NOTE 14. RESTRUCTURING COSTS AND RELATED EXPENSES

In the first quarter of 2010, we incurred restructuring costs associated with the termination of employees, facility consolidations and other costs directly related to restructuring initiatives. These initiatives have resulted from the rationalization of acquired companies, as well as restructuring activities associated with cost containment and operational efficiency programs.

Supply Chain & Freight—Germany

In February 2010, we completed the sale of a specialized transportation and express freight business in Germany within our Supply Chain & Freight segment. As part of the sale transaction, we incurred certain costs associated with employee severance payments, other employee benefits, transition services, and leases on operating facilities and equipment. Additionally, we have provided a guarantee for a period of two years for certain employee benefit payments being assumed by the buyer. We recorded a pre-tax loss of $38 million ($35 million after-tax) for this transaction in the first quarter of 2010, which included the costs associated with the sale transaction and the fair value of the guarantee.

U.S. Domestic Package Restructuring

In an effort to improve performance in the U.S. Domestic Package segment, we announced a program to streamline our domestic management structure in January 2010. As part of this restructuring, we reduced the number of domestic districts and regions in our U.S. small package operation, in order to better align our operations geographically and allow more local decision-making and resources to be deployed for our customers. Effective in April 2010, we reduced our U.S. regions from five to three and our U.S. districts from 46 to 20. The restructuring eliminated approximately 1,800 management and administrative positions in the U.S. Approximately 1,100 employees were offered voluntary severance packages, while other impacted employees received severance benefits and access to support programs based on length of service. We recorded a pre-tax charge of $98 million ($64 million after-tax) in the first quarter of 2010 related to the costs of this program, which reflected the value of voluntary retirement benefits, severance benefits and unvested stock compensation. In 2010, we incurred additional costs related to relocation of employees and other restructuring activities, however those costs were offset by savings from the staffing reductions.