Restructuring and Other Charges

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

In connection with the acquisition of First Data, the Company implemented 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 $118 million, $303 million and $56 million, primarily reported in cost of processing and service and selling, general and administrative expenses within the consolidated statements of income, based upon committed actions during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company has completed the above integration activities as of December 31, 2021 and does not expect to incur additional restructuring or other charges associated with the First Data acquisition.

Employee Termination Costs

The Company recorded $95 million, $131 million and $32 million of employee termination costs related to severance and other separation costs for terminated employees, including those in connection with the acquisition of First Data, during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The following table summarizes the changes in the reserve related to the Company’s employee severance and other separation costs during the years ended December 31:



(In millions)	2021		2020
Balance at beginning of year	$	27	$	14
Severance and other separation costs	95		131

Cash payments	(86)		(118)
Balance at end of year	$	36	$	27

The employee severance and other separation costs accrual balance of $36 million at December 31, 2021 is expected to be paid within the next twelve months. In addition, the Company recorded $8 million, $48 million and $23 million of share-based compensation costs during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to the accelerated vesting of equity awards for terminated employees.

Facility Exit Costs

During 2021 and 2020, the Company permanently vacated certain leased facilities in advance of the non-cancellable lease terms as part of the Company’s efforts to reduce facility costs. 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 $15 million and $124 million, reported in selling, general and administrative expense within the consolidated statements of income during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, associated with the early exit of these leased facilities. In addition, the Company recorded facility exit and related costs during the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily related to relocation costs and lease exit or termination fees; however, such costs were not significant.

Other Costs

During 2020, in connection with initiatives to reduce the Company’s overall cost structure following the acquisition of First Data, the Company 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 year ended December 31, 2020 includes $62 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 year ended December 31, 2020 includes $56 million of accelerated amortization associated with the termination of these vendor contracts.

During 2019, the Company recorded a $48 million non-cash impairment charge, reported primarily in cost of processing and services within the consolidated statements of income, associated with an international core account processing platform. Such impairment charge primarily related to the write-off of certain of the Fintech segment’s purchased and capitalized software development costs; however, the charge is presented within Corporate and Other as such charge was excluded from the Company’s measure of the Fintech segment’s operating performance.