Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

CASH AND INVESTMENTS

v2.4.0.6
CASH AND INVESTMENTS
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Marketable Securities [Abstract]  
CASH AND INVESTMENTS
CASH AND INVESTMENTS
The following is a summary of marketable securities classified as available-for-sale as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (in millions):
 
Cost
 
Unrealized
Gains
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair Value
March 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current marketable securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agency debt securities
$
216

 
$
1

 
$
(1
)
 
$
216

Mortgage and asset-backed debt securities
175

 
3

 

 
178

Corporate debt securities
382

 
4

 

 
386

U.S. state and local municipal debt securities
15

 

 

 
15

Other debt and equity securities
152

 

 

 
152

Total marketable securities
$
940

 
$
8

 
$
(1
)
 
$
947

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost
 
Unrealized
Gains
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair Value
December 31, 2011
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current marketable securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agency debt securities
$
184

 
$
3

 
$

 
$
187

Mortgage and asset-backed debt securities
188

 
4

 
(1
)
 
191

Corporate debt securities
835

 
4

 
(2
)
 
837

U.S. state and local municipal debt securities
15

 

 

 
15

Other debt and equity securities
10

 
1

 

 
11

Total marketable securities
$
1,232

 
$
12

 
$
(3
)
 
$
1,241


Auction Rate Securities
During the first quarter 2011, we sold all remaining investments in auction rate securities, which had been classified as non-current marketable securities. These sales did not have a material impact on our statement of consolidated income.
Investment Other-Than-Temporary Impairments
We have concluded that no other-than-temporary impairment losses existed as of March 31, 2012. In making this determination, we considered the financial condition and prospects of the issuers, the magnitude of the losses compared with the investments’ cost, the length of time the investments have been in an unrealized loss position, the probability that we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the securities, the credit rating of the securities and our ability and intent to hold these investments until the anticipated recovery in market value occurs.
Maturity Information
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of marketable securities at March 31, 2012, by contractual maturity, are shown below (in millions). Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because the issuers of the securities may have the right to prepay obligations without prepayment penalties.
 
Cost
 
Estimated
Fair Value
Due in one year or less
$
385

 
$
385

Due after one year through three years
252

 
253

Due after three years through five years
44

 
45

Due after five years
256

 
261

 
937

 
944

Equity securities
3

 
3

 
$
940

 
$
947



Non-Current Investments and Restricted Cash
We had $286 million of restricted cash related to our self-insurance requirements, as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, which is reported in “Non-Current Investments and Restricted Cash” on the consolidated balance sheets.
At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 we held an $18 and $17 million, respectively, investment in a variable life insurance policy to fund benefits for the UPS Excess Coordinating Benefit Plan. This investment is classified as “Non-Current Investments and Restricted Cash” in the consolidated balance sheets with the quarterly change in investment value recognized in the statements of consolidated income.
Fair Value Measurements
Marketable securities utilizing Level 1 inputs include active exchange-traded equity securities and equity index funds, and most U.S. Government debt securities, as these securities all have quoted prices in active markets. Marketable securities utilizing Level 2 inputs include asset-backed securities, corporate bonds and municipal bonds. These securities are valued using market corroborated pricing, matrix pricing or other models that utilize observable inputs such as yield curves.
We maintain holdings in certain investment partnerships that are measured at fair value utilizing Level 3 inputs (classified as “other investments” in the tables below, and as “Other Non-Current Assets” in the consolidated balance sheets). These partnership holdings do not have quoted prices, nor can they be valued using inputs based on observable market data. These investments are valued internally using a discounted cash flow model based on each partnership’s financial statements and cash flow projections. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the investment partnerships are state and federal tax credits provided by each partnership, tax benefits from investment losses and tax benefits on interest expense. Significant increases or decreases in any of these inputs in isolation would result in changes in the fair value measurement. Generally, a decrease in the assumption used for the state and federal tax credits is accompanied by a directionally similar change in value of the investment.
The following table presents information about our investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized to determine such fair value (in millions):
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Balance 
March 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marketable Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agency debt securities
$
216

 
$

 
$

 
$
216

Mortgage and asset-backed debt securities

 
178

 

 
178

Corporate debt securities

 
386

 

 
386

U.S. state and local municipal debt securities

 
15

 

 
15

Other debt and equity securities

 
152

 

 
152

Total marketable securities
216

 
731

 

 
947

Other investments
18

 

 
204

 
222

Total
$
234

 
$
731

 
$
204

 
$
1,169

 

 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Balance 
December 31, 2011
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marketable Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agency debt securities
$
187

 
$

 
$

 
$
187

Mortgage and asset-backed debt securities

 
191

 

 
191

Corporate debt securities

 
837

 

 
837

U.S. state and local municipal debt securities

 
15

 

 
15

Other debt and equity securities

 
11

 

 
11

Total marketable securities
187

 
1,054

 

 
1,241

Other investments
17

 

 
217

 
234

Total
$
204

 
$
1,054

 
$
217

 
$
1,475


The following table presents the changes in the above Level 3 instruments measured on a recurring basis for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in millions):
 
Marketable
Securities
 
Other
Investments
 
Total
Balance on January 1, 2012
$

 
$
217

 
$
217

Transfers into (out of) Level 3

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses):

 

 

Included in earnings (in investment income)

 
(13
)
 
(13
)
Included in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax)

 

 

Purchases

 

 

Sales

 

 

Balance on March 31, 2012
$

 
$
204

 
$
204

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance on January 1, 2011
$
138

 
$
267

 
$
405

Transfers into (out of) Level 3

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses):

 

 

Included in earnings (in investment income)

 
(13
)
 
(13
)
Included in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax)

 

 

Purchases

 

 

Sales
(138
)
 

 
(138
)
Balance on March 31, 2011
$

 
$
254

 
$
254


There were no transfers of investments between Level 1 and Level 2 during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.