Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

CASH AND INVESTMENTS

v2.4.0.6
CASH AND INVESTMENTS
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Marketable Securities [Abstract]  
CASH AND INVESTMENTS
INVESTMENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH
The following is a summary of marketable securities classified as available-for-sale as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (in millions):
 
Cost
 
Unrealized
Gains
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair Value
September 30, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current marketable securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agency debt securities
$
242

 
$
3

 
$

 
$
245

Mortgage and asset-backed debt securities
152

 
4

 

 
156

Corporate debt securities
157

 
6

 

 
163

U.S. state and local municipal debt securities
15

 

 

 
15

Other debt and equity securities
7

 

 

 
7

Total marketable securities
$
573

 
$
13

 
$

 
$
586

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 September 30, 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 September 30, 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
$
43

 
$
43

Due after one year through three years
242

 
244

Due after three years through five years
52

 
53

Due after five years
234

 
244

 
571

 
584

Equity securities
2

 
2

 
$
573

 
$
586



Non-Current Investments and Restricted Cash
We had $286 million of restricted cash related to our self-insurance requirements as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, which is reported in “Non-Current Investments and Restricted Cash” on the consolidated balance sheets.
At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 we held a $19 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.
The following table presents information about our investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 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 
September 30, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marketable Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agency debt securities
$
245

 
$

 
$

 
$
245

Mortgage and asset-backed debt securities

 
156

 

 
156

Corporate debt securities

 
163

 

 
163

U.S. state and local municipal debt securities

 
15

 

 
15

Other debt and equity securities

 
7

 

 
7

Total marketable securities
245

 
341

 

 
586

Other investments
19

 

 
177

 
196

Total
$
264

 
$
341

 
$
177

 
$
782

 

 
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 September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in millions):
 
Marketable
Securities
 
Other
Investments
 
Total
Balance on July 1, 2012
$

 
$
190

 
$
190

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 September 30, 2012
$

 
$
177

 
$
177

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marketable
Securities
 
Other
Investments
 
Total
Balance on July 1, 2011
$

 
$
240

 
$
240

Transfers into (out of) Level 3

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses):
 
 
 
 
 
Included in earnings (in investment income)

 
(12
)
 
(12
)
Included in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax)

 

 

Purchases

 

 

Sales

 

 

Balance on September 30, 2011
$

 
$
228

 
$
228



The following table presents the changes in the above Level 3 instruments measured on a recurring basis for the nine months ended September 30, 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)

 
(40
)
 
(40
)
Included in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax)

 

 

Purchases

 

 

Sales

 

 

Balance on September 30, 2012
$

 
$
177

 
$
177

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marketable
Securities

 
Other
Investments

 
Total
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)

 
(39
)
 
(39
)
Included in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax)

 

 

Purchases

 

 

Sales
(138
)
 

 
(138
)
Balance on September 30, 2011
$

 
$
228

 
$
228


There were no transfers of investments between Level 1 and Level 2 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.