Restructuring and Other Charges

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

In connection with the July 2019 acquisition of First Data, the Company continues to implement integration plans focused on reducing the Company’s overall cost structure, including reducing vendor spend and eliminating duplicate costs. The Company recorded restructuring charges related to certain of these integration activities of $23 million and $48 million, primarily reported in cost of processing and services and selling, general and administrative expenses within the consolidated statements of income, based upon committed actions during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company continues to evaluate operating efficiencies and anticipates incurring additional costs in connection with these activities but is unable to estimate those amounts at this time as such plans are not yet finalized.

Employee Termination Costs

The Company recorded $13 million and $40 million of employee termination costs related to severance and other separation costs for terminated employees in connection with the acquisition of First Data during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The following table summarizes the changes in the reserve related to the Company’s employee severance and other separation costs:



	Three Months Ended March 31,
(In millions)	2021		2020
Balance at beginning of period	$	27	$	14
Severance and other separation costs	13		40

Cash payments	(18)		(10)

Balance at end of period	$	22	$	44

The employee severance and other separation costs accrual balance of $22 million at March 31, 2021 is expected to be paid within the next twelve months. In addition, the Company recorded share-based compensation costs of $4 million and $8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, related to the accelerated vesting of equity awards for terminated employees.

Facility Exit Costs

The Company has identified certain leased facilities that have been or will be exited in the future as part of the Company’s efforts to reduce facility costs. During the first three months of 2021, the Company permanently vacated certain of these leased facilities in advance of the non-cancellable lease terms. In conjunction with the exit of these leased facilities, the Company assessed the respective operating lease ROU assets for impairment by comparing the carrying values of the ROU assets to the discounted cash flows from estimated sublease payments (Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy). In addition, the Company assessed certain property and equipment associated with the leased facilities for impairment. As a result, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges of $6 million, reported in selling, general and administrative expense within the consolidated statement of income during the three months ended March 31, 2021, associated with the early exit of these leased facilities. Facility exit and related costs during the three months ended March 31, 2020 were not significant.

Other Costs

In connection with initiatives to reduce the Company’s overall cost structure following the acquisition of First Data, the Company has terminated certain of its existing lease agreements to upgrade and consolidate its computing infrastructure. The Company upgraded or replaced certain leased hardware under separate, new lease agreements, resulting in the early termination and disposal of existing hardware under the current lease agreements. As such, the Company has adjusted the amortization period for these existing lease agreements to coincide with the modified remaining term. Finance lease expense during the three months ended March 31, 2020 includes $38 million of accelerated amortization associated with the termination of these vendor contracts. In addition, the Company executed similar terminations to certain of its existing software financing agreements. Amortization expense during the three months ended March 31, 2020 includes $10 million of accelerated amortization associated with the termination of these vendor contracts.