UPS 2015 Annual Report Download - page 28

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Increased security requirements could impose substantial costs on us and we could be the target of an attack or have a
security breach.
As a result of concerns about global terrorism and homeland security, governments around the world have adopted or may
adopt stricter security requirements that will result in increased operating costs for businesses in the transportation industry.
These requirements may change periodically as a result of regulatory and legislative requirements and in response to evolving
threats. We cannot determine the effect that these new requirements will have on our cost structure or our operating results, and
these rules or other future security requirements may increase our costs of operations and reduce operating efficiencies.
Regardless of our compliance with security requirements or the steps we take to secure our facilities or fleet, we could be the
target of an attack or security breaches could occur, which could adversely affect our operations or our reputation.
We may be affected by global climate change or by legal, regulatory or market responses to such a potential change.
Concern over climate change, including the impact of global warming, has led to significant federal, state and
international legislative and regulatory efforts to limit greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. For example, in the past several
years, the U.S. Congress has considered various bills that would regulate GHG emissions. While these bills have not yet
received sufficient Congressional support for enactment, some form of federal climate change legislation is possible in the
future. Even in the absence of such legislation, the Environmental Protection Agency, spurred by judicial interpretation of the
Clean Air Act, may regulate GHG emissions, especially aircraft or diesel engine emissions, and this could impose substantial
costs on us. These costs include an increase in the cost of the fuel and other energy we purchase and capital costs associated
with updating or replacing our aircraft or vehicles prematurely. Until the timing, scope and extent of any future regulation
becomes known, we cannot predict its effect on our cost structure or our operating results. It is reasonably possible that such
legislation or regulation could impose material costs on us. Moreover, even without such legislation or regulation, increased
awareness and any adverse publicity in the global marketplace about the GHGs emitted by companies in the airline and
transportation industries could harm our reputation and reduce customer demand for our services, especially our air services.
Strikes, work stoppages and slowdowns by our employees could adversely affect our business, financial position and results
of operations.
A significant number of our employees are employed under a national master agreement and various supplemental
agreements with local unions affiliated with the Teamsters. In addition, our airline pilots, airline mechanics, ground mechanics
and certain other employees are employed under other collective bargaining agreements. Strikes, work stoppages and
slowdowns by our employees could adversely affect our ability to meet our customers' needs, and customers may do more
business with competitors if they believe that such actions or threatened actions may adversely affect our ability to provide
services. We may face a permanent loss of customers if we are unable to provide uninterrupted service, and this could adversely
affect our business, financial position and results of operations. The terms of future collective bargaining agreements also may
affect our competitive position and results of operations.
We are exposed to the effects of changing prices of energy, including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, and interruptions in
supplies of these commodities.
Changing fuel and energy costs may have a significant impact on our operations. We require significant quantities of fuel
for our aircraft and delivery vehicles and are exposed to the risk associated with variations in the market price for petroleum
products, including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. We mitigate our exposure to changing fuel prices through our indexed fuel
surcharges and we may also enter into hedging transactions from time to time. If we are unable to maintain or increase our fuel
surcharges, higher fuel costs could adversely impact our operating results. Even if we are able to offset the cost of fuel with our
surcharges, high fuel surcharges may result in a mix shift from our higher-yielding air products to lower-yielding ground
products or an overall reduction in volume. If fuel prices rise sharply, even if we are successful in increasing our fuel surcharge,
we could experience lag time in implementing the surcharge, which could adversely affect our short-term operating results.
There can be no assurance that our hedging transactions will be effective to protect us from changes in fuel prices. Moreover,
we could experience a disruption in energy supplies, including our supply of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as a result of war,
actions by producers, or other factors beyond our control, which could have an adverse effect on our business.
Changes in exchange rates or interest rates may have an adverse effect on our results.
We conduct business across the globe with a significant portion of our revenue derived from operations outside the United
States. Our operations in international markets are affected by changes in the exchange rates for local currencies, and in
particular the Euro, British Pound Sterling, Canadian Dollar, Chinese Renminbi and Hong Kong Dollar.