; leased automobile maintenance expenses; and tools and supplies. Locomotive material expenses increased in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the first quarter of 2014, due to maintenance associated with operating a larger fleet. Purchased services increased 1% compared to the first quarter of 2014, primarily due to contract services partially offset by volume-related expense incurred by our logistics subsidiaries for external transportation.

 

Fuel – Fuel includes locomotive fuel and gasoline for highway and non-highway vehicles and heavy equipment. Locomotive diesel fuel prices, which averaged $1.95 per gallon (including taxes and transportation costs) in the first quarter of 2015, compared to $3.12 per gallon in the same period in 2014, decreased expenses $330 million. In addition, fuel expense decreased due to a 1% decrease in volume, as measured by gross-ton miles, and a 1% fuel consumption rate improvement, computed as gallons of fuel consumed divided by gross ton-miles in thousands.

 

Depreciation – The majority of depreciation relates to road property, including rail, ties, ballast, and other track material. A higher depreciable asset base, reflecting higher ongoing capital spending, increased depreciation expense in the first quarter of 2015 compared to 2014. This increase was partially offset by our recent depreciation studies that resulted in lower depreciation rates for some asset classes.

 

Equipment and Other Rents – Equipment and other rents expense primarily includes rental expense that the Railroad pays for freight cars owned by other railroads or private companies; freight car, intermodal, and locomotive leases; and office and other rentals. Equipment and other rents expense in the first quarter of 2015 was flat compared to the first quarter of 2014.

 

Other – Other expenses include state and local taxes; freight, equipment and property damage; utilities, insurance, personal injury, environmental, employee travel, telephone and cellular, computer software, bad debt and other general expenses. Other costs in the first quarter increased from 2014 due to higher property taxes, personal injury, freight and equipment damage, and environmental expense, partially offset by a contract settlement. 

 

Non-Operating Items

 

 

Other Income – Other income decreased in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 due to the sale of a permanent easement in the first quarter of 2014.

 

Interest Expense – Interest expense increased in the first quarter of 2015 compared to 2014 due to an increased weighted-average debt level of $12.1 billion in 2015 compared to $10.1 billion in 2014, partially offset by a lower effective interest rate of 4.9% compared to 5.6%.

 

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Income Taxes – Higher pre-tax income increased income taxes in the first quarter of 2015 compared to 2014. Our effective tax rate for first quarter 2015 was 38.0% compared to 38.1% in the first quarter of 2014.

 

OTHER OPERATING/PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL STATISTICS

 

We report a number of key performance measures weekly to the AAR. We provide this data on our website at www.up.com/investor/aar-stb_reports/index.htm.

 

Operating/Performance Statistics

 

Railroad performance measures are included in the table below:

 

 

Average Train Speed – Average train speed is calculated by dividing train miles by hours operated on our main lines between terminals. Average train speed for the first quarter of 2015, as reported to the AAR, essentially was flat compared to the first quarter of 2014. Lower volumes, a strong resource position and more favorable weather were offset by the impact of increased track maintenance projects.

 

Average Terminal Dwell Time – Average terminal dwell time is the average time that a rail car spends at our terminals. Lower average terminal dwell time improves asset utilization and service. Average terminal dwell time improved slightly compared to the first quarter of 2014. The slight improvement was achieved despite a 1% increase in manifest traffic volumes.

 

Gross and Revenue Ton-Miles – Gross ton-miles are calculated by multiplying the weight of loaded and empty freight cars by the number of miles hauled. Revenue ton-miles are calculated by multiplying the weight of freight by the number of tariff miles. Gross ton-miles and revenue ton-miles decreased 1% and 4%, respectively, during the first quarter of 2015 compared to 2014, driven by a 2% decrease in carloadings. Changes in commodity mix drove the variance in year-over-year declines between gross ton-miles, revenue ton-miles and carloads.

 

Operating Ratio – Operating ratio is our operating expenses reflected as a percentage of operating revenue. Our operating ratio improved 2.3 points to a first quarter record of 64.8% in 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. Core pricing gains and the lag impact of the lower fuel prices more than offset the impact of lower volume and inflation.

 

Employees – Employee levels increased 6% in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. The increase primarily was driven by a higher number of trainmen, engineers, and yard employees, hired throughout last year to handle volume increases, and who continued receiving training in 2015. Increased work on capital projects also contributed to the increase in employees.

 

Debt to Capital / Adjusted Debt to Capital

 

 

 

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Adjusted debt to capital is a non-GAAP financial measure under SEC Regulation G and Item 10 of SEC Regulation S-K, and may not be defined and calculated by other companies in the same manner. We believe this measure is important to management and investors in evaluating the total amount of leverage in our capital structure, including off-balance sheet lease obligations, which we generally incur in connection with financing the acquisition of locomotives and freight cars and certain facilities. Operating leases were discounted using 4.9% at March 31, 2015, and 5.3% at December 31, 2014. The discount rate reflects our effective interest rate. We monitor the ratio of adjusted debt to capital as we manage our capital structure to balance cost-effective and efficient access to the capital markets with the Corporation’s overall cost of capital. Adjusted debt to capital should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, debt to capital. The tables above provide reconciliations from debt to capital to adjusted debt to capital.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Financial Condition

 

 

Operating Activities

 

Higher net income and the timing of tax payments in the first three months of 2015 increased cash provided by operating activities compared to the same period of 2014.

 

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Investing Activities

 

Higher capital investments in the first three months of 2015 drove the increase in cash used in investing activities compared to the same period in 2014.

 

The table below details cash capital investments:

 

 

[a]Other includes bridges and tunnels, signals, other road assets, and road work equipment.

 

Capital Plan

 

We have revised our 2015 capital plan from approximately $4.3 billion to $4.2 billion, which includes Positive Train Control (PTC). We may further revise our capital plan if business conditions warrant or if new laws or regulations affect our ability to generate sufficient returns on these investments.

 

PTC Investment – We have revised our estimate of total PTC investment through implementation to approximate $2.5 billion.

 

Financing Activities

 

Cash used in financing activities increased in the first three months of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014, primarily due to higher dividend payments of $559 million. The higher dividend payments primarily were a result of adjusting the dividend payable dates to align the timing of the quarterly dividend declaration and payment within the quarter. Aligning the quarterly dividend declaration and payment resulted in two payments in the first quarter of 2015: the fourth quarter 2014 dividend of $438 million, which was paid on January 2, 2015, as well as the first quarter 2015 dividend of $484 million, which was paid on March 30, 2015. Higher dividends per share, along with an increase of $148 million for the repurchase of shares under our common stock repurchase program also contributed to the increase in cash used for financing activities.

 

Free Cash Flow – Free cash flow is defined as cash provided by operating activities less cash used in investing activities and dividends paid. Aligning the quarterly dividend declaration and payment, along with higher capital spending decreased free cash flow in the first quarter of 2015.

 

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Free cash flow is not considered a financial measure under accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (GAAP) by SEC Regulation G and Item 10 of SEC Regulation S-K and may not be defined and calculated by other companies in the same manner. We believe free cash flow is important to management and investors in evaluating our financial performance and measures our ability to generate cash without additional external financings. Free cash flow should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, cash provided by operating activities. The following table reconciles cash provided by operating activities (GAAP measure) to free cash flow (non-GAAP measure):

 

 

Credit Facilities – At March 31, 2015, we had $1.7 billion of credit available under our revolving credit facility (the facility), which is designated for general corporate purposes and supports the issuance of commercial paper. We did not draw on the facility during the three months ended March 31, 2015. Commitment fees and interest rates payable under the facility are similar to fees and rates available to comparably rated, investment-grade borrowers. The facility allows for borrowings at floating rates based on London Interbank Offered Rates, plus a spread, depending upon credit ratings for our senior unsecured debt. The facility matures in May 2019 under a five-year term and requires the Corporation to maintain a debt-to-net-worth coverage ratio. At March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014 (and at all times during the periods presented), we were in compliance with this covenant.

 

The definition of debt used for purposes of calculating the debt-to-net-worth coverage ratio includes, among other things, certain credit arrangements, capital leases, guarantees and unfunded and vested pension benefits under Title IV of ERISA. At March 31, 2015, the debt-to-net-worth coverage ratio allowed us to carry up to $42.1 billion of debt (as defined in the facility), and we had $12.4 billion of debt (as defined in the facility) outstanding at that date. Under our current capital plans, we expect to continue to satisfy the debt-to-net-worth coverage ratio; however, many factors beyond our reasonable control could affect our ability to comply with this provision in the future. The facility does not include any other financial restrictions, credit rating triggers (other than rating-dependent pricing), or any other provision that could require us to post collateral. The facility also includes a $125 million cross-default provision and a change-of-control provision.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we did not issue or repay any commercial paper, and at March 31, 2015, we had no commercial paper outstanding. Our revolving credit facility supports our outstanding commercial paper balances, and, unless we change the terms of our commercial paper program, our aggregate issuance of commercial paper will not exceed the amount of borrowings available under the facility.

 

Shelf Registration Statement and Significant New Borrowings – We filed an automatic shelf registration statement with the SEC that became effective on February 9, 2015. The Board of Directors authorized the issuance of up to $4 billion of debt securities, replacing the $4 billion authorized under our shelf registration filed in February 2013, which was fully utilized after our January 2015 debt offering noted below. Under our current shelf registration, we may issue, from time to time, any combination of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, or warrants for debt securities or preferred stock in one or more offerings. We have no immediate plans to issue equity securities; however, we will continue to explore opportunities to replace existing debt or access capital through issuances of debt securities under our shelf registration, and, therefore, we may issue additional debt securities at any time.

 

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During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we issued the following unsecured, fixed-rate debt securities under our prior shelf registration:

 

 

 

We used the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including the repurchase of common stock pursuant to our share repurchase program. These debt securities include change-of-control provisions. At March 31, 2015, we had remaining authority to issue up to $4.0 billion of debt securities under our current shelf registration.

 

Receivables Securitization Facility – The Railroad maintains a $650 million, 3-year receivables securitization facility maturing in July 2017 under which it sells most of its eligible third-party receivables to Union Pacific Receivables, Inc. (UPRI), a wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary that may subsequently transfer, without recourse, an undivided interest in accounts receivable to investors. The investors have no recourse to the Railroad’s other assets except for customary warranty and indemnity claims. Creditors of the Railroad do not have recourse to the assets of UPRI.

 

The amount outstanding under the facility was $400 million at both March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014. The facility was supported by $1.2 billion of accounts receivable as collateral at both March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, respectively, which, as a retained interest, is included in accounts receivable, net in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

 

The outstanding amount the Railroad is allowed to maintain under the facility, with a maximum of $650 million, may fluctuate based on the availability of eligible receivables and is directly affected by business volumes and credit risks, including receivables payment quality measures such as default and dilution ratios. If default or dilution ratios increase one percent, the allowable outstanding amount under the facility would not materially change.

 

The costs of the receivables securitization facility include interest, which will vary based on prevailing benchmark and commercial paper rates, program fees paid to participating banks, commercial paper issuance costs, and fees of participating banks for unused commitment availability. The costs of the receivables securitization facility are included in interest expense and were $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, and 2014.

 

Share Repurchase Program

 

Effective January 1, 2014, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 120 million shares of our common stock by December 31, 2017, replacing our previous repurchase program. As of March 31, 2015, we repurchased a total of $13.4 billion of our common stock since the commencement of our repurchase programs in 2007. The table below represents shares repurchased under this repurchase program during this reporting period.

 

 

Management's assessments of market conditions and other pertinent factors guide the timing and volume of all repurchases. We expect to fund any share repurchases under this program through cash generated from operations, the sale or lease of various operating and non-operating properties, debt issuances, and cash on hand. Repurchased shares are recorded in treasury stock at cost, which includes any applicable commissions and fees.

 

From April 1, 2015, through April 22, 2015, we repurchased 2.3 million shares at an aggregate cost of approximately $244 million.

 

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Contractual Obligations, and Commercial Commitments

 

As described in the notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and as referenced in the tables below, we have contractual obligations and commercial commitments that may affect our financial condition. However, based on our assessment of the underlying provisions and circumstances of our contractual obligations and commercial commitments, including material sources of off-balance sheet and structured finance arrangements, there is no known trend, demand, commitment, event, or uncertainty that is reasonably likely to occur that would have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity. In addition, our commercial obligations, financings, and commitments are customary transactions that are similar to those of other comparable corporations, particularly within the transportation industry.

 

The following tables identify material obligations and commitments as of March 31, 2015:

 

 

[a]Excludes capital lease obligations of $1,446 million and unamortized discount of ($589) million. Includes an interest component of $8,185 million.

[b] Includes leases for locomotives, freight cars, other equipment, and real estate.

[c]Represents total obligations, including interest component of $374 million.

[d]Purchase obligations include locomotive maintenance contracts; purchase commitments for fuel purchases, locomotives, ties, ballast, rail, and aircraft; and agreements to purchase other goods and services.  For amounts where we cannot reasonably estimate the year of settlement, they are reflected in the Other column.

[e]Includes estimated other postretirement, medical, and life insurance payments and payments made under the unfunded pension plan for the next ten years.

[f]Future cash flows for income tax contingencies reflect the recorded liabilities and assets for unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties, as of March 31, 2015. For amounts where the year of settlement is uncertain, they are reflected in the Other column.

 

 

[a] None of the credit facility was used as of March 31, 2015.

[b] $400 million of the receivables securitization facility was utilized as of March 31, 2015, which is accounted for as debt. The full program matures in July 2017.

[c]Includes guaranteed obligations related to our equipment financings and affiliated operations.

[d]None of the letters of credit were drawn upon as of March 31, 2015.

 

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OTHER MATTERS

 

Asserted and Unasserted Claims – Various claims and lawsuits are pending against us and certain of our subsidiaries. We cannot fully determine the effect of all asserted and unasserted claims on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity. To the extent possible, we have recorded a liability where asserted and unasserted claims are considered probable and where such claims can be reasonably estimated. We do not expect that any known lawsuits, claims, environmental costs, commitments, contingent liabilities, or guarantees will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity after taking into account liabilities and insurance recoveries previously recorded for these matters.

 

Indemnities – We are contingently obligated under a variety of indemnification arrangements, although in some cases the extent of our potential liability is limited, depending on the nature of the transactions and the agreements. Due to uncertainty as to whether claims will be made or how they will be resolved, we cannot reasonably determine the probability of an adverse claim or reasonably estimate any adverse liability or the total maximum exposure under these indemnification arrangements. We do not have any reason to believe that we will be required to make any material payments under these indemnity provisions.

 

Accounting Pronouncements – In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (ASU 2014-09), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).  ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition guidance in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition.  The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods and services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in the exchange for those goods or services.  This standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017.  ASU 2014-09 is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03 (ASU 2015-03), Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30).  ASU 2015-03 changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in the financial statements to present such costs as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset.  Amortization of debt issuance costs will be reported as interest expense. This standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. ASU 2015-03 is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

CAUTIONARY INFORMATION

 

Certain statements in this report, and statements in other reports or information filed or to be filed with the SEC (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by us), are, or will be, forward-looking statements as defined by the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements and information include, without limitation, the statements and information set forth under the caption “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Item 2 regarding our capital plan and statements under the caption “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Contractual Obligations, and Commercial Commitments”. Forward-looking statements and information also include any other statements or information in this report regarding: expectations as to operational or service improvements; expectations regarding the effectiveness of steps taken or to be taken to improve operations, service, infrastructure improvements, and transportation plan modifications; expectations as to cost savings, revenue growth, and earnings; the time by which goals, targets, or objectives will be achieved; projections, predictions, expectations, estimates, or forecasts as to our business, financial and operational results, future economic performance, and general economic conditions; proposed new products and services; estimates of costs relating to environmental remediation and restoration; estimates and expectations regarding tax matters, expectations that claims, litigation, environmental costs, commitments, contingent liabilities, labor negotiations or agreements, or other matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity and any other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts.

 

Forward-looking statements and information reflect the good faith consideration by management of currently available information, and may be based on underlying assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. However, such information and assumptions (and, therefore, such forward-looking statements and information) are or may be subject to variables or unknown or unforeseeable

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events or circumstances over which management has little or no influence or control. The Risk Factors in Item 1A of our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 6, 2015, could affect our future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, and this report, including this Item 2, should be read in conjunction with these Risk Factors. To the extent circumstances require or we deem it otherwise necessary, we will update or amend these risk factors in a Form 10-Q or Form 8-K. Information regarding new risk factors or material changes to our risk factors, if any, is set forth in Item 1A of Part II of this report. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times that, or by which, such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements.

 

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statement was made. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking information to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

There were no material changes to the Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk previously disclosed in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Corporation carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Corporation’s management, including the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Executive Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Based upon that evaluation, the CEO and the CFO concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Additionally, the CEO and CFO determined that there were no changes to the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) during the last fiscal quarter that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time, we are involved in legal proceedings, claims, and litigation that occur in connection with our business. We routinely assess our liabilities and contingencies in connection with these matters based upon the latest available information and, when necessary, we seek input from our third-party advisors when making these assessments. Consistent with SEC rules and requirements, we describe below material pending legal proceedings (other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to our business), material proceedings known to be contemplated by governmental authorities, other proceedings arising under federal, state, or local environmental laws and regulations (including governmental proceedings involving potential fines, penalties, or other monetary sanctions in excess of $100,000), and such other pending matters that we may determine to be appropriate.

 

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Environmental Matters

 

In January 2012, a punctured tank car resulted in an accidental release of sulfuric acid in a rail yard in Herington, Kansas. The acid was released on the ground and entered a creek that runs adjacent to the yard. Environmental remediation at the site is complete. Despite negotiations with the federal government, the Assistant U.S. Attorney (District of Kansas) filed a criminal charge against the Railroad on March 30, 2015 in the U.S. District Court for Kansas. The action alleges a misdemeanor charge for negligent violation of the Clean Water Act. The penalty range is $2,500 to $200,000. In addition, the federal government will debar the facility if UPRR is convicted. A debarment will prevent Herington Yard from participating in government contract work. Debarment would continue until UPRR demonstrates to the satisfaction of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that Herington Yard has achieved compliance with the Clean Water Act. We cannot predict the ultimate impact of this proceeding at this time, but the proposed penalty could exceed $100,000.

 

As previously reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, the Illinois Attorney General's Office notified UPRR on January 14, 2013, that it will seek a penalty against the Railroad for environmental conditions caused by its predecessor at a former locomotive fueling facility in South Pekin, Illinois. This former Chicago and North Western (CNW) facility discontinued fueling operations in the early 1980s. Subsequent environmental investigations revealed evidence of fuel releases to soil and groundwater. Following completion of remedial activities in 2012, the State notified UPRR that it would seek to recover a civil penalty.  During early negotiations, the State offered to settle its claim for $240,000. UPRR rejected this offer. The State sued UPRR on October 26, 2013, in the Circuit Court for the Tenth Judicial Circuit, Tazewell County, Illinois. The parties have agreed to settle this matter in exchange for a payment by UPRR of $100,000. A final agreement was signed by the parties and was filed with the court on March 26, 2015. Under the terms of the agreement, UPRR will apply to the State's Site Remediation Program for a declaration of no further action and issuance of a restrictive covenant applicable to the site.

 

We receive notices from the EPA and state environmental agencies alleging that we are or may be liable under federal or state environmental laws for remediation costs at various sites throughout the U.S., including sites on the Superfund National Priorities List or state superfund lists. We cannot predict the ultimate impact of these proceedings and suits because of the number of potentially responsible parties involved, the degree of contamination by various wastes, the scarcity and quality of volumetric data related to many of the sites, and the speculative nature of remediation costs.

 

Information concerning environmental claims and contingencies and estimated remediation costs is set forth in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies – Environmental, Item 7 of our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Other Matters

 

Antitrust Litigation - As we reported in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, 20 rail shippers (many of whom are represented by the same law firms) filed virtually identical antitrust lawsuits in various federal district courts against us and four other Class I railroads in the U.S. Currently, UPRR and three other Class I railroads are the named defendants in the lawsuit. The original plaintiff filed the first of these claims in the U.S. District Court in New Jersey on May 14, 2007. The number of complaints reached a total of 30. These suits allege that the named railroads engaged in price-fixing by establishing common fuel surcharges for certain rail traffic.

 

In addition to suits filed by direct purchasers of rail transportation services, a few of the suits involved plaintiffs alleging that they are or were indirect purchasers of rail transportation and sought to represent a purported class of indirect purchasers of rail transportation services that paid fuel surcharges. These complaints added allegations under state antitrust and consumer protection laws. On November 6, 2007, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered that all of the rail fuel surcharge cases be transferred to Judge Paul Friedman of the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings. Following numerous hearings and rulings, Judge Friedman dismissed the complaints of the indirect purchasers, which the indirect purchasers appealed. On April 16, 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia affirmed Judge Friedman’s ruling dismissing the indirect purchasers’ claims based on various state laws.

 

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With respect to the direct purchasers’ complaint, Judge Friedman conducted a two-day hearing on October 6 and 7, 2010, on the class certification issue and the railroad defendants’ motion to exclude evidence of interline communications. On April 7, 2011, Judge Friedman issued an order deferring any decision on class certification until the Supreme Court issued its decision in the Wal-Mart employment discrimination case.

 

On June 21, 2012, Judge Friedman issued his decision, which certified a class of plaintiffs with eight named plaintiff representatives. The decision included in the class all shippers that paid a rate-based fuel surcharge to any one of the defendant railroads for rate-unregulated rail transportation from July 1, 2003, through December 31, 2008. This was a procedural ruling, which did not affirm any of the claims asserted by the plaintiffs and does not affect the ability of the railroad defendants to disprove the allegations made by the plaintiffs. On July 5, 2012, the defendant railroads filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia requesting that the court review the class certification ruling. On August 28, 2012, a panel of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia referred the petition to a merits panel of the court to address the issues in the petition and to address whether the district court properly granted class certification. The Circuit Court heard oral arguments on May 3, 2013. On August 9, 2013, the Circuit Court vacated the class certification decision and remanded the case to the district court to reconsider the class certification decision in light of a recent Supreme Court case and incomplete consideration of errors in the expert report of the plaintiffs. On October 31, 2013, Judge Friedman approved a schedule agreed to by all parties for consideration of the class certification issue on remand.

 

On October 2, 2014, the plaintiffs informed Judge Friedman that their economic expert had a previously undisclosed conflict of interest. Judge Friedman ruled on November 26, 2014, that the plaintiffs had until April 1, 2015 to file a supplemental expert report to support their motion for class certification. The defendant railroads are currently in the process of responding to the plaintiffs’ supplemental report. Judge Friedman has not yet set a new date to hear oral arguments on plaintiffs’ motion for class certification.

 

As we reported in our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on June 10, 2011, the Railroad received a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on June 7, 2011, by Oxbow Carbon & Minerals LLC and related entities (Oxbow). The complaint named the Railroad and one other U.S. Class I Railroad as defendants and alleged that the named railroads engaged in price-fixing and monopolistic practices in connection with fuel surcharge programs and pricing of shipments of certain commodities, including coal and petroleum coke. The complaint sought injunctive relief and payment of damages of over $30 million, and other unspecified damages, including treble damages. Some of the allegations in the complaint were addressed in the existing fuel surcharge litigation referenced above. The complaint also included additional unrelated allegations regarding alleged limitations on competition for shipments of Oxbow’s commodities. Judge Friedman, who presides over the fuel surcharge matter described above, also presides over this matter. On February 26, 2013, Judge Friedman granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss Oxbow’s complaint for failure to state properly a claim under the antitrust laws. However, the dismissal was without prejudice to refile the complaint. Judge Friedman approved a schedule that allowed Oxbow to file a revised complaint, which Oxbow filed on May 1, 2013. The amended complaint alleges that UPRR and one other Class I railroad violated Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act and that UPRR also breached a tolling agreement between Oxbow and UPRR. Oxbow claims that it paid more than $50 million in wrongfully imposed fuel surcharges. UPRR and the other railroad filed separate motions to dismiss the Oxbow revised complaint on July 1, 2013. Judge Friedman heard oral arguments on the motions to dismiss filed by UPRR and the other railroad on January 8, 2015. Judge Friedman denied the motions to dismiss on February 24, 2015. This was a procedural ruling, which did not affirm any of the claims asserted by Oxbow and does not affect the ability of the railroad defendants to disprove the allegations made by Oxbow.

 

We deny the allegations that our fuel surcharge programs violate the antitrust laws or any other laws. We believe that these lawsuits are without merit, and we will vigorously defend our actions. Therefore, we currently believe that these matters will not have a material adverse effect on any of our results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

There were no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

Purchases of Equity Securities  –The following table presents common stock repurchases during each month for the first quarter of 2015:

 

 

[a]Total number of shares purchased during the quarter includes 1,568,022 shares delivered or attested to UPC by employees to pay stock option exercise prices, satisfy excess tax withholding obligations for stock option exercises or vesting of retention units, and pay withholding obligations for vesting of retention shares.

[b]Effective January 1, 2014, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 120 million shares of our common stock by December 31, 2017. These repurchases may be made on the open market or through other transactions. Our management has sole discretion with respect to determining the timing and amount of these transactions.

 

Dividend Restrictions – Our revolving credit facility includes a debt-to-net worth covenant that, under certain circumstances, restricts the payment of cash dividends to our shareholders. The amount of retained earnings available for dividends was $14.8 billion and $15.4 billion at March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, respectively.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

None.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated:  April 23, 2015

 

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION (Registrant)

 

 

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