FedEx
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FedEx - 10-Q quarterly report FY


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Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
   
þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2008
OR
   
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM  _____  TO  _____ 
Commission File Number: 1-15829
FEDEX CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
   
Delaware 62-1721435
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   
942 South Shady Grove Road  
Memphis, Tennessee
(Address of principal executive offices)
 38120
(ZIP Code)
(901) 818-7500
(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 þ No o
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. (Check one):
       
Large accelerated filer þ Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 Smaller reporting company o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
   
Common Stock Outstanding Shares at December 15, 2008
Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share 311,291,988
 
 

 

 


 


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FEDEX CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN MILLIONS)
         
  November 30,    
  2008  May 31, 
  (Unaudited)  2008 
ASSETS
        
CURRENT ASSETS
        
Cash and cash equivalents
 $1,542  $1,539 
Receivables, less allowances of $158 and $158
  4,103   4,359 
Spare parts, supplies and fuel, less allowances of $168 and $163
  405   435 
Deferred income taxes
  518   544 
Prepaid expenses and other
  266   367 
 
      
 
        
Total current assets
  6,834   7,244 
 
        
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, AT COST
  29,007   29,305 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
  15,397   15,827 
 
      
 
        
Net property and equipment
  13,610   13,478 
 
        
OTHER LONG-TERM ASSETS
        
Goodwill
  3,121   3,165 
Pension assets
  1,748   827 
Intangible and other assets
  1,071   919 
 
      
 
        
Total other long-term assets
  5,940   4,911 
 
      
 
        
 
 $26,384  $25,633 
 
      
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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FEDEX CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
         
  November 30,    
  2008  May 31, 
  (Unaudited)  2008 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ INVESTMENT
        
CURRENT LIABILITIES
        
Current portion of long-term debt
 $1,089  $502 
Accrued salaries and employee benefits
  920   1,118 
Accounts payable
  1,878   2,195 
Accrued expenses
  1,636   1,553 
 
      
 
        
Total current liabilities
  5,523   5,368 
 
        
LONG-TERM DEBT, LESS CURRENT PORTION
  918   1,506 
 
        
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
        
Deferred income taxes
  1,511   1,264 
Pension, postretirement healthcare and other benefit obligations
  991   989 
Self-insurance accruals
  825   804 
Deferred lease obligations
  660   671 
Deferred gains, principally related to aircraft transactions
  302   315 
Other liabilities
  173   190 
 
      
 
        
Total other long-term liabilities
  4,462   4,233 
 
        
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
        
 
        
COMMON STOCKHOLDERS’ INVESTMENT
        
Common stock, $0.10 par value; 800 million shares authorized; 311 million shares issued as of November 30, 2008 and May 31, 2008
  31   31 
Additional paid-in capital
  1,979   1,922 
Retained earnings
  13,733   13,002 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
  (258)  (425)
Treasury stock, at cost
  (4)  (4)
 
      
 
        
Total common stockholders’ investment
  15,481   14,526 
 
      
 
        
 
 $26,384  $25,633 
 
      
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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FEDEX CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
                 
  Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
  November 30,  November 30, 
  2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
                
REVENUES
 $9,538  $9,451  $19,508  $18,650 
 
                
OPERATING EXPENSES:
                
Salaries and employee benefits
  3,503   3,510   7,088   6,993 
Purchased transportation
  1,181   1,178   2,459   2,235 
Rentals and landing fees
  612   611   1,229   1,204 
Depreciation and amortization
  491   482   983   955 
Fuel
  1,106   1,018   2,634   1,950 
Maintenance and repairs
  521   519   1,058   1,063 
Other
  1,340   1,350   2,643   2,653 
 
            
 
  8,754   8,668   18,094   17,053 
 
            
 
                
OPERATING INCOME
  784   783   1,414   1,597 
 
                
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
                
Interest, net
  (10)  (15)  (19)  (40)
Other, net
        (3)  (2)
 
            
 
  (10)  (15)  (22)  (42)
 
            
 
                
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  774   768   1,392   1,555 
 
                
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
  281   289   515   582 
 
            
 
                
NET INCOME
 $493  $479  $877  $973 
 
            
 
                
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:
                
Basic
 $1.59  $1.55  $2.82  $3.15 
 
            
 
                
Diluted
 $1.58  $1.54  $2.81  $3.12 
 
            
 
                
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE
 $0.11  $0.10  $0.33  $0.20 
 
            
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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FEDEX CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
(IN MILLIONS)
         
  Six Months Ended 
  November 30, 
  2008  2007 
 
        
Operating Activities:
        
Net income
 $877  $973 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
        
Depreciation and amortization
  983   955 
Provision for uncollectible accounts
  82   62 
Stock-based compensation
  56   54 
Deferred income taxes and other noncash items
  75   30 
Changes in assets and liabilities:
        
Receivables
  (1)  (379)
Other assets
  109   (76)
Accounts payable and other liabilities
  (318)  (314)
Other, net
  (408)  (41)
 
      
 
        
Cash provided by operating activities
  1,455   1,264 
 
        
Investing Activities:
        
Capital expenditures
  (1,387)  (1,522)
Proceeds from asset dispositions and other
  30   20 
 
      
 
        
Cash used in investing activities
  (1,357)  (1,502)
 
        
Financing Activities:
        
Principal payments on debt
  (1)  (515)
Proceeds from stock issuances
  8   50 
Excess tax benefit on the exercise of stock options
  1   12 
Dividends paid
  (68)  (62)
 
      
 
        
Cash used in financing activities
  (60)  (515)
 
      
 
        
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
  (35)  14 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
  3   (739)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
  1,539   1,569 
 
      
 
        
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 $1,542  $830 
 
      
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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FEDEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(1) General
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES. These interim financial statements of FedEx Corporation (“FedEx”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) instructions for interim financial information, and should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2008 (“Annual Report”). Accordingly, significant accounting policies and other disclosures normally provided have been omitted since such items are disclosed therein.
In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (including normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly our financial position as of November 30, 2008 and the results of our operations for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30, 2008 and 2007 and our cash flows for the six-month periods ended November 30, 2008 and 2007. Operating results for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending May 31, 2009.
Except as otherwise specified, references to years indicate our fiscal year ending May 31, 2009 or ended May 31 of the year referenced and comparisons are to the corresponding period of the prior year.
Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation. For example, at FedEx Ground certain fuel supplement costs to our independent contractors were reclassified from fuel expense to purchased transportation to conform to the current period presentation.
GOODWILL. Goodwill is reviewed at least annually for impairment by comparing the fair value of each reporting unit with its carrying value (including attributable goodwill). Fair value for our reporting units is determined using an income approach incorporating market participant considerations and management’s assumptions on revenue growth rates, operating margins, discount rates and expected capital expenditures. Unless circumstances otherwise dictate, we perform our annual impairment testing in the fourth quarter. While our profitability and stock price have been negatively impacted in the first half of 2009, we do not believe that these factors indicate that the fair value of our reporting units has more likely than not fallen below their carrying values as of November 30, 2008, and require an acceleration of our impairment tests. However, should conditions deteriorate further from current expectations, an acceleration of our impairment tests may be required.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS. New accounting rules and disclosure requirements can significantly impact our reported results and the comparability of our financial statements. We believe the following new accounting pronouncements are relevant to the readers of our financial statements.
On May 31, 2007, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans.” SFAS 158 requires recognition in the balance sheet of the funded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, and the recognition in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) of unrecognized gains or losses and prior service costs or credits. Additionally, SFAS 158 requires the measurement date for plan assets and liabilities to coincide with the plan sponsor’s year end. On June 1, 2008, we made our transition election for the measurement date provision of SFAS 158 using the two-measurement approach. Under this approach, we completed two actuarial measurements, one at February 29, 2008 and the other at June 1, 2008. This approach required us to record the net periodic benefit cost for the transition period from March 1, 2008 through May 31, 2008 as an adjustment to beginning retained earnings ($44 million, net of tax) and actuarial gains and losses for the period (a gain of $372 million, net of tax) as an adjustment to the opening balance of AOCI. These adjustments increased the amount recorded for our pension assets by $528 million. Our actuarial gains resulted primarily from a 19 basis point increase in the discount rate for our primary pension plan and an increase in plan assets at June 1, 2008.

 

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On June 1, 2008, we adopted SFAS 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” which provides a common definition of fair value, establishes a uniform framework for measuring fair value and requires expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. There is a one-year deferral of the adoption of the standard as it relates to non-financial assets and liabilities. The adoption of SFAS 157 had no impact on our financial statements at June 1, 2008.
In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS 141R, “Business Combinations,” and SFAS 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB No. 51.” These new standards significantly change the accounting for and reporting of business combination transactions, including noncontrolling interests (previously referred to as minority interests). For example, these standards require the acquiring entity to recognize the full fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction and require the expensing of most transaction and restructuring costs. Both standards are effective for us beginning June 1, 2009 (fiscal 2010) and are applicable only to transactions occurring after the effective date.
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE. On November 21, 2008, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.11 per share of common stock. The dividend will be paid on January 2, 2009 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 12, 2008. Each quarterly dividend payment is subject to review and approval by our Board of Directors, and we evaluate our dividend payment amount on an annual basis at the end of each fiscal year.
(2) Stock-Based Compensation
We have two types of equity-based compensation: stock options and restricted stock. The key terms of the stock option and restricted stock awards granted under our incentive stock plans are set forth in our Annual Report.
We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to calculate the fair value of stock options. The value of restricted stock awards is based on the price of the stock on the grant date. We recognize stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award in the “Salaries and employee benefits” caption of our condensed consolidated income statement.
Our total stock-based compensation expense for the periods ended November 30 was as follows (in millions):
                 
  Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
  2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
                
Stock-based compensation expense
 $23  $25  $56  $54 

 

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The following table summarizes the stock option shares granted and corresponding weighted-average Black-Scholes value for the six-month periods ended November 30:
         
  2008  2007 
Stock options granted
  1,941,216   2,645,710 
Weighted-average Black-Scholes value
 $24.74  $30.45 
The stock options granted during the six-month period ended November 30, 2008 were primarily in connection with our principal annual stock option grant.
See our Annual Report for a discussion of our methodology for developing each of the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes valuation model. The following table presents the key weighted-average assumptions used in the valuation calculations for the options granted during the six-month periods ended November 30:
         
  2008  2007 
 
        
Expected lives
 5.5 years  5 years 
Expected volatility
  23%  19%
Risk-free interest rate
  3.54%  4.90%
Dividend yield
  0.454%  0.329%

 

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(3) Comprehensive Income
The following table provides a reconciliation of net income reported in our financial statements to comprehensive income for the periods ended November 30 (in millions):
         
  Three Months Ended 
  2008  2007 
 
 
Net income
 $493  $479 
Other comprehensive income:
        
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of deferred tax benefit of $24 in 2008 and deferred taxes of $9 in 2007
  (132)  47 
Amortization of unrealized pension actuarial gains/losses, net of deferred tax benefit of $7 in 2008 and deferred taxes of $5 in 2007
  (11)  9 
 
      
 
 
Comprehensive income
 $350  $535 
 
      
         
  Six Months Ended 
  2008  2007 
 
 
Net income
 $877  $973 
Other comprehensive income:
        
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of deferred tax benefit of $35 in 2008 and deferred taxes of $9 in 2007
  (179)  63 
Amortization of unrealized pension actuarial gains/losses, net of deferred tax benefit of $13 in 2008 and deferred taxes of $12 in 2007
  (22)  22 
 
      
 
 
Comprehensive income
 $676  $1,058 
 
      
(4) Financing Arrangements
We have a shelf registration statement filed with the SEC that allows us to sell, in one or more future offerings, any combination of unsecured debt securities and common stock.
From time to time, we finance certain operating and investing activities, including acquisitions, through borrowings under our $1.0 billion revolving credit facility or the issuance of commercial paper. The revolving credit agreement contains certain covenants and restrictions, none of which are expected to significantly affect our operations or ability to pay dividends. Our commercial paper program is backed by unused commitments under the revolving credit facility and borrowings under the program reduce the amount available under the credit facility. At November 30, 2008, no commercial paper borrowings were outstanding and the entire amount under the credit facility was available.

 

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(5) Earnings Per Share
The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for the periods ended November 30 was as follows (in millions, except per share amounts):
                 
  Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
  2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
                
Net income
 $493  $479  $877  $973 
 
            
 
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding
  311   309   311   309 
Incremental effect of shares from exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock
  1   3   2   3 
 
            
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding
  312   312   313   312 
 
            
Basic earnings per common share
 $1.59  $1.55  $2.82  $3.15 
 
            
Diluted earnings per common share
 $1.58  $1.54  $2.81  $3.12 
 
            
Antidilutive options excluded from diluted earnings per common share calculation
  11.5   4.4   10.5   4.3 
 
            
(6) Retirement Plans
We sponsor programs that provide retirement benefits to most of our employees. These programs include defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution plans and postretirement healthcare plans. Key terms of our retirement plans are provided in our Annual Report. Our retirement plans costs for the periods ended November 30 were as follows (in millions):
                 
  Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
  2008  2007  2008  2007 
U.S. domestic and international pension plans
 $45  $78  $89  $163 
U.S. domestic and international defined contribution plans
  75   34   159   72 
Postretirement healthcare plans
  15   15   29   31 
 
            
 
                
 
 $135  $127  $277  $266 
 
            
The reduction in pension plan costs for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30, 2008 was due to lower pension expense attributable to a significantly higher discount rate used to determine our 2009 expense. The increase in defined contribution plan costs for the three-month and six-month periods ended November 30, 2008 was due to plan design changes that, among other things, increased company matching contributions. These changes are described in our Annual Report.

 

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Net periodic benefit cost of the pension and postretirement healthcare plans for the periods ended November 30 was as follows (in millions):
                 
  Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
  2008  2007  2008  2007 
Pension Plans:
                
Service cost
 $126  $130  $251  $259 
Interest cost
  201   180   401   360 
Expected return on plan assets
  (266)  (247)  (531)  (493)
Amortization of prior service cost and other
  (16)  15   (32)  37 
 
            
 
 $45  $78  $89  $163 
 
            
 
                
Postretirement Healthcare Plans:
                
Service cost
 $7  $8  $15  $17 
Interest cost
  9   7   17   15 
Amortization of prior service cost and other
  (1)     (3)  (1)
 
            
 
 $15  $15  $29  $31 
 
            
We made tax deductible voluntary contributions to our qualified U.S. domestic pension plans of $483 million during the first six months of 2009 and $479 million during the first six months of 2008. We do not expect to make any additional significant contributions for the remainder of 2009.
While our U.S. domestic pension plans have ample funds to meet benefit payments and no contributions are legally required, current market conditions have negatively impacted asset values and could significantly impact funding requirements in 2010. Any such requirements will depend upon the funded status of the U.S. domestic plans on May 31, 2009 and the outcome of any funding relief legislation. In any event, a substantial year-over-year increase in our pension expense in 2010 is likely based on current conditions.
(7) Business Segment Information
We provide a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services through companies competing collectively, operating independently and managed collaboratively under the respected FedEx brand. Our primary operating companies include Federal Express Corporation (“FedEx Express”), the world’s largest express transportation company; FedEx Ground Package System, Inc. (“FedEx Ground”), a leading provider of small-package ground delivery services; and FedEx Freight Corporation, a leading U.S. provider of less-than-truckload (“LTL”) freight services. Our FedEx Services segment provides customer-facing sales, marketing, information technology and customer service support, as well as retail access for customers through FedEx Office and Print Services, Inc. (“FedEx Office”), primarily for the benefit of FedEx Express and FedEx Ground. These companies represent our major service lines and form the core of our reportable segments.

 

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Our reportable segments include the following businesses:
   
FedEx Express Segment
 FedEx Express (express transportation)
FedEx Trade Networks (global trade services)
 
  
FedEx Ground Segment
 FedEx Ground (small-package ground delivery)
FedEx SmartPost (small-parcel consolidator)
 
  
FedEx Freight Segment
 FedEx Freight LTL Group:
      FedEx Freight (regional LTL freight transportation)
      FedEx National LTL (long-haul LTL freight transportation)
FedEx Custom Critical (time-critical transportation)
Caribbean Transportation Services (airfreight forwarding)
 
  
FedEx Services Segment
 FedEx Services (sales, marketing and information technology functions)
FedEx Office (document and business services and package acceptance)
FedEx Customer Information Services (“FCIS”) (customer service, billings and collections)
FedEx Global Supply Chain Services (logistics services)
The FedEx Services segment includes: FedEx Services, which provides sales, marketing and information technology support; FCIS, which is responsible for customer service, billings and collections for FedEx Express and FedEx Ground U.S. customers; FedEx Global Supply Chain Services, which provides a range of logistics services to our customers; and FedEx Office, which provides retail access to our customers for our package transportation businesses and an array of document and business services.
The costs of the sales, marketing and information technology support provided by FedEx Services and the customer service functions of FCIS, together with the normal, ongoing net operating costs of FedEx Global Supply Chain Services and FedEx Office, are allocated primarily to the FedEx Express and FedEx Ground segments based on metrics such as relative revenues or estimated services provided. We believe these allocations approximate the net cost of providing these functions.
Certain FedEx operating companies provide transportation and related services for other FedEx companies outside their reportable segment. Billings for such services are based on negotiated rates, which we believe approximate fair value, and are reflected as revenues of the billing segment. These rates are adjusted from time to time based on market conditions. Such intersegment revenues and expenses are eliminated in the consolidated results and are not separately identified in the following segment information, as the amounts are not material.

 

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Management evaluates segment financial performance based on operating income. The following table provides a reconciliation of reportable segment revenues and operating income to our condensed consolidated financial statement totals for the periods ended November 30 (in millions):
                 
  Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
  2008  2007  2008  2007 
Revenues
                
FedEx Express segment
 $6,098  $6,037  $12,517  $11,926 
FedEx Ground segment
  1,789   1,698   3,550   3,316 
FedEx Freight segment
  1,200   1,236   2,553   2,469 
FedEx Services segment
  528   550   1,041   1,075 
Other and eliminations
  (77)  (70)  (153)  (136)
 
            
 
 $9,538  $9,451  $19,508  $18,650 
 
            
Operating Income (1)
                
FedEx Express segment
 $540  $531  $885  $1,050 
FedEx Ground segment
  212   173   408   363 
FedEx Freight segment
  32   79   121   184 
 
            
 
 $784  $783  $1,414  $1,597 
 
            
   
(1) The normal, ongoing net operating costs of the FedEx Services segment are allocated back to the transportation segments.
(8) Commitments
As of November 30, 2008, our purchase commitments under various contracts for the remainder of 2009 and annually thereafter were as follows (in millions):
                 
     Aircraft-       
  Aircraft (1)  Related (2)  Other (3)  Total 
 
                
2009 (remainder)
 $554  $124  $231  $909 
2010
  922   182   175   1,279 
2011
  743   27   106   876 
2012
  93      92   185 
2013
        44   44 
Thereafter
        134   134 
   
(1) In December 2008, we reached an agreement with Boeing to defer the delivery of the B777F aircraft by up to 17 months. The revised payment schedule is not reflected in the table above, but will result in the deferral of approximately $275 million of commitments from 2009 to future periods.
 
(2) Primarily aircraft modifications.
 
(3) Primarily vehicles, facilities, and advertising and promotions contracts.
The amounts reflected in the table above for purchase commitments represent non-cancelable agreements to purchase goods or services. Commitments to purchase aircraft in passenger configuration do not include the attendant costs to modify these aircraft for cargo transport unless we have entered into non-cancelable commitments to modify such aircraft. Open purchase orders that are cancelable are not considered unconditional purchase obligations for financial reporting purposes and are not included in the table above.

 

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Deposits and progress payments of $471 million have been made toward aircraft purchases, options to purchase additional aircraft and other planned aircraft-related transactions. Our primary aircraft purchase commitments include the Boeing 757 (“B757”) in passenger configuration, which will require additional costs to modify for cargo transport, and the new Boeing 777 Freighter (“B777F”) aircraft. In addition, we have committed to modify our DC10 aircraft for two-man cockpit configurations. Future payments related to these activities are included in the table above. Aircraft and aircraft-related contracts are subject to price escalations. The following table is a summary of the number and type of aircraft we are committed to purchase as of November 30, 2008, with the year of expected delivery:
                     
  A300  B757  B777F(1)  MD11  Total 
 
                    
2009 (remainder)
  1   11      1   13 
2010
     7   4   1   12 
2011
     6   10      16 
2012
     3   1      4 
2013
               
 
               
Total
  1   27   15   2   45 
 
               
   
(1) In December 2008, we reached an agreement with Boeing to defer the delivery of the B777F aircraft by up to 17 months. The revised delivery terms are not reflected in the table above and will result in the delivery of four B777Fs in 2010, four in 2011, five in 2012 and two in 2013.
A summary of future minimum lease payments under capital leases and noncancelable operating leases with an initial or remaining term in excess of one year at November 30, 2008 is as follows (in millions):
                 
     Operating Leases 
  Capital  Aircraft and Related  Facilities and  Total Operating 
  Leases  Equipment  Other  Leases 
 
                
2009 (remainder)
 $6  $396  $644  $1,040 
2010
  97   547   1,167   1,714 
2011
  8   526   1,015   1,541 
2012
  8   504   883   1,387 
2013
  119   499   760   1,259 
Thereafter
  18   2,931   5,468   8,399 
 
            
Total
  256  $5,403  $9,937  $15,340 
 
            
Less amount representing interest
  37             
 
               
Present value of net minimum lease payments
 $219             
 
               
(9) Contingencies
Wage-and-Hour. We are a defendant in a number of lawsuits containing various class-action allegations of wage-and-hour violations. The plaintiffs in these lawsuits allege, among other things, that they were forced to work “off the clock,” were not paid overtime or were not provided work breaks or other benefits. The complaints generally seek unspecified monetary damages, injunctive relief, or both.
We have agreed to settle two of these wage-and-hour lawsuits against FedEx Ground for an immaterial amount and executed a settlement agreement, which awaits court approval.
In February 2008, another one of these wage-and-hour cases, Wiegele v. FedEx Ground, was certified as a class action by a California federal court, and in April 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied our petition to review the class certification ruling. The class certification ruling, however, does not address whether we will ultimately be held liable. The plaintiffs in Wiegele represent a class of FedEx Ground sort managers and dock service managers in California from May 10, 2002 to present. The plaintiffs allege that FedEx Ground has misclassified the managers as exempt from the overtime requirements of California wage-and-hour laws and is correspondingly liable for failing to pay them overtime compensation and for failing to provide them with rest and meal breaks.

 

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In September 2008, in another one of these wage-and-hour cases, Tidd v. Adecco USA, Kelly Services and FedEx Ground, a Massachusetts federal court conditionally certified a class limited to individuals who were employed by two temporary employment agencies and who worked as temporary pick-up-and-delivery drivers for FedEx Ground in the New England region within the past three years. Potential claimants must voluntarily “opt in” to the lawsuit in order to be considered part of the class, and the conditional class certification ruling does not address whether we will ultimately be held liable. In addition, in the same opinion, the court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants with respect to the plaintiffs’ claims for unpaid overtime wages. Accordingly, the conditionally certified class of plaintiffs is now limited to a claim of failure to pay regular wages due under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and related claims under Massachusetts and Vermont law.
We have denied any liability and intend to vigorously defend ourselves in these wage-and-hour lawsuits. We do not believe that any loss is probable in these lawsuits, and given the nature and status of the claims, we cannot yet determine the amount or a reasonable range of potential loss, if any.
Independent Contractor — Estrada and Mason. Estrada v. FedEx Ground is a class action involving FedEx Ground single-route contractors in California. In August 2007, the California appellate court affirmed the trial court’s ruling in Estrada that a limited number of California single-route contractors (most of whom have not contracted with FedEx Ground since 2001) should be reimbursed as employees for some of their operating expenses. The Supreme Court of California affirmed the appellate court’s liability and class certification decisions. The case was remanded to the trial court for reconsideration of the amount of such reimbursable expenses and attorneys’ fees. Forty of the class members from the Estrada litigation filed another lawsuit (entitled Mason) seeking reimbursement of expenses for the post-Estrada period (January 1, 2005 to present). The forty plaintiffs continued to provide pickup-and-delivery services to FedEx Ground after the damages period terminated in Estrada (December 31, 2004). In December 2008, we agreed to settle theEstrada and Mason matters for an immaterial amount. We are awaiting court approval of theEstrada settlement and the dismissal of both cases.
Independent Contractor — Other Lawsuits and State Administrative Proceedings. FedEx Ground is involved in approximately 60 other class-action lawsuits (including 21 that have been certified as class actions), several individual lawsuits and approximately 40 state tax and other administrative proceedings that claim that the company’s owner-operators should be treated as employees, rather than independent contractors.
Most of the class-action lawsuits have been consolidated for administration of the pre-trial proceedings by a single federal court, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. With the exception of recently filed cases that have been or will be transferred to the multidistrict litigation, discovery and class certification briefing are now complete. In October 2007, we received a decision from the court granting class certification in a Kansas action alleging state law claims on behalf of a statewide class and federal law claims under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 on behalf of a nationwide class. In January 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit declined our request for appellate review of the class certification decision. In March 2008, the court granted class certification in 19 additional cases and denied it in nine cases. The court has not yet ruled on class certification in the other cases that are pending in the multidistrict litigation. Motions for summary judgment on the classification issue (i.e., independent contractor vs. employee) are pending in all 20 of the multidistrict litigation cases that have been certified as class actions.
In January 2008, one of the contractor-model lawsuits that is not part of the multidistrict litigation, Anfinson v. FedEx Ground, was certified as a class action by a Washington state court. The plaintiffs in Anfinson represent a class of FedEx Ground single-route, pickup-and-delivery owner-operators in Washington from December 21, 2001 through December 31, 2005 and allege that the class members should be reimbursed as employees for their uniform expenses and should receive overtime pay. The Anfinson case was scheduled for trial in October 2008, but that trial was postponed and a new trial date has not been set. The other contractor-model lawsuits that are not part of the multidistrict litigation are not as far along procedurally as Anfinson.

 

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FedEx Ground is also involved in several lawsuits, including three purported class actions, brought by drivers of the company’s independent contractors who claim that they were jointly employed by the contractor and FedEx Ground. With respect to one of these three purported class actions, in November 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a California district court’s summary judgment in favor of FedEx Ground.
Adverse determinations in these matters could, among other things, entitle certain of our contractors and their drivers to the reimbursement of certain expenses and to the benefit of wage-and-hour laws and result in employment and withholding tax and benefit liability for FedEx Ground, and could result in changes to the independent contractor status of FedEx Ground’s owner-operators. We believe that FedEx Ground’s owner-operators are properly classified as independent contractors and that FedEx Ground is not an employer of the drivers of the company’s independent contractors. Given the nature and status of these lawsuits, we cannot yet determine the amount or a reasonable range of potential loss, if any, but it is reasonably possible that such potential loss or such changes to the independent contractor status of FedEx Ground’s owner-operators could be material. However, we do not believe that a material loss is probable in any of these matters.
Independent Contractor — IRS Audit. In October 2008, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) withdrew its tentative assessment of tax and penalties for the 2002 calendar year ($319 million plus interest) against FedEx Ground relating to the classification of FedEx Ground’s owner-operators for federal employment tax purposes. The IRS is continuing its employment tax audit of FedEx Ground for the 2002 calendar year. We are engaged in discussions with the IRS audit team regarding this matter. We continue to believe that FedEx Ground’s owner-operators are independent contractors and that no loss is probable in this matter.
Independent Contractor — Shareholder Derivative Lawsuits. The Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 51 Pension Fund and the Western Pennsylvania Bricklayers Pension Fund each filed shareholder derivative lawsuits (which have now been consolidated) in Tennessee federal court naming FedEx Corporation as a nominal defendant and the members of the Board of Directors of FedEx Corporation as defendants (the Plumbers and Pipefitters suit was filed in May 2008 and the Bricklayers suit was filed in June 2008). The derivative lawsuits, which are purportedly brought to assert the rights of FedEx Corporation, assert claims against the Board members for breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment in connection with the management of FedEx Ground — in particular, the classification of FedEx Ground’s owner-operators as independent contractors. Given the preliminary status of these matters, we cannot yet determine the amount or a reasonable range of potential loss. However, we do not believe that any loss is probable.
Antitrust — FedEx Freight Fuel Surcharge. In July 2007, a purported antitrust class-action lawsuit was filed in California federal court, naming FedEx Corporation (particularly FedEx Freight Corporation and its LTL freight subsidiaries) and several other major LTL freight carriers as defendants. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants conspired to fix fuel surcharge rates in violation of federal antitrust laws and seeks injunctive relief, treble damages and attorneys’ fees. Since the filing of the original case, numerous similar cases have been filed against us and other LTL freight carriers, each with allegations of conspiracy to fix fuel surcharge rates along with other related allegations. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has consolidated these cases for administration of the pre-trial proceedings by a single federal court, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. We do not believe that any loss is probable, and given the nature and status of the claims, we cannot yet determine the amount or a reasonable range of potential loss, if any, in these matters.
Other. FedEx and its subsidiaries are subject to other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of their business. In the opinion of management, the aggregate liability, if any, with respect to these other actions will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

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(10) Supplemental Cash Flow Information
The following table presents supplemental cash flow information for the six-month periods ended November 30 (in millions):
         
  2008  2007 
Cash payments for:
        
Interest (net of capitalized interest)
 $36  $70 
Income taxes
  315   567 
(11) Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
We are required to present condensed consolidating financial information in order for the subsidiary guarantors (other than FedEx Express) of our public debt to continue to be exempt from reporting under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

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The guarantor subsidiaries, which are wholly owned by FedEx, guarantee approximately $1.2 billion of our debt. The guarantees are full and unconditional and joint and several. Our guarantor subsidiaries were not determined using geographic, service line or other similar criteria, and as a result, the “Guarantor” and “Non-Guarantor” columns each include portions of our domestic and international operations. Accordingly, this basis of presentation is not intended to present our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows for any purpose other than to comply with the specific requirements for subsidiary guarantor reporting. Condensed consolidating financial statements for our guarantor subsidiaries and non-guarantor subsidiaries are presented in the following tables (in millions):
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
November 30, 2008
                     
      Guarantor  Non-guarantor       
  Parent  Subsidiaries  Subsidiaries  Eliminations  Consolidated 
ASSETS
                    
CURRENT ASSETS
                    
Cash and cash equivalents
 $1,134  $164  $244  $  $1,542 
Receivables, less allowances
  1   3,176   969   (43)  4,103 
Spare parts, supplies, fuel, prepaid expenses and other, less allowances
  2   599   70      671 
Deferred income taxes
     485   33      518 
 
               
Total current assets
  1,137   4,424   1,316   (43)  6,834 
 
                    
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, AT COST
  23   26,382   2,602      29,007 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
  16   14,129   1,252      15,397 
 
               
Net property and equipment
  7   12,253   1,350      13,610 
 
                    
INTERCOMPANY RECEIVABLE
  1,402      499   (1,901)   
GOODWILL
     2,296   825      3,121 
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES
  12,349   2,601      (14,950)   
PENSION ASSETS
  1,718   30         1,748 
OTHER ASSETS
  200   928   121   (178)  1,071 
 
               
 
                    
 
 $16,813  $22,532  $4,111  $(17,072) $26,384 
 
               
 
                    
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ INVESTMENT
                    
CURRENT LIABILITIES
                    
Current portion of long-term debt
 $1,000  $88  $1  $  $1,089 
Accrued salaries and employee benefits
  22   733   165      920 
Accounts payable
  47   1,512   362   (43)  1,878 
Accrued expenses
  23   1,387   226      1,636 
 
               
Total current liabilities
  1,092   3,720   754   (43)  5,523 
 
                    
LONG-TERM DEBT, LESS CURRENT PORTION
  250   668         918 
INTERCOMPANY PAYABLE
     1,901      (1,901)   
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
                    
Deferred income taxes
     1,580   109   (178)  1,511 
Other liabilities
  290   2,545   116      2,951 
 
               
Total other long-term liabilities
  290   4,125   225   (178)  4,462 
 
                    
STOCKHOLDERS’ INVESTMENT
  15,181   12,118   3,132   (14,950)  15,481 
 
               
 
                    
 
 $16,813  $22,532  $4,111  $(17,072) $26,384 
 
               

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
May 31, 2008
                     
     Guarantor  Non-guarantor       
  Parent  Subsidiaries  Subsidiaries  Eliminations  Consolidated 
ASSETS
                    
CURRENT ASSETS
                    
Cash and cash equivalents
 $1,101  $166  $272  $  $1,539 
Receivables, less allowances
  4   3,310   1,083   (38)  4,359 
Spare parts, supplies, fuel, prepaid expenses and other, less allowances
  10   710   82      802 
Deferred income taxes
     512   32      544 
 
               
Total current assets
  1,115   4,698   1,469   (38)  7,244 
 
                    
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, AT COST
  24   26,658   2,623      29,305 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
  16   14,578   1,233      15,827 
 
               
Net property and equipment
  8   12,080   1,390      13,478 
 
INTERCOMPANY RECEIVABLE
  1,902      333   (2,235)   
GOODWILL
     2,299   866      3,165 
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES
  11,683   2,678      (14,361)   
PENSION ASSETS
  813   1   13      827 
OTHER ASSETS
  381   744   153   (359)  919 
 
               
 
 
 
 $15,902  $22,500  $4,224  $(16,993) $25,633 
 
               
 
                    
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ INVESTMENT
                    
CURRENT LIABILITIES
                    
Current portion of long-term debt
 $500  $  $2  $  $502 
Accrued salaries and employee benefits
  41   881   196      1,118 
Accounts payable
  11   1,774   448   (38)  2,195 
Accrued expenses
  23   1,301   229      1,553 
 
               
Total current liabilities
  575   3,956   875   (38)  5,368 
 
                    
LONG-TERM DEBT, LESS CURRENT PORTION
  749   756   1      1,506 
INTERCOMPANY PAYABLE
     2,235      (2,235)   
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
                    
Deferred income taxes
     1,518   105   (359)  1,264 
Other liabilities
  288   2,549   132      2,969 
 
               
Total other long-term liabilities
  288   4,067   237   (359)  4,233 
 
                    
STOCKHOLDERS’ INVESTMENT
  14,290   11,486   3,111   (14,361)  14,526 
 
               
 
                    
 
 $15,902  $22,500  $4,224  $(16,993) $25,633 
 
               

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended November 30, 2008
                     
      Guarantor  Non-guarantor       
  Parent  Subsidiaries  Subsidiaries  Eliminations  Consolidated 
 
                    
REVENUES
 $  $7,925  $1,690  $(77) $9,538 
 
                    
OPERATING EXPENSES:
                    
Salaries and employee benefits
  20   2,880   603      3,503 
Purchased transportation
     858   334   (11)  1,181 
Rentals and landing fees
  1   534   77      612 
Depreciation and amortization
  1   421   69      491 
Fuel
     1,027   79      1,106 
Maintenance and repairs
     482   39      521 
Intercompany charges, net
  (49)  (23)  72       
Other
  27   1,077   302   (66)  1,340 
 
               
 
     7,256   1,575   (77)  8,754 
 
               
 
                    
OPERATING INCOME
     669   115      784 
 
                    
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
                    
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
  493   68      (561)   
Interest, net
  (12)  5   (3)     (10)
Intercompany charges, net
  22   (28)  6       
Other, net
  (10)  (2)  12       
 
               
 
                    
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  493   712   130   (561)  774 
 
                    
Provision for income taxes
     243   38      281 
 
               
 
                    
NET INCOME
 $493  $469  $92  $(561) $493 
 
               
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended November 30, 2007
                     
      Guarantor  Non-guarantor       
  Parent  Subsidiaries  Subsidiaries  Eliminations  Consolidated 
 
                    
REVENUES
 $  $7,788  $1,773  $(110) $9,451 
 
                    
OPERATING EXPENSES:
                    
Salaries and employee benefits
  24   2,870   616      3,510 
Purchased transportation
     862   338   (22)  1,178 
Rentals and landing fees
  1   532   78      611 
Depreciation and amortization
  1   409   72      482 
Fuel
     943   75      1,018 
Maintenance and repairs
     478   41      519 
Intercompany charges, net
  (53)  (57)  110       
Other
  27   1,131   280   (88)  1,350 
 
               
 
     7,168   1,610   (110)  8,668 
 
               
 
                    
OPERATING INCOME
     620   163      783 
 
                    
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
                    
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
  479   72      (551)   
Interest, net
  (12)  1   (4)     (15)
Intercompany charges, net
  14   (18)  4       
Other, net
  (2)  1   1       
 
               
 
                    
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  479   676   164   (551)  768 
 
                    
Provision for income taxes
     220   69      289 
 
               
 
                    
NET INCOME
 $479  $456  $95  $(551) $479 
 
               

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
Six Months Ended November 30, 2008
                     
      Guarantor  Non-guarantor       
  Parent  Subsidiaries  Subsidiaries  Eliminations  Consolidated 
 
                    
REVENUES
 $  $16,171  $3,485  $(148) $19,508 
 
                    
OPERATING EXPENSES:
                    
Salaries and employee benefits
  44   5,811   1,233      7,088 
Purchased transportation
     1,768   712   (21)  2,459 
Rentals and landing fees
  2   1,069   159   (1)  1,229 
Depreciation and amortization
  1   842   140      983 
Fuel
     2,449   185      2,634 
Maintenance and repairs
     979   79      1,058 
Intercompany charges, net
  (105)  (49)  154       
Other
  58   2,150   561   (126)  2,643 
 
               
 
     15,019   3,223   (148)  18,094 
 
               
 
                    
OPERATING INCOME
     1,152   262      1,414 
 
                    
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
                    
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
  877   145      (1,022)   
Interest, net
  (22)  10   (7)     (19)
Intercompany charges, net
  36   (52)  16       
Other, net
  (14)  (2)  13      (3)
 
               
 
                    
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  877   1,253   284   (1,022)  1,392 
 
                    
Provision for income taxes
     419   96      515 
 
               
 
                    
NET INCOME
 $877  $834  $188  $(1,022) $877 
 
               
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
Six Months Ended November 30, 2007
                     
      Guarantor  Non-guarantor       
  Parent  Subsidiaries  Subsidiaries  Eliminations  Consolidated 
 
                    
REVENUES
 $  $15,434  $3,422  $(206) $18,650 
 
                    
OPERATING EXPENSES:
                    
Salaries and employee benefits
  57   5,726   1,210      6,993 
Purchased transportation
     1,638   638   (41)  2,235 
Rentals and landing fees
  2   1,051   152   (1)  1,204 
Depreciation and amortization
  1   808   146      955 
Fuel
     1,809   141      1,950 
Maintenance and repairs
     984   79      1,063 
Intercompany charges, net
  (106)  (75)  181       
Other
  46   2,231   540   (164)  2,653 
 
               
 
     14,172   3,087   (206)  17,053 
 
               
 
                    
OPERATING INCOME
     1,262   335      1,597 
 
                    
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
                    
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
  973   146      (1,119)   
Interest, net
  (21)  (12)  (7)     (40)
Intercompany charges, net
  26   (31)  5       
Other, net
  (5)  2   1      (2)
 
               
 
                    
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  973   1,367   334   (1,119)  1,555 
 
                    
Provision for income taxes
     465   117      582 
 
               
 
                    
NET INCOME
 $973  $902  $217  $(1,119) $973 
 
               

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
Six Months Ended November 30, 2008
                     
      Guarantor  Non-guarantor       
  Parent  Subsidiaries  Subsidiaries  Eliminations  Consolidated 
 
                    
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 $(310) $1,562  $203  $  $1,455 
 
                    
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
                    
Capital expenditures
     (1,261)  (126)     (1,387)
Proceeds from asset dispositions and other
     24   6      30 
 
               
 
                    
CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
     (1,237)  (120)     (1,357)
 
                    
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                    
Net transfers from (to) Parent
  385   (322)  (63)      
Payment on loan from Parent
  17      (17)      
Principal payments on debt
        (1)     (1)
Proceeds from stock issuances
  8            8 
Excess tax benefit on the exercise of stock options
  1            1 
Dividends paid
  (68)           (68)
 
               
 
                    
CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
  343   (322)  (81)     (60)
 
               
 
                    
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
     (5)  (30)     (35)
 
               
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
  33   (2)  (28)     3 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
  1,101   166   272      1,539 
 
               
 
                    
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 $1,134  $164  $244  $  $1,542 
 
               
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
Six Months Ended November 30, 2007
                     
      Guarantor  Non-guarantor       
  Parent  Subsidiaries  Subsidiaries  Eliminations  Consolidated 
 
                    
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 $(320) $1,399  $185  $  $1,264 
 
                    
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
                    
Capital expenditures
     (1,370)  (152)     (1,522)
Proceeds from asset dispositions and other
     13   7      20 
 
               
 
                    
CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
     (1,357)  (145)     (1,502)
 
                    
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                    
Net transfers from (to) Parent
  55   (28)  (27)      
Principal payments on debt
  (512)  (2)  (1)     (515)
Proceeds from stock issuances
  50            50 
Excess tax benefit on the exercise of stock options
  12            12 
Dividends paid
  (62)           (62)
 
               
 
                    
CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES
  (457)  (30)  (28)     (515)
 
               
 
                    
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
     4   10      14 
 
               
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
  (777)  16   22      (739)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
  1,212   124   233      1,569 
 
               
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 $435  $140  $255  $  $830 
 
               

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
FedEx Corporation
We have reviewed the condensed consolidated balance sheet of FedEx Corporation as of November 30, 2008, and the related condensed consolidated statements of income for the three-month and six-month periods ended November 30, 2008 and 2007 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six-month periods ended November 30, 2008 and 2007. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.
We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the condensed consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of FedEx Corporation as of May 31, 2008, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders’ investment and comprehensive income, and cash flows for the year then ended not presented herein, and in our report dated July 10, 2008, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of May 31, 2008, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
     
 /s/ Ernst & Young LLP   
Memphis, Tennessee
December 17, 2008

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition
GENERAL
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition describes the principal factors affecting the results of operations, liquidity, capital resources, contractual cash obligations and critical accounting estimates of FedEx. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the accompanying quarterly unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2008 (“Annual Report”). Our Annual Report includes additional information about our significant accounting policies, practices and the transactions that underlie our financial results, as well as a detailed discussion of the most significant risks and uncertainties associated with our financial and operating results.
We provide a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services through companies competing collectively, operating independently and managed collaboratively under the respected FedEx brand. Our primary operating companies include Federal Express Corporation (“FedEx Express”), the world’s largest express transportation company; FedEx Ground Package System, Inc. (“FedEx Ground”), a leading provider of small-package ground delivery services; and FedEx Freight Corporation, a leading U.S. provider of less-than-truckload (“LTL”) freight services. Our FedEx Services segment provides customer-facing sales, marketing, information technology and customer service support, as well as retail access for customers through FedEx Office and Print Services, Inc. (“FedEx Office”), primarily for the benefit of FedEx Express and FedEx Ground. These companies represent our major service lines and form the core of our reportable segments. See “Reportable Segments” for further discussion.
The key indicators necessary to understand our operating results include:
 the overall customer demand for our various services;
 the volumes of transportation services provided through our networks, primarily measured by our average daily volume and shipment weight;
 the mix of services purchased by our customers;
 the prices we obtain for our services, primarily measured by yield (average price per shipment or pound or average price per hundredweight for FedEx Freight LTL Group shipments);
 our ability to manage our cost structure (capital expenditures and operating expenses) to match shifting volume levels; and
 the timing and amount of fluctuations in fuel prices and our ability to recover incremental fuel costs through our fuel surcharges.
The majority of our operating expenses are directly impacted by revenue and volume levels. Accordingly, we expect these operating expenses to fluctuate on a year-over-year basis consistent with the change in revenues and volume. The following discussion of operating expenses describes the key drivers impacting expense trends beyond changes in revenues and volume.
Except as otherwise specified, references to years indicate our fiscal year ending May 31, 2009 or ended May 31 of the year referenced and comparisons are to the corresponding period of the prior year. References to our transportation segments include, collectively, our FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight segments.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
The following table compares revenues, operating income, operating margin, net income and diluted earnings per share (dollars in millions, except per share amounts) for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30:
                         
  Three Months Ended  Percent  Six Months Ended  Percent 
  2008  2007  Change  2008  2007  Change 
Revenues
 $9,538  $9,451   1  $19,508  $18,650   5 
 
                        
Operating income
  784   783      1,414   1,597   (11)
 
                        
Operating margin
  8.2%  8.3% (10) bp  7.2%  8.6% (140) bp
 
                        
Net income
 $493  $479   3  $877  $973   (10)
 
                  
 
Diluted earnings per share
 $1.58  $1.54   3  $2.81  $3.12   (10)
 
                  
The following table shows changes in revenues and operating income by reportable segment for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30, 2008 compared to November 30, 2007 (dollars in millions):
                                 
  Change in  Percent Change in  Change in  Percent Change in 
  Revenue  Revenue  Operating Income  Operating Income 
  Three  Six  Three  Six  Three  Six  Three  Six 
  Months  Months  Months  Months  Months  Months  Months  Months 
  Ended  Ended  Ended  Ended  Ended  Ended  Ended  Ended 
 
FedEx Express segment
 $61  $591   1   5  $9  $(165)  2   (16)
FedEx Ground segment
  91   234   5   7   39   45   23   12 
FedEx Freight segment
  (36)  84   (3)  3   (47)  (63)  (59)  (34)
FedEx Services segment
  (22)  (34)  (4)  (3)            
Other and eliminations
  (7)  (17) NM  NM             
 
                            
 
 
 $87  $858   1   5  $1  $(183)     (11)
 
                            

 

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The following graphs for FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and the FedEx Freight LTL Group show selected volume statistics (in thousands) for the five most recent quarters:
(LINE GRAPH)
The following graphs for FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and the FedEx Freight LTL Group show selected yield statistics for the five most recent quarters:
(LINE GRAPH)
(LINE GRAPH)
   
(1) Package statistics do not include the operations of FedEx SmartPost.

 

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The following graph shows our average cost of jet and vehicle fuel per gallon for our transportation segments for the five most recent quarters:
(LINE GRAPH)
Overview
Global economic conditions deteriorated further in the second quarter of 2009 and continued to negatively impact our revenue and earnings growth rates. We experienced continued softening in demand for our services, particularly our FedEx Express and FedEx Freight services due to declines in industrial production and consumer spending. Shipping volumes for our transportation segments declined year-over-year in the second quarter of 2009 and remained below prior-year levels as we began our historical peak shipping season. Within our FedEx Ground segment, volume declines at FedEx Ground were offset by increased market share at FedEx SmartPost, as a major competitor (DHL) exited this market during the quarter, enabling growth in the customer base and related volumes. Despite market share gains in our FedEx Freight segment, volumes declined and yields were pressured by intense price competition. Rapidly declining fuel costs during the second quarter and the timing lag between such declines and adjustments to our fuel surcharges provided substantial offsetting benefits to the decrease in volumes at all transportation segments, particularly at FedEx Express. The average price of jet fuel during the second quarter of 2009 was 26% lower than the average during the first quarter of 2009.
Operating income and net income declined in the first half of 2009 due to the negative impact of the continued weakness in the global economy and the impact of higher fuel surcharges on demand for our services. One fewer operating day at each of our transportation segments also negatively affected our first half of 2009 results. The timing of changes in our fuel surcharges, cost containment activities and lower variable incentive compensation partially mitigated the impact of the weak global economy on our results for both the second quarter and first half of 2009.
In response to weak business conditions, we took actions in the first half of 2009 to lower our cost structure, such as eliminating variable compensation payouts, implementing a hiring freeze, making volume-related reductions in labor hours and line-haul expenses and reducing personnel at FedEx Freight and FedEx Office. In addition, we have exercised stringent control over discretionary spending, such as travel, entertainment and professional fees. Further, we have rationalized our networks by adjusting routes and equipment types, temporarily idling equipment, consolidating facilities and deferring facility expansions and aircraft purchases to match current demand levels. Additional actions outlined in the Outlook section below will be implemented in our third quarter to further reduce costs. Management remains committed to taking the necessary actions to manage through increasingly difficult economic times.

 

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Revenue
Revenue growth for the second quarter and first half of 2009 was attributable to yield increases in FedEx Express U.S. domestic package, IP and freight services. These yield increases were driven by higher fuel surcharges, partially offset by the competitive pricing environment. Revenue growth during the second quarter and first half of 2009 was partially offset by reduced U.S. domestic express package, IP and freight volumes as a result of the ongoing weak U.S. economy and higher fuel surcharges, which drove U.S. domestic express shipping volumes to pre-1998 levels and led some customers to shift to lower-yielding services.
Operating Income
The following table compares operating expenses and operating income as a percent of revenue for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30:
                 
  Percent of Revenue  Percent of Revenue 
  Three  Three  Six  Six 
  Months  Months  Months  Months 
  Ended  Ended  Ended  Ended 
  2008  2007  2008  2007 
Operating expenses:
                
Salaries and employee benefits
  36.8%  37.1%  36.4%  37.5%
Purchased transportation
  12.4   12.4   12.6   12.0 
Rentals and landing fees
  6.4   6.5   6.3   6.4 
Depreciation and amortization
  5.1   5.1   5.0   5.1 
Fuel
  11.6   10.8   13.5   10.5 
Maintenance and repairs
  5.5   5.5   5.4   5.7 
Other
  14.0   14.3   13.6   14.2 
 
            
Total operating expenses
  91.8   91.7   92.8   91.4 
 
            
 
Operating income (margin)
  8.2%  8.3%  7.2%  8.6%
 
            
Operating income was essentially flat in the second quarter of 2009, as the benefit provided from the timing lag between changes in fuel prices and adjustments to our fuel surcharges offset the negative impact of significantly lower shipping volumes during the second quarter due to the weak global economy. Volumes declined year-over-year in the second quarter at all transportation segments. Operating margins continued to be negatively impacted by the deteriorating economic environment, which has contributed to a more competitive pricing environment and pressured base yields.
Operating income and operating margin decreased in the first half of 2009, as weak economic conditions drove decreases in volumes at FedEx Express and restrained volume growth at FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight. Our results were also negatively impacted by the overall effects of significantly higher fuel costs on demand for our services and increased purchased transportation costs. Fuel expenses increased 35% during the first half of 2009, primarily due to an increase in the average price per gallon of fuel. However, jet fuel usage decreased 7% from last year’s second quarter, as we reduced flight hours in light of lower business levels.

 

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During the second quarter and first half of 2009, fuel prices significantly decreased, while changes in fuel surcharges for FedEx Express and FedEx Ground lagged these decreases by approximately six to eight weeks. We experienced the opposite effect during the second quarter and first half of 2008, as fuel prices significantly increased throughout those periods. As a result, fuel surcharges significantly exceeded incremental fuel costs for both the second quarter and first half of 2009, based on a static analysis of the impact to operating income of year-over-year changes in fuel prices compared to changes in fuel surcharges. This analysis considers the estimated benefits of the reduction in fuel surcharges included in the base rates charged for FedEx Express services. However, this analysis does not consider the negative effects that the significantly higher fuel surcharge levels have on our business, including reduced demand and shifts by our customers to lower-yielding services. While fluctuations in fuel surcharge rates can be significant from period to period, fuel surcharges represent one of the many individual components of our pricing structure that impact our overall revenue and yield. Additional components include the mix of services purchased, the base price and other extra service charges we obtain for these services and the level of pricing discounts offered. In order to provide information about the impact of fuel surcharges on the trend in revenue and yield growth, we have included the comparative fuel surcharge rates in effect for the second quarter and first half of 2009 and 2008 in the accompanying discussions of each of our transportation segments.
Purchased transportation costs increased during the second quarter and first half of 2009, primarily due to higher rates paid to FedEx Ground’s contractors and our other third-party transportation providers. The impact of higher fuel costs also contributed to the increase in purchased transportation costs for the first half of 2009. Reduced copy revenues and incremental operating expenses at FedEx Office related to new locations opened in 2008 and 2009 also had a negative impact on our results for the second quarter and first half of 2009. Cost containment activities (described above) and lower variable incentive compensation partially mitigated the negative impact of these factors.
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate was 36.3% for the second quarter of 2009 and 37.0% for the first half of 2009, compared with 37.6% for the second quarter of 2008 and 37.4% for the first half of 2008. The lower rate in 2009 was primarily due to the resolution of an immaterial state income tax matter during the second quarter of 2009. We expect the effective tax rate to be between 37.0% and 38.0% for 2009. The actual rate will depend on a number of factors, including the amount and source of operating income.
Our liabilities recorded under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. (“FIN”) 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” totaled $88 million at May 31, 2008 and $71 million at November 30, 2008, including $68 million at May 31, 2008 and $56 million at November 30, 2008 associated with positions that if favorably resolved would provide a benefit to our effective tax rate. The changes relate primarily to the resolution of an immaterial state income tax matter during the second quarter of 2009. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and certain state tax authorities are currently examining our returns for various years through 2007. It is reasonably possible that the 2004-2006 IRS audit, along with certain state income tax return audits, will be completed during the next 12 months and could result in a change in our balance of unrecognized tax benefits. The expected net impact of any changes would not be material to our consolidated financial statements.
Outlook
We expect that the difficult global economic environment that we experienced in the first half of 2009 will worsen in the second half of 2009, and we have significantly reduced our earnings forecast for 2009. Weak economic conditions in the U.S. have spread to Europe and Asia, and ongoing weak global economic factors are expected to further reduce demand for all of our transportation services in the second half of 2009. With the exception of FedEx SmartPost, shipping volumes in our third quarter, which includes our historical peak shipping season for our package businesses, are expected to be particularly weak and well below prior-year levels. While we expect to benefit in the long term from the exit of one of our principal competitors (DHL) from the U.S. domestic market, we cannot predict the extent of the benefit under present economic conditions.

 

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In December 2008, we announced several additional cost reduction initiatives in response to continued deterioration in economic conditions. These include base salary reductions for U.S. salaried personnel effective January 1, 2009, elimination of calendar 2009 merit-based pay increases for U.S. salaried personnel and a minimum one-year suspension of 401(k) company matching contributions (effective February 1, 2009). The reductions in base pay include a 20% reduction for our Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, 7.5%-10% reductions for our other senior officers and a 5% reduction for remaining U.S. salaried personnel. If economic conditions deteriorate further, additional actions will be taken to control costs. However, we will not compromise our outstanding service levels or take actions that negatively impact the customer experience in exchange for short-term cost reductions.
For the remainder of 2009, we will continue to balance the need to control spending with the opportunity to make investments with high returns, such as in substantially more fuel-efficient Boeing 757 (“B757”) and Boeing 777 Freighter (“B777F”) aircraft. Moreover, we will continue to invest in critical long-term strategic projects focused on expanding our global networks and broadening our service offerings to position us for stronger growth under improved economic conditions. For additional details on key 2009 capital projects, refer to the Liquidity Outlook section of this MD&A.
All of our businesses operate in a competitive pricing environment, exacerbated by continuing volatile fuel prices. Historically, our fuel surcharges have largely been sufficient to offset incremental fuel costs; however, volatility in fuel costs may impact earnings because adjustments to our fuel surcharges lag changes in actual fuel prices paid. Therefore, the trailing impact of adjustments to our fuel surcharges can significantly affect our earnings either positively or negatively in the short-term.
As described in Note 9 of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the “Independent Contractor Matters” section of our FedEx Ground segment MD&A, we are involved in a number of litigation matters and other proceedings that challenge the status of FedEx Ground’s owner-operators as independent contractors. FedEx Ground anticipates continuing changes to its relationships with its contractors. The nature, timing and amount of any changes are dependent on the outcome of numerous future events. We cannot reasonably estimate the potential impact of any such changes or a meaningful range of potential outcomes, although they could be material. However, we do not believe that any such changes will impair our ability to operate and profitably grow our FedEx Ground business.
See “Forward-Looking Statements” for a discussion of these and other potential risks and uncertainties that could materially affect our future performance.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
New accounting rules and disclosure requirements can significantly impact our reported results and the comparability of our financial statements. We believe the following new accounting pronouncements are relevant to the readers of our financial statements.
On May 31, 2007, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans.” SFAS 158 requires recognition in the balance sheet of the funded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, and the recognition in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) of unrecognized gains or losses and prior service costs or credits. Additionally, SFAS 158 requires the measurement date for plan assets and liabilities to coincide with the plan sponsor’s year end. On June 1, 2008, we made our transition election for the measurement date provision of SFAS 158 using the two-measurement approach. Under this approach, we completed two actuarial measurements, one at February 29, 2008 and the other at June 1, 2008. This approach required us to record the net periodic benefit cost for the transition period from March 1, 2008 through May 31, 2008 as an adjustment to beginning retained earnings ($44 million, net of tax) and actuarial gains and losses for the period (a gain of $372 million, net of tax) as an adjustment to the opening balance of AOCI. These adjustments increased the amount recorded for our pension assets by $528 million. Our actuarial gains resulted primarily from a 19 basis point increase in the discount rate for our primary pension plan and an increase in plan assets at June 1, 2008.

 

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On June 1, 2008, we adopted SFAS 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” which provides a common definition of fair value, establishes a uniform framework for measuring fair value and requires expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. There is a one-year deferral of the adoption of the standard as it relates to non-financial assets and liabilities. The adoption of SFAS 157 had no impact on our financial statements at June 1, 2008.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 141R, “Business Combinations,” and SFAS 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB No. 51.” These new standards significantly change the accounting for and reporting of business combination transactions, including noncontrolling interests (previously referred to as minority interests). For example, these standards require the acquiring entity to recognize the full fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction and require the expensing of most transaction and restructuring costs. Both standards are effective for us beginning June 1, 2009 (fiscal 2010) and are applicable only to transactions occurring after the effective date.
REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight represent our major service lines and, along with FedEx Services, form the core of our reportable segments. Our reportable segments include the following businesses:
   
FedEx Express Segment
 FedEx Express (express transportation)
FedEx Trade Networks (global trade services)
 
  
FedEx Ground Segment
 FedEx Ground (small-package ground delivery)
FedEx SmartPost (small-parcel consolidator)
 
  
FedEx Freight Segment
 FedEx Freight LTL Group:
      FedEx Freight (regional LTL freight transportation)
      FedEx National LTL (long-haul LTL freight transportation)
FedEx Custom Critical (time-critical transportation)
Caribbean Transportation Services (airfreight forwarding)
 
  
FedEx Services Segment
 FedEx Services (sales, marketing and information technology functions)
FedEx Office (document and business services and package acceptance)
FedEx Customer Information Services (“FCIS”) (customer service, billings and collections)
FedEx Global Supply Chain Services (logistics services)
FEDEX SERVICES SEGMENT
The FedEx Services segment includes: FedEx Services, which provides sales, marketing and information technology support; FCIS, which is responsible for customer service, billings and collections for FedEx Express and FedEx Ground U.S. customers; FedEx Global Supply Chain Services, which provides a range of logistics services to our customers; and FedEx Office, which provides retail access to our customers for our package transportation businesses and an array of document and business services.

 

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The costs of the sales, marketing and information technology support provided by FedEx Services and the customer service functions of FCIS, together with the normal, ongoing net operating costs of FedEx Global Supply Chain Services and FedEx Office, are allocated primarily to the FedEx Express and FedEx Ground segments based on metrics such as relative revenues or estimated services provided. We believe these allocations approximate the net cost of providing these functions.
FedEx Services segment revenues, which reflect the operations of FedEx Office and FedEx Global Supply Chain Services, decreased during the second quarter and first half of 2009. Revenue generated from new FedEx Office locations added in 2008 and the first half of 2009 did not offset declines in copy revenues, incremental operating costs associated with the new locations and expenses associated with organizational changes. Therefore, the allocated net operating costs of FedEx Office increased during the first half of 2009 despite ongoing cost management efforts. In September 2008, FedEx Office began implementation of organizational changes intended to improve profitability and enhance the customer experience.
The operating expenses line item “Intercompany charges” on the accompanying unaudited financial summaries of our transportation segments includes the allocations from the FedEx Services segment to the respective transportation segments. The “Intercompany charges” caption also includes allocations for administrative services provided between operating companies and certain other costs such as corporate management fees related to services received for general corporate oversight, including executive officers and certain legal and finance functions. Management evaluates transportation segment financial performance based on operating income.
OTHER INTERSEGMENT TRANSACTIONS
Certain FedEx operating companies provide transportation and related services for other FedEx companies outside their reportable segment. Billings for such services are based on negotiated rates, which we believe approximate fair value, and are reflected as revenues of the billing segment. These rates are adjusted from time to time based on market conditions. Such intersegment revenues and expenses are eliminated in the consolidated results and are not separately identified in the following segment information, as the amounts are not material.

 

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FEDEX EXPRESS SEGMENT
The following table compares revenues, operating expenses, operating income and operating margin (dollars in millions) for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30:
                         
  Three Months Ended  Percent  Six Months Ended  Percent 
  2008  2007  Change  2008  2007  Change 
Revenues:
                        
Package:
                        
U.S. overnight box
 $1,619  $1,615     $3,330  $3,231   3 
U.S. overnight envelope
  486   481   1   1,011   992   2 
U.S. deferred
  740   730   1   1,502   1,441   4 
 
                    
Total U.S. domestic package revenue
  2,845   2,826   1   5,843   5,664   3 
 
                    
International Priority (IP)
  1,930   1,910   1   3,974   3,731   7 
International domestic (1)
  158   174   (9)  328   329    
 
                    
Total package revenue
  4,933   4,910      10,145   9,724   4 
Freight:
                        
U.S.
  594   604   (2)  1,192   1,197    
International priority freight
  323   312   4   663   604   10 
International airfreight
  111   96   16   242   190   27 
 
                    
Total freight revenue
  1,028   1,012   2   2,097   1,991   5 
Other (2)
  137   115   19   275   211   30 
 
                    
Total revenues
  6,098   6,037   1   12,517   11,926   5 
Operating expenses:
                        
Salaries and employee benefits
  2,059   2,059      4,188   4,119   2 
Purchased transportation
  294   299   (2)  630   579   9 
Rentals and landing fees
  403   417   (3)  820   828   (1)
Depreciation and amortization
  241   234   3   480   464   3 
Fuel
  953   872   9   2,272   1,672   36 
Maintenance and repairs
  381   376   1   775   778    
Intercompany charges
  532   536   (1)  1,065   1,051   1 
Other
  695   713   (3)  1,402   1,385   1 
 
                    
Total operating expenses
  5,558   5,506   1   11,632   10,876   7 
 
                    
Operating income
 $540  $531   2  $885  $1,050   (16)
 
                    
 
Operating margin
  8.9%  8.8% 10  bp  7.1%  8.8% (170) bp
   
(1) International domestic revenues include our international domestic express operations, primarily in the United Kingdom, Canada, China and India.
 
(2) Other revenues includes FedEx Trade Networks.

 

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The following table compares selected statistics (in thousands, except yield amounts) for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30:
                         
  Three Months Ended  Percent  Six Months Ended  Percent 
  2008  2007  Change  2008  2007  Change 
Package Statistics (1)
                        
Average daily package volume (ADV):
                        
U.S. overnight box
  1,086   1,163   (7)  1,094   1,150   (5)
U.S. overnight envelope
  611   677   (10)  621   688   (10)
U.S. deferred
  832   902   (8)  830   883   (6)
 
                    
Total U.S. domestic ADV
  2,529   2,742   (8)  2,545   2,721   (6)
 
                    
IP
  500   535   (7)  497   516   (4)
International domestic (2)
  311   310      309   294   5 
 
                    
Total ADV
  3,340   3,587   (7)  3,351   3,531   (5)
 
                    
 
                        
Revenue per package (yield):
                        
U.S. overnight box
 $23.66  $22.06   7  $23.96  $21.94   9 
U.S. overnight envelope
  12.62   11.27   12   12.84   11.26   14 
U.S. deferred
  14.13   12.84   10   14.25   12.76   12 
U.S. domestic composite
  17.86   16.36   9   18.08   16.26   11 
IP
  61.30   56.63   8   62.93   56.52   11 
International domestic (2)
  8.06   8.90   (9)  8.34   8.75   (5)
Composite package yield
  23.44   21.73   8   23.84   21.52   11 
 
                        
Freight Statistics (1)
                        
Average daily freight pounds:
                        
U.S.
  7,335   8,915   (18)  7,315   8,878   (18)
International priority freight
  2,216   2,279   (3)  2,264   2,150   5 
International airfreight
  1,605   1,827   (12)  1,737   1,789   (3)
 
                    
Total average daily freight pounds
  11,156   13,021   (14)  11,316   12,817   (12)
 
                    
 
                        
Revenue per pound (yield):
                        
U.S.
 $1.29  $1.08   19  $1.28  $1.05   22 
International priority freight
  2.32   2.17   7   2.31   2.19   5 
International airfreight
  1.09   0.83   31   1.10   0.83   33 
Composite freight yield
  1.46   1.23   19   1.46   1.21   21 
   
(1) Package and freight statistics include only the operations of FedEx Express.
 
(2) International domestic statistics include our international domestic express operations, primarily in the United Kingdom, Canada, China and India.

 

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FedEx Express Segment Revenues
FedEx Express segment revenues increased slightly in the second quarter of 2009 and 5% in the first half of 2009 due to yield improvement driven by increases in fuel surcharges. Yield improvements during the second quarter and first half of 2009 were partially offset by decreased volumes in virtually all services due to weak global economic conditions. In addition, one fewer operating day negatively impacted our first half of 2009 results.
Higher fuel surcharges were the primary driver of increased composite package yields during the second quarter and first half of 2009. In addition to higher fuel surcharges, IP yield increased during the second quarter and first half of 2009 due to a higher rate per pound. Unfavorable exchange rates partially offset the IP yield increase in the second quarter of 2009. Lower package weights partially offset the increase in U.S. domestic package yields in both the second quarter and first half of 2009.
The decrease in IP and U.S. domestic package volumes during the second quarter and first half of 2009 was primarily due to the continued weakening of the global economy, which negatively impacted demand for these services. Current global economic conditions drove U.S. domestic express package shipping volumes to pre-1998 levels for both the second quarter and first half of 2009. The decrease in freight volume during the second quarter and first half of 2009 was primarily due to the ongoing weak U.S. economy.
Our fuel surcharges are indexed to the spot price for jet fuel. Using this index, the U.S. domestic and outbound fuel surcharge and the international fuel surcharges ranged as follows for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30:
                 
  Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
  2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
U.S. Domestic and Outbound Fuel Surcharge:
                
Low
  27.00%  14.00%  27.00%  13.50%
High
  34.50   16.50   34.50   16.50 
Weighted-average
  29.95   15.00   30.83   14.34 
 
                
International Fuel Surcharges:
                
Low
  17.00   12.50   17.00   12.00 
High
  34.50   16.50   34.50   16.50 
Weighted-average
  24.18   14.91   24.72   14.47 
On September 18, 2008, we announced a 6.9% average list price increase effective January 5, 2009 on FedEx Express U.S. domestic and U.S. outbound express package and freight shipments and made various changes to other surcharges, while we lowered our fuel surcharge index by 2%. In October 2007, we announced a 6.9% average list price increase effective January 7, 2008 on FedEx Express U.S. domestic and U.S. outbound express package and freight shipments and made various changes to other surcharges, while we lowered our fuel surcharge index by 2%.
FedEx Express Segment Operating Income
The following table compares operating expenses and operating income as a percent of revenue for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30:
                 
  Percent of Revenue  Percent of Revenue 
  Three  Three  Six  Six 
  Months  Months  Months  Months 
  Ended  Ended  Ended  Ended 
  2008  2007  2008  2007 
Operating expenses:
                
Salaries and employee benefits
  33.8%  34.1%  33.5%  34.5%
Purchased transportation
  4.8   5.0   5.0   4.9 
Rentals and landing fees
  6.6   6.9   6.5   7.0 
Depreciation and amortization
  4.0   3.9   3.8   3.9 
Fuel
  15.6   14.4   18.2   14.0 
Maintenance and repairs
  6.2   6.2   6.2   6.5 
Intercompany charges
  8.7   8.9   8.5   8.8 
Other
  11.4   11.8   11.2   11.6 
 
            
Total operating expenses
  91.1   91.2   92.9   91.2 
 
            
Operating income (margin)
  8.9%  8.8%  7.1%  8.8%
 
            
FedEx Express segment operating income and operating margin increased slightly during the second quarter of 2009 because rapidly declining fuel prices throughout the quarter provided a benefit from the timing lag between changes in fuel prices and adjustments to our fuel surcharges. This benefit offset the negative impact of significantly lower shipping volumes during the second quarter of 2009 due to the weak global economy.

 

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FedEx Express segment operating income and operating margin declined in the first half of 2009 primarily as a result of the continued weak global economy and higher fuel prices, which limited demand for our U.S. domestic express and IP package services. Cost containment activities and lower variable incentive compensation partially mitigated the negative impact of these factors on our operating results for the second quarter and first half of 2009. Key cost containment activities during the first half of 2009 included volume-related reductions in flight and labor hours, lower fuel consumption and freezes in hiring for open positions (excluding operational and sales positions). In addition, we continue to exercise stringent control over discretionary spending, such as travel, entertainment and professional fees.
Fuel costs increased 9% in the second quarter of 2009 and 36% in the first half of 2009 due to an increase in the average price per gallon of fuel. However, fuel surcharges significantly exceeded incremental fuel costs for the second quarter and first half of 2009, based on a static analysis of the impact to operating income of the year-over-year changes in fuel prices compared to changes in fuel surcharges. This analysis considers the estimated benefits of the reduction in fuel surcharges included in the base rates charged for FedEx Express services. However, this analysis does not consider the negative effects that the significantly higher fuel surcharge levels have on our business, including reduced demand and shifts to lower-yielding services.
FEDEX GROUND SEGMENT
The following table compares revenues, operating expenses, operating income and operating margin (dollars in millions) and selected package statistics (in thousands, except yield amounts) for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30:
                         
  Three Months Ended  Percent  Six Months Ended  Percent 
  2008  2007  Change  2008  2007  Change 
Revenues
 $1,789  $1,698   5  $3,550  $3,316   7 
Operating expenses:
                        
Salaries and employee benefits
  279   272   3   546   532   3 
Purchased transportation (1)
  745   739   1   1,516   1,391   9 
Rentals
  58   50   16   109   93   17 
Depreciation and amortization
  81   77   5   161   150   7 
Fuel (1)
  3   4  NM   5   6  NM 
Maintenance and repairs
  37   38   (3)  74   72   3 
Intercompany charges
  180   165   9   358   324   10 
Other
  194   180   8   373   385   (3)
 
                    
Total operating expenses
  1,577   1,525   3   3,142   2,953   6 
 
                    
 
Operating income
 $212  $173   23  $408  $363   12 
 
                    
 
                        
Operating margin
  11.9%  10.2%  170 bp  11.5%  10.9%  60 bp
 
                        
Average daily package volume
                        
FedEx Ground
  3,473   3,505   (1)  3,405   3,356   1 
FedEx SmartPost
  777   672   16   680   603   13 
 
                        
Revenue per package (yield)
                        
FedEx Ground
 $7.70  $7.27   6  $7.78  $7.34   6 
FedEx SmartPost
 $2.07  $2.12   (2) $2.10  $2.07   1 
   
(1) We reclassified certain fuel supplement costs related to our independent contractors from fuel expense to purchased transportation expense to conform to the current period presentation.

 

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FedEx Ground Segment Revenues
FedEx Ground segment revenues increased 5% during the second quarter of 2009 and 7% during the first half of 2009 due to yield growth. The impact of one fewer operating day partially offset the revenue increase in the first half of 2009. FedEx Ground average daily volumes declined 1% in the second quarter of 2009, as continued growth in the FedEx Home Delivery service was more than offset by a decline in commercial volume. Average daily volumes at FedEx Ground increased 1% in the first half of 2009, as existing FedEx Express customers’ opting for our lower-cost FedEx Ground offerings offset the negative impact of the weak economy. Average daily volumes at FedEx SmartPost rose in the second quarter of 2009 due to increased market share, as a major competitor (DHL) exited this market during the quarter, enabling growth in the customer base and related volumes. FedEx Ground yield improvement during the second quarter and first half of 2009 was primarily due to higher fuel surcharges, higher net base rates and increased extra service revenue (primarily through our residential and declared value surcharges).
The FedEx Ground fuel surcharge is based on a rounded average of the national U.S. on-highway average prices for a gallon of diesel fuel, as published by the Department of Energy. Our fuel surcharge ranged as follows for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30:
                 
  Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
  2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
Low
  8.25%  4.75%  8.25%  4.50%
High
  10.50   5.00   10.50   5.00 
Weighted-average
  9.36   4.84   9.40   4.67 
On November 14, 2008, we announced a 5.9% average list price increase and made various changes to other surcharges effective January 5, 2009 on FedEx Ground shipments. In November 2007, we announced a 4.9% average list price increase and made various changes to other surcharges effective January 7, 2008 on FedEx Ground shipments.
FedEx Ground Segment Operating Income
The following table compares operating expenses and operating income as a percent of revenue for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30:
                 
  Percent of Revenue  Percent of Revenue 
  Three  Three  Six  Six 
  Months  Months  Months  Months 
  Ended  Ended  Ended  Ended 
  2008  2007  2008  2007 
Operating expenses:
                
Salaries and employee benefits
  15.6%  16.0%  15.4%  16.0%
Purchased transportation
  41.6   43.5   42.7   42.0 
Rentals
  3.2   3.0   3.1   2.8 
Depreciation and amortization
  4.5   4.6   4.5   4.5 
Fuel
  0.2   0.2   0.1   0.2 
Maintenance and repairs
  2.1   2.2   2.1   2.2 
Intercompany charges
  10.1   9.7   10.1   9.8 
Other
  10.8   10.6   10.5   11.6 
 
            
Total operating expenses
  88.1   89.8   88.5   89.1 
 
            
 
                
Operating income (margin)
  11.9%  10.2%  11.5%  10.9%
 
            
FedEx Ground segment operating income and operating margin increased during the second quarter and first half of 2009 primarily due to the timing impact of fuel surcharges. Fuel surcharges substantially offset the impact of fuel costs on our year-over-year operating results for the second quarter and first half of 2009 due to the timing lag that exists between changes in fuel prices and when our indexed fuel surcharges automatically adjust.

 

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Purchased transportation costs increased 1% in the second quarter and 9% in the first half of 2009 as a result of higher rates paid to our independent contractors. The impact of higher fuel costs also contributed to the increase in purchased transportation costs for the first half of 2009. Included in purchased transportation costs in the second quarter and first half of 2008 are costs associated with our independent contractor incentive programs (described below), which were recorded as incurred in the second quarter of 2008. Rent expense increased 16% during the second quarter and 17% during the first half of 2009 primarily due to higher spending on facilities associated with our multi-year capacity expansion plan. Intercompany charges increased 9% in the second quarter of 2009 primarily due to allocated telecommunication expenses (formerly a direct charge) and increased allocated customer service costs. Intercompany charges increased 10% in the first half of 2009 primarily due to higher allocated customer service costs and increased net operating costs at FedEx Office. Other operating expenses increased 8% during the second quarter of 2009 primarily due to higher insurance costs. Other operating expenses decreased 3% in the first half of 2009 primarily due to lower legal costs, including settlements, in the first quarter of 2009.
Independent Contractor Matters
FedEx Ground faces increased regulatory and legal uncertainty with respect to its independent contractors. As part of its operations, FedEx Ground has made changes to its relationships with contractors that, among other things, provide incentives for improved service and enhanced regulatory and other compliance by our contractors. During the second quarter of 2008, FedEx Ground announced an on-going nationwide program, which provides greater incentives to certain of its contractors who choose to grow their businesses by adding routes. Also, during the second quarter of 2008, FedEx Ground offered special incentives to encourage California-based single route contractors to transform their operations into multiple-route businesses or sell their routes to others. As of November 30, 2008, nearly 60% of all service areas nationwide are supported by multiple-route contractors.
FedEx Ground is involved in numerous purported or certified class-action lawsuits, state tax and other administrative proceedings and Internal Revenue Service audits that claim or are examining whether the company’s owner-operators should be treated as employees, rather than independent contractors. For a description of these proceedings, see Note 9 of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
FEDEX FREIGHT SEGMENT
The following table shows revenues, operating expenses, operating income and operating margin (dollars in millions) and selected statistics for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30:
                         
  Three Months Ended  Percent  Six Months Ended  Percent 
  2008  2007  Change  2008  2007  Change 
Revenues
 $1,200  $1,236   (3) $2,553  $2,469   3 
Operating expenses:
                        
Salaries and employee benefits
  592   607   (2)  1,206   1,202    
Purchased transportation
  151   147   3   331   277   19 
Rentals
  35   29   21   68   57   19 
Depreciation and amortization
  53   58   (9)  107   115   (7)
Fuel
  150   141   6   356   271   31 
Maintenance and repairs
  41   45   (9)  84   92   (9)
Intercompany charges
  29   20   45   51   41   24 
Other
  117   110   6   229   230    
 
                    
Total operating expenses
  1,168   1,157   1   2,432   2,285   6 
 
                    
 
                        
Operating income
 $32  $79   (59) $121  $184   (34)
 
                    
 
                        
Operating margin
  2.7%  6.4%  (370 ) bp  4.7%  7.5%  (280) bp
 
                        
Average daily LTL shipments (in thousands)
  80.3   81.9   (2)  81.5   80.6   1 
Weight per LTL shipment (lbs)
  1,122   1,129   (1)  1,131   1,130    
LTL yield (revenue per hundredweight)
 $19.44  $19.56   (1) $19.96  $19.48   2 

 

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FedEx Freight Segment Revenues
FedEx Freight segment revenues decreased 3% during the second quarter of 2009. Average daily LTL shipments decreased sequentially each month throughout the second quarter of 2009 and were slightly below prior-year levels, as market share gains were more than offset by the continued weak U.S. economy. LTL yield decreased slightly during the second quarter of 2009, as higher fuel surcharges were offset by the effects of the competitive pricing environment.
FedEx Freight segment revenues increased 3% during the first half of 2009 due to slightly higher LTL yield and shipment growth, partially offset by one fewer operating day. LTL yield increased slightly during the first half of 2009 primarily due to higher fuel surcharges. During the first half of 2009, average daily LTL shipments increased slightly as market share gains offset the impact of the weak U.S. economy.
The indexed LTL fuel surcharge is based on the average of the national U.S. on-highway average prices for a gallon of diesel fuel, as published by the Department of Energy. The indexed LTL fuel surcharge ranged as follows for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30:
                 
  Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
  2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
Low
  13.10%  14.90%  13.10%  14.50%
High
  20.70   17.30   23.90   19.70 
Weighted-average
  18.00   16.10   20.50   16.60 
On December 5, 2008, we announced 5.7% general rate increases for FedEx Freight and FedEx National LTL shipments effective January 5, 2009.
FedEx Freight Segment Operating Income
The following table compares operating expenses and operating income as a percent of revenue for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30:
                 
  Percent of Revenue  Percent of Revenue 
  Three  Three  Six  Six 
  Months  Months  Months  Months 
  Ended  Ended  Ended  Ended 
  2008  2007  2008  2007 
Operating expenses:
                
Salaries and employee benefits
  49.3%  49.1%  47.2%  48.7%
Purchased transportation
  12.6   11.9   13.0   11.2 
Rentals
  2.9   2.4   2.7   2.3 
Depreciation and amortization
  4.4   4.7   4.2   4.6 
Fuel
  12.5   11.4   13.9   11.0 
Maintenance and repairs
  3.4   3.6   3.3   3.7 
Intercompany charges
  2.4   1.6   2.0   1.7 
Other
  9.8   8.9   9.0   9.3 
 
            
Total operating expenses
  97.3   93.6   95.3   92.5 
 
            
 
                
Operating income (margin)
  2.7%  6.4%  4.7%  7.5%
 
            
FedEx Freight segment operating income and operating margin decreased in the second quarter of 2009 due to the competitive pricing environment and lower average daily LTL shipments. In addition to the competitive pricing environment, higher purchased transportation costs negatively impacted operating income and operating margin for the first half of 2009. Lower variable incentive compensation and continued cost containment initiatives, including the alignment of staffing to current volume levels, partially offset the negative impact of declining volumes and the competitive pricing environment.

 

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Fuel costs increased during the second quarter and first half of 2009 due to a higher average price per gallon of diesel fuel, which also increased rates paid to our third-party transportation providers. Although fuel costs were up 6% in the second quarter of 2009, the average cost per gallon of fuel decreased sequentially each month throughout the second quarter of 2009. Fuel surcharges offset the impact of incremental fuel costs for the second quarter and first half of 2009, based on a static analysis of the year-over-year changes in fuel costs compared to changes in fuel surcharges. However, this analysis does not consider several other negative effects that the significantly higher fuel costs and related surcharge levels have on our business, including increased rates paid to our third-party transportation providers and reduced demand in response to higher fuel surcharges. Purchased transportation costs increased 3% in the second quarter and 19% in the first half of 2009 primarily due to higher rates paid to third-party providers. In addition, a greater utilization of third-party providers contributed to the increase in purchased transportation costs for the first half of 2009. Rent expense increased 21% in the second quarter and 19% in the first half of 2009 primarily due to service center expansions. Intercompany charges increased in the second quarter and first half of 2009 due to allocated telecommunication expenses (formerly a direct charge) and higher allocated information technology costs. Other operating expenses increased primarily due to higher self-insurance costs.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
LIQUIDITY
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $1.542 billion at November 30, 2008, compared to $1.539 billion at May 31, 2008. The following table provides a summary of our cash flows for the six-month periods ended November 30 (in millions):
         
  2008  2007 
 
        
Operating activities:
        
Net income
 $877  $973 
Noncash charges and credits
  1,196   1,101 
Changes in assets and liabilities
  (618)  (810)
 
      
Cash provided by operating activities
  1,455   1,264 
 
      
 
        
Investing activities:
        
Capital expenditures and other
  (1,357)  (1,502)
 
      
Cash used in investing activities
  (1,357)  (1,502)
 
      
 
        
Financing activities:
        
Principal payments on debt
  (1)  (515)
Dividends paid
  (68)  (62)
Proceeds from stock issuances
  8   50 
Other
  1   12 
 
      
Cash used in financing activities
  (60)  (515)
 
      
 
        
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
  (35)  14 
 
      
 
        
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 $3  $(739)
 
      
Cash Provided by Operating Activities. Cash flows from operating activities increased $191 million in the first half of 2009 primarily due to year-over-year reductions in income tax payments, partially offset by higher fuel and purchased transportation costs. We made tax-deductible voluntary contributions of $483 million to our qualified U.S. domestic pension plans during the first half of 2009 and $479 million of such contributions during the first half of 2008. We do not expect to make any additional significant contributions to our qualified U.S. domestic pension plans for the remainder of 2009.

 

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Cash Used for Investing Activities. Capital expenditures during the first half of 2009 were 9% lower largely due to decreased spending at FedEx Services and FedEx Express. See “Capital Resources” for a discussion of capital expenditures during 2009 and 2008.
Cash Used for Financing Activities. We have a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that allows us to sell, in one or more future offerings, any combination of unsecured debt securities and common stock.
A $1 billion revolving credit agreement is available to finance our operations and other cash flow needs and to provide support for the issuance of commercial paper. Our revolving credit agreement contains a financial covenant, which requires us to maintain a leverage ratio of adjusted debt (long-term debt, including the current portion of such debt, plus six times rentals and landing fees) to capital (adjusted debt plus total common stockholders’ investment) that does not exceed 0.7 to 1.0. Our leverage ratio of adjusted debt to capital was 0.5 at November 30, 2008. We are in compliance with this and all other restrictive covenants of our revolving credit agreement and do not expect the covenants to affect our operations. As of November 30, 2008, no commercial paper was outstanding and the entire $1 billion under the revolving credit facility was available for future borrowings.
Dividends. We paid $68 million of dividends in the first half of 2009 and $62 million in the first half of 2008. On November 21, 2008, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.11 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable on January 2, 2009, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 12, 2008. Each quarterly dividend payment is subject to review and approval by our Board of Directors, and we evaluate our dividend payment amount on an annual basis at the end of each fiscal year.
CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our operations are capital intensive, characterized by significant investments in aircraft, vehicles, technology, facilities, package-handling facilities and sort equipment. The amount and timing of capital additions depend on various factors, including pre-existing contractual commitments, anticipated volume growth, domestic and international economic conditions, new or enhanced services, geographical expansion of services, availability of satisfactory financing and actions of regulatory authorities.
The following table compares capital expenditures by asset category and reportable segment for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30 (in millions):
                         
                  Percent Change 
                  2008/2007 
  Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended  Three Months  Six Months 
  2008  2007  2008  2007  Ended  Ended 
Aircraft and related equipment
 $286  $175  $526  $471   63   12 
Facilities and sort equipment
  242   257   395   425   (6)  (7)
Information and technology investments
  73   109   141   189   (33)  (25)
Vehicles
  98   144   231   308   (32)  (25)
Other equipment
  51   62   94   129   (18)  (27)
 
                    
 
                        
Total capital expenditures
 $750  $747  $1,387  $1,522      (9)
 
                    
 
                        
FedEx Express segment
 $421  $367  $754  $824   15   (8)
FedEx Ground segment
  215   155   350   288   39   22 
FedEx Freight segment
  56   106   156   181   (47)  (14)
FedEx Services segment
  58   119   127   229   (51)  (45)
 
                    
 
                        
Total capital expenditures
 $750  $747  $1,387  $1,522      (9)
 
                    

 

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Capital expenditures during the first half of 2009 were lower than the prior-year period primarily due to the postponement of several information technology projects at FedEx Services and decreased spending at FedEx Express for facility expansion. These decreases were partially offset by increased spending at FedEx Ground for land purchases and facilities and sort equipment associated with its comprehensive network expansion plan.
LIQUIDITY OUTLOOK
We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, cash flow from operations, our commercial paper program, revolving bank credit facility and shelf registration statement with the SEC are adequate to meet our current and foreseeable future working capital and capital expenditure needs. In addition, other forms of secured financing may be used to obtain capital assets if we determine that they best suit our needs for the foreseeable future. Historically, we have been successful in obtaining investment capital, both domestic and international, although the marketplace for such capital can become restricted depending on a variety of economic factors.
Global credit markets have recently experienced significant liquidity disruptions, and continued uncertainty in the credit markets has made financing terms for borrowers less attractive and in certain cases has resulted in the unavailability of certain types of debt financing, such as commercial paper. Although these factors may make it difficult or expensive for us to access credit markets, we still have access to credit. We believe we have sufficient liquidity to meet our current needs and are closely managing our capital spending based on current and anticipated volume levels. We will defer or limit capital additions where economically feasible, while continuing to invest strategically in growing service lines. We currently expect to fund our 2009 capital requirements and debt repayment obligations with cash from operations.
Our capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $2.4 billion in 2009 and will include spending for aircraft and related equipment at FedEx Express, facility expansion at FedEx Ground and revenue equipment at FedEx Freight. We also continue to invest in productivity-enhancing technologies. Aircraft-related capital outlays include the B757s, the first of which entered revenue service in 2009 and which are 47% more fuel-efficient per unit than the aircraft type they are replacing, and the new B777Fs, the first of which is expected to enter revenue service in 2010. These aircraft capital expenditures are necessary to achieve significant long-term operating savings and to support projected long-term international volume growth. As of November 30, 2008, we have temporarily grounded a limited number of aircraft due to excess capacity in the current economic environment and may temporarily ground additional aircraft in the future. In addition, in December 2008, we reached an agreement with Boeing to defer the delivery of the B777F aircraft by up to 17 months.
As noted above, during the first half of 2009, we made $483 million in voluntary contributions to our qualified U.S. domestic pension plans (“U.S. Plans”). While our U.S. Plans have ample funds to meet benefit payments and no contributions are legally required, current market conditions have negatively impacted asset values and could significantly impact funding requirements in 2010. Any such requirements will depend upon the funded status of the U.S. plans on May 31, 2009 and the outcome of any funding relief legislation. In any event, a substantial year-over-year increase in our pension expense in 2010 is likely based on current conditions.
We have not repurchased any shares in recent years. However, we currently have the liquidity to repurchase shares and may do so in the future. A total of 5.75 million shares remain under existing share repurchase authorizations.
We have a senior unsecured debt credit rating from Standard & Poor’s of BBB and a commercial paper rating of A-2. Moody’s Investors Service has assigned us a senior unsecured debt credit rating of Baa2 and a commercial paper rating of P-2. Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s characterize our ratings outlook as “stable.” If our credit ratings drop, our interest expense may increase. If our commercial paper ratings drop below current levels, we may have difficulty utilizing the commercial paper market. If our senior unsecured debt ratings drop below investment grade, our access to financing may become limited.

 

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CONTRACTUAL CASH OBLIGATIONS
The following table sets forth a summary of our contractual cash obligations as of November 30, 2008. Certain of these contractual obligations are reflected in our balance sheet, while others are disclosed as future obligations under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Except for the current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations, this table does not include amounts already recorded in our balance sheet as current liabilities at November 30, 2008. Accordingly, this table is not meant to represent a forecast of our total cash expenditures for any of the periods presented.
                             
  Payments Due by Fiscal Year 
  (in millions) 
  2009(1)  2010  2011  2012  2013  Thereafter  Total 
 
                            
Operating activities:
                            
Operating leases
 $1,040  $1,714  $1,541  $1,387  $1,259  $8,399  $15,340 
Non-capital purchase obligations and other
  176   169   106   92   44   134   721 
Interest on long-term debt
  55   79   65   47   20   1,534   1,800 
 
                            
Investing activities:
                            
Aircraft and aircraft-related capital commitments(2)
  678   1,104   770   93         2,645 
Other capital purchase obligations
  60   6               66 
 
                            
Financing activities:
                            
Debt
  500   500   250      300   238   1,788 
Capital lease obligations
  6   97   8   8   119   18   256 
 
                     
 
                            
Total
 $2,515  $3,669  $2,740  $1,627  $1,742  $10,323  $22,616 
 
                     
   
(1) Cash obligations for the remainder of 2009.
   
(2) In December 2008, we reached an agreement with Boeing to defer the delivery of the B777F aircraft by up to 17 months. The revised payment schedule is not reflected in the table above, but will result in the deferral of approximately $275 million of commitments from 2009 to future periods.
We have certain contingent liabilities that are not accrued in our balance sheet in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. These contingent liabilities are not included in the table above. In addition, we have historically made voluntary tax-deductible contributions to our principal U.S. domestic pension plans; however, such amounts have not been legally required and therefore are not reflected in the table above.
We have other long-term liabilities reflected in our balance sheet, including deferred income taxes, qualified and non-qualified pension and postretirement healthcare plan liabilities and other self-insurance accruals. The payment obligations associated with these liabilities are not reflected in the table above due to the absence of scheduled maturities. Therefore, the timing of these payments cannot be determined, except for amounts estimated to be payable within twelve months, which are included in current liabilities.
Operating Activities
The amounts reflected in the table above for operating leases represent future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases (principally aircraft and facilities) with an initial or remaining term in excess of one year at November 30, 2008.
The amounts included for purchase obligations represent noncancelable agreements to purchase goods or services that are not capital related. Such contracts include those for printing and advertising and promotions contracts. Open purchase orders that are cancelable are not considered unconditional purchase obligations for financial reporting purposes and are not included in the table above. See Note 8 of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for more information.

 

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Included in the preceding table within the caption entitled “Non-capital purchase obligations and other” is our estimate of the current portion of the liability for uncertain tax positions under FIN 48. We cannot reasonably estimate the timing of the long-term payments or the amount by which the liability will increase or decrease over time; therefore, the long-term portion of the liability ($66 million) is excluded from the preceding table.
Investing Activities
The amounts reflected in the table above for capital purchase obligations represent noncancelable agreements to purchase capital-related equipment. Such contracts include those for certain purchases of aircraft, aircraft modifications, vehicles, facilities, computers and other equipment contracts. Open purchase orders that are cancelable are not considered unconditional purchase obligations for financial reporting purposes and are not included in the table above. See Note 8 of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for more information.
Financing Activities
The amounts reflected in the table above for long-term debt represent future scheduled payments on our long-term debt. In 2009, we have scheduled debt payments of $506 million, which includes $500 million of principal payments on our 3.5% unsecured notes maturing in April 2009 and payments on capital leases. Capital lease obligations represent principal and interest payments.
Additional information on amounts included within the operating, investing and financing activities captions in the table above can be found in our Annual Report.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make significant judgments and estimates to develop amounts reflected and disclosed in the financial statements. In many cases, there are alternative policies or estimation techniques that could be used. We maintain a thorough process to review the application of our accounting policies and to evaluate the appropriateness of the many estimates that are required to prepare the financial statements of a complex, global corporation. However, even under optimal circumstances, estimates routinely require adjustment based on changing circumstances and new or better information.
Information regarding our critical accounting estimates can be found in our Annual Report, including Note 1 to the financial statements therein. Management has discussed the development and selection of these critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors and with our independent registered public accounting firm.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this report, including (but not limited to) those contained in “Outlook,” “Liquidity,” “Capital Resources,” “Liquidity Outlook,” and “Contractual Cash Obligations,” are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, plans, objectives, future performance and business. Forward-looking statements include those preceded by, followed by or that include the words “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “targets,” “projects,” “intends” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated (expressed or implied) by such forward-looking statements, because of, among other things, potential risks and uncertainties, such as:
 economic conditions in the global markets in which we operate;
 
 the impact of any international conflicts or terrorist activities on the United States and global economies in general, the transportation industry or us in particular, and what effects these events will have on our costs or the demand for our services;
 
 damage to our reputation or loss of brand equity;
 
 disruptions to the Internet or our technology infrastructure, including those impacting our computer systems and Web site, which can adversely affect shipment levels;
 
 the price and availability of jet and vehicle fuel;
 
 the impact of intense competition on our ability to maintain or increase our prices (including our fuel surcharges in response to rising fuel costs) or to maintain or grow our market share;
 
 our ability to manage our cost structure for capital expenditures and operating expenses, and match it to shifting and future customer volume levels;
 
 our ability to effectively operate, integrate, leverage and grow acquired businesses, and to continue to support the value we allocate to these acquired businesses, including their goodwill;
 
 any impacts on our businesses resulting from new domestic or international government laws and regulation, including regulatory actions affecting global aviation rights, increased air cargo and other security requirements, and tax, accounting, trade, labor (such as card check legislation), environmental (such as climate change legislation) or postal rules;
 
 changes in foreign currency exchange rates, especially in the euro, Chinese yuan, Canadian dollar, British pound and Japanese yen, which can affect our sales levels and foreign currency sales prices;
 
 the impact of costs related to (i) challenges to the status of FedEx Ground’s owner-operators as independent contractors, rather than employees, and (ii) any related changes to our relationship with these owner-operators;
 
 any liability resulting from and the costs of defending against class-action litigation, such as wage-and-hour and discrimination and retaliation claims, patent litigation, and any other legal proceedings;
 
 our ability to maintain good relationships with our employees and prevent attempts by labor organizations to organize groups of our employees, which could significantly increase our operating costs and reduce our operational flexibility;
 
 a shortage of qualified labor and our ability to mitigate this shortage through recruiting and retention efforts and productivity gains;
 
 increasing costs, the volatility of costs and legal mandates for employee benefits, especially pension and healthcare benefits;
 
 significant changes in the volumes of shipments transported through our networks, customer demand for our various services or the prices we obtain for our services;

 

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 market acceptance of our new service and growth initiatives;
 
 the impact of technology developments on our operations and on demand for our services;
 
 adverse weather conditions or natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, which can damage our property, disrupt our operations, increase fuel costs and adversely affect shipment levels;
 
 widespread outbreak of an illness or any other communicable disease, or any other public health crisis;
 
 availability of financing on terms acceptable to us and our ability to maintain our current credit ratings, especially given the capital intensity of our operations and the current volatility of credit markets; and
 
 other risks and uncertainties you can find in our press releases and SEC filings, including the risk factors identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition” in our Annual Report, as updated by our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
As a result of these and other factors, no assurance can be given as to our future results and achievements. Accordingly, a forward-looking statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances, and those future events or circumstances may not occur. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
As of November 30, 2008, there had been no material changes in our market risk sensitive instruments and positions since our disclosures in our Annual Report. While we are a global provider of transportation, e-commerce and business services, the substantial majority of our transactions are denominated in U.S. dollars. The distribution of our foreign currency denominated transactions is such that foreign currency declines in some areas of the world are often offset by foreign currency gains in other areas of the world. The principal foreign currency exchange rate risks to which we are exposed are in the euro, Chinese yuan, Canadian dollar, British pound and Japanese yen. Our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations is more significant with respect to our revenues rather than our expenses, as a significant portion of our expenses are denominated in U.S. dollars, such as aircraft and fuel expenses. During the three-month and six-month periods ended November 30, 2008, the U.S. dollar strengthened relative to the currencies of the foreign countries in which we operate; however, this strengthening did not have a material effect on our results of operations. 
While we have market risk for changes in the price of jet and vehicle fuel, this risk is largely mitigated by our fuel surcharges. However, our fuel surcharges for FedEx Express and FedEx Ground have a timing lag of approximately six to eight weeks before they are adjusted for changes in fuel prices. Our fuel surcharge index also allows fuel prices to fluctuate approximately 2% for FedEx Express and approximately 3% for FedEx Ground before an adjustment to the fuel surcharge occurs. Therefore, our operating income may be significantly affected should the spot price of fuel suddenly change by a substantial amount or change by amounts that do not result in an adjustment in our fuel surcharges. Thus, in periods of rising fuel prices, as seen from the second quarter of 2008 through the first quarter of 2009, this lag has a negative impact on our operating income. Conversely, during the second quarter of 2009, rapidly declining fuel prices produced a benefit, as surcharge levels were set prior to the decline in price.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
The management of FedEx, with the participation of our principal executive and financial officers, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed in our filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, including ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to FedEx management, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on such evaluation, our principal executive and financial officers have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of November 30, 2008 (the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).
During our fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2008, no change occurred in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
For a description of all material pending legal proceedings, see Note 9 of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report (under the heading “Risk Factors” in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition”) in response to Part I, Item 1A of Form 10-K.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
For the information called for by this item, see our Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 29, 2008 and filed October 3, 2008.
Item 6. Exhibits
   
Exhibit  
Number Description of Exhibit
 
  
10.1
 Letter Agreement dated October 23, 2008 and Amendment dated October 23, 2008, each amending the Transportation Agreement dated July 31, 2006 between the United States Postal Service and Federal Express Corporation. Confidential treatment has been requested for confidential commercial and financial information, pursuant to Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
  
10.2
 FedEx Corporation’s Amended and Restated Retirement Plan for Outside Directors.
 
  
10.3
 Supplemental Agreement No. 2 dated as of July 14, 2008 to the Boeing 777 Freighter Purchase Agreement dated as of November 7, 2006 between The Boeing Company and Federal Express Corporation.
 
  
10.4
 Supplemental Agreement No. 3 dated as of December 15, 2008 (and related side letters) to the Boeing 777 Freighter Purchase Agreement dated as of November 7, 2006 between The Boeing Company and Federal Express Corporation. Confidential treatment has been requested for confidential commercial and financial information, pursuant to Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
  
12.1
 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
 
  
15.1
 Letter re: Unaudited Interim Financial Statements.
 
  
31.1
 Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
  
31.2
 Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
  
32.1
 Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
  
32.2
 Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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SIGNATURE
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.
     
 FEDEX CORPORATION
 
 
Date: December 19, 2008 /s/ JOHN L. MERINO   
 JOHN L. MERINO  
 CORPORATE VICE PRESIDENT PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING OFFICER  

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX
   
Exhibit  
Number Description of Exhibit
 
  
10.1
 Letter Agreement dated October 23, 2008 and Amendment dated October 23, 2008, each amending the Transportation Agreement dated July 31, 2006 between the United States Postal Service and Federal Express Corporation. Confidential treatment has been requested for confidential commercial and financial information, pursuant to Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
  
10.2
 FedEx Corporation’s Amended and Restated Retirement Plan for Outside Directors.
 
  
10.3
 Supplemental Agreement No. 2 dated as of July 14, 2008 to the Boeing 777 Freighter Purchase Agreement dated as of November 7, 2006 between The Boeing Company and Federal Express Corporation.
 
  
10.4
 Supplemental Agreement No. 3 dated as of December 15, 2008 (and related side letters) to the Boeing 777 Freighter Purchase Agreement dated as of November 7, 2006 between The Boeing Company and Federal Express Corporation. Confidential treatment has been requested for confidential commercial and financial information, pursuant to Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
  
12.1
 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
 
  
15.1
 Letter re: Unaudited Interim Financial Statements.
 
  
31.1
 Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
  
31.2
 Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
  
32.1
 Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
  
32.2
 Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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