Definitive 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)

 

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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 31, 2010

 

The 2010 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 6, 2010 for the following purposes:

 

  (1)   to elect the twelve directors named in the Proxy Statement, each to serve for a term of one year and until their successors are elected and qualified;

 

  (2)   to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for 2010;

 

  (3)   to consider and vote upon two shareholder proposals if properly 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 26, 2010 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.

 

Your vote is very important. Because of a change in New York Stock Exchange rules, if your shares are held by a broker, your broker will NOT be able to vote your shares in the election of directors unless you provide directions to your broker. We strongly encourage you to submit your proxy card to your broker or utilize your broker’s telephone or internet voting if available and exercise your right to vote as a shareholder.

 

Barbara W. Schaefer

Senior Vice President-Human Resources

and Secretary


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UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION

 

2010 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

PROXY STATEMENT

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

Information About the Annual Meeting, Voting and Proxies

    

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

   2

Confidential Voting Policy

   2

Revocation of Proxies

   2

Expenses of Solicitation

   2

Board Corporate Governance Matters

    

Board of Directors Meetings and Committees

   3

Audit Committee

   3

Finance Committee

   4

Compensation and Benefits Committee

   4

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

   6

Board Leadership Structure

   6

Risk Oversight of the Company

   7

Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies

   8

Codes of Conduct and Ethics

   11

Communications with the Board

   11

Director Independence

   11

Related Party Matters

   13

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

   14

Consideration of Director Nominees

   14

PROPOSAL NUMBER 1 Election of Directors

   16

Directors/Nominees

   16

Director Qualifications and Biographical Information

   17

Director Compensation in Fiscal Year 2009

   19

PROPOSAL NUMBER 2 Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   22

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Fees and Services

   22

Audit Committee Report

   22

PROPOSAL NUMBER 3 Independent Chairman

   23

PROPOSAL NUMBER 4 Simple Majority Vote

   24

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

   26

Executive Compensation

    

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

   28

Compensation Committee Report

   42

2008 Stock Split

   43

Summary Compensation Table

   43

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2009

   45

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2009 Fiscal Year-End

   46

Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal Year 2009

   48

Pension Benefits at 2009 Fiscal Year-End

   48

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation at 2009 Fiscal Year-End

   50

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

   54

Other Matters

    

Shareholder Proposals

   57

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

   58

Delivery of Documents to Shareholders Sharing an Address

   58

Availability of Annual Report on Form 10-K

   58

Other Business

   58


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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 6, 2010

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials

for the Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on May 6, 2010.

 

This Proxy Statement and our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at

www.up.com under the “Investors” caption link.

 

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 6, 2010 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 31, 2010.

 

Record Date, Outstanding Shares and Quorum

 

Only holders of record of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on February 26, 2010 (the Record Date), will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, we had 505,905,383 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 majority 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 a nominee will be elected if he or she receives more “for” votes than “against” votes. Pursuant to Section 9 of Article I of the Company’s By-Laws and applicable laws of the State of Utah, if the nominee does not receive more “for” votes than “against” votes, he or she will be elected to a shortened term of not more than 90 days. Approval of Proposal Number 2 (ratification of the appointment of independent registered public accounting firm), Proposal Number 3 (independent chairman) and Proposal Number 4 (simple majority vote) 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 in the election of directors and for Proposal Numbers 2, 3 and 4.

 

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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 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 “for” the election of each of the director nominees listed in Proposal Number 1 below, in favor of Proposal Number 2 and against Proposals Numbers 3 and 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 maintains 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 through 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 through 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 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition to the use of the mail, proxies may be solicited by personal interview, telephone and electronic communication by the directors, officers and employees of the Company acting without special compensation. We 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 will reimburse such custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with such solicitation. In addition, Morrow & Co., LLC, 470 West Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902 has been engaged to solicit proxies for the Company. The anticipated fees of Morrow & Co., LLC are $16,000 plus certain expenses.

 

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Information Regarding the Company

 

References to the Company’s website included in this Proxy Statement and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K are provided as a convenience and do not constitute, and should not be deemed, an incorporation by reference of the information contained in, or available through, the website.

 

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 2009, the Board met six times. None of the directors attended fewer than 87.5% 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 98%. The Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies included in this Proxy Statement beginning on page 8 require 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. Each of the committees operates under a written 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. All Board Committees are comprised entirely of independent directors.

 

Audit Committee. The members of the Audit Committee are Mr. Card, Mrs. Hope, General Krulak, Mr. McCarthy and Mr. McConnell. Mrs. Hope serves as chairperson of the Committee. The Committee met 9 times in 2009.

 

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 are independent directors and 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 Mr. McCarthy and Mr. McConnell qualify as “audit committee financial experts” within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the SEC.

 

The Audit Committee meets regularly with the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company, financial management, the internal auditors, 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 and activities. 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 annual financial statements and unaudited 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.”

 

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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 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 on Form 10-K 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, regulatory, tax and safety matters. In addition, the Committee reviews the Company’s compliance program and risk assessments, including the annual Enterprise Risk Management plan as described in more detail in the Risk Oversight of the Company section below. 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 on 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 conjunction with the first Board meeting 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 independent registered public accounting firm to present a budget for the 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 so 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 Krulak, Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Villarreal. Mr. Dunham serves as chairperson of the Committee. The Committee met five times in 2009.

 

The Committee is responsible for review and oversight of the Company’s financial position. The Committee meets regularly with management to review the Company’s capital structure, balance sheet, short- and long-term financing plans and programs, dividend policy and actions, investor relations activities, access to sources of liquidity, insurance programs, market conditions 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, Mr. McLarty and Mr. Rogel. Mr. Donohue serves as chairperson of the Committee. The Committee met six times in 2009.

 

The Committee 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

 

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with the 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 other executives as determined by the Committee or the Board. The Committee also has direct responsibility for oversight of the Company’s executive incentive plans and determines the amounts of awards, and the individuals who will receive awards 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 benefit plans to ensure that these benefit plans remain competitive with comparably situated companies. The Committee reviews and discusses 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 early 2010, the Committee oversaw an evaluation of our employee compensation programs to confirm that they are designed and operate within a system of guidelines and controls to avoid creating any material adverse risks to the Company. The Company’s evaluation of this matter entailed a review by the Committee’s outside compensation consultant, Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc., together with our Human Resources—Compensation Group and the senior executive responsible for the administration of the Company’s enterprise risk management process. The evaluation consisted of a review of the design and features of the Company’s annual cash bonus program for management and executive employees and the long-term incentives for executive employees, in addition to an assessment and evaluation of these compensation programs in the context of our enterprise risk management process. The evaluation also noted that all other employees of the Company are covered by collective bargaining agreements that specify compensation and health and welfare terms, but do not provide any provisions for bonus payments. These labor union arrangements are not subject to this evaluation and review. The results of this assessment were presented to, and discussed with, the Committee.

 

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 have 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 retain, terminate and approve fees for 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. A representative of FWC has attended all Committee meetings since its engagement began in 2005. 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 29 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. The Committee Chair reviews and approves all charges for Committee consulting.

 

Under the Committee’s engagement, FWC also confers with 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 involve the amount and form

 

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of executive or director compensation only and may include analysis of competitive director compensation data, design and development of new compensation and stock plans, calculation of compensation amounts reported in this Proxy Statement 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 any projects requested by management. During 2009, the Company paid fees to FWC only for advising on the amount or form of executive and director compensation. No fees were paid for any additional projects or services.

 

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 page 30 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. Davis, Mr. Donohue, Mr. Dunham, Mr. McLarty, Mr. Rogel and Mr. Villarreal. Mr. Rogel serves as chairperson of the Committee. The Committee met four times in 2009.

 

The Committee oversees the Company’s corporate governance, 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 also is responsible for the oversight of the Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies discussed below to promote Board independence and 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 assess whether 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 in 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 units equivalent to our common stock, which is payable only upon a director’s separation from service from the Board as described on page 20.

 

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 have 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.

 

Board Leadership Structure

 

Currently, Mr. Young serves as Chairman and CEO of the Company. The Board of Directors believes it is in the best interest of the Company for the Board to periodically evaluate the leadership structure of the Company and make a determination regarding whether to separate or combine the roles of Chairman and CEO based on circumstances at the time of its decision. Pursuant to the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies as set forth on page 9 of this Proxy

 

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Statement, the Board will annually elect a Chairman of the Board, who may or may not be the CEO of the Company. Additionally, the Guidelines provide that if the individual elected as Chairman of the Board is not an independent director, the independent directors will also elect a lead independent director. At this time, and for the reasons discussed below, the Board believes that the Company is best served by having the same individual serve as Chairman and CEO. In addition, the Board has selected Mr. Rogel, the former Chairman and CEO of Weyerhaeuser Company, as the lead independent director with the following responsibilities: (i) preside at meetings of the Board at which the Chairman and CEO is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors; (ii) approve the nature of information sent to the Board, and approve the agenda, schedule and what materials are sent for the Board meetings; (iii) serve as the liaison between the independent directors and the Chairman and CEO; and (iv) be available for consultation and communication with major shareholders as appropriate. Mr. Rogel also has the authority to call executive sessions of the independent directors.

 

The Board believes that the current combination of the Chairman and CEO roles fosters clear accountability, effective decision-making and alignment on corporate strategy. Unified leadership for the Board and the Company best allows the Board and management to focus on the oversight and implementation of the Company’s strategic initiatives and business plan. Combining the roles of Chairman and CEO allows the Chairman to speak on behalf of both the Company and the Board when addressing investors, employees and other key constituencies. To provide for effective independent oversight, the Board has adopted a number of strong corporate governance practices, including (i) maintaining an independent, clearly-defined lead director (with the responsibilities delineated above), (ii) holding executive sessions of the independent directors after every board meeting, and (iii) performing an annual performance evaluation of the Chairman and CEO by the independent directors. The Board believes that a combined Chairman and CEO coupled with a lead independent director provides effective, independent oversight of management and responsiveness to shareholders, while also unifying leadership of the Company and the Board to effect execution of the Company’s strategic plans and provide a single spokesperson for the Company and the Board.

 

Risk Oversight of the Company

 

The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the processes and procedures that management has established for assessing and managing the critical enterprise risks affecting the Company. The Board has delegated to the Audit Committee primary responsibility for oversight of financial reporting, environmental and compliance risks.

 

Enterprise risks, essentially those risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, are identified and prioritized by management and regularly presented to, and reviewed by, the Board. The senior executives responsible for implementation of appropriate mitigation strategies for each of the Company’s enterprise risks, along with the chief compliance officer, provide reports directly to the Board during the year. The senior executives, including the chief compliance officer, responsible for the areas of risk overseen by the Audit Committee also report to the Audit Committee throughout the year.

 

In addition, the Audit Committee oversees the Company’s internal audit of enterprise risks selected for review and evaluation throughout a given year based upon the Company’s annual risk assessment model with the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of mitigating controls and activities of Company personnel. The Company’s internal auditors present to the Audit Committee findings regarding the mitigating controls and processes with respect to those enterprise risks selected for review. The Audit Committee, in turn, reports those findings to the entire Board, which validates the Company’s enterprise risk management systems. The Company’s enterprise risk management process is dynamic and continually monitored to adapt to the ever-changing economic, political and legal environment in which the Company operates.

 

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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 include those best practices that the Committee believes will be effective and advisable for the Company 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.

 

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 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.

 

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

 

Election of Directors-Majority Voting. Directors shall be elected by majority vote pursuant to the Company’s By-Laws.

 

Retirement Age for Non-management Directors. Non-management directors who are 75 years of age will not be eligible to stand for election to the Board at the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Non-management directors who turn 75 during their term are eligible to finish out that term. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee may consider a director’s nomination beyond the age of 75 if it believes that the nomination is in the best interest of the shareholders.

 

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.

 

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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.

 

Board Leadership. The Board will annually elect a Chairman of the Board, who may or may not be the CEO of the Company. If the individual elected as Chairman of the Board is not an independent director, the independent directors will also elect a lead independent director. The lead independent director will serve for a period of at least one year. The lead independent director’s responsibilities will include: (1) presiding at meetings of the Board at which the Chairman and CEO is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors; (2) approving the flow of information sent to the Board, and approving the agenda, schedule and what materials are sent for Board meetings; (3) serving as the liaison between the independent directors and the Chairman and CEO; and (4) being available for consultation and communication with major shareholders as appropriate. The lead independent director also has the authority to call executive sessions of the independent directors.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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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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.

 

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.

 

Executive Sessions of Independent Directors. Regularly scheduled sessions of independent directors are held at every meeting of the Board. The lead independent director presides at these sessions and has the authority to call additional executive sessions as appropriate.

 

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 four times the cash portion of the annual retainer, with such ownership goal to be reached within four years of joining the Board, unless special circumstances of a member as determined by the Board delay the achievement of the ownership goal.

 

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.

 

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

 

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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.

 

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.

 

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 on 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 to 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 any future amendments to, or waivers from, certain provisions of the Code on our website.

 

Communications with the Board

 

Interested parties wishing to communicate with 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 lead independent director, a committee chairperson or all of 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 action regarding any such communication.

 

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

 

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Mr. Donohue. In 2009, the Company made a $100,000 contribution to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Leadership Fund. Mr. Donohue is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber. The Company also made $100,000 contributions to the Chamber’s Leadership Fund in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, the Company also made a one-time contribution of $100,000 to the Chamber’s International Business Hall of Fame, which honored the Company’s past Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Richard K. Davidson.

 

Mr. Rogel. Weyerhaeuser Company paid Union Pacific Railroad Company (the Railroad) approximately $38 million for transportation services and $117,000 for miscellaneous leases and equipment usage charges during 2009. These payments were 0.69% of Weyerhaeuser’s consolidated gross revenues of approximately $5.5 billion for 2009. Mr. Rogel retired as the Chairman of Weyerhaeuser Company on April 15, 2009. In 2008, Weyerhaeuser paid the Railroad approximately $59 million for transportation services and $118,000 for miscellaneous leases, which represented 0.74% of Weyerhaeuser’s consolidated gross revenues for 2008. In 2007, Weyerhaeuser paid the Railroad approximately $131 million for transportation services and $118,000 for miscellaneous leases, which represented 0.80% of Weyerhaeuser’s consolidated gross revenues for 2007.

 

Mr. Villarreal. Mr. Villarreal’s sister is a partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. The Company paid $88,000 to Morgan Lewis in 2009 for legal services related to ERISA and federal tax matters and $93,775 in 2007 for legal services related to environmental and labor and employment matters. No payments for legal services were made to Morgan Lewis in 2008. Mr. Villarreal’s sister was not personally involved in the 2007 and 2009 engagements.

 

The Board determined that these specific relationships do not affect the independence of these director nominees. The Board concluded that the Company’s $100,000 contribution to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce does not confer any personal benefit on Mr. Donohue and does not affect his independence. For Mr. Rogel, the Board noted that the amounts paid to the Railroad by Weyerhaeuser were less than 2% of Weyerhaeuser’s consolidated gross revenues in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and did not violate the director independence standards set forth below. In addition, the Board noted the fact that Mr. Rogel retired as Chairman of Weyerhaeuser Company in April 2009. For Mr. Villarreal, the Board concluded that the amounts paid by the Company to Morgan Lewis were less than 2% of Morgan Lewis’ consolidated gross revenue in 2007 and 2009 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 personally works on the Company’s audit; 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 $120,000, 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 is a current employee of a company, including a professional services firm, 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 or firm’s consolidated gross revenues;

 

(6)   a member of the director’s immediate family is a current executive officer of another company, or a partner, principal or member of a professional services firm, 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 or firm’s consolidated gross revenues; 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 annually reviews related party transactions involving directors and director nominees 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 written Statement of Policy on Ethics and Business Conduct (the Business Conduct Policy) that covers all Company employees. Under the Business Conduct Policy, the Audit Committee reviews any transaction reported by executive officers and refers any reported transactions to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee for evaluation pursuant to the Company’s Related Party Transaction Policies and Procedures (the Related Party Policy) described below. The Business Conduct Policy and the Board’s procedures with respect to directors and director nominees pre-date but continue in operation following the adoption of the Related Party Policy.

 

In February 2007, the Board formalized the Company’s policy and procedures for reviewing related party transactions by approving the Company’s Related Party Policy. Under this written policy,

 

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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 during the last fiscal year 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 Corporate Governance and Nominating 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 Related Party Policy, the Committee may pre-approve certain transactions, even if the aggregate amount involved exceeds $120,000. Such transactions may 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 that 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

 

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. However, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee reviewed and approved or ratified the director relationships described on page 12 of this Proxy Statement.

 

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, Thomas F. McLarty III and Steven R. Rogel.

 

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

 

Consideration of Director Nominees

 

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider director candidates recommended by shareholders of the Company. Shareholders desiring to recommend candidates for

 

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consideration at the 2011 Annual Meeting should advise the Secretary of the Company in writing during the period beginning on January 6, 2011, and ending at the close of business on February 5, 2011, and should include the following information as specified by the nomination procedures set forth in the Company’s By-Laws as well as any other information that would assist the Committee in evaluating the recommended candidates: (i) the name, age, and business and residence addresses of the candidate, (ii) the principal occupation of the candidate, and (iii) the number of shares of Company common stock beneficially owned by the candidate. A shareholder should also provide (i) his or her name and address, (ii) the number of shares of Company common stock beneficially owned, (iii) a description of all arrangements between himself or herself and the candidate and any other person pursuant to which the recommendation for nomination is being made, and (iv) the candidate’s written consent agreeing to any resulting nomination and to serve as a director if elected. 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 recommended 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 is responsible for developing and periodically reviewing and recommending to the Board the appropriate skills and characteristics required of Board members in the context of the current make-up of the Board. Such criteria, as described in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies, include: business and management experience; familiarity with the business, customers and suppliers of the Company; diverse talents, backgrounds and perspectives; and relevant legal, regulatory and stock exchange requirements applicable to the Board and certain of its Committees. 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 Guidelines and Policies. In determining the independence of a candidate, the Committee relies upon the then effective independence standards adopted by the Board. In addition, 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 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 and activities.

 

The Committee meets every 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 Company 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 assesses the effectiveness of the criteria listed above when evaluating new director candidates and when assessing the composition of the Board. The Committee will consider

 

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candidates recommended by shareholders under the same standards after concluding that any such candidate recommendations have been made in compliance with the requirements outlined above.

 

All of our nominees are current members of the Board and have been nominated by the Committee and elected by the shareholders in prior years.

 

PROPOSAL NUMBER 1

Election of Directors

 

The Board currently has twelve members. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board proposed and the Board recommended that the twelve 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.

 

Vote Required for Approval

 

Directors will be elected by a majority of the votes cast by the shares present at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors, which means that a nominee will be elected if he or she receives more “for” votes than “against” votes. Pursuant to Section 9 of Article I of the Company’s By-Laws and applicable laws of the State of Utah, if the nominee does not receive more “for” votes than “against” votes, he or she will be elected to a shortened term that terminates on the earlier of: (i) 90 days after the day on which the Company certifies the voting results of the election; or (ii) the day on which a person is selected by the Board to fill the office held by the director.

 

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.

   62    Consultant and Professional Speaker    2006

Erroll B. Davis, Jr.

   65    Chancellor, University System of Georgia    2004

Thomas J. Donohue

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

Archie W. Dunham

   71    Retired Chairman, ConocoPhillips    2000

Judith Richards Hope

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

Charles C. Krulak

   68    Retired General, United States Marine Corps    2006

Michael R. McCarthy

   58    Chairman, McCarthy Group, LLC    2008

Michael W. McConnell

   67    General Partner, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.    2004

Thomas F. McLarty III

   63    President, McLarty Associates    2006

Steven R. Rogel

   67    Retired Chairman, Weyerhaeuser Company    2000

Jose H. Villarreal

   56    Advisor, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP    2009

James R. Young

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

 

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

 

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Director Qualifications and Biographical Information

 

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considered the character, experience, qualifications and skills of each director nominee when determining whether he or she should serve as a director of the Company. In keeping with its stated criteria for director nominees described on page 15 above and included in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies, the Committee determined that each director nominee exhibits a high degree of integrity, has significant professional accomplishments and has proven leadership experience. Each director nominee is or has been a leader in their respective field and brings diverse talents and perspectives to the Board. The Committee also considered the experience and qualifications that each director nominee brings to the Board as outlined below in the biographical information as well as other public company board service.

 

The Committee noted the following particular attributes and qualities it considers when evaluating director nominees. The Committee believes that nominees with business and strategic management experience gained from service as a CEO is a critical leadership component to Board service. The Committee also seeks nominees with backgrounds in finance, banking, economics, and the securities and financial markets, both domestic and international, in order to have directors who can assess and evaluate the Company’s financial and competitive position. The Committee considers experience in the legal profession and political and governmental affairs, including legislative or executive service in Washington D.C. or related activities, to be a highly desirable skill given the heavily regulated nature of the rail industry. Also important to the Committee is public service in state government, especially in states where the Company has a significant operating presence. The Committee emphasizes familiarity with the rail industry and rail operations and considers customer perspectives to be important when evaluating director nominees. Given the significant rail interchange operations with Canadian and Mexican rail systems, the Committee also values directors with an international background or expertise. Although the director nominees listed below each possess a number of these attributes, the Committee considered the specific areas noted below for each director nominee when determining which of the nominees’ qualifications best suited the needs of the Company.

 

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, one of the world’s largest auto makers. From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Card was President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association. Mr. Card served as the 11th 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. Mr. Card brings to the Board top-level federal government and transportation industry experience, business leadership and experience in economic and international affairs.

 

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 was a director of PPG industries, Inc. from 1994 to 2007 and has served as a director of General Motors Corporation since 2009 and BP plc since 1998. Mr. Davis brings to the Board business experience and strategic leadership as a CEO, his international business experience and his familiarity with rail operations from a customer perspective.

 

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, the world’s largest business federation, since September 1997. Mr. Donohue was a director of XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. from 1999 to 2009 and has served as a director of Sunrise Senior Living, Inc since 1995. Mr. Donohue brings to the Board his background as an advocate for business, his government affairs experience and experience in international business.

 

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Archie W. Dunham has been a director since August 2000. Mr. Dunham was 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 from August 2002 until his retirement on September 30, 2004. Mr. Dunham was a director of Phelps Dodge Corporation from 1998 to 2007 and has served as a director of Louisiana-Pacific Corporation since 1996 and Pride International, Inc since 2005. Mr. Dunham brings to the Board business experience and strategic leadership as a CEO, his familiarity with rail operations from a customer perspective, along with his experience in finance, economics and the securities markets.

 

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. Mrs. Hope brings to the Board experience as a director of the Company, which has permitted her to develop extensive knowledge of the operational and financial aspects of the Company as well as broad familiarity with the rail industry, together with her significant legal expertise and high-level background in the Washington legal arena.

 

Charles C. Krulak has been a director since January 2006. General Krulak was Vice Chairman and Head of Mergers and Acquisitions for MBNA, a 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 as Commandant of the United States Marine Corps in 1999 after 35 years of distinguished service. General Krulak served as a director of Conoco from 2000 to 2002 and continued to serve as a director of the merged ConocoPhillips until 2008. General Krulak served as a director of Phelps Dodge Corporation from 2005 to 2007 when it was acquired by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. (FMC&G), and has served as a director of FMC&G since 2007. General Krulak brings to the Board proven leadership experience from the military, together with executive experience in the domestic and international banking industry.

 

Michael R. McCarthy has been a director since October 2008. Mr. McCarthy serves as chairman of McCarthy Group, LLC, a private investment group, which he co-founded in 1986. Mr. McCarthy serves as a director of Peter Kiewit Sons’, Inc., and Cabela’s Incorporated. Mr. McCarthy brings to the Board his background in advising businesses in various sectors of the economy, and forming and leading successful investment companies, including the financial expertise required to support that success.

 

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, Chief Financial Partner from January 1995 to January 2002, Managing Partner from February 2002 to December 31, 2007 and a General Partner since January 1, 2008. Mr. McConnell has extensive banking and financial markets experience that provides the Board with important expertise.

 

Thomas F. McLarty III has been a director since November 2006. Mr. McLarty has been President of McLarty Associates (formerly Kissinger McLarty Associates), an international strategic advisory and advocacy firm, since 1999. 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. In 1998, Mr. McLarty returned to be Chairman and President of the McLarty Companies, a fourth generation family-owned transportation business. From 1983 to 1992, Mr. McLarty served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arkla, Inc., a Fortune 500 natural gas company. Mr. McLarty brings to the Board business leadership experience, international expertise and significant government service at the highest levels.

 

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Steven R. Rogel has been a director since November 2000, and is our lead independent director. Mr. Rogel was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Weyerhaeuser Company, an integrated forest products company, from December 1997 through December 31, 2007, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Weyerhaeuser Company from January 1 through April 2008 and Chairman until April 15, 2009. Mr. Rogel serves as a director of Kroger Company and is non-executive Chairman of the Board of EnergySolutions, Inc. Mr. Rogel brings to the Board business experience and strategic leadership as a CEO, international background and his familiarity with rail operations from a customer perspective.

 

Jose H. Villarreal has been a director since January 2009. Mr. Villarreal was a partner with Akin, Gump, a law firm, from 1994 through 2008 and has held the title of Advisor since 2008. Prior thereto, Mr. Villarreal served as assistant attorney general in the Public Finance Division of the Texas attorney general’s office. Mr. Villarreal also has served in senior roles in numerous presidential campaigns. Mr. Villarreal was a director of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., from 1998 to 2006 and has served as a director of First Solar, Inc. since 2007 and PMI Group, Inc. since 2005. Mr. Villarreal currently serves as United States Commissioner General to the Shanghai, 2010 World Expo. Mr. Villarreal brings to the Board legal expertise and government affairs experience from significant state and federal public service and advising presidential campaigns and candidates.

 

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, the principal operating subsidiary of the Company, from December 1999 until February 1, 2004 and President and Chief Operating Officer of the Railroad from February 2004 until December 31, 2005. Mr. Young brings to the Board his extensive experience in many operational and financial positions with the Railroad, including his tenure as CEO of the Company and the Railroad since 2005.

 

Director Compensation in Fiscal Year 2009

 

Non-Management Directors’ Fees

 

In 2009, directors who are not employees received an annual retainer of $220,000, plus expenses. Directors were required to invest $100,000 of the retainer in the Stock Unit Account referred to below. Chairs of Board Committees received additional annual retainers of $15,000 each, and members of the Audit Committee received additional annual retainers of $10,000 each. Directors who are employees receive no retainers.

 

At its February 4, 2010 meeting, the Board, upon recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, reviewed and revised the compensation arrangements of the Company’s non-management directors. FWC provided the Board and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee with data and information regarding compensation arrangements for directors of comparable companies. Based on this information, the Board increased the annual retainer from $220,000 to $250,000 for non-management directors, with the $30,000 increase to be deferred into the Stock Unit Accounts. Although this increase places the compensation for the Company’s non-management directors above the seventy-fifth percentile range articulated in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies, the Board determined that this increase placed non-management directors’ compensation more in line with the compensation practices at the other major rail competitors of the Company. In addition, the Board has no expectation of additional retainer increases for the next two years. Following the change, directors are required to invest $130,000 of the annual retainer in their Stock Unit Accounts and may invest additional amounts in their Stock Unit Accounts at their election. Chairs of Board Committees will continue to receive additional annual retainers of $15,000 each, and members of the Audit Committee will continue to receive an additional $10,000 each.

 

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The Board, upon recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, also approved in February 2010 an additional annual retainer of $25,000 for the lead independent director.

 

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

 

Under our Stock Unit Grant and Deferred Compensation Plan for non-management directors, a director may, by December 31 of any year, elect to defer all or a portion of any compensation (in addition to the amount required to be invested in their Stock Unit Account) 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 (i) a Fixed Rate Fund administered by us, (ii) a Stock Unit Account administered by us, or (iii) various notional accounts administered by The Vanguard Group. These accounts are unfunded, unsecured obligations of the Company. The Company Fixed Rate Fund bears interest equal to 120% of the applicable federal long-term annual rate. 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, Fixed Rate Fund or Vanguard Accounts, in January of the year following separation from service as a director. 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, the Company may grant options to purchase shares of our common stock to non-management directors. Upon recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee in September 2007, the Board eliminated the annual grant of options for 2008 and future years. No options were awarded to non-management directors in 2009.

 

The 2000 Plan also provides that each non-management director, upon election to the Board of Directors, will receive a grant of 2,000 restricted shares of our common stock or restricted share units (adjusted to reflect the Company’s two-for-one stock split on May 28, 2008), such units to represent the right to receive our common stock in the future. 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 upon ceasing to be a director for any reason other than death, disability or retirement.

 

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-management 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.

 

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Non-Management Director Compensation in Fiscal Year 2009

 

The following table provides a summary of compensation of our non-management directors for 2009.

 

Name

   Fees
Earned
or Paid in
Cash
   Stock
Awards

(a)
    Option
Awards
   All Other
Compensation

(b)
    Total

Andrew H. Card, Jr.

   $ 230,000    $ 0      $ 0    $ 1,100      $ 231,100

Erroll B. Davis, Jr.

     220,000      0        0      1,100        221,100

Thomas J. Donohue

     235,000      0        0      1,100        236,100

Archie W. Dunham

     235,000      0        0      1,100        236,100

Judith Richards Hope

     245,000      0        0      12,869 (c)      257,869

Charles C. Krulak

     230,000      0        0      1,100        231,100

Michael R. McCarthy

     230,000      0        0      1,100        231,100

Michael W. McConnell

     230,000      0        0      1,100        231,100

Thomas F. McLarty III

     220,000      0        0      1,100        221,100

Steven R. Rogel

     235,000      0        0      1,100        236,100

Jose H. Villarreal

     220,000      100,260 (d)      0      1,100        321,360

 

(a)   Amounts reported reflect the grant date fair value of Stock Awards calculated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 718, Stock Compensation, for the 2009 fiscal year. The following table provides the outstanding equity awards at fiscal year-end for all current non-management directors. The Number of Shares in the Vesting Upon Termination column represents the shares granted to each director upon election to the Board and required to be held until his or her service as a member of the Board ends. The share amounts included in the table are adjusted to reflect the Company’s two-for-one stock split on May 28, 2008.

 

Name

   Number of Shares
Underlying
Unexercised Options
   Number of Shares
Vesting Upon
Termination
   Number of Units
Deferred

Andrew H. Card, Jr.

   3,700    2,000    4,810

Erroll B. Davis, Jr.

   14,000    2,000    7,681

Thomas J. Donohue

   39,000    3,570    20,010

Archie W. Dunham

   39,000    2,000    13,095

Judith Richards Hope

   31,800    3,570    18,798

Charles C. Krulak

   7,900    2,000    5,411

Michael R. McCarthy

   0    2,000    4,903

Michael W. McConnell

   19,500    2,000    15,528

Thomas F. McLarty III

   3,700    2,000    4,544

Steven R. Rogel

   39,000    2,000    12,680

Jose H. Villarreal

   0    2,000    1,905

 

(b)   The $1,100 represents the amount paid in 2009 for each non-management director (including Mrs. Hope) for excess liability insurance premiums.

 

(c)   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 2009 for Mrs. Hope’s participation in the health care plan was $12,969 reduced by an annual medical premium payment of $1,200 (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.

 

(d)   Mr. Villarreal was elected to the Board of Directors effective January 1, 2009 and, pursuant to the 2000 Directors Stock Plan, received a grant of 2,000 restricted shares of common stock.

 

 

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PROPOSAL NUMBER 2

Ratification of Appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP

as Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Year Ending December 31, 2010

 

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 2010 and submits this selection for ratification by 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.

 

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

 

Ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2010 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on this proposal at the Annual Meeting.

 

The Board recommends a vote FOR ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2010.

 

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,
     2009    2008

Audit Fees

   $ 2,558,700    $ 2,914,008

Audit-Related Fees

     760,434      1,338,644

Tax Fees

     65,676      19,527

All Other Fees

     0      0
             

Total

   $ 3,384,810    $ 4,272,179
             

 

Audit Fees. Audit services include the integrated audit of financial statements and internal control, quarterly reviews, comfort letters provided in conjunction with the issuance of debt, and agreed-upon procedures performed on the Annual Report R-1 filed with the Surface Transportation Board.

 

Audit-Related Fees. Audit-related services include consultation on accounting standards and transactions, audits of employee benefit plans, audits of subsidiary companies, and pre-implementation internal control reviews related to new financial systems.

 

Tax Fees. Tax fees include work performed primarily for international tax compliance.

 

All Other Fees. No other services were provided to the Company by Deloitte & Touche LLP during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.

 

Audit Committee Report

 

The Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009. The Committee has discussed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, the matters required to be discussed with the Audit Committee under applicable Public Company

 

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Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) standards and SEC Rule 2-07 of Regulation S-X. The Committee also has received and reviewed a report from Deloitte & Touche LLP required by applicable PCAOB standards regarding Deloitte & Touche LLP communications with the Committee concerning independence 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, 2009, for filing with the SEC.

 

The Audit Committee

 

Judith Richards Hope, Chair

Andrew H. Card, Jr.

General Charles C. Krulak, USMC (Ret.)

Michael R. McCarthy

Michael W. McConnell

 

PROPOSAL NUMBER 3

Shareholder Proposal Regarding Independent Chairman

 

Pax World Management Corp., 30 Penhallow Street, Suite 400, Portsmouth, NH 03801, the owner of 22,500 shares of the Company’s common stock, has submitted the following proposal. The Board of Directors recommends a vote AGAINST this proposal.

 

Independent Chairman

 

RESOLVED: That shareholders of Union Pacific Corporation (“Union Pacific” or “Company”) ask the Board of Directors to adopt a policy that the Board’s Chairman not be a previous CEO of the Company, and be an independent director according to the definition set forth in the New York Stock Exchange listing standards, unless Union Pacific stock ceases being listed there and is listed on another exchange, at which point, that exchange’s standard of independence should apply. If the Board determines that a Chairman who was independent when he or she was selected is no longer independent, the Board shall promptly select a new Chairman who satisfies this independence requirement, although compliance with this requirement may be excused if no director who qualifies as independent is elected by shareholders or if no independent director is willing to serve as Chairman. This independence requirement shall apply prospectively so as not to violate any Company contractual obligation at the time this resolution is adopted.

 

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

 

Currently at Union Pacific, one person holds both the positions of Chairman of the Board and CEO. We believe this arrangement may not be in the best interest of Company shareholders.

 

Sound corporate governance is a prerequisite for long-term value creation. Such governance begins with directors effectively overseeing executive management and corporate strategy for a dispersed set of shareowners. Because the roles of the Chairman and CEO are fundamentally different, we believe they should not be held by the same person. Union Pacific’s Board should be led by an independent Chairman, to be in a better position to make independent evaluations, hire and oversee executive management, set compensation policy that encourages sustainable performance, provide strategic direction, and have the support to take long-term views in the development of Union Pacific’s business-separate from the shorter-term pressures often facing management. We believe an independent Chairman is also better positioned to oversee both succession planning and provide accurate appraisal of the CEO’s current performance. This effectively strengthens the system of checks and balances within the corporate structure and enhances shareholder value.

 

The appointment of independent Chairmen to corporate boards has been gaining traction in the U.S. in recent years, through shareholder proposals, market demand for proper risk oversight, and

 

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through proposed legislation. Both houses of the U.S. Congress introduced bills in 2009 containing provisions that would require independent Chairmen for public company boards. In a 2009 report, the Millstein Center at Yale School of Management recommended splitting the positions of Chairman and CEO as the default provision for U.S. companies. And a 2009 Deloitte web poll (9/2/09) of 1,100 directors, executives, and others found that 77.6% of participants agreed that U.S. companies should separate the roles of Chairman and CEO.

 

In our view, no matter how many independent directors are on the Board, they are less able to provide independent oversight of executives if the Chairman of that Board is a previous or current company CEO. We urge you to vote FOR this resolution.

 

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

 

The Board of Directors opposes the proposal because it believes the Company is best served by the Board retaining the flexibility to determine the most effective leadership structure for the Company, based upon its evaluation of what is best for the Company and the shareholders at any point in time. Currently, the Board may provide that the positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) should be held by different people when the Board determines that such action is in the best interest of the Company’s shareholders. The proposal, however, deprives the Board of the flexibility to act in the shareholders’ best interests by organizing its functions and managing its operations in the manner it determines to be most productive and efficient.

 

The Board believes that effective independence and oversight are currently being maintained through the Board Leadership Structure detailed beginning on page 6 of this Proxy statement, and through our sound Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies as set forth on pages 8 through 11 of this Proxy Statement and which also can be found on our website. The independence of the Board as a whole satisfies both Company and New York Stock Exchange guidelines and independence standards, as eleven of twelve current directors are outside independent directors, and the Audit, Compensation and Governance Committees are all composed entirely of independent outside directors. Moreover, the Board routinely holds scheduled sessions of independent directors at each Board meeting, and each Director may originate action items for the Board’s agenda.

 

In addition, to demonstrate its continuing commitment to strong corporate governance and Board independence, the Board has appointed a lead independent director. As discussed in the Board Leadership Structure section and in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies, the lead independent director will (i) preside at meetings of the Board at which the Chairman and CEO is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors; (ii) approve the flow of information sent to the Board, and approve the agenda, schedule and what materials are sent for Board meetings; (iii) serve as the liaison between the independent directors and the Chairman and CEO; and (iv) be available for consultation and communication with major shareholders as appropriate. The lead independent director also has the authority to call executive sessions of the independent directors. Thus, it is unnecessary to permanently separate the Chairman and CEO positions.

 

In view of the strong independent oversight of management by the Board and the Company’s sound governance practices, the Board believes the standard that would be imposed under the proposal is not productive.

 

The Board of Directors respectfully requests that shareholders vote AGAINST Proposal 3.

 

PROPOSAL NUMBER 4

Shareholder Proposal to Adopt Simple Majority Vote

 

John Chevedden, 2215 Nelson Avenue, No. 205, Redondo Beach, CA 90278, the owner of 75 shares of the Company’s common stock, has submitted the following proposal. The Board of Directors recommends a vote AGAINST this proposal.

 

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4—Adopt Simple Majority Vote

 

RESOLVED, Shareholders request that our board take the steps necessary so that each shareholder voting requirement in our charter and bylaws, that calls for a greater than simple majority vote, be changed to a majority of the votes cast for and against the proposal in compliance with applicable laws. This includes each 67% supermajority provision in our charter and/or bylaws.

 

Currently a 1%-minority can frustrate our 66%-shareholder majority. Also our supermajority vote requirement(s) can be almost impossible to obtain when one considers abstentions and broker non-votes. Supermajority requirements are arguably most often used to block initiatives supported by most shareowners but opposed by management. For example, a Goodyear (GT) management proposal for annual election of each director failed to pass even though 90% of votes cast were yes-votes.

 

This proposal topic won from 74% to 88% support at the following companies in 2009: Weyerhaeuser (WY), Alcoa (AA), Waste Management (WM), Goldman Sachs (GS), FirstEnergy (FE), McGraw-Hill (MHP) and Macy’s (M). The proponents of these proposals included Nick Rossi, William Steiner, James McRitchie and Ray T. Chevedden.

 

The merits of this Simple Majority Vote proposal should also be considered in the context of the need for improvements in our company’s 2009 reported corporate governance status:

 

The Corporate Library www.thecorporatelibrary.com, an independent investment research firm, rated our company “High Concern” regarding executive pay. The Corporate Library downgraded its rating for our company from B to C due to concerns regarding executive pay. Our executive pay committee determined our CEO’s $3 million bonus at its own discretion, without using predetermined performance metrics.

 

Although the executive pay discussion and analysis section of our company’s proxy compared the bonus awards to diluted earnings per share (EPS), there was no hard and fast dependency on the latter in deciding on the former. By not utilizing objective performance requirements when rewarding executives (especially in the form of cash payments), the link between pay and performance can be weakened. This may ultimately not be in the best of interest of shareholders.

 

Director Thomas Donohue received our most against-votes (12%) and chaired our executive pay committee. Our directors served on boards rated “D” of “F” by The Corporate Library: Erroll Davis, Motors Liquidation Company (GMGMQ.PK); Charles Krulak, Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Thomas Donohue, Sunrise Senior Living (SRZ). Judith Richards Hope had 21-years long-tenure (independence concern) and chaired our audit committee. Steven Rogel was inside-related (independence concern) and was assigned to our executive pay committee and our nomination committee. We also had no shareholder right to an independent board chairman or a lead director.

 

The above concerns shows there is need for improvement. Please encourage our board to respond positively to this proposal: Adopt Simple Majority Vote—Yes on 4.

 

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

 

A simple majority vote requirement already applies to almost all matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s shareholders. The Board of Directors believes that the two matters subject to supermajority voting provisions under the Company’s existing Revised Articles of Incorporation are necessary to promote the Company’s continuing goal of providing effective governance and stability to advance the long-term benefit of its shareholders.

 

The existing supermajority provisions apply in a limited number of instances where the actions are so fundamental to the Company that they should require broad shareholder support. The Company’s Revised Articles of Incorporation, as amended, require a 66-2/3% vote only with respect

 

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to: (i) removal of directors and amending these provisions related to removal of directors and (ii) amendment of the Revised Articles of Incorporation to adversely affect the preferences, rights or powers of the Company’s preferred stock. In addition, there is no preferred stock outstanding, meaning the Company’s supermajority voting provisions currently only apply with respect to one issue—the removal of directors.

 

With respect to the election of directors, the Board believes that it is important to take into account that the Company provides for the annual election of all directors under a majority voting standard. These provisions further the accountability of directors to shareholders. The Board believes that the supermajority voting requirement that would apply with respect to the removal of directors outside of the annual meeting context is essential to protect shareholders from abusive takeover tactics, given shareholders’ ability to call special meetings. As a result, the Board believes that an extraordinary ability to remove directors outside of the annual meeting context is the type of change that should require a vote and consensus from a large cross-section of the Company’s shareholders.

 

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 26, 2010, 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 executive officers (as designated in the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K) 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. The number of common shares and stock units included in the table are adjusted to reflect the Company’s two-for-one stock split on May 28, 2008.

 

Name

   Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned (a)
    Stock
Units (b)
   Percent of
Shares
Outstanding
 

Andrew H. Card, Jr.

   10,200      4,810    *   

Erroll B. Davis, Jr.

   16,185      7,681    *   

Thomas J. Donohue

   43,239      20,010    *   

Dennis J. Duffy

   746,056      76,158    *   

Archie W. Dunham

   41,317      13,095    *   

J. Michael Hemmer

   246,374      75,679    *   

Judith Richards Hope

   39,570 (c)    18,798    *   

Robert M. Knight, Jr.

   384,987      97,303    *   

John J. Koraleski

   583,694      91,830    *   

Charles C. Krulak

   10,020      5,411    *   

Michael R. McCarthy

   2,052      4,903    *   

Michael W. McConnell

   21,500      15,528    *   

Thomas F. McLarty III

   5,700      4,544    *   

Steven R. Rogel

   41,000      12,680    *   

Jose H. Villarreal

   2,040      1,905    *   

James R. Young

   2,169,777      354,885    *   

Capital Research Global Investors (d)

   40,636,535      0    8.1

BlackRock, Inc. (e)

   27,844,161      0    5.52

All current directors and executive officers as a group
(18 people)

   4,690,228      860,560    *   

 

*   Indicates ownership of less than 1%.

 

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(a)   Includes the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be acquired within 60 days of February 26, 2010 upon the exercise of stock options as follows: Mr. Card 3,700; Mr. Davis 14,000; Mr. Donohue 39,000; Mr. Duffy 296,254; Mr. Dunham 39,000; Mr. Hemmer 188,225; Mrs. Hope 31,800; Mr. Knight 236,226; Mr. Koraleski 223,825; General Krulak 7,900; Mr. McConnell 19,500; Mr. McLarty 3,700; Mr. Rogel 39,000; Mr. Young 1,764,641; and all current directors and executive officers as a group 3,137,322. Also included in the number of shares owned by Messrs. Duffy, Hemmer, Knight, Koraleski and Young are 189,909; 26,222; 49,430; 57,941 and 207,503 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 or a future designated date.

 

(b)   Consists of stock units payable in cash to non-management directors after retirement and held in their Stock Unit Accounts. For a discussion of the Stock Unit Grant and Deferred Compensation Plan for non-management directors, see page 20. These amounts for the Named Executive Officers consist of 76,158; 75,679; 97,303; 91,830 and 354,885 unvested stock units owned by Messrs. Duffy, Hemmer, Knight, Koraleski and Young and awarded under Company stock plans. Stock units do not confer voting rights and are not considered beneficially owned shares of common stock under SEC rules.

 

(c)   In addition, Mrs. Hope is the trustee of a children’s trust that owns 600 shares of common stock. Mrs. Hope disclaims beneficial interest in such shares.

 

(d)   Based solely upon information contained in Schedule 13G filed on February 9, 2010 reporting that, as of December 31, 2009 this holder held sole and shared voting power over 17,417,335 and 0 of these shares, respectively, and sole and shared dispositive power over 40,636,535 and 0 of these shares, respectively. The address of Capital Research Global Investors is 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

 

(e)   Based solely upon information contained in Schedule 13G filed on January 20, 2010 reporting that, as of December 31, 2009 this holder held sole and shared voting power over 27,844,161 and 0 of these shares, respectively, and sole and shared dispositive power over 27,844,161 and 0 of these shares, respectively. The address of BlackRock, Inc., is 40 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022.

 

 

Stock Ownership Requirements for Executives

 

The Company’s Compensation and Benefits 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 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. 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. Our Stock Ownership Guidelines require the CEO to hold seven times annual 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, 2009, all of the Named Executive Officers have met their stock ownership targets described above.

 

Trading in Derivatives of our Common 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,

 

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and the Compensation and Benefits 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 Compensation and Benefits Committee will review any such proposed transaction that does not otherwise violate Company policies or applicable laws and regulations, and the Compensation and Benefits Committee may approve the transaction if there is a compelling reason underlying the proposal. Additionally, the Compensation and Benefits 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 50% of the total shares of our common stock beneficially owned by such executive officer using the immediately preceding February 1st measurement date.

 

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.

 

Executive Compensation

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

Compensation Philosophy and Strategy

 

Our compensation programs for our Chairman, President and CEO, James R. Young, our CFO and Executive Vice President-Finance, Robert M. Knight, Jr., and the next three most highly compensated executive officers, Dennis J. Duffy, Vice Chairman-Operations (effective January 1, 2010; previously Mr. Duffy was Executive Vice President-Operations), John J. Koraleski, Executive Vice President-Marketing and Sales, and J. Michael Hemmer, Senior Vice President-Law and General Counsel (collectively, the Named Executive Officers), remain 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.

 

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Pay for Performance—Under our compensation programs, a significant portion of the executive’s compensation is at-risk and tied to annual and long-term corporate performance. Integration of the Company’s critical business objectives (safety, service, and financial performance) with our compensation programs allows us to reflect individual performance and management effectiveness, along with other qualitative factors, which we may not 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.

 

We believe this compensation philosophy allows us to reward behavior that produces consistent, long-term performance and effective risk management.

 

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 himself) and his recommendations for their compensation. The Committee also receives information and recommendations from a compensation consultant on matters related to the Named Executive Officers (including the CEO) and other executive compensation. For more information on the operation of the Committee, including information on its compensation consultant, see the Compensation and Benefits Committee section on pages 4 through 6 of this Proxy Statement.

 

The Committee reviews Total Direct Compensation for each of the Named Executive Officers on an annual basis prior to the first Board meeting of the year and may also reassess Total Direct Compensation during the year in connection with a promotion or significant change in responsibilities. Total Direct Compensation consists of (i) a cash component (Total Cash Compensation) comprised of base salary and annual cash bonus, if any is paid, and (ii) a stock-based component under our long-term incentive compensation programs. Each component is described more fully below. The Committee also periodically reviews other elements of compensation, including deferred compensation, perquisites, benefits and change in control severance payments. Collectively, these programs are designed to motivate our executives toward consistent superior performance.

 

Competitive Market Review

 

The Committee benchmarks salary, Total Cash Compensation and Total Direct Compensation for the Named Executive Officers against competitive market information. To assess competitive market information, the Committee looks primarily to proxy statement data among a group of peer companies listed below (the Peer Group). The Committee generally seeks to establish base salaries below the median of the Peer Group, reflecting the Committee’s philosophy that a greater proportion of the cash component of our executives’ compensation should be at-risk.

 

The Committee also benchmarks Total Cash Compensation and Total Direct Compensation against the Peer Group. The Committee generally targets a range between the median and seventy-fifth percentile of the Peer Group for Total Cash Compensation and Total Direct Compensation and generally determines compensation within that range based upon relative performance. 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 business objectives (as described below). Other factors may include the individual performance of each Named Executive Officer and his or her position relative to the Company’s current internal pay structure or changes in personnel or compensation at the Peer Group companies. In addition, the Committee particularly

 

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focuses on the competitive pay for railroad executives within the Peer Group 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 tenure or functional responsibilities.

 

Our Peer Group for 2009 consisted of the following 17 companies:

 

Alcoa

   3M    Burlington Northern Santa Fe

CSX

   Deere & Co    Du Pont (El) De Nemours

FedEx

   General Dynamics    Halliburton

Honeywell International

   Medtronic    Norfolk Southern

Northrop Grumman

   Raytheon    Southern Co.

Time Warner Cable

   UPS   

 

The Committee selected this Peer Group after surveying U.S. based public companies in the same Global Industry Classification System (GICS) Industry Group with comparable revenues and market capitalization; and U.S. based public companies with comparable (i) revenues, (ii) net income, (iii) market capitalization, (iv) total assets and (v) employees, while excluding pharmaceuticals, hightech, insurance and financial services companies. These comparative financial measures and the number of employees for the 2009 Peer Group are shown below.

 

     Peer Group (1)    Union Pacific  
     Median    75th
Percentile
   Company
Data
   Percent
Rank
 

Net Revenue

   $ 25,269    $ 30,529    $ 17,970    31

Net Income

   $ 1,807    $ 2,231    $ 2,338    78

Total Assets

   $ 30,197    $ 36,403    $ 39,722    88

Market Capitalization

   $ 21,134    $ 25,918    $ 24,207    70

Employees

     60,000      92,300      48,242    32

 

  (1)   Dollars in millions. Based on information as of December 31, 2008.

 

 

Management’s Role in the Compensation Process

 

Management’s role in the compensation process is twofold. First, at the beginning of the year, management conducts its annual operating planning process to determine and recommend business objectives to the Committee and the Board (focusing on safety, service, and financial performance) for the annual cash bonus and performance criteria for the long-term incentive compensation program for the upcoming performance year. Second, at the end of the year, the CEO makes 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 the Company’s 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; planned capital expenditures; competitive market; and general 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 provide us the framework to meet the business objectives of the Company’s annual operating plan.

 

At the beginning 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 Senior Vice President–

 

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Human Resources (SVP-HR) propose to the Committee suggested business objectives for the annual bonus plan and suggested performance criteria and targets for the performance stock units for the upcoming year. The CEO also reviews any recommendations that the SVP-HR (with any input from the Committee’s compensation 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. The Committee reviews these compensation proposals and makes a recommendation 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, the CEO reviews the performance of the other Named Executive Officers and competitive data on Total Direct Compensation prepared by the SVP-HR (based upon data supplied by the Committee’s compensation consultant) prior to making recommendations for consideration by the Committee. Management, including the CEO and SVP-HR, reviews the Company’s performance and the CEO proposes to the Committee amounts for base salary, annual bonuses, and long-term incentives for each of the Named Executive Officers, other than himself, which determination is reserved for the Committee taking into account the advice of its consultant. The Committee’s compensation consultant presents to the Committee competitive analyses regarding the Total Direct Compensation with respect to the CEO, which the compensation consultant performs without any participation of, input from or prior review by the CEO. The Committee reviews the relevant compensation analyses and, together with the other independent directors, evaluates the CEO’s performance and determines the appropriate level of Total Direct Compensation based upon such evaluation.

 

Company Performance Overview for 2009

 

Economic conditions made 2009 a very challenging year. Despite these obstacles, we achieved all-time bests in many of our business objectives (which focus on safety, service and financial performance) by operating a safer railroad, improving customer service and operations, and implementing productivity initiatives to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

 

Safety—In 2009, we continued our positive, multi-year trend in safety performance by setting records in many of our safety metrics. These results included surpassing previous milestones in all three safety areas—employee, public, and customer. Our employee injury incident rate per 200,000 man-hours declined 12% from 2008 to its lowest level ever. Our continued focus on derailment prevention resulted in a 10% reduction in our derailment incident rate in 2009, with associated costs declining 3%. We also had the lowest number of crossing incidents on record, and the rate of grade crossing incidents per million train miles decreased 11%.

 

Service and Operations—In 2009, we built upon operational improvements achieved during 2008 by significantly improving the fluidity and efficiency of our transportation network and adjusting our resources to reflect lower demand. Although varying throughout the year, our resource reductions included removing from service approximately 26% of our road locomotives and 18% of our freight car inventory by year-end. We also reduced shift levels at most rail facilities and closed or significantly reduced operations in 30 of our 114 principal rail yards. We set records in numerous operational metrics, including velocity, average terminal dwell, freight car utilization and service delivery. Network management initiatives, efforts to improve asset utilization, and lower volume levels drove our operational improvement. In 2009, customer satisfaction improved to record levels, exceeding records established in 2008, an indication that our ongoing efforts to improve operations again translated into better customer service.

 

Financial Performance—We generated operating income of $3.4 billion despite economic conditions that significantly reduced demand for our services across almost all market sectors. While a 16% reduction in volume drove the 17% decrease in operating income, core pricing gains, improved productivity, lower fuel prices, and cost savings from demand-driven resource adjustments

 

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translated into an all-time record operating ratio of 76.0% for 2009, outpacing our previous record of 77.3% set in 2008. Again in 2009, our Project Operating Ratio and Zero (Project OR & 0), a comprehensive program focused on improving efficiency (operating ratio) without impacting our safety performance or the Company’s efforts to improve safety, was instrumental in providing these cost savings and productivity improvements. Net income of $1.9 billion declined from $2.3 billion in 2008, but resulted in earnings of $3.75 per diluted share for 2009, surpassed only by our 2008 performance. We generated free cash flow of $515 million (after dividends of $544 million) on the strength of $3.2 billion cash from operations.1 We continued to focus on improving the reinvestability of our business in 2009, and we have repriced approximately 85% of our business since 2004. In response to economic conditions we maintained a very solid financial condition throughout the year, ending 2009 with nearly $1.9 billion cash on hand and a lease adjusted debt-to-capital ratio of 45.9%2. Our shareholders also benefited from a 36.6% increase in cumulative total shareholder return in 2009 (assuming reinvestment of dividends).

 

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.

 

Base Salary

 

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. The Committee reviews the base salaries of the Named Executive Officers at the beginning of each year.

 

The CEO reviews base salaries and prior year performance and accomplishments for the other Named Executive Officers and provides the Committee a base salary recommendation for the coming year for each other Named Executive Officer. The Committee considers these base salary recommendations from the CEO. The Committee, with input from its compensation consultant and the Board’s review of the CEO evaluation, alone assesses the base salary of the CEO. 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 accomplishments and job performance, (v) Peer Group proxy statement data, (vi) internal benchmarking relative to the Company’s pay structure, and (vii) current salary. In making salary recommendations to the Board of Directors, the Committee exercises subjective judgment in evaluating each factor and applies no specific weights to the above factors with respect to each Named Executive Officer.

 

The Committee did not increase any of the salaries of the Named Executive Officers in 2009. In February 2009, the Committee reviewed and considered the achievement of the Company’s business objectives in 2008. Despite the Company’s solid performance during 2008, the Committee agreed with the CEO’s recommendation that none of the Company’s top 150 executives, including the Named Executive Officers, receive base salary increases for 2009 due to the economic outlook at that time.

 

 

1  

Free cash flow is not considered a financial measure under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) by SEC Regulation G and Item10 of Regulation S-K. For a reconciliation to GAAP, please see Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

2  

Adjusted debt-to-capital is not considered a financial measure under GAAP by SEC Regulation G and Item 10 of Regulation S-K. For a reconciliation to GAAP, please see Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

 

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In February 2010, the Committee reviewed the salaries of the Named Executive Officers and considered the Company’s performance in 2009. Based upon the CEO’s recommendation, the Committee approved a salary increase only for Mr. Knight. Mr. Knight was awarded a 2% salary increase primarily based on the fact that his salary was significantly lower relative to CFO positions in our Peer Group. The CEO recommended no salary increases in 2010 for himself and the rest of the Named Executive Officers due to the continued challenges presented by current economic conditions.

 

2009/2010 Salary Versus Peer Group

 

Name

  2008 Salary   Change from
Prior Year
    2009 Salary   Change from
Prior Year
    2010 Salary   vs. Peer Group

James R. Young

  $ 1,150,000   0   $ 1,150,000   0   $ 1,150,000   Below Median

Robert M. Knight, Jr.

    455,000   0     455,000   2     464,000   Below Median

Dennis J. Duffy

    600,000   0     600,000   0     600,000   Below Median

John J. Koraleski

    470,000   0     470,000   0     470,000   Below Median

J. Michael Hemmer

    455,000   0     455,000   0     455,000   Below Median

 

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 establish a target performance formula for any of our executives, including the Named Executive Officers. Although specific business objectives (focusing on safety, service, and financial performance) are communicated to the Company as a whole based on the operating plan developed by management and presented to the Board, these business objectives do not exclusively drive executive bonuses. Instead, the Committee uses these business objectives to determine a funding level without using any formulas or assigning specific weight to any one objective. The funding level is a percentage of competitive compensation (i.e., generally the median to the seventy-fifth percentile of Total Cash Compensation less current salaries) depending upon our success in achieving our business objectives and other qualitative factors the Committee considers in awarding annual cash bonuses. Then the individual bonus awards for each Named Executive Officer are determined on a discretionary basis. The Committee believes this is an effective way to reinforce our pay-for-performance philosophy, as annual bonuses are based upon (i) in large part, the Company’s performance, and (ii) the review by the CEO and/or the Committee of the individual executive’s performance during the period. This discretionary process results in the annual cash bonus being highly variable, ranging in recent years from zero for all Named Executive Officers to an amount that may significantly exceed the executive’s base salary.

 

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The following graph sets forth the amount of average annual cash bonus reported for the Named Executive Officers or the top five listed officers for the applicable performance year versus the Company’s diluted earnings per share (EPS) as reported in accordance with GAAP.

 

LOGO

 

(1)   Represents the average annual cash bonus reported for the Named Executive Officers or the top five listed officers for the applicable Performance Year. For Performance Year 2004, no bonuses were paid to Company executives. For Performance Year 2006, the Company had a separate Chairman and CEO who each received bonuses.

 

(2)   Diluted EPS is net income divided by our weighted average common stock outstanding, assuming dilution. Years 2003-2007 have been adjusted for the Company’s May 28, 2008, two-for-one stock split.

 

When determining annual bonuses, the Committee benchmarks Total Cash Compensation for the Named Executive Officers within a range of the median to seventy-fifth percentile of our Peer Group based on performance. Depending primarily on the position of the Named Executive Officer, Company-level performance and individual performance, this process results in between 50% and 75% of an executive’s potential cash compensation being at-risk. At the end of the year, the CEO reviews corporate, operational and individual accomplishments and job performance for the Named Executive Officers, and provides the Committee an annual cash bonus recommendation for each Named Executive Officer. The Committee considers these recommended amounts and may make adjustments in its discretion. The Committee, with input from its consultant and the review of the CEO evaluation by the independent members of the Board, alone assesses and determines the bonus for the CEO.

 

In February 2010, the Committee reviewed and considered the achievement of the Company’s business objectives in 2009, including significant accomplishments and records in the areas of safety and service and the solid financial performance discussed above under the section captioned Company Performance Overview for 2009, as the primary factor in determining each of the Named Executive Officer’s annual bonus. In addition, the Committee took into consideration each Named Executive Officer’s responsibilities, performance and accomplishments during the year, tenure and award levels relative to the Peer Group. In spite of an unprecedented economic environment that resulted in significantly reduced business volumes that impacted our financial performance, the Committee awarded each Named Executive Officer a bonus (as shown in the table below) for their management actions and leadership contributions as described below.

 

The Committee evaluated Mr. Young’s performance and determined that his oversight and leadership of the Company and the senior management team in achieving all-time bests in many of

 

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the Company’s business objectives in the midst of challenging economic conditions, as well as his direction and execution of the Company’s operational and strategic initiatives to maximize shareholder value, merited the bonus shown in the table below.

 

2009 Total Cash Compensation Versus Peer Group

 

Name

  2009 Salary   2009 Bonus   Change in Bonus
From 2008
    Total 2009
Cash Comp
  vs. Peer Group

James R. Young

  $ 1,150,000   $ 2,500,000   (17 %)    $ 3,650,000   Between Median & 75P

Robert M. Knight, Jr.

    455,000     820,000   (20 %)      1,275,000   Between Median & 75P

Dennis J. Duffy

    600,000     955,000   (15 %)      1,555,000   Between Median & 75P

John J. Koraleski

    470,000     825,000   (20 %)      1,295,000   Above 75P

J. Michael Hemmer

    455,000     720,000   (20 %)      1,175,000   Above 75P

 

In addition to the overall solid performance of the Company in 2009, the bonus recommendations provided to the Committee by Mr. Young for the other Named Executive Officers took into account the following subjective assessment of each Named Executive Officer’s performance during the year.

 

Mr. Knight led the Company’s implementation of a financial strategy that continued to focus on maximizing long-term shareholder value and produced solid financial results despite the economic recession experienced throughout 2009. Under Mr. Knight’s leadership, the Company strengthened its balance sheet, maintaining access to capital markets and the strong liquidity position needed to weather economic uncertainty and volatile financial markets. Through these efforts, the Company’s adjusted debt to capital ratio improved 1.5 percentage points. Mr. Knight continued to lead the Company’s effort to improve financial returns as part of Project OR & 0 (described above on page 32), which helped offset the impact of steep business volume declines through substantial cost savings. These efforts resulted in an operating ratio below 74% for the second half of the year, and a fifth consecutive year of operating ratio improvement to a full-year record 76%. Mr. Knight also effectively performed the fiduciary role of overseeing the Company’s adherence to the highest standards of financial reporting and controls, including the implementation of a new accounting system to maintain and enhance the integrity of these critical functions.

 

Mr. Duffy continued to lead the Company’s focus on safety while providing superior service to our customers. The Company’s safety performance for 2009 continued a multi-year improvement trend that produced all-time record lows for personal injury, grade-crossing and derailment incident rates. In response to the economic environment and declining volumes, Mr. Duffy led the Company’s efforts in asset utilization by streamlining operations through consolidating terminals, lengthening trains and resizing the Company’s resource base. These actions improved operating cost variability without compromising excellent service and value for our customers. The Company continued to build upon operational improvements to enhance the fluidity and efficiency of our transportation network, setting records in numerous operational metrics, including velocity, average terminal dwell, freight car utilization and service delivery. Mr. Duffy’s focus on safety and his efforts to improve the efficiency of network operations contributed directly to the Company’s bottom line.

 

Mr. Koraleski led the marketing and sales team in the pursuit of growth opportunities with existing and new customers by offering our customers a wide range of options to leverage the cost and environmental advantages of rail and the advantage of our rail franchise. Mr. Koraleski and the marketing and sales team, along with the Operating Department, continued their efforts to improve service and operations that translated into increased customer satisfaction. In 2009, our customer satisfaction index reached an all time high, surpassing records established in 2008 by five points. New service offerings and other service enhancements combined with our premier rail franchise allowed the Company to achieve a 4.5% improvement in core pricing for 2009. Mr. Koraleski also led the successful renegotiation of two key expiring legacy contracts and implemented strategies to open new markets and secure future business growth.

 

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Mr. Hemmer led the efforts of the Company and the rail industry in developing positions on potential legislation affecting our industry and communicating those positions to policymakers. Mr. Hemmer oversaw a legal team that played a leading role in advocating regulatory policies at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Surface Transportation Board. The Law Department achieved significant success in several precedent setting legal proceedings, while continuing to enhance their support activities to critical Company functions. Mr. Hemmer and the legal team continued their compliance oversight and prevention efforts in areas such as safety, regulatory and environmental, ethics and corporate governance. Mr. Hemmer also oversaw the implementation of several Company-wide initiatives that improved document and records management, which saved the Company millions of dollars in litigation expenses and freed valuable database storage.

 

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, together with the Company’s stock ownership requirements and other policies, 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 return on invested capital (ROIC) over a three-year period;

 

   

retention stock units, which vest after 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 41) and that vest ratably over a three-year period.

 

The Committee generally seeks to award long-term incentives that range 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 generally to be between the median and seventy-fifth percentile for Total Direct Compensation of the Peer Group when the Company attains its performance objectives. The CEO recommends to the Committee an aggregate value of long-term incentive awards for each of the Named Executive Officers (other than himself, a determination reserved for the Committee, taking into account advice from its compensation consultant and the Board’s evaluation of the CEO). The Committee considers these recommendations and determines the final amount of awards for each of the Named Executive Officers. The Committee may vary the mix of each component of equity compensation to some degree depending on Company and individual performance and retention risk regarding an executive.

 

The long-term incentive awards granted by the Committee in January of 2009 reflected the Committee’s desire to provide long-term incentive compensation to ensure the continued efforts of the Named Executive Officers to meet the long-term goals and strategic plans of the Company and to align this element of their compensation with the long-term interests of the Company’s shareholders. The long-term incentive program for the Named Executive Officers in 2009 included 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 long-term incentive awards for the Named Executive Officers and a description of the terms of these awards are set forth on pages 45 and 46 in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2009 Table and accompanying narrative discussion.

 

At its meeting in February 2010, the Committee re-evaluated the long-term incentive program for the Named Executive Officers and the targeted mix of equity compensation. Based upon its review of long-term incentives for the Peer Group and its desire to emphasize the Company’s long-term strategic focus and the connection between ROIC and the Named Executive Officers’ compensation, the Committee changed the targeted mix of equity compensation based on grant date fair value to 40% performance stock units, 20% retention stock units and 40% stock options.

 

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Performance Stock Units

 

The Committee utilizes performance stock units to (i) motivate, reward, and retain executives who make significant contributions to the achievement of the Company’s safety, operational and financial goals, (ii) promote and closely align the interests of the Named Executive Officers and other executives with those of our shareholders, and (iii) help ensure that executive compensation remains competitive with our industry peers and companies with which we compete for executive talent.

 

In February 2009, the Committee awarded the Named Executive Officers performance stock units subject to the attainment and certification of annual ROIC, as adjusted, for a three-year period (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 excluding the effect of 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. In addition, the Board focuses on ROIC as a key area for Company improvement. The table below identifies the ROIC performance criteria for the outstanding performance stock unit grants:

 

Performance Period

   ROIC
Threshold
    ROIC
Target
    ROIC
Maximum
 

2007 – 2009

   8.1   8.6   9.6

2008 – 2010

   8.8   9.3   10.3

2009 – 2011

   7.8   8.8   10.8

 

The Named Executive Officers must also remain employed by the Company 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 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 such executive based on the average of the first two years of ROIC performance achieved. During year three of the Performance Period, the executive may earn up to twice the target number of stock units (less any units earned in years one and two) granted to that executive based on the average of ROIC performance during the whole three-year Performance Period. If the threshold ROIC level is not met, executives are not entitled to any payout of their performance stock units. 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 pay or accrue dividend equivalents between the time they are earned and the payment date. Dividend equivalents are not paid on unearned performance stock units. The threshold, target and maximum number of performance stock units that may be earned by each Named Executive Officer is set forth on page 45 in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2009 table.

 

For the performance stock units granted in 2007, 2008 and 2009, the Committee certified the ROIC results as shown in the table below.

 

     2007     2008 (1)     2009 (2)  

ROIC as reported in the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the years ended December 31

   8.7   10.2   8.2

ROIC as certified by the Committee for Performance Stock Unit Awards

   8.74   10.09   8.17

 

  (1)   The Committee, in its discretion, adjusted reported 2008 ROIC downward for a special item. Reported ROIC included the recognition of a loss in Other Comprehensive Income resulting from investment losses in pension assets.

 

  (2)  

For performance stock units granted in 2009, we adjusted the discount rate used in both the numerator and denominator when calculating the present value of our future

 

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operating lease payments to reflect changes to interest rates and our financing costs. This rate is consistent with the methodology used by Standard & Poor’s, and is the same methodology we use to calculate our adjusted debt-to-capital ratio. The performance stock units granted in 2007 and 2008 will continue to be measured through their conclusion using the methodology and assumptions in effect when those performance stock units were granted. As a result, the 2009 ROIC certified by the Committee for the 2007 and 2008 grants was 8.32%.

 

 

Performance stock units earned under each of the 2007, 2008, and 2009 grants for each of the Named Executive Officers are included as Earned Performance Stock Units in the Stock Awards column of the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2009 Fiscal Year-End Table on page 46. The table below summarizes how performance stock units were earned in 2009.

 

Stock Units Earned in 2009 as a Percent of Target Award

 

Performance

Period

   Average of
ROIC
    Percent of Target
Achieved to Date
   

Percent of Target Earned (1)

2007 – 2009

   9.0   +40   140% of the target number of stock units

2008 – 2010

   9.2   -10   90% of 2/3 of the target number of stock units

2009 – 2011

   8.1   -40   60% of 1/3 of the target number of stock units

 

(1)   Years one and two of each performance period are capped at 100% of the target award and are subject to continued employment throughout the performance period. Amounts earned at the conclusion of the performance period may be different depending on future years’ performance.

 

 

At its meeting in February 2010, the Committee awarded the Named Executive Officers performance stock units with the same terms as the 2009 grants discussed above, except the Committee set a new performance target for ROIC.

 

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. Retention stock generally vests after a four-year period of continued service. 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 combine 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. One-third of each stock option grant vests each year over the three-year vesting period.

 

Summary of 2009 Total Direct Compensation Decisions

 

The table below summarizes the 2009 Total Direct Compensation the Committee approved for each Named Executive Officer. The compensation elements included in the table reflect the components of annual compensation that the Committee considers in its decision-making process.

 

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The table excludes compensation amounts based on changes in pension value and nonqualified deferred compensation earnings as reported in the Summary Compensation Table on page 43, because the Committee considers these programs in the context of its assessment of the overall benefit design and not as an element of its annual compensation decisions. Likewise, the Committee does not consider in its annual compensation decisions the items included as “All Other Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table, and these items are therefore excluded from the table below. This table is not intended to replace the Summary Compensation Table.

 

2009 Total Direct Compensation Versus Peer Group

 

Name

   Total 2009
Cash Comp
   Total 2009
LTI Award
   Total 2009
Direct Comp
   Change from
2008
    vs. Peer Group

James R. Young

   $ 3,650,000    $ 7,500,000    $ 11,150,000    (4 %)    Below Median

Robert M. Knight, Jr.

     1,275,000      2,100,000      3,375,000    0   Between Median & 75P

Dennis J. Duffy

     1,555,000      2,500,000      4,055,000    2   Between Median & 75P

John J. Koraleski

     1,295,000      2,000,000      3,295,000    (3 %)    Above 75P

J. Michael Hemmer

     1,175,000      1,600,000      2,775,000    (3 %)    Between Median & 75P

 

2010 Long Term Incentive Awards

 

In February 2010, the Committee reviewed and considered the achievement of the Company’s business objectives in 2009, including the significant accomplishments and records in safety and service and the solid financial performance discussed above under the section captioned Company Performance Overview for 2009, as the primary factor in determining each of the Named Executive Officer’s annual long-term incentive awards. In addition, the Committee took into consideration each Named Executive Officer’s responsibilities, performance and accomplishments during the year, tenure, and award levels relative to the Peer Group as discussed above in the subjective assessment of each Named Executive Officer under the Annual Cash Bonus section. The Committee awarded each Named Executive Officer the long-term incentive awards as shown in the table below. However, Mr. Duffy has advised the Company of his plans to retire sometime during the restriction periods applicable to option awards and retention and performance stock unit awards, and, as a result, the Committee did not award Mr. Duffy any long-term incentive awards for 2010.

 

The Committee awarded each Named Executive Officer a long-term incentive award, based on grant date fair value, consisting of 40% performance stock units, 20% retention stock units and 40% stock options. The Committee’s decision to change its targeted allocations and place greater emphasis on performance is discussed in the Long-Term Incentive Compensation section above.

 

2010 Long Term Incentive Awards

 

Name

  Change in
LTI from
2009
  Total 2010
LTI Award
  Stock
Options
(40% of LTI
Award)
  Retention
Stock Units

(20% of LTI
Award)
  Performance Stock Units
          Threshold   Target
(40% of LTI
Award)
  Maximum

James R. Young

  (7%)   $ 7,000,000   153,312   22,959   22,959   45,918   91,836

Robert M. Knight, Jr.

  0%     2,100,000   45,996   6,888   6,888   13,776   27,552

Dennis J. Duffy

  (100%)     0   0   0   0   0   0

John J. Koraleski

  (10%)     1,800,000   39,423   5,904   5,904   11,808   23,616

J. Michael Hemmer

  0%     1,600,000   35,043   5,248   5,248   10,497   20,994

 

Perquisites

 

The Committee reviews perquisites periodically for both appropriateness and effectiveness. Key executives, including the Named Executive Officers, receive tax and financial counseling services and

 

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personal excess liability coverage. 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. For 2009, the incremental costs of perquisites for any Named Executive Officer did not exceed $31,000. Pursuant to the Company’s security policy, the CEO is required to use Company aircraft for all air travel, whether personal or business, and the Committee believes this requirement to be in the best interest of the Company, as it provides security, improves Company access to the CEO while traveling, and enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of our CEO. Due to the relatively low cost to the Company of these perquisites, combined with the policy regarding mandatory use of Company aircraft by the CEO, the Committee does not consider perquisites in their analyses of Total Direct Compensation.

 

Post-Termination Compensation and Benefits

 

Post-termination compensation and benefits are designed to promote long-term commitment to the Company and consist of the following elements: deferred compensation, pension, and potential change-in-control payments.

 

Deferred Compensation

 

The Committee, pursuant to its charter, is responsible for oversight of our deferred compensation arrangements. Management 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 pages 51 and 52. 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 believe that this policy promotes a long-term focus on value and the avoidance of unreasonable and excessive risks. This focus on effective risk management and long-term value creation benefits our shareholders and reinforces the Committee’s goal of providing compensation that aligns shareholder and executive interests. These accounts are not funded 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 50.

 

Pension Plan and Supplemental Pension Plan

 

We sponsor a tax qualified defined benefit Pension Plan and a non-qualified excess Supplemental Pension Plan. Management 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 the employee’s years of service, salary, bonus and age. More detailed descriptions of the Pension Plan and Supplemental Pension Plan are set forth on pages 48 through 50.

 

Change in Control Arrangements

 

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

 

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overall shareholder value without concern about personal financial interests and (ii) severance benefits in the event their employment with the Company is terminated within two years following a change in control.

 

The Continuity Plan currently provides severance benefits to certain 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, Koraleski and Hemmer. The Committee determined these multiples based upon competitive practices at the time the plan was adopted.

 

In September 2003, the Board adopted the Union Pacific Corporation Policy Regarding Shareholder Approval of Future Severance Agreements (Severance Policy). Under this Severance 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 54 through 56.

 

Other Aspects of Our Compensation Program

 

Company Grant Practices

 

All performance stock units, retention shares, retention stock units and stock options are awarded for all executive and management employees on the day the Committee and the Board, as applicable, approves the award. The option price of all stock options is the closing price of our stock on the date of grant. Employees are not allowed to select the effective date of stock option awards, and the Committee does not time its approval of stock option awards around the release of any material non-public information.

 

Prohibition on Stock Option Repricing

 

Our 2004 Stock Incentive Plan prohibits repricing of outstanding stock options without the approval of shareholders. Although there are outstanding stock option awards under other prior stock plans that do not prohibit the Committee from repricing stock options, the Committee does not intend to reprice any outstanding options. Additionally, neither the Company nor the Committee has ever back-dated stock options.

 

Recoupment Policy for 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 revised in connection with a restatement of our financial statements. The Board will take appropriate action to recover any amount determined to have been inappropriately received by any individual executive subject to this policy.

 

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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. 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 salary, taxable perquisites and other taxable compensation for the CEO and other Named Executive Officers (excluding the CFO for 162(m) purposes) is deductible to up to $1 million in any year.

 

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. The Committee uses Tally Sheets as a reference point to summarize all relevant data when reviewing the elements of compensation and assessing the consistency of awards for the Named Executive Officers.

 

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 2010 Proxy Statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

The Compensation and Benefits Committee

 

Thomas J. Donohue, Chair

Erroll B. Davis, Jr.

Michael W. McConnell

Thomas F. McLarty III

Steven R. Rogel

 

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2008 Stock Split

 

On May 28, 2008, we completed a two-for-one stock split, effected in the form of a 100% stock dividend. The stock split entitled all shareholders of record at the close of business on May 12, 2008 to receive one additional share of our common stock for each share of common stock held on that date. The outstanding stock and option awards shown in the tables that follow are adjusted to reflect the stock split.

 

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 2009, 2008 and 2007.

 

Name and

Principal Position

  Year   Salary     Bonus   Stock
Awards
(a)
  Option
Awards
(b)
  Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings (c)
  All Other
Compensation
(d)
  Total
Compensation
(e)

James R. Young

  2009   $ 1,150,000      $ 2,500,000   $ 3,750,155   $ 3,750,015   $ 4,056,234   $   77,943   $ 15,284,347
    Chairman,   2008     1,141,667        3,000,000     3,750,161     3,750,015     4,538,368     135,404     16,315,615

    President & CEO

  2007     1,091,667        2,650,000     3,000,077     3,000,016     2,125,230     65,375     11,932,365

Robert M. Knight, Jr.

  2009     455,000        820,000     1,050,136     1,050,022     915,630     36,485     4,327,273

    EVP Finance & CFO

  2008     449,167        1,025,000     950,047     950,073     987,322     42,570     4,404,179
  2007     416,667        925,000     750,043     650,042     296,490     24,579     3,062,821

Dennis J. Duffy

  2009     600,000        955,000     1,250,130     1,250,016     1,676,187     36,491     5,767,825

    Vice Chairman

  2008     595,833        1,125,000     1,124,836     1,125,405     2,057,521     52,395     6,080,990

    –Operations (f)

  2007     575,000        1,025,000     883,390     916,653     149,449     30,026     3,579,518

John J. Koraleski

  2009     470,000        825,000     1,000,161     1,000,006     1,558,564     34,573     4,888,304

    EVP Marketing &

  2008     466,667        1,035,000     950,047     950,073     1,857,678     39,464     5,298,929

    Sales

  2007     442,667        950,000     700,002     750,038     338,912     26,737     3,208,356

J. Michael Hemmer

  2009     428,988 (g)      720,000     800,167     800,012     668,982     29,198     3,480,277

    SVP Law & General

  2008     453,000        900,000     750,057     750,003     732,949     41,645     3,627,654

    Counsel

  2007     441,667        815,000     616,599     583,355     450,671     23,357     2,930,648

 

(a)   Amounts reported in the Stock Awards column reflect grant date fair value as calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, including performance stock units, which are valued based on target performance achieved. Refer to the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table on page 45 for the grant date fair value of the retention stock units and performance stock units. The grant date fair value is calculated on the number of stock units and performance stock units at target multiplied by the closing stock price on the date of grant. Dividend equivalents that accrue or are payable on retention stock units and earned performance stock units are reflected in the grant date fair value of such awards and, therefore, pursuant to SEC rules, are not separately reported in the Summary Compensation Table when actually paid to the Named Executive Officers. The maximum value of performance stock units for 2009 for Mr. Young is $3,750,250, for Mr. Knight is $1,050,183, for Mr. Duffy is $1,250,178, for Mr. Koraleski is $1,000,256 and for Mr. Hemmer is $800,262.

 

(b)   Amounts reported in the Option Awards column reflect grant date fair value as calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The following table shows the assumptions used to calculate the grant date fair value of Option Awards.

 

      2009     2008     2007  

Risk-free interest rate

     1.9     2.8     4.9

Dividend yield

     2.3     1.4     1.4

Expected life (years)

     5.1        5.3        4.7   

Volatility

     31.3     22.2     20.9

Grant date fair value of options granted

   $ 11.33      $ 13.34      $ 11.17   

 

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(c)   The amounts reported are the aggregate change in the actuarial present value of the accumulated benefit under the Company’s Pension Plan and Supplemental Pension Plan. The higher pension values reflect changes in the discount rate and the value of the accrued pension benefit for each Named Executive Officer.

 

(d)   The following table provides a summary of the All Other Compensation column that includes all perquisites.

 

Summary of All Other Compensation

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year   Perquisites   Tax
Reimburse-
ments (ii)
  Life
Insurance
Premiums
  Company
Matched Thrift
Plan
Contributions
  Total All Other
Compensation
    Use of
Corporate
Aircraft (i)
  Tax and
Financial
Counseling
Services
    Excess
Liability
Insurance
Premiums
       

James R. Young

  2009   $ 20,994   $ 8,583      $ 1,100   $ 0   $ 12,766   $ 34,500   $ 77,943

    Chairman, President & CEO

  2008     34,580     38,075 (iii)      1,125     1,491     25,883     34,250     135,404
  2007     21,203     8,777        1,160     1,485     0     32,750     65,375

Robert M. Knight, Jr.

  2009     2,809     15,755        1,100     0     3,171     13,650     36,485

    EVP Finance & CFO

  2008     12,434     8,875        1,125     958     5,703     13,475     42,570
  2007     1,292     8,665        1,160     962     0     12,500     24,579

Dennis J. Duffy

  2009     0     9,410        1,100     0     7,981     18,000     36,491

    Vice Chairman–Operations

  2008     7,622     9,588        1,125     1,071     15,114     17,875     52,395
  2007     0     10,531        1,160     1,085     0     17,250     30,026

John J. Koraleski

  2009     0     13,300        1,100     0     6,073     14,100     34,573

    EVP Marketing & Sales

  2008     0     11,365        1,125     971     12,003     14,000     39,464
  2007     0     11,315        1,160     982     0     13,280     26,737

J. Michael Hemmer

  2009     0     8,200        1,100     0     6,992     12,906     29,198

    SVP Law & General Counsel

  2008     0     8,505        1,125     961     17,464     13,590     41,645
  2007     0     7,965        1,160     982     0     13,250     23,357

 

  (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, for 2008 and 2007, consists of 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. In 2009, the Committee eliminated tax gross-ups on the Medicare tax paid on the Company’s contributions to a supplemental thrift plan and excess liability insurance premiums.

 

  (iii)   Included in Mr. Young’s $38,075 for Tax and Financial Counseling Services is $27,920 related to a restructuring of his estate plan and related documents.

 

(e)   For comparison purposes, refer to the 2009 Total Direct Compensation Versus Peer Group Table on page 39, which provides a summary of the total compensation approved by the Committee for 2009.

 

(f)   Mr. Duffy was Executive Vice President-Operations of the Railroad through December 31, 2009 and has been Vice Chairman-Operations of the Railroad since such date.

 

(g)   Mr. Hemmer’s annual base salary for 2009 of $455,000 was reduced by his voluntary election to forego a portion of his salary for departmental management purposes.

 

 

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2009

 

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 2009.

 

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
Fair Value
of Stock
and Option
Awards (b)
      Threshold   Target   Maximum        

James R. Young

  2/5/2009   Performance Stock Units   19,830   39,660   79,320         $ 1,875,125

    Chairman, President & CEO

  2/5/2009   Retention Stock Units         39,658         1,875,030
  2/5/2009   Stock Options           330,873   $ 47.28     3,750,015

Robert M. Knight, Jr.

  2/5/2009   Performance Stock Units   5,553   11,106   22,212           525,092

    EVP Finance & CFO

  2/5/2009   Retention Stock Units         11,105         525,044
  2/5/2009   Stock Options           92,646   $ 47.28     1,050,022

Dennis J. Duffy

  2/5/2009   Performance Stock Units   6,610   13,221   26,442           625,089

    Vice Chairman–Operations

  2/5/2009   Retention Stock Units         13,220         625,042
  2/5/2009   Stock Options           110,292   $ 47.28     1,250,016

John J. Koraleski

  2/5/2009   Performance Stock Units   5,289   10,578   21,156           500,128

    EVP Marketing & Sales

  2/5/2009   Retention Stock Units         10,576         500,033
  2/5/2009   Stock Options           88,233   $ 47.28     1,000,006

J. Michael Hemmer

  2/5/2009   Performance Stock Units   4,231   8,463   16,926           400,131

    SVP Law & General Counsel

  2/5/2009   Retention Stock Units         8,461         400,036
  2/5/2009   Stock Options           70,587   $ 47.28     800,012

 

(a)   The Exercise Price is the closing price of our common stock on February 5, 2009, the date of grant.

 

(b)   Amounts reported reflect grant date fair value as calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Performance Stock Units are valued based on target performance achieved. Refer to Footnote (b) to the Summary Compensation Table on page 43 for the assumptions made in calculating the grant date fair value of Stock Options.

 

 

Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

 

Annual bonuses are awarded under the Executive Incentive Plan, which allows the Committee to establish performance objectives 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. Bonuses for the Named Executive Officers are based upon an evaluation of a combination of corporate and individual performance as determined by the Committee as more fully described beginning on page 33 of the CD&A.

 

On February 5, 2009, the Committee granted performance stock units, retention stock units and stock options to each of the Named Executive Officers. Performance stock units actually earned will be subject to continued employment through February 5, 2012 and the attainment of pre-established levels of annual ROIC for a three-year performance period covering fiscal years 2009 through 2011. 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 based on the average of the first two years of ROIC performance achieved. During year three of the performance period, the executive may earn up to twice the target number of stock units granted to him 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. Prior to the satisfaction of the ROIC performance criteria, no dividends are paid on the performance stock units.

 

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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. In addition, a participant may elect to defer the payment of the stock units earned and the associated dividend equivalents on those stock units pursuant to the Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan described on page 52.

 

One-third of each stock option grant vests each year over a three-year period from the grant date of February 5, 2009 and the retention stock units vest on February 5, 2013, 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.

 

Retention stock generally vests after a four-year period of continued service. 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.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2009 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 2009 and described in the tables above.

 

    Option Awards   Stock Awards
                    Earned Performance
Stock Units and
Retention Units
  Unearned 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
(b)
  Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units,
or Other Rights
That Have Not
Vested (a)
  Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units, or
Other Rights
That Have
Not Vested
(b)

James R. Young

  0   330,873   $ 47.28   2/5/2019   212,928   $ 13,606,099   113,472   $ 7,250,861

    Chairman, President & CEO

  93,680   187,360     62.38   1/31/2018        
  179,048   89,524     48.49   1/30/2017        
  441,000   0     43.03   1/26/2016        
  330,000   0     29.56   1/27/2015        
  200,000   0     32.55   1/29/2014        
  88,160   0     33.57   1/30/2013        
  44,722   0     33.12   1/30/2013        
  59,346   0     30.57   1/31/2012        
  35,190   0     40.26   1/31/2012        

Robert M. Knight, Jr.

  0   92,646     47.28   2/5/2019   53,084     3,392,068   30,651     1,958,599

    EVP Finance & CFO

  23,734   47,468     62.38   1/31/2018        
  38,796   19,398     48.49   1/30/2017        
  88,200   0     43.03   1/26/2016        
  11,482   0     38.56   1/31/2012        

Dennis J. Duffy

  0   110,292     47.28   2/5/2019   63,815     4,077,779   36,415     2,326,919

    Vice Chairman–Operations

  28,114   56,228     62.38   1/31/2018        
  54,708   27,354     48.49   1/30/2017        
  121,200   0     43.03   1/26/2016        

John J. Koraleski

  0   88,233     47.28   2/5/2019   49,791     3,181,645   29,701     1,897,894

    EVP Marketing & Sales

  23,734   47,468     62.38   1/31/2018        
  44,764   22,382     48.49   1/30/2017        
  79,800   0     43.03   1/26/2016        

J. Michael Hemmer

  0   70,587     47.28   2/5/2019   24,629     1,573,793   23,651     1,511,299

    SVP Law & General

  18,736   37,472     62.38   1/31/2018        

    Counsel

  34,816   17,408     48.49   1/30/2017        
  75,000   0     43.03   1/26/2016        

 

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(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, unvested stock units as shown in the Number of Shares or Units of Stock Held That Have Not Vested column and unearned performance units as shown in the Number of Unearned Shares, Units, or Other Rights That Have Not Vested column in the above table.

 

Name and Principal Position

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised and
Unvested
Options (i)
  Option Vest
Date
  Option
Expiration
Date
  Number of
Units or Stock
Held That
Have Not
Vested (ii)
  Unearned
Performance
Units at
Maximum
(iii)
  Unit Vest
Date

James R. Young

  110,291   2/5/2012   2/5/2019   39,658     2/5/2013

    Chairman, President & CEO

  110,291   2/5/2011   2/5/2019   7,932   71,388   2/5/2012
  110,291   2/5/2010   2/5/2019   30,058     1/31/2012
  93,680   1/31/2011   1/31/2018   18,036   42,084   1/31/2011
  93,680   1/31/2010   1/31/2018   30,934     1/30/2011
  89,524   1/30/2010   1/30/2017   43,310   0   2/4/2010
        43,000     1/26/2010

Robert M. Knight, Jr.

  30,882   2/5/2012   2/5/2019   11,105     2/5/2013

    EVP Finance & CFO

  30,882   2/5/2011   2/5/2019   2,221   19,991   2/5/2012
  30,882   2/5/2010   2/5/2019   7,616     1/31/2012
  23,734   1/31/2011   1/31/2018   4,568   10,660   1/31/2011
  23,734   1/31/2010   1/31/2018   6,702     1/30/2011
  19,398   1/30/2010   1/30/2017   12,272   0   2/4/2010
        8,600     1/26/2010

Dennis J. Duffy

  36,764   2/5/2012   2/5/2019   13,220     2/5/2013

    Vice Chairman–Operations

  36,764   2/5/2011   2/5/2019   2,644   23,798   2/5/2012
  36,764   2/5/2010   2/5/2019   9,020     1/31/2012
  28,114   1/31/2011   1/31/2018   5,407   12,617   1/31/2011
  28,114   1/31/2010   1/31/2018   9,452     1/30/2011
  27,354   1/30/2010   1/30/2017   12,272   0   2/4/2010
        11,800     1/26/2010

John J. Koraleski

  29,411   2/5/2012   2/5/2019   10,576     2/5/2013

    EVP Marketing & Sales

  29,411   2/5/2011   2/5/2019   2,115   19,041   2/5/2012
  29,411   2/5/2010   2/5/2019   7,616     1/31/2012
  23,734   1/31/2011   1/31/2018   4,568   10,660   1/31/2011
  23,734   1/31/2010   1/31/2018   7,734     1/30/2011
  22,382   1/30/2010   1/30/2017   9,382   0   2/4/2010
        7,800     1/26/2010

J. Michael Hemmer

  23,529   2/5/2012   2/5/2019   8,461     2/5/2013

    SVP Law & General

  23,529   2/5/2011   2/5/2019   1,692   15,234   2/5/2012

    Counsel

  23,529   2/5/2010   2/5/2019   6,012     1/31/2012
  18,736   1/31/2011   1/31/2018   3,607   8,417   1/31/2011
  18,736   1/31/2010   1/31/2018   3,007     1/30/2011
  17,408   1/30/2010   1/30/2017   1,850     1/26/2010

 

  (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 30, 2007, January 31, 2008 and February 5, 2009 that have been earned, but not yet vested and paid out, and unvested retention stock units as of December 31, 2009.

 

  (iii)   Reflects the maximum amount of performance stock units that may be earned under the grant of performance stock units on January 31, 2008 and February 5, 2009. These performance stock units are subject to a three-year performance period ending December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2011.

 

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(b)   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 $63.90 on December 31, 2009.

 

 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal Year 2009

 

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
   Number of Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
   Value Realized
Upon Vesting (a)

James R. Young

    Chairman, President & CEO

   0    $ 0    84,000    $ 3,601,080

Robert M. Knight, Jr.

    EVP Finance & CFO

   0      0    19,200      823,104

Dennis J. Duffy

    Vice Chairman–Operations

   0      0    19,200      823,104

John J. Koraleski

    EVP Marketing & Sales

   0      0    14,000      600,180

J. Michael Hemmer

    SVP Law & General Counsel

   0      0    14,000      600,180

 

(a)   Value Realized Upon Vesting is calculated based upon the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the day of vesting times the number of shares vested. For awards granted prior to January 30, 2007, fair market value was calculated by averaging the high and low stock price on the day of vesting.

 

 

Pension Benefits at 2009 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, 2009. The present value was calculated as of December 31, 2009 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 5 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. For purposes of reporting the change in pension value in the Summary Compensation Table, present value factors for the year ended December 31, 2008 were based on the RP-2000 Mortality Table projected to 2010 White Collar Table, split by gender, and the discount rate as disclosed in Note 4 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. For both mortality tables, no pre-retirement decrements (i.e., death, disability) were assumed.

 

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Table of Contents

Name and Principal Position

   Plan Name    Number of
Years of
Credited
Service
   Present
Value of
Accumulated
Benefit (a)
 

James R. Young

    Chairman, President & CEO

   Basic Plan

Supplemental Plan

   31.6667

31.6667

   $
 
801,273
13,940,781
  
  

Robert M. Knight, Jr.

    EVP Finance & CFO

   Basic Plan

Supplemental Plan

   29.5833

29.5833

    
 
534,361
2,878,228
  
  

Dennis J. Duffy

    Vice Chairman–Operations

   Basic Plan

Supplemental Plan

   36.3333

36.3333

    
 
928,749
6,732,215
  
  

John J. Koraleski

    EVP Marketing & Sales

   Basic Plan

Supplemental Plan

   37.5833

37.5833

    
 
929,820
5,563,833
  
(b) 

J. Michael Hemmer

    SVP Law & General Counsel

   Basic Plan

Supplemental Plan

   7.3333

15.3333

    
 
210,491
2,392,640
  
(c) 

 

(a)   Present values for Messrs. Young, Duffy and Koraleski 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, 2009, Messrs. 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. Koraleski ($172,809) and not included in Note 5 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

(c)   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 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 ($245,000 for 2009) 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 2009, the lesser of 100% of the executive’s compensation or $195,000). 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.

 

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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 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. There are two active executives remaining for whom the Company purchased annuities, one of which is Mr. Koraleski.

 

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. As of December 31, 2009, Messrs. Young, Duffy and Koraleski were eligible for early retirement under both Plans and Messrs. Knight and Hemmer were eligible for vested benefits under both Plans.

 

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 to 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. All optional forms of benefit are actuarially equal in value to the single life annuity. The Plans do not offer a lump sum payment as an optional form. No Named Executive Officer received any payments under either Plan during 2009.

 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation at 2009 Fiscal Year-End

 

We have two non-qualified deferred compensation plans: the Supplemental Thrift Plan, which permits an executive to defer amounts from base salary; and the Deferred Compensation Plan, which permits deferral of bonuses awarded under the Executive Incentive Plan and deferral of stock unit awards made under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (Stock Incentive Plan). 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, 2009. Executive incentive bonus deferrals and stock unit award deferrals under the Deferred Compensation Plan are shown separately.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Name and Principal Position

  Plan Name   Executive
Contributions
in Last Fiscal
Year (a)
  Company
Contributions
in Last Fiscal
Year (b)
  Aggregate
Earnings
in Last
Fiscal
Year (c)
  Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
  Aggregate
Balance at
Last Fiscal
Year End
(d)(e)

James R. Young

  Supplemental Thrift   $ 54,300   $ 27,150   $ 138,452     $ 553,617

    Chairman, President & CEO

  Executive Incentive Deferral     0     0     801,152       3,157,043
  Deferral of Stock Awards     0     0     2,689,146       10,600,658

Robert M. Knight, Jr.

  Supplemental Thrift     12,600     6,300     28,170       118,932

    EVP Finance & CFO

  Executive Incentive Deferral     0     0     8,088   169,363     110,159
  Deferral of Stock Awards     0     0     668,085       2,633,602

Dennis J. Duffy

  Supplemental Thrift     21,300     10,650     137,264       542,936

    Vice Chairman-Operations

  Executive Incentive Deferral     0     0     61,285       1,075,723
  Deferral of Stock Awards     0     0     2,705,507       10,665,151

John J. Koraleski

  Supplemental Thrift     13,500     6,750     74,954       328,040

    EVP Marketing & Sales

  Executive Incentive Deferral     0     0     31,012       120,963
  Deferral of Stock Awards     0     0     670,306       2,642,358

J. Michael Hemmer

  Supplemental Thrift     11,113     5,556     25,466       150,411

    SVP Law & General Counsel

  Executive Incentive Deferral     0     0     0       0
  Deferral of Stock Awards     0     0     308,011       1,214,184

 

(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.

 

(b)   Company Contributions in the Last Fiscal Year were reported as All Other Compensation in the Summary Compensation Table for 2009.

 

(c)   Aggregate Earnings on deferred stock unit awards represent appreciation in the value of Company stock and dividend equivalents, which are deemed to be reinvested in Company stock.

 

(d)   Amounts reported in Aggregate Balance at Last Fiscal Year End that were reported in the Salary column of the Summary Compensation Table for 2008 and 2007, but deferred under the Supplemental Thrift Plan are, for Mr. Young, $63,817 and $52,000; Mr. Knight, $13,150 and $11,500; Mr. Duffy, $21,950 and $21,000; Mr. Koraleski, $14,200 and $13,060; and Mr. Hemmer, $13,380 and $13,000, respectively. Amounts reported in Aggregate Balance at Last Fiscal Year End that were reported in the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table for 2008 and 2007, representing Company contributions to the Supplemental Thrift Plan are, for Mr. Young, $ 27,350 and $26,000; Mr. Knight, $6,575 and $5,750; Mr. Duffy, $10,975 and $10,500; Mr. Koraleski, $7,100 and $6,530; and Mr. Hemmer, $6,690 and $6,500, respectively.

 

(e)   The Aggregate Balance at Last Fiscal Year End for deferred stock unit awards represents 164,734 shares of Company common stock for Mr. Young, 40,926 shares for Mr. Knight, 165,737 shares for Mr. Duffy, 41,062 shares for Mr. Koraleski, and 18,868 shares for Mr. Hemmer. 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.

 

 

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 Qualified Thrift Plan permits executives to contribute, on a pre-tax or after-tax-basis from 2% to 75% 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 Qualified 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

 

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Qualified Thrift Plan as of the first day of the calendar year. Under the Supplemental Thrift Plan, the executive may defer from 2% to 75% of base salary. The Company credits a matching amount equal to 50 cents of each dollar an executive defers to the Supplemental Thrift Plan for a pay period up to 6% of the executive’s base pay.

 

The Deferred Compensation Plan allows for the deferral of all or a portion of a bonus awarded under the Executive Incentive Plan and for the deferral of payment of stock units, both retention and performance based, awarded under the Stock Incentive Plan. An executive must elect by 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. For retention stock units, 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. For performance stock units, an executive must elect by June 30th of the first year of the three year performance period whether to defer the payment of the entire award of performance stock units earned.

 

Rate of Return Provisions

 

Notional accounts in the Supplemental Thrift Plan and in the Deferred Compensation Plan for bonus amounts deferred are deemed to be invested in one or more of 12 mutual funds and the Vanguard Target Retirement 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 in the Deferred Compensation Plan for bonus amounts deferred can be invested in the Company’s Fixed Rate Fund that bears interest equal to 120% of the Applicable Federal Long-Term Annual rate for January of the applicable year.

 

The value of each stock unit deferred is equivalent to that of one share of Company common stock. These amounts are tracked through notional accounts that are maintained by the Company. Notional accounts in the Deferred Compensation Plan for stock units deferred 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.

 

Payment Elections, Withdrawals and Distributions

 

The Company adopted amended and restated plans effective as of January 1, 2009, in order to satisfy the requirements of Code section 409A. Non-qualified deferred compensation amounts not subject to Code section 409A, (i.e., amounts credited to an executive’s notional account as of December 31, 2004, and earnings thereon), are available for distribution or withdrawal in accordance with the terms of the Grandfathered Component of the Supplemental Thrift Plan or the Grandfathered Component of the Deferred Compensation Plan, as applicable. Non-qualified deferred compensation amounts subject to Code section 409A, (i.e., amounts credited to an executive’s notional account on and after January 1, 2005, and earnings thereon), are available for distribution in accordance with the terms of the Non-Grandfathered Component of the Supplemental Thrift Plan or Non-Grandfathered Component of the Deferred Compensation Plan, as applicable.

 

409A Non-Grandfathered Components-Supplemental Thrift and Deferred Compensation Plans

 

Named Executive Officers made payment elections with respect to their existing notional account balances under the Non-Grandfathered Component of both the Supplemental Thrift Plan and the Deferred Compensation Plan prior to the end of 2008. A payment election made under the Non-Grandfathered Component of the Supplemental Thrift Plan also will apply with respect to compensation an executive elects to defer in the future under the Non-Grandfathered Component of

 

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the Supplemental Thrift Plan. Executives may make a separate payment election with respect to each bonus, retention stock unit or performance stock unit award deferred under the Non-Grandfathered Component of the Deferred Compensation Plan at the same time the deferral election is made. Generally, the same payment option must be elected for all awards deferred to separation from service under the Non-Grandfathered Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

The Non-Grandfathered Component of both the Supplemental Thrift Plan and Deferred Compensation Plan provide the following payment options: (i) a single lump-sum distribution at separation from service or in January of the next year following separation from service, (ii) annual installments over a period not to exceed 15 years from the executive’s separation from service, or (iii) a single lump-sum distribution at a specified future date not to exceed 15 years from the executive’s separation from service. The Non-Grandfathered Component of the Deferred Compensation Plan also permits an executive to elect to receive payment at the earlier of: (i) July of a year specified by the executive, or (ii) separation from service. In no case, however, will an amount payable on account of a Named Executive Officer’s separation from service be paid before the date that is six months after such executive’s separation from service.

 

Under both plans, an executive who does not make a timely election will receive the Non-Grandfathered Component of his or her notional account at the time of his or her separation from service in a single lump-sum payment, subject to the six-month delay as described in the last sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph. In the event an executive dies before receiving payment of his or her entire notional account balance, the unpaid balance is paid in a single lump sum to the executive’s beneficiary.

 

Generally, no withdrawals are permitted from the notional accounts maintained in connection with the Non-Grandfathered Components of either the Supplemental Thrift Plan or the Deferred Compensation Plan prior to the executive’s separation from service.

 

Under the terms applicable to the Non-Grandfathered Components of the Deferred Compensation Plan and the Supplemental Thrift Plan, an executive may modify his or her payment election if such modification election is made prior to the executive’s separation from service and at least 12 months prior to the date payments would have commenced in accordance with the prior election. In addition, the modification must have the effect of postponing the payment commencement date by at least five years.

 

409A Grandfathered Components-Supplemental Thrift and Deferred Compensation Plans

 

An executive can take a withdrawal in cash from the Grandfathered Component of his or her notional account under the Supplemental Thrift Plan or the Deferred Compensation Plan prior to separation from service, provided that 10% of the amount withdrawn will be irrevocably forfeited by the executive.

 

Following an executive’s separation from service, the general rule is that an executive’s notional account under the Grandfathered Component of either plan is distributed in a single sum cash payment as soon as administratively practicable. However, an executive can elect at least six months prior to his or her separation from service and in the calendar year preceding such separation from service that such component be paid: (i) in a single sum cash payment in January of the year next following his or her separation from service, (ii) 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 separation from service or in January of the year next following such separation from service, or (iii) in a single sum cash payment at a specified future date not to exceed 15 years from the executive’s separation from service. The Grandfathered Component of the Deferred Compensation Plan also permits an executive to elect to receive payment at the earlier of: (i) July of a year specified by the executive, or (ii) separation from service. This election may be changed at least six months prior to the fixed payment date and in the calendar year preceding such date. With respect to the

 

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Grandfathered Component of the Supplemental Thrift Plan, an executive’s payment election applies to the executive’s entire notional account balance. With respect to the Grandfathered Component of the Deferred Compensation Plan, an executive may make a separate payment election for each bonus award under the Executive Incentive Plan or stock unit award under the Stock Incentive Plan, provided, though, the executive must elect the same payment option for all such awards deferred to separation from service.

 

Potential Payments Upon Separation from Service, 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 separation from service or change in control and separation from service occurred on December 31, 2009 (based upon the Company’s closing stock price on that date of $63.90), given the Named Executive Officers’ current compensation and service levels as of such date. 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 separation from service 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 separation from service 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.

 

Separation from Service

 

In the event of the separation from service of any of the Named Executive Officers on December 31, 2009, 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 2009 Fiscal Year-End Table on page 48. Under both Plans, the executive must be at least age 55 and have 5 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. Assuming a termination date of December 31, 2009, Messrs. Young, Duffy, Koraleski and Hemmer were eligible to begin benefits immediately at January 1, 2010. The monthly amount payable as a single life annuity under the Supplemental Plan for Mr. Young was $107,605, for Mr. Duffy was $52,321, for Mr. Koraleski was $44,523 and for Mr. Hemmer was $21,586. Assuming a termination date of December 31, 2009, 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. Knight would be $19,394.

 

Each of the Named Executive Officers would also be entitled to the amount shown in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation at 2009 Fiscal Year-End Table on page 50. Notional returns continue to be credited and debited under these plans through the actual payment date, so amounts may differ at the time of an actual separation from service or change in control.

 

For any unvested equity awards, the Compensation and Benefits Committee may, but is not required to, waive the related restriction period and/or employment requirements.

 

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 incurs a severance within the two-year period following such change in control. Severance means a separation from service (as such term is

 

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defined in section 409A of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder): (i) by the Company other than for cause or pursuant to mandatory retirement policies in existence prior to the change in control, or (ii) by the Named Executive Officer for good reason.

 

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.

 

The Continuity Plan defines a severance “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 severance of the Named Executive Officer is for “good reason” if it is for any of the following reasons: (i) the assignment to the Named Executive Officer of duties that are materially inconsistent with the Named Executive Officer’s duties immediately prior to the change in control or any material diminution in the nature or scope of the Named Executive Officer’s responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to the change in control; (ii) a reduction in the Named Executive Officer’s base salary or annual bonus opportunity in effect immediately prior to the change in control; provided, however, that such reduction results in a material diminution in the total package of compensation and benefits provided to the Named Executive Officer; (iii) a material reduction in the Named Executive Officer’s pension, thrift, medical or long term disability benefits provided to the Named Executive Officer immediately prior to the change in control; provided, however, that such reduction results in a material diminution in the total package of compensation and benefits provided to the Named Executive Officer; or (iv) the failure by any successor, to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, to expressly assume and agree to perform under the Continuity Plan.

 

In the event of a qualifying severance following a change in 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 his severance 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, Koraleski 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 age and service credit is solely for purposes of determining the amount of any benefit from the Company’s Supplemental Plan.

 

The Continuity Plan provides in the event of a qualifying severance following a change in control that all restrictions on outstanding 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 separation from service. In no event will the period exceed the remaining term of the option. For outstanding performance stock units, the Named Executive Officer shall be entitled to receive shares equal to the number of performance stock units at the greater of (i) the target level of ROIC performance 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 following a Named Executive Officer’s severance (or, if sooner, until the

 

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Named Executive Officer attains the age of 52, at which time the Named Executive Officer is eligible to receive benefits under the Company’s retiree medical benefit plans); provided, however, that (i) the Named Executive Officer will pay the fair market value of such coverage (active or retiree, as applicable) as determined under section 61 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) benefit amounts received by the Named Executive Officer shall be reduced by any benefits received by the Named Executive Officer from a subsequent employer.

 

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% of three times the Named Executive Officer’s average annual taxable income for the years 2004 through 2008 (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, assuming a change in control had occurred as of December 31, 2009, and the Named Executive Officer’s employment had immediately terminated without cause or for good reason 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

Chairman,

President & CEO

  $ 11,350,000   $ 6,504,107   $ 7,163,461   $ 15,611,153   $ 17,097   $ 11,777,449   $ 52,423,267

Robert M. Knight, Jr.

EVP Finance & CFO

    2,743,333     4,149,843     1,910,851     3,930,425     17,097     3,158,714     15,910,263

Dennis J. Duffy

Vice Chairman–Operations

    3,243,333     2,252,126     2,510,978     4,759,975     17,097     0     12,783,509

John J. Koraleski

EVP Marketing & Sales

    2,830,000     1,845,256     1,883,490     3,745,818     17,097     0     10,321,661

J. Michael Hemmer

SVP Law & General Counsel

    2,536,667     1,377,285     1,498,371     3,135,190     17,097     0     8,564,610

 

(a)   This amount is based on 2009 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 and the Company’s closing stock price on December 31, 2009, of $63.90.

 

(d)   This amount is based on the Company’s closing stock price on December 31, 2009, of $63.90 and assumes a payout of performance stock units at target level.

 

(e)   For a termination as of December 31, 2009, this amount includes the cost of medical premiums paid by the Company for three years 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 43.4%, 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 shall be entitled to receive shares of stock equal to the number of outstanding 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.

 

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
Chairman, President & CEO

   $ 4,426,864    $ 9,179,235    $ 7,163,461

Robert M. Knight, Jr.
EVP Finance & CFO

   $ 1,217,998    $ 2,174,070    $ 1,910,851

Dennis J. Duffy
Vice Chairman–Operations

   $ 1,298,640    $ 2,779,139    $ 2,340,045

John J. Koraleski
EVP Marketing & Sales

   $ 1,026,554    $ 2,155,091    $ 1,883,490

J. Michael Hemmer
SVP Law & General Counsel

   $ 338,606    $ 1,235,187    $ 1,498,371

 

(a)   Amounts are calculated based on the Company’s closing stock price on December 31, 2009, of $63.90 multiplied by the performance stock units earned through the end of the 2009 performance year.

 

(b)   Amounts are calculated based on the Company’s closing stock price on December 31, 2009, of $63.90 multiplied by retention stock units that are unvested on December 31, 2009.

 

(c)   Amounts are calculated based on the number of unvested option shares multiplied by the difference in the Company’s closing stock price on December 31, 2009, of $63.90 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 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must submit the proposal to the Secretary of the Company so that it is received no later than the close of business on December 1, 2010, 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, other than certain proposals submitted only pursuant to 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 6, 2011, and no later than the close of business on February 5, 2011, and must otherwise provide the information and comply with the procedures set forth in the Company’s By-Laws, a copy of which is available on the Company’s website at www.up.com/investors/governance. A printed copy of the Company’s By-Laws 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 Rule14a-4(c)(1), 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, except as described in the next sentence, all Section 16(a) filing requirements were met during 2009. Due to administrative error, a report on Form 4 for Mr. McCarthy’s deferral election was filed late.

 

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

 

If you would like an additional copy of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, you may find this document at www.up.com under the “Investors” caption link. Alternatively, any shareholder wishing to receive, without charge, a copy of this document 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

 

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Electronic Voting Instructions

 

You can vote by Internet or telephone!

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

            

 

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

 

VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR.

     LOGO        

 

Proxies submitted by the Internet or telephone must be received by 1:00 a.m., Central Time, on May 6, 2010.

             LOGO     

Vote by Internet

 

•    Log on to the Internet and go to www.investorvote.com/UNP

 

•    Follow the steps outlined on the secured website.

             LOGO     

Vote by telephone

 

•    Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the USA, US territories & Canada 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

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

 

 

 

A   Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all nominees in the election of Directors, FOR proposal 2, and AGAINST proposals 3 and 4.
1.  Election of Directors:   For   Against   Abstain      For   Against   Abstain      For   Against   Abstain  
                                                      +
     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. R. McCarthy   ¨   ¨   ¨    08 - M.W. McConnell   ¨   ¨   ¨    09 - T.F. McLarty III   ¨   ¨   ¨  
     10 - S.R. Rogel   ¨   ¨   ¨    11 - J. H. Villarreal   ¨   ¨   ¨    12 - J.R. Young   ¨   ¨   ¨  
         For    Against    Abstain              For    Against    Abstain

2. 

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

3.   Shareholder proposal regarding independent

      chairman.

  ¨    ¨       ¨    

4. 

  Shareholder proposal regarding supermajority voting.    ¨    ¨     ¨                   

 

B   Non-Voting Items    
Change of Address — Please print new address below.    
     
     
     

 

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

 

The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and of the Proxy Statement. Please sign exactly as name appears. Joint owners should each sign personally. Where applicable, indicate your official position or representative capacity.

 

 

Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below.

    Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box.     Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box.
 /     /                

 

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

 

 

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Proxy — Union Pacific Corporation

 

 

SOLICITED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ANNUAL MEETING MAY 6, 2010

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

The undersigned hereby appoints JAMES R. YOUNG and BARBARA W. SCHAEFER, and each of them, as Proxies, each 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 which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 6, 2010 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.)


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Electronic Voting Instructions

 

You can vote by Internet or telephone!

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

            

 

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

 

VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR.

     LOGO         Voting Instructions submitted by the Internet or telephone must be received by 1:00 a.m., Central Time, on May 6, 2010.
             LOGO     

Vote by Internet

 

•   Log on to the Internet and go to www.investorvote.com/UNP

 

•   Follow the steps outlined on the secured website.

             LOGO     

Vote by telephone

 

•   Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the USA, US territories & Canada 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

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

 

 

 

A   Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all nominees in the election of Directors, FOR proposal 2, and AGAINST proposals 3 and 4.
1.  Election of Directors:   For   Against   Abstain      For   Against   Abstain      For   Against   Abstain  
                                                      +
     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. R. McCarthy   ¨   ¨   ¨    08 - M.W. McConnell   ¨   ¨   ¨    09 - T.F. McLarty III   ¨   ¨   ¨  
     10 - S.R. Rogel   ¨   ¨   ¨    11 - J. H. Villarreal   ¨   ¨   ¨    12 - J.R. Young   ¨   ¨   ¨  
         For    Against    Abstain              For    Against    Abstain

2. 

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

3.   Shareholder proposal regarding independent  chairman.

  ¨    ¨       ¨    

4. 

  Shareholder proposal regarding supermajority voting.    ¨    ¨     ¨                   

 

B   Non-Voting Items    
Change of Address — Please print new address below.    
     
     
     

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

 

LOGO

 

 

CONFIDENTIAL VOTING INSTRUCTIONS — Union Pacific Corporation

 

 

ANNUAL MEETING MAY 6, 2010

To the Trustee:

The UNDERSIGNED hereby instructs you to vote, in person or by proxy, all the shares of stock of Union Pacific Corporation which were allocated to my account as of February 26, 2010, under one or more of the plans listed below at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 6, 2010, 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.)