LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES |
3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2024 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES We are involved in a number of judicial proceedings and other matters arising from the conduct of our business.
Although there can be no assurances as to the ultimate outcome, we have generally denied, or believe we have meritorious defenses and will deny, liability in pending matters, including (except as may be otherwise noted herein) the matters described below, and we intend to vigorously defend each matter. We accrue amounts associated with judicial proceedings and other contingencies when and to the extent a loss becomes probable and can be reasonably estimated. The actual costs of resolving legal proceedings may be substantially higher or lower than the amounts accrued on those claims.
For matters as to which we are not able to estimate a possible loss or range of losses, we are not able to determine whether any such loss will have a material impact on our operations or financial condition. For these matters, we have described the reasons that we are unable to estimate a possible loss or range of losses.
Judicial Proceedings
We are a defendant in a number of lawsuits filed in state and federal courts containing various class action allegations under state wage-and-hour laws. We do not believe that any loss associated with any such matter will have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
In July 2023, Baker v. United Parcel Service, Inc. (DE) and United Parcel Service, Inc. (OH) was certified as a class action in federal court in the Eastern District of Washington. The plaintiff in this matter alleges that UPS violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. We are vigorously defending ourselves in this matter and believe that we have a number of meritorious defenses, and there are unresolved questions of law and fact that could be important to the ultimate resolution of this matter. Accordingly, we are not able to estimate a possible loss or range of loss that may result from this matter or to determine whether such loss, if any, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Other Matters
In August 2016, Spain’s National Markets and Competition Commission ("CNMC") announced an investigation into 10 companies in the commercial delivery and parcel industry, including UPS, related to alleged nonaggression agreements to allocate customers. In May 2017, we received a Statement of Objections issued by the CNMC. In July 2017, we received a Proposed Decision from the CNMC. In March 2018, the CNMC adopted a final decision, finding an infringement and imposing an immaterial fine on UPS. We appealed the decision. In December 2022, a trial court ruled against us. We have filed an appeal before the Spanish Supreme Court. We are vigorously defending ourselves and believe that we have a number of meritorious defenses. There are also unresolved questions of law that could be important to the ultimate resolution of this matter. We do not believe that any loss from this matter would have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") has been investigating our controls and practices surrounding impairment analyses in connection with the sale of UPS Freight in April 2021. Such analysis led to a non-cash goodwill impairment charge being recorded during the quarter ended December 31, 2020. Since March 2024, when the SEC staff informed the Company that it disagreed with the timing of the impairment, the Company has been discussing with the SEC staff the possibility of reaching a negotiated resolution. Although the Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome of the investigation with certainty, it believes the resolution of the SEC investigation will not have a material effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. An accrual representing our best estimate of the impact of this regulatory matter is included in our consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2024.
We are a party to various other matters that arose in the normal course of business. These include disputes with government authorities in various jurisdictions over the imposition of duties, fines, taxes and assessments from time to time. We are vigorously defending ourselves and believe that we have a number of meritorious defenses in these disputes. There are also unresolved questions of law that could be important to the ultimate resolution of these disputes. Accordingly, we are not able to estimate a possible loss or range of losses that may result from these disputes or to determine whether such losses, if any, would have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
We do not believe that the eventual resolution of any other matters (either individually or in the aggregate), including any reasonably possible losses in excess of current accruals, will have a material impact on our operations or financial condition.
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