Item 1. Business

Overview

United Parcel Service, Inc. ("UPS"), founded in 1907, is the world’s premier package delivery company and a leading provider of global supply chain management solutions. We offer a broad range of industry-leading products and services through our extensive global presence. Our services include transportation and delivery, distribution, contract logistics, ocean freight, airfreight, customs brokerage and insurance.

We operate one of the largest airlines and one of the largest fleets of alternative fuel vehicles under a global UPS brand. We deliver packages each business day for approximately 1.6 million shipping customers to 10.2 million delivery recipients in over 200 countries and territories. In 2023, we delivered an average of 22.3 million packages per day, totaling 5.7 billion packages during the year. Total revenue in 2023 was $91.0 billion.

Strategy

Our well-defined strategy focuses on growing in the parts of our market that value our end-to-end network. We are continuing on the journey to execute our Customer First, People Led, Innovation Driven strategy as we evolve our business to be better and bolder.

Customer First is about anticipating and solving for the needs of our customers. We strive to help our customers seize new opportunities, better compete and succeed by delivering the capabilities that they tell us matter the most: speed and ease.

People Led specifically focuses on how likely an employee is to recommend UPS employment to a friend or family member. We know successful outcomes are built from a strong culture and we believe that when we take care of our people, they take care of our customers.

Innovation Driven is designed to optimize the volume that flows through our network to focus on increasing value share and to drive business growth from higher-yielding opportunities in our target markets. We continue to leverage data and automation to deliver improvements to our network and unlock additional value for our customers through innovation.

Competitive Strengths

Our competitive strengths include:

Global Smart Logistics Network. We believe that our integrated global air and ground network is the most extensive in the industry. We provide all types of package services (air, ground, domestic, international, commercial and residential) through a single pickup and delivery network. Our sophisticated systems, including our RFID-enabled Smart Package, Smart Facility technology, allow us to optimize network efficiency and asset utilization, and enhance end-to-end shipment visibility.

Global Presence. We serve more than 200 countries and territories. We have a significant presence in all of the world’s major economies, allowing us to effectively and efficiently operate around the world.

Cutting-Edge Technologies. We are a global leader in developing technologies that help customers enhance their shipping and logistics business processes to lower costs, improve service and increase efficiency. We offer a variety of digital tools and capabilities that enable customers to integrate UPS functionality into their distribution channels, deepening customer relationships. These tools allow customers to send, manage and track their shipments, and also provide their customers with value-added data.

Broad Portfolio of Services. Our service portfolio allows customers to choose their most appropriate delivery option. Increasingly, our customers benefit from UPS business solutions that integrate our services beyond package delivery. For example, our supply chain services are designed to improve the efficiency and resilience of customers’ entire supply chain management process.

Customer Relationships. We focus on building and maintaining long-term customer relationships. Value-added services beyond package delivery, and connecting our small package, supply chain and digital services across our customer base, are important to customer retention and growth.

Brand Equity. We have built a leading and trusted brand that stands for service quality, reliability and product innovation. Our vehicles and the professional courtesy of our drivers are major contributors to our brand equity.

Distinctive Culture. We believe that the dedication of our employees comes in large part from our purpose-driven culture that fosters trust, partnership and empowerment. We encourage our people to bring their unique perspectives, background, talents and skills to work every day. Our legacy of fairness and equity is the bedrock of our culture and of our relationships with those we serve.

Financial Strength. Our financial strength allows us to continue to pursue strategic opportunities that facilitate our growth. This includes investing in digital technology, acquisitions, transportation equipment, facilities and employee development to generate value for shareholders. We seek to maintain a strong credit rating to give us additional flexibility in running the business.

Products and Services; Reporting Segments

We have two reporting segments: U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. Our remaining businesses are reported as Supply Chain Solutions. U.S. Domestic Package and International Package are together referred to as our global small package operations.

Global Small Package

Our global small package operations provide time-definite delivery services for express letters, documents, packages and palletized freight via air and ground services. These services are supported by numerous shipping, visibility and billing technologies including our Digital Access Program, which embeds our shipping solutions directly into leading e-commerce platforms, enabling us to more broadly reach small- and medium-sized businesses and e-commerce markets.

All of our services are managed through a single, global smart logistics network. We combine all packages within this single network, unless dictated by specific service commitments. This enables us to efficiently pick up customers’ shipments for any services at a scheduled time each day. Our global smart logistics network provides unique operational and capital efficiencies that also have a lesser environmental impact than single service network designs.

We offer same-day pickup of air and ground packages seven days a week. Our global smart logistics network offers approximately 180,000 entry points where customers can tender packages to us at locations and times convenient to them. This includes UPS drivers who can accept packages, UPS drop boxes, UPS Access Point locations, The UPS Store locations, authorized shipping outlets and commercial counters, alliance locations and customer centers attached to UPS facilities.

We offer a portfolio of returns services in more than 140 countries. These services are driven by the continued growth of e-commerce that has increased our customers' need for efficient and reliable returns, and are designed to promote efficiency and a friction-free consumer experience. This portfolio provides a range of cost-effective label and digital returns options and a broad network of consumer drop points. To accelerate growth of this portfolio, in the fourth quarter of 2023 we acquired Happy Returns, a technology-focused company that is managed and reported within Supply Chain Solutions, to provide innovative end-to-end return services and a consolidated returns solution for our enterprise retail customers.

Our global air operations hub is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and is supported by air hubs across the United States ("U.S.") and internationally. We operate international air hubs in Germany, China, Hong Kong, Canada and Florida (for Latin America and the Caribbean). This design enables cost-effective package processing using fewer, larger and more fuel-efficient aircraft.

U.S. Domestic Package

We are a leader in time-definite, guaranteed small package delivery services in the United States. We offer a full spectrum of U.S. domestic air and ground package transportation services. Our U.S. ground fleet serves all business and residential zip codes in the contiguous United States.

• Our air portfolio offers time-definite, same-day, next-day, two-day and three-day delivery alternatives.

• Our ground network enables customers to ship using our day-definite ground service. We deliver approximately 16 million ground packages per day, most within one to three business days.

• UPS SurePost provides residential ground service for customers with non-urgent, lightweight residential shipments. It offers the consistency and reliability of the UPS ground network, with final delivery often provided by the U.S. Postal Service.

International Package

International Package consists of our small package operations in Europe, the Indian sub-continent, Middle East and Africa (together "EMEA"), Canada and Latin America (together "Americas") and Asia. We offer a wide selection of guaranteed day- and time-definite international shipping services, including more guaranteed time-definite express options than any other carrier.

For international package shipments that do not require express services, UPS Worldwide Expedited offers a reliable, deferred, guaranteed day-definite service option. For cross-border ground package delivery, we offer UPS Standard delivery services within Europe, between the U.S. and Canada, and between the U.S. and Mexico. UPS Worldwide Express Freight is a premium international service for urgent, palletized shipments over 150 pounds.

Supply Chain Solutions

Supply Chain Solutions consists of our forwarding, logistics, digital and other businesses. Serving more than 200 countries and territories, we strategically seek to provide integration across increasingly complex, specialized and fragmented supply chains.

Forwarding

We are one of the largest U.S. domestic airfreight carriers and airfreight forwarders globally. We offer a portfolio of guaranteed and non-guaranteed global airfreight services. Additionally, as one of the world’s leading non-vessel operating common carriers, we provide ocean freight full container load, less-than-container load and multimodal transportation services between most major ports around the world.

We are among the world’s largest customs brokers, measured by both the number of shipments processed annually and by the number of dedicated brokerage employees worldwide. In addition to customs clearance services, we provide product classification, trade management, duty drawback and consulting services.

We provide brokerage services that coordinate a fleet of less-than-truckload and truckload vehicles for shipments requiring ground freight transportation in North America and Europe. Access to the UPS fleet, combined with a broad third-party carrier network, enables us to create capacity solutions for customers of all sizes across industries, delivered through a combination of people and technology. Customers can also access UPS services such as airfreight, customs brokerage and global freight forwarding.

Logistics

Our global logistics and distribution business provides value-added fulfillment and transportation management services. We leverage a network of facilities in over 120 countries to seek to ensure products and parts are in the right place at the right time. We operate both multi-client and dedicated facilities across our network, many of which are strategically located near UPS air and ground transportation hubs to support rapid delivery to business and consumer markets. We continue to invest in the automation of our facilities to meet customer demand.

We offer world-class technology, deep expertise and a highly sophisticated suite of healthcare logistics services. With a strategic focus on serving the unique, priority-handling needs of healthcare and life sciences customers, we continue to increase our complex cold-chain logistics capabilities both in the U.S. and internationally. In furtherance of this strategy and to broaden our reach and services, we recently acquired Bomi Group and MNX Global Logistics.

Digital and other Supply Chain Solutions businesses

Our digital businesses leverage technology to enable a range of on-demand services. Roadie offers customers the convenience of same-day delivery, while Happy Returns offers innovative end-to-end return services that leverage The UPS Store network. We also offer integrated supply chain and high-value shipment insurance solutions to both small and large businesses through UPS Capital, as well as a range of services through our other Supply Chain Solutions businesses. We believe these services are important to meeting customers' needs and deepening customer relationships.

Human Capital

Our success is dependent upon our people, working together with a common purpose. As we seek to capture new opportunities and pursue growth, we believe that transforming the UPS employee experience is foundational to our success. This requires a thoughtful balance between the culture we have cultivated over the years and the new perspectives we need to take the business into the future.

We believe that UPS employees are among the most motivated and highest performing in the industry and provide us a competitive advantage. To assist with employee recruitment and retention, we continue to review the competitiveness of our employee value proposition, including benefits and pay, training, talent development and promotion opportunities. For additional information on the importance of our human capital efforts, see "Risk Factors - Business and Operating Risks - Failure to attract or retain qualified employees could materially adversely affect us" and "- Strikes, work stoppages or slowdowns by our employees could materially adversely affect us".

We have approximately 500,000 employees (excluding temporary seasonal employees), of which 414,000 are in the U.S. and 86,000 are located internationally. Our global workforce includes approximately 85,000 management employees (42% of whom are part-time) and 415,000 hourly employees (48% of whom are part-time). More than 70% of our U.S. employees are represented by unions, primarily those employees handling or transporting packages. Many of these employees are employed under a national master agreement and various supplemental agreements with local unions affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters ("Teamsters"). In the third quarter of 2023, the Teamsters fully ratified a new national master agreement that expires July 31, 2028. In addition, approximately 3,300 of our pilots are represented by the Independent Pilots Association ("IPA"). Our agreement with the IPA becomes amendable September 1, 2025.

Oversight and management

We seek to create an inclusive and equitable environment that brings together a broad spectrum of backgrounds, cultures and stakeholders. We believe leveraging diverse perspectives and creating inclusive environments improves our organizational effectiveness, cultivates innovation, and drives growth.

Our board, directly and through the Compensation and Human Capital Committee, is responsible for oversight of human capital matters. Effective oversight is accomplished through a variety of methods and processes including regular updates and discussions around human capital transformation efforts, technology initiatives impacting the workforce, health and safety matters, employee survey results related to culture and other matters, hiring and retention, employee demographics, labor relations and contract negotiations, compensation and benefits, succession planning and employee training initiatives.

In addition, the Compensation and Human Capital Committee charter has been expanded to include oversight responsibility for performance and talent management, diversity, equity and inclusion, work culture and employee development and retention. We believe the board’s oversight of these matters helps identify and mitigate exposure to labor and human capital management risks and is part of the broader framework that guides how we attract, retain and develop a workforce that aligns with our values and strategies.

Additional information on our human capital efforts is contained in our annual sustainability report, which describes our activities that support our commitment to acting responsibly and contributing to society. This report is available under the heading "Social Impact" at www.about.ups.com.

Collective bargaining

We bargain in good faith with the unions that represent our employees. We frequently engage union leaders at the national level and at local chapters throughout the United States. We participate in works councils and associations outside the U.S., which allows us to respond to emerging issues abroad. This work helps our operations to build and maintain productive relationships with our employees. For additional information regarding employees employed under collective bargaining agreements, see note 6 to the audited, consolidated financial statements.

Employee health and safety

We seek to provide industry-leading employee health, safety and wellness programs across our workforce. UPS's Comprehensive Health and Safety Program ("CHSP") is an occupational health and safety system tailored to our varied operational environments.

Our CHSP covers a wide array of roles, from package handling to administration, and spans geographical boundaries to include sorting facilities, mobile logistics, administrative offices, and other locations worldwide. UPS conducts audits to assess specific risks and hazards, including equipment safety, workplace environment, and emergency response protocols. We monitor our safety performance through various measurable targets, including lost time injury frequency and the number of recorded auto accidents.

Customers

Building and maintaining long-term customer relationships through superior service is a competitive strength of UPS. In 2023, we served 1.6 million shipping customers and more than 10.2 million delivery recipients daily. For the year ended December 31, 2023, one customer, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates, represented approximately 11.8% of our consolidated revenues, substantially all of which was within our U.S. Domestic Package segment. For additional information on our customers, see "Risk Factors - Business and Operating Risks - Changes in our relationships with any of our significant customers, including the loss or reduction in business from one or more of them, could have a material adverse effect on us" and note 14 to the audited, consolidated financial statements.

Competition

We offer a broad array of transportation and logistics services and compete with many local, regional, national and international logistics providers as well as national postal services. We believe our strategy, network and competitive strengths position us well to compete in the marketplace. For additional information on our competitive environment, see "Risk Factors - Business and Operating Risks - Our industry is rapidly evolving. We expect to continue to face significant competition, which could materially adversely affect us".

Government Regulation

We are subject to numerous laws and regulations in the countries in which we operate. Continued compliance with increasingly stringent laws, regulations and policies in the U.S. and in the other countries in which we operate may result in materially increased costs, or we could be subject to substantial fines or possible revocation of our authority to conduct our operations.

Air Operations

The U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT"), the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, through the Transportation Security Administration ("TSA"), have primary regulatory authority over our air transportation services.

The DOT’s authority primarily relates to economic aspects of air transportation, such as operating authority, insurance requirements, pricing, non-competitive practices, interlocking relations and cooperative agreements. The DOT also regulates international routes, fares, rates and practices and is authorized to investigate and take action against discriminatory treatment of U.S. air carriers abroad. International operating rights for U.S. airlines are usually subject to bilateral agreements between the U.S. and foreign governments or, in the absence of such agreements, by principles of reciprocity. We are also subject to current and potential aviation, health, customs and immigration regulations imposed by governments in other countries in which we operate, including registration and license requirements and security regulations. We have international route operating rights granted by the DOT and we may apply for additional authorities when those operating rights are available and are required for the efficient operation of our international network. The efficiency and flexibility of our international air transportation network is subject to DOT and foreign government regulations and operating restrictions.

The FAA’s authority primarily relates to operational, technical and safety aspects of air transportation, including certification, aircraft operating procedures, transportation of hazardous materials, record keeping standards and maintenance activities and personnel. In addition, we are subject to non-U.S. government regulation of aviation rights involving non-U.S. jurisdictions and non-U.S. customs regulation.

UPS's aircrew, dispatch and aircraft maintenance certification, training, programs and procedures, including aircraft inspection and repair at periodic intervals, are approved for all aircraft and carrier operations under FAA regulations. The future cost of changes and repairs pursuant to these programs and procedures may fluctuate according to aircraft condition, age and the enactment of additional FAA regulatory requirements.

The TSA regulates various security aspects of air cargo transportation. Our airport and off-airport locations, as well as our personnel, facilities and procedures involved in air cargo transportation must comply with TSA regulations.

We participate in the Civil Reserve Air Fleet ("CRAF") program. Our participation in this program allows the U.S. Department of Defense ("DOD") to requisition specified UPS aircraft for military use during a national defense emergency. The DOD is required to compensate us for any use of aircraft under the CRAF program. In addition, participation in the CRAF program entitles us to bid for other U.S. Government opportunities including small package and airfreight.

Ground Operations

Our ground transportation of packages in the U.S. is subject to regulation by the DOT and its agency, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (the "FMCSA"). Ground transportation also falls under state jurisdiction with respect to the regulation of operations, safety and insurance. Our ground transportation of hazardous materials in the U.S. is subject to regulation by the DOT's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. We also must comply with safety and fitness regulations promulgated by the FMCSA, including those relating to drug and alcohol testing and hours of service for drivers. Ground transportation of packages outside of the U.S. is subject to similar regulatory schemes in the countries in which we transport those packages.

The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 created the U.S. Postal Service as an independent establishment of the executive branch of the federal government, and created the Postal Rate Commission, an independent agency, to recommend postal rates. The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 amended the 1970 Act to give the re-named Postal Regulatory Commission revised oversight authority over many aspects of the U.S. Postal Service, including postal rates, product offerings and service standards. We sometimes participate in proceedings before the Postal Regulatory Commission in an attempt to facilitate compliance with fair competition requirements for competitive services.

Our ground operations are also subject to compliance with various cargo-security and transportation regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including regulation by the TSA in the U.S., and similar regulations issued by foreign governments in other countries.

Customs

We are subject to the customs laws regarding the import and export of shipments in the countries in which we operate, including those related to the filing of documents on behalf of client importers and exporters. Our activities in the U.S., including customs brokerage and freight forwarding, are subject to regulation by the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, the TSA, the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission and the DOT. Our international operations are subject to similar regulatory structures in their respective jurisdictions.

For additional information, see "Risk Factors – Business and Operating Risks – We maintain significant physical operations. Increases in operational security requirements impose substantial costs on us and we could be the target of an attack or have a security breach, which could materially adversely affect us".

Environmental

We are subject to U.S. and international federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations across all of our operations. These laws and regulations cover a variety of matters such as disclosures, operations and processes, including, but not limited to: properly storing, handling and disposing of waste materials; appropriately managing waste water and storm water; monitoring and maintaining the integrity of underground storage tanks; complying with laws regarding clean air, including those governing emissions; protecting against and appropriately responding to spills and releases and communicating the presence of reportable quantities of hazardous materials to local responders. We maintain site- and activity-specific environmental compliance and pollution prevention programs to address our environmental responsibilities and remain compliant. In addition, we maintain numerous programs which seek to minimize waste and prevent pollution within our operations.

Pursuant to the Federal Aviation Act, the FAA - with the assistance of the Environmental Protection Agency - is authorized to establish standards governing aircraft noise. Our aircraft fleet complies with current noise standards of the federal aviation regulations. Our international operations are also subject to noise regulations in certain other countries in which we operate.

For additional information, see "Risk Factors – Regulatory and Legal Risks – Increasingly stringent regulations related to climate change, including reporting obligations, could materially increase our operating costs".

Communications and Data Protection

As we use radio and other communication facilities in our operations, we are subject to the Federal Communications Act of 1934, as amended. In addition, the Federal Communications Commission regulates and licenses our activities pertaining to satellite communications.

We are subject to a variety of evolving laws and regulations in the U.S. and abroad regarding privacy, cybersecurity, data protection and data security, including the European Union General Data Protection Regulation and China's Personal Information Protection Law. There has recently been increased regulatory and enforcement focus on data protection in the U.S. (at both the state and federal level) and in other countries.

For additional information, see "Risk Factors – Business and Operating Risks – A significant cybersecurity incident, or increased data protection regulations, could materially adversely affect us".

Health and Safety

We are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations governing employee health and safety, both in the U.S. and in other countries. Compliance with changing laws and regulations from time to time, including those promulgated by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and state agencies, could result in materially increased operating costs and capital expenditures, and negatively impact our ability to attract and retain employees.

For additional information on governmental regulations and their potential impact on us generally, see "Risk Factors – Regulatory and Legal Risks".

Where You Can Find More Information

We maintain websites for business and customer matters at www.ups.com, and for investor relations matters at www.investors.ups.com. Our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports filed with or furnished to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are made available free of charge on our investor relations website under the heading "Investors - SEC Filings" as soon as reasonably practical after we electronically file or furnish the reports to the SEC.

Our Code of Business Conduct, which applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive and financial officers, our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charters for our Audit, Compensation and Human Capital, Risk, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees are also available on our investor relations website under the heading "Investors – Sustainability – Governance Documents". In the event that we make changes in, or provide waivers from, the provisions of the Code of Business Conduct that the SEC requires us to disclose, we intend to disclose these events within four business days following the date of the amendment or waiver under that heading on our investor relations website.

Our sustainability reporting, which describes our activities that support our commitment to acting responsibly and contributing to society, is available under the heading "Social Impact" at www.about.ups.com.

We provide the addresses to our websites solely for information. We do not intend for any addresses to be active links or to otherwise incorporate the contents of any website into this or any other report we file with the SEC.

Disclosures Required Pursuant to Section 13(r) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

We maintain robust economic sanctions compliance procedures designed to promote compliance with applicable sanctions laws. However, it is possible that from time to time we may inadvertently pick up packages from, or deliver packages to, individuals or entities that result in required disclosure under Section 13(r).

As a component of our compliance procedures, from time to time we undertake additional reviews of historical transactions. Based on our most recent review, from August 2018 to the date of this filing, in addition to previously disclosed deliveries we inadvertently delivered to: Bank Melli – 2 shipments (revenue of $18.84, loss of $3.98); the Embassy of Iran (revenue of $7.81, loss of $0.65); Syrian Airlines (revenue of $7.70, profit of $0.72); Irasco SRL – 2 shipments (revenue of $11.59, loss of $1.08); Stark 1 (revenue of $7.33, profit of $2.02); Fanreach (revenue of $9.74, profit of $2.76); and Wael Bazzi (revenue of $4.74, loss of $2.29). The information provided pursuant to Section 13(r) of the Exchange Act in Item 5 of Part II of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 is incorporated by reference herein.

We do not intend to further pick up from or deliver to these parties, and we intend to continue to implement process improvements designed to better identify and prevent potential shipments to or from restricted parties.

UPS - United Parcel Service Inc

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