v3.21.2

Accounting Policies and Practices | 9 Months Ended
--- | ---
Sep. 30, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Accounting Policies and Practices | 2. Accounting Policies and Practices Use of Estimates The preparation of the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of reserves and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and judgments. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment. Management believes its estimates to be reasonable given the current facts available. Management adjusts such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Illiquid credit markets, volatile equity markets, and foreign currency exchange rate movements increase the uncertainty inherent in such estimates and assumptions. As future events and their effects cannot be predicted with certainty, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Changes in estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment would, if applicable, be reflected in the financial statements in future periods. Concentration of Risk The Company has no significant off-balance sheet risks related to foreign exchange contracts or other foreign hedging arrangements. Management believes that its account receivable credit risk exposure is limited, and the Company has not experienced significant write-downs in its accounts receivable balances. Additionally, there was no single client who accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s revenues in any of the periods presented. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash balances. At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, Cash and cash equivalents totaled $769 million and $506 million, respectively, and none of the balances were restricted as to its use. Fiduciary Assets and Liabilities Some of the Company’s agreements require it to hold funds to pay certain obligations on behalf of its clients. Funds held on behalf of clients are segregated from Company funds, and their use is restricted to the payment of obligations on behalf of clients. There is typically a short period of time between when the Company receives funds and when it pays obligations on behalf of clients. These funds are recorded as Fiduciary assets with the related obligation recorded as Fiduciary liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Commissions Receivable Commissions receivable, which is recorded in Other current assets and Other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, are contract assets that represent estimated variable consideration for commissions to be received from insurance carriers for performance obligations that have been satisfied. The current portion of Commissions receivable is expected to be received within one year, while the non-current portion of Commissions receivable is expected to be received beyond one year. Allowance for Expected Credit Losses The Company’s allowance for expected credit losses with respect to trade receivables and contract assets is based on a combination of factors, including evaluation of historical write-offs, current conditions and reasonable economic forecasts that affect collectability and other qualitative and quantitative analysis. Receivables, net included an allowance for expected credit losses of $4 million and $15 million at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Fixed Assets, Net The Company records fixed assets at cost. We compute depreciation and amortization using the straight-line method on the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are generally as follows:
Asset Description |  | Asset Life
Capitalized software |  | Lesser of the life of an associated license, or 4 to 7 years
Leasehold improvements |  | Lesser of estimated useful life or lease term, not to exceed 10 years
Furniture, fixtures and equipment |  | 4 to 10 years
Computer equipment |  | 4 to 6 years
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net In applying the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations, amounts assigned to identifiable assets and liabilities acquired were based on estimated fair values as of the date of acquisition, with the remainder recorded as goodwill. Intangible assets are initially valued at fair value using generally accepted valuation methods appropriate for the type of intangible asset. Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives and are reviewed for impairment if indicators of impairment arise. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually as of October 1, and whenever indicators of impairment arise. Derivatives The Company uses derivative financial instruments, such as interest rate swaps. Interest rate swaps are used to manage interest risk exposures and have been designated as cash flow hedges. The changes in the fair value of derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting as cash flow hedges are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss. Amounts are reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings when the hedge exposure affects earnings. The Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when: (1) the derivative expires or is sold, terminated, or exercised; (2) the qualifying criteria are no longer met; or (3) management removes the designation of the hedging relationship. Foreign Currency Certain of the Company’s non-U.S. operations use their respective local currency as their functional currency. The operations that do not have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency translate their financial statements at the current exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and revenues and expenses using rates that approximate those in effect during the period. The resulting translation adjustments are included in net foreign currency translation adjustments within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity. Gains and losses from the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in a non-functional currency are included in Other expense, net within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). The impact of the foreign exchange gains and losses for the Successor three months ended September 30, 2021 was a gain of $1 million. The impact of the foreign exchange gains and losses for the Predecessor six months ended June 30, 2021 and three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 were a loss of $9 million, a loss of $3 million, and a gain of $2 million, respectively. Share-Based Compensation Costs Share-based payments to employees, including grants of restricted share units (“RSUs”) and performance-based restricted share units (“PRSUs”), for both the Predecessor and Successor periods, are measured based on their estimated grant date fair value. The Company recognizes compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for awards expected to ultimately vest. Forfeitures are estimated on the date of grant and revised if actual or expected forfeiture activity differs materially from original estimates. Earnings Per Share Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to Alight, Inc. by the weighted average number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding for the Successor period. The computation of diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if dilutive securities and other contracts to issue shares were exercised or converted into shares or resulted in the issuance of shares that would then share in the net income of the Alight, Inc. Warrants Warrant agreements related to warrants to purchase the Company’s Class A Common Stock are accounted for as liabilities at fair value within Financial instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and are subject to remeasurement at each balance sheet date. Any change in fair value is recognized within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). Tax Receivable Agreement In connection with the Business Combination, we entered into a Tax Receivable Agreement (the “TRA”) with certain of our pre-Business Combination owners that provides for the payment by Alight to such owners of 85% of the benefits that Alight is deemed to realize as a result of the Company’s share of existing tax basis acquired in the Business Combination and other tax benefits related to entering into the TRA. The Company accounts for the TRA as a liability at fair value and is subject to remeasurement at each balance sheet date. Any change in fair value is recognized within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). Seller Earnouts Upon completion of the Business Combination, we executed a contingent consideration agreement (the “Seller Earnouts”) that results in the issuance of non-voting shares of Class B-1 and Class B-2 Common Stock, which automatically converts into Class A Common Stock upon the achievement of certain criteria. The majority of the Seller Earnouts are accounted for as a contingent consideration liability at fair value within Financial instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and are subject to remeasurement at each balance sheet date. Any change in fair value is recognized within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interest represents the Company’s noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries which are not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the controlling Class A Common Stock ownership of the Company. Net (loss) income is reduced by the portion of net (loss) income that is attributable to noncontrolling interests. These noncontrolling interests are convertible into Class A Common Stock of the Company at the holder’s discretion. Income Taxes During the Predecessor periods, a portion of the Company’s earnings were subject to certain U.S. federal, state and foreign taxes. During the Successor period, the portion of earnings allocable to the Company is subject to corporate level tax rates at the U.S. federal, state and local levels. Therefore, the amount of income taxes recorded in the Predecessor periods are not representative of the expenses expected in the future. The computation of the effective tax rate and provision at each interim period requires the use of certain estimates and significant judgment including, but not limited to, the expected operating income for the year, projections of the proportion of income that is subject to tax, permanent differences between the Company’s U.S. GAAP earnings and taxable income, and the likelihood of recovering deferred tax assets existing as of the balance sheet date. The estimates used to compute the provision for income taxes may change throughout the year as new events occur, additional information is obtained or as tax laws and regulations change. Accordingly, the effective tax rate for future interim periods may vary materially. The Company accounts for income taxes pursuant to the asset and liability method which requires it to recognize current tax liabilities or receivables for the amount of taxes it estimates are payable or refundable for the current year, deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and their respective tax bases of assets and liabilities and the expected benefits of net operating loss and credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in operations in the period enacted. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that a portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income and the reversal of deferred tax liabilities during the period in which related temporary differences become deductible. The Company recognizes the benefits of tax return positions in the financial statements if it is “more-likely-than-not” they will be sustained by a taxing authority. The measurement of a tax position meeting the more-likely-than-not criteria is based on the largest benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized. Only information that is available at the reporting date is considered in the Company’s recognition and measurement analysis and events or changes in facts and circumstances are accounted for in the period in which the event or change in circumstance occurs. New Accounting Pronouncements: Recently Adopted Reference Rate Reform In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” This guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for certain contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate that is expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The guidance permits entities not to apply modification accounting or remeasure lease payments in lease contracts if the changes to the contract are related to the discontinuation of the reference rate. If certain criteria are met, the amendments also allow exceptions to the dedesignation criteria of the hedging relationship and the assessment of hedge effectiveness during the transition period. For held-to-maturity debt securities, one-time sale and/or transfer to available-for-sale or trading may be made for held-to-maturity debt securities that both reference an eligible reference rate and were classified as held-to-maturity before January 1, 2020. In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01, which provides optional expedients and exceptions when accounting for derivative contracts and certain hedging relationships affected by changes in the interest rates used for discounting cash flows, for computing variation margin settlements, and for calculating price alignment interest in connection with reference rate reform activities under way in global financial markets. An entity will apply this guidance on a prospective basis. The new guidance became effective as of March 12, 2020, and will not apply to any contract modifications made, sales and transfers of held-to-maturity debt securities, and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated after December 31, 2022. At the time of adoption, there was no impact to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company will continue to assess the impact as the reference rate transition occurs over the next two years. Callable Debt Securities In October 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-08, “Codification Improvements to Subtopic 310-20 – Receivables – Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs.” The new accounting guidance clarifies that a reporting entity should assess whether a callable debt security purchased at a premium is within the scope of ASC 310-20-35-33 each reporting period, which impacts the amortization period for nonrefundable fees and other costs. The guidance must be applied on a prospective basis as of the beginning of the period of adoption for existing or newly purchased callable debt securities. The new guidance is effective for the Company for the fiscal year 2021 and respective interim periods. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2021. The adoption of this guidance had no material impact upon our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountingPoliciesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122369 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SignificantAccountingPoliciesTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration