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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2021
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Principles of Consolidation The Company consolidates financial results when it has a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary via voting rights or when it has both the power to direct the activities of an entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the ability to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the entity that could potentially be significant to the entity. The Company utilizes the equity method of accounting when it is able to exercise significant influence over an entity’s operations, which generally occurs when the Company has an ownership interest between 20% and 50%. Earnings Per Share The calculation of basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Outstanding options to purchase Western Union stock and unvested shares of restricted stock are excluded from basic shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if outstanding stock options at the presented dates are exercised and shares of restricted stock have vested, using the treasury stock method. The treasury stock method assumes proceeds from the exercise price of stock options and the unamortized compensation expense of options and restricted stock are available to acquire shares at an average market price throughout the period, and therefore, reduce the dilutive effect. Shares excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation under the treasury stock method, primarily due to outstanding restricted stock units and options to purchase shares of Western Union stock, as the assumed proceeds of the restricted stock and options per unit were above the Company’s average share price during the periods and their effect was anti-dilutive, were 2.3 million, 1.6 million, and 1.9 million, respectively, of shares for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019. The following table provides the calculation of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding (in millions):
|  | Year Ended December 31, |
|  | 2021 |  |  | 2020 |  |  | 2019 |
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding |  |  | 406.8 |  |  |  | 412.3 |  |  |  | 427.6 |
Common stock equivalents |  |  | 2.1 |  |  |  | 2.9 |  |  |  | 3.3 |
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding |  |  | 408.9 |  |  |  | 415.2 |  |  |  | 430.9 |
Fair Value Measurements The Company determines the fair values of its assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in accordance with the hierarchy described below. The fair values of the assets and liabilities held in the Company’s defined benefit plan trust (“Trust”) have been recognized or disclosed utilizing the same hierarchy. The following three levels of inputs may be used to measure fair value: • Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. • Level 2 - Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. For most of these assets, the Company utilizes pricing services that use multiple prices as inputs to determine daily market values. • Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include items where the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation. The Company holds assets classified as Level 3 that are recognized and disclosed at fair value on a non-recurring basis related to the Company’s business combinations, where the values of the intangible assets and goodwill acquired in a purchase are derived utilizing one of the three recognized approaches: the market approach, the income approach, or the cost approach. Carrying amounts for many of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, settlement cash and cash equivalents, and settlement receivables and settlement obligations approximate fair value due to their short maturities. Available-for-sale investment securities, as further discussed in Notes 8 and 9, and derivative financial instruments, as further discussed in Notes 9 and 15, are carried at fair value. Fixed-rate notes are carried at their original issuance values and adjusted over time to amortize or accrete that value to par, except for portions of notes that were hedged by interest rate swap agreements in prior years, as disclosed in Note 15. The fair values of fixed-rate notes are disclosed in Note 9 and are based on market quotations. The fair values of non-financial assets and liabilities related to the Company’s business combinations, as applicable, will be disclosed in Note 5. The fair value of the assets in the Trust, which held the assets for the Company’s defined benefit pension plan, is disclosed in Note 12. Business Combinations The Company accounts for all business combinations where control over another entity is obtained using the acquisition method of accounting, which requires that most assets (both tangible and intangible), liabilities (including contingent consideration), and remaining noncontrolling interests be recognized at fair value at the date of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of assets less liabilities and noncontrolling interests is recognized as goodwill. Certain adjustments to the assessed fair values of the assets, liabilities, or noncontrolling interests made subsequent to the acquisition date, but within the measurement period, which is one year or less, are recorded as adjustments to goodwill. Any adjustments subsequent to the measurement period are recorded within Net income. Any cost or equity method interest that the Company holds in the acquired company prior to the acquisition is remeasured to fair value at acquisition with a resulting gain or loss recognized within Other income/(expense), net for the difference between fair value and existing book value. Results of operations of the acquired company are included in the Company’s results from the date of the acquisition forward and include amortization expense arising from acquired intangible assets. The Company expenses all costs as incurred related to or involved with an acquisition in Selling, general, and administrative expenses. Cash and Cash Equivalents Highly liquid investments (other than those included in settlement assets) with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase (that are readily convertible to cash) are considered cash equivalents and are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. The Company maintains cash and cash equivalent balances, including a portion in money market funds, with a group of globally diversified banks and financial institutions. The Company limits the concentration of its cash and cash equivalents with any one institution and regularly reviews investment concentrations and credit worthiness of these institutions. Allowance for Credit Losses For the Company’s accounting policies with respect to the allowance for credit losses, refer to Note 8. Settlement Assets and Obligations Settlement assets represent funds received or to be received from agents and others for unsettled money transfers, money orders, and consumer payments. The Company records corresponding settlement obligations relating to amounts payable under money transfers, money orders, and consumer payment service arrangements. Settlement assets and obligations also include amounts receivable from, and payable to, customers for the value of their cross-currency payment transactions related to the Business Solutions segment. Settlement assets consist of cash and cash equivalents, receivables from agents, Business Solutions customers, and others, and investment securities. Cash received by Western Union agents generally becomes available to the Company within one week after initial receipt by the agent. Cash equivalents consist of short-term time deposits, commercial paper, and other highly liquid investments. Receivables from agents represent funds collected by such agents, but in transit to the Company. Western Union has a large and diverse agent base, thereby reducing the credit risk of the Company from any one agent. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its agents’ financial condition and credit worthiness. Receivables from Business Solutions customers arise from cross-currency payment transactions in the Business Solutions segment. Receivables occur when funds have been paid out to a beneficiary but not yet received from the customer. Collection of these receivables ordinarily occurs within a few days. To mitigate risk associated with potential Business Solutions customer defaults, the Company performs credit reviews on an ongoing basis. Settlement obligations consist of money transfer, money order and payment service payables, and payables to agents. Money transfer payables represent amounts to be paid to transferees when they request their funds. Most agents typically settle with transferees first and then obtain reimbursement from the Company. Money order payables represent amounts not yet presented for payment. Payment service payables represent amounts to be paid to utility companies, auto finance companies, mortgage servicers, financial service providers, government agencies, and others. Due to the agent funding and settlement process, payables to agents represent amounts due to agents for money transfers that have been settled with transferees. Refer to Note 8 for additional details on the Company’s settlement assets and obligations. Property and Equipment Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the lesser of the estimated life of the related assets (generally three to seven years for equipment and furniture and fixtures) or the lease term. Maintenance and repairs, which do not extend the useful life of the respective assets, are charged to expense as incurred. Property and equipment consisted of the following (in millions):
|  | December 31, |
|  | 2021 |  |  | 2020 |
Equipment |  | $ | 607.7 |  |  | $ | 608.9 |
Leasehold improvements and other |  |  | 151.2 |  |  |  | 153.7 |
Furniture and fixtures |  |  | 46.2 |  |  |  | 45.4 |
Projects in process |  |  | 0.3 |  |  |  | 2.3 |
Total property and equipment, gross |  |  | 805.4 |  |  |  | 810.3 |
Less accumulated depreciation |  |  | (669.7 | ) |  |  | (659.9 | )
Property and equipment, net(a) |  | $ | 135.7 |  |  | $ | 150.4 |
(a) As of December 31, 2021, Property and equipment, net includes Assets held for sale of $6.3 million, which consists of property and equipment of the Company's Business Solutions business, as further described in Note 5. Amounts charged to expense for depreciation of property and equipment were $49.6 million, $61.3 million, and $79.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of tangible and other intangible assets acquired less liabilities assumed, arising from business combinations. In the event a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, the Company recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value. The Company’s annual impairment assessment did no t identify any goodwill impairment during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019. Other Intangible Assets Other intangible assets primarily consist of contract costs (primarily amounts paid to agents in connection with establishing and renewing long-term contracts), software, and acquired contracts. Other intangible assets are generally amortized on a straight-line basis over the length of the contract or benefit period. Included in the Consolidated Statements of Income is amortization expense of $158.6 million, $164.3 million, and $178.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Acquired contracts include customer and contractual relationships and networks of subagents that are recognized in connection with the Company’s acquisitions. The Company purchases and develops software that is used in providing services and in performing administrative functions. Internal and external software development costs incurred that are directly related to the chosen design, development, and testing phases of the software are capitalized once the Company has completed all planning and analysis activities. Any other software development related costs are expensed as incurred. Capitalization of costs ceases when the product is available for general use. Software development costs and purchased software are generally amortized over a term of three to seven years. The Company capitalizes initial payments for new and renewed agent contracts to the extent recoverable through future operations or penalties in the case of early termination. The Company’s accounting policy is to limit the amount of capitalized costs for a given contract to the lesser of the estimated future cash flows from the contract or the termination fees the Company would receive in the event of early termination of the contract. The following table provides the components of other intangible assets (in millions):
|  | December 31, 2021 |  |  | December 31, 2020 |
|  | Weighted- |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Average |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Amortization |  |  |  |  | Net of |  |  |  |  |  | Net of |
|  | Period |  | Initial |  |  | Accumulated |  |  | Initial |  |  | Accumulated |
|  | (in years) |  | Cost |  |  | Amortization |  |  | Cost |  |  | Amortization |
Capitalized contract costs |  | 6.2 |  | $ | 532.7 |  |  | $ | 242.0 |  |  | $ | 574.4 |  |  | $ | 308.0 |
Internal use software |  | 4.3 |  |  | 388.7 |  |  |  | 128.8 |  |  |  | 310.3 |  |  |  | 55.5 |
Acquired contracts |  | 11.6 |  |  | 552.9 |  |  |  | 50.2 |  |  |  | 561.7 |  |  |  | 75.8 |
Acquired trademarks |  | 25.4 |  |  | 30.1 |  |  |  | 10.8 |  |  |  | 30.1 |  |  |  | 12.0 |
Other intangibles |  | 4.3 |  |  | 19.4 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 19.4 |  |  |  | — |
Projects in process(b) |  | (a) |  |  | 35.7 |  |  |  | 35.7 |  |  |  | 53.7 |  |  |  | 53.7 |
Total other intangible assets(b) |  | 8.0 |  | $ | 1,559.5 |  |  | $ | 467.5 |  |  | $ | 1,549.6 |  |  | $ | 505.0 |
(a) Not applicable as the assets have not been placed in service. (b) As of December 31, 2021, Projects in process and Total other intangible assets, net includes Assets held for sale of $2.3 million and $50.4 million, respectively, which consists of Other intangible assets associated with the Company's Business Solutions business as further described in Note 5. The estimated future aggregate amortization expense for existing other intangible assets as of December 31, 2021, including the Business Solutions business, would be $141.9 million in 2022, $106.1 million in 2023, $82.7 million in 2024, $48.6 million in 2025, $24.0 million in 2026, and $28.5 million thereafter. However, included in these amounts are future aggregate amortization expenses related to Assets held for sale of $16.2 million in 2022, $10.1 million in 2023, $7.1 million in 2024, $6.3 million in 2025, $5.5 million in 2026, and $2.9 million thereafter. Beginning in August 2021, the Company stopped amortizing these held for sale assets over the terms of their useful lives. Other intangible assets are reviewed for impairment on an annual basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. In such reviews, estimated undiscounted cash flows associated with these assets or operations are compared with their carrying values to determine if a write-down to fair value (normally measured by the present value technique) is required. The Company recorded immaterial impairments related to other intangible assets during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019. Revenue Recognition For the Company’s accounting policies with respect to revenue recognition, refer to Note 3. Cost of Services Cost of services primarily consists of agent commissions and expenses for call centers, settlement operations, and related information technology costs. Expenses within these functions include personnel, software, equipment, telecommunications, bank fees, credit losses, depreciation, amortization, and other expenses incurred in connection with providing money transfer and other payment services. Advertising Costs Advertising costs are charged to operating expenses as incurred. Advertising costs for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019 were $177.8 million, $177.0 million, and $209.1 million, respectively. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method, which requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities be determined based on the expected future income tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse. The Company routinely assesses the realizability of its deferred tax assets. A valuation allowance must be established when, based upon available evidence, it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company recognizes the tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits of the position, the tax position will be sustained upon examination, including the resolution of any related appeals or litigation. The tax benefits recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such a position are measured as the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution. The Company accounts for the effects of global intangible low-taxed income taxed in the United States as a component of income tax expense in the period the tax arises. Foreign Currency Translation The United States dollar is the functional currency for substantially all of the Company’s businesses. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities for those businesses for which the local currency is the functional currency are translated into United States dollars based on exchange rates at the end of the year. The effects of foreign exchange gains and losses arising from the translation of assets and liabilities of these businesses are included as a component of AOCL in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities of businesses for which the United States dollar is the functional currency are remeasured based on exchange rates at the end of the period, and the resulting remeasurement gains and losses are recognized in net income. Non-monetary assets and liabilities of these operations are remeasured at historical rates in effect when the asset was recognized or the liability was incurred. The Company has bill payment and other businesses in Argentina for which the local currency is the functional currency. However, as Argentina is currently classified as a highly inflationary economy, all changes in the value of the Argentine peso on these businesses’ monetary assets and liabilities are reflected in net income. Derivatives The Company has used derivatives to: (i) minimize its exposures related to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and, periodically, interest rates and (ii) facilitate cross-currency Business Solutions payments by writing derivatives to customers. The Company recognizes all derivatives in the Other assets and Other liabilities captions in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair value. All cash flows associated with derivatives are included in Cash flows from operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Certain of the Company’s derivative arrangements are designated as either cash flow hedges or fair value hedges at the time of inception, and others are not designated as accounting hedges. • Cash flow hedges – Cash flow hedges consist of foreign currency hedging of forecasted revenues, as well as hedges of the forecasted issuance of fixed-rate debt. Derivative fair value changes that are captured in AOCL are reclassified to earnings in the same period the hedged item affects earnings when the instrument is effective in offsetting the change in cash flows attributable to the risk being hedged. The Company excludes time value from the assessment of effectiveness, and the initial value of the excluded components is amortized into Revenues within the Consolidated Statements of Income. For foreign currency cash flow hedges entered into before January 1, 2018, which was the date the Company adopted this accounting treatment, all changes in the fair value of the excluded components were recognized immediately in Revenues during the year ended December 31, 2019. • Fair value hedges - Fair value hedges consist of hedges of fixed-rate debt, through interest rate swaps. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated as fair value hedges of fixed-rate debt are recorded in Interest expense. The offsetting change in value of the related debt instrument attributable to changes in the benchmark interest rate is also recorded in Interest expense. There were no fair value hedges outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. • Undesignated - Derivative contracts entered into to reduce the foreign exchange variability related to: (i) money transfer settlement assets and obligations, generally with maturities from a few days up to one month, and (ii) certain foreign currency denominated cash and other asset and liability positions, typically with maturities of less than one year at inception, are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes, and changes in their fair value are included in Selling, general, and administrative. The Company is also exposed to risk from derivative contracts written to its customers arising from its cross-currency Business Solutions payment operations. The majority of these derivative contracts have a duration at inception of less than one year. The Company aggregates its Business Solutions payments foreign currency exposures arising from customer contracts, including the derivative contracts described above, and hedges the resulting net currency risks by entering into offsetting contracts with established financial institution counterparties (economic hedge contracts) as part of a broader foreign currency portfolio, including significant spot exchanges of currency in addition to forwards and options. The changes in the fair value related to these contracts are recorded in Revenues. The fair value of the Company’s derivatives is derived from standardized models that use market-based inputs (e.g., forward prices for foreign currency). The details of each designated hedging relationship must be formally documented at the inception of the arrangement, including the risk management objective, hedging strategy, hedged item, specific risks being hedged, the derivative instrument, and how effectiveness is being assessed. The derivative must be highly effective in offsetting the changes in cash flows or fair value of the hedged item, and effectiveness is evaluated quarterly on a retrospective and prospective basis. Legal Contingencies The Company is a party to certain legal and regulatory proceedings with respect to a variety of matters. The Company records an accrual for these contingencies to the extent that a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable. If some amount within a range of loss appears to be a better estimate than other amounts within the range, that amount is accrued. When no amount within a range of loss appears to be a better estimate than any other amount, the lowest amount in the range is accrued. Stock-Based Compensation The Company has a stock-based compensation plan that provides for grants of Western Union stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, and deferred stock units to employees and non-employee directors of the Company. All stock-based compensation to employees is required to be measured at fair value and expensed over the requisite service period. The Company generally recognizes compensation expense on awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award, with an estimate for forfeitures. Refer to Note 17 for additional discussion regarding details of the Company’s stock-based compensation plans. Severance and Other Related Expenses The Company records severance-related expenses once they are both probable and estimable in accordance with the provisions of the applicable accounting guidance for severance provided under an ongoing benefit arrangement. One-time involuntary benefit arrangements and other costs are generally recognized when the liability is incurred. The Company also evaluates impairment issues associated with restructuring and other activities when the carrying amount of the related assets may not be fully recoverable, in accordance with the appropriate accounting guidance. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted a new accounting standard that requires entities to measure expected credit losses for certain financial assets held at the reporting date using a current expected credit loss model, which is based on historical experience, adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Additionally, the standard requires certain credit losses relating to investment securities classified as available-for-sale to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. The Company recognized the cumulative effect of the new accounting standard as an adjustment to the January 1, 2020 balance of Accumulated deficit in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and the adoption of the new accounting standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s January 1, 2020 accumulated deficit. In accordance with the modified retrospective approach, the comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under accounting standards in effect for those periods. Refer to Note 8 for additional information and the related disclosures. On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted a new accounting standard, as amended, that requires the Company to record assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for lease-related rights and obligations and disclose key information about its leasing arrangements. The Company elected the effective date method, utilized the modified retrospective approach upon adoption, and elected the package of practical expedients available under the new standard, including the expedients to not reassess whether an existing contract is a lease or contains a lease and whether the lease is an operating or finance lease. This new standard establishes a right-of-use (“ROU”) model that requires the Company to recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months at commencement of the lease. Refer to Note 13 for additional information and the related disclosures.

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