Definitive Notice & Proxy Statement
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.      )

 

 

Filed by the Registrant  x    Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ¨

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

¨    Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

¨    Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

x    Definitive Proxy Statement

 

¨    Definitive Additional Materials

 

¨    Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

 

Union Pacific Corporation


(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

x    No fee required.

 

¨    Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

  (1)    Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 
  (2)    Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 
  (3)    Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

 
  (4)    Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 
  (5)    Total fee paid:

 

 
¨    Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

¨    Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

  (1)    Amount Previously Paid:

 

 
  (2)    Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

 
  (3)    Filing Party:

 

 
  (4)    Date Filed:

 

 


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LOGO  

Notice of Annual Meeting

of Shareholders

 

Union Pacific Corporation

1400 Douglas Street

19th Floor

Omaha, NE 68179

 

To the Shareholders:   March 28, 2007

 

The 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the Annual Meeting) of Union Pacific Corporation (the Company) will be held at the Little America Hotel, 500 S. Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah, at 11:00 A.M., Mountain Daylight Time, on Thursday, May 3, 2007, for the following purposes:

 

  (1)   to elect ten directors, each to serve for a term of one year;

 

  (2)   the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for 2007;

 

  (3)   to consider and vote upon two shareholder proposals if presented at the Annual Meeting; and

 

  (4)   to transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

 

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on February 22, 2007, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.

 

Your vote is important and, accordingly, you are urged to vote promptly by telephone, by Internet or by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed envelope whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting in person.

 

Barbara W. Schaefer

Senior Vice President-Human Resources

and Secretary


Table of Contents

2007 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

Information About the Annual Meeting, Voting and Proxies

   1

Date, Time and Place of Meeting

   1

Record Date, Outstanding Shares and Quorum

   1

Voting Rights and Voting of Proxies

   1

Solicitation and Voting of Proxies

   1

Confidential Voting Policy

   2

Revocation of Proxies

   2

Expenses of Solicitation

   2

Board Corporate Governance Matters

   3

Board of Directors Meetings and Committees

   3

Audit Committee

   3

Finance Committee

   4

Compensation and Benefits Committee

   4

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

   5

Consideration of Director Nominees

   6

Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies

   7

Codes of Conduct and Ethics

   11

Communications with the Board

   12

Director Compensation in Fiscal Year 2006

   12

Director Independence

   14

Related Party Matters

   16

PROPOSAL NUMBER 1 Election of Directors

   18

Directors/Nominees

   19

PROPOSAL NUMBER 2 Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   20

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Fees and Services

   21

Audit Committee Report

   21

PROPOSAL NUMBER 3 Majority Voting

   22

PROPOSAL NUMBER 4 Political Contributions

   24

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

   25

Executive Compensation

   27

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

   27

Compensation Committee Report

   41

Summary Compensation Table

   41

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2006

   43

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2006 Fiscal Year-End

   44

Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal Year 2006

   45

Pension Benefits at 2006 Fiscal Year-End

   46

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation at 2006 Fiscal Year-End

   48

Potential Payments Upon Termination, Change in Control or Death or Disability

   51

Other Matters

   54

Shareholder Proposals

   54

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

   55

Delivery of Documents to Shareholders Sharing an Address

   55

Availability of Annual Report on Form 10-K and Proxy Statement

   55

Other Business

   55


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UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION

1400 Douglas Street, 19th Floor

Omaha, NE 68179

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

For Annual Meeting of Shareholders to Be Held on May 3, 2007

 

Information About the Annual Meeting, Voting and Proxies

 

Date, Time and Place of Meeting

 

This Proxy Statement is being furnished to shareholders of Union Pacific Corporation (the Company) in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board) for use in voting at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof (the Annual Meeting). The Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 3, 2007, at 11:00 A.M., Mountain Daylight Time at Little America Hotel, 500 S. Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah. We are initially mailing this Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card to shareholders of the Company on or about March 28, 2007.

 

Record Date, Outstanding Shares and Quorum

 

Only holders of record of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on February 22, 2007 (the Record Date), will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, we had 271,201,460 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. If a majority of the shares outstanding on the Record Date are present at the Annual Meeting, either in person or by proxy, we will have a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Any shares represented by proxies that are marked for, against or to abstain from voting on a proposal will be counted as present in determining whether we have a quorum. If a broker, bank, custodian, nominee or other record holder of the Company’s common stock indicates on a proxy card that it does not have discretionary authority to vote certain shares on a particular matter, the shares held by that record holder (referred to as broker non-votes) will also be counted as present in determining whether we have a quorum, but will not be counted or entitled to vote on that particular matter.

 

Voting Rights and Voting of Proxies

 

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share they held as of the Record Date. Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares of common stock present at the Annual Meeting (either in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote on the election of directors, which means that the ten nominees with the most votes will be elected. However, as described in Proposal Number 1, our By-Laws include a majority vote standard that is triggered if a nominee receives a greater number of votes “withheld” from his or her election than votes “for” his or her election. Approval of Proposal Number 2 (appointment of independent registered public accounting firm) and Proposals Numbers 3 and 4 require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal (either in person or by proxy). In accordance with Utah law, abstentions and broker non-votes are treated as neither a vote “for” nor “against” and, therefore, will not affect the outcome of the vote on the matters presented at the Annual Meeting.

 

Solicitation and Voting of Proxies

 

The proxy included with this Proxy Statement is solicited by the Board for use at the Annual Meeting. You can submit your proxy card by mailing it in the envelope provided. You may also use the toll free telephone number or access the Internet address listed on the proxy card to submit your proxy. Specific directions for using the telephone and Internet voting system are set forth on the

 

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proxy card. If your proxy is properly received, and it is not revoked before the Annual Meeting, your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting according to the instructions indicated on your proxy card. If you sign and return your proxy card but do not give any voting instructions, your shares will be voted in favor of the election of each of the director nominees listed in Proposal Number 1 below and in favor of Proposal Number 2 and voted against Proposal Number 3 and Proposal Number 4. To our knowledge, no other matters will be presented at the Annual Meeting. However, if any other matters of business are properly presented, the proxy holders named on the proxy card are authorized to vote the shares represented by proxies according to their judgment.

 

Confidential Voting Policy

 

The Board adopted a confidential voting policy pursuant to which the Company’s stock transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services, receives shareholder proxies or voting instructions, and officers of Computershare, serving as independent inspectors of election, certify the vote. Proxies and ballots as well as telephone and Internet voting instructions will be kept confidential from the management of the Company, except in certain cases where it is necessary to meet legal requirements, as in a contested proxy solicitation or where a shareholder writes comments on the proxy card. Reports concerning the vote may be made available to the Company, provided such reports do not reveal how any particular shareholder voted.

 

Revocation of Proxies

 

After you submit your proxy you may revoke it at any time before voting takes place at the Annual Meeting. There are three ways you can revoke your proxy: (i) deliver to the Secretary of the Company a written notice, dated later than the proxy you want to revoke, stating that the proxy is revoked; (ii) submit new telephone or Internet instructions or deliver a validly executed later-dated proxy; or (iii) attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person. For this purpose, communications to the Secretary of the Company should be addressed to 1400 Douglas Street, 19th Floor, Omaha, Nebraska 68179, and must be received before the time that the proxy you wish to revoke is voted at the Annual Meeting. Please note that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to revoke a previously given proxy, you must contact that entity. If your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to vote at the Annual Meeting, prior to the Annual Meeting you must obtain from that entity a proxy covering the shares you beneficially own.

 

Expenses of Solicitation

 

The Company will pay the costs of preparing, printing and mailing this Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement, the enclosed proxy card and the Company’s 2006 Annual Report. In addition to the use of the mail, proxies may be solicited by personal interview, telephone and facsimile transmission by the directors, officers and employees of the Company acting without special compensation. We may also make arrangements with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for the forwarding of solicitation material to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons, and the Company may reimburse such custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with such solicitation. In addition, Morrow & Co., Inc., 445 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10022 has been engaged to solicit proxies for the Company. The anticipated fees of Morrow & Co., Inc. are $14,500 plus certain expenses.

 

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Board Corporate Governance Matters

 

Board of Directors Meetings and Committees

 

In accordance with applicable Utah law and the By-Laws of the Company, the business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of its Board. The Board has established certain standing Committees and adopted certain guidelines and policies to assist it in fulfilling its responsibilities as described below.

 

During 2006, the Board met six times. None of the directors attended fewer than 80% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and the Committees on which he or she served. The average attendance of all directors at Board and Committee meetings was 96%. The Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies included in this Proxy Statement beginning on page 7 requires that all directors attend the Annual Meeting. In accordance with this policy, all directors attended last year’s Annual Meeting.

 

The Board has four standing committees—the Audit Committee, Finance Committee, Compensation and Benefits Committee, and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The role of each of the committees is governed by a charter adopted by the Board, copies of which are available on the Company’s website at www.up.com/investors/governance, and a printed copy may be obtained by contacting the Secretary of the Company at the address set forth on the notice page of this Proxy Statement.

 

Audit Committee. The members of the Audit Committee are Mr. Davis, Mrs. Hope, General (Ret.) Krulak, and Mr. McConnell. Mrs. Hope serves as chairperson of the Committee. The Committee met 12 times in 2006 and has scheduled 12 meetings in 2007.

 

The Audit Committee operates under a written charter revised and readopted by the Board on January 30, 2007. In accordance with New York Stock Exchange (the Exchange) and Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) requirements and the Director Independence Standards set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies, the Board has determined that all members of the Committee satisfy the additional independence criteria applicable to audit committee members. The Board also reviewed the experience and training of the members of the Committee and determined that each member is financially literate, and that at least one member has accounting or related financial management expertise. Additionally, the Board determined that both Mr. Davis and Mr. McConnell qualify as “audit committee financial experts” within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the SEC.

 

The Committee meets regularly with the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company, financial management, the internal auditors, the chief safety officer, the chief compliance officer and the general counsel to provide oversight of the financial reporting process, internal control structure, and the Company’s compliance requirements. The independent registered public accounting firm, the internal auditors, and the general counsel have unrestricted access to the Committee and meet regularly with the Committee, without Company management representatives present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their opinions on the adequacy of internal controls and quality of financial reporting, and various legal matters. Furthermore, the Committee meets to review and discuss the Company’s earnings releases, audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, including reviewing the Company’s specific disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

The Committee appoints the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company, reviews the scope of audits as well as the annual audit plan, evaluates the independent registered public accounting firm through assessments of quality control procedures, peer reviews, and results

 

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of inquiries or investigations, and establishes hiring policies with respect to employees and former employees of the independent registered public accounting firm. The Committee reviews the adequacy of disclosures to be included in the annual report to shareholders regarding the Company’s contractual obligations and commercial commitments, including off-balance sheet financing arrangements. The Committee periodically receives from and discusses with management reports on the Company’s programs for assessing and managing financial risk. As part of this process, the Committee reviews with management the status of pending litigation, and regulatory and tax matters. In addition, the Committee reviews performance of safety programs and operations, and the Company’s compliance program and risk assessments. The Committee also oversees the administration of the Company’s Code of Ethics for the CEO and Senior Financial Officers and the Statement of Policy: Ethics and Business Conduct for employees, as well as policies concerning derivatives, environmental management, use of corporate aircraft and officers’ travel and business expenses.

 

The Audit Committee’s charter requires the Committee to approve in advance all audit engagement fees and the terms of all audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. By approving the engagement, which is performed in January of each year, the audit services are deemed to be pre-approved. With respect to non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee has adopted procedures requiring the Chief Accounting Officer, at the time of appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm, to present a budget to account for three categories of non-audit services: (i) audit-related services, (ii) tax services and (iii) other services. The budget will be detailed as to the particular services to be provided to ensure that the Committee will know what services it is being requested to pre-approve in order to facilitate a well-reasoned assessment of the impact of the services on the auditor’s independence. After review and approval of the annual budget by the Committee, no further approval by the Committee is required to undertake the specific projects within the three categories of non-audit services. If the Company determines that it requires any other non-audit services after approval of the budget, either the Committee Chair or the full Committee must pre-approve the additional non-audit services, depending on the anticipated cost of the services. In addition, the Committee Chair must review and approve any projects involving non-audit services that have exceeded budget costs during the year. Any non-audit services pre-approved by the Committee Chair pursuant to delegated authority and any projects involving non-audit services that have exceeded budget costs will be reported to the full Committee at the next regularly scheduled Committee meeting.

 

Finance Committee. The members of the Finance Committee are Mr. Card, Mr. Dunham, Mrs. Hope, General (Ret.) Krulak and Mr. McLarty. Mr. Dunham serves as chairperson of the Committee. The Committee met four times in 2006.

 

The Committee operates under a written charter and is responsible for oversight of the Company’s financial position. The Committee meets regularly with management to review the Company’s capital structure, short- and long-term financing plans and programs, dividend policy and actions, investor relations activities, insurance programs and other related matters. The Committee also reviews the performance of the Company’s internal investment committee that oversees the investment management of assets held by the Company’s pension, thrift and other funded employee benefit programs.

 

Compensation and Benefits Committee. The members of the Compensation and Benefits Committee are Mr. Davis, Mr. Donohue, Mr. McConnell and Mr. Rogel. Mr. Donohue serves as chairperson of the Committee. The Committee met five times in 2006.

 

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The Committee operates under a written charter and has direct responsibility to review and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the Company’s CEO, evaluate the CEO’s performance and, together with other independent directors, determine and approve the CEO’s compensation level based on such evaluation. The Committee has direct responsibility to review and refer to the Board for approval compensation of the Company’s other elected executives and for executives and other employees whose salaries exceed the level specified in the By-Laws. The Committee also has direct responsibility for oversight of the Company’s executive incentive plans and determines the amounts of, and the individuals to whom, awards shall be made thereunder. The Committee refers its determinations with respect to the annual incentive program to the Board for approval. The Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending to the Board all material amendments to the Company’s pension, thrift and employee stock plans. The Committee also oversees the administration of the Company’s general compensation plans and employee benefit plans. In addition, the Committee periodically reviews the Company’s vacation, life insurance and medical and dental benefit plans and the matching gifts program to ensure that these benefit plans remain competitive. The Committee reviews the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” (CD&A) and recommends to the Board that the CD&A be included in the Company’s Proxy Statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

In accordance with its charter, the Committee may form subcommittees for any purpose that the Committee deems appropriate and may delegate to such subcommittees such power and authority as the Committee deems appropriate. No subcommittee can be fewer than two members. The Committee cannot delegate to a subcommittee any power or authority required by law, regulation or listing standards to be exercised by the Committee as a whole.

 

Under its charter, the Committee has the authority to obtain, approve fees for and terminate advisors and consultants as it deems necessary. The Committee, in its discretion, uses outside advisors and experts to assist it in performing its duties and fulfilling its responsibilities. Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (FWC) is an outside compensation consulting firm that reports directly to the Committee. The Committee is solely responsible for the engagement and termination of this relationship. FWC advises the Committee on its compensation philosophy and matters related to CEO and other executive compensation. The Committee annually requests FWC to update compensation and performance data on the peer companies selected by the Committee, as described in the CD&A beginning on page 27 of this Proxy Statement, as well as to provide an assessment of the Committee’s performance. In addition, the Committee periodically requests FWC to make presentations on various topics such as compensation trends and best practices, regulatory changes, long-term incentive components and award mix and stock plan utilization. Under the Committee’s engagement, FWC also advises management on a limited basis to promote consistency and efficiency. The Committee Chair reviews and approves any major projects for which management requests the assistance of FWC. Such projects may include analysis of competitive director compensation data, design and development of new compensation and stock plans, calculation of change-in-control costs and review of materials prior to distribution to the Committee to ensure the materials are consistent with the Committee’s philosophy and policies. The Committee Chair reviews and approves all charges for Committee consulting. A representative of FWC has attended all Committee meetings since its engagement.

 

The role of the CEO and Senior Vice President-Human Resources (SVP-HR) in recommending the forms and amounts of executive compensation is described on pages 36-37 in the CD&A section of this Proxy Statement.

 

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee are Mr. Card, Mr. Donohue, Mr. Dunham and Mr. Rogel. Mr. Rogel serves as chairperson of the committee. The Committee met two times in 2006.

 

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The Committee, which has a leadership role regarding governance, operates under a written charter and assists management concerning matters of succession, and reviews and recommends changes in compensation for the Board. The Committee reviews the qualifications of candidates for director positions in accordance with the criteria approved by the Board and recommends candidates to the Board as director nominees for election at Annual Meetings or to fill such Board vacancies as may occur during the year. The Committee is also responsible for the oversight of the Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies discussed below to ensure Board independence and promote excellence in governance. In addition, the Committee oversees the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for members of the Board, reviews and approves related party transactions, reviews current trends and practices in corporate governance and recommends programs pertinent to the Company for the Board’s adoption. In connection with performing these duties, the Committee periodically reviews the composition and activities of the Board, including, but not limited to, committee memberships, Board evaluation, size, continuing education, retirement policy and stock ownership.

 

The Committee reviews director compensation periodically to ensure that the annual retainer paid to non-management directors is competitive and reflects their duties and responsibilities as Board members. The Committee considers competitive director compensation data of comparable companies provided by FWC when reviewing the appropriateness of annual retainers and Committee fees. In accordance with the Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies, non-management Board members generally are paid an annual retainer valued between the median and seventy-fifth percentile of compensation at comparable companies. A substantial portion of the annual retainer is paid in equivalents of our common stock, which is not payable until after a member’s termination of service from the Board as described on page 12.

 

In accordance with its charter, the Committee may form subcommittees for any purpose that the Committee deems appropriate and may delegate to such subcommittees such power and authority as the Committee deems appropriate. No subcommittee can be fewer than two members. The Committee cannot delegate to a subcommittee any power or authority required by law, regulation or listing standards to be exercised by the Committee as a whole. The Committee has not delegated any of its authority with respect to director compensation.

 

Consideration of Director Nominees

 

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider director candidates suggested by shareholders of the Company. Shareholders desiring to suggest candidates for consideration at the 2008 Annual Meeting should advise the Secretary of the Company in writing during the period beginning on January 4, 2008, and ending on February 3, 2008, and should include the information specified by the nomination procedures set forth in the Company’s By-Laws and any other information that would assist the Committee in evaluating the suggested candidates. The Company’s By-Laws are available on the Company’s website at www.up.com/investors/governance, and a printed copy may be obtained by contacting the Secretary of the Company at the address set forth on the notice page of this Proxy Statement.

 

In addition to evaluating candidates suggested by shareholders of the Company, the Committee will consider and evaluate individuals for service on the Board suggested by directors and other interested parties. The Company from time to time employs a search firm on behalf of the Committee to identify and help evaluate suitable candidates.

 

The Committee ultimately seeks to identify and nominate candidates with diverse talents, backgrounds and perspectives who will enhance and complement the skills and expertise of the Board and satisfy the Board membership criteria included in the Company’s Corporate Governance

 

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Guidelines and Policies. In determining the independence of a candidate, the Committee relies upon the then effective independence standards adopted by the Board. The Committee requires that all candidates:

 

   

exhibit a high degree of integrity and ethics consistent with the values of the Company and the Board;

 

   

have demonstrable and significant professional accomplishments; and

 

   

have effective management and leadership capabilities.

 

The Committee also emphasizes familiarity with the rail transportation industry and the Company’s customers and suppliers when considering candidates. The Committee considers the number of other public boards on which candidates serve when determining whether the individual circumstances of each candidate will allow the candidate sufficient time to effectively serve on the Board and contribute to its function.

 

The Committee meets every January or February to consider the inclusion of nominees in the Company’s Proxy Statement. During this meeting the Committee considers each nominee by:

 

   

reviewing relevant information provided by the nominee in his or her mandatory questionnaire;

 

   

applying the criteria listed above; and

 

   

assessing the performance of the Board and each nominee during the previous year with respect to current members of the Board.

 

The Committee will consider candidates proposed by shareholders under the same standards after ensuring that any such candidate proposals have been made in compliance with the By-Laws of the Company and the applicable SEC rules and regulations governing shareholder nominations.

 

Andrew H. Card, Jr., a current nominee to serve on the Board, has been a member of the Board since July 27, 2006. Thomas F. McLarty III, a current nominee to serve on the Board, has been a member of the Board since November 16, 2006. Messrs. Card and McLarty were both recommended to the Committee by a non-management director. All of the other nominees are current members of the Board and have been nominated by the Committee and elected by the shareholders in prior years.

 

Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies

 

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, with the assistance of counsel, reviews and recommends from time to time changes to the Company’s corporate governance guidelines and policies to meet the Committee’s understanding of best practices and to satisfy SEC requirements and the listing standards of the Exchange. The Board approved the guidelines and policies presented below. The Committee and the Board will continue to assess the appropriateness of these guidelines and policies and implement such changes and adopt such additions as may be necessary or desirable to promote the effective governance of the Company. The Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies are available on the Company’s website at www.up.com/investors/governance, and a printed copy may be obtained by contacting the Secretary of the Company at the address set forth on the notice page of this Proxy Statement.

 

Board Size. The Board’s guideline is to maintain a Board size of 10 to 12 members with no more than two management directors.

 

Director Independence. A majority of the members of the Board will be independent. All members of the Audit, Compensation and Benefits and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees will

 

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be independent. An “independent” director is a director who, as determined by the Board in its business judgment, meets the Exchange definition of “independence” as well as the Director Independence Standards adopted by the Board and set forth in the section titled “Director Independence Standards”. In addition, directors who serve on the Audit Committee must meet additional independence criteria applicable to audit committee members under Exchange listing standards, as described in the section titled “Audit Committee Independence Standard”. Independence is determined annually by the Board based on the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

 

Board Membership Criteria. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for developing and periodically reviewing the appropriate skills and characteristics required of Board members in the context of the current make-up of the Board. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee develops and recommends membership criteria to the Board. Such criteria include business and management experience, familiarity with the business, customers and suppliers of the Company, diverse talents, backgrounds and perspectives and relevant regulatory and stock exchange membership requirements for the Board and its committees.

 

Selection of Director Nominee Candidates. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for recommending to the Board the selection of director nominee candidates.

 

Change in Principal Occupation. Upon a director’s retirement, resignation or other significant change in professional duties and responsibilities, the director shall submit his or her resignation from the Board to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee for its consideration and recommendation as to acceptance.

 

Service on Outside Boards. When the CEO or another senior officer of the Company is invited to serve on outside boards of directors, the CEO or officer must present the issue to the Board for review and approval. Directors must notify the Board prior to accepting a position on the board of another company. No member of the Audit Committee may serve on the audit committees of more than three public companies.

 

Director Attendance at Annual Shareholder Meetings. It shall be the policy of this Company that all directors shall attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

Director Attendance at Board Meetings. Directors are expected to attend in person all regularly scheduled Board and committee meetings and to participate telephonically when they are unable to attend in person.

 

Number of Committees. The current standing committees are the Audit Committee, Finance Committee, Compensation and Benefits Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The Board has the authority to create additional committees.

 

Board Meeting Agendas. The directors and management of the Company may originate action items relating to the business and affairs of the Company for the Board agenda and the scheduling of reports on aspects of parent or subsidiary operations.

 

Board Committee Meeting Agendas. The departments of the Company that administer the area of responsibility charged to each committee may submit items for inclusion on committee agendas, and committee members may suggest topics for inclusion or request additional information with respect to any program previously reviewed by the committee.

 

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Distribution of Board Materials. Information and materials for Board consideration are generally distributed to directors at least five days in advance of the meeting, with additional time provided when the complexity of an issue demands, unless an issue for Board consideration arises without sufficient time to complete distribution of materials within this time frame.

 

Board Presentations. The Board encourages broad management participation in Board presentations and the involvement of those managers who are directly responsible for the recommendations or other matters before the Board.

 

Executive Sessions of Non-Management Directors. Regularly scheduled sessions of non-management directors are held at every meeting of the Board, and the presiding director for each session is rotated in alphabetical order, except the January executive session is led by the Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

 

Parties wishing to communicate with the non-management directors may do so by writing to Presiding Director, Union Pacific Corporation, 1400 Douglas Street, 19 th Floor, Omaha, NE 68179.

 

Director Access to Management and Independent Advisors. The Company provides each director with access to the management of the Company. The Board and committees, as set forth in the applicable committee charter, have the right to consult and retain independent counsel and other advisors at the expense of the Company.

 

Board Member Compensation. Non-management Board members generally are paid an annual retainer valued between the median and seventy-fifth percentile of compensation at comparable companies, and the retainer is reviewed periodically by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. A substantial portion of the annual retainer will be paid in Common Stock equivalents, which will not be payable until after termination of service from the Board.

 

Board Member Equity Ownership. Board members must own equity in the Company equal to at least three times the value of the annual retainer, with such ownership goal to be reached within five years of joining the Board, unless special circumstances of a member as determined by the Board delay the achievement of the ownership goal.

 

Director Orientation and Continuing Education. Upon election to the Board, new members are provided with a comprehensive set of materials on the operations, finances, governance and business plan of the Company, visit at least two major facilities during the first year of service and meet informally with as many members of senior management as practical. The Board encourages directors to periodically attend appropriate programs and sessions and obtain and review appropriate materials to assist them in performing their Board responsibilities. The Company will recommend programs and sessions to directors and will pay any fees and expenses associated with attendance.

 

During 2006, the Vice President-Law and Chief Compliance Officer conducted compliance training for the Board as required by the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. The Company provided an educational program for the entire Board at the September 2005 meeting with a presentation by Ms. Linda J. Morgan, former Chair of the Surface Transportation Board, who discussed in detail the economic rail regulatory framework administered by the Surface Transportation Board. Also, Mrs. Judith Richards Hope, Chair of the Audit Committee, attended the Outstanding Directors Exchange, a forum for and by directors designed to explore the best practices of directors, coupled with case studies and insightful analysis from Columbia Business School’s faculty. The Company in the past has provided financial and legal presentations by educators from Washington University in St. Louis and audit committee best practice guidance by Deloitte & Touche.

 

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Evaluation of the Chairman and CEO. The performance of the Chairman and CEO is evaluated annually. A questionnaire and business objectives summary is distributed to all non-management directors prior to the January Board meeting for purposes of evaluating the Chairman and CEO. The questionnaire, not a recorded item, provides each director the opportunity to assess individual elements of performance in major categories such as leadership, strategic planning, financial performance, operations, human resources, external relations and communications, and Board relations. The questionnaire and business objectives summary serve as the basis for a discussion, led by the Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, during an executive session, of Company and Chairman and CEO performance for the year. The Compensation and Benefits Committee then meets following the executive session to determine bonuses, if any, to be awarded to the Chairman and CEO and management of the Company. The Chairs of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and the Compensation and Benefits Committee then review with the Chairman and CEO his performance and any recommended areas for improvement.

 

Succession Planning. The CEO reports periodically to an executive session of the Board on succession planning, including an assessment of senior managers and their potential to succeed him or her. The CEO will also make available, on a continuing basis, the CEO’s recommendation concerning who should assume the CEO’s role in the event the CEO becomes unable or unwilling to perform his or her duties.

 

Evaluation of Board and Committee Performance. The Board and its committees, to the extent required by their respective charters, conduct self-evaluations annually to assess their performance. The Board and committee evaluation process involves the distribution of a self-assessment questionnaire to all Board and committee members that invites written comments on all aspects of the Board and each committee’s process. The evaluations are then summarized and serve as the basis for a discussion of Board and committee performance and any recommended improvements.

 

Evaluation of Director Performance. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee assesses the contributions and independence of current directors in connection with their renomination to stand for election to the Board.

 

Strategic Planning Review. Management presents an annual strategic plan to the Board for its review and assessment, and the Board will make such recommendations to management regarding the strategic plan as it deems necessary.

 

Confidential Voting. It is the Board’s policy that all stockholder proxies, consents, ballots and voting materials that identify the votes of specific shareholders be kept confidential from the Company with access to proxies, consents, ballots and other stockholder voting records to be limited to inspectors of election who are not employees of the Company, except as may be required by law or to assist in the pursuit or defense of claims or judicial actions or in the event of a contested proxy solicitation.

 

Future Severance Agreements. The Company shall not enter into a future severance agreement with a senior executive that provides for benefits in an amount generally exceeding 2.99 times salary plus bonus unless such agreement is approved by a vote of the Company’s shareholders. The full text of the policy may be found on the Company’s website at www.up.com/investors/governance/severance.pdf.

 

Safety of Railroad Operations. Management presents an annual strategic safety plan to the Board for its review and assessment, and the Board will make such recommendations to management regarding the strategic plan as it deems necessary.

 

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Reporting to the Board of Directors. The Board will receive reporting on at least an annual basis by (1) the Chief Compliance Officer with respect to the Company’s implementation of its compliance program; (2) the Chief Safety Officer with respect to the safety performance of the Company’s railroad operations, including applicable safety metrics and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regulatory developments and compliance, including the outcome of claims conferences held with the FRA; and (3) the General Counsel with respect to pending litigation involving railroad operations.

 

Director Resignation Policy. Any nominee for director in an uncontested election who receives a greater number of votes “withheld” from his or her election than votes “for” his or her election (a “Majority Withheld Vote”) shall immediately tender his or her resignation following certification of such shareholder vote. For this purpose, an “uncontested election” shall mean that, on the record date for the meeting at which directors are to be elected, the number of nominees does not exceed the number of directors to be elected. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee shall promptly consider the director’s resignation offer and make a recommendation to the Board. If a majority of the directors serving on the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee received a Majority Withheld Vote at the same election, then the independent directors who did not receive a Majority Withheld Vote shall appoint a committee amongst themselves to consider the resignation offers and recommend to the Board whether to accept them. The Board shall act on the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (or comparable committee appointed by the Board) within 90 days following certification of the shareholder vote. Absent a compelling reason for the director to remain on the Board or the Board’s determination that it is in the best interests of the Company for the individual to continue to serve as a director, and public disclosure of that reason, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee shall recommend that the Board accept the director’s resignation offer and the Board shall accept such offer. In considering whether it is in the best interest for an individual to continue to serve as a director, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and Board shall be entitled to consider all factors believed relevant by such Committee’s and the Board’s members, including any stated reasons for shareholders’ “withheld” votes, whether the underlying concerns of the “withheld” votes are curable, the factors, if any, set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies or other policies that are to be considered by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee in evaluating potential candidates for the Board, the length of service of such director, and such director’s contributions to the Company. Thereafter, the Board will promptly disclose its decision-making process and decision regarding whether to accept the director’s resignation offer (or the reason(s) for rejecting the resignation offer, if applicable) in a Form 8-K furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any director who tenders his or her resignation as the result of a Majority Withheld Vote shall recuse himself or herself from the related decision-making processes of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board. However, if the only directors who did not receive a Majority Withheld Vote in the same election constitute three or fewer directors, all directors may participate in the action regarding whether to accept the resignation offers. If the Board accepts a director’s resignation as the result of a Majority Withheld Vote, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee shall recommend to the Board whether to fill such vacancy or reduce the size of the Board.

 

Codes of Conduct and Ethics

 

The Board has adopted the Union Pacific Corporation Code of Ethics for the CEO and Senior Financial Officers (the Code), the Statement of Policy: Ethics and Business Conduct for employees and the Union Pacific Corporation Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Members of the Board of Directors. These codes of conduct are posted on our website at www.up.com/investors/governance, and printed copies are available to any shareholder upon request from the Secretary of the Company at the address set forth on the notice page of this Proxy Statement. To the extent permitted by SEC rules and the Exchange listing standards, we intend to disclose future amendments to, or waivers from, certain provisions of the Code on our website.

 

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Communications with the Board

 

Interested parties wishing to communicate about the Company to the Board may do so by U.S. mail c/o the Secretary, Union Pacific Corporation, 1400 Douglas Street, 19 th Floor, Omaha, NE 68179. Communications intended for a specific director or directors (e.g., the Presiding Director or the non-management directors) should be addressed to their attention and sent, by U.S. mail, to the address above. The Board has appointed and authorized the Secretary of the Company to process communications received through these procedures and forward such communications to directors. All communications from shareholders are forwarded directly to the appropriate Board members. If a communication is illegal, unduly hostile or threatening, or similarly inappropriate, the Secretary of the Company has the authority to disregard or take appropriate legal action regarding the communication.

 

Director Compensation in Fiscal Year 2006

 

Non-Employee Directors’ Fees

 

Directors who are not employees receive an annual retainer of $120,000, plus expenses. Directors are required to invest $45,000 of the retainer in the Stock Unit Account referred to below. In addition, Chairs of Board Committees receive annual retainers of $15,000 each, and Audit Committee members receive an additional $10,000 each, reflecting the expanded role, responsibilities and activities of public company audit committees. Directors who are employees receive no retainers.

 

Stock Unit Grant and Deferred Compensation Plan for the Board of Directors

 

Under our Stock Unit Grant and Deferred Compensation Plan for non-employee directors, a director may elect by December 31 of any year to defer all or a portion of any compensation for service as a director in the ensuing year or years, excluding reimbursement for expenses. Such deferred amounts may be invested, at the option of the director, in either (i) a Fixed Rate Fund administered by us, (ii) a Stock Unit Account administered by us, or (iii) various accounts administered by The Vanguard Group. These accounts are unfunded, unsecured obligations of the Company. The Company Fixed Rate Fund bears interest based on Bond Yield Average values that correspond to the Company’s borrowing rate at the latest year-end (6.623% for 2006). The Stock Unit Account fluctuates in value based on changes in the price of our common stock, and equivalents to cash dividends paid on the common stock are deemed to be reinvested in the Stock Unit Account. The Vanguard Accounts experience earnings and value fluctuations as determined by Vanguard’s investment experiences. Payment of such deferred amounts begins, for amounts in the Stock Unit Account, in January of the year following termination of service as a director (or of a year selected by the director but no earlier than such termination). For amounts in the Fixed Rate Fund or Vanguard Accounts, the director may elect payment either at termination of service (or in a year selected by the director but no earlier than such termination) or in the January following retirement from the director’s primary occupation. Deferred amounts may be paid, at the election of the director, in either a lump sum or in up to 15 equal annual installments.

 

2000 Directors Stock Plan

 

Under the 2000 Directors Stock Plan (the 2000 Plan) adopted by the shareholders on April 21, 2000, each non-employee director is granted annually on the date of the first Board of Directors meeting of a calendar year an option to purchase shares of our common stock. The exercise price for each option granted is the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant, and the number of shares granted is determined by dividing 60,000 by 1/3 of the fair market value on such date. Fair market value is determined by averaging the high and low trading prices of our common stock on the fixed annual grant date described above. The options become exercisable after one year and the maximum term of these stock options is 10 years. Each of the non-employee directors on January 26, 2006, was granted an option to purchase 2,100 shares at an option price of $86.05 per

 

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share. This option grant is reflected in the Options Awards column of the Non-Employee Director Compensation Table below. On January 30, 2007, the Board amended the 2000 Plan to change the definition of fair market value to mean the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant on a prospective basis. The Board made this change to align our practice with the stated preference of the SEC.

 

The 2000 Plan also provides that each non-employee director, upon election to the Board of Directors, will receive a grant of 1,000 restricted shares of our common stock or restricted share units, such units to represent the right to receive our common stock in the future. The stock awards shown in the Non-Employee Director Compensation Table below for General Krulak and Messrs. Card and McLarty are examples of this grant under the 2000 Plan. The restricted shares or share units vest on the date a director ceases to be a director by reason of death, disability or retirement, as defined in the 2000 Plan. During the restricted period, the director has the right to vote such shares and receive dividends or dividend equivalents on such shares or units, but may not transfer or encumber such shares or units and will forfeit such shares or units unless he or she remains a director during the restricted period.

 

Frozen Pension Plan Covering Certain Directors

 

In January 1996, the Board terminated, with respect to newly elected directors subsequent to that date, a pension plan that was maintained for directors. Each non-employee director elected to the Board prior to January 1996 participates in the pension plan, which provides an annual pension benefit of $36,000 upon retirement from the Board of Directors with at least five years of service and attainment of age 65. Mrs. Hope is the only current director eligible to receive pension benefits upon retirement.

 

Non-Employee Director Compensation in Fiscal Year 2006

 

The following table provides a summary of compensation of our non-employee directors for 2006.

 

Name


  

Fees
Earned

or Paid in
Cash


  

Stock
Awards

(c)(e)


  

Option
Awards

(c)(e)


  

All Other
Compensation

(f)


    Total

Current Directors

                                   

Andrew H. Card, Jr. (a)

   $ 50,000    $ 83,840      0      0     $ 133,840

Erroll B. Davis, Jr.

     126,667      0    $ 56,253    $ 1,160       184,080

Thomas J. Donohue

     135,000      0      56,253      1,160       192,413

Archie W. Dunham

     135,000      0      56,253      1,160       192,413

Judith Richards Hope

     145,000      0      56,253      9,543  (d)     210,796

Charles C. Krulak (a)

     126,667      86,050      53,657      0       266,374

Michael W. McConnell

     130,000      0      56,253      1,160       187,413

Thomas F. McLarty III (a)

     20,000      91,710      0      0       111,710

Steven R. Rogel

     135,000      0      56,253      1,160       192,413

Former Directors (b)

                                   

Phillip F. Anschutz

     56,250      0      60,369      1,160       117,779

Spencer F. Eccles

     54,167      0      60,369      1,160       115,696

Ernesto Zedillo

     54,167      0      60,369      1,160       115,696

(a)   General Krulak was elected to the Board on January 26, 2006, Mr. Card was elected to the Board on July 27, 2006, and Mr. McLarty was elected to the Board on November 16, 2006.
(b)   These directors ceased serving as a member of the Board on May 4, 2006.

 

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(c)   Amounts reported reflect the compensation cost of Stock Awards and Option Awards calculated under applicable accounting standards for the 2006 fiscal year. Option Awards include stock options granted in prior years. Refer to Footnote (a) to the Summary Compensation Table on page 41 for the assumptions made in calculating the compensation cost of stock options. The following table provides the outstanding equity awards at fiscal year-end for all current non-employee directors. The number of shares in the Vesting Upon Termination column represents the shares granted to each director upon election to the Board and held until his or her service as a member of the Board ends.

 

Name


   Number of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised Options


   Number of Shares
Vesting Upon
Termination


   Number of Units
Deferred


Andrew H. Card, Jr.

   0    1,000    207

Erroll B. Davis, Jr.

   5,150    1,000    1,574

Thomas J. Donohue

   17,650    1,785    7,443

Archie W. Dunham

   17,650    1,000    4,151

Judith Richards Hope

   17,650    1,785    6,854

Charles C. Krulak

   2,100    1,000    492

Michael W. McConnell

   7,900    1,000    2,369

Thomas F. McLarty III

   0    1,000    80

Steven R. Rogel

   17,650    1,000    3,954

 

(d)   Directors elected to the Board prior to April 21, 2000, are eligible to participate in a contributory health care plan that we sponsored. Medical and dental benefits are paid only after payment of benefits under any other group plan in which a director participates. The amount paid in 2006 for Mrs. Hope’s participation in the health care plan was $8,623 and reduced by an annual medical premium payment of $240 (deducted from her annual retainer). Medical coverage for directors elected after April 21, 2000. was terminated upon adoption of the 2000 Directors Stock Plan by the shareholders on April 21, 2000.
(e)   The grant date fair value of option awards granted in 2006 as calculated under applicable accounting standards is $57,772 for all directors, with the exception of Messrs. Card and McLarty who did not receive a stock option grant in 2006. The grant date fair value of stock awards granted in 2006 to General Krulak and Messrs. Card and McLarty as calculated under applicable accounting standards is equal to the compensation cost for the fiscal year as reported in the Stock Awards column.
(f)   The $1,160 represents the amount paid in 2006 for each non-employee director for excess liability insurance premiums.

 

Director Independence

 

To assist it in making determinations of a director’s independence, the Board has adopted the independence standards set forth below. The Board has affirmatively determined that each of Mrs. Hope, Messrs. Card, Davis, Donohue, Dunham, McConnell, McLarty, Rogel, and General (Ret.) Krulak has no material relationship with the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company) and is independent within the meaning of the applicable listing standards of the Exchange and the Director Independence Standards adopted by the Board. Additionally, all Board Committees are comprised entirely of independent directors and all members of the Audit Committee meet the additional independence standards applicable to audit committee members as set forth below.

 

Three of the Company’s current directors, who are also director nominees, have certain relationships with the Company that the Board considered when assessing the independence of each

 

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director nominee. The Board reviewed the information below with respect to Mr. Donohue, Mr. McConnell, and Mr. Rogel.

 

Mr. Donohue. In 2006, the Company made its annual $100,000 contribution to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Leadership Fund. The Company also made a one-time contribution of $100,000 to the Chamber to promote a nationwide voter education program. Mr. Donohue is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber. The Company made its annual $100,000 contribution to the Chamber’s Leadership Fund in 2004 and 2005.

 

Mr. McConnell. For many years, the Company has maintained two demand deposit, non-interest bearing bank accounts with Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. totaling $1.5 million. No actual fees are paid to Brown Brothers. Mr. McConnell is the Managing Partner of Brown Brothers. In December 2006, the Company closed these bank accounts.

 

Mr. Rogel. Weyerhaeuser Company paid Union Pacific Railroad Company (the Railroad) approximately $155 million for transportation services during 2006. These shipping costs were 0.71% of Weyerhaeuser’s consolidated gross revenues of approximately $21.9 billion for 2006. Mr. Rogel is the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Weyerhaeuser Company. In 2005, Weyerhaeuser paid the Railroad approximately $146 million for transportation services, which represented 0.66% of Weyerhaeuser’s consolidated gross revenues for 2005. In 2004, Weyerhaeuser paid the Railroad approximately $123 million for transportation services which represented 0.56% of Weyerhaeuser’s consolidated gross revenues for 2004.

 

The Board determined that these specific relationships do not affect the independence of these director nominees. The Board concluded that the Company’s $200,000 contribution to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as well as Brown Brothers’ services as a bank depositary do not confer any personal benefit on Mr. Donohue or Mr. McConnell, respectively, and do not affect their independence. For Mr. Rogel, the Board noted that the amounts paid to the Railroad by Weyerhaeuser for transportation services were less than 2% of Weyerhaeuser’s consolidated gross revenues in 2004, 2005 and 2006 and did not violate the director independence standards set forth below.

 

Director Independence Standards

 

An “independent” director is a director whom the Board has affirmatively determined has no material relationship with the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company. Accordingly, a director is also not independent if:

 

(1)   the director is, or within the last three years has been, an employee of the Company or an immediate family member of the director is, or within the last three years has been, an executive officer of the Company;

 

(2)   the director (a) or an immediate family member is a current partner of a firm that is the Company’s internal or external auditor; (b) is a current employee of such a firm; (c) has an immediate family member who is a current employee of such firm and participates in the firm’s audit, assurance or tax compliance (but not tax planning) practice; or (d) or an immediate family member was within the last three years (but is no longer) a partner or employee of such a firm and personally worked on the Company’s audit within that time;

 

(3)   the director, or a member of the director’s immediate family, is, or within the last three years has been, an executive officer of another company where any of the Company’s present executives at the same time serves or served on that company’s compensation committee;

 

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(4)   the director, or a member of the director’s immediate family, received or has received during any 12 month period within the last three years any direct compensation from the Company in excess of $100,000, other than compensation for Board service and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service with the Company, and compensation received by the director’s immediate family member for service as a non-executive employee of the Company;

 

(5)   the director (a) is a current employee of a company that has made payments to or received payments from the Company, or during any of the last three years has made payments to or received payments from the Company, for property or services in an amount that, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeded the greater of $1 million or 2% of the other company’s consolidated gross revenues; or (b) is a partner, principal or member of, or is employed in a professional capacity by, any professional services firm that received payments from the Company, or during any of the last three fiscal years has received payments from the Company, for such services in an amount that, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeded the greater of $1 million or 2% of the professional service firm’s consolidated gross revenues;

 

(6)   a member of the director’s immediate family: (a) is a current executive officer of another company that has made payments to or received payments from the Company, or during any of the last three fiscal years has made payments to or received payments from the Company, for property or services in an amount that, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeded the greater of $1 million or 2% of the other company’s consolidated gross revenues; or (b) is a partner, principal or member of, or is employed in a professional capacity by, any professional services firm that receives payments from the Company; and

 

(7)   the director is an executive officer, director or trustee of a non-profit organization to which the Company or Union Pacific Foundation makes, or within the last three years has made, payments that, in any single fiscal year, exceeded the greater of $1 million or 2% of the non-profit organization’s consolidated gross revenues (amounts that the Company or Union Pacific Foundation contribute under matching gifts programs are not included in the payments calculated for purposes of this standard).

 

For purposes of these standards, an “immediate family” member includes a director’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother and father-in-law, sons and daughters-in-law, brothers and sisters-in-law, and anyone (other than a domestic employee) who shares the director’s home.

 

Audit Committee Independence Standard

 

In addition to the Board’s Director Independence Standards above, a director is not considered independent for purposes of serving on the Audit Committee, and may not serve on the Audit Committee, if the director: (a) accepts, directly or indirectly, from the Company or any of its subsidiaries, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee, other than Board and committee fees and fixed amounts of compensation under a retirement plan (including deferred compensation) for prior service with the Company; or (b) is an “affiliated person” of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; each as determined in accordance with SEC regulations.

 

Related Party Matters

 

Policy and Procedures with Respect to Related Party Transactions

 

The Board reviews related party transactions involving directors and director nominees annually in conjunction with its director independence determinations and preparation of the annual Proxy Statement. Executive officers are required to report any transactions with the Company under the Statement of Policy: Ethics and Business Conduct that covers all the Company’s employees. Under this policy, the Audit Committee reviews any transaction reported by executive officers.

 

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In February 2007, the Board formalized the Company’s policy and procedures for reviewing related party transactions by approving the Union Pacific Corporation Related Party Transaction Policies and Procedures. Under the newly adopted policy, all transactions with related parties are subject to approval or ratification by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Transactions subject to Committee review and approval include any transaction in which (i) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year, (ii) the Company is a participant and (iii) any related party will have a direct or indirect interest (other than solely as a result of being a director or a less than 10% beneficial owner of another entity).

 

“Related party” is defined under the policy as any (i) person who is or was an executive officer or director of the Company or nominee for election as a director, (ii) greater than 5% beneficial owner of the Company’s common stock or (iii) immediate family member of any of the foregoing. “Immediate family” member includes a person’s spouse, parents, stepparents, children, stepchildren, siblings, mothers-and fathers-in-law, sons-and daughters-in-law, and brothers-and sisters-in-law and anyone residing in such person’s home (other than a tenant or employee).

 

If advance Committee approval of a transaction is not feasible, then the transaction will be considered and, if the Committee determines it to be appropriate, ratified at the Committee’s next regularly scheduled meeting. In determining whether to approve or ratify a transaction, the Committee will consider, among other factors it deems appropriate, whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction.

 

Under the policy, the Committee has pre-approved certain transactions, even if the aggregate amount involved exceeds $120,000. Such transactions include (i) any transaction with another company at which a related party’s only relationship is as an employee (other than an executive officer), direct or beneficial owner of less than 10% of the Company’s shares, if the aggregate amount involved does not exceed the greater of $1 million or 2% of that company’s total annual revenues; and (ii) any charitable contribution, grant or endowment by the Company to a charitable organization, foundation, or university at which a related party’s only relationship is as an employee (other than an executive officer) or a director, if the aggregate amount involved does not exceed the lesser of $1 million or 2% of the charitable organization’s total annual receipts. Additionally, the Board has delegated to the Chair of the Committee the authority to pre-approve or ratify, as applicable, any transaction with any related party in which the aggregate amount involved is expected to be less than $1 million. At each regularly scheduled meeting of the Committee, a summary of each new transaction deemed pre-approved will be provided to the Committee for its review.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

Pursuant to the Company’s Related Party Transaction Policy and Procedures, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee reviewed and approved or ratified the director relationships described on pages 14-15 of this Proxy Statement. There were no related party transactions reported to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee or the Audit Committee that require disclosure under this policy or the rules and regulations of the SEC.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

The Compensation and Benefits Committee includes the following independent directors: Thomas J. Donohue, Erroll B. Davis, Jr., Michael W. McConnell and Steven R. Rogel.

 

The Compensation and Benefits Committee has no interlocks or insider participation.

 

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PROPOSAL NUMBER 1

Election of Directors

 

The Board currently has ten members. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board proposed and the Board recommended that the ten individuals currently serving as directors each be nominated for re-election to the Board at the Annual Meeting. Each of the nominees has consented to serve if elected, and the Company is not aware of any nominee who is unable or unwilling to serve. If any nominee(s) for director for any reason should become unavailable for election, it is intended that discretionary authority will be exercised by the persons named in the enclosed proxy in respect of the election of such other person(s) as they shall nominate. The Board is not aware of any circumstances likely to cause any nominee for director to become unavailable for election.

 

Mr. Richard K. Davidson retired as Chairman of the Board and a Director of the Company and the Railroad effective January 31, 2007, after nearly 47 years in the railroad industry. The Board wishes to acknowledge Dick Davidson’s outstanding career and to express its deepest appreciation for the more than 15 years of outstanding service he gave as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, during which he provided exemplary leadership and guidance over one of the most significant periods of growth, prosperity, difficulty and resurgence in the history of the Company. The Board expresses its best wishes to Dick and his family for their happiness and well being in the years ahead.

 

Vote Required for Approval

 

Directors will be elected by the affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares present at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors, which means that the ten nominees who receive the most votes will be elected. However, pursuant to the By-Laws of the Company, any nominee for director in an uncontested election who receives a greater number of votes “withheld” from his or her election than votes “for” his or her election (a “Majority Withheld Vote”) will immediately tender his or her resignation following certification of such shareholder vote. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will promptly consider the director’s resignation offer and make a recommendation to the Board. If a majority of the directors serving on the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee received a Majority Withheld Vote at the same election, then the independent directors who did not receive a Majority Withheld Vote shall appoint a committee amongst themselves to consider any resignation offers and recommend to the Board whether to accept them. The Board will act on the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (or comparable committee appointed by the Board) within 90 days following certification of the shareholder vote. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will make a recommendation to the Board on whether to accept a director’s resignation offer, taking into account such factors as the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee may in its discretion determine appropriate, and the Board will vote on whether to accept such offer. Thereafter, the Board will promptly disclose its decision-making process and decision regarding whether to accept the director’s resignation offer in a Form 8-K furnished to the SEC. For this purpose, an “uncontested election” will mean that, on the record date for the meeting at which directors are to be elected, the number of nominees does not exceed the number of directors to be elected.

 

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Directors/Nominees

 

The following table shows the Company’s nominees for election to the Board. Each of the nominees currently serves as a director. Each nominee, if elected, will serve for a term of one year or until his or her successor is elected.

 

Name of Director Nominee


   Age

  

Principal Occupation


  

Director

Since


Andrew H. Card, Jr.  

   59    Former White House Chief of Staff    2006

Erroll B. Davis, Jr.  

   62    Chancellor, University System of Georgia    2004

Thomas J. Donohue

   68    President and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce    1998

Archie W. Dunham

   68    Retired Chairman, ConocoPhillips    2000

Judith Richards Hope

   66    Distinguished Visitor from Practice and Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center    1988

Charles C. Krulak

   65    Retired General, United States Marine Corps    2006

Michael W. McConnell

   64    Managing Partner, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.    2004

Thomas F. McLarty III

   60    President, Kissinger McLarty Associates    2006

Steven R. Rogel

   64    Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Weyerhaeuser Company    2000

James R. Young

   54    Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Union Pacific Corporation and Union Pacific Railroad Company    2005

 

The Board recommends a vote FOR the election of each of the nominated directors.

 

Andrew H. Card, Jr. has been a director since July 2006. Mr. Card served as Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush from November 2000 to April 2006. Prior to joining the White House, Mr. Card was Vice President-Government Relations for General Motors Corporation. From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Card was President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association. Mr. Card served as the 111th Secretary of Transportation under President George H.W. Bush from 1992 to 1993. He also served as a Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for President Ronald Reagan.

 

Erroll B. Davis, Jr. has been a director since June 2004. Mr. Davis has been Chancellor of the University System of Georgia since February 2006. From 1998 until July 2005, Mr. Davis was President and Chief Executive Officer of Alliant Energy Corporation, an energy holding company. He was also named Chairman in April 2000 and remained Chairman of Alliant until January 31, 2006. Mr. Davis serves as a director of BP plc. and PPG Industries, Inc.

 

Thomas J. Donohue has been a director since November 1998. Mr. Donohue has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce since September 1997. Mr. Donohue serves as a director of Sunrise Assisted Living, Inc. and XM Satellite Radio.

 

Archie W. Dunham has been a director since August 2000. Mr. Dunham was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Conoco, Inc., an integrated energy company, from January 1996 until August 30, 2002. He was also elected Chairman in August 1999 and was Chairman of ConocoPhillips

 

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from August 2002 until his retirement on September 30, 2004. Mr. Dunham serves as a director of Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, Phelps Dodge Corporation and Pride International, Inc.

 

Judith Richards Hope has been a director since April 1988. Mrs. Hope was Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University from January 2002 to March 2003 and was named Distinguished Visitor from Practice and Professor of Law on March 7, 2005. Mrs. Hope was a co-founder and partner of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, a law firm, from December 1981 to January 2002, a non-equity partner from February 2002 to December 31, 2003 and a Senior Advisor to the Paul, Hastings firm from January 1, 2004 to January 31, 2005. Mrs. Hope serves as a director of General Mills, Inc., Altius Associates Ltd, Altius Holdings Ltd and Russell Reynolds Associates.

 

Charles C. Krulak has been a director since January 2006. General Krulak was Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Administration Officer of MBNA, bank holding company, from April 2004 until his retirement from MBNA on June 1, 2005. From 1999 until March 2004, General Krulak was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MBNA Europe Bank Limited, international banking. General Krulak retired from the military in 1999 after 35 years of distinguished service in the United States Marine Corps. General Krulak serves as a director of ConocoPhillips and Phelps Dodge Corporation.

 

Michael W. McConnell has been a director since January 2004. Mr. McConnell has been a Partner of Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., a private banking firm, since January 1984 and has been Managing Partner since February 2002.

 

Thomas F. McLarty III has been a director since November 2006. Mr. McLarty has been President of Kissinger McLarty Associates, an international strategic advisory and advocacy firm, since 1999. Mr. McLarty has also been Chairman and President of the McLarty Companies, a family transportation business, since 1998. From 1992 to 1997, Mr. McLarty served in several positions in the Clinton White House, including Chief of Staff to the President, Counselor to the President and Special Envoy for the Americas. From 1983 to 1992, Mr. McLarty served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arkla, Inc., a Fortune 500 natural gas company.

 

Steven R. Rogel has been a director since November 2000. Mr. Rogel has been Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Weyerhaeuser Company, an integrated forest products company, since December 1997. Mr. Rogel serves as a director of Kroger Company.

 

James R. Young has been a director since March 2005 and our President and Chief Executive Officer since December 31, 2005. Mr. Young was elected to the position of Chairman effective February 1, 2007. Mr. Young was Executive Vice President-Finance of the Company and Chief Financial Officer of the Railroad from December 1999 until February 1, 2004 and President and Chief Operating Officer of the Railroad from February 2004 until December 31, 2005.

 

PROPOSAL NUMBER 2

Appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP

as Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Year Ending December 31, 2007

 

The Audit Committee has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit the books and accounts of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the year 2007 and submits this selection to a vote of shareholders as a matter of good corporate governance. In the event that the Audit Committee’s selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP does not receive an affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast, the Audit Committee will review its future selection of an independent registered public accounting firm.

 

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A representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if such representative desires to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions by shareholders.

 

Vote Required for Approval

 

The appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2007 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

 

The Board recommends a vote FOR the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2007.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Fees and Services

 

Fees paid to our independent registered public accounting firm for each of the past two years are set forth below:

 

     Year Ended December 31,

     2006

   2005

Audit Fees

   $ 2,731,926    $ 2,805,710

Audit-Related Fees

     540,700      477,761

Tax Fees

     23,161      100,659

All Other Fees

     0      0
    

  

Total

   $ 3,295,787    $ 3,384,130
    

  

 

Audit Fees. The audit fees billed to the Company by Deloitte & Touche LLP for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 totaled $2,731,926 and $2,805,710, respectively.

 

Audit-Related Fees. The audit-related fees billed to the Company by Deloitte & Touche LLP for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 totaled $540,700 and $477,761, respectively. Audit-related services included consultation on accounting standards and transactions, audits of employee benefit plans, and audits of subsidiary companies.

 

Tax Fees. The tax fees billed to the Company by Deloitte & Touche LLP for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 totaled $23,161 and $100,659, respectively. Tax fees included work performed for foreign tax issues, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit work, and tax software and training.

 

All Other Fees. No other fees were billed to the Company by Deloitte & Touche LLP for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.

 

Audit Committee Report

 

The Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006. The Committee has discussed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, the matters required to be discussed by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Interim Standard AU Section 380, Communications with Audit Committees, and SEC Rule 2-07 of Regulation S-X. The Committee also has received and reviewed a report from Deloitte & Touche LLP required by

 

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Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3600T, describing all relationships between Deloitte & Touche LLP and the Company and any other relationships, including the provision of the non-audit services listed above, identified by Deloitte & Touche LLP that may adversely affect the independence of Deloitte & Touche LLP and has discussed with them their independence. Based on the foregoing reviews and discussions, the Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements referred to above be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, for filing with the SEC.

 

The Audit Committee

 

Judith Richards Hope, Chair

Erroll B. Davis, Jr.

General (Ret.) Charles C. Krulak

Michael W. McConnell

 

PROPOSAL NUMBER 3

Shareholder Proposal Regarding Majority Voting

 

The Sheet Metal Workers’ National Pension Fund, 601 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 500, Alexandria, VA 22314, the owner of 8,500 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, has submitted the following proposal. The Board of Directors recommends a vote AGAINST this proposal.

 

Director Election Majority Vote Standard Proposal

 

Resolved: That the shareholders of Union Pacific Corporation (“Company”) hereby request that the Board of Directors initiate the appropriate process to amend the Company’s governance documents (certificate of incorporation or bylaws) to provide that director nominees shall be elected by the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast at an annual meeting of shareholders, with a plurality vote standard retained for contested director elections, that is, when the number of director nominees exceeds the number of board seats.

 

Supporting Statement: In order to provide shareholders a meaningful role in director elections, our company’s director election vote standard should be changed to a majority vote standard. A majority vote standard would require that a nominee receive a majority of the votes cast in order to be elected. The standard is particularly well-suited for the vast majority of director elections in which only board nominated candidates are on the ballot. We believe that a majority vote standard in board elections would establish a challenging vote standard for board nominees and improve the performance of individual directors and entire boards. Our Company presently uses a plurality vote standard in all director elections. Under the plurality vote standard, a nominee for the board can be elected with as little as a single affirmative vote, even if a substantial majority of the votes cast are “withheld” from the nominee.

 

In response to strong shareholder support for a majority vote standard in director elections, an increasing number of companies, including Intel, Dell, Motorola, Texas Instruments, Safeway, Home Depot, Gannett, and Supervalu, have adopted a majority vote standard in company by-laws. Additionally, these companies have adopted director resignation policies in their bylaws or corporate governance policies to address post-election issues related to the status of director nominees that fail to win election. Other companies have responded only partially to the call for change by simply adopting post-election director resignation policies that set procedures for addressing the status of director nominees that receive more “withhold” votes than “for” votes. At the time of the submission of this proposal, our Company and its board had not taken either action.

 

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We believe the critical first step in establishing a meaningful majority vote policy is the adoption of a majority vote standard in Company governance documents. Our Company needs to join the growing list of companies that have taken this action. With a majority vote standard in place, the board can then consider action on developing post election procedures to address the status of directors that fail to win election. A combination of a majority vote standard and a post-election director resignation policy would establish a meaningful right for shareholders to elect directors, while reserving for the board an important post-election role in determining the continued status of an unelected director. We feel that this combination of the majority vote standard with a post-election policy represents a true majority vote standard.

 

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

 

In light of developing governance practices and shareholder interest in addressing a majority voting standard for the election of directors, in September 2006 the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, with the assistance of outside counsel, developed, and recommended that the Board approve a By-Law amendment to implement a Majority Withheld Vote Policy for the election of directors. The Committee also recommended Board approval of the Director Resignation Policy to be included in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies as set forth on page 11 of this Proxy Statement. The Board adopted the By-Law amendment and the new governance policy, which we believe establish an effective process to achieve the proposal’s objective of providing shareholders a meaningful role in director elections. Under these policies, in non-contested elections, if a director candidate fails to win a majority of “For” votes for his or her election, the director must immediately tender his or her resignation from the Board, and the Board will decide, through a process managed by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee or another committee of independent directors, whether to accept the resignation within 90 days of certification of the shareholder vote. Thereafter, the Board will promptly disclose its decision-making process and its decision in a Form 8-K filed with the SEC.

 

We implemented the Majority Vote change through our By-Laws to show our commitment to this issue and in recognition of the fact that, under Utah law, any other approach would have required an amendment to our articles of incorporation. Most importantly, our policies address the consequence—which Utah law has not to date been revised to address—of an incumbent director nominee who fails to receive a majority vote. If we were to put in place a majority election provision as requested under the proposal, this incumbent director could continue to serve as a director, possibly until the next annual meeting, unless we held a special election of directors. In contrast, under our policies, this incumbent director would be required to submit his or her resignation immediately, and through a process managed by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee or another committee of independent directors, the Board, taking into account all relevant factors, would determine, no later than 90 days from the certification of the Annual Meeting vote, whether to accept his or her resignation, absent a compelling reason for the director to remain on the Board, which would be publicly disclosed. Moreover, by implementing our By-Law amendment and Director Resignation Policy, we have been able to act quickly on this governance issue so that it is in place for the 2007 Annual Meeting. We will continue to monitor developments in this area.

 

The proponent was advised of the Board’s actions at the time of their adoption, prior to the time the proponent submitted the above proposal. The statement in the proposal that the Company and the Board have taken no action is untrue and does not reflect our excellent record on corporate governance.

 

We believe that our Majority Withheld Vote and Director Resignation policies demonstrate our accountability to the Company’s shareholders and an ongoing commitment to good governance. The Board of Directors respectfully requests that shareholders vote AGAINST Proposal 3.

 

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PROPOSAL NUMBER 4

Shareholder Proposal Regarding Political Contributions

 

The Office of the Comptroller of the City of New York, 1 Centre Street, Room 736, New York, NY 10007, the custodian and trustee of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, the New York City Teachers’ Retirement System, the New York City Police Pension Fund, and the New York City Fire Department Pension Fund, and custodian of the New York City Board of Education Retirement System, the collective beneficial owners of 797,768 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, have submitted the following proposal. The Board of Directors recommends a vote AGAINST this proposal.

 

Stockholder Proposal—Corporate political contributions

 

Resolved, that the shareholders of Union Pacific Corporation hereby request that the Company provide a report, updated semi-annually, disclosing the Company’s:

 

  1.   Policies and procedures for political contributions (both direct and indirect) made with corporate funds.

 

  2.   Monetary and non-monetary contributions to political candidates, political parties, political committees and other political entities organized and operating under 26 USC Sec. 527 of the Internal Revenue Code including the following:

 

  a.   An accounting of the Company’s funds contributed to any of the persons or organizations described above;

 

  b.   Identification of the person or persons in the Company who participated in making the decisions to contribute.

 

  c.   The internal guidelines or policies, if any, governing the Company’s political contributions.

 

This report shall be presented to the board of directors’ audit committee or other relevant oversight committee, and posted on the company’s website to reduce costs to shareholders.

 

Stockholder Supporting Statements

 

As long-term shareholders of Union Pacific Corporation, we support policies that apply transparency and accountability to corporate political giving. In our view, such disclosure is consistent with public policy in regard to public company disclosure.

 

Company executives exercise wide discretion over the use of corporate resources for political purposes. In 2003-2004, the last fully reported election cycle, Union Pacific Corporation contributed at least $237,500 (The Center for Public Integrity: http://www.publicintegrity.org/527/db.aspx?act=main)

 

Relying only on the limited data available from the Federal Election Commission and the Internal Revenue Service, the Center for Public Integrity, a leading campaign finance watchdog organization, provides an incomplete picture of the Company’s political donations. Complete disclosure by the company is necessary for the company’s Board and its shareholders to be able to fully evaluate the political use of corporate assets.

 

Although the Bi-Partisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 prohibits corporate contributions to political parties at the federal level, it allows companies to contribute to independent political committees, also known as 527s.

 

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Absent a system of accountability, corporate executives will be free to use the Company’s assets for political objectives that are not shared by and may be inimical to the interests of the Company and its shareholders. There is currently no single source of information that provides the information sought by this resolution. That is why we urge your support for this critical governance reform.

 

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

 

The Board of Directors believes that it is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders for the Company to participate in the political process by engaging in a government relations program to educate and inform public officials about the Company’s position on issues significant to the Company’s business. While the Company believes political contributions represent a valuable element of that program, it is important to note that the majority of Company-related political contributions, including contributions to federal officials, come from funds voluntarily contributed to the Company’s political action committee, the Fund for Effective Government (FFEG), by employees, not from corporate funds.

 

The activities of the FFEG are subject to regulation by the federal government, including detailed disclosure requirements. For example, pursuant to federal law, the FFEG files monthly reports with the Federal Election Commission reporting all political contributions. Political contributions by the FFEG and the Company also are subject to regulation at the state level. Moreover, recipients of these political contributions generally must disclose the identity of donors and the amount of their contributions. Therefore, the Board believes that ample disclosure exists regarding the Company’s political contributions and that such disclosures should alleviate any concerns pertaining to the transparency of activities discussed in this proposal. Accordingly, the Board believes that the preparation of the reports requested in this proposal would result in an unnecessary and unproductive use of Company resources.

 

The Board and Company management disagree with statements by the proponent that there is no system of accountability and that “. . . corporate executives will be free to use the Company’s assets for political objectives that are not shared by and may be inimical to the interests of the Company and its shareholders.” As discussed above, political contributions are made for the benefit of the Company and its shareholders with the same care as other corporate decisions. As also discussed earlier in this Proxy Statement, the Board and the Company developed, implemented and have abided by strong governance policies long before such policies were best practices or mandated by federal regulations. Therefore, the Company believes that adequate disclosure as mandated by law and accountability under existing corporate governance standards already exist with respect to corporate political contributions.

 

Based on the above, the Board of Directors respectfully requests that shareholders vote AGAINST Proposal 4.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

The following table sets forth the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned as of February 22, 2007, by (i) each person known to the Company to own more than 5% of the Company’s common stock, (ii) each Named Executive Officer (as defined in the section of this Proxy Statement entitled Executive Compensation), (iii) each director or director nominee and (iv) all current directors and Named Executive Officers as a group. The table also sets forth ownership information concerning Stock Units, the value of which is measured by the price of the common stock. Stock Units do not confer voting rights and are not considered beneficially owned shares under SEC rules.

 

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Name


   Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned (b)


   Stock
Units (c)


   Percent of
Shares
Outstanding


 

Andrew H. Card, Jr.

   1,500    207    *  

Richard K. Davidson (a)

   2,407,413    0    *  

Erroll B. Davis, Jr.

   6,190    1,574    *  

Thomas J. Donohue

   19,668    7,443    *  

Dennis J. Duffy

   396,262    28,992    *  

Archie W. Dunham

   18,753    4,151    *  

J. Michael Hemmer

   102,937    20,409    *  

Judith Richards Hope

   22,135    6,854    *  

Robert M. Knight, Jr.

   177,401    26,017    *  

Charles C. Krulak

   3,109    492    *  

Michael W. McConnell

   8,900    2,369    *  

Thomas F. McLarty III

   1,000    80    *  

Steven R. Rogel

   18,650    3,954    *  

James R. Young

   605,276    109,903    *  

Dodge & Cox (d)

   28,170,082    0    10.4 %

Marsico Capital Management, LLC (e)

   14,891,478    0    5.5 %

All current directors and Named Executive Officers as a group

(14 people)

   3,789,408    212,445    1.4 %

*   Indicates ownership of less than 1%.
(a)   Mr. Davidson’s ownership was calculated as of January 31, 2007, the date of his retirement. In addition, Mrs. Richard K. Davidson is the beneficial owner of 11,920 shares of common stock. Mr. Davidson disclaims beneficial interest with respect to such shares.
(b)   Includes the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be acquired within 60 days of February 22, 2007, upon the exercise of stock options as follows: Mr. Card 0; Mr. Davidson 1,391,536; Mr. Davis 5,150; Mr. Donohue 17,650; Mr. Duffy 317,044; Mr. Dunham 17,650; Mr. Hemmer 87,500; Mrs. Hope 17,650; Mr. Knight 143,683; General Krulak 2,100; Mr. McConnell 7,900; Mr. McLarty 0; Mr. Rogel 17,650; and Mr. Young 452,409; and all current directors and Named Executive Officers as a group 2,478,231. Also included in the number of shares owned by Messrs. Davidson, Duffy, Hemmer, Knight and Young are 594,808; 79,218; 9,019; 19,561 and 78,739 deferred stock units, respectively, representing deferred stock option exercise gains and vested retention stock units which they will acquire as shares of common stock at termination of employment.
(c)   Consists of stock units payable in cash to non-employee directors after retirement and held in their Stock Unit Accounts. For a discussion of the Stock Unit Grant and Deferred Compensation Plan for non-employee directors, see page 10. These units do not confer voting rights and are not considered beneficially owned shares of common stock under SEC rules. These amounts for the Named Executive Officers consist of 0; 28,992; 20,409; 26,017 and 109,903 unvested retention stock units owned by Messrs. Davidson, Duffy, Hemmer, Knight and Young and awarded under Company stock plans. These units do not confer voting rights and are not considered beneficially owned shares of common stock under SEC rules.

(d)

 

Based solely upon information contained in Schedule 13G filed on February 8, 2007. This holder has sole and shared voting power over 26,347,031 and 286,600 of these shares, respectively, and sole and shared dispositive power over 28,170,082 and 0 of these shares, respectively. The address of Dodge & Cox is 555 California Street, 40th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104.

(e)

 

Based solely upon information contained in Schedule 13G filed on February 13, 2007. This holder has sole and shared voting power over 12,627,861 and 0 of these shares, respectively, and sole and shared dispositive power over 14,891,478 and 0 of these shares, respectively. The address of Marsico Capital Management, LLC, is 1200 17th Street, Suite 1600, Denver, CO 80202.


 

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Executive Compensation

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

Compensation Philosophy and Strategy

 

Our compensation programs for the Named Executive Officers are guided by the following principles:

 

   

Competitive Compensation—We design compensation levels to reflect the competitive marketplace for similar positions at other comparable peer group companies in order to attract and retain key executives critical to our long-term success.

 

   

Pay for Performance—Under our compensation programs, a significant portion of the executive’s compensation is at-risk and tied to short-term and long-term corporate performance. Our compensation programs allow us to reflect individual performance, management effectiveness and qualitative factors, which we may not always be able to measure or quantify with precision, but which nonetheless contribute to the Company’s performance.

 

   

Alignment with Shareholder Interests—By providing equity incentives, we link a substantial portion of executive compensation to both short-term and long-term financial performance that benefits our shareholders and therefore aligns the interests of management with those of our shareholders.

 

Compensation Overview

 

The Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board of Directors (Committee) reviews and approves the compensation of all of the Named Executive Officers. Our CEO provides the Committee with his analysis of the performance of our Named Executive Officers (excluding the CEO) and his recommendations for their compensation. The Committee also receives information and recommendations from a compensation consultant. For more information on the operation of the Committee, see the Compensation and Benefits Committee section on pages 4-5 of this Proxy Statement.

 

The Committee reviews Total Direct Compensation for each of the Named Executive Officers on an annual basis in January utilizing the analytical tools described below, and may also reassess Total Direct Compensation during the year in connection with a promotion or significant changes in responsibilities. The Committee also periodically reviews other elements of compensation, including perquisites, deferred compensation, retirement benefits and potential change-in-control severance payments. Total Direct Compensation consists of a cash component (Total Cash Compensation) comprised of base salary and annual cash bonus, if any, and a stock-based component under our long-term incentive compensation programs. Each component is described more fully below. The annual cash bonus is highly variable, ranging in recent years from zero for all Named Executive Officers to an amount that exceeds the executive’s base salary. Our long-term incentive program currently consists of stock units linked to long-term performance goals, retention stock units and stock options. As a result, the value of the long-term compensation elements is tied more directly to shareholders’ interests. Collectively, these programs are designed to motivate our executives toward consistently superior performance. We also provide post-employment compensation arrangements that are designed to promote our executives’ long-term commitment to the Company.

 

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Compensation Tools and Procedures

 

The Committee utilizes various analytical tools when deciding the amount of each element of compensation for the Named Executive Officers.

 

   

Competitive Market Review—To assess competitive market information, the Committee looks primarily to competitive market benchmarks among a group of peer companies, and supplements this information with survey data on a broader group of companies with revenues greater than $10 billion. The Committee generally seeks to establish base salaries below the median of the broader group of surveyed companies, reflecting the Committee’s philosophy that a greater proportion of the cash component of our executive’s compensation should be at risk. The Committee targets a range between the median and seventy-fifth percentile of a peer group described below for Total Cash Compensation and Total Direct Compensation and determines compensation within that range based upon performance. The Committee generally does not consider amounts realizable from prior compensation, including equity awards, when determining the amount of each of the elements of compensation for the Named Executive Officers. Total Direct Compensation and Total Cash Compensation may be greater or less than targeted percentiles, depending upon whether and to what degree the Company achieves its performance targets and other factors, including the individual performance of each Named Executive Officer and his or her position relative to the Company’s current internal pay structure.

 

The Committee, with the assistance of its consultant, selected a Peer Group of comparable companies (Peer Group), including major U.S. railroads and industrial companies in different lines of business with similar revenues, net assets or market capitalization and with executives who manage operations of comparable scope and complexity to those of the Company. The Committee and its consultant periodically review this Peer Group and add or eliminate companies as they deem appropriate based on the factors set forth above. Our Peer Group currently consists of 13 companies: Alcoa, American Electric Power, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, CSX, Entergy, FedEx, Halliburton, Honeywell International, International Paper, Norfolk Southern, Northrop Grumman, Waste Management, and Xerox. Within the Peer Group, the Committee particularly focuses on the competitive pay for railroad executives and the performance of other comparable railroads. In comparing our executive positions with comparable positions at companies within the Peer Group, the Committee and its consultant review and consider any adjustments that may be required to account for significant differences in functional responsibilities.

 

   

Compensation Mix—The Committee periodically reviews the mix of the Company’s compensation elements with its consultant. The Committee approved a change in the composition of the long-term incentive program, beginning with grants awarded in January 2006. Previously, our long-term incentive program consisted entirely of stock options with a one-year vesting period. Beginning in 2006, our long-term incentive program for the Named Executive Officers generally includes the following targeted mix of equity compensation based on grant date fair value: 25% performance stock units, 25% retention stock units and 50% stock options. The actual value of each component of equity compensation awarded may vary to some degree from this targeted mix depending on Company and individual performance and retention risk of a particular executive. However, this targeted mix reflects our goal to encourage achievement of the Company’s short and long-term objectives, enhancement of shareholder value, and retention of key executives. In addition to adjusting the mix of these equity awards in 2006, the Committee extended the vesting period on new grants of stock options to pro rata vesting over three years to augment the performance and retention elements of the compensation mix. Our retention stock unit awards generally vest over a four-year period.

 

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The Committee last reviewed the Company’s compensation mix with its consultant in September 2006. This review included consideration of Total Direct Compensation levels and mix, equity compensation share usage and potential dilution, and long-term incentive “fair value transfer” and the 25/25/50 percentage allocation. The review indicated that long-term incentives constitute a greater proportion of our Named Executive Officer’s Total Direct Compensation than the average for the Peer Group. The review also indicated that the components of our long-term incentive program are generally consistent with the Peer Group, although we grant a higher proportion of stock options than our Peer Group. The Committee determined that our present compensation elements and mix currently are appropriate.

 

   

Tally Sheets—A Tally Sheet is regularly provided to the Committee. The Tally Sheet includes the current and three-year historical Total Direct Compensation and Peer Group data for the Named Executive Officers.

 

Compensation Elements

 

Total Direct Compensation includes the following basic compensation elements: (i) base salary, (ii) annual “at-risk” cash bonus, and (iii) long-term incentive compensation, which is comprised of performance and retention components, including performance stock units, retention stock units and stock options. The Named Executive Officers do not have employment agreements with the Company.

 

Base Salary

 

The Committee considers base salary recommendations from management (except with respect to the salary of the Chairman and the CEO, which are not subject to recommendations from management) that generally fall within a range for these salaries established by reference to competitive market data. We pay base salary to provide a stable source of income for performing job responsibilities, but not at a level that undermines the objectives of our performance-based compensation programs. Historically, the Committee reviewed the Named Executive Officers’ base salaries every 18 months. This practice resulted in various reviews throughout the year, separate from the annual review of other compensation elements. Beginning in 2007, the Committee reviews the base salaries of the Named Executive Officers in January of each year. The Committee decided to change its approach in order to provide a more efficient and consistent process to review all elements of compensation at the same time each year. The CEO and the SVP–HR review base salaries and performance for the Named Executive Officers, other than the CEO and the Chairman, and provide the Committee a base salary recommendation for each Named Executive Officer. The Committee, with input from its consultant and the Board’s review of the CEO evaluation, alone assesses the base salary of the CEO and the Chairman. When the Committee reviews these base salary recommendations, it primarily considers: (i) the executive’s position and responsibility in the organization, (ii) the executive’s experience and expertise, (iii) Company performance, (iv) individual performance and (v) internal benchmarking relative to the Company’s pay structure. In making salary recommendations to the Board of Directors, the Committee exercises subjective judgment and varies the weights applied to the above factors with respect to each Named Executive Officer.

 

Annual Cash Bonus

 

We pay an annual cash bonus in order to link a significant portion of the executive’s Total Cash Compensation to specific annual Company results and to reflect individual contributions to Company performance. We do not use target bonuses for any of our executives, including our Named Executive Officers. We fund an incentive pool based on achievement of certain performance measures selected annually by the Committee. We pay bonuses to our executives, including our Named Executive Officers, on a discretionary basis out of the pool. We believe this is an effective way to award annual

 

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bonuses based upon (i) factors that are subject to the influence or control of each individual executive and (ii) the CEO’s and the Committee’s review of the performance of the Company and the executive in total during the performance period. Depending primarily on the position of the Named Executive Officer, Company-level performance and individual performance, between 50% and 75% of an executive’s potential cash component will be at risk.

 

Determining annual bonuses involves a multi-step process. At the beginning of the year, the Committee establishes performance criteria and applicable funding levels to determine the aggregate incentive bonus pool. The Committee refers this bonus program to the Board for review and approval, with any modifications the Board may require. In determining the amount of the incentive bonus pool at year-end, the Committee may, at its discretion, make upward or downward adjustments to the final incentive bonus pool to reflect factors the Committee believes are appropriate. This final incentive bonus pool is then reviewed and approved by the Board. For 2006, the performance criteria used to determine the amount of the annual incentive bonus pool were the Company’s internal measure of average network velocity and annual operating income growth. Average network velocity is an important measure of railroad operating efficiency. The Committee believes all executives and all aspects of our operations, including administrative and support activities, have an impact on network velocity. The Committee selected operating income growth because it is a key financial metric.

 

Awards to individual executives from the incentive pool are based upon a combination of corporate and individual performance, which includes safety, customer service, leadership or other criteria as appropriate for each position. In order to allow for tax deductibility of the annual cash bonus, our shareholder-approved bonus plan provides that the maximum amount payable to the CEO with respect to any year may not exceed 0.25% of Operating Income (as defined in the plan) for that fiscal year and may not exceed 0.15% of Operating Income for that fiscal year in the case of any other executive. The CEO and the SVP–HR review corporate, operational and individual performance for the Named Executive Officers other than the CEO and provide the Committee an annual cash bonus recommendation for each Named Executive Officer. The Committee, with input from its consultant and the Board’s review of the CEO evaluation, alone assesses the bonus for the CEO and Chairman. The 2006 cash bonuses for our Named Executive Officers are described below in the section entitled Named Executive Officer Compensation and Company Performance for 2006.

 

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

 

We award long-term incentive compensation to encourage executives to manage for long-term business success and continue their employment with the Company. Currently, the Company’s long-term compensation is entirely equity-based, which provides motivation to enhance shareholder value and meet the Company’s financial objectives. The components of long-term incentive compensation are:

 

   

performance stock units, which we award based on performance over a three-year period;

 

   

retention stock units, which vest over a four-year period; and

 

   

stock options, with an exercise price based on the closing price of our stock on the date of grant (for a discussion of Company stock option grant practices, see page 34) and that vest ratably over a three-year period.

 

Each of these elements of long-term incentive compensation is addressed below.

 

The Committee’s objective is for long-term incentives generally to comprise between 50% and 70% of each Named Executive Officer’s Total Direct Compensation. In setting the size of long-term incentive awards, the Committee’s goal is for our Named Executive Officers to be between the

 

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median and seventy-fifth percentile for Total Direct Compensation of the Peer Group when the Company attains its target performance objectives. The SVP–HR and the CEO recommend to the Committee an aggregate value of long-term incentive awards for each of the Named Executive Officers (other than the Chairman and CEO, a determination reserved for the Committee, taking into account advice from its consultant). The Committee considers these recommendations and determines the final amount of awards for each of the Named Executive Officers. The long-term incentive awards for the Named Executive Officers and a description of the terms of these awards are set forth on page 43 in the Grants of Plan Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2006 Table and accompanying narrative discussion. The Committee generally targeted the Named Executive Officers’ long-term incentive grant values to be 25% performance stock units, 25% retention stock units and 50% stock options. For 2006 grants, the number of stock units and stock options awarded to the Named Executive Officers was based on an estimated stock price derived from the average value of the Company’s common stock during December 2005. In 2007, the aggregate value of the awards was converted into the number of stock units and stock options based upon the grant date fair value of awards under accounting standards used by the Company.

 

Performance Stock Units

 

The Committee utilizes performance stock units to motivate, reward, and retain executives who make significant contributions to achieve the Company’s financial and operational goals, promote and closely align the interests of the Named Executive Officers and other executives with those of our shareholders, and help ensure that executive compensation remains competitive with our industry peers and companies with which we compete for executive talent. Prior to 2006, the Company ‘s long-term compensation arrangements other than stock options typically involved non-overlapping, multi-year performance periods and included a single payout, if any, of either or both equity awards and cash after completion of the entire multi-year period. Although effective, the Committee and its consultant believe that the impact of unexpected positive or negative developments in a single year of a multi-year arrangement that may or may not be entirely within the control of the Company’s executives could provide unexpected compensation outcomes or overemphasize such positive or negative developments. Therefore, the Committee redesigned our long-term compensation arrangements to avoid this potential shortcoming of multi-year arrangements.

 

Beginning with 2006, the Committee adopted the current structure for awarding performance stock units to provide sustained long-term incentives to the executives. Under the current arrangement, the Committee will, on an annual basis, adopt a new three-year plan. Each new three-year plan will include new performance targets, and successive plans will overlap existing plans such that there will be three overlapping plans in place beginning in 2008. These overlapping three-year plans may have different performance targets during the same calendar year. The Committee did not adopt this overlapping structure to substantially increase the value of each of the individual three-year plans. Rather, the Committee will set the value of each three-year plan taking into account the existence of the overlapping plans with the goals of (i) encouraging and better rewarding sustained long-term performance, (ii) providing a more flexible mechanism for establishing long-term compensation to help ensure that executive compensation remains competitive and mitigates the impact of an unexpected event or unusual performance in any single year, and (iii) retaining executives. Under this plan structure, the Committee can adjust performance targets to reflect the Company’s business objectives and the current business climate and provide competitive long-term compensation that includes incentives for sustained performance.

 

In January 2006, the Committee awarded our Named Executive Officers performance stock units subject to attainment and certification of performance targets and continued employment for three years from the date of grant. At the end of year one of the Performance Period, the executive may earn up to one-third of the target number of stock units granted to him or her based on the first year of performance achieved. At the end of year two, the executive may earn additional stock units up to

 

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a total of two-thirds of the target number of stock units granted to such executive based on the average of the first two years of performance achieved. During year three of the Performance Period, the executive may earn up to 200% of the target number of stock units (less any units earned in years one and two) granted to that executive based on the average of all three years of performance achieved. Stock units that have been earned during the Performance Period will be paid out in shares of our common stock at the end of the Performance Period and will accrue dividend equivalents between the time they are earned and the payment date.

 

The performance criteria for these awards is annual return on invested capital, as adjusted (ROIC)1, for fiscal years 2006-2008 (Performance Period). We define ROIC as net operating profit after taxes divided by average invested capital. ROIC may be adjusted by the Committee to reflect the effect of special transactions or events, such as significant gains on the sale of real estate, tax adjustments, accounting charges, or reclassifications. The Committee selected ROIC because it is a key measurement that indicates the success of the Company in making long-term capital investment decisions that improve financial and operational performance and increase shareholder value. For the 2006-2008 performance stock units, the threshold annual ROIC was 6.0%, the target annual ROIC was 7.0%, and the maximum annual ROIC was 9.0%.

 

At its meeting in January 2007, the Committee awarded the Named Executive Officers performance stock units subject to the achievement and certification of new performance targets and continued employment for three years from the date of grant. Other than raising the performance targets, the basic terms of these performance stock units are identical to those granted in January 2006, including annual ROIC as the performance measure.

 

Retention Stock Units

 

The Committee believes that retention stock units ensure consistency of leadership at the Company by retaining key executives in a competitive labor market. Although equity awards in general include an element of performance incentive, the Committee awards retention stock units primarily to encourage continuity of management. At its meeting in January every year, the Committee approves retention stock units to the Named Executive Officers. Retention stock generally vests over a four-year period. Executives holding retention stock units have the right to receive a cash payment equivalent to dividends in such amounts as dividends are paid on our common stock. We require Named Executive Officers to defer all of their retention stock units (which are not performance based) so long as they are employed by the Company.

 

Stock Options

 

The Committee believes that stock options include both retention and performance elements and, therefore, serve as an important element of long-term compensation. The amount executives realize under stock option grants is directly tied to the future performance of the Company’s stock, aligning the interests of executives with those of the Company’s shareholders. At the same time, the stock options become fully exercisable only if the executive remains an employee through the three-year vesting period.

 

 

 


1

 

ROIC is not considered a financial measure under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) by SEC Regulation G and Item 10 of SEC Regulation S-K. For a reconciliation to GAAP, please see Item 7 of the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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Perquisites

 

The Committee reviews perquisites periodically for both appropriateness and effectiveness. Key executives, including the Named Executive Officers, receive certain perquisites, including physical exams, tax and financial counseling services, personal excess liability coverage, executive life insurance, and country club initiation fees. The value of perquisites provided to the Named Executive Officers by the Company is not a significant portion of Total Direct Compensation of each of the Named Executive Officers on an annual basis. Pursuant to the Company’s security policy, the Chairman and the CEO are required to use Company aircraft for all air travel, whether personal or business, and the Committee believes the requirement to be in the best interest of the Company, as it provides security for key executives, improves Company access to our executives while traveling, and enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of our executives. Due to the relatively low cost to the Company of these perquisites, combined with the policy regarding mandatory use of Company aircraft by certain of the Named Executive Officers, the Committee does not consider perquisites in their analysis of Total Direct Compensation.

 

Post-Termination Compensation and Benefits

 

Post-termination compensation and benefits consist of the following elements: deferred compensation, pension, and our change-in-control plan.

 

Deferred Compensation

 

The Committee, pursuant to its charter, is responsible for oversight of our deferred compensation arrangements. The Company and the Committee believe that deferred compensation arrangements are important benefits that contribute to our competitive compensation arrangements and help attract executives. Our deferred compensation programs allow for deferral of salary and bonus as well as deferral of performance stock units and retention stock units, which accrue earnings during the deferral period as described on page 49. As noted above, we require Named Executive Officers to defer all of their retention stock units (which are not performance based) so long as they are employed by the Company. We do not fund these accounts, and there are no mechanisms in place (such as insurance or trusts) to protect the executives from any future inability of the Company to pay these accounts. More detailed descriptions of the features of our non-qualified deferred compensation plans are set forth beginning on page 48.

 

Pension Plan and Supplemental Pension Plan

 

We sponsor a tax qualified defined benefit Pension Plan and an excess Supplemental Pension Plan. The Company and the Committee believe that our defined benefit Pension Plan and the Supplemental Pension Plan (with respect to our executives, including the Named Executive Officers) provide our employees with a competitive retirement benefit. We offer a Supplemental Pension Plan to allow executives to receive pension benefits for compensation and benefits that exceed government imposed limits applicable to defined benefit plans and to allow for the inclusion of compensation that has been deferred, which cannot be included as compensation under our defined benefit Pension Plan. Benefit amounts are based on years of service, salary, bonus and the age at which the employee elects to retire. More detailed descriptions of our Pension Plan and Supplemental Pension Plan are set forth on pages 46-47.

 

Change-in-Control Arrangements

 

The Named Executive Officers do not have individual severance agreements. In November 2000, the Board adopted the Union Pacific Corporation Key Employee Continuity Plan (the Continuity Plan).

 

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The purpose of the Continuity Plan is to assure the smooth transition of management and continuing operations of the Company in the event of a change in control by providing (i) sufficient economic security to allow key executives to focus on overall shareholder value without concern about personal financial interests and (ii) severance benefits in the event employment with the Company is terminated within two years following a change in control.

 

The Continuity Plan currently provides severance benefits to twenty-seven senior level executives, including the Named Executive Officers, in the event (i) a change-in-control occurs and (ii) the covered executive is involuntarily terminated or constructively discharged within two years following the change in control. This two-step requirement will allow the new controlling party to retain certain executives and terminate others—with the obligation to provide the benefits set forth in the Continuity Plan. Severance benefits are the same for all covered executives except for the multiple used to determine the executive’s lump sum severance payment. The lump sum severance payment is equal to three times the sum of base salary plus the average of the annual bonus earned in the three most recent calendar years for Mr. Young and two times this sum for each of Messrs. Knight, Duffy and Hemmer. The Committee determined these multiples based upon competitive data.

 

In September 2003, the Board adopted the Union Pacific Corporation Policy Regarding Shareholder Approval of Future Severance Agreements. Under this policy, the Company agreed not to enter into a future severance agreement with a senior executive that provides for benefits in an amount generally exceeding 2.99 times salary plus bonus unless such agreement is approved by a vote of our shareholders.

 

Payments and certain severance benefits for the Named Executive Officers upon a change in control, as well as a description of the Continuity Plan are set forth on pages 52-53.

 

Other Aspects of Our Compensation Program

 

Company Grant Practices

 

All performance stock units, retention shares, retention stock units and stock options are granted for all executive and management employees on the day the Committee and the Board, as applicable, approves the stock unit or share award or stock option. The exercise price of all stock options granted before January 2007 was based on the average high and low trading price of our stock on the date of grant. Beginning with stock options granted in January 2007, the Committee changed the exercise price to the closing price of our stock on the date of grant. The Committee made this change to align our practice with the stated preference of the SEC. Employees are not allowed to select the effective date of stock option grants, and the Committee does not time its approval of stock option grants around the release of any material non-public information.

 

Prohibition on Stock Option Repricing

 

Our 2004 Stock Incentive Plan provides that, without the approval of shareholders, outstanding stock options may not be repriced. Moreover, the Company has not repriced stock options and, although there remain stock option awards outstanding under other prior stock plans that do not prohibit the Committee from repricing stock options, the Committee’s philosophy remains unchanged and it does not intend to reprice any outstanding options. Additionally, neither the Company nor the Committee has ever back-dated stock options to maximize value to the recipients.

 

Stock Ownership Requirements

 

The Committee believes that stock ownership will better align the interests of our executives, including the Named Executive Officers, with those of our shareholders by enhancing the focus of

 

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executives on the long-term success of the Company. We require our executives to achieve and maintain a minimum amount of stock ownership acquired primarily through the exercise of options and the receipt of retention stock or retention stock units under our equity compensation programs. Our Stock Ownership Guidelines require the CEO and the Chairman to hold seven times salary and the other Named Executive Officers to hold four times annual salary in stock or stock units. Until the required ownership target is achieved, executives must retain all of the shares of stock they receive from our plans net of the shares of stock required, if any, to cover tax expense and the cost of exercising options. We do not include the following types of equity interests when calculating stock ownership under these guidelines: (i) unexercised stock options, (ii) unvested retention shares or units, and (iii) any investment in the Company stock fund under the Thrift Plan, the Supplemental Thrift Plan and the Executive Incentive Deferral Plan. As of December 31, 2006, all of the Named Executive Officers are within the stock ownership policy guidelines.

 

Trading in Derivatives of our Stock

 

Executive officers (including the Named Executive Officers) subject to Section 16 reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) are generally prohibited from, and the Committee discourages, (i) buying, selling or writing puts, calls or options related to our common stock and (ii) executing straddles, equity swaps and similar derivative arrangements linked to our common stock. However, the Committee will review any such proposed transaction that does not otherwise violate Company policies or applicable laws and regulations, and the Committee may approve the transaction if there is a compelling reason underlying the proposal. Additionally, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, reject these transactions or arrangements or require modifications prior to approval.

 

Sales of our Common Stock by Executive Officers under Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans

 

Executive officers (including the Named Executive Officers) who meet their applicable ownership target as described above may sell shares of our common stock subject to the following restrictions:

 

   

Executive officers may only sell shares of our common stock that exceed their ownership target (Eligible Shares);

 

   

Eligible Shares may only be sold pursuant to a written trading plan designed to comply with SEC Rule 10b5-1, and that:

 

   

was adopted when a quarterly trading blackout was not in effect and when such executive officer was not in possession of material nonpublic information regarding the Company,

 

   

has been reviewed and approved by the General Counsel’s office,

 

   

has been disclosed to the public in a manner determined by the General Counsel’s office (public disclosure may not be required for certain executives who are not executive officers), and

 

   

has been in effect for at least 20 trading days from the date of disclosure of the trading plan to the public or approval by the General Counsel’s office for trading plans not announced.

 

   

The total sales by an executive officer of Eligible Shares during any calendar year may not exceed:

 

   

15% of the total shares of the common stock beneficially owned by such executive officer on December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year in the case of executive officers younger than 62 at the time of any such sale, or

 

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30% of the total shares of the common stock beneficially owned by such executive officer on December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year in the case of executive officers who are age 62 or older at the time of any such sale.

 

For purposes of this policy, the number of shares beneficially owned by an executive officer includes shares and units deferred by the executive officer and excludes any shares the executive officer has disclaimed for Section 16 reporting purposes. All of the reporting obligations of the executive officer under Section 16 of the Exchange Act apply to sales made pursuant to a 10b5-1 trading plan.

 

Financial Restatement

 

In February 2007, the Board of Directors adopted a policy that authorizes the Board, in consultation with the Audit Committee, to examine circumstances surrounding a restatement of all or a portion of our financial statements. The Board, in consultation with the Compensation and Benefits Committee, may make retroactive adjustments to any cash or equity-based incentive compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers and certain other executives where the payment was predicated upon the achievement of certain financial results that were subsequently the subject of restatement of our financial statements. The Board will take appropriate action to recover any amount determined to have been inappropriately received by the individual executive.

 

Deductibility of Performance-Based Compensation

 

The Committee has, where it deems appropriate, taken steps to preserve the deductibility of performance-based compensation to the CEO and certain executive officers. In order to allow for deductibility under section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the Code), annual bonus and performance stock unit awards are subject to operating income criteria (as defined under the programs), and stock options are granted under a plan designed to satisfy the requirements of section 162(m) of the Code for performance-based compensation. However, salary, taxable perquisites and other taxable compensation is not deductible to the extent that it exceeds $1 million in any year for the CEO and other Named Executive Officers, and the Committee may award other forms of non-deductible compensation when it believes that such grants are in the best interest of the shareholders, balancing tax efficiency with long-term strategic objectives.

 

Management’s Role in the Compensation Process

 

Management’s role in the compensation process is twofold. First, management conducts its annual operating planning process that allows management to determine and recommend performance criteria and award levels for the annual cash bonus and long-term incentive compensation programs for the upcoming performance year. Second, the CEO and SVP-HR make recommendations to the Committee regarding the Total Direct Compensation of the other Named Executive Officers based upon a review and consideration of Company performance and the performance of each Named Executive Officer for the past year.

 

Management’s planning process for developing our annual operating plan encompasses all departments and includes the consideration of many quantitative and qualitative factors, including the Company’s financial results and Railroad operations during the prior year; safety, business and leadership initiatives; customer service; strategic initiatives; economic indicators; forecasted demand and volume growth; capital expenditures; competitive market; and business forecasts. An integral part of this operating planning process is the establishment of departmental goals and objectives and individual goals and objectives for the Named Executive Officers and other executives that together allow us to meet the performance objectives of the Company’s annual operating plan.

 

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In January of each year, management presents the proposed operating plan to the Board. Based on the Board’s approval of the Company’s operating plan, the CEO and SVP-HR, propose to the Committee suggested performance criteria and performance targets for the annual cash bonus and long-term incentive compensation programs for the upcoming year. Subsequent to Board approval of the operating plan, the Committee reviews these proposals and recommends performance targets to the Board of Directors for approval. Periodically during the year, the CEO reviews year-to-date performance with each of the other Named Executive Officers.

 

At the end of the performance year, management, including the CEO and SVP-HR, reviews the Company’s performance and proposes annual cash bonus pool-funding recommendations to the Committee (excluding any amounts for the Chairman and CEO, which determination is reserved for the Committee taking into account the advice of its consultant). The CEO reviews the performance of the other Named Executive Officers and competitive data of Total Direct Compensation prepared by the SVP-HR (and reviewed by the Committee’s consultant) prior to making recommendations for consideration by the Committee. The Committee’s consultant presents to the Committee competitive analyses regarding the Total Direct Compensation of the Chairman and the CEO, which the consultant performs without any participation of, input from or prior review by the CEO and Chairman.

 

Finally, prior to consideration by the Committee and, as necessary, the Board, the CEO reviews any recommendations that the SVP-HR (with any input from the consultant) may make regarding the compensation mix, award types, vesting requirements, targeted percentiles, and any other features of the Company’s compensation arrangements applicable to the other Named Executive Officers.

 

Named Executive Officer Compensation and Company Performance for 2006

 

In 2006, we improved operations, continued our commitment to safety, and achieved many financial milestones. Revenue, operating income, and net income all reached record levels. We also made significant progress in improving operational efficiency and customer service, which in turn contributed to the financial results.

 

Under Mr. Young’s leadership, the Railroad recorded revenue of $15.6 billion, setting records for both the Company and the industry. Improved pricing, fuel cost recovery, and volume growth all contributed to these record revenues. Economic conditions in the U.S. were generally healthy during 2006, producing record volume despite softening markets during the latter part of the year for certain industrial products and in our automotive and domestic intermodal markets. We generated record operating income of $2.9 billion in 2006, an improvement of over $1 billion, or 61%, from the previous year. Our operating ratio improved over 5 points for the year to 81.5%, which demonstrates improving network performance and successful cost-control initiatives in addition to our record revenue levels. Our financial condition also improved in 2006, as evidenced by a 30.7% debt-to-capital ratio (an industry best among U.S. Class I Railroads), all-time record cash from operations of $2.9 billion, and free cash flow after dividends of $516 million, which more than doubled from 2005.2 These record results also translated into a 16% year-over-year increase of our market value to $24.8 billion as of December 31, 2006.

 

We also focused substantial efforts on several key management initiatives to improve operations during the year. Ongoing enhancements to our Unified Plan (a comprehensive restructuring of our transportation plan that began in 2005), terminal processing initiatives, including CIMS (Customer Inventory Management System), and capital projects all resulted in improved asset utilization, network fluidity, customer service, and operating reliability. Average terminal dwell time improved by 5%, and

 


2

 

Free cash flow is not considered a financial measure under GAAP by SEC Regulation G and Item 10 of SEC Regulation S-K. For a reconciliation to GAAP, please see Item 7 of the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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we improved car utilization (measured by car-cycle times) by 4%, both of which indicate better asset utilization. Additionally, average train speed improved by 1%. These operating metrics demonstrate better overall operations and our improved ability to recover from weather and other events that adversely affect our network and operations.

 

We operated a safer railroad in 2006, which is critical to our employees, customers, shareholders, and the communities in which we operate. In spite of the fact that volume and carloadings increased during 2006, our employee injury rate per 200,000 man-hours dropped to its lowest level ever, which also reduced the number of lost workdays. A continued focus on derailment prevention in 2006 resulted in a 17% reduction in the number of incidents with associated costs declining 13%. The number of grade crossing incidents, however, increased 5% during the year as both rail and highway traffic volumes continue to grow and communities expand.

 

Our Company’s achievements in 2006 reflect the leadership and efforts of our senior management team under the direction of Mr. Young, our CEO. Each Named Executive Officer played an integral role in the oversight and execution of the Company’s strategic initiatives and the operational improvement throughout the organization. In addition, Messrs. Knight, Duffy and Hemmer, as department heads, have oversight and accountabilities for specific operational performance within their respective areas of responsibility.

 

Mr. Knight, as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, was responsible for all financial activities of the Company and Railroad, including the functional operations of treasury, accounting, tax, insurance and real estate. Mr. Knight provided leadership for the 2006 financial planning process. The Company’s financial plan resulted in record setting performance with an improved focus on cost and productivity. Mr. Knight and his team also provided critical financial analyses to drive the Company’s short-term and long-term strategic business decisions in areas including pricing and profitability, capital spending, network resource allocation and overall positioning of the Company’s financial standing. He successfully fulfilled his fiduciary role with respect to financial oversight, and insured the integrity of all reported results through enhanced internal controls and full compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

Mr. Duffy, Executive Vice President of Operations, was responsible for the safe operation of more than 3,300 daily trains throughout our 23-state rail network. He was also in charge of all transportation support services, including management and maintenance of locomotives, railcars, rail infrastructure, train dispatching, and crews. Under Mr. Duffy’s leadership, the fluidity and efficiency of the Railroad’s network improved substantially, which allowed us to handle record volume levels. Mr. Duffy also successfully led the realignment of the Railroad’s operating regions to more efficiently utilize critical resources. Overall safety performance improved during 2006 due to Mr. Duffy’s continued focus on employee safety and derailment prevention initiatives.

 

Mr. Hemmer, Senior Vice President Law and General Counsel, was responsible for all legal and compliance activities for the Company and its subsidiaries, including claims and litigation, regulatory and environmental compliance, ethics, commercial relationships, corporate financings, and corporate governance. Mr. Hemmer played a leadership role in policymaking for the rail industry, including developing regulatory and safety initiatives. Mr. Hemmer oversaw development and implementation of our new compliance program designed to meet ethical, legal and regulatory standards and requirements. Mr. Hemmer and his legal team enhanced their support activities to become a stronger business partner with other Company departments.

 

Our customers benefited from the commercial and operating strategies implemented by Mr. Young and his senior team to deliver consistent, reliable rail service. As recognition of our service improvement, customers rated us higher on their satisfaction surveys during 2006. Our shareholders

 

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also benefited, and will continue to benefit, from these efforts to produce solid financial returns and a viable, successful Company for the future.

 

In Mr. Davidson’s final year as Chairman of the Board, he accomplished several key priorities, namely to complete the leadership transition with Mr. Young, to assist in recruiting directors to the Board, and to spend time with operating managers. The transition of leadership began with Mr. Young assuming the CEO position at the outset of 2006. Mr. Davidson worked with Mr. Young and his leadership team to successfully complete this transition in a seamless and transparent manner. Mr. Davidson also placed emphasis on finding directors who would complement the skills and experience of the current Board members. This priority was accomplished with the successful recruitment of three new directors, General Krulak and Messrs. Card and McLarty. Finally, Mr. Davidson spent a significant amount of time working with operating managers at all levels, both in the field and at headquarters, to transfer his many years of knowledge and experience dealing with a wide range of operating and management issues.

 

The Committee, along with its consultant, reviewed the performance of the CEO and the other Named Executive Officers. Based on the Committee’s review of the Company’s overall performance and the achievement of certain individual goals and objectives described above, and exercising prudent judgment without assigning specific weights to any one factor, the Committee determined the following compensation for the CEO and the other Named Executive Officers for 2006 and set certain aspects of their compensation for 2007.

 

Base Salary

 

Mr. Young. Mr. Young’s base salary of $1,000,000, which was effective January 1, 2006, upon his election as CEO, was set below the 25th percentile of the Peer Group. In January 2007, the Committee, along with its consultant, reviewed Mr. Young’s base salary against that of the Peer Group, Mr. Young’s performance noted above, and his election as Chairman of the Board. The Committee increased his salary to $1,100,000, effective February 1, 2007.

 

Mr. Knight. The Committee reviewed Mr. Knight’s salary recommendation in September 2006. The Committee increased his salary to $400,000, which was below the 25th percentile of the Peer Group. His salary previously was reviewed in March 2005. The Committee believed that Mr. Knight’s salary was appropriate because of his short tenure as CFO. The Committee also planned to review his salary again in January in accordance with its new policy mandating an annual review of all executive salaries. In January 2007, Mr. Knight’s salary was increased to $420,000, effective March 1, 2007.

 

Mr. Davidson. Mr. Davidson’s base salary was last reviewed in May 2005, and increased to $1,450,000 effective June 2005. The Committee did not review Mr. Davidson’s salary in 2006 due to his upcoming retirement.

 

Mr. Duffy. Mr. Duffy’s salary recommendation was reviewed by the Committee in September 2006. His last review was in March 2005. The Committee increased his salary to $575,000, which was set slightly above the median of the Peer Group due to the critical nature of his role with the Company. In January 2007, the Committee determined that Mr. Duffy’s current salary was appropriate.

 

Mr. Hemmer. The Committee reviewed Mr. Hemmer’s salary recommendation in September 2006. His prior review was in March 2005. The Committee increased his salary to $435,000, which was set slightly above the 25th percentile of the Peer Group. In January 2007, Mr. Hemmer’s salary was increased to $443,000, effective March 1, 2007.

 

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Table of Contents

Annual Cash Bonus

 

Under our annual bonus program, a total of $7,190,000 was awarded to the Named Executive Officers for the 2006 performance year, based on our internal measure of average network velocity and annual operating income growth. The bonus amount for each of the Named Executive Officers is set forth in the Summary Compensation Table on page 41. In determining the annual bonus amount for each of the Named Executive Officers, the Committee, in its discretion, based its decision on an evaluation of corporate and individual performance as appropriate for each of the Named Executive Officers, including accomplishments in the areas of safety, service to our customers, value to our shareholders, financial performance, and leadership as described above.

 

Performance Stock Units

 

Under the 2006 performance stock unit grant, each of the Named Executive Officers (except for Mr. Davidson, who did not receive a performance stock unit grant due to his retirement) earned one-third of the target number of stock units granted to them. This award was based on ROIC, as adjusted, of 8.2% as reported in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. These stock unit amounts are included as Earned Performance Stock Units in the Stock Awards column of the Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table and consist of 7,000 units for Mr. Young with a market value of $644,140, 1,600 units for Mr. Knight with a market value of $147,232, 1,600 units for Mr. Duffy with a market value of $147,232, and 1,167 units for Mr. Hemmer with a market value of $107,387. These units, although earned, do not vest until January 26, 2009.

 

Consistent with its stated objective to target 25% of long-term compensation as performance stock units, the Committee, at its January 2007 meeting, awarded the Named Executive Officers, except Mr. Davidson, the performance stock units shown in the table below. The Committee set new performance targets for the 2007 performance stock unit grant, with the other basic terms remaining identical to those granted in 2006, including annual ROIC as the performance measure.

 

Name and Principal Position


   Threshold

   Target

   Maximum

James R. Young
President & CEO

   7,734    15,468    30,936

Robert M. Knight, Jr.
EVP Finance & CFO

   2,192    4,383    8,766

Dennis J. Duffy
EVP Operations

   2,192    4,383    8,766

J. Michael Hemmer
SVP Law & General Counsel

   1,676    3,351    6,702

 

Stock Awards

 

Consistent with its stated objective to target 25% of long-term compensation as retention stock units and 50% of long-term compensation as stock options, the Committee, at its January 2007 meeting, awarded Mr. Young 15,467 retention stock units and 134,286 stock options, Mr. Knight 3,351 retention stock units and 29,097 stock options, Mr. Duffy 4,726 retention stock units and 41,031 stock options and Mr. Hemmer 3,007 retention stock units and 26,112 stock options.

 

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Table of Contents

Compensation Committee Report

 

The Committee reviewed and discussed with management the CD&A and, based on that review and discussion, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the CD&A be included in the Company’s 2007 Proxy Statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

The Compensation and Benefits Committee

 

Thomas J. Donohue, Chair

Erroll B. Davis, Jr.

Michael W. McConnell

Steven R. Rogel

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table provides a summary of compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to the Named Executive Officers, including salary, bonus, the value of stock awards and option awards and other compensation for 2006.

 

Name and Principal
Position


  Year

  Salary

  Bonus

  Stock
Awards (a)


  Option
Awards (a)


  Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings (b)


  All Other
Compensation (c)


  Total
Compensation


James R. Young
President & CEO

  2006   $ 1,000,000   $ 2,250,000   $ 1,867,466   $ 2,018,460   $ 1,075,718   $ 70,393   $ 8,282,037

Robert M. Knight, Jr.
EVP Finance & CFO

  2006     366,666     800,000     405,630     418,165     396,786     20,201     2,407,448

Richard K. Davidson
Chairman

  2006     1,450,000     2,500,000     1,743,022     276,689     1,388,175     426,619     7,784,505

Dennis J. Duffy
EVP Operations

  2006     541,667     915,000     368,050     601,262     199,614     45,362     2,670,955

J. Michael Hemmer
SVP Law & General Counsel

  2006     411,667     725,000     455,426     361,953     338,651     33,502     2,326,199

(a)   Amounts reported reflect the compensation cost of Stock Awards and Option Awards calculated under applicable accounting standards for the 2006 fiscal year. Stock Awards consist of a portion of the expected number of performance stock units and retention stock units awarded, including retention stock units awarded in prior years. Option Awards include stock options granted in prior years. Refer to the Grants of Plan Based Awards Table on page 43 for more information on the Stock Awards and Option Awards granted in 2006. The following table shows the assumptions used to calculate the compensation cost of Option Awards.

 

FAS 123(R) assumptions for grant year:


   2006

  2005

Risk-free interest rate

   4.5%   3.7%

Dividend yield

   1.4%   2.0%

Expected life (years)

   6.8   4.8

Volatility

   26.9%   20.9%

Grant date fair value of options granted

   $27.51   $11.51

 

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Table of Contents
(b)   The amounts reported for Messrs. Young, Davidson and Hemmer are the aggregate change in the actuarial present value of their accumulated benefit under the Company’s Pension Plan and Supplemental Pension Plan, based on assumptions that are explained in our discussion of Pension Benefits at 2006 Fiscal Year-End on page 46. For Mr. Knight, $130 is attributable to above-market interest accrued under our Executive Incentive Deferral Plan and $396,656 is the aggregate change in accumulated pension benefit. For Mr. Duffy, $435 is above-market interest accrued under our Executive Incentive Deferral Plan and $199,245 is the aggregate change in accumulated pension benefit. The above-market interest accruals arise under the Company Fixed Rate Fund, which bears interest based on bond yield averages that correspond to the Company’s borrowing rate. The Fixed Rate Fund earned 6.623% in 2006, of which 0.863% was attributable to above “market rate” interest calculated under SEC rules. The Company intends to eliminate above-market interest in 2007.
(c)   The following table provides a summary of the All Other Compensation column that includes all perquisites.

 

Summary of All Other Compensation

 

    Perquisites

   

Name and Principal
Position


  Year

  Use of
Corporate
Aircraft (i)


  Tax and
Financial
Counseling
Services


 

Tax

Reimbursements (ii)


  Life
Insurance
Premiums


  Company
Matched Thrift
Plan
Contributions


 

Total

All Other

Compensation


James R. Young President & CEO

  2006   $ 10,138   $ 12,330   $ 2,578   $ 21,947   $ 23,400   $ 70,393

Robert M. Knight, Jr. EVP Finance & CFO

  2006     0     8,635     2,087     5,079     4,400     20,201

Richard K. Davidson
Chairman

  2006     312,350     33,667     2,926     40,776     36,900     426,619

Dennis J. Duffy
EVP Operations

  2006     0     18,981     2,223     14,508     9,650     45,362

J. Michael Hemmer SVP Law & General Counsel

  2006     0     8,892     2,122     16,738     5,750     33,502
 
  (i)   The aggregate incremental cost for Use of Corporate Aircraft is computed by multiplying the variable cost per air mile by the number of miles used for travel other than for Company business (including empty plane miles). The variable cost per air mile is the cost incurred for flying the plane divided by the number of miles flown. Costs may include jet fuel, catering, or pilot personal expenses.
  (ii)   This amount includes the gross up for Medicare tax paid on the Company’s contributions to a supplemental thrift plan and the gross-up for excess liability insurance premiums.
 

Annual bonuses are awarded under the Executive Incentive Plan, which allows the Committee to establish performance criteria annually in order to adjust to the changing business climate; provided that annual bonuses may not exceed 0.25% of operating income for the CEO or 0.15% of operating income for each other “covered employee” who is subject to section 162(m) of the Code. For 2006, the Committee used the Company’s internal measure of average network velocity and annual operating income growth to determine the amount of the annual incentive pool (the aggregate amount payable to all participants including the Named Executive Officers). Bonuses for the Named Executive Officers are paid from this incentive pool and are based upon an evaluation of a combination of corporate and individual performance as determined by the Committee as more fully described on pages 29-30 of the CD&A.

 

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Table of Contents

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2006

 

The following table sets forth additional information concerning Stock Awards and Option Awards reported in the Summary Compensation Table as part of the Named Executive Officers’ compensation for 2006.

 

Name and Principal
Position


  Grant Date

 

Award Type


  Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive Plan
Awards


  All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units


  All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options


  Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards (a)


 

Grant

Date

Closing
Market
Price


  Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
and Option
Awards (b)


      Threshold

  Target

  Maximum

         

James R. Young
President & CEO

  1/26/2006
1/26/2006
1/26/2006
 

Performance Stock Units

Retention Stock Units

Stock Options

  10,500   21,000   42,000   21,500   220,500   $ 86.05   $ 86.29   $
 
 
1,807,050
1,850,075
6,066,065

Robert M. Knight, Jr
EVP Finance & CFO

  1/26/2006
1/26/2006
1/26/2006
 

Performance Stock Units

Retention Stock Units

Stock Options

  2,400   4,800   9,600   4,300   44,100     86.05     86.29    
 
 
413,040
370,015
1,213,213

Richard K. Davidson
Chairman

  1/26/2006
1/26/2006
1/26/2006
 

Performance Stock Units

Retention Stock Units

Stock Options

  0   0   0   0   0     0     0     0

Dennis J. Duffy
EVP Operations

  1/26/2006
1/26/2006
1/26/2006
 

Performance Stock Units

Retention Stock Units

Stock Options

  2,400   4,800   9,600   5,900   60,600     86.05     86.29    
 
 
413,040
507,695
1,667,136

J. Michael Hemmer
SVP Law & General
Counsel

  1/26/2006
1/26/2006
1/26/2006
 

Performance Stock Units

Retention Stock Units

Stock Options

  1,750   3,500   7,000   3,700   37,500     86.05     86.29    
 
 
301,175
318,385
1,031,644

(a)   The Exercise Price is computed by averaging the high and low trading prices of our common stock on January 26, 2006, the date of grant.
(b)   Amounts reported reflect grant date fair value as calculated under applicable accounting standards. Performance Stock Units are valued based on expected performance achieved. Refer to Footnote (a) to the Summary Compensation Table on page 41 for the assumptions made in calculating the grant date fair value of Stock Options.

On January 26, 2006, the Committee granted performance stock units, retention stock units and stock options to each of the Named Executive Officers other than Mr. Davidson. Performance stock units actually earned will be subject to continued employment through January 26, 2009 and the attainment of pre-established levels of annual ROIC for a three-year performance period covering fiscal years 2006 through 2008. The level of ROIC achieved each fiscal year determines the number of stock units earned. At the end of year one of the performance period, the executive may earn up to one-third of the target number of stock units granted to him or her based on the first year of ROIC performance achieved. At the end of year two, the executive may earn additional stock units up to a total of two-thirds of the target number of stock units granted to him or her based on the average of the first two years of ROIC performance achieved. During year three of the performance period, the executive may earn additional stock units up to two hundred percent of the target number of stock units granted to him or her based on the average of all three years of ROIC performance achieved. If the threshold ROIC level is not met, executives are not entitled to any payout of their performance stock units.

 

Performance stock units that have been earned over the three year performance period will be paid out in Company stock after the end of the performance period, subject to the executive’s continued employment. Dividend equivalents are paid on the stock units earned during the performance period at the same rate as dividends are paid on our common stock. In addition, a participant may elect to defer both the payment of the stock units earned and the dividends on those stock units after the end of the performance period.

 

One-third of each stock option grant vests each year over a three-year period from the grant date of January 26, 2006 and the retention stock units vest on January 26, 2010, in each case subject to continued employment. The maximum term of the stock options is 10 years. Vesting or forfeiture of these awards may occur upon termination of employment or a change in control.

 

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Table of Contents

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2006 Fiscal Year-End

 

The following table sets forth additional information concerning Option Awards and Stock Awards held by the Named Executive Officers as of our most recent fiscal year-end, including awards granted during 2006 and described in the tables above.

 

    Option Awards

  Stock Awards

                    Earned Performance
Stock Units and
Retention Units


  Performance Stock Units

Name and Principal Position


 

Number of
Securities

Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(Exercisable)


  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(Unexercisable)
(a)


  Option
Exercise
Price


  Option
Expiration
Date


  Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock
Held That
Have Not
Vested (a)


  Market Value
of Shares or
Units of
Stock Held
That Have
Not Vested (c)


  Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units, or
Other Rights
That Have Not
Vested (b)


  Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or
Payout Value of
Unearned
Shares, Units, or
Other Rights
That Have Not
Vested (c)


James R. Young
President & CEO

  0
165,000
100,000
44,080
22,361
29,673
17,595
2,004
32,996
200
  220,500
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
  $
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
86.05
59.12
65.10
67.13
66.24
61.14
80.52
49.88
49.88
55.00
  1/26/2016
1/27/2015
1/29/2014
1/30/2013
1/30/2013
1/31/2012
1/31/2012
1/25/2011
1/25/2011
4/30/2008
  44,630   $ 4,106,853   35,000   $ 3,220,700

Robert M. Knight, Jr.
EVP Finance & CFO

  0
50,000
25,000
6,240
5,261
6,181
13,360
5,741
2,004
14,996
309
200
  44,100
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
86.05
59.12
65.10
67.13
69.45
66.24
61.14
77.12
49.88
49.88
47.50
55.00
  1/26/2016
1/27/2015
1/29/2014
1/30/2013
1/30/2013
1/30/2013
1/31/2012
1/31/2012
1/25/2011
1/25/2011
11/19/2008
4/30/2008
  9,218     848,240   8,000     736,160

Richard K. Davidson
Chairman

  325,000
325,000
291,336
200,000
2,004
147,996
100,000
200
  0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
59.12
65.10
66.24
61.14
49.88
49.88
47.50
55.00
  1/27/2015
1/29/2014
1/30/2013
1/31/2012
1/25/2011
1/25/2011
11/19/2008
4/30/2008
  86,489     7,958,718   0     0

Dennis J. Duffy
EVP Operations

  0
100,000
85,000
37,508
28,923
8,325
36,888
200
  60,600
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
86.05
59.12
65.10
67.13
66.24
61.14
77.12
55.00
  1/26/2016
1/27/2015
1/29/2014
1/30/2013
1/30/2013
1/31/2012
1/31/2012
4/30/2008
  7,500     690,150   8,000     736,160

J. Michael Hemmer
SVP Law & General Counsel

  0
50,000
25,000
  37,500
0
0
   
 
 
86.05
59.12
65.10
  1/26/2016
1/27/2015
1/29/2014
  14,084     1,296,010   5,833     536,753

(a)   The following table reflects the scheduled vesting dates for all unvested stock options as shown in the Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (Unexercisable) column and unvested stock units as shown in the Number of Shares or Units of Stock Held That Have Not Vested column in the above table.

 

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Table of Contents

Name and Principal Position


   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised and
Unvested Options (i)


   Option Vest
Date


   Number of Units
or Stock Held
That Have Not
Vested (ii)


   Unit Vest
Date


James R. Young
President & CEO

   73,500
73,500
73,500
   1/26/2009
1/26/2008
1/26/2007
   21,500
7,000
16,130
   1/26/2010
1/29/2009
1/31/2007

Robert M. Knight, Jr.
EVP Finance & CFO

   14,700
14,700
14,700
   1/26/2009
1/26/2008
1/26/2007
   4,300
1,600
3,318
   1/26/2010
1/29/2009
1/31/2007

Richard K. Davidson
Chairman

             17,364
60,807
8,318
   1/30/2007
1/29/2007
1/29/2007

Dennis J. Duffy
EVP Operations

   20,200
20,200
20,200
   1/26/2009
1/26/2008
1/26/2007
   5,900
1,600
   1/26/2010
1/31/2009

J. Michael Hemmer
SVP Law & General Counsel

   12,500
12,500
12,500
   1/26/2009
1/26/2008
1/26/2007
   3,700
1,167
9,217
   1/26/2010
1/29/2009
1/31/2007
 
  (i)   Reflects a stock option grant that vests one-third of the total each year for three years from the date of grant.
  (ii)   Reflects performance stock units granted on January 26, 2006 that have been earned, but not yet vested and paid out, and unvested retention stock units as of December 31, 2006.

 

(b)   Reflects unearned performance stock units remaining under the grant of performance stock units on January 26, 2006. These performance stock units are subject to a three-year performance period ending December 31, 2008.
(c)   Reflects the closing price per share of the Common Stock on the last business day of the fiscal year multiplied by the number of shares. The closing price per share was $92.02 on December 29, 2006.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal Year 2006

 

The following table shows a summary of the stock options exercised by the Named Executive Officers and stock awards that vested during the year.

 

     Option Awards

   Stock Awards

Name and Principal Position


   Number of
Shares Acquired
on Exercise


   Value Realized
Upon
Exercise (a)


   Number of Shares
Acquired on
Vesting (b)


   Value Realized
Upon
Vesting (a)


James R. Young
President & CEO

   18,000    $ 807,120    4,020
40,000
   $
 
352,273
3,358,400

Robert M. Knight, Jr.
EVP Finance & CFO

   3,000
5,691
    
 
91,290
243,290
   1,092
5,000
    
 
95,692
419,800

Richard K. Davidson
Chairman

   21,000
121,000
80,000
    
 
 
708,750
4,083,750
2,700,000
   89,818
95,000
    
 
7,870,751
7,976,200

Dennis J. Duffy
EVP Operations

   11,000
8,800
2,004
32,996
    
 
 
 
278,960
331,584
70,741
1,164,759
   13,666
40,000
    
 
1,197,552
3,358,400

J. Michael Hemmer
SVP Law & General Counsel

   20,000      780,400    7,770      653,435

(a)  

Value Realized Upon Exercise is calculated based upon the difference between the market price of the Company’s common stock at the time of exercise and the exercise price of the options,

 

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Table of Contents
 

and Value Realized Upon Vesting is based upon the average high and low price of the Company’s common stock on the vest date.

(b)   All of the stock units for the Named Executive Officers, except for 1,092 stock units owned by Mr. Knight and 7,770 stock units owned by Mr. Hemmer, have been deferred under the Deferral of Stock Award Gains Program. A description of the features of the Deferral of Stock Award Gains Program is set forth on page 49.

 

Pension Benefits at 2006 Fiscal Year-End

 

The table below sets forth the estimated present value of accumulated benefits payable under the Company’s defined benefit pension plans to the Named Executive Officers upon normal retirement at age 65 based on service and annual earnings (base salary and bonus, as described below) considered by the plans for the period through December 31, 2006. The present value was calculated as of December 31, 2006 based on the benefit at the normal retirement age of 65 paid in the form of a single life annuity. The present value factors used to determine the reported amounts are based on the RP-2000 Mortality Table projected to 2010 White Collar Table, split by gender, and the discount rate as disclosed in Note 7 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. For the year ended December 31, 2005, present value factors were based on the 1994 Group Annuity Table, split by gender, and the discount rate as disclosed in Note 6 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. For both mortality tables, no pre-retirement decrements (i.e., death, disability) were assumed.

 

Name and Principal Position


  

Plan Name


   Number of
Years of
Credited
Service


   Present
Value of
Accumulated
Benefit (a)


 

James R. Young
President & CEO

  

Basic Plan

Supplemental Plan

   28.6667
28.6667
   $
 
506,813
3,132,137
 
 

Robert M. Knight, Jr.
EVP Finance & CFO

  

Basic Plan

Supplemental Plan

   26.5833
26.5833
    
 
360,949
699,865
 
 

Richard K. Davidson
Chairman

  

Basic Plan

Supplemental Plan

   40.0000
40.0000
    
 
1,249,704
30,056,647
 
(b)

Dennis J. Duffy
EVP Operations

  

Basic Plan

Supplemental Plan

   33.3333
33.3333
    
 
673,812
3,098,270
 
 

J. Michael Hemmer
SVP Law & General Counsel

  

Basic Plan

Supplemental Plan

   4.3333
12.3333
    
 
0
748,465
(c)
 

(a)   Present values for Messrs. Davidson and Duffy are based on the single life annuity payable at age 65 and include the present values of the joint life benefit (amount payable to the surviving spouse upon participant’s death). As of December 31, 2006, Messrs. Young, Knight and Hemmer were not eligible for the surviving spouse benefit. We do not have a lump sum payment option under our plans.
(b)   A portion of the Supplemental Plan benefit will be reduced by the present value of annuities purchased by the Company for Mr. Davidson ($4,881,996) and not included in Note 7 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.
(c)   As of December 31, 2006, Mr. Hemmer did not have the required five years of vesting service to qualify for a Basic Plan benefit. As part of his employment offer, the Committee granted Mr. Hemmer eight additional years of credited service under the Supplemental Plan.

Pensions for our Named Executive Officers are provided through the Pension Plan for Salaried Employees of Union Pacific Corporation and Affiliates (Basic Plan) and the Supplemental Pension

 

46


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Plan for Officers and Managers of Union Pacific Corporation and Affiliates (Supplemental Plan). The pension benefit formula for both the Basic Plan and the Supplemental Plan is (i) 1.667% of final average compensation times credited service (up to 30 years), plus (ii) 1% of final average compensation times credited service above 30 years (not to exceed 40 years) minus (iii) 1.5% of Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefit times credited service (not to exceed 40 years). The amount of the annual pension benefit from both Plans is based upon final average compensation for the 36 consecutive months of highest regular compensation (base salary and up to three annual bonus plan awards within the 36-month period) within the 120-month period immediately preceding retirement. Credited service includes the years and months of service as a non-agreement employee and may include certain periods of agreement service or service with an acquired company.

 

The Supplemental Plan is an unfunded non-contributory plan that, unlike the Basic Plan, provides for the grant of additional years of service and deemed age, for the inclusion of compensation in excess of IRS prescribed limits ($220,000 for 2006) and deferred annual bonuses in the calculation of final average compensation and for any benefit in excess of limitations provided for under section 415(c) of the Code (for 2006, the lesser of 100% of the executive’s compensation or $175,000). The Committee may grant additional years of service and deemed age credit to any participant as it determines appropriate. As part of his employment offer, the Committee granted Mr. Hemmer eight additional years of credited service under the Supplemental Plan.

 

Prior to 1996, we purchased annuities to satisfy certain unfunded obligations under the Supplemental Plan to executives and certain other active and former employees and have paid the federal and state taxes on behalf of such persons imposed in connection with these purchases. The amounts payable under these annuities reduce our obligations under the Supplemental Plan.

 

Under both the Basic Plan and the Supplemental Plan, an executive’s age and vesting service upon termination of employment with the Company determines whether the executive is eligible for a normal retirement, early retirement, postponed retirement, or a vested benefit. Vesting service generally includes all service while an employee with the Company, whether or not the employment counts as credited service. Normal retirement is offered to employees who end their employment at or after age 65 and benefits are not reduced. Early retirement is offered to employees who end their employment between ages 55 and 65 and have at least ten years of vesting service. The benefit is reduced if payments begin before age 65, to reflect the expectation that benefits will be paid over a longer period of time. A vested benefit is offered to employees who end their employment before age 65 with at least five years of vesting service but less than ten years of vesting service. This benefit is available as early as age 55. The benefit is reduced if payments begin before age 65. However, those reductions will be greater than those applied if the employee was eligible for early retirement. Mr. Davidson retired on his normal retirement date at age 65 on February 1, 2007. As of December 31, 2006, Mr. Duffy was eligible for early retirement under both Plans and Messrs. Young and Knight were eligible for vested benefits under both Plans. Mr. Hemmer was eligible for early retirement under the Supplemental Plan.

 

Benefits from both Plans are normally paid as a single life annuity providing monthly benefits for the employee’s life. The employee may waive the single life annuity and receive the benefit in a different optional form. Subject to eligibility conditions, the available optional forms of benefit include: 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity; 10-Year Certain and Continuous or Level Income. The Plans do not offer a lump sum payment as an optional form. No Named Executive Officer received any payments under either Plan during 2006. Mr. Davidson is receiving his benefit, under both Plans, commencing on February 1, 2007 in the form of a single life annuity.

 

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Nonqualified Deferred Compensation at 2006 Fiscal Year-End

 

We have three non-qualified deferred compensation plans: the Supplemental Thrift Plan, the Executive Incentive Deferral Plan and the Deferral of Stock Award Gains Program. Each of these arrangements represents unfunded, unsecured obligations of the Company. The table below shows Named Executive Officer and Company allocations under these arrangements, earnings accrued on all amounts that the Named Executive Officers have deferred under the plans, and the balances under each plan as of December 31, 2006.

 

Name and Principal

Position


  Plan Name

   Executive
Contributions
in Last Fiscal
Year (a)


   Company
Contributions
in Last Fiscal
Year


   Aggregate
Earnings
in Last
Fiscal
Year (b)


   Aggregate
Balance at
Last Fiscal
Year End
(c)(d)


James R. Young

  Supplemental Thrift    $ 46,800    $ 23,400    $ 47,623    $ 331,267

President & CEO

  Executive Incentive Deferral      0      0      168,766      1,260,677
    Deferral of Stock Award Gains      3,617,326      0      611,274      5,780,621

Robert M. Knight, Jr.

  Supplemental Thrift      8,800      4,400      10,259      69,885

EVP Finance & CFO

  Executive Incentive Deferral      0      0      15,078      242,765
    Deferral of Stock Award Gains      409,239      0      192,754      1,496,633

Richard K. Davidson

  Supplemental Thrift      73,808      36,900      340,814      2,601,682

Chairman

  Executive Incentive Deferral      0      0      0      0
    Deferral of Stock Award Gains      15,448,391      0      5,615,752      46,829,739

Dennis J. Duffy

  Supplemental Thrift      19,300      9,650      75,194      504,723

EVP Operations

  Executive Incentive Deferral      0      0      63,504      904,594
    Deferral of Stock Award Gains      4,456,250      0      749,041      7,267,008

J. Michael Hemmer

  Supplemental Thrift      11,500      5,750      15,070      90,615

SVP Law & General

  Executive Incentive Deferral      0      0      0      0

Counsel

  Deferral of Stock Award Gains      0      0      0      0

(a)   Executive Contributions in the Last Fiscal Year under the Supplemental Thrift Plan are amounts that are also reported in the Salary column in the Summary Compensation Table. Executive contributions under the Deferral of Stock Award Gains Program are amounts that are also reported in the Value Realized Upon Vesting column of the Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table on page 45.
(b)   Aggregate Earnings under the Executive Incentive Deferral Plan include above-market interest for Mr. Knight of $130 and Mr. Duffy of $435, which amounts are also reported in the Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings column in the Summary Compensation Table. Aggregate Earnings on Deferral of Stock Award Gains represent appreciation in the value of Company stock and dividend equivalents, which are deemed to be reinvested in Company stock.
(c)   Amounts reported in Aggregate Balance at Last Fiscal Year End that were reported as salary in our 2006 Proxy Statement, but deferred under the Supplemental Thrift Plan are, for Mr. Young, $21,900; Mr. Knight, $13,167; Mr. Davidson, $71,900; Mr. Duffy, $49,333 and Mr. Hemmer, $10,900. The amount reported for Mr. Knight in Aggregate Balance at Last Fiscal Year End includes a $31,500 cash payout awarded under the 2001 Long Term Plan reported in our 2006 Proxy Statement but deferred under the Executive Incentive Deferral Plan.
(d)  

The Aggregate Balance at Last Fiscal Year End for the Deferral of Stock Award Gains Program represents 62,812 shares of Company stock for Mr. Young, 16,262 shares for Mr. Knight, 508,851 shares for Mr. Davidson, and 78,963 shares for Mr. Duffy. Prior to 2004, certain executives, including the Named Executive Officers, could elect to forego all or a portion of their bonus in exchange for retention stock units equal to 150% of the bonus amount forgone pursuant to the Executive Incentive Premium Exchange Program (PEP). The retention stock units were subject to a three-year employment requirement. The PEP was discontinued in 2004. Prior to vesting, these executives could elect to defer the payout of these retention stock units to a

 

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later date or until termination of employment under the Deferral of Stock Award Gains Program. Named Executive Officers were required to defer all of these retention stock units so long as they are employed by the Company.


Deferral Amounts

 

The Supplemental Thrift Plan is available to executives who otherwise participate in the Company’s Thrift Plan, which is a defined contribution plan intended to be a plan qualified under section 401(a) of the Code. The Thrift Plan permits executives to contribute on a pre-tax or after-tax basis amounts equal to from 2% to 50% of base salary through payroll deductions. An executive is not permitted to defer amounts from base salary under the terms of the Supplemental Thrift Plan until the executive has contributed the maximum amount to the Thrift Plan permitted under various IRS regulations. An executive who has elected to participate in the Supplemental Thrift Plan before the start of the calendar year in which one of these limits is reached will have payroll deductions on a pre-tax basis continued from his/her base pay for the remainder of the calendar year in an amount that may differ from the pre-tax and/or after-tax deferrals the executive elected to make to the Thrift Plan as of the first day of the calendar year. As with the Thrift Plan, the Company makes a matching contribution equal to 50 cents of each dollar an executive contributes to the Supplemental Thrift Plan for a pay period up to 6% of the executive’s base pay.

 

The Executive Incentive Deferral Plan allows for the pre-tax deferral of bonus amounts awarded under the Company’s Executive Incentive Plan. An executive must elect prior to June 30th of the calendar year for which the bonus amount is awarded whether to defer any or all of his or her bonus award for such year.

 

The Deferral of Stock Award Gains Program provides for the pre-tax deferral of payouts of performance stock units and/or retention stock units to a date later than the date as of which they vest. The value of each unit deferred is equivalent to that of Company common stock. These amounts are tracked through notional accounts, that are maintained by the Company. An executive must elect by the last day of the month that is 6 months prior to end of the first year of the three year performance period whether to defer the entire award of performance stock units earned. An executive must elect prior to the beginning of the calendar year for which a retention stock unit award is made to him or her whether to defer such award when it vests.

 

Rate of Return Provisions

 

Notional accounts in the Supplemental Thrift Plan and Executive Incentive Deferral Plan are deemed to be invested in one or more of 16 publicly available mutual funds, as well as a Company common stock fund, as selected by the participating executive. All notional accounts are administered by The Vanguard Group. Executives can generally transfer amounts between investment funds each business day. Earnings reflect the increase or decrease in the value of those investment funds and any interest or dividends earned by those funds, to the same extent as if amounts were actually invested in those investment funds. Additionally, notional accounts held in the Executive Incentive Deferral Plan can be invested in the Company’s Fixed Rate Fund that bears interest based on Bond Yield Average values corresponding to the Company’s borrowing rate at the latest year-end. The Bond Yield Average values correspond to the Company’s borrowing rate at the latest year-end. The Fixed Rate Fund interest rate (6.623% for 2006) is determined by summing the December Corporate and Utilities Bond Yield Average values for the last four years (8 total values) divided by 8.

 

Notional accounts in the Deferral of Stock Award Gains Program are invested in notional shares of the Company’s common stock. Amounts equivalent to the dividends paid on Company common stock are added to an executive’s notional account when actual dividends are paid and are credited as reinvested in additional notional shares unless the executive previously elected to receive such dividend equivalent payments in cash.

 

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Withdrawals and Distributions

 

The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 added section 409A to the Code. This section imposes complex new rules on nonqualified deferred compensation plans; in particular, concerning payouts, withdrawals and other distributions from such plans. These new rules apply to amounts contributed on and after January 1, 2005, to the Supplemental Thrift Plan, Executive Incentive Deferral Plan and Deferral of Stock Award Gains Program. Amounts held in notional accounts for these plans as of December 31, 2004, and subsequent earnings thereon are not covered by these new rules.

 

The Company is operating the Supplemental Thrift Plan, Executive Incentive Deferral Plan and Deferral of Stock Award Gains Program in accordance with section 409A of the Code transition rules provided by the IRS that expire on December 31, 2007. Currently, amounts subject to section 409A of the Code are not available for withdrawal or other distribution, except in the form of a single sum payment in the event of an executive’s termination of employment or pursuant to an election under which an executive can elect to receive amounts deferred in prior calendar years under the Executive Incentive Deferral Plan in a single sum payment in July of the calendar year next following the year of such election. Additionally, the Company is currently further delaying payments for a six month period following an executive’s termination of employment, in order to allow for compliance with the requirement under section 409A of the Code that certain executives, referred to as “key employees”, do not receive a pay out of their amounts prior to the expiration of this period. The Company expects to revise these procedures to reflect the final regulations issued by the IRS. It is anticipated that executives will be permitted under these revisions to make elections that could result in them receiving distributions of amounts subject to section 409A of the Code from the plans other than at termination of employment.

 

Amounts credited to the notional accounts for the respective plans as of December 31, 2004, and earnings thereon will be available for payout, withdrawal or other distribution in accordance with the terms of the plans in effect on October 3, 2004. These terms are summarized below.

 

The withdrawal and distribution terms are generally the same for the Supplemental Thrift Plan and Executive Incentive Deferral Plan, although these aspects of the plans are administered separately. An executive can take a withdrawal in cash from his or her notional account prior to termination of employment, provided that 10% of the amount withdrawn will be irrevocably forfeited by the executive. Following an executive’s termination of employment, the general rule is that an executive’s notional account in either plan is distributed in a single sum cash payment as soon as administratively practicable. However, an executive can elect at least 6 months prior to his or her termination of employment and in the calendar year preceding such termination that his or her notional account not subject to section 409A of the Code be paid: (1) in a single sum cash payment in January of the year next following his or her termination of employment, (2) in annual installments over a period not exceeding 15 years, with the initial installment being paid as soon as administratively practicable following the executive’s termination of employment or in January of the year next following such termination or (3) in a single sum cash payment at a specified future date not to exceed 15 years from the executive’s termination of employment. Additionally, unlike the Supplemental Thrift Plan, an executive has the opportunity to elect that his or her notional account in the Executive Incentive Deferral Plan be paid on a specified future date during employment, which the executive can change by making an election at least 6 months prior to the fixed payment date and in the calendar year preceding such date. The specified future date option may not be accelerated.

 

No withdrawals prior to termination of employment are permitted from the notional accounts maintained in connection with the Deferral of Stock Award Gains Program. The payout options related to an executive’s termination of employment are the same under the Deferral of Stock Award Gains Program as for the Executive Incentive Deferral Plan, except that all payments are made in Company common stock.

 

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Potential Payments Upon Termination, Change In Control or Death or Disability

 

The information below describes certain compensation that would have become payable by the Company under existing plans assuming a termination of employment or change in control and termination of employment occurred on December 31, 2006 (based upon the Company’s closing stock price on that date of $92.02), given the Named Executive Officers’ current compensation and service levels as of such date. Because Mr. Davidson retired from the Company on February 1, 2007, information is provided below on the benefits actually provided upon his termination of employment. The benefits discussed below are in addition to those generally available to all salaried employees, such as distributions under the qualified Pension Plan for Salaried Employees, health care benefits and disability benefits. In addition, these benefits do not take into account any arrangements that do not currently exist but may be offered by the Company in connection with an actual termination or a change in control or other factors that may vary from time to time. Due to the number of different factors that affect the nature and amount of any benefits provided in connection with these events, actual amounts payable to any of the Named Executive Officers should a termination or change in control occur during the year will likely differ, perhaps significantly, from the amounts reported below. Factors that could affect such amounts include the timing during the year of the event, the Company’s stock price, the target amounts payable under annual and long-term incentive arrangements that are in place at the time of the event, the executive’s age and prevailing tax rates.

 

Termination

 

In the event of the termination of the employment of any of the Named Executive Officers on December 31, 2006, for any reason, the executive would be entitled to the executive’s accumulated retirement benefits under the Basic and Supplemental Plans set forth in the Pension Benefits at 2006 Fiscal Year-End Table on page 46. Under both Plans, the executive must be at least age 55 and have 10 years of service (including deemed service under the Supplemental Plan) with the Company, or at least age 65 regardless of years of service, for benefits to be payable immediately; otherwise vested benefits are not payable until age 55. Assuming a termination date of December 31, 2006, Messrs. Duffy and Hemmer were eligible to begin benefits immediately at January 1, 2007. The monthly amount payable as a single life annuity under the Supplemental Plan for Mr. Duffy was $23,686 and Mr. Hemmer was $6,747. Assuming a termination date of December 31, 2006, Mr. Young would be eligible to begin his benefit on November 1, 2007 and Mr. Knight would be eligible to begin his benefit on October 1, 2012. The monthly amount payable as a single life annuity under the Supplemental Plan for Mr. Young would be $19,153 and Mr. Knight would be $5,727.

 

Each of the Named Executive Officers would also be entitled to the amount shown in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation at 2006 Fiscal Year-End Table on page 48. These amounts continue to be credited and debited through the actual payment date, so amounts may differ at the time of an actual termination or change in control.

 

For any unvested equity awards, the Committee may waive the related restriction period and/or employment requirements.

 

Mr. Davidson retired from the Company on February 1, 2007, and accordingly became entitled to receive payouts under the defined benefit pension and non-qualified deferred compensation plans described above. Mr. Davidson received no incremental benefits upon his retirement except that at the Committee’s recommendation and Board approval, the Company provided Mr. Davidson approximately $200,000 in start-up expenses to establish an office and for secretarial support. Thereafter, the Company will provide Mr. Davidson $10,000 per month for life to maintain an office with secretarial support.

 

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Change in Control

 

The Continuity Plan provides severance benefits to the Named Executive Officers in the event (i) a change in control occurs and (ii) the Named Executive Officer’s employment is terminated by the Company for reasons other than cause or by the Named Executive Officer for good reason within the two year period following a change in control. Under the Continuity Plan, a change in control means any of the following:

 

   

any “person,” as defined in the Exchange Act, becomes the “beneficial owner,” as defined in the Exchange Act, of 20% or more of our outstanding voting securities;

 

   

there is a change in 50% of the composition of the Board of Directors (such change must be due to new directors not recommended by the Board);

 

   

a merger, consolidation or reorganization that results in our shareholders holding 50% or less of the outstanding voting securities of the post-transaction entity; or

 

   

a liquidation, dissolution or sale of all or substantially all of our assets.

 

A termination is “for cause” if it is for any of the following reasons: (i) the Named Executive Officer has willfully and continually failed to substantially perform his duties or (ii) the Named Executive Officer has willfully engaged in conduct that is demonstrably injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise. A termination by the Named Executive Officer is for “good reason” if it is for any of the following reasons: (i) a material diminution in the Named Executive Officer’s duties, responsibilities or authority, (ii) a reduction in the Named Executive Officer’s base salary or annual bonus opportunity, (iii) a material reduction in the Named Executive Officer’s pension, thrift, medical or long term disability benefits or (iv) the failure by any successor to expressly assume and agree to perform under the Continuity Plan.

 

In the event of a qualifying termination of employment within two years following a change of control, each of the Named Executive Officers receives a lump sum severance payment equal to the sum of (i) his annual base salary in effect at the time of termination and (ii) the average annual bonus earned under the Executive Incentive Plan in the most recent three calendar years; multiplied by 3 for Mr. Young and by 2 for Messrs. Knight, Duffy, and Hemmer. The Continuity Plan also provides for automatic vesting in the Company’s Supplemental Plan and the receipt of an additional three years of age and service credit, not to exceed age 65 and 40 years of service.

 

The Continuity Plan provides that all restrictions on retention stock units awarded to each Named Executive Officer lapse and all unvested stock options granted to each Named Executive Officer vest and become exercisable for a period of three years (or five years if the Named Executive Officer is retirement eligible) from the Named Executive Officer’s termination date. In no event will the period exceed the remaining term of the option. For performance stock units, the Named Executive Officer receives a payout in stock at the greater of (i) the target level of ROIC performance achieved or (ii) the level of ROIC performance actually achieved through the end of each year prior to the date of the change in control and through the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of the change in control.

 

Other benefits under the Continuity Plan include the continuation of health insurance and dental insurance for three years reduced by any benefits received from a subsequent employer. Continuation of coverage under the Executive Life Insurance Plan depends upon the age of the Named Executive Officer at the time of his termination. If the Named Executive Officer has attained the age of 52 on his termination date, the Company will pay premiums for a life insurance policy (in an amount equal to one-half of the Named Executive Officer’s annual salary in effect prior to the termination date) until the policy is fully funded. If the Named Executive Officer will attain the age of 52 during the three-year

 

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period following his termination date, the Company will pay premiums for three years as though the Named Executive Officer were an active employee and upon reaching age 52, until the policy is fully funded. Assuming a termination date of December 31, 2006, the Company would pay premiums for a policy for Messrs. Duffy, Hemmer, and Young until the policy is fully funded. For Mr. Knight, assuming a termination date of December 31, 2006, the Company would pay premiums for three years as though Mr. Knight were an active employee and upon reaching age 52, until the policy is fully funded.

 

In the event that any payments made in connection with a change in control would be subjected to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, the Company will gross up the Named Executive Officer’s compensation for all excise taxes, but only where the value of the parachute amount is greater than 110% or three times the Named Executive Officer’s average annual taxable income for the years 2001 through 2005 (the base amount).

 

The table below sets forth the estimated value of the severance payments, welfare benefits, equity awards and additional pension benefits for each Named Executive Officer (excluding Mr. Davidson who retired February 1, 2007), assuming a change in control had occurred as of December 31, 2006, and the Named Executive Officer’s employment had immediately terminated as of that date. Amounts are reported without any reduction for possible delay in the commencement or timing of payments.

 

Name and Principal
Position


  Cash
Severance
Payment (a)


  Supplemental
Pension Plan
Enhancement (b)


  Accelerated
Vesting of
Stock
Options (c)


  Accelerated
Vesting of
Retention
Stock and
Performance
Stock
Units (d)


  Health and
Welfare
Benefits (e)


  Excise Tax
Gross Up
Payment (f)


  Pre-Tax
Total


James R. Young
President & CEO

  $ 4,950,000   $ 3,182,972   $ 1,316,385   $ 5,395,133   $ 88,947   $ 6,423,927   $ 21,357,364

Robert M. Knight, Jr.
EVP Finance & CFO

    1,293,333     390,917     263,277     1,142,704     49,071     1,255,797     4,395,100

Dennis J. Duffy
EVP Operations

    2,016,667     1,304,554     361,782     984,614     66,630     0     4,734,247

J. Michael Hemmer
SVP Law & General Counsel

    1,470,000     485,886     223,875     1,510,692     73,320     1,640,583     5,404,356

(a)   This amount is based on 2006 salary and three-year average bonus multiplied by the Continuity Plan severance multiple.
(b)   This amount represents the present value of an additional three years of service credit (up to a maximum of 40 years), three years of Supplemental Plan age (up to a maximum of 65 years), and reductions for early retirement.
(c)   This amount is based upon the difference between the exercise price of the options ($86.05) and the Company’s closing stock price on December 29, 2006, of $92.02.
(d)   This amount is based on the Company’s closing stock price on December 29, 2006, of $92.02 and assumes a payout of performance stock units at target level.
(e)   This amount includes the cost of medical premiums paid by the Company for three years and premiums for executive life insurance and assumes no benefit reduction from a subsequent employer.
(f)   The calculation of the gross-up payment values each of the benefits based on IRS regulations, assumes that each of the benefits is deemed to be made in connection with a change in control for purposes of these IRS regulations, and is based upon an excise tax rate of 20%, a combined individual federal and state income tax rate and employment tax rate of 43.8%, and each Named Executive Officer’s base amount.

 

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Death or Disability

 

In the event the Named Executive Officer ceases to be an employee by way of death or disability under the Company’s long-term disability plan, the Named Executive Officer receives a payout in stock equal to the number of performance stock units earned through the end of the fiscal year ending prior to the date of his death or disability. All unvested retention stock units and stock options shall vest immediately. The Named Executive Officer or his designated beneficiary will have the lesser of five years from the date of death or disability or the remaining life of the option to exercise any outstanding stock options.

 

Set forth below is the estimated value of the accelerated vesting of performance stock units, retention stock units and stock options for each Named Executive Officer (excluding Mr. Davidson who retired February 1, 2007).

 

Name and Principal Position


   Accelerated
Vesting of
Performance
Stock Units (a)


   Accelerated
Vesting of
Retention
Stock Units (b)


   Accelerated
Vesting of
Stock
Options (c)


James R. Young
President & CEO

   $ 644,140    $ 3,462,713    $ 1,316,385

Robert M. Knight, Jr.
EVP Finance & CFO

     147,232      701,008      263,277

Dennis J. Duffy
EVP Operations

     147,232      542,918      361,782

J. Michael Hemmer
SVP Law & General Counsel

     107,387      1,188,622      223,875

(a)   Amounts are calculated based on the Company’s closing stock price on December 29, 2006, of $92.02 multiplied by the performance stock units earned through the end of the 2006 performance year.
(b)   Amounts are calculated based on the Company’s closing stock price on December 29, 2006, of $92.02 multiplied by retention stock units that are unvested on December 31, 2006.
(c)   Amounts are calculated based on the number of option shares multiplied by the difference in the Company’s closing stock price on December 29, 2006, of $92.02 and the exercise price on the grant date.

Other Matters

 

Shareholder Proposals

 

Under SEC rules, any shareholder who wishes to present a proposal to be included in our Proxy Statement and introduced at our 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must submit the proposal to the Secretary of the Company no later than November 29, 2007, and must satisfy the other requirements of SEC Rule 14a-8. Any shareholder who wishes to bring a proposal before the Company’s next Annual Meeting of Shareholders, but does not wish to include it in the Company’s proxy materials under SEC Rule 14a-8, or who wishes to nominate one or more persons to serve as directors, must provide written notice of the proposal or intended nomination to the Secretary of the Company on or after January 4, 2008, and before February 3, 2008, and must otherwise comply with the Company’s By-Laws, a copy of which is available on the Company’s website at www.up.com/investors/governance, and a printed copy may be obtained by contacting the Secretary of the Company at the address set forth on the notice page of this Proxy Statement. If a shareholder wishing to make such a proposal or nomination fails to comply with the forgoing notice provision and does not also satisfy the requirements of SEC Rule 14a-4(c), the Company may exercise discretionary voting authority over proxies it solicits in determining how to vote on the proposal or nomination.

 

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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s executive officers and directors to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of the Company’s common stock with the SEC. Executive officers and directors are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all forms they file pursuant to Section 16(a). As a matter of practice, the Company’s administrative staff assists the Company’s executive officers and directors in preparing initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership and filing such reports with the SEC. Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms furnished to the Company and written representations from the Company’s executive officers and directors, the Company believes that all Section 16(a) filing requirements were met during 2006.

 

Delivery of Documents to Shareholders Sharing an Address

 

The broker, bank or other nominee for any shareholder who is a beneficial owner, but not the record holder, of the Company’s common stock may deliver only one copy of the Company’s Proxy Statement and annual report to multiple shareholders who share the same address, unless that broker, bank or other nominee has received contrary instructions from one or more of the shareholders. The Company will deliver promptly, upon written or oral request, a separate copy of the Proxy Statement and annual report to a shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the documents was delivered. A shareholder who wishes to receive a separate copy of the Proxy Statement and annual report, now or in the future, should submit their request to the Secretary of the Company by telephone at 402-544-5700 or by submitting a written request to the Secretary of the Company at the address listed below. Beneficial owners sharing an address who are receiving multiple copies of proxy materials and annual reports and wish to receive a single copy of such materials in the future will need to contact their broker, bank or other nominee to request that only a single copy of each document be mailed to all shareholders at the shared address in the future.

 

Availability of Annual Report on Form 10-K and Proxy Statement

 

If you would like an additional copy of the 2006 Annual Report or this Proxy Statement, these documents are available at www.up.com under the “Investors” caption link. Alternatively, any shareholder wishing to receive, without charge, a copy of any of our SEC filings or corporate governance materials should send a written request to: Secretary, Union Pacific Corporation, 1400 Douglas Street, 19th Floor, Omaha, NE 68179.

 

The references to the Company’s website in this Proxy Statement do not constitute, and should not be deemed, an incorporation by reference of the information contained on, or available through, the website. Therefore, such information should not be considered part of this Proxy Statement.

 

Other Business

 

Our Board does not currently intend to bring any other business before the Annual Meeting, and is not aware of any other business to be brought before the Annual Meeting. If any other business is properly brought before the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the proxy holders.

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote by telephone or Internet or complete, sign, date and promptly return the accompanying proxy card in the enclosed envelope.

 

Barbara W. Schaefer

Senior Vice President—Human Resources

and Secretary

 

55


Table of Contents

 

 

 

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Table of Contents
      LOGO
  LOGO    
    000004   000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext
LOGO   MR A SAMPLE     000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext
  DESIGNATION (IF ANY)     000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext
  ADD 1     Electronic Voting Instructions
  ADD 2    
  ADD 3     You can vote by Internet or telephone!
  ADD 4     Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
 

ADD 5

ADD 6

    Instead of mailing your Proxy, you may choose one of the two voting methods outlined below to vote your Proxy.
  LOGO    

 

VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR.

      Proxies submitted by the Internet or telephone must be received by 1:00 a.m., Central Time, on May 1, 2007.
    LOGO   Vote by Internet
     

•       Log on to the Internet and go to

     

www.investorvote.com

     

•       Follow the steps outlined on the secured website.

    LOGO   Vote by telephone
     

•       Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the United States, Canada & Puerto Rico any time on a touch tone telephone. There is NO CHARGE to you for the call.

•       Follow the instructions provided by the recorded message.

Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas.   x  

LOGO

 

êIF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. ê

 

A    Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all nominees in the election of Directors.

 

1. Election of Directors:

   For    Withhold       For    Withhold       For    Withhold

01 - A.H. Card, Jr.

   ¨    ¨    02 - E.B. Davis, Jr.    ¨    ¨    03 - T.J. Donohue    ¨    ¨

04 - A.W. Dunham

   ¨    ¨    05 - J.R. Hope    ¨    ¨    06 - C.C. Krulak    ¨    ¨

07 - M.W. McConnell

   ¨    ¨    08 - T.F. McLarty III    ¨    ¨    09 - S.R. Rogel    ¨    ¨

10 - J.R. Young

   ¨    ¨                  

 

B    Issues — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposal 2, and AGAINST Proposals 3 and 4.

 

   For    Against    Abstain       For    Against    Abstain

2.     Appointment of Deloitte & Touche as the independent registered public accounting firm.

   ¨    ¨    ¨   

3.     Shareholder proposal regarding majority voting.

   ¨    ¨    ¨
           

4.     Shareholder proposal regarding political contributions.

   ¨    ¨    ¨

 

C    Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below

Please sign exactly as name appears. The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and of the Proxy Statement.

 

Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below.       Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box.        
/    /                       

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

 

ê IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. ê

LOGO

 

Proxy — Union Pacific Corporation

1400 Douglas Street

19th Floor

Omaha, NE 68179

CONFIDENTIAL VOTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ANNUAL MEETING MAY 3, 2007

To the Trustee:

The UNDERSIGNED hereby instructs you to vote, in person or by proxy, all the shares of stock of Union Pacific Corporation that were allocated to my account as of February 22, 2007, under one or more of the plans listed below at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 3, 2007, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, as indicated upon all matters referred to on the reverse side of this card and described in the Proxy Statement for the meeting. I understand that this card when properly executed will be voted in the manner described herein; if no direction is made, the shares allocated to my account will be voted FOR all nominees in the election of Directors, FOR proposal 2 and AGAINST proposals 3 and 4; if I do not return my card, the shares that may be allocated to the plans in the left column below will be voted by the Trustee in the same proportion as the shares with respect to which voting instructions are received, and the shares allocated to the plan in the right column below will not be voted; and if I have shares allocated to more than one of the plans below and wish to vote the shares differently among the plans, I may contact Computershare Investor Services at 1-800-317-2512 for additional instruction cards.

 

Union Pacific Corporation Thrift Plan    Union Pacific Corporation Thrift Plan TRASOP/PAYSOP
Union Pacific Agreement Employee 401(k) Retirement Thrift Plan   
Union Pacific Fruit Express Company Agreement Employee 401(k)   

Retirement Thrift Plan

  
Chicago and North Western Railway PS and Retirement Savings Program   

(Continued and to be signed on reverse side.)


Table of Contents
      LOGO
   LOGO   
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Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas.    x   

 

Annual Meeting Proxy Card

 

ê PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. ê

 

A    Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all nominees in the election of Directors.

 

1. Election of Directors:

   For    Withhold       For    Withhold       For    Withhold

01 - A.H. Card, Jr.

   ¨    ¨    02 - E.B. Davis, Jr.    ¨    ¨    03 - T.J. Donohue    ¨    ¨

04 - A.W. Dunham

   ¨    ¨    05 - J.R. Hope    ¨    ¨    06 - C.C. Krulak    ¨    ¨

07 - M.W. McConnell

   ¨    ¨    08 - T.F. McLarty III    ¨    ¨    09 - S.R. Rogel    ¨    ¨

10 - J.R. Young

   ¨    ¨                  

 

B    Issues — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposal 2, and AGAINST Proposals 3 and 4.

 

   For    Against    Abstain       For    Against    Abstain

2.      Appointment of Deloitte & Touche as the independent registered public accounting firm.

   ¨    ¨    ¨   

3.      Shareholder proposal regarding majority voting.

   ¨    ¨    ¨
           

4.      Shareholder proposal regarding political contributions.

   ¨    ¨    ¨

 

C    Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below

Please sign exactly as name(s) appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title. The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and of the Proxy Statement.

 

Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below.       Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box.       Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box.
/    /                        

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

 

ê PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. ê

LOGO

 

Proxy — Union Pacific Corporation

1400 Douglas Street

19th Floor

Omaha, NE 68179

PROXY SOLICITED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR ANNUAL MEETING — MAY 3, 2007

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

The undersigned hereby appoints JAMES R. YOUNG and BARBARA W. SCHAEFER, and each of them, as proxies, with the power to appoint a substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote all the shares of stock of UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION that the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 3, 2007, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, as indicated in this Proxy upon all matters referred to on the reverse side and described in the Proxy Statement for the meeting, and, in their discretion as set forth in the Proxy Statement, upon any other matters that may properly come before the meeting.

If no direction is made, this Proxy will be voted FOR all nominees in the election of Directors, FOR proposal 2, and AGAINST proposals 3 and 4.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all nominees in the election of Directors, FOR proposal 2, and AGAINST proposals 3 and 4.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT! PLEASE MARK, SIGN AND DATE THIS PROXY ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE.

(Continued and to be signed on reverse side.)


Table of Contents
      LOGO
  LOGO    
    000004   000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext
LOGO   MR A SAMPLE     000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext
  DESIGNATION (IF ANY)     000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext
  ADD 1     Electronic Voting Instructions
  ADD 2    
  ADD 3     You can vote by Internet or telephone!
  ADD 4     Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
 

ADD 5

ADD 6

    Instead of mailing your Proxy, you may choose one of the two voting methods outlined below to vote your Proxy.
  LOGO     VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR.
      Proxies submitted by the Internet or telephone must be received by 1:00 a.m., Central Time, on May 1, 2007.
    LOGO   Vote by Internet
     

•       Log on to the Internet and go to

     

www.investorvote.com

     

•       Follow the steps outlined on the secured website.

    LOGO   Vote by telephone
     

•       Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the United States, Canada & Puerto Rico any time on a touch tone telephone. There is NO CHARGE to you for the call.

•       Follow the instructions provided by the recorded message.

Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas.   x  

LOGO

 

êIF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. ê

 

A    Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all nominees in the election of Directors.

 

1. Election of Directors:

   For    Withhold       For    Withhold       For    Withhold

01 - A.H. Card, Jr.

   ¨    ¨    02 - E.B. Davis, Jr.    ¨    ¨    03 - T.J. Donohue    ¨    ¨

04 - A.W. Dunham

   ¨    ¨    05 - J.R. Hope    ¨    ¨    06 - C.C. Krulak    ¨    ¨

07 - M.W. McConnell

   ¨    ¨    08 - T.F. McLarty III    ¨    ¨    09 - S.R. Rogel    ¨    ¨

10 - J.R. Young

   ¨    ¨                  

 

B    Issues — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposal 2, and AGAINST Proposals 3 and 4.

 

   For    Against    Abstain       For    Against    Abstain

2.     Appointment of Deloitte & Touche as the independent registered public accounting firm.

   ¨    ¨    ¨   

3.     Shareholder proposal regarding majority voting.

   ¨    ¨    ¨
           

4.     Shareholder proposal regarding political contributions.

   ¨    ¨    ¨

 

C    Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below

Please sign exactly as name(s) appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title. The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and of the Proxy Statement.

 

Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below.       Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box.       Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box.
/    /                        

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

 

ê IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. ê

LOGO

 

Proxy — Union Pacific Corporation

1400 Douglas Street

19th Floor

Omaha, NE 68179

PROXY SOLICITED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR ANNUAL MEETING — MAY 3, 2007

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

The undersigned hereby appoints JAMES R. YOUNG and BARBARA W. SCHAEFER, and each of them, as proxies, with the power to appoint a substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote all the shares of stock of UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION that the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 3, 2007, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, as indicated in this Proxy upon all matters referred to on the reverse side and described in the Proxy Statement for the meeting, and, in their discretion as set forth in the Proxy Statement, upon any other matters that may properly come before the meeting.

If no direction is made, this Proxy will be voted FOR all nominees in the election of Directors, FOR proposal 2, and AGAINST proposals 3 and 4.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all nominees in the election of Directors, FOR proposal 2, and AGAINST proposals 3 and 4.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT! PLEASE MARK, SIGN AND DATE THIS PROXY ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE.

(Continued and to be signed on reverse side.)