PITNEY BOWES INC /DE/ (PBI) FY 2024 MD&A

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF

OPERATIONS

The following discussion of our financial condition and operating results should be read in conjunction with our risk factors, consolidated financial statements and related notes. This discussion includes forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections and involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ significantly from those currently expressed. A detailed discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is outlined under "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in this Form 10-K. All table amounts are presented in thousands of dollars.

Strategic Initiatives

We have been undergoing a strategic transformation over the past year, which focused on four strategic initiatives: the Ecommerce Restructuring (described in Recent Developments below); cost rationalization including identifying certain cost reductions (described in Results of Operations below) and cash optimization to reduce go-forward cash needs and balance sheet deleveraging (described in Liquidity and Capital Resources below).

Recent Developments

On August 8, 2024, we entered into a series of transactions designed to facilitate an orderly wind-down of a majority the Company’s Global Ecommerce reporting segment. In connection with the wind-down, an affiliate of Hilco Commercial Industrial, LLC (“Hilco”) subscribed for 81% of the voting interests in the subsidiary, DRF Logistics, LLC owning a majority of the Global Ecommerce segment’s net assets and operations (DRF Logistics, LLC and its subsidiary, DRF LLC, the “Ecommerce Debtors”) for de minimis consideration (the “GEC Sale”), with a subsidiary of Pitney Bowes retaining 19% of the voting interests and 100% of the economic interests. Subsequent to the GEC Sale, the Ecommerce Debtors, at the direction of their own governing bodies, filed petitions to commence Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases and conduct an orderly wind down of the Ecommerce Debtors (the “GEC Chapter 11 Cases”). We refer to the GEC Sale, the GEC Chapter 11 Cases and any associated transactions as the “Ecommerce Restructuring”.

In connection with the GEC Chapter 11 Cases, we entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement (the “RSA”) with the Ecommerce Debtors to provide for, among other things, an orderly wind-down of the Ecommerce Debtors, shared services between the Company and the Ecommerce Debtors for a period of time, a global settlement between the Company and the Ecommerce Debtors, and a senior secured, super-priority debtor-in-possession term loan (the “DIP Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of up to $47 million.

In addition, the Company and the Ecommerce Debtors entered into a master settlement agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”), which contemplates the separation of the relationship and transactions among the Company and its subsidiaries and the Ecommerce Debtors, including the settlement and release of claims the Ecommerce Debtors may have against the Company.

On November 25, 2024, the Bankruptcy Court confirmed the Ecommerce Debtors' Third Amended Joint Plan of Liquidation (the "Plan") which incorporated the terms of the RSA and approved the Settlement Agreement. On December 9, 2024, the Plan became effective in accordance with its terms, substantially consummating the separation of the Company from the Ecommerce Debtors. As of the end of 2024, approximately $120 million of cash costs related to the Ecommerce Restructuring have been paid.

As a result of the Ecommerce Restructuring, certain revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities are now reported as discontinued operations in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Amounts of the former Global Ecommerce segment that did not qualify for discontinued operations treatment primarily relate to operations that were dissolved or sold, certain shared services functions and a cross-border services contract. Prior periods have been recast to conform to the current period presentation. For segment reporting purposes, the remaining portion of Global Ecommerce in continuing operations is now reported as "Other." See Note 4 for further information.

Outlook

Within SendTech Solutions, mailing-related revenues are expected to decline driven by lower meter populations and a higher mix of lease extensions versus new lease sales. We expect this decline to be partially offset by growth in our shipping offerings, particularly our SaaS solutions. The shift to lease extensions versus new lease sales will result in declining equipment sales in the near term; however, lease extensions will provide more stable and continued cash flows over the lease term.

Within Presort Services, we expect revenue and margin improvements due to higher revenue-per-piece and lower costs driven by the investments made in automation and technology to drive efficiencies and improve productivity.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW OF CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Constant Currency

In the tables below, we report the change in revenue on a reported basis and a constant currency basis. Constant currency measures exclude the impact of changes in currency exchange rates from the prior period under comparison. We believe that excluding the impacts of currency exchange rates provides a better understanding of the underlying revenue performance. Constant currency change is calculated by converting the current period non-U.S. dollar denominated revenue using the prior year’s exchange rate.

Financial Results Summary:

Revenue decreased $52 million in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to lower support services revenue of $36 million and lower equipment sales of $36 million, partially offset by higher business services revenue of $28 million.

Total costs and expenses decreased $44 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to the following:

•Costs of revenue (excluding financing interest expense) decreased $84 million primarily due to lower cost of business services of $45 million, lower cost of equipment sales of $20 million and lower cost of support services of $14 million.

•SG&A expense decreased $64 million compared to the prior year primarily driven by lower employee-related costs of $10 million, due to lower salary expense of $40 million from headcount reductions partially offset by higher variable compensation of $33 million and a favorable impact of $16 million from the revaluation of intercompany loans. SG&A expense also benefited from overall cost savings initiatives that resulted in expense savings of approximately $38 million from savings in areas such as marketing, travel, real estate and insurance.

•Restructuring charges increased $25 million compared to the prior year period primarily driven by actions taken under the 2023 and 2024 Plans.

•A $124 million goodwill impairment charge in the prior year related to certain operations of the former Global Ecommerce segment that were sold or dissolved prior to 2024 and did not qualify for discontinued operations treatment.

•Interest expense, net, including financing interest expense, increased $12 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to higher interest rates. We allocate a portion of gross interest expense to financing interest expense based on our effective interest rate and average finance receivables for the period.

•Other components of net pension and postretirement cost increased $97 million compared to the prior year, and includes a settlement charge of $91 million from a targeted campaign to offer lump sum settlements to vested participants.

•Other expense (income) increased $92 million due to $67 million of charges related to the Ecommerce Restructuring, a $14 million increase in debt redemption/refinancing costs and a $10 million asset impairment charge.

The benefit for income taxes for 2024 includes a tax benefit of $164 million primarily due to an affiliate reorganization. See Note 15 for more information.

As a result of the above, net income from continuing operations for 2024 was $103 million compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $61 million in 2023.

Net loss for 2024 and 2023 was $204 million and $386 million, respectively, and includes a net loss from discontinued operations of $306 million and $324 million, respectively. See Note 4 for more information.

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Revenue decreased $404 million in 2023 compared to the prior year primarily due to a decrease in business services revenue of $337 million, lower equipment sales of $31 million and lower support services revenue of $27 million. The significant decline in business services revenue is primarily due to the sale or dissolution of certain Global Ecommerce operations that did not qualify for discontinued operations treatment.

Total costs and expenses decreased $171 million compared to the prior year primarily due to the following:

•Costs of revenue (excluding financing interest expense) decreased $345 million primarily due to lower cost of business services of $297 million and lower cost of equipment sales of $30 million. The significant decline in cost of business services is primarily due to the sale or dissolution of certain Global Ecommerce operations that did not qualify for discontinued operations reporting.

•SG&A expense declined $4 million compared to the prior year. This decrease was primarily driven by lower credit card fees of $10 million, lower professional and outsourcing fees of $8 million, lower salary expense of $5 million and lower marketing expenses of $5 million, partially offset by proxy solicitation fees of $11 million, higher credit loss provision of $7 million and non-cash foreign currency revaluation losses on intercompany loans of $6 million.

•Restructuring charges increased $35 million compared to the prior year driven by actions taken under the 2023 Plan.

•A goodwill impairment charge of $124 million associated with certain operations of the former Global Ecommerce segment that were sold or dissolved prior to 2024 and did not qualify for discontinued operations treatment.

•Interest expense, net, including financing interest expense, increased $23 million in 2023 compared to the prior year primarily due to higher interest rates.

•Other income declined $14 million compared to the prior year primarily driven by prior year gains of $22 million from the sale of assets and businesses, partially offset by a favorable year-over-year impact of $8 million associated with the redemption of debt.

In 2023, we recorded a tax provision on a net loss from continuing operations of $44 million primarily due to the non-deductibility of the goodwill impairment charge. See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

As a result of the above, net loss from continuing operations for 2023 was $61 million compared to net income from continuing operations of $146 million in the prior year.

Net loss for 2023 was $386 million compared to net income in 2022 of $37 million. These amounts include a net loss from discontinued operations of $324 million and $109 million, respectively. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

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SEGMENT RESULTS

Effective January 1, 2024, we moved the digital delivery services offering from the former Global Ecommerce segment to the SendTech Solutions segment in order to leverage our technology and innovation capabilities to better serve our clients. Prior periods have been recast to conform to the current segment presentation.

Management measures segment profitability and performance by deducting from segment revenue the related costs and expenses attributable to the segment. Segment results exclude interest, taxes, corporate expenses, restructuring charges, and other items not allocated to a business segment.

SendTech Solutions

SendTech Solutions provides clients with physical and digital shipping and mailing technology solutions and other applications to help simplify and save on the sending, tracking and receiving of letters, parcels and flats, as well as supplies and maintenance services for these offerings. We offer financing alternatives that enable clients to finance equipment and product purchases, a revolving credit solution that enables clients to make meter rental payments and purchase postage, services and supplies, and an interest-bearing deposit solution to clients who prefer to prepay postage. We also offer financing alternatives that enable clients to finance or lease other manufacturers’ equipment and provide working capital.

Financial performance for the SendTech Solutions segment was as follows:

SendTech Solutions revenue decreased $48 million in 2024 compared to 2023. Support services revenue declined $36 million primarily due to the declining meter population and continuing shift to cloud-enabled products. Equipment sales declined $36 million primarily due to customers opting to extend leases of their existing advanced-technology equipment rather than purchase new equipment. These revenue declines were partially offset by an increase in business services revenue of $33 million primarily driven by growth in our shipping subscriptions, including enterprise subscriptions and growth in digital delivery services due to client mix.

Gross margin declined $18 million primarily due to the decline in revenue; however, gross margin percentage increased to 66.8% from 65.8% compared to the prior year. The increase in gross margin percentage was primarily driven by improvements in business services

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gross margin due to growth in enterprise shipping subscriptions and digital delivery services. Gross profit margin for support services, supplies and rentals was comparable to the prior year as we reduced costs in response to lower revenues.

SG&A expense declined $12 million, primarily driven by lower employee-related expenses of $16 million due to savings from the 2023 and 2024 Plans, lower credit loss provision of $4 million and lower expenses driven by overall cost savings initiatives, partially offset by higher professional and outsourcing fees of $13 million.

Adjusted segment EBIT was $402 million in 2024 compared to $408 million in 2023.

SendTech Solutions revenue decreased $191 million in 2023 compared to the prior year. Business services revenue declined $124 million primarily driven by a $128 million reduction in revenue due to the change in revenue presentation for digital delivery services, which was partially offset by growth in enterprise shipping subscriptions. Equipment sales declined $31 million primarily due to customers opting to extend leases of their existing advanced-technology equipment rather than purchase new equipment. Support services revenue declined $27 million primarily due to the declining meter population and continuing shift to cloud-enabled products. Supplies revenue declined $6 million primarily driven by a declining meter population. Financing revenue declined $3 million primarily due to $6 million of lower lease extensions and lower late fees of $1 million, partially offset by higher investment income of $7 million.

Gross margin decreased $19 million primarily due to the decline in revenue. However, gross margin percentage increased to 65.8% from 58.8% compared to the prior year driven by improvements in business services gross margin due to growth in enterprise shipping subscriptions, rentals gross margin due in part to a $2 million prior year unfavorable scrap adjustment and a current year favorable adjustment and equipment sales gross margin due to cost management.

SG&A expenses declined $21 million primarily driven by lower credit card fees of $8 million, lower outsourcing and professional fees of $5 million, lower rent expense of $3 million and lower marketing expenses of $1 million.

Adjusted segment EBIT was $408 million in 2023 compared to $402 million for the prior year.

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Presort Services

Presort Services is the largest workshare partner of the USPS and national outsource provider of mail sortation services that allow clients to qualify large volumes of First Class Mail, Marketing Mail, and Marketing Mail Flats/Bound Printed Matter for postal worksharing discounts.

Financial performance for the Presort Services segment was as follows:

Revenue increased $45 million in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to pricing actions and product mix. The processing of First Class Mail and Marketing Mail Flats/Bound Printed Matter contributed revenue increases of $40 million and $7 million, respectively, which was partially offset by a revenue decrease from Marketing Mail of $2 million. The revenue increase includes a $5 million favorable adjustment related to prior periods. Refer to Note 1 Basis of Presentation for further information.

Gross margin increased $59 million and gross margin percentage increased to 37.0% from 30.0% in the prior year primarily due to the increase in revenue, lower transportation costs of $5 million driven by lane optimization, cost savings as a result of the 2023 Plan, and the benefits from investments made in automation and higher-throughput sortation equipment.

SG&A expense increased $5 million compared to 2023 primarily due to higher credit loss provision of $3 million.

Adjusted segment EBIT was $166 million in 2024, including the $5 million benefit from the favorable revenue adjustment, compared to $111 million in 2023.

Revenue increased $16 million in 2023 compared to the prior year as pricing actions to mitigate inflationary pressures on costs offset the revenue decline driven by a 6% decrease in total mail volumes. The processing of Marketing Mail Flats and Bound Printed Matter and First Class Mail contributed revenue increases of $18 million and $5 million, respectively, while the processing of Marketing Mail contributed to a revenue decrease of $7 million.

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Gross margin increased $38 million and gross margin percentage increased to 30.0% from 24.4% compared to the prior year primarily due to the increase in revenue, lower transportation costs of $15 million, driven by improvements in network management, and the benefits from investments made in automation and higher-throughput sortation equipment.

SG&A expenses increased $10 million primarily due to higher employee-related expenses.

Adjusted segment EBIT was $111 million in 2023 compared to $82 million in the prior year.

CORPORATE EXPENSES

The majority of operating expenses are recorded directly or allocated to our reportable segments. Operating expenses not recorded directly or allocated to our reportable segments are reported as corporate expenses. Corporate expenses primarily represents corporate administrative functions such as finance, marketing, human resources, legal, information technology, and research and development.

Corporate expenses for 2024 decreased $33 million compared to the prior year primarily due to lower salary expense of $22 million due to savings from the 2023 and 2024 Plans, lower professional and outsourcing fees of $12 million, non-cash foreign currency revaluation gains on intercompany loans of $8 million, lower marketing expenses of $5 million, lower insurance costs of $3 million and various other expense savings totaling approximately $20 million from cost savings initiatives. These cost savings were partially offset by higher variable compensation expense of $37 million.

Corporate expenses for 2023 increased $7 million compared to the prior year primarily due to higher variable compensation expense of $4 million and higher depreciation expense of $2 million.

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our ability to maintain adequate liquidity for our operations is dependent upon a number of factors, including our revenue and earnings, our ability to manage costs and improve productivity, our clients' ability to pay their balances on a timely basis and the impacts of changing macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions. At December 31, 2024 we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $486 million, which includes $47 million held at our foreign subsidiaries used to support the liquidity needs of those subsidiaries. At this time, we believe that existing cash and investments, cash generated from operations and borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility will be sufficient to fund our cash needs for the next 12 months.

In connection with the GEC Chapter 11 Cases, the Company, through one of its wholly owned subsidiaries, agreed to provide funding to the Ecommerce Debtors through the DIP Facility up to a maximum amount of $47 million. The DIP Facility bears interest at 10%, and had an initial maturity date of November 29, 2024, which the parties subsequently extended to December 9, 2024. We provided initial funding of $28 million and in December 2024, received $11 million as a partial repayment of the DIP Facility. The remaining balance on the DIP Facility is fully reserved and any future distributions will be recorded as income in the period received.

Immediately prior to the GEC Sale, we had various intercompany receivables with the Ecommerce Debtors with an aggregate value of $116 million. After the GEC Sale, those intercompany receivables were converted to third party receivables, for which we have ascribed a fair value of zero. Subsequent collections, if any, will be recorded when received or collection is assured.

Cash Flow Summary

The change in cash and cash equivalents is as follows:

Operating activities

Cash flows from operating activities in 2024 improved $149 million compared to the prior year period driven primarily by a decline in finance receivables and lower payments of accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Cash flow from operations also benefited from lower cash outflows from discontinued operations of $107 million.

Cash flows from operating activities in 2023 declined $95 million compared to the prior year. This decline was driven by lower earnings, higher interest payments of $30 million, higher restructuring payments of $19 million and higher pension contributions of $7 million, partially offset by changes in other working capital items.

Investing activities

Cash flows from investing activities for 2024 improved $75 million compared to the prior year primarily due to higher cash from investment activities of $40 million, lower investments in loan receivables of $20 million, lower cash outflows from discontinued operations of $17 million, and lower capital expenditures of $6 million, partially offset by net DIP Facility funding of $17 million.

Cash flows from investing activities for 2023 declined $100 million compared to the prior year primarily due to prior year proceeds of $162 million from the sale of businesses and our Shelton, Connecticut office building, lower cash from investment activities of $13 million, partially offset by lower cash payments of $28 million to settle foreign exchange derivative contracts, lower investments in loan receivables of $23 million and lower capital expenditures of $5 million and lower outflows from discontinued operations of $17 million.

Financing activities

Cash flows from financing activities for 2024 declined $275 million compared to the prior year primarily due to higher net debt repayments of $178 million and lower cash from changes in customer account deposits at the Bank of $97 million.

Cash flows from financing activities for 2023 improved $168 million compared to the prior year primarily due to lower net debt repayments of $68 million, higher cash from changes in customer account deposits at the Bank of $90 million and $13 million of common stock repurchases in the prior year.

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Debt Activity

During 2024, we repaid $178 million of the Notes due March 2028 and made scheduled principal repayments of $56 million. In January 2025, we repaid the remaining outstanding balance of the Notes due March 2028.

In August 2024, we amended the credit agreement that governs our secured revolving credit facility and the term loan due March 2026 (the "Credit Agreement") and the note purchase agreement that governs our $275 million notes due March 2028. The amendments, among other things, permitted the Ecommerce Restructuring, including funding under the DIP Facility, amended certain covenants, including relief for expenses incurred pursuant to the Ecommerce Restructuring, released the guarantees provided by the Ecommerce Debtors, released the liens on the assets of the Ecommerce Debtors and reduced the amount of permitted borrowings under the revolving credit facility from $500 million to $400 million. The Credit Agreement contains certain financial covenants. At December 31, 2024, we were in compliance with these financial covenants and there were no outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility. Borrowings under our Credit Agreement are secured by assets of the company.

In February 2025, we entered into a new senior secured credit agreement (the "New Credit Agreement"), which provides for a $265 million revolving credit facility maturing March 2028, a $160 million term loan maturing March 2028 and a $615 million term loan maturing March 2032. The proceeds were used to repay the outstanding balances of the Term loan due March 2026 and Term loan due March 2028 and for general corporate purposes. Borrowings under our New Credit Agreement are secured by assets of the Company.

Under the New Credit Agreement, the Company is required to maintain (with maintenance tested quarterly) (i) a Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of not less than 2.00 to 1.00, (ii) a Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of no greater than 3.00 to 1.00 and (iii) a Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio of no greater than (a) 5.25 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2025 and June 30, 2025, (b) 5.00 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarters ending September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2025 and (c) 4.75 to 1.00 for each fiscal quarter ending on or after March 31, 2026.

We may from time to time seek to retire or repurchase our outstanding debt through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, redemptions, prepayments or otherwise. Such prepayments or repurchases, if any, will depend on our business strategy, prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, our contractual restrictions or covenants, compliance with securities laws and other factors and may be commenced or suspended at any time. The amounts involved may be material.

The PB Bank (the Bank), a wholly owned subsidiary, is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Des Moines and has access to certain credit products as a funding source known as "advances." As of December 31, 2024, the Bank had yet to apply for any advances.

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Future Cash Requirements

The following table summarizes our known and contractually committed cash requirements at December 31, 2024, with the exception of debt maturities, which is reflective of the debt refinancing completed in February 2025.

Debt

Required debt repayments over the next 12 months are $11 million, which we anticipate satisfying through available cash on hand and cash generated from operations. We estimate that cash interest payments for the next 12 months will be $140 - $150 million. See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding our debt.

Lease obligations

We lease real estate and equipment under operating and capital lease arrangements. These leases have terms of up to 15 years and include renewal options. See Note 7 and Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

Purchase obligations

Purchase obligations include unrecorded open purchase orders for goods and services.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

At December 31, 2024, we had approximately $30 million outstanding letters of credit guarantees with financial institutions that are primarily issued as security for insurance, leases, customs and other performance obligations. In general, we would only be liable for the amount of these guarantees in the event of default in the performance of our obligations, the probability of which we believe is remote. Outstanding letters of credit reduce the amount we can borrow under our revolving credit facility.

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Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions about certain items that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and accompanying disclosures, including the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The accounting policies below have been identified by management as those policies that are most critical to our financial statements due to the estimates and assumptions required. Management believes that the estimates and assumptions used are reasonable and appropriate based on the information available at the time the financial statements were prepared; however, actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions. See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of our accounting policies.

Revenue recognition

We derive revenue from multiple sources including the sale and lease of equipment, equipment rentals, financing, support services and business services. Certain transactions are consummated at the same time and can therefore generate revenue from multiple sources. The most common form of these arrangements involves a sale or noncancelable lease of equipment, meter services and an equipment maintenance agreement. We are required to determine whether each product and service within the contract should be treated as a separate performance obligation (unit of accounting) for revenue recognition purposes. We recognize revenue for performance obligations when control is transferred to the customer. Transfer of control may occur at a point in time or over time, depending on the nature of the contract and the performance obligation.

Revenue is allocated among performance obligations based on relative standalone selling prices (SSP), which are a range of selling prices that we would sell the good or service to a customer on a separate basis. SSP are established for each performance obligation at the inception of the contract and can be observable prices or estimated. Revenue is allocated to the meter service and equipment maintenance agreement elements using their respective observable selling prices charged in standalone and renewal transactions. For sale and lease transactions, the SSP of the equipment is based on a range of observable selling prices in standalone transactions. We recognize revenue on non-lease transactions when control of the equipment transfers to the customer, which is upon delivery for customer installable models and upon installation or customer acceptance for other models. We recognize revenue on equipment for lease transactions upon shipment for customer installable models and upon installation or customer acceptance for other models.

Allowances for credit losses

Finance receivables are comprised of sales-type leases, secured loans and unsecured revolving loans. We provide an allowance for expected credit losses based on historical loss experience, the nature of our portfolios, adverse situations that may affect a client's ability to pay and current economic conditions and outlook based on reasonable and supportable forecasts. Total allowance for credit losses as a percentage of finance receivables was 2% at both December 31, 2024 and 2023. Holding all other assumptions constant, a 0.25% increase in the allowance rate at December 31, 2024 would have reduced pre-tax income by $3 million.

Trade accounts receivable are generally due within 30 days after the invoice date. We provide an allowance for expected credit losses based on historical loss experience, the age of the receivables, specific troubled accounts and other currently available information. Accounts deemed uncollectible are written off against the allowance after all collection efforts have been exhausted and management deems the account to be uncollectible, or when they are 365 days past due, if sooner. The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of trade accounts receivables was 5% and 3% at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Holding all other assumptions constant, a 0.25% increase in the allowance rate at December 31, 2024 would have reduced pre-tax income by less than $1 million.

Income taxes and valuation allowance

We are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Our annual tax rate is based on income, statutory tax rates, tax reserve changes and tax planning opportunities available to us in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Significant judgment is required in determining the annual tax rate and in evaluating our tax positions. We regularly assess the likelihood of tax adjustments in each of the tax jurisdictions in which we have operations and account for the related financial statement implications. We have established tax reserves that we believe are appropriate given the possibility of tax adjustments. Determining the appropriate level of tax reserves requires judgment regarding the uncertain application of tax laws. Reserves are adjusted when information becomes available or when an event occurs indicating a change in the reserve is appropriate. Changes in tax reserves could have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

Significant judgment is also required in determining the amount of deferred tax assets that will ultimately be realized and corresponding deferred tax asset valuation allowance. When estimating the necessary valuation allowance, we consider all available evidence for each jurisdiction including historical operating results, estimates of future taxable income and the feasibility of tax planning strategies. If new information becomes available that would alter our estimate of the amount of deferred tax assets that will ultimately be realized, we adjust the valuation allowance through income tax expense. Changes in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance could have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

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Pension benefits

The calculation of net periodic pension expense and determination of net pension obligations are dependent on assumptions and estimates relating to, among other things, the discount rate (interest rate used to discount the future estimated liability) and the expected rate of return on plan assets. These assumptions are evaluated and updated annually.

The discount rate for our largest plan, the U.S. Qualified Pension Plan (the U.S. Plan) and our largest foreign plan, the U.K. Qualified Pension Plan (the U.K. Plan) used to determine net periodic pension expense for 2024 was 5.15% and 4.50%, respectively. The discount rate used to determine 2025 net periodic pension expense for the U.S. Plan and the U.K. Plan was 5.65% and 5.45%, respectively. A 0.25% change in the discount rate would not materially impact annual pension expense for the U.S. Plan or the U.K. Plan. A 0.25% change in the discount rate would impact the projected benefit obligation of the U.S. Plan and U.K. Plan by $16 million and $10 million, respectively.

The expected rate of return on plan assets used to determine net periodic pension expense for 2024 was 6.7% for the U.S. Plan and 5.5% for the U.K. Plan. The expected rate of return on plan assets used to determine 2025 net periodic pension expense was 6.9% and 6.09% for the U.S. Plan and the U.K. Plan, respectively. A 0.25% change in the expected rate of return on plan assets would impact annual pension expense for the U.S. Plan by $3 million and the U.K. Plan by $1 million.

Actual pension plan results that differ from our assumptions and estimates are accumulated and amortized primarily over the life expectancy of plan participants and affect future pension expense. Net pension expense is also based on a market-related valuation of plan assets where differences between the actual and expected return on plan assets are recognized over a five-year period in the U.S. and a two-year period in the U.K. Plan benefits for participants in a majority of our U.S. and foreign pension plans are frozen.

Residual value of leased assets

Equipment residual values are determined at the inception of the lease using estimates of the equipment's fair value at the end of the lease term. Residual value estimates impact the determination of whether a lease is classified as an operating lease or a sales-type lease. Fair value estimates of equipment at the end of the lease term are based on historical renewal experience, used equipment markets, competition and technological changes.

We evaluate residual values on an annual basis or sooner if circumstances warrant. Declines in estimated residual values considered "other-than-temporary" are recognized immediately. Increases in estimated future residual values are not recognized until the equipment is remarketed. If the actual residual value of leased assets were 10% lower than management's current estimates and considered "other-than-temporary", pre-tax income would be $4 million lower.

Legal and Regulatory Matters

See Regulatory Matters in Item 1 and Other Tax Matters in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for regulatory matters regarding our tax returns and Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding our legal proceedings.

Foreign Currency Exchange

The functional currency for most of our foreign operations is the local currency. Changes in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the currencies of countries in which we operate impact our reported assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. Exchange rate fluctuations can also impact the settlement of intercompany receivables and payables between our subsidiaries in different countries. During 2024, 16% of our consolidated revenue was from operations outside the United States.