Restructuring and Other Charges

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

In connection with the acquisition of First Data in 2019, 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 and $303 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 and 2020, respectively.

Employee Termination Costs

The Company recorded $187 million, $95 million and $131 million of employee termination costs related to cash severance and other separation costs for terminated employees during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Employee termination costs include those charges incurred in connection with the acquisition of First Data during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

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)	2022		2021
Balance at beginning of year	$	36	$	27
Severance and other separation costs	187		95

Cash payments	(200)		(86)
Balance at end of year	$	23	$	36

The employee severance and other separation costs accrual balance of $23 million at December 31, 2022 is expected to be paid within the next twelve months. In addition, the Company recorded $22 million, $8 million and $48 million of share-based compensation costs during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, related to the accelerated vesting of equity awards for terminated employees.

Facility Exit Costs

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 connection with the First Data acquisition during 2021 and 2020, and in connection with a strategic consolidation of facilities during 2022. 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 owned and leased facilities for impairment. As a result, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges of $14 million, $15 million and $124 million reported in selling, general and administrative expense within the consolidated statements of income during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, associated with the early exit of these facilities. The Company continues to evaluate its facility locations and therefore may incur additional exit costs in future periods.

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 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.