UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

 

 

Commission file number: 001-32903

 

 

THE WESTERN UNION COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

THE WESTERN UNION COMPANY

12500 East Belford Avenue

Englewood, Colorado 80112

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (866) 405-5012

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes x  No o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o  No x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x  No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its Corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes x  No o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes o  No x

 

As of June 30, 2009, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $11.5 billion based on the closing sale price of $16.40 of the common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

As of February 12, 2010, 682,769,241 shares of the registrant’s common stock were outstanding.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the Registrant’s proxy statement for the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders are incorporated

into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

INDEX

 

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K and materials we have filed or will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) (as well as information included in our other written or oral statements) contain or will contain certain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, our forward-looking statements. Words such as “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “guides,” “provides guidance,” “provides outlook” and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would” and “could” are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Readers of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Western Union Company (the “company,” “Western Union,” “we,” “our” or “us”) should not rely solely on the forward-looking statements and should consider all uncertainties and risks throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including those described under “Risk Factors.” The statements are only as of the date they are made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

 

Possible events or factors that could cause results or performance to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include the following:

 

 

 

Overview

 

The Western Union Company (“Western Union” or the “Company”) is a leader in global money transfer and payment services, providing people and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send money and make payments around the world.

 

The Western Union^® brand is globally recognized and represents speed, reliability, trust and convenience. As people move and travel around the world, they are able to use the services of a well recognized brand to transfer funds. Our consumer-to-consumer money transfer service enables people to send money around the world in minutes. Our services are available through a network of over 410,000 agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories, with approximately 85% of those locations outside of the United States. Each location in our agent network is capable of providing one or more of our services, with the majority offering Western Union branded service. As of December 31, 2009, over 75% of our locations had experienced money transfer activity in the prior 12 months.

 

Our global business payments service provides consumers and businesses with flexible and convenient options for making one-time or recurring bill payments. In the third quarter of 2009, we acquired Custom House, Ltd. (“Custom House”), a provider of international business-to-business cross-border, cross-currency payment services. Although most of the revenue in our global business payments segment is generated in the United States, we continue to expand our international presence and globally diversify our revenue, primarily through our acquisition of Custom House and our previous acquisition of Pago Fácil.

 

We believe that brand strength, size and reach of our global network, and convenience and reliability for our customers have been important factors relating to the growth of our business. As we continue to meet the needs of our customers for fast, reliable and convenient money transfer services, we are also working to enhance our services and provide our consumer and business clients with access to an expanding portfolio of payment and other financial services, including Visa^® and Mastercard^® prepaid debit card offerings.

 

The majority of our revenue comes from fees that consumers pay when they send money or make payments. In certain money transfer and payment services transactions involving different send and receive currencies, we generate revenue based on the difference between the exchange rate set by us to the consumer or business and the rate at which we or our agents are able to acquire currency.

 

Our Segments

 

We manage our business around the customers we serve and the type of services we offer. Each segment addresses a different combination of customer needs, distribution networks and services. Our segments are consumer-to-consumer and global business payments. Our other businesses not included in these segments primarily consist of Western Union branded money order services available through a network of third-party agents primarily in the United States and Canada.

 

The table below presents the components of our consolidated revenue:

 

 

 

Financial information relating to our international and domestic revenues and long-lived assets for all of our segments is set forth in Note 17 to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8.

 

For additional details regarding our consumer-to-consumer and global business payments segments, including financial information regarding our international and United States operations, see Item 7 of Part II and our financial statements and the notes to those statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

See Risk Factors for a discussion of certain risks relating to our foreign operations.

 

Consumer-to-Consumer Segment

 

Individual money transfers from one consumer to another are the core of our business, representing 85% of our total consolidated revenues for 2009. We offer consumers a variety of ways to send money. Although most remittances are sent in cash at one of our more than 410,000 agent locations worldwide, in some countries we offer the ability to send money over the internet or the telephone, using a credit or debit card, or through a withdrawal directly from a consumer’s bank account. Some agent locations accept debit cards to initiate a transaction. We also offer consumers several options to receive a money transfer. While the vast majority of transfers are paid in cash at agent locations, in some places we offer payout directly to the receiver’s bank account, to a stored-value card, to a mobile phone or through the issuance of a money order.

 

Operations

 

Our revenue is derived primarily from transaction fees charged to consumers to transfer money. In money transfers involving different send and receive currencies, we also generate revenue based on the difference between the exchange rate set by Western Union to the consumer and the rate at which we or our agents are able to acquire currency.

 

In a typical money transfer transaction, a consumer goes to one of our agent locations, completes a form specifying, among other things, the name and address of the recipient, and delivers it, along with the principal amount of the money transfer and the fee, to the agent. This sending agent enters the transaction information into our money transfer system and the funds are made available for payment, usually within minutes. The recipient enters an agent location in the designated receiving area or country, presents identification and is paid the transferred amount. Recipients do not pay a fee (although in limited circumstances, a tax may be imposed on the payment of the remittance). We determine the fee paid by the sender, which generally is based on the principal amount of the transaction and the locations to and from which the funds are sent and are to be transferred.

 

We generally pay our agents a commission based on a percentage of revenue. The commission is shared between the agent that initiated the transaction, the “send agent,” and the agent that paid the transaction, the “receive agent.” For most agents, the costs of providing the physical infrastructure and staff are typically covered by the agent’s primary business (e.g., postal services, banking, check cashing, travel and retail businesses), making the economics of being a Western Union agent attractive to our agents. Western Union’s global reach and loyal consumer base allow us to attract agents we believe to be of high quality.

To complement the convenience offered by our network’s global physical locations, in certain countries we have also made our services available through other channels, as described below under “Services.”

 

Over 85% of our consumer-to-consumer transactions involve at least one non-United States location. No individual country outside the United States accounted for more than approximately 6%, 7% and 7% of our consolidated revenue for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Certain of our agents facilitate a large number of transactions; however, no individual agent accounted for greater than 10% of the segment’s revenue during these periods.

 

Services

 

We offer money transfer services worldwide. In 2009, over 95% of our consumer-to-consumer transactions were cash money transfers involving our walk-in agent locations around the world. Although demand for in-person, cash money transfers has historically been the strongest, we offer a number of options for sending and receiving funds that provide consumer convenience and choice to meet the needs of consumers. The different ways consumers can send or receive money include the following:

 

Walk-in money transfer service. The majority of our remittances constitute transactions in which cash is collected by the agent and payment (usually cash) is available for pick-up at another agent location in the designated receive location, usually within minutes. In some United States outbound corridors and in select international corridors, we provide a “Direct to Bank” service, enabling a consumer to send a transaction from an agent location directly to a bank account in another country. We also provide a “Cash to Card” service that provides consumers an option to direct funds to a Western Union branded Visa stored-value card in the United States, with the option to have the card delivered overnight to consumers’ homes.

 

Our “Next Day” delivery option is a money transfer that is available for payment the morning after the money transfer is sent. This option is available in certain markets for domestic service within the United States, and in select United States outbound and international corridors. The Next Day delivery service gives our consumers a lower-priced option for money transfers that do not need to be received within minutes, while still offering the convenience, reliability and ease-of-use that our consumers expect.

 

Online money transfer service. Our websites allow consumers to send funds on-line, using a credit or debit card, for payment at most Western Union branded agent locations around the world. As of December 31, 2009, we are now providing send service in 18 countries, allowing consumers in these countries to send money throughout the world.

 

Telephone money transfer service. Our Telephone Money Transfer service allows Western Union consumers to send funds by telephone without visiting an agent location. Consumers call a toll-free number in the United States, Canada, Ireland or the United Kingdom and use a debit card or credit card to initiate a transaction. The money transfer is then available for pay-out at an agent location.

 

Account to cash. This service allows consumers to debit their bank accounts and send the money through Western Union for pay-out at an agent location. We have 12 banks offering this service, primarily through their online portals, which allows consumers to send funds from their bank accounts.

 

Mobile money transfer service. Our mobile money transfer service pilot provides consumers in a number of select countries with the ability to transfer money to a mobile phone. As of December 31, 2009, there were approximately 10,000 Western Union agent locations enabled with the technology to transfer cash to a mobile phone.

 

Distribution and Marketing Channels

 

We offer our consumer-to-consumer service to millions of consumers around the world primarily through our global network of third-party agents in almost every country and territory, with more than 85% of our agent locations being located outside of the United States. Our agents facilitate the global distribution and convenience associated with our Western Union and other brands, which in turn helps create demand for our services and helps us to recruit and retain agents. Western Union agents include large networks such as post offices, banks and retailers and other established organizations that provide other consumer products and

services. Many of our agents have multiple locations. Our agents know the markets they serve and work with our management to develop business plans for their markets. Many of our agents contribute financial resources, or otherwise support, our efforts to market the business. Many agents operate in locations that are convenient for our consumers and are open outside of traditional banking hours, for example on nights and weekends. Our top 40 agents globally have been with us an average of approximately 13 years, and in 2009, these long-standing agents were involved in transactions that generated more than 60% of our consumer-to-consumer revenue.

 

We provide our third-party agents with our multi-currency, real-time money transfer processing systems used to originate and pay money transfers. Over the last several years, we have emphasized the development of our receive network around the world to optimize send and receive corridors. Our systems and processes enable our agents to pay money transfers in more than 120 currencies worldwide. Many of our agents can pay in multiple currencies at a single location. Our agents provide the physical infrastructure and staff required to complete the transfers. Western Union provides central operating functions such as transaction processing, settlement, marketing support and customer relationship management to our agents.

 

Some of our agents outside the United States manage subagents. We refer to these agents as superagents. As of December 31, 2009, we had approximately 800 superagents located throughout the world. Although our subagents are under contract with these superagents (and not with Western Union directly), the subagent locations typically have access to the same technology and services that our other agent locations do. On November 1, 2009, the Payment Services Directive (“PSD”) became effective. Under the PSD, the licensing and other legal requirements for offering money transfer and other payment services within European Union (“EU”) countries were harmonized, allowing us to expand the types of businesses that can offer money transfer services in certain countries, which further allows us to develop our distribution network. In anticipation of the PSD, we acquired the money transfer business of European-based FEXCO, which helped provide an initial operating infrastructure for the PSD and allowed us to take on services and operations previously performed by this superagent in several key European countries.

 

Our international agents often customize services as appropriate for their geographic markets. In some markets, individual agents are independently offering specific services such as stored-value card payout options and Direct to Bank service. Our marketing benefits from feedback from our agents and consumers, and in many of our markets, our agents fund their own marketing activities.

 

A primary component of our marketing strategy is our global loyalty program, which is available in a growing number of countries. We launched our Western Union Gold Card, the principal vehicle of the program, in the United States in 2002. As of December 31, 2009, the Gold Card program was available in 78 countries and had approximately 13 million active cards, an increase in the number of active cards of 20% from December 31, 2008. The Gold Card offers consumers faster service at the point-of-sale and other benefits which, depending on the country, could include service fee reductions on future Western Union branded transactions, discounts at retailers or a rechargeable prepaid phone card embedded within the Gold Card. Overall, Gold Card consumers initiate more transactions and have a higher rate of retention than non-carded consumers. Approximately one-third of Western Union branded consumer-to-consumer transactions are initiated using a Gold Card. The global Gold Card program is one component of our consumer relationship management strategy designed to support and enhance long-term relationships with our consumers. Consumer databases supplement these efforts by providing insight on consumer preferences so that we can selectively target consumer communications and marketing. We have begun offering reloadable debit Gold Cards to our loyalty card holders in the United States.

 

Industry Trends

 

Over the last several years, except for 2009, the cross-border money transfer industry has experienced growth. Trends in the cross-border money transfer business tend to correlate to migration trends, global economic opportunity and related employment rates worldwide. The top four inbound remittance countries in the world are India, China, Mexico and the Philippines, and cumulatively receive an estimated $136 billion annually according to The World Bank’s November 2009 report. Due to the weak global economy, including

declines in consumer confidence and rising unemployment, the demand for money transfers has softened. The World Bank projects a modest increase of 1% in cross-border remittances in 2010, with stronger growth in 2011. We anticipate that the remittance market will begin to recover as the global economy improves. We also consider additional sources, including demographic data, when assessing market opportunities.

 

Another significant trend impacting the money transfer industry is the increase in regulation in recent years. Regulation in the United States and elsewhere focuses, in part, on anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist activities. Regulations require money transfer providers, banks and other financial institutions to develop systems to detect, monitor and report certain transactions.

 

Competition

 

We face robust competition in the highly-fragmented consumer-to-consumer money transfer industry. We compete with a variety of money transfer service providers, including:

 

 

We believe the most significant competitive factors in consumer-to-consumer remittances relate to brand recognition, trust and reliability, distribution network, consumer experience and price.

 

Global Business Payments Segment

 

In our global business payments segment, we provide fast and convenient options to make one-time or recurring payments for consumers or businesses to other businesses. Our business payments services allow consumers to make payments to a variety of organizations, including utilities, auto finance companies, mortgage servicers, financial service providers, governmental agencies and other businesses. We also provide international business-to-business cross-border, cross-currency payment services as a result of our acquisition of Custom House in September 2009. We can process payments using the customer’s credit card, debit card, bank account or cash depending on the service selected. We believe our business customers who receive payments from consumers benefit from their relationship with Western Union as it provides them with real-time or near real-time posting of their customer payments. In certain circumstances, our relationships with business customers also provide them with an additional source of income, as well as reduced expenses for cash and check handling.

Operations

 

Our revenue in this segment is derived primarily from transaction fees paid by the consumer. These fees are typically less than the fees charged in our consumer-to-consumer segment. Consumers may make a cash payment at an agent or owned location and businesses may remit a check, electronic or wire transfer to Custom House^® in order to initiate a transaction. In order to make an electronic payment, consumers or businesses initiate a transaction over the telephone or the internet which we process through credit card, debit card, automated clearing house (“ACH”) or wire transfer, depending on the service selected. Our internet services are provided through our own websites or, in certain circumstances, in partnership with other websites for which we act as the service provider. In cross-border transactions involving different currencies, we primarily generate revenue based on the difference between the exchange rate set by us to the consumer or business and the rate at which we are able to acquire currency. In addition, we generate revenue from upfront enrollment fees received for our Equity Accelerator^® service, and we earn investment income on funds received from services sold in advance of settlement with payment recipients.

 

Although most of the revenue in our global business payments segment is generated in the United States, we continue to expand our international presence and globally diversify our revenue, primarily through our acquisition of Custom House and our previous acquisition of Pago Fácil^..

 

Services

 

Our global business payments services are available through a variety of products which give customers choices as to the payment channel and method of payment, and include the following:

 

Custom House. Our recent acquisition of Custom House enables us to offer international cross-border, cross-currency business-to-business payment solutions. These payment transactions are conducted through various channels including the telephone and internet. Custom House operates its own website to offer services and also serves as the ultimate service provider for other partner websites. Payments are made predominately through wire transfers and ACH, but in some situations, checks are remitted to Custom House. The majority of Custom House’s business relates to exchanges of currency at the spot rate which enables customers to make cross-currency payments. In addition, we write foreign currency forward and option contracts for customers to facilitate future payments.

 

Western Union Quick Collect^®. The Western Union Quick Collect (“Quick Collect”) service allows consumers to send funds to businesses and government agencies across the United States and Canada, using cash and, in certain locations, a debit card. This service is offered primarily at Western Union agent locations, but may be provided via our westernunion.com website in limited situations. This service is also offered in select international locations under the service mark Quick Pay^sm. We also offer Quick Cash^®, a cash disbursement service used by businesses and government agencies to send money to employees or individuals with whom they have accounts or other business relationships. Similar to our Quick Collect service, consumers use our Western Union Convenience Pay^® (“Convenience Pay”) service to send payments by cash or check from a smaller number of Convenience Pay agent locations primarily to utilities and telecommunication providers.

 

Pago Fácil^®. In South America, we offer walk-in, cash bill payment services which allow consumers to make payments for services such as phone, utilities and other recurring bills. In Argentina, we provide this service under the Pago Fácil brand. In 2008, we began offering this service under the Western Union brand in Peru and Panama.

 

Speedpay^®. Our Speedpay service is offered principally in the United States and allows consumers to make payments to a variety of businesses using credit cards, debit cards, ACH and in limited situations, checks. Payments are initiated over the telephone or the internet. We also partner with some businesses to allow their customers to access Speedpay from their websites.

 

Equity Accelerator. Our Equity Accelerator service enables consumers to make mortgage payments by ACH. It is marketed as a convenient way for homeowners to schedule additional recurring principal payments on their mortgages. Consumers who enroll in this service make mortgage payments based on an accelerated

program, which results in a more rapid reduction of their mortgage balance, as well as interest savings. We also offer a non-recurring mortgage payment service under the brand Just in Time EFT^®.

 

Distribution and Marketing Channels

 

Our electronic consumer payment services are available primarily through the telephone and the internet, while our cash-based consumer services are available through our agent networks and select Company owned locations. Our business payment services are offered through owned locations, telephone, via the internet and partner channels.

 

Businesses market our services to consumers in a number of ways, and we market our services directly to consumers and businesses using a variety of means, including advertising materials, promotional activities, call campaigns and attendance at trade shows and seminars. Our internet services are marketed to consumers and businesses on our websites as well as through co-branding arrangements with our website partners who offer our payment solutions. Consumers can also participate in the Western Union Gold Card program when using our Quick Collect service.

 

We have relationships with more than 6,300 businesses to which our consumers can make payments, approximately 2,200 of which primarily relate to our bill payment business in Argentina, Pago Fácil. These relationships are a core component of our global business payments services. In 2009, our top 20 businesses to which our consumers can make payments represented approximately 40% of our global business payments revenue. On average, we have provided our payment services to our top 20 businesses to which our consumers can make payments for more than 14 years. No individual customer accounted for greater than 10% of this segment’s revenue during all periods presented.

 

Our growth strategy includes a focus on expanding and globalizing our global business payments segment and increasing our number of payment options.

 

Industry Trends

 

The global business payments industry has evolved with technological innovations that have created new methods of processing payments from individuals or businesses to other businesses. The cross-border payments industry is expected to expand considerably in the future due to the expanding global focus of many businesses. We believe that the United States is in the midst of a trend away from cash and paper checks toward electronic payment methods accessible through multiple technologies. Furthermore, due to the weak economic situation in the United States, we believe many United States consumers who would use our services are having difficulty paying their bills and are unable to obtain credit, resulting in our handling fewer bill payments.

 

The global business payments industry outside the United States is at varying stages of development. In some countries, walk-in cash payments or payments through a third-party network are widely used, while in other countries electronic payment options, particularly through direct debit, are widely accepted.

 

Competition

 

Western Union competes with a diverse set of service providers offering both cash and electronic-based payment solutions and business-to-business payment services. Competition in electronic payments and business-to-business payment services include financial institutions (which may offer consumer bill payment or business payment services in their own name or may “host” payment services operated under the names of their clients). Competition for electronic payments also includes businesses offering their own or third-party services to their own customers and third-party providers of all sizes offering services directly to consumers. In many cases, competitors specialize in a small number of industries. Competitors for cash payments include businesses that allow consumers to pay a bill at one of their locations, or at the location of a partner business, as well as mail and courier services. Competitive pressures are impacting this business.

The most significant competitive factors in this segment relate to brand recognition, customer service, trust and reliability, convenience, speed, variety of payment methods, service offerings and price.

 

For additional details regarding our global business payments segment, see Item 7 of Part II and our historical financial statements and the notes to those statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Other

 

Our remaining businesses are grouped in the “Other” category, which primarily includes our money order services.

 

Effective October 1, 2009 (the “Transition Date”), in accordance with the agreement signed on July 18, 2008, Integrated Payment Systems Inc. (“IPS”), a subsidiary of First Data Corporation (“First Data”), assigned and transferred to us certain operating assets used by IPS to issue Western Union branded money orders and approximately $860 million of cash sufficient to satisfy all outstanding money order liabilities. On the Transition Date, we assumed IPS’s role as issuer of the money orders, including its obligation to pay outstanding money orders, and terminated the existing agreement whereby IPS paid Western Union a fixed return of 5.5% on the outstanding money order balances. Following the Transition Date, we invested the cash received from IPS in high-quality, investment grade securities, primarily tax exempt United States state and municipal securities, in accordance with applicable regulations, which are the same as those currently governing the investment of our United States originated money transfer principal. Prior to the Transition Date, we had entered into interest rate swaps on certain of our fixed rate notes to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. Through a combination of the revenue generated from these investment securities and the anticipated interest expense savings resulting from the interest rate swaps, we estimate that we should be able to retain, subsequent to the Transition Date, a materially comparable after-tax rate of return through 2011 as we were receiving under the agreement with IPS. However, the results of interest expense savings related to the swaps will be reflected in interest expense and will not impact operating income. Subsequent to the Transition Date, all revenue generated from the investment portfolio is being retained by us.

 

Intellectual Property

 

The Western Union brand, consisting of trademark registrations in many countries, is material to our Company. The international expansion of our agent network over the past decade has taken the Western Union brand nearly everywhere consumers send and receive money. The loss of the Western Union trademark or a diminution in the perceived quality associated with the name would harm our growth. We offer money transfer services under the Western Union, Orlandi Valuta^® or Vigo^sm brands in over 200 countries and territories, and various global business payment services under several brands like Speedpay, Equity Accelerator, Just in Time EFT, Paymap^®, Quick Collect, Convenience Pay, Quick Pay, Quick Cash, Pago Fácil (registered in Argentina), Custom House and other trademarks and service marks also important to our Company.

 

Our operating results over the past several years have allowed us to invest significantly each year to support our brands. In 2009, we invested approximately $240 million to market, advertise and promote our brand and services, including costs related to our global “yes!” marketing campaign, which helped drive uniformity of brand image and marketing. Many of our agents have also contributed significant financial resources to assist with marketing our services.

 

We own patents and patent applications covering various aspects of our processes and services. We have been, are and in the future may be, subject to claims and suits alleging that our technology or business methods infringe patents owned by others, both in and out of the United States. Unfavorable resolution of these claims could require us to change how we deliver services, result in significant financial consequences, or both, which could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations.

Risk Management

 

Our Company has a credit risk management department that evaluates and monitors our agent-related credit and fraud risks. We are exposed to credit risk related to receivable balances from agents in the money transfer, walk-in bill payment and money order settlement process. We also are exposed to credit risk directly from consumer transactions particularly through our online services and electronic global business payment channels, where transactions are originated through means other than cash, and may therefore be subject to “chargebacks,” insufficient funds or other collection impediments, such as fraud. Our credit risk management team performs a credit review before each agent signing and conducts periodic analyses. As a result, our losses associated with bad debts have been less than 1% of our annual revenue in each of the last three fiscal years. However, the recent global economic crisis may increase our losses associated with bad debts.

 

A key component of the Western Union business model is our ability to manage financial risk associated with conducting transactions worldwide. We settle accounts with the majority of our agents in United States dollars or euros. We utilize foreign currency exchange contracts, primarily forward contracts, to mitigate the risks associated with currency fluctuations and to provide predictability of future cash flows. Limited foreign currency risk arises with respect to the agent settlement process. The foreign currency exchange risk is limited because the majority of money transfer transactions are paid within 24 hours after they are initiated and agent settlements occur within a few days in most instances.

 

As a result of our acquisition of Custom House, we are now exposed to credit risk relating to derivative financial instruments written by us to our customers. The duration of these derivative contracts is generally nine months or less. To mitigate risk, we perform credit reviews of the customer on an ongoing basis. In addition, we may require certain customers to post collateral based on the fair value of the customer’s contract and their risk profile. As we require the receipt of funds from our customers, in most cases, before releasing the associated cross-currency payment, the credit risk arising from our spot foreign currency exchange contracts is largely mitigated.

 

To manage our exposures to credit risk with respect to investment securities, money market fund investments and other credit risk exposures resulting from our relationships with banks and financial institutions, we regularly review investment concentrations, trading levels, credit spreads and credit ratings, and we attempt to diversify our investments among global financial institutions.

 

Our financial results may fluctuate due to changes in interest rates. We review our overall exposure to floating and fixed rates by evaluating our net asset or liability position in each, while also considering the duration of the individual positions. We manage this mix of fixed versus floating exposure in an attempt to minimize risk, reduce costs and optimize returns. Our exposure to interest rates can be modified by changing the mix of our interest bearing assets, as well as adjusting the mix of fixed versus floating rate debt. The latter is accomplished primarily through the use of interest rate swaps and the terms of any new debt issuances (i.e., fixed versus floating). We use interest rate swaps designated as hedges to increase the percentage of floating rate debt, subject to market conditions.

 

International Investment

 

We have accumulated approximately $2.0 billion of foreign earnings at December 31, 2009, for which no provision has been made for United States federal and state income taxes, as we have reinvested or expect to reinvest these earnings outside the United States indefinitely. We intend to invest these earnings to expand and diversify our global distribution and explore new service offerings. In 2009, we used our foreign earnings to acquire the money transfer business of our largest European-based agent, FEXCO, and also to acquire Custom House, which expanded the service offerings of the global business payments segment to include cross-currency, cross-border business-to-business payments. We continue to look for opportunities for international acquisitions and investments in joint ventures that will complement our existing businesses worldwide. We may also invest in expanding our current service offerings or our international operating sites to drive organic growth. However, if we are unable to utilize these earnings outside of the United States and we repatriate these earnings to the United States in the form of actual or constructive dividends, we would be subject to

United States federal income taxes (subject to an adjustment for foreign tax credits), state income taxes and possible withholding taxes payable to various foreign countries.

 

Regulation

 

Our business is subject to a wide range of laws and regulations enacted by the United States federal government, each of the states, many localities and other countries. These include financial services regulations, consumer disclosure and consumer protection laws, currency control regulations, money transfer and payment instrument licensing regulations, payment service laws, rules, laws and regulations applicable to credit cards and electronic payments including those governing foreign exchange hedging services and the sale of spot and forward currency contracts, escheat laws and laws covering consumer privacy, data protection and information security. Our services also are subject to an increasingly strict set of legal and regulatory requirements intended to help detect and prevent money laundering, terrorist financing and other illicit activity. Failure to comply with any of these requirements—by either Western Union or its agents or subagents (who are third parties, over whom Western Union has limited legal and practical control)—could result in the suspension or revocation of a license or registration required to provide money transfer services and/or payment services or foreign exchange products, the limitation, suspension or termination of services, the seizure of our assets, and/or the imposition of civil and criminal penalties, including fines and restrictions on our ability to offer services.

 

We have developed and continue to enhance global compliance programs, consisting of an anti-money laundering program comprised of policies, procedures, systems and internal controls to monitor and to address various legal and regulatory requirements. In addition, we continue to adapt our business practices and strategies to help us comply with current and evolving legal standards and industry practices. These programs include dedicated compliance personnel, training and monitoring programs, suspicious activity reporting, regulatory outreach and education, and support and guidance to our agent network on regulatory compliance. Our money transfer network operates through third-party agents in most countries, and, therefore, our legal and practical ability to control those agents’ compliance activities is limited. With the PSD coming into effect, we will become responsible for the compliance of our agents in the EU who are engaged by one of our payments institution subsidiaries. In addition, with the acquisition of Custom House, our regulatory requirements have increased.

 

Money Transfer and Payment Instrument Licensing and Regulation

 

In the United States, most states license money transfer services providers. Many states exercise authority over the operations of our money transfer services and, as part of this authority, regularly examine us. Many states require us to invest the proceeds of money transfers in high-quality, investment grade securities, and our use of such investments is restricted to satisfy outstanding settlement obligations. We regularly monitor credit risk and attempt to mitigate our exposure by making high-quality investments in compliance with these regulations. The majority of our investment securities, classified within “settlement assets” in the consolidated balance sheets, most of which relate to state licensing requirements in the United States, had credit ratings of “AA-” or better from a major credit rating agency as of December 31, 2009.

 

These licensing laws also cover matters such as government approval of controlling shareholders and senior management of our licensed entities, regulatory approval of agent locations, consumer disclosures and the filing of periodic reports by the licensee, and require the licensee to demonstrate and maintain certain net worth levels. Many states also require money transmitters and their agents to comply with federal and/or state anti-money laundering laws and regulations.

 

Our money transfer and money order services are subject to anti-money laundering laws and regulations, including the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (collectively, the “BSA”) and similar state laws and regulations. The BSA, among other things, requires money transfer companies and the issuers and sellers of money orders, to develop and implement risk-based anti-money laundering programs, report large cash transactions and suspicious activity, and in some cases, to collect and maintain information about consumers who use their services and maintain other transaction records. Many states impose similar

and, in some cases, more stringent requirements. These requirements also apply to our agents. In addition, the United States Department of the Treasury has interpreted the BSA to require money transfer companies to conduct due diligence into and risk-based monitoring of their agents inside and outside the United States.

 

Economic and trade sanctions programs administered by the United States Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) prohibit or restrict transactions to or from (or dealings with) certain countries, their governments, and in certain circumstances, their nationals, as well as with specifically-designated individuals and entities such as narcotics traffickers, terrorists and terrorist organizations. We provide very limited consumer-to-consumer services to individuals in Cuba, Syria and Sudan pursuant to and as authorized by advisory opinions of, or licenses granted by, OFAC.

 

Outside of the United States, our money transfer business is subject to some form of regulation in all of the countries and territories in which we offer those services. These laws and regulations may include limitations on what types of entities may offer money transfer services, limitations on the amount of principal that can be sent into or out of a country, limitations on the number of money transfers that may be sent or received by a consumer and agreements on the rates of exchange between currencies. They may also include laws and regulations intended to help detect and prevent money laundering or terrorist financing. In most countries, our agents are required to obtain licenses or permits to offer money transfer services.

 

We have developed and continue to enhance global compliance programs to monitor and to address various legal and regulatory requirements. Our money transfer network operates through third-party agents in most countries, and our legal and practical ability to control those agents’ compliance activities is limited. To assist in managing and monitoring money laundering and terrorist financing risks, we have developed and continue to enhance our global compliance programs, consisting of an anti-money laundering compliance program comprised of policies, procedures, systems and internal controls. As of December 31, 2009, we had over 400 employees in a number of our offices around the world dedicated to our global compliance programs. We spent over $40 million in 2009 on these efforts. In connection with our agreement and settlement with the State of Arizona, we will fund a not-for-profit organization to promote safety and security along the entire United States and Mexico border. This agreement and settlement also resolved all outstanding legal issues and claims with the State. In addition, as part of the agreement and settlement, we expect to make certain investments in our compliance programs along the United States and Mexico border and to engage a monitor of that program, which are expected to cost up to $23 million over the next two to four years. See also Item 1A, Risk Factors—“Western Union has been the subject of class-action litigation, and remains the subject of other litigation as well as consent agreements with or enforcement actions by regulators” for more information on this agreement and settlement.

 

Government agencies both inside and outside the United States may impose new or additional rules on money transfers affecting us or our agents, including regulations that:

 

 

One example of such a rule is the Payment Services Directive which became effective on November 1, 2009. The PSD has changed the payments market in the EU, harmonizing the licensing and certain other

requirements for offering payment services within the EU. Previously, those requirements differed significantly among these countries. The PSD also imposed new rules on payment service providers like Western Union. In particular, the PSD makes us responsible for the compliance of our agents in the EU who are engaged by one of our payments institution subsidiaries. Thus, the risk of adverse regulatory action against us because of the actions of our EU agents and their subagents has increased. Under the PSD, we are now subject to investment safeguarding rules and periodic examinations similar to those we are subject to in the United States. These rules have resulted in increased costs to comply with the new requirements. The PSD could also increase competition in our areas of service.

 

Escheat Regulations

 

Our Company is subject to unclaimed or abandoned property (escheat) laws in the United States and abroad. These laws require us to turn over to certain government authorities the property of others held by our Company that has been unclaimed for a specified period of time, such as unpaid money transfers. We hold property subject to escheat laws and we have an ongoing program to comply with the laws. We are subject to audits with regard to our escheatment practices.

 

Privacy and Information Security Regulations

 

The collection, transfer, disclosure, use and storage of personal information is required to provide our services. These activities are subject to information security standards, data privacy, data breach and related laws and regulations in the United States and other countries. In the United States, data privacy and data breach laws such as the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and various state laws apply directly to a broad range of financial institutions including money transmitters like Western Union, and indirectly to companies that provide services to those institutions. Many state laws require us to provide notification to affected individuals, state officers and consumer reporting agencies in the event of a security breach of computer databases or physical documents that contain certain types of non-public personal information and present a risk for unauthorized use.

 

The collection, transfer, disclosure, use and storage of personal information required to provide our services is subject to data privacy laws outside of the United States, such as laws adopted pursuant to the EU’s 95/46 EC Directive of the European Parliament (the “Data Protection Directive”), Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, individual European national laws and data privacy laws of other provinces or countries. In some cases, the laws of a country may be more restrictive than the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act or the laws developed to comply with the Data Protection Directive may impose additional duties on companies. Each of these laws may restrict the collection, transfer, processing, storage, use and disclosure of sensitive personal information, require notice to individuals of privacy practices and may give individuals certain rights to prevent the use or disclosure of personal information for secondary purposes such as marketing.

 

These regulations, laws and industry standards also impose requirements for safeguarding personal information through the issuance of internal data security standards, controls or guidelines.

 

In connection with regulatory requirements to assist in the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing and pursuant to legal obligations and authorizations, Western Union makes information available to certain United States federal and state, as well as certain foreign government agencies when required by law. In recent years, these agencies have increased their requests for such information from Western Union and other companies (both financial service providers and others), particularly in connection with efforts to prevent terrorist financing or identity theft. During the same period, there has also been increased public attention regarding the corporate use and disclosure of personal information, accompanied by legislation and regulations intended to strengthen data protection, information security and consumer privacy. These regulatory goals—the prevention of money laundering, terrorist financing and identity theft and the protection of the individual’s right to privacy—may create a conflict, and the law in these areas is not consistent or settled. While we believe that Western Union is compliant with its regulatory responsibilities, the legal, political and business environments in these areas are rapidly changing, and subsequent legislation, regulation, litigation, court

rulings or other events could expose Western Union to increased program costs, liability and reputational damage.

 

Banking Regulation

 

Western Union International Bank operates under a banking license granted by the Austrian Financial Market Authority (“FMA”), allowing the bank to offer a range of financial services in the 27 member states of the EU and the 3 additional states of the European Economic Area. The banking license subjects our bank to the Austrian Banking Act regulation by the FMA and the Austrian National Bank. The bank also is subject to regulation, examination and supervision by the New York State Banking Department (the “Banking Department”), which has regulatory authority over our subsidiary that holds all interest in the bank, a limited liability investment company organized under Article XII of the New York Banking Law. An Agreement of Supervision with the Banking Department imposes various regulatory requirements including operational limitations, capital requirements, affiliate transaction limitations, and notice and reporting requirements. Banking Department approval is required under the New York Banking Law and the Agreement of Supervision prior to any change in control of the Article XII investment company.

 

Since Western Union International Bank does not operate any banking offices in the United States and does not conduct business in the United States except as may be incidental to its activities outside the United States, our Company’s affiliation with Western Union International Bank does not cause it to be subject to the provisions of the Bank Holding Company Act.

 

In Brazil, we have submitted applications to the Central Bank of Brazil for commercial bank and exchange broker licenses. Such licenses will enable us to engage in financial services which we are unable to provide today, including domestic money transfer and bill payments.

 

Other

 

Some of our services are subject to card association rules and regulations. For example, an independent standards-setting organization, the Payment Card Industry (“PCI”) Security Standards Council (including American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc. International) developed a set of comprehensive requirements concerning payment card account security through the transaction process, called the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (“PCI DSS”). All merchants and service providers that store, process and transmit payment card data are required to comply with PCI DSS as a condition to accepting credit cards. We are subject to annual reviews to ensure compliance with PCI regulations worldwide and are subject to fines if we are found to be non-compliant.

 

Stored-value services offered by Western Union prepaid services are subject to federal and state laws and regulations related to consumer protection, licensing, escheat and money laundering. These laws are evolving, unclear and sometimes inconsistent, and the extent to which these laws apply to Western Union or its consumers is in a state of change. We are unable to determine the impact that the clarification of these laws and their future interpretations may have on these services.

 

Employees and Labor

 

As of January 31, 2010, our businesses employed approximately 6,800 employees. Our United States based employees are no longer represented by any unions or collective bargaining agreements.

 

Available Information

 

The Western Union Company is a Delaware corporation and its principal executive offices are located at 12500 East Belford Avenue, Englewood, CO, 80112, telephone (866) 405-5012. The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports are available free of charge through the “Financial Information” portion of the Company’s web site, www.westernunion.com, as soon as reasonably practical after they are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “SEC.” The SEC maintains a web site, www.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information filed electronically with the SEC by the Company.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

 

As of February 26, 2010, our executives consist of the individuals listed below:

 

 

Christina A. Gold is our President, Chief Executive Officer and one of our directors. Prior to taking these positions in September 2006, she was a Senior Executive Vice President of First Data and President of Western Union since May 2002. From October 1999 to May 2002, she was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Excel Communications, Inc. Ms. Gold served as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Beaconsfield Group from March 1998 to October 1999. In 1970, she joined Avon Products, Inc., serving as President of Avon Canada from 1989 to 1993, President of Avon North America from 1993 to 1997 and Executive Vice President of Global Development from 1997 to 1998. Ms. Gold is a Director of ITT Corporation and New York Life Insurance Company.

 

Guy A. Battista is our Executive Vice President and President of Western Union Financial Services, Inc. Prior to taking this position in September 2006, he was an Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of First Data since March 2001. Mr. Battista joined First Data in 1990.

 

Ranjana Clark is our President, Global Business Payments and Executive Vice President, Head of Global Strategy. Prior to joining Western Union in March 2009, she led the Wholesale Customer Experience Group at Wells Fargo & Company from January 2009. From April 2007 to December 2008, she served as Chief Marketing Officer of Wachovia Corporation. Prior to that time, from January 2001 to April 2007, she led the Treasury Services Division of Wachovia Corporation.

 

Hikmet Ersek is our Chief Operating Officer. Prior to taking this position in January 2010, Mr. Ersek served as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific Region from December 2008. From September 2006 to December 2008, Mr. Ersek served as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Europe/Middle East/Africa/South Asia. Prior to September 2006, Mr. Ersek held various positions of increasing responsibility with Western Union. Prior to joining Western Union in September 1999, Mr. Ersek was with GE Capital specializing in European payment systems and consumer finance.

 

Gail Galuppo is our Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Prior to joining Western Union in September 2007, Ms. Galuppo was the Chief Marketing and Customer Officer of Standard Chartered Bank from August 2006, and the Global Head of Credit Cards of Standard Chartered Bank from September 2005 to August 2006. From April 2001 to August 2005, Ms. Galuppo led brand management, promotional retail marketing and product category strategy for Sears, Roebuck and Company, most recently serving as its Vice President, Brand and Category Strategy.

 

Robin Heller is our Executive Vice President, Operations and IT. Prior to taking this position in September 2006, she was Senior Vice President, Global Operations for First Data since November 2004. From

July 2003 to November 2004, Ms. Heller served in a similar capacity with Western Union. Prior to that time, she was Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Operations for Western Union Commercial Services from July 2002 until June 2003 and Senior Vice President, Operations and Client Management for IPS, a First Data subsidiary, from July 2000 until June 2002. Ms. Heller joined First Data in 1988.

 

Anne McCarthy is our Executive Vice President of Communications and Corporate Affairs. Prior to joining Western Union in March 2007, Ms. McCarthy was the Senior Vice President of Global Communications of SAP A.G. starting in August 2003. She served as Vice President of Communications for the DuPont Company from April 2002 until July 2003.

 

Scott Scheirman is our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to taking this position in September 2006, Mr. Scheirman held a variety of positions with First Data, including Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Western Union from 1999 to September 2006. Prior to joining First Data in 1992, Mr. Scheirman was with Ernst & Young LLP.

 

David Schlapbach is our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. Prior to taking these positions in September 2006, Mr. Schlapbach held a variety of positions at First Data since joining it in 1996, including Deputy General Counsel—International, with responsibility for First Data’s legal matters outside the United States. In this capacity, he worked in First Data’s Paris office for four years, returning in 2004 to become General Counsel for Western Union. Prior to joining First Data, Mr. Schlapbach was an attorney at the law firm of Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Schlapbach also serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Western Union Foundation.

 

Stewart A. Stockdale is our President, The Americas and Executive Vice President, Global Cards and Global Key Accounts. Prior to taking this position in January 2010, Mr. Stockdale served as our Executive Vice President and President, The Americas from November 2008. From June 2008 to November 2008, Mr. Stockdale served as Executive Vice President and President, United States and Canada, with Western Union. Prior to joining Western Union in June 2008, Mr. Stockdale served as the President of Simon Brand Ventures and as Chief Marketing Officer of Simon Property Group since 2002.

 

Grover Wray is our Executive Vice President of Human Resources. Prior to taking this position in September 2006, Mr. Wray joined First Data as Senior Vice President, Human Resources for Western Union in October 2005. Prior to joining Western Union, from January 2004 to September 2005, Mr. Wray was Vice President, Leadership and Professional Development and Staffing, for Janus Capital Group. Previously, Mr. Wray served as Chief Human Resource Officer, North America for Heidrick & Struggles from 2003 to 2004. From 1988 to 2003, he held increasingly responsible senior management roles at Arthur Andersen LLP, culminating in the role of Managing Partner of Human Resources in North America.

 

There are many factors that affect our business, financial position and results of operations, some of which are beyond our control. These risks include, but are not limited to, the risks described below. You should carefully consider all of these risks.

 

Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry

 

Interruptions in migration patterns, including as a result of economic conditions, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our money transfer business relies in large part on migration, which brings workers to countries with greater economic opportunities than those available in their native countries. A significant portion of money transfers are sent by international migrants. Migration is affected by (among other factors) overall economic conditions, the availability of job opportunities, changes in immigration laws, and political or other events (such as war, terrorism or health emergencies) that would make it more difficult for workers to migrate or work abroad. Changes to these factors could adversely affect our remittance volume and could have an adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations.

 

Many of our consumers work in industries that may be impacted by deteriorating economic conditions more quickly or significantly than other industries. Reduced job opportunities, especially in construction, manufacturing, hospitality, agriculture and retail, or overall weakness in the world’s economies, such as that currently being experienced, could adversely affect the number of money transfer transactions, the principal amounts transferred and correspondingly our results of operations. If general market softness in the economies of countries important to migrant workers continues, our results of operations could be adversely impacted. Additionally, if our consumer transactions decline, if the amount of money that consumers send per transaction declines, or if migration patterns shift due to weak or deteriorating economic conditions, our results of operations may be adversely affected.

 

Our ability to adopt technology in response to changing industry and consumer needs or trends poses a challenge to our business.

 

Our ability to compete in the markets we serve may be threatened by change, including changes in technology, changes with respect to consumer needs, competition and industry standards. We actively seek solutions that respond in a timely manner to new technology-based money transfer services such as internet, land and mobile phone-based money transfer services and prepaid, stored-value and other card-based money transfer services. Failure to respond well to these challenges could adversely impact our business, financial position and results of operations. Further, even if the company responds well to these challenges, the business and financial models offered by many of these alternatives, more technology-reliant means of money transfer may be materially less advantageous to us than the model offered by our traditional cash/agent model.

 

Our business is subject to a wide range of laws and regulations, especially laws designed to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. Failure by us, our agents or subagents to comply with those laws and regulations could have an adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations.

 

As described under Item 1 of Part I, our business is subject to a wide range of laws and regulations. These include financial services regulations, consumer disclosure and consumer protection laws, currency control regulations, money transfer and payment instrument licensing regulations, escheat laws and laws covering consumer privacy, data protection and information security. Proposed legislation relating to financial services providers and consumer protection in various jurisdictions around the world may also affect the manner in which we provide our services.

 

In the United States, several bills pending in the Senate and House of Representatives could change the way that financial services companies are regulated, managed and able to present their products and services to consumers. It remains unclear how these various proposals will be reconciled and enacted, and how a final version would affect our business. However, most of the proposals have in common the creation of a new

Consumer Financial Protection Agency. These proposals would also give both consumers and government agencies new rights to challenge the financial services provided and would change the way financial services are presented and sold. These rights could include, for example, enhanced disclosure of foreign exchange calculations to remittance senders. Such changes could be costly for us to implement and oversee, and could expose us to increased regulatory oversight and/or litigation.

 

Our services also are subject to an increasingly strict set of legal and regulatory requirements intended to help detect and prevent money laundering, terrorist financing and other illicit activity. The interpretation of those requirements by judges, regulatory bodies and enforcement agencies is changing, often quickly and with little notice. Economic and trade sanctions programs that are administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control prohibit or restrict transactions to or from or dealings with specified countries, their governments, and in certain circumstances, their nationals, and with individuals and entities that are specially-designated nationals of those countries, narcotics traffickers, and terrorists or terrorist organizations. As U.S. federal and state as well as foreign legislative and regulatory scrutiny and enforcement action in these areas increase, we expect that our costs of complying with these requirements will increase, perhaps substantially. Failure to comply with any of these requirements—by us or by our agents and their subagents (who are third parties over whom we have limited legal and practical control) could result in the suspension or revocation of a license or registration required to provide money transfer services, the limitation, suspension or termination of services, the seizure and/or forfeiture of our assets and/or the imposition of civil and criminal penalties, including fines. In addition to those direct costs, a failure by us or by our agents and their subagents to comply with applicable laws and regulations also could seriously damage our reputation and brands, and result in diminished revenue and profit and increased operating costs.

 

In connection with regulatory requirements to assist in the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing and pursuant to legal obligations and authorizations, we make information available to certain United States federal and state, as well as certain foreign government agencies when required by law. In recent years, these agencies have increased their requests for such information from us and other companies (both financial service providers and others), particularly in connection with efforts to prevent terrorist financing. During the same period, there has also been increased public attention regarding the corporate use and disclosure of personal information, accompanied by legislation and regulations intended to strengthen data protection, information security and consumer privacy. These regulatory goals—the prevention of money laundering, terrorist financing and identity theft and the protection of the individual’s right to privacy—may conflict, and the law in these areas is not consistent or settled. While we believe that we are compliant with our regulatory responsibilities, the legal, political and business environments in these areas are rapidly changing, and subsequent legislation, regulation, litigation, court rulings or other events could expose us to increased program costs, liability and reputational damage.

 

Changes in the regulatory environment may also impact the manner in which we may operate our business or may change the competitive landscape. Proposed legislation related to financial services providers and consumer protection in various jurisdictions around the world and at the federal and state level in the United States may subject us to additional regulatory oversight, mandate additional consumer disclosures, mandate additional taxes or fees to be imposed upon consumers, or otherwise impact the manner in which we provide our services. One example of such a change is the Payment Services Directive (“PSD”) which became effective on November 1, 2009. The PSD has changed the payments market in the European Union (“EU”), harmonizing the licensing and certain other requirements for offering payment and other financial services, including remittances within the EU. Previously, those requirements differed significantly among these countries. The PSD also imposed new rules on payment service providers like Western Union. In particular, with the PSD coming into effect, Western Union will become responsible for the compliance of its agents in the EU who are engaged by one of our payments institution subsidiaries. Thus, the risk of adverse regulatory action against Western Union because of actions by its EU agents and their subagents has increased. These changes could result in increased costs to comply with the new requirements, or in the event we or our agents are unable to comply, could have an adverse impact on our business, financial position and results of operations. The PSD could also increase competition in some or all of our areas of service. Additional countries are likely to adopt legislation similar to the PSD.

Our fees and/or foreign exchange spreads may be reduced or limited because of regulatory initiatives or proceedings that are either industry wide or specifically targeted at our company. For example, initiatives both in the United States and at G-8 summit meetings have focused on lowering international remittance costs. These initiatives may have an adverse impact on our business, financial position and results of operations.

 

Recently, one state passed a law imposing a fee on certain money transfer transactions. We are working with legislators in that state to clarify the application of the fee. Although there is generally no sales tax on money transfer services elsewhere in the United States, the current budget shortfalls in many jurisdictions may lead other states or localities to impose similar taxes or fees. A tax or fee on money transfer services like Western Union could put us at a competitive disadvantage to other means of remittance which are not subject to the same taxes or fees.

 

We are subject to regulations imposed by the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”) in the United States and similar laws in other countries, which generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Because our services are offered in virtually every country of the world, we face a higher risk associated with FCPA compliance than many other companies. Any determination that we have violated these laws could have an adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations.

 

We are subject to unclaimed or abandoned property (escheat) laws in the United States and abroad which require us to turn over to certain government authorities the property of others held by us that has been unclaimed for a specified period of time, such as unpaid money transfers. We hold property subject to escheat laws and we have an ongoing program to comply with those laws. In addition, we are subject to audits with regard to our escheatment practices. Any difference between the amounts we have accrued for unclaimed property and amounts that are claimed by a state or foreign jurisdiction could have a significant impact on our results of operations and cash flows. See “—Escheat Regulations” for further discussion.

 

Our business is subject to various United States federal, state and local laws and regulations, as well as laws and regulations outside the United States. Our United States business is subject to reporting, recordkeeping and anti-money laundering provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and to regulatory oversight and enforcement by the United States Department of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or “FinCEN.” In addition, as a money transmitter, we are subject to licensing, regulation and examination by almost all the states and the District of Columbia. With the advent of the EU Payment Services Directive we have become directly subject to reporting, recordkeeping and anti-money laundering regulations in the EU. Our business in the EU is now subject to licensing, regulation and examination by our regulators in Ireland and the United Kingdom. If additional countries adopt money transfer legislation similar to the PSD, we could become subject to licensing, regulation and examination in those locations, as well.

 

Current difficult conditions in the global financial markets, the global economic crisis and continued financial market disruptions could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The global capital and credit markets have been experiencing unprecedented volatility and disruption and we face certain risks in the event that such events reoccur, including:

 

 

 

Risks associated with operations outside the United States and foreign currencies could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations.

 

An increasing portion of our revenue is generated in currencies other than the United States dollar. As a result, we are subject to risks associated with changes in the value of our revenues denominated in foreign currency. We also recently acquired Canada-based Custom House which provides currency conversion and foreign exchange hedging services to its customers. In order to mitigate these risks, we enter into derivative contracts. However, these contracts do not eliminate all of the risks related to fluctuating foreign currency rates.

 

With the acquisition of Custom House in the third quarter of 2009, our foreign exchange risk and associated foreign exchange risk management has increased due to the nature of this business. The significant majority of Custom House’s revenue is from exchanges of currency at the spot rate enabling customers to make cross-currency payments. This business also writes foreign currency forward and option contracts for our customers. The duration of these derivatives contracts is generally nine months or less. Custom House aggregates its foreign exchange 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. If we are unable to obtain offsetting positions, our business, financial position and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

A significant portion of our revenue is generated outside of the United States and much of the cash and cash equivalents from this business are held by our foreign entities. Repatriating these funds to the United States would, in many cases, result in significant tax obligations because most of these funds have been taxed at foreign tax rates that are relatively low compared to our combined federal and state tax rates in the United States. If repatriation of these funds is required or if a change in legislation requires a different tax treatment, that could have an adverse impact on our business, financial position and results of operations.

 

Money transfers and payments to, from or within or between countries may be limited or prohibited by law. At times in the past, we have been required to cease operations in particular countries due to political uncertainties or government restrictions imposed by foreign governments or the United States. Occasionally agents have been required by their regulators to cease offering our services. Additionally, economic or political instability or natural disasters may make money transfers to, from or within a particular country difficult, such as when banks are closed, when currency devaluation makes exchange rates difficult to manage or when natural disasters or civil unrest makes access to agent locations unsafe. These risks could negatively impact our ability to make payments to or receive payments from international agents or our ability to recoup funds that have been advanced to international agents and could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations. In addition, the general state of telecommunications and infrastructure in some lesser developed countries, including countries where we have a large number of transactions, creates operational risks for us and our agents that generally are not present in our operations in the United States and other more developed countries.

 

Many of our agents outside the United States are post offices, which are usually owned and operated by national governments. These governments may decide to change the terms under which they allow post offices to offer remittances and other financial services. For example, governments may decide to separate financial service operations from postal operations, or mandate the creation or privatization of a “post bank” or they may require multiple service providers in their network. These changes could have an adverse effect on our ability to distribute, offer or price our services in countries that are material to our business.

 

Changes in tax laws and unfavorable resolution of tax contingencies could adversely affect our tax expense.

 

Our future effective tax rates could be adversely affected by changes in tax laws, both domestically and internationally. From time to time, the United States Congress and foreign, state and local governments consider legislation that could increase our effective tax rates. Recent proposed changes to the United States tax laws, if enacted, could potentially adversely affect our future effective tax rate. The proposed changes include limiting tax deductions for interest related to unrepatriated foreign-source income and modifications to the United States foreign tax credit. We cannot determine whether, or in what form, legislation implementing the proposals will ultimately be enacted. If these or other changes to applicable tax laws are enacted, our results of operations could be negatively impacted.

 

Our tax returns and positions are subject to review and audit by federal, state, local and international taxing authorities. An unfavorable outcome to a tax audit could result in higher tax expense, thereby negatively impacting our results of operations. We have established contingency reserves for material, known tax exposures, including potential tax audit adjustments with respect to our international operations which were restructured in 2003, whereby our income from certain foreign-to-foreign money transfer transactions has been taxed at relatively low foreign tax rates compared to our combined federal and state tax rates in the United States. As of December 31, 2009, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits is a liability of $522.7 million, including accrued interest and penalties. Our reserves reflect our judgment as to the resolution of the issues involved if subject to judicial review. While we believe that our reserves are adequate to cover reasonably expected tax risks, there can be no assurance that, in all instances, an issue raised by a tax authority will be resolved at a financial cost that does not exceed our related reserve, and such resolution could have a material affect on our effective tax rate, financial position, results of operations and cash flows in the current period and/or future periods. With respect to these reserves, our income tax expense would include

(i) any changes in tax reserves arising from material changes during the period in the facts and circumstances (i.e. new information) surrounding a tax issue, and (ii) any difference from the Company’s tax position as recorded in the financial statements and the final resolution of a tax issue during the period. Such resolution could materially increase or decrease income tax expense in our consolidated financial statements in future periods and could impact our operating cash flows.

 

The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) completed its examination of the United States federal consolidated income tax returns of First Data Corporation (“First Data”) for 2003 and 2004, of which Western Union was a part, and issued a Notice of Deficiency in December 2008. The Notice of Deficiency alleges significant additional taxes, interest and penalties owed with respect to a variety of adjustments involving us and our subsidiaries, and we generally have responsibility for taxes associated with these potential Company-related adjustments under the tax allocation agreement with First Data executed at the time of the Spin-off. We agree with a number of the adjustments in the Notice of Deficiency; however, we do not agree with the Notice of Deficiency regarding several substantial adjustments representing total alleged additional tax and penalties due of approximately $114 million. As of December 31, 2009, interest on the alleged amounts due for unagreed adjustments would be approximately $30 million. A substantial part of the alleged amounts due for these unagreed adjustments relates to our international restructuring, which took effect in the fourth quarter 2003, and, accordingly, the alleged amounts due related to such restructuring largely are attributable to 2004. On March 20, 2009, we filed a petition in the United States Tax Court contesting those adjustments with which we do not agree. We believe our overall reserves are adequate, including those associated with the adjustments alleged in the Notice of Deficiency. If the IRS’ position in the Notice of Deficiency is sustained, our tax provision related to 2003 and later years would materially increase, which could materially impact our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. See Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements for a further discussion of this matter.

 

Acquisitions and integration of new businesses create risks and may affect operating results.

 

We occasionally acquire businesses both inside and outside the United States. The acquisition and integration of businesses involve a number of risks. The core risks involve valuation (negotiating a fair price for the business based on inherently limited due diligence) and integration (managing the complex process of integrating the acquired company’s people, products and services, technology and other assets in an effort to realize the projected value of the acquired company and the projected synergies of the acquisition). In addition, the need in some cases to improve regulatory compliance standards is another risk associated with acquiring companies. International acquisitions often involve additional or increased risks including, for example:

 

 

Integrating operations could cause an interruption of, or divert resources from, one or more of our businesses and could result in the loss of key personnel. The diversion of management’s attention and any delays or difficulties encountered in connection with an acquisition and the integration of the acquired

company’s operations could have an adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations.

 

As of December 31, 2009, we had $2,143.4 million of goodwill comprising approximately 29% of our total assets. An impairment review of goodwill is conducted at least once a year and more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the goodwill may not be recoverable. If we are unsuccessful in integrating the businesses we have acquired or acquire in the future, or if these acquired businesses experience declines in operating income or cash flows, adverse changes in the business climate, or if we are unable to successfully execute our strategy for these businesses, we may be required to write down the goodwill on our balance sheet associated with these acquisitions, which could have an impact on our financial position and results of operations in future periods.

 

Our consolidated balance sheet may not contain sufficient amounts or types of regulatory capital to meet the changing requirements of our various regulators worldwide, which could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations.

 

We have substantial indebtedness as of December 31, 2009. Our regulators expect us to possess sufficient financial soundness and strength to adequately support our regulated subsidiaries. In addition, although we are not a bank holding company for purposes of United States law or the law of any other jurisdiction, as a global provider of payments services and in light of the changing regulatory environment in various jurisdictions, we could become subject to new capital requirements introduced or imposed by our regulators that could require us to issue securities that would qualify as Tier 1 regulatory capital under the Basel Committee accords or retain earnings over a period of time. Any of these requirements could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations.

 

If we are unable to maintain our agent, subagent or global business payments networks under terms consistent with those currently in place, or if our agents or subagents fail to comply with Western Union business and technology standards and contract requirements or applicable laws and regulations, our business, financial position and results of operations would be adversely affected.

 

Most of our consumer-to-consumer revenue is derived through our agent network. In addition, our international agents may have subagent relationships in which we are not directly involved. Transaction volumes at existing agent and subagent locations often increase over time and new agents and subagents provide us with additional revenue. If agents or subagents decide to leave our network, if we are unable to sign new agents or maintain our agent network under terms consistent with those currently in place, or if our agents are unable to maintain relationships with or sign new subagents, our revenue and profit growth rates may be adversely affected. Agent attrition might occur for a number of reasons, including a competitor engaging an agent or an agent’s dissatisfaction with its relationship with us or the revenue derived from that relationship. In addition, agents may generate fewer transactions or less revenue for various reasons, including increased competition or changes in the economy. Because an agent is a third party that engages in a variety of activities in addition to providing our services, it may encounter business difficulties unrelated to its provision of our services, which could cause the agent to reduce its number of locations, hours of operation, or cease doing business altogether.

 

We rely on our agents’ information systems and/or processes to obtain transaction data. If an agent or subagent loses information, if there is a significant disruption to the information systems of an agent or subagent, or if an agent or subagent does not maintain the appropriate controls over their systems, we may experience reputational harm which could result in losses to the Company.

 

The types of enterprises that are legally authorized to act as our agents vary significantly from one country to another. Changes in the laws affecting the kinds of entities that are permitted to act as money transfer agents (such as changes in requirements for capitalization or ownership) could adversely affect our ability to distribute our services and the cost of providing such services, both by us and our agents. For example, a requirement that a money transfer provider be a bank or other highly regulated financial entity could increase significantly the cost of providing our services in many countries where that requirement does

not exist today or could prevent us from offering our services in an affected country. Further, any changes in law that would require us to provide directly the money transfer services to consumers as opposed to through an agent network—effectively changing our business model—could significantly adversely impact our ability to provide our services, and/or the cost of our services, in the relevant jurisdiction. Changes mandated by laws such as the EU Payment Services Directive, which make Western Union responsible for any acts of its agents while they are providing the Western Union money transfer service, increase our risk of regulatory liability and our costs for monitoring our agents’ performance.

 

Our agents are subject to a variety of regulatory requirements, which differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and are subject to change. A material change in the regulatory requirements necessary to offer money transfer services in a jurisdiction important to our business could mean increased costs and/or operational demands on our agents, which could result in the attrition of agents and subagents, a decrease in the number of locations at which money transfer services are offered and other negative consequences. The regulatory status of our agents could affect their ability to offer our services. For example, our agents in the United States are considered Money Service Businesses, or “MSBs,” under the Bank Secrecy Act. An increasing number of banks view MSBs, as a class, as higher risk customers for purposes of their anti-money laundering programs. Furthermore, some of our agents have had difficulty establishing banking relationships due to the banks’ credit policies. If a significant number of agents are unable to maintain existing or establish new banking relationships, they may not be able to continue to offer our services.

 

Although most of our Orlandi Valuta and Vigo branded agents are not exclusive, most of our Western Union branded agents have offered our services on an exclusive basis—that is, they have agreed by contract not to provide any non-Western Union branded money transfer services. While we expect to continue signing agents under exclusive arrangements and believe that these agreements generally are valid and enforceable, changes in laws regulating competition or in the interpretation of those laws could undermine our ability to enforce them in the future. Recently, several countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Africa and South Asia have promulgated laws or regulations that effectively prohibit payment service providers, such as money transfer companies, from agreeing to exclusive arrangements with agents in those countries. Certain institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others are actively advocating against exclusive arrangements in money transfer agent agreements. Advocates for laws prohibiting or limiting exclusivity continue to push for enactment of similar laws in other jurisdictions. The inability to enter into exclusive arrangements or to enforce our exclusivity rights under our contracts could adversely affect our operations and revenue by, for example, allowing competitors to benefit from the goodwill associated with the Western Union brand at our agent locations.

 

We have relationships with more than 6,300 businesses to which our consumers can make payments. These relationships are a core component of our global business payments services, and we derive a substantial portion of our global business payments revenue through these relationships. If we are unable to sign new relationships or maintain our current relationships under terms consistent with those currently in place, our revenue and profit growth rates may be adversely affected.

 

If consumers’ confidence in our business or in traditional money transfer providers generally deteriorates, our business, financial position and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

Our business is built on consumers’ confidence in our brands and our ability to provide fast, reliable money transfer services. Erosion in consumers’ confidence in our business, or in traditional money transfer providers as a means to transfer money, could adversely impact transaction volumes which would in turn adversely impact our business, financial position and results of operations.

 

A number of factors could adversely affect consumers’ confidence in our business, or in traditional money transfer providers generally, many of which are beyond our control, and could have an adverse impact on our results of operations. These factors include:

 

 

 

Many of our money transfer consumers are migrants. Consumer advocacy groups or governmental agencies could consider the migrants to be disadvantaged and entitled to protection, enhanced consumer disclosure, or other different treatment. If governments implement new laws or regulations that limit our right to set fees and/or foreign exchange spreads, or if consumer advocacy groups are able to generate widespread support for positions that are detrimental to our business, then our business, financial position and results of operations could be adversely affected. For example, Pakistan has recently started to subsidize certain remittances into the country from Pakistanis working abroad. Remittance companies accepting the subsidy would be prohibited from charging fees to the sender or receiver. While the geographical extent and other details are being determined, it is an example of governmental intervention in our industry.

 

We face credit, liquidity and fraud risks from our agents, consumers and businesses that could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations.

 

The vast majority of our global funds transfer business is conducted through third-party agents that provide our services to consumers at their retail locations. These agents sell our services, collect funds from consumers and are required to pay the proceeds from these transactions to us. As a result, we have credit exposure to our agents. In some countries, our agent networks include superagents that establish subagent relationships; these agents must collect funds from their subagents in order to pay us. We are not insured against credit losses, except in certain circumstances related to agent theft or fraud. If an agent becomes insolvent, files for bankruptcy, commits fraud or otherwise fails to pay money order, money transfer or payment services proceeds to us, we must nonetheless pay the money order, complete the money transfer or payment services on behalf of the consumer.

 

The liquidity of our agents is necessary for our business to remain strong and to continue to provide our services. If our agents are unable to settle with us in a timely manner, our liquidity could be affected.

 

From time to time, we have made, and may in the future make, short term advances and longer term loans to our agents. These advances and loans generally are secured by settlement funds payable by us to these agents. However, the failure of these borrowing agents to repay these advances and loans constitutes a credit risk to us.

 

As a result of our acquisition of Custom House, we are also exposed to credit risk relating to foreign currency forward and option contracts written by us to our customers. The duration of these derivative contracts is generally nine months or less. If a customer becomes insolvent, files for bankruptcy, commits fraud or otherwise fails to pay us for the value of these contracts, we may be exposed to the value of an offsetting position with a financial institution counterparty.

 

We offer consumers, primarily in the United States, the ability to transfer money utilizing their credit or debit card via the internet and telephone. Because they are not face-to-face transactions, these transactions involve a greater risk of fraud. We apply verification and other tools to help authenticate transactions and protect against fraud. However, these tools are not always successful in protecting us against fraud. As the merchant of these transactions, we may bear the financial risk of the full amount sent in some of the fraudulent transactions. Issuers of credit and debit cards may also incur losses due to fraudulent transactions through our distribution channels and may elect to block transactions by their cardholders in these channels with or without notice. For example, during 2007, we received notification from several issuing banks that

credit or debit cards issued by them were blocked from transacting on westernunion.com. Although these banks subsequently have allowed our consumers to use their cards again on our website, there is no certainty that these banks will not issue a similar restriction in the future, and as a result, we may continue to be impacted by notifications such as these in the future. Additionally, we may be subject to additional fees or penalties if the amount of chargebacks exceeds a certain percentage of our transaction volume. Such fees and penalties escalate over time if we do not take effective action to reduce chargebacks below the threshold, and if chargeback levels are not ultimately reduced to acceptable levels, could lead to the suspension or revocation of our merchant accounts, which would adversely affect our results of operations.

 

The remittance industry has come under increasing scrutiny from government regulators and others in connection with its ability to prevent its services from being abused by people seeking to defraud others. A competitor of Western Union recently entered into a multi-year, multi-million dollar settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over this issue. While we believe our fraud prevention efforts are effective and comply with applicable law and best practices, the ingenuity of criminal fraudsters, combined with the potential susceptibility to fraud by consumers during economically difficult times, make the prevention of consumer fraud a significant and challenging problem. Our failure to continue to help prevent such frauds, an increase in government enforcement activity or a change in laws or their interpretation could pose a material challenge to us.

 

Interruptions in our systems or disruptions in our workforce may have a significant effect on our business.

 

Our ability to provide reliable service largely depends on the efficient and uninterrupted operation of our computer information systems and those of our service providers. Any significant interruptions could harm our business and reputation and result in a loss of consumers. These systems and operations could be exposed to damage or interruption from fire, natural disaster, power loss, telecommunications failure, terrorism, vendor failure, unauthorized entry and computer viruses or other causes, many of which may be beyond our control or that of our service providers. Although we have taken steps to prevent systems failure, our measures may not be successful and we may experience problems other than system failures. We also may experience software defects, development delays, installation difficulties and other systems problems, which would harm our business and reputation and expose us to potential liability which may not be fully covered by our business interruption insurance. In addition, any strikes, work stoppages or other labor actions by employees who support our systems or perform any of our major functions could adversely affect our business. Our data applications may not be sufficient to address technological advances, regulatory requirements, changing market conditions or other developments.

 

Our business, financial position and results of operations could be harmed by adverse rating actions by credit rating agencies.

 

Currently, each of the major credit rating agencies has given our outstanding indebtedness an investment grade rating. If our current rating is downgraded, or if a negative outlook is provided by a rating agency, our business, financial position and results of operations could be adversely affected and perceptions of our financial strength could be damaged. This could adversely affect our relationships with our agents, particularly those agents that are financial institutions or post offices. In addition, if a downgrade or a negative outlook is provided by a rating agency, it could result in regulators imposing additional capital and other requirements on us, including imposing restrictions on the ability of our regulated subsidiaries to pay dividends. Also, a significant downgrade could increase our costs of borrowing money, adversely affecting our business, financial position and results of operations.

 

Western Union has been the subject of class-action litigation, and remains the subject of other litigation as well as consent agreements with or enforcement actions by regulators.

 

Western Union has been the subject of class-action litigation in the United States, alleging that its foreign exchange rate disclosures failed to adequately inform consumers about the revenue that Western Union and its agents derive from international remittances. These suits were all settled in or before 2004, without an admission of liability, and we have made changes in our advertising and consumer forms. It is possible that

because of changes in law or future litigation or regulatory action, we could be required to modify our disclosures or our practices further. These modifications could be costly to implement, restrict our ability to advertise or promote our services and/or limit the amount of our foreign exchange income.

 

In addition, as a company that provides global financial services primarily to consumers, we could be subject to future class-action lawsuits, other litigation or regulatory action alleging violations of consumer protection or other laws. We also are subject to claims asserted by consumers based on individual transactions.

 

We recently entered into an agreement and settlement with the State of Arizona regarding claims concerning our ability to prevent our service from being abused by some users to launder money or to facilitate other criminal activity. The agreement and settlement resolved all outstanding legal issues and claims with the State. In addition to certain investments in, and changes to, our anti-money laundering compliance obligations in the region during the term of the agreement, we are required to fund a multi-state not-for-profit organization promoting safety and security along the United States and Mexico border, in which California, Texas and New Mexico will participate with Arizona. The settlement relates to a number of lawsuits in which we and the State of Arizona were parties. The issues in those cases related to subpoenas for transaction data and the State’s attempt to seize money transfers originated in states other than Arizona and intended for payment in Mexico. Additional civil actions or any criminal actions could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations.

 

The United States Department of Justice served one of our subsidiaries with a grand jury subpoena requesting documents in connection with an investigation into money transfers from the United States to the Dominican Republic during the last several years. Due to the stage of the investigation, we are unable to predict the outcome of the investigation, or the possible loss or range of loss, if any, associated with the resolution of any charges that may be brought against us.

 

Over the past several years, we have entered into consent agreements with federal and state authorities, including FinCEN, the New York State Banking Department, the California Department of Financial Institutions and the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions, relating to the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering requirements and related consumer identification matters. These agreements required us to pay civil penalties and to take certain measures to enhance our compliance with recordkeeping, reporting, training and agent oversight requirements under applicable state and federal law. The consent agreements with the New York State Banking Department and the California Department of Financial Institutions were lifted during 2007. However, the financial services industry and businesses like ours continue to be under significant federal and state regulatory scrutiny with respect to the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering compliance matters. It is possible that as a result of periodic examinations or otherwise, we could be subject to deficiency findings, fines, criminal penalties, asset seizures or enforcement actions that could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations.

 

We face competition from global and niche or corridor money transfer providers, United States and international banks, card associations, card-based payments providers and a number of other types of service providers, including electronic and internet providers. Our continued growth depends on our ability to compete effectively in the industry.

 

Money transfer and global business payments are highly competitive industries which include service providers from a variety of financial and non-financial business groups. Our competitors include banks, credit unions, ATM providers and operators, card associations, card-based payments providers such as issuers of e-money, travel cards or stored-value cards, informal remittance systems, web-based services, telephone payment systems (including mobile phone networks), postal organizations, retailers, check cashers, mail and courier services, currency exchanges and traditional money transfer companies. These services are differentiated by features and functionalities such as speed, convenience, network size, hours of operations, loyalty programs, reliability and price. Our continued growth depends on our ability to compete effectively in these industries. We have made periodic pricing decreases in response to competition and to implement our brand investment strategy, which includes better meeting consumer needs, maximizing market opportunities and strengthening our overall competitive positioning. Pricing decreases generally reduce margins, but are

done in anticipation that they will result in increased transaction volumes. In addition, failure to compete on service differentiation could significantly affect our future growth potential and results of operations.

 

As noted above, many of our agents outside the United States are national post offices. These entities are usually governmental organizations that may enjoy special privileges or protections that could allow them to simultaneously develop their own money transfer businesses. International postal organizations could agree to establish a money transfer network among themselves. Due to the size of these organizations and the number of locations they have, any such network could represent significant competition to us. Because these entities are governmental organizations, they may be able to—or be required to—offer their money transfer services to the public at, near or below their cost of providing such services.

 

Our ability to remain competitive depends in part on our ability to protect our brands and our other intellectual property rights and to defend ourselves against potential patent infringement claims.

 

The Western Union brand, which is protected by trademark registrations in many countries, is material to our company. The loss of the Western Union trademark or a diminution in the perceived quality associated with the name would harm our business. Similar to the Western Union trademark, the Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Speedpay, Paymap, Equity Accelerator, Just in Time EFT, Pago Fácil, Western Union Quick Collect, Quick Pay, Quick Cash, Convenience Pay, Custom House and other trademarks and service marks are also important to our company and a loss of the service mark or trademarks or a diminution in the perceived quality associated with these names could harm our business.

 

Our intellectual property rights are an important element in the value of our business. Our failure to take appropriate actions against those who infringe upon our intellectual property could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations.

 

The laws of certain foreign countries in which we do business either do not recognize intellectual property rights or do not protect them to the same extent as do the laws of the United States. Adverse determinations in judicial or administrative proceedings in the United States or in foreign countries could impair our ability to sell our services or license or protect our intellectual property, which could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations.

 

We have been, are and in the future may be, subject to claims alleging that our technology or business methods infringe patents owned by others, both inside and outside the United States. Unfavorable resolution of these claims could require us to change how we deliver a service, result in significant financial consequences, or both, which could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations.

 

We receive services from third-party vendors that would be difficult to replace if those vendors ceased providing such services which could cause temporary disruption to our business.

 

Some services relating to our business, such as software application support, the development, hosting and maintenance of our operating systems, check clearing, and processing of returned checks are outsourced to third-party vendors, which would be difficult to replace quickly. If our third-party vendors were unwilling or unable to provide us with these services in the future, our business and operations could be adversely affected.

 

Breaches of our information security policies or safeguards could adversely affect our ability to operate and could damage our reputation, business, financial position and results of operations.

 

We collect, transfer and retain consumer, employee and agent data as part of our business. These activities are subject to laws and regulations in the United States and other jurisdictions. The requirements imposed by these laws and regulations, which often differ materially among the many jurisdictions, are designed to protect the privacy of personal information and to prevent that information from being inappropriately disclosed. We have developed and maintain technical and operational safeguards designed to comply with applicable legal requirements. However, despite those safeguards, it is possible that hackers, employees acting contrary to our policies or others could improperly access our systems or improperly obtain or disclose data about our consumers, agents and/or employees. Further, because some data is collected and

stored by third parties, it is possible that a third party could intentionally or negligently disclose personal data in violation of law. Also, in some jurisdictions we transfer data related to our employees, consumers, agents and potential employees to third-party vendors in order to perform due diligence and for other reasons. It is possible that a vendor could intentionally or inadvertently disclose such data. Any breach of our security policies or applicable legal requirements resulting in a compromise of consumer, employee or agent data could require us to notify impacted individuals, and in some cases regulators, of a possible or actual breach, expose us to regulatory enforcement action, limit our ability to provide services, subject us to litigation and/or damage our reputation.

 

Material changes in the market value or liquidity of the securities we hold may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

 

As of December 31, 2009, we held $1.2 billion in investment securities, substantially all of which are high quality investment grade state and municipal debt obligations. The majority of this money represents the principal of money transfers sent by consumers and money orders issued by us to consumers in the United States. Under the PSD in the EU, we expect to have a similar portfolio of investment securities, which we will manage in a similar manner and under similar guidelines as our current portfolio. We regularly monitor our credit risk and attempt to mitigate our exposure by making high quality investments and by diversifying our investments. At December 31, 2009, the majority of our investment securities had credit ratings of “AA-” or better from a major credit rating agency. Despite those ratings, it is possible that the value of our portfolio may decline in the future due to any number of factors, including general market conditions, credit issues, the viability of the issuer of the security, failure by a fund manager to manage the investment portfolio consistently with the fund prospectus or increases in interest rates. Any such decline in value may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

 

The trust holding the assets of our pension plans has assets totaling approximately $275.9 million as of December 31, 2009. The fair value of these assets held in the trust are compared to the plans’ projected benefit obligation to determine the pension liability of $124.2 million recorded within “Other liabilities” in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2009. We attempt to mitigate risk through diversification, and we regularly monitor investment risk on our portfolio through quarterly investment portfolio reviews and periodic asset and liability studies. Despite these measures, it is possible that the value of our portfolio may decline in the future due to any number of factors, including general market conditions and credit issues. Such declines could have an impact on the funded status of our pension plans and future funding requirements.

 

We have substantial debt obligations that could restrict our operations.

 

As of December 31, 2009, we had approximately $3.0 billion in consolidated indebtedness, and we may also incur additional indebtedness in the future.

 

Our indebtedness could have adverse consequences, including:

 

 

There would be adverse tax consequences associated with using certain earnings generated outside the United States to pay the interest and principal on our indebtedness. Accordingly, this portion of our cash flow will be unavailable under normal circumstances to service our debt obligations.

Risks Relating to the Spin-Off

 

We were incorporated in Delaware as a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Data on February 17, 2006. On September 29, 2006, First Data distributed 100% of its money transfer and consumer payments businesses and its interest in a Western Union money transfer agent, as well as related assets, including real estate, through a tax-free distribution to First Data shareholders (“Spin-off”) through this previously owned subsidiary.

 

If the Spin-off does not qualify as a tax-free transaction, First Data and its stockholders could be subject to material amounts of taxes and, in certain circumstances, we could be required to indemnify First Data for material taxes pursuant to indemnification obligations under the tax allocation agreement.

 

First Data received a private letter ruling from the IRS to the effect that, the Spin-off (including certain related transactions) qualifies as tax-free to First Data, us and First Data stockholders for United States federal income tax purposes under sections 355, 368 and related provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, assuming, among other things, the accuracy of the representations made by First Data with respect to certain matters on which the IRS did not rule. If the factual assumptions or representations made in the private letter ruling request were determined to be untrue or incomplete, then First Data and ourselves would not be able to rely on the ruling.

 

The Spin-off was conditioned upon First Data’s receipt of an opinion of Sidley Austin LLP, counsel to First Data, to the effect that, with respect to requirements on which the IRS did not rule, those requirements would be satisfied. The opinion was based on, among other things, certain assumptions and representations as to factual matters made by First Data and us which, if untrue or incomplete, would jeopardize the conclusions reached by counsel in its opinion. The opinion is not binding on the IRS or the courts, and the IRS or the courts may not agree with the opinion.

 

If, notwithstanding receipt of the private letter ruling and opinion of tax counsel, the Spin-off were determined to be a taxable transaction, each holder of First Data common stock who received shares of our common stock in connection with the Spin-off would generally be treated as receiving a taxable distribution in an amount equal to the fair value of our common stock received. First Data would recognize taxable gain equal to the excess of the fair value of the consideration received by First Data in the contribution over First Data’s tax basis in the assets contributed to us in the contribution. If First Data were unable to pay any taxes for which it is responsible under the tax allocation agreement, the IRS might seek to collect such taxes from Western Union.

 

Even if the Spin-off otherwise qualified as a tax-free distribution under section 355 of the Internal Revenue Code, the Spin-off may result in significant United States federal income tax liabilities to First Data if 50% or more of First Data’s stock or our stock (in each case, by vote or value) is treated as having been acquired, directly or indirectly, by one or more persons as part of a plan (or series of related transactions) that includes the Spin-off. For purposes of this test, any acquisitions, or any understanding, arrangement or substantial negotiations regarding an acquisition, within two years before or after the Spin-off are subject to special scrutiny.

 

With respect to taxes and other liabilities that could be imposed as a result of a final determination that is inconsistent with the anticipated tax consequences of the Spin-off (as set forth in the private letter ruling and relevant tax opinion) (“Spin-off Related Taxes”), we, one of our affiliates or any person that, after the Spin-off, is an affiliate thereof, will be liable to First Data for any such Spin-off Related Taxes attributable solely to actions taken by or with respect to us. In addition, we will also be liable for 50% of any Spin-off Related Taxes (i) that would not have been imposed but for the existence of both an action by us and an action by First Data or (ii) where we and First Data each take actions that, standing alone, would have resulted in the imposition of such Spin-off Related Taxes. We may be similarly liable if we breach certain representations or covenants set forth in the tax allocation agreement. If we are required to indemnify First Data for taxes incurred as a result of the Spin-off being taxable to First Data, it likely would have an adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Not applicable.

 

 

Properties and Facilities

 

As of December 31, 2009, we have offices in approximately 50 countries, which includes three owned facilities and approximately 25 United States and 350 international leased properties. Our owned facilities include our corporate headquarters located in Englewood, Colorado.

 

Our owned and leased facilities are used for operational, sales and administrative purposes in support of both our consumer-to-consumer and global business payments segments and are all currently being utilized. In certain locations, our offices include customer service centers, where our employees answer operational questions from agents and customers. Our office in Dublin, Ireland serves as our international headquarters.

 

We believe that our facilities are suitable and adequate for our current business; however, we periodically review our facility requirements and may acquire new facilities to meet the needs of our businesses or consolidate and dispose of or sublet facilities which are no longer required.

 

 

We are party to a variety of legal proceedings that arise in the normal course of our business. While the results of these legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that the final outcome of these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial position.

 

 

None.

 

 

Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WU.” There were 4,643 stockholders of record as of February 12, 2010. This figure does not include an estimate of the indeterminate number of beneficial holders whose shares may be held of record by brokerage firms and clearing agencies. The following table presents the high and low prices of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange as well as dividends declared per share during the calendar quarter indicated.

 

 

The following table sets forth stock repurchases for each of the three months of the quarter ended December 31, 2009:

 

 

 

 

Refer to Note 16 of our Consolidated Financial Statements for information related to our equity compensation plans.

Dividend Policy

 

On December 9, 2009, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share payable on December 30, 2009 to shareholders of record on December 21, 2009. On December 11, 2008, our Board of Directors declared an annual cash dividend of $0.04 per share payable on December 31, 2008 to shareholders of record on December 22, 2008. The declaration and amount of future dividends will be determined by our Board of Directors and will depend on our financial condition, earnings, capital requirements, regulatory constraints, industry practice and any other factors that our Board of Directors believes are relevant. As a holding company with no material assets other than the capital stock of our subsidiaries, our ability to pay dividends in future periods will be dependent on our receiving dividends from our operating subsidiaries. Several of our operating subsidiaries are subject to financial services regulations and their ability to pay dividends may be restricted.

 

On February 25, 2010, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share payable on March 31, 2010 to shareholders of record on March 19, 2010.

 

The financial information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for periods ending on or after September 29, 2006 is presented on a consolidated basis and includes the accounts of the Company and our majority-owned subsidiaries. On September 29, 2006, First Data Corporation (“First Data”) distributed 100% of its money transfer and consumer payments businesses and its interest in a Western Union money transfer agent, as well as related assets, including real estate, through a tax-free distribution to First Data shareholders (“Spin-off”). The Spin-off by First Data of its money transfer and consumer payments businesses became effective on September 29, 2006 through a distribution of 100% of the common stock of The Western Union Company to the holders of record of First Data’s common stock (the “Distribution”). The financial information for the periods presented prior to the Distribution is presented on a combined basis and represents those entities that were ultimately transferred to the Company as part of the Spin-off. The assets and liabilities presented have been reflected on a historical basis, as prior to the Distribution such assets and liabilities presented were 100% owned by First Data. The financial statements for the periods presented prior to the Distribution do not include all of the actual expenses that would have been incurred had Western Union been a stand-alone entity during the periods presented and do not reflect Western Union’s combined results of operations, financial position and cash flows had Western Union been a stand-alone company during the periods presented.

 

Our selected historical financial data are not necessarily indicative of our future financial position, future results of operations or future cash flows.

 

You should read the information set forth below in conjunction with our historical consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You should read the following discussion in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains certain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain statements contained in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections about our industry, business and future financial results. Our actual results could differ materially from the results contemplated by these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. See “Risk Factors” and “Forward-looking Statements.”

 

Overview

 

We are a leading provider of money transfer services, operating in two business segments:

 

 

Businesses not considered part of the segments described above are categorized as “Other” and primarily includes our money order services, and represented 2% or less of consolidated revenue during the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007. Prior to October 1, 2009, our money orders were issued by Integrated Payment Systems Inc. (“IPS”), a subsidiary of First Data Corporation (“First Data”), to consumers at retail locations primarily in the United States and Canada. Effective October 1, 2009, we assumed the responsibility for issuing money orders.

 

Also included in “Other” are expenses incurred in connection with the development of certain new service offerings, including costs to develop mobile money transfer services, new prepaid service offerings and costs incurred in connection with mergers and acquisitions.

 

Significant Financial and Other Highlights

 

Significant financial and other highlights for the year ended December 31, 2009 included:

 

 

 

Factors that we believe are important to our long-term success include accelerating profitable growth in our existing consumer-to-consumer business, innovating to provide new products and services, including electronic channels, to our intended consumer, expanding our global business payments segment to other markets across the world through our cross-border, cross-currency payment service offerings and improving our profitability by leveraging our scale, reducing costs and effectively utilizing capital. Significant factors affecting our financial position and results of operations include:

 

 

Spin-off from First Data

 

We were incorporated in Delaware as a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Data on February 17, 2006. On September 29, 2006, First Data distributed 100% of its money transfer and consumer payments businesses and its interest in a Western Union money transfer agent, as well as related assets, including real estate, through a tax-free distribution to First Data shareholders (“Spin-off”) through this previously owned subsidiary.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are presented on a consolidated basis and include the accounts of our company and its majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions between our company’s segments have been eliminated.

 

Adoption of Accounting Standards

 

Business Combinations

 

We adopted a new accounting standard related to accounting for business combinations and noncontrolling interests effective January 1, 2010. Under the new guidance, acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred, restructuring costs generally are expensed in periods subsequent to the acquisition date, and changes in estimates for deferred tax asset valuation allowances and acquired income tax uncertainties after the measurement period, which is one year or less, impact income tax expense in the period of change. For business combinations achieved in stages, the new guidance requires that we re-measure any noncontrolling equity investments in the acquiree to fair value as of the acquisition date immediately before obtaining control. All re-measurement gains and losses are recognized in earnings and the total fair values of the identifiable assets, liabilities and any noncontrolling interests are recorded in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

We monitor our investments in debt securities to determine if these securities are in an other-than-temporary impairment position under new accounting guidance introduced in 2009. Factors that could indicate an impairment exists include, but are not limited to: earnings performance, changes in credit rating or adverse changes in the regulatory or economic environment of the asset. If potential impairments exist, we assess whether or not we intend to sell the debt security, and whether it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell it, before its anticipated recovery. We had no material other-than-temporary impairments during the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

 

Components of Revenues and Expenses

 

The following briefly describes the components of revenues and expenses as presented in the consolidated statements of income. Descriptions of our revenue recognition policies are included in Note 2—“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in our consolidated financial statements.

 

Transaction fees—Transaction fees are charged for sending money transfers and for global business payments services. Consumer-to-consumer transaction fees generally vary according to the principal amount of the money transfer and the locations from and to which the funds are sent. Transaction fees represented 79% of Western Union’s total consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

Foreign exchange revenue—In certain consumer money transfer and global business payments transactions involving different currencies, we generate revenue based on the difference between the exchange rate set by us to the customer and the rate at which we or our agents are able to acquire currency. Foreign exchange revenue growth has historically been primarily driven by growth in international cross-currency transactions. As a result of the acquisition of Custom House, our foreign exchange revenues have increased and we expect this trend to continue in 2010. Foreign exchange revenue represented 18% of Western Union’s total consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Commission and other revenues—Commission and other revenues primarily consist of commissions and fees we receive in connection with the sale of money orders, enrollment fees received when consumers enroll in our Equity Accelerator^® program (a recurring mortgage payment service program) and investment income primarily derived from interest generated on money transfer, money order and payment services settlement assets as well as realized net gains and losses from such assets. As described above, prior to October 1, 2009, our money orders were issued by IPS, from whom we received a commission. Effective October 1, 2009, we assumed the responsibility for issuing money orders and no longer receive a commission from IPS. We now recognize fees and investment income derived from interest generated on money order settlement assets as well as realized net gains and losses from such assets similar to our money transfer and payment services settlement assets. Commission and other revenues represented 3% of our total consolidated revenue for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

Cost of services—Cost of services primarily consists of agent commissions, which represent approximately 75% of total cost of services, and expenses for call centers, settlement operations, and related information technology costs. Expenses within these functions include personnel, software, equipment, telecommunications, bank fees, depreciation and amortization and other expenses incurred in connection with providing money transfer and other payment services.

 

Selling, general and administrative—Selling, general and administrative, or “SG&A,” primarily consists of salaries, wages and related expenses paid to sales and administrative personnel, as well as certain advertising and promotional costs and other selling and administrative expenses.

 

Interest income—Interest income consists of interest earned on cash balances not required to satisfy settlement obligations and in connection with a loan made to several existing agents.

 

Interest expense—Interest expense represents interest incurred in connection with outstanding borrowings, including applicable amounts associated with interest rate swaps.

 

Derivative (losses)/gains, net—Represents the portion of the change in fair value of foreign currency accounting hedges that is excluded from the measurement of effectiveness, which includes (a) differences between changes in forward rates and spot rates and (b) gains or losses on the contract and any offsetting positions during periods in which the instrument is not designated as a hedge. Although the majority of changes in the value of our hedges are deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss until settlement (i.e., spot rate changes), the remaining portion of changes in value are recognized in income as they occur. Derivative gains and losses do not include fluctuations in foreign currency forward contracts intended to mitigate exposures on settlement activities of our consumer-to-consumer money transfer business or on certain foreign currency denominated cash positions. Gains and losses associated with those foreign currency forward contracts are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Derivative gains and losses also do not include fluctuations in foreign currency forward and option contracts used in our international business-to-business payments operations. The impact of these contracts is classified within foreign exchange revenue in the consolidated statements of income.

 

Other income, net—Other income, net is comprised primarily of equity earnings from equity method investments and other income and expenses.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following discussion of our consolidated results of operations and segment results refers to the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008 and the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. The results of operations should be read in conjunction with the discussion of our segment results of operations, which provide more detailed discussions concerning certain components of the consolidated statements of income. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions between our company’s segments have been eliminated.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2009, we recorded an accrual of $71.0 million for an anticipated agreement and settlement with the State of Arizona. On February 11, 2010, we signed this agreement and settlement, which resolved all outstanding legal issues and claims with the State and requires us to fund a

multi-state not-for-profit organization promoting safety and security along the United States and Mexico border, in which California, Texas and New Mexico will participate with Arizona. While this item was identifiable to our consumer-to-consumer segment, it was not included in the measurement of segment operating profit provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) for purposes of assessing segment performance and decision making with respect to resource allocation. For additional information on the settlement accrual, refer to “Selling, general and administrative” expenses.

 

We incurred expenses of $82.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 for restructuring and related activities, which were not allocated to our segments. While these items were identifiable to our segments, they were not included in the measurement of segment operating profit provided to the CODM for purposes of assessing segment performance and decision making with respect to resource allocation. For additional information on restructuring and related activities refer to “Operating expenses overview.”

 

For the year ended December 31, 2007, we incurred a $22.3 million accelerated stock-based compensation vesting charge related to the acquisition of First Data by an affiliate of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (“KKR”) which was allocated to our segments. For additional information refer to “Operating expenses overview.”

 

The following table sets forth our consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

 

 

 

 

Revenues overview

 

2009 compared to 2008

 

The majority of transaction fees and foreign exchange revenue were contributed by our consumer-to-consumer segment, which is discussed in greater detail in “Segment Discussion.” Consolidated revenue declined 4% during the year ended December 31, 2009. The revenue decline was attributable to the weak global economy and slowing transaction growth, and to a lesser extent, geographic mix, product mix including a higher percentage of revenue earned from intra-country activity, which has lower revenue per transaction than cross-border transactions, and price decreases. Also impacting the revenue decline was the strengthening of the United States dollar compared to most other foreign currencies for the majority of the year, which adversely impacted revenue by approximately 3%, as discussed below.

 

The Europe, Middle East, Africa and South Asia (“EMEASA”) region of our consumer-to-consumer segment, which represented 45% of our total consolidated revenue for the year ended December 31, 2009, experienced revenue declines and slower transaction growth rates during the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. The revenue declines were driven by most of the same factors discussed above. The acquisition of FEXCO’s money transfer business did not have an impact on our revenue as we were already recognizing 100% of the revenue arising from money transfers originating at FEXCO’s locations.

 

The Americas region (including North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and South America) of our consumer-to-consumer segment, which represented 32% of our total consolidated revenue for the year ended December 31, 2009, experienced revenue and transaction declines due to the overall weak United States economy. Our Americas results were further impacted by pricing reductions taken in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2009 which improved our transaction volumes, but contributed to the decline in revenue.

 

The global business payments segment, which is discussed in greater detail in “Segment Discussion,” also experienced revenue declines during the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the corresponding prior period. Revenue was adversely impacted by the weak economic situation in the United States, which resulted in a revenue decline in our United States cash and electronic bill payments businesses. Offsetting these declines in 2009 were the results of our Custom House acquisition, which contributed $30.8 million of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

Foreign exchange revenue increased for the year ended December 31, 2009 over 2008 primarily due to foreign exchange revenue from Custom House. Excluding the impact of Custom House, foreign exchange revenue decreased at a rate relatively consistent with the decrease in our revenue from our international consumer-to-consumer business outside of the United States.

 

Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the United States dollar and currencies other than the United States dollar have resulted in a reduction to transaction fee and foreign exchange revenue for the year ended December 31, 2009 of $119.5 million over the previous year, net of foreign currency hedges, that would not have occurred had there been constant currency rates. The impact to earnings per share during the period was less than the revenue impact due to the translation of expenses and our foreign currency hedging program. The majority of our foreign currency exchange rate exposure is related to the EMEASA region.

 

2008 compared to 2007

 

Consolidated revenue growth of 8% during the year ended December 31, 2008 was primarily driven by revenue growth internationally, particularly in the EMEASA region, due to increased money transfers at existing agent locations, and to a lesser extent, money transfers at new agent locations and due to the impact of translating foreign currency denominated revenues into the United States dollar, specifically the euro, discussed below. Our international consumer-to-consumer transactions that were originated outside of the United States also continued to experience strong revenue and transaction growth for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the corresponding period in the prior year.

However, during the fourth quarter of 2008, revenue was impacted by the weakening global economy and its effect on Western Union customers. In the fourth quarter, transaction growth rates slowed sequentially compared to the first nine months of 2008. In addition, the amount of money remitted per transaction declined in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the fourth quarter of 2007. These factors resulted in less transaction fee and foreign exchange revenue in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the fourth quarter of 2007.

 

Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the United States dollar and currencies other than the United States dollar for the year ended December 31, 2008 resulted in a benefit to transaction fee and foreign exchange revenue of $96 million, over the previous year, net of foreign currency hedges, that would not have occurred had there been constant currency rates. The positive impact to operating profit derived from foreign currency exchange rates increasing against the United States dollar during the year was offset by the impact of foreign currency derivative losses for those foreign currency derivatives not designated as hedges and the portion of fair value that is excluded from the measure of effectiveness for these contracts designated as hedges thereby resulting in a minimal impact to overall earnings per share. The benefit in the first three quarters of 2008 was slightly offset by the negative impact to consumer-to-consumer transaction fee and foreign exchange revenue in the fourth quarter of 2008 due to the strengthening of the United States dollar relative to certain other currencies, including the euro. However, the impact to our operating income was positive to the fourth quarter of 2008 due to our derivative hedges.

 

Our Asia Pacific (“APAC”) region also experienced strong transaction and revenue growth during the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the corresponding previous period, including growth contributed by the inbound market to the Philippines. Revenue growth slowed in APAC during the fourth quarter 2008 compared to the same period in 2007, in part due to the weakening global economy described previously and the decline in high revenue transactions from small entrepreneurs that typically make purchases in China.

 

Within our Americas region, our United States to Mexico, United States outbound and transactions in our domestic (between and within the United States and Canada) businesses continued to be impacted by the overall weakening in the United States economy. The immigration debate and market softness, in part due to the slowdown in the construction industry, began adversely impacting the United States businesses in the second quarter of 2006. We responded to these factors by launching distribution, pricing, advertising, promotion and community outreach initiatives in 2006 and 2007. Although the United States businesses revenue decline experienced in 2008 moderated compared with 2007, we experienced increased revenue declines in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the third quarter of 2008, due to the weakening in the United States economy.

 

Foreign exchange revenue increased for the year ended December 31, 2008 over the corresponding previous period, due to an increase in cross-currency transactions primarily as a result of growth in international consumer-to-consumer transactions. As described above, foreign exchange revenue also benefited during the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to 2007 from the strengthening of other currencies most notably the euro, against the United States dollar.

 

Operating expenses overview

 

The following factors impacted both cost of services and selling, general and administrative expenses during the periods presented:

 

 

Cost of services

 

Cost of services decreased for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the corresponding period in 2008 primarily due to agent commissions, which decreased due to revenue declines, as well as reduced commissions resulting from the acquisition of FEXCO and other selective consumer-to-consumer commission initiatives. Also impacting cost of services was the strengthening of the United States dollar for most of 2009 compared to most other foreign currencies, which resulted in a favorable impact on the translation of our expenses, and restructuring costs incurred in 2008 which did not recur in 2009 and the related 2009 cost savings. These costs were offset by incremental operating costs, including increased technology costs and costs associated with Custom House. Cost of services as a percentage of revenue was 57% and 59% for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The decrease in cost of services as a percentage of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the corresponding period in 2008 was generally due to reduced commissions resulting from the acquisition of FEXCO and selective consumer-to-consumer agent commission initiatives, restructuring costs incurred in 2008 which did not recur in 2009 and the related 2009 cost savings, offset somewhat by incremental operating costs, including increased technology costs and costs associated with Custom House.

 

In addition to the restructuring costs described above, cost of services increased for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the corresponding period in 2007 primarily due to agent commissions which increase as revenues increase. Cost of services as a percentage of revenue was 59% and 57% for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The majority of the increase in cost of services as a percentage of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the corresponding period in 2007 was primarily due to restructuring and related expenses of $62.8 million as described above, and the shift in our business mix reflecting stronger growth from our international consumer-to-consumer business, which carries higher cost of services compared to our United States originated businesses. Selected consumer-to-consumer international agent commissions have been lowered but were partially offset by certain higher commissions in the United States. In addition, a higher percentage of our global business payments services were generated from our United States electronic-based payments and payments related to Pago Fácil, each of which had higher cost of services as a percentage of revenue compared to our United States cash-based payments business. The increase was partially offset by lower stock compensation charges for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the corresponding period in 2007, as described above and below, that did not recur in 2008.

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

SG&A increased for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the same period in the prior year due to the settlement accrual described below, incremental costs associated with the acquisitions of FEXCO and Custom House including costs related to evaluating and closing these acquisitions and other increased operating expenses, offset by better leveraging of our marketing expenses, and restructuring costs incurred in 2008 which did not recur in 2009.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2009, we recorded an accrual of $71.0 million for an anticipated agreement and settlement with the State of Arizona. On February 11, 2010, we signed this agreement and settlement, which resolved all outstanding legal issues and claims with the State and requires us to fund a

multi-state not-for-profit organization promoting safety and security along the United States and Mexico border, in which California, Texas and New Mexico will participate with Arizona. The accrual includes amounts for reimbursement to the State of Arizona for its costs associated with this matter. In addition, as part of the agreement and settlement, we expect to make certain investments in our compliance programs along the United States and Mexico border and to engage a monitor of that program, which are expected to cost up to $23 million over the next two to four years.

 

SG&A expenses increased for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the same period in the prior year due to higher employee compensation expenses and restructuring and related expenses of $20.1 million, offset by better leveraging of our marketing expenses as well as lower stock compensation charges in 2008, as described above.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, marketing related expenditures, principally classified within SG&A, were approximately 5% to 6% of revenue. Marketing related expenditures include advertising, events, loyalty programs and the cost of employees dedicated to marketing activities. When making decisions with respect to marketing investments, we review opportunities for advertising and other marketing related expenditures together with opportunities for fee adjustments, as discussed in “Segment Discussion,” for consumer-to-consumer revenues and other initiatives in order to best maximize the return on these investments.

 

Interest income

 

Interest income decreased during both the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 2008 and the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to 2007 primarily due to lower short-term interest rates and lower average interest-bearing cash balances.

 

Interest expense

 

Interest expense decreased for both the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 2008 and the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to 2007 due to lower short-term interest rates on certain debt with floating interest rates. In addition, lower average borrowing balances impacted the decline in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the previous year.

 

Derivative (losses)/gains, net

 

Changes in derivative (losses)/gains, net were immaterial for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the prior year. Volatility in foreign currency forward rates compared to spot rates, primarily related to the euro, resulted in the decrease to income for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to 2007.

 

Other income, net

 

Other income, net decreased during the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 2008 due to a $12 million reserve taken against our receivable from the Reserve International Liquidity Fund, Ltd. and a decline in earnings on our equity method investments in 2009, primarily as a result of the absence of equity method earnings for FEXCO subsequent to the acquisition date. Changes in other income, net during the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the previous corresponding year was primarily attributable to fluctuations in equity earnings from equity method investments.

 

Income taxes

 

Our effective tax rates on pretax income were 25.0%, 25.8% and 29.9% for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. We continue to benefit from an increasing proportion of profits being foreign-derived and therefore taxed at lower rates than our combined federal and state tax rates in the United States. In addition, during 2008, we implemented additional foreign tax efficient strategies consistent with our overall tax planning which impacted our effective tax rate for all subsequent periods.

Recent proposed changes to United States tax laws, if enacted, could potentially adversely affect our future effective tax rate. We are closely monitoring the proposed changes, and the potential effect on our future effective tax rate will depend on the final form of any new law.

 

We have established contingency reserves for material, known tax exposures, including potential tax audit adjustments with respect to our international operations restructured in 2003, whereby our income from certain foreign-to-foreign money transfer transactions has been taxed at relatively low foreign tax rates compared to our combined federal and state tax rates in the United States. As of December 31, 2009, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits is a liability of $522.7 million, including accrued interest and penalties. Our reserves reflect our judgment as to the resolution of the issues involved if subject to judicial review. While we believe that our reserves are adequate to cover reasonably expected tax risks, there can be no assurance that, in all instances, an issue raised by a tax authority will be resolved at a financial cost that does not exceed our related reserve. With respect to these reserves, our income tax expense would include (i) any changes in tax reserves arising from material changes during the period in facts and circumstances (i.e. new information) surrounding a tax issue, and (ii) any difference from our tax position as recorded in the financial statements and the final resolution of a tax issue during the period. Such resolution could materially increase or decrease income tax expense in our consolidated financial statements in future periods and could impact our operating cash flows.

 

The United States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) completed its examination of the United States federal consolidated income tax returns of First Data for 2003 and 2004, of which we are a part, and issued a Notice of Deficiency in December 2008. The Notice of Deficiency alleges significant additional taxes, interest and penalties owed with respect to a variety of adjustments involving us and our subsidiaries, and we generally have responsibility for taxes associated with these potential Western Union-related adjustments under the tax allocation agreement with First Data executed at the time of the Spin-off. We agree with a number of the adjustments in the Notice of Deficiency; however, we do not agree with the Notice of Deficiency regarding several substantial adjustments representing total alleged additional tax and penalties due of approximately $114 million. As of December 31, 2009, interest on the alleged amounts due for unagreed adjustments would be approximately $30 million. A substantial part of the alleged amounts due for these unagreed adjustments relates to our international restructuring, which took effect in the fourth quarter 2003, and, accordingly, the alleged amounts due related to such restructuring largely are attributable to 2004. On March 20, 2009, we filed a petition in the United States Tax Court contesting those adjustments with which we do not agree. We believe our overall reserves are adequate, including those associated with adjustments alleged in the Notice of Deficiency. If the IRS’ position in the Notice of Deficiency is sustained, our tax provision related to 2003 and later years would materially increase, which could materially impact our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Earnings per share

 

During the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, basic earnings per share were $1.21, $1.26 and $1.13, respectively, and diluted earnings per share were $1.21, $1.24 and $1.11, respectively. 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. As of December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, there were 37.5 million, 8.0 million and 10.4 million, respectively, of outstanding options to purchase shares of Western Union stock excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation under the treasury stock method as their effect was anti-dilutive. The increase in anti-dilutive shares in 2009 was primarily due to the majority of our outstanding options having an exercise price higher than our average market price for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

Of the 42.8 million, 43.6 million and 59.4 million outstanding options to purchase shares of our common stock as of December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively, approximately 40%, 47% and 58%, respectively, were held by employees of First Data.

 

Earnings per share decreased for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the corresponding previous period as a result of the previously described factors impacting net income, offset by lower weighted-

average shares outstanding. Earnings per share increased during the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to 2007 due to the increased net income as a result of the previously described factors and lower weighted-average diluted shares outstanding. The lower number of shares outstanding was driven by stock repurchases exceeding stock option exercises in both 2009 and 2008 compared to the corresponding periods.

 

Segment Discussion

 

We manage our business around the consumers and businesses we serve and the types of services we offer. Each of our two segments addresses a different combination of consumer groups, distribution networks and services offered. Our segments are consumer-to-consumer and global business payments. Businesses not considered part of these segments are categorized as “Other.”

 

The business segment measurements provided to, and evaluated by, our CODM are computed in accordance with the following principles:

 

 

The following table sets forth the components of segment revenues as a percentage of the consolidated totals for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

 

 

 

 

Consumer-to-Consumer Segment

 

The following table sets forth our consumer-to-consumer segment results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

 

 

The table below sets forth transaction and revenue growth/(decline) rates by region for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.

 

 

 

 

When referring to revenue and transaction growth rates for individual countries in the following discussion, all transactions to, from and within those countries, and 100% of the revenue associated with each transaction to, from and within those countries are included. The countries of India and China combined represented approximately 7%, 6% and 5% of consolidated Western Union revenues during the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. No individual country, other than the United States, represented more than approximately 6%, 7% and 7% of our consolidated revenue for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Transaction fees and foreign exchange revenue

 

2009 compared to 2008

 

Consumer-to-consumer money transfer revenue declined 4% on transaction growth of 4% for the year ended December 31, 2009 over 2008. The revenue decline was attributable to the weak global economy and slowing transaction growth, and to a lesser extent, geographic mix, product mix including a higher percentage of revenue earned from intra-country activity, which has lower revenue per transaction than cross-border transactions, and price decreases. Also impacting the revenue decline was the strengthening of the United States dollar compared to most other foreign currencies for the majority of the year, which adversely impacted revenue by approximately 2%, as discussed below. Our international consumer-to-consumer business experienced a revenue decline of 1% on transaction growth of 8% for the year ended December 31, 2009. Our international business represents all transactions other than transactions between and within the United States and Canada and transactions to and from Mexico. Our international consumer-to-consumer business outside of the United States also experienced revenue declines on transaction increases for the year ended December 31, 2009 as a result of the same factors described above.

 

Revenue in our EMEASA region declined 1% during the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008 due to most of the same factors discussed above. Our largest European markets experienced revenue declines during most of the year ended December 31, 2009 as compared to the same period in 2008. Our money transfer business to India for the year ended December 31, 2009 versus the same period in 2008 continued to grow with transaction growth of 22% and revenue growth of 11%. Revenue and transaction growth for both India and the Gulf States slowed throughout the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 2008. Due to the economic conditions in the Gulf States, transaction growth rates declined to single digits in the fourth quarter and we expect slowing transaction growth to impact 2010.

 

Americas revenue and transactions declined for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. Contributing to the overall decline in the Americas region was the domestic business (transactions between and within the United States and Canada) which experienced a revenue decline of 14% on a transaction decline of 5% for the year ended December 31, 2009. The repositioning of the domestic business, including pricing reductions taken in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2009, improved our Americas and domestic transaction volumes, but contributed to the decline in revenue. Our Mexico business also contributed to the overall decline in the Americas region with a revenue decline of 15% on a transaction decline of 12% for the year ended December 31, 2009. Our United States domestic and Mexico business revenue declined due to the weak economy in the United States. Our Mexico revenues were also impacted by our closure of certain Vigo branded agents, substantially all of which were small retailers, due to credit concerns. However, the decline in revenue for our United States outbound business moderated in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to the previous nine months of 2009 as a result of transaction growth experienced in the fourth quarter of 2009.

 

Our APAC revenue increased 5% on transaction growth of 18% for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. The APAC region’s revenues have been impacted by translating foreign currency denominated revenues into the United States dollar, as further described below, as well as moderating transaction growth. China revenue grew 1% on 4% transaction growth for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

Foreign exchange revenue decreased for the year ended December 31, 2009 over the corresponding previous period at a rate relatively consistent with the decrease in our revenue from our international consumer-to-consumer business outside of the United States.

 

Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the United States dollar and currencies other than the United States dollar have resulted in a reduction to transaction fee and foreign exchange revenue for the year ended December 31, 2009 of $101.3 million over the same period in the previous year, net of foreign currency hedges, that would not have occurred had there been constant currency rates. The majority of our exposure is related to the EMEASA region.

 

We have historically implemented and will likely implement future strategic fee reductions and actions to reduce foreign exchange spreads, where appropriate, taking into account growth opportunities and competitive

factors. Fee decreases and foreign exchange actions generally reduce margins, but are done in anticipation that they will result in increased transaction volumes and increased revenues over time. For the year ended December 31, 2009, such fee decreases and foreign exchange actions were approximately 2% of total Western Union revenue compared to 1% and 3% for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

The majority of transaction growth is derived from more mature agent locations; new agent locations typically contribute only marginally to growth in the first few years of their operation. Increased productivity, measured by transactions per location, is often experienced as locations mature. We believe that new agent locations will help drive growth by increasing the number of locations available to send and receive money. We generally refer to locations with more than 50% of transactions being initiated (versus paid) as “send locations” and to the balance of locations as “receive locations.” Send locations are the engine that drives consumer-to-consumer revenue. They contribute more transactions per location than receive locations. However, a wide network of receive locations is necessary to build each corridor and to help ensure global distribution and convenience for consumers. The number of send and receive transactions at an agent location can vary significantly due to such factors as customer demographics around the location, migration patterns, the location’s class of trade, hours of operation, length of time the location has been offering our services, regulatory limitations and competition. Each of the 410,000 agent locations in our agent network is capable of providing one or more of our services; however, not every location completes a transaction in a given period. For example, as of December 31, 2009, more than 85% of agent locations in the United States, Canada and Western Europe (representing at least one of our three money transfer brands: Western Union^®, Orlandi Valuta^® and Vigo^sm) experienced money transfer activity in the previous 12 months. In the developing regions of Asia and other areas where there are primarily receive locations, approximately 70% of locations experienced money transfer activity in the previous 12 months. We periodically review locations to determine whether they remain enabled to perform money transfer transactions.

 

2008 compared to 2007

 

Consumer-to-consumer money transfer revenue growth was 9% for the year ended December 31, 2008 over the same period in 2007. This increase was driven by revenue growth of 13% in our international business on transaction growth of 17%. Our international consumer-to-consumer business outside of the United States also continued to experience strong revenue growth for the year ended December 31, 2008 as a result of strong transaction growth.

 

However, during the fourth quarter of 2008, revenue was impacted by the weakening global economy and its effect on Western Union customers. In the fourth quarter, transaction growth rates slowed sequentially compared to the first nine months of 2008. In addition, the amount of money remitted per transaction declined in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the fourth quarter of 2007. These factors resulted in less transaction fee and foreign exchange revenue in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the fourth quarter of 2007.

 

Revenue growth in our EMEASA region was 16% on transaction growth of 23% for the year ended December 31, 2008 over the same period in 2007. The growth in our EMEASA region during the year ended December 31, 2008, was primarily driven by transaction growth and the impact of translating foreign currency denominated revenues into the United States dollar, specifically the euro, as further described below. Contributing to the growth in the EMEASA region was strong transaction growth of over 60% in our money transfer business to India for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the corresponding period in 2007, resulting in revenue growth of over 45%. Over the same period, revenue growth in the Gulf States continued to be strong. However, revenue growth in some European markets during the year ended December 31, 2008 slowed over the previous year, especially during the fourth quarter of 2008 as certain countries within Europe, such as Spain, experienced declines in the housing industry and rising unemployment.

 

Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the United States dollar and currencies other than the United States dollar for the year ended December 31, 2008 resulted in a benefit to transaction fee and foreign exchange revenue of $96 million, over the previous year, net of foreign currency hedges, that would not have occurred had there been constant currency rates. The positive impact to operating profit derived from foreign

currency exchange rates increasing against the United States dollar during the year was offset by the impact of foreign currency derivative losses for those foreign currency derivatives not designated as hedges and the portion of fair value that is excluded from the measure of effectiveness for these contracts designated as hedges thereby resulting in a minimal impact to overall earnings per share.

 

Americas revenue declined 1% for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the corresponding period in 2007 but transactions grew 2% for the same period. The United States domestic and the United States outbound revenue continued to decline, due to the overall weakening in the United States economy and rising unemployment, for the year ended December 31, 2008. Within the Americas region, revenue declines in our domestic business, which represents approximately 10% of consolidated revenue for the year ended December 31, 2008, continued to occur due to the factors described above. Although the domestic and United States outbound revenue declines experienced in 2008 moderated compared to those experienced in 2007, we did experience increased revenue declines in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the third quarter of 2008, due to the further weakening in the United States economy.

 

Domestic revenue declined 6% on transaction declines of 3% for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the corresponding period in 2007. In addition, United States telephone money transfer revenues continued to decline, and website money transfer revenues were flat for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Revenue in our Mexico business was down 2% on transaction declines of 1% for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. The Mexico business continued to be impacted by the weakening in the United States economy, noted earlier, with such declines increasing in the fourth quarter of 2008. During a few weeks in the fourth quarter 2008, the value of the Mexican peso decreased dramatically against the United States dollar and, as a result, we experienced a spike in transactions as United States senders took advantage of the more favorable exchange rates. As the devaluation of the peso was sudden and unusual, we needed to acquire pesos at less favorable rates in order to meet the demand for immediate payout in Mexico, which impacted the overall decline in revenue by less than $5 million.

 

Revenue and transaction growth in the APAC region for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007 was driven by strong inbound growth to the region, especially to the Philippines. China revenue and transactions grew at 13% and 11% for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the corresponding period in 2007, respectively. Revenue growth rates slowed to China during the third quarter of 2008, with revenue declining in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007, in part due to the weakening economic situation described previously and the decline in high revenue transactions from small entrepreneurs that typically make purchases in China.

 

Foreign exchange revenue increased for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the same period in the prior year due to an increase in cross-currency transactions primarily as a result of growth in international consumer-to-consumer transactions. As described above, foreign exchange revenue also benefited during the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to 2007 from the exchange rate between other currencies against the United States dollar, despite the negative impact of currency rate fluctuations in the fourth quarter of 2008.

 

Operating income

 

2009 compared to 2008

 

Consumer-to-consumer operating income decreased 4% during the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 2008 due to the decline in revenue, incremental costs, including increased technology costs and the acquisition of FEXCO, offset somewhat by reduced agent commissions, savings realized from the 2008 restructurings and better leveraging of our marketing expenses, as described earlier. The operating income margin for the year ended December 31, 2009 was consistent with 2008.

 

2008 compared to 2007

 

Consumer-to-consumer operating income increased for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to 2007, primarily driven by higher revenue and related profits from increased transactions internationally and

lower stock-based compensation expenses. Of the $22.3 million accelerated stock-based compensation vesting charge in 2007 taken in connection with the change in control of First Data, that did not recur in 2008, $18.9 million was allocated to this segment in 2007. During the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to 2007, the operating income increase was partially offset by revenue declines in our United States businesses, and higher employee compensation expenses. The ongoing shift in our business mix reflecting stronger growth in our international business, which carries lower profit margins than in our United States originated business, also impacted consumer-to-consumer operating income during the year ended December 31, 2008. As described earlier in the revenues overview and due to the same factors, operating income growth for the consumer-to-consumer segment was lower in the fourth quarter of 2008 than that experienced in the previous nine months.

 

Consumer-to-consumer operating income margin also increased during the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to 2007, primarily due to lower stock-based compensation expense, as described above. This increase was partially offset by revenue declines in our United States businesses and the shift in our business mix reflecting stronger growth in our international business, which carries lower profit margins than in our United States originated business as noted earlier. However, we have been experiencing a convergence between international operating profits margins and profit margins of our United States originated businesses.

 

Global Business Payments Segment

 

The following table sets forth our global business payments segment results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

2009 compared to 2008

 

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the global business payments segment revenue was adversely impacted by the weak economic situation in the United States, which resulted in a revenue decline in our United States cash and electronic bill payments businesses, partially offset by revenue generated from our recent acquisition of Custom House, as described below, and slight growth in the Pago Fácil business. We believe many United States consumers who would use our services are having difficulty paying their bills and are unable to obtain credit, resulting in our handling fewer bill payments. Due to a continued challenging United States economy and competitive pressure, we expect to see revenue declines in our United States consumer-to-business service offerings in 2010 similar to the declines we experienced in 2009. Although the segment’s revenues were primarily generated in the United States for the year ended December 31, 2009, we expect the proportion of international revenue, specifically foreign exchange revenue, will grow in future periods as a percentage of total revenue due to our acquisition of Custom House.

On September 1, 2009, we completed the acquisition of Canada-based Custom House, a provider of international business-to-business payment services. Custom House facilitates cross-border, cross-currency payment transactions. The significant majority of Custom House’s revenue is from exchanges of currency at the spot rate enabling customers to make cross-currency payments. The credit risk arising from these spot foreign currency exchange contracts is largely mitigated, as in the majority of cases Custom House requires the receipt of funds from customers before releasing the associated cross-currency payment. In addition, this business writes foreign currency forward and option contracts for their customers to facilitate future payments. The duration of these derivatives contracts is generally nine months or less. The significant majority of Custom House’s revenue is generated from transactions involving different currencies, in which Custom House generates revenue based on the difference between the exchange rate set by Custom House to the customer and the rate at which Custom House is able to acquire currency or forward and option contracts. This foreign exchange revenue is recorded at the time the customer initiates a transaction with Custom House. The acquisition of Custom House contributed $30.8 million to total revenue, primarily included in foreign exchange revenue, and approximately 200,000 transactions for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

Transaction growth during the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 2008 was driven by our Pago Fácil cash-based and United States electronic-based bill payments businesses. Both of these businesses carry a lower revenue per transaction than our United States cash-based bill payment business. The transaction growth was offset by a decline in the United States cash-based bill payments business.

 

2008 compared to 2007

 

During the year ended December 31, 2008, overall revenue was flat compared to the corresponding period in 2007, as revenue growth in the Pago Fácil business was offset by a decline in United States cash-based bill payment revenue. The global business payments segment, including the United States electronic-based bill payments business which experienced flat revenues year over year, was adversely impacted in the last half of 2008 due to the weakening economy in the United States. Some consumers who were likely to use our services were having difficulty paying their bills and were unable to obtain credit in any form, resulting in us handling fewer bill payments.

 

Operating income

 

2009 compared to 2008

 

For the year ended December 31, 2009, operating income decreased compared to the same period in the prior year primarily due to operating income declines related to the United States-based bill payments business and operating and integration costs associated with the acquisition of Custom House, offset slightly by the savings generated from the 2008 restructurings.

 

The decline in operating income margin in the segment is due to the factors described above and continues to be impacted by the decline in the United States cash-based bill payments business which has a higher operating income margin than our South America and electronic businesses.

 

2008 compared to 2007

 

Operating income for the global business payments segment decreased for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to 2007 primarily due to operating income declines in the United States-based bill payments businesses, partially offset by growth in Pago Fácil payments. Operating income margins also declined as United States electronic-based and Pago Fácil payments, which cumulatively represented a higher percentage of global business payments revenues in 2008 compared to 2007, have lower operating margins than the declining higher margin United States cash-based bill payments business. Partially offsetting operating income declines for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to 2007 was lower stock-based compensation expenses as described in the “consumer-to-consumer” operating income discussion.

Other

 

The following table sets forth other results for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

 

 

Revenues

 

2009 compared to 2008

 

Revenue remained relatively consistent with prior year and is comprised primarily of our money order services business. In the fourth quarter, we experienced a decrease in the amount of revenue recognized related to our money order services business as we no longer receive a fixed return of 5.5% from IPS on the outstanding money order balances as described below. However, we now derive investment income from actual interest generated on our money order settlement assets, which are primarily held in United States tax exempt state and municipal securities. In 2008 and 2009, we entered into interest rate swaps on certain of our fixed rate notes to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. Through a combination of the revenue generated from these investment securities and the anticipated interest expense savings resulting from these interest rate swaps, we estimate that we should be able to retain, a materially comparable after-tax rate of return through 2011 as we were receiving under the agreement with IPS. However, the results of interest expense savings related to the swaps will be reflected in interest expense and will not impact operating income.

 

Effective October 1, 2009, in accordance with the agreement signed on July 18, 2008, IPS, a subsidiary of First Data, assigned and transferred to us certain operating assets used by IPS to issue Western Union branded money orders and approximately $860 million of cash sufficient to satisfy all outstanding money order liabilities. On the Transition Date, we assumed IPS’s role as issuer of the money orders, including its obligation to pay outstanding money orders, and terminated the existing agreement whereby IPS paid Western Union a fixed return of 5.5% on the outstanding money order balances. Following the Transition Date, we invested the cash received from IPS in high-quality, investment grade securities, primarily tax exempt United States state and municipal securities, in accordance with applicable regulations, which are the same as those currently governing the investment of our United States originated money transfer principal.

 

2008 compared to 2007

 

Revenue increased for the year ended December 31, 2008 over the same period in 2007 due to revenue growth in our prepaid services business generated outside of the United States.

 

Operating income

 

2009 compared to 2008

 

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the decrease in operating income was primarily due to increased costs related to acquisitions and a decline in our money order services business due to the decrease in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2009 as described above.

 

2008 compared to 2007

 

For the year ended December 31, 2008, the decrease in operating income was driven by operating income declines related to our money order services business, costs incurred to develop mobile money transfer services and our prepaid business within the United States, offset by increased revenue and related profits from our prepaid services business outside of the United States.

Further financial information relating to each of our segments’ external revenue, operating profit measures and total assets is set forth in Note 17 to our consolidated financial statements.

 

Capital Resources and Liquidity

 

Our primary source of liquidity has been cash generated from our operating activities, driven primarily from net income and fluctuations in working capital. Our working capital is affected by the timing of interest payments on our outstanding borrowings, timing of income tax payments, and collections on receivables, among other items. The majority of our interest payments are due in the second and fourth quarters which results in a decrease in the amount of cash provided by operating activities in those quarters, and a corresponding increase to the first and third quarters.

 

Our future cash flows could be impacted by a variety of factors, some of which are out of our control, including changes in economic conditions, especially those impacting the migrant population, and changes in income tax laws or the status of income tax audits, including the resolution of outstanding tax matters. In 2010, we are considering making a $250 million refundable tax deposit relating to potential United States federal tax liabilities arising from our 2003 international restructuring. By making the deposit, interest charges related to the amount of the deposit will cease. To the extent the deposit is not ultimately used to satisfy federal tax liabilities, it is refundable with interest.

 

A significant portion of our cash flows from operating activities has been generated from subsidiaries, some of which are regulated entities. These subsidiaries may transfer all excess cash to the parent company for general corporate use, except for assets subject to legal or regulatory restrictions. The assets subject to legal or regulatory restrictions include those located in countries outside of the United States containing restrictions from being transferred outside of those countries and cash and investment balances that are maintained by a regulated subsidiary to secure certain money transfer obligations initiated in the United States in accordance with applicable state regulations. Significant changes in the regulatory environment for money transmitters could impact our primary source of liquidity.

 

We believe we have adequate liquidity to meet our business needs, including dividends and share repurchases, through our existing cash balances and our ability to generate cash flows through operations. In addition, we have capacity to borrow on our $1.5 billion revolving credit facility which was undrawn at December 31, 2009 and expires in September 2012.

 

Cash and Investment Securities

 

As of December 31, 2009, we had cash and cash equivalents of $1.7 billion, of which $906 million was held by our foreign entities. Our ongoing cash management strategies to fund our business needs could cause United States and foreign cash balances to fluctuate.

 

Repatriating foreign funds to the United States would, in many cases, result in significant tax obligations because most of these funds have been taxed at relatively low foreign tax rates compared to our combined federal and state tax rate in the United States. We expect to use foreign funds to expand and fund our international operations and to acquire businesses internationally.

 

In many cases, we receive funds from money transfers and certain other payment services and money orders before we settle the payment of those transactions. These funds, referred to as “settlement assets” on our consolidated balance sheets, are not used to support our operations. However, we earn income from investing these funds. We maintain a portion of these settlement assets in highly liquid investments, classified as “cash and cash equivalents” within “settlement assets,” to fund settlement obligations.

 

Investment securities, included in settlement assets, were $1.2 billion as of December 31, 2009. Effective October 1, 2009, IPS assigned and transferred to us certain operating assets used by IPS to issue Western Union branded money orders and approximately $860 million of cash sufficient to satisfy all outstanding money order liabilities which contributed to the increase in our investment securities from December 31, 2008 to December 31, 2009. Most state regulators in the United States require us to maintain specific high-quality, investment grade securities and such investments are intended to secure relevant outstanding settlement

obligations in accordance with applicable regulations. We do not hold investment securities for trading purposes, and all of our investment securities are classified as available-for-sale and recorded at fair value. Under the Payment Services Directive (“PSD”) in the European Union, we expect to have a similar portfolio of investment securities, which we will manage in a similar manner and under similar guidelines as our current portfolio.

 

Investment securities are exposed to market risk due to changes in interest rates and credit risk. We regularly monitor credit risk and attempt to mitigate our exposure by making high quality investments, including diversifying our investment portfolio. As of December 31, 2009, the majority of our investment securities had credit ratings of “AA-” or better from a major credit rating agency. Our investment securities are also actively managed with respect to concentration. As of December 31, 2009, there were no investments with a single issuer or individual securities representing more than 10% of our investment securities portfolio.

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

During the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, cash provided by operating activities was $1,218.1 million, $1,253.9 million and $1,103.5 million, respectively. Cash flows provided by operating activities decreased from 2008 to 2009 due to lower net income, offset by working capital fluctuations in 2009 including the settlement accrual and the timing of tax payments. Cash flows provided by operating activities increased from 2007 to 2008 due to higher net income and working capital fluctuations in 2008.

 

Financing Resources

 

As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, we had the following outstanding borrowings (in millions):

 

 

 

 

Commercial Paper

 

Pursuant to our commercial paper program, we may issue unsecured commercial paper notes in an amount not to exceed $1.5 billion outstanding at any time. Our commercial paper borrowings may have maturities of up to 397 days from date of issuance. Interest rates for borrowings are based on market rates at the time of issuance. We had no commercial paper borrowings at December 31, 2009. Our commercial paper borrowings at December 31, 2008 had a weighted-average interest rate of approximately 4.1% and a weighted-average initial term of 27 days.

 

Revolving Credit Facility

 

Our revolving credit facility expires in September 2012 and includes a $1.5 billion revolving credit facility, a $250.0 million letter of credit sub-facility and a $150.0 million swing line sub-facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”).

 

Interest due under the Revolving Credit Facility is fixed for the term of each borrowing and is payable according to the terms of that borrowing. Generally, interest is calculated using a selected LIBOR rate plus an interest rate margin of 19 basis points. A facility fee of 6 basis points on the total facility is payable quarterly regardless of usage. In addition, to the extent the aggregate outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility exceed 50% of the related aggregate commitments, a utilization fee of 5 basis points as of December 31, 2009 based upon such ratings is payable to the lenders on the aggregate outstanding borrowings. The interest rate margin, facility fee and utilization fee are all based on certain of our credit ratings.

 

As of December 31, 2009, we had no outstanding borrowings and had $1.5 billion available to borrow. Our revolving credit facility, which is diversified through a group of 15 participating institutions, is used to provide general liquidity for us and to support our commercial paper program, which we believe enhances our short term credit rating. The largest commitment from any single financial institution within the total committed balance of $1.5 billion is approximately 20%. The substantial majority of the banks within this group were rated at least an “A-” or better as of December 31, 2009. If the amount available to borrow under the revolving credit facility decreased, or if the revolving credit facility were eliminated, the cost and availability of borrowing under the commercial paper program may be impacted.

 

Term Loan

 

On December 5, 2008, we entered into a senior, unsecured, 364-day term loan in an aggregate principal amount of $500 million with a syndicate of lenders. The Term Loan was repaid and financed with the issuance of the 2014 Notes on February 26, 2009.

 

Notes

 

On February 26, 2009, we issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of 2014 Notes to repay the balance of the Term Loan which was scheduled to mature in December 2009. Interest with respect to the 2014 Notes is payable semiannually on February 26 and August 26 each year based on the fixed per annum interest rate of 6.500%. We may redeem the 2014 Notes at any time prior to maturity at the greater of par or a price based on the applicable treasury rate plus 50 basis points.

 

On November 17, 2006, we issued $2 billion aggregate principal amount of our unsecured fixed and floating rate notes, comprised of $500 million aggregate principal amount of our Floating Rate Notes due 2008 (the “Floating Rate Notes”), $1 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.400% Notes due 2011 and $500 million aggregate principal amount of 6.200% Notes due 2036 (the “2036 Notes”). The Floating Rate Notes were paid upon maturity in November 2008. Interest with respect to the 2011 Notes and 2036 Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on May 17 and November 17 each year. We may redeem the 2011 Notes and

the 2036 Notes at any time prior to maturity at the greater of par or a price based on the applicable treasury rate plus 15 basis points and 25 basis points, respectively.

 

On September 29, 2006, we issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of unsecured notes maturing on October 1, 2016. Interest on the 2016 Notes is payable semiannually on April 1 and October 1 each year. We may redeem the 2016 Notes at any time prior to maturity at the greater of par or a price based on the applicable treasury rate plus 20 basis points.

 

Credit Ratings and Debt Covenants

 

The credit ratings on our debt are an important consideration in managing our financing costs and facilitating access to additional capital on favorable terms. Factors that we believe are important in assessing our credit ratings include earnings, cash flow generation, leverage, available liquidity and overall business risks.

 

Our Revolving Credit Facility contains an interest rate margin, facility fee and utilization fee, all of which are determined based on certain of our credit ratings. In addition, we are subject to certain provisions in our 2014 Notes and certain of our derivative contracts which would require settlement or collateral posting in the event of a change in control combined with a downgrade below investment grade. We do not have any other terms within our debt agreements or other contracts that are tied to changes in our credit ratings. The table below summarizes our credit ratings as of December 31, 2009:

 

 

These ratings are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any of our securities. Our credit ratings may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization, and each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. We cannot ensure that a rating will remain in effect for any given period of time or that a rating will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency if, in its judgment, circumstances so warrant. A downgrade or a negative outlook provided by the rating agencies could result in the following:

 

 

The Revolving Credit Facility contains covenants which, among other things, limit or restrict our ability to sell or transfer assets or enter into a merger or consolidate with another company, grant certain types of security interests, incur certain types of liens, impose restrictions on subsidiary dividends, enter into sale and leaseback transactions or incur certain subsidiary level indebtedness. Our notes are subject to similar covenants except that only the 2011 Notes, 2016 Notes and the 2036 Notes contain a restriction on subsidiary indebtedness and none of the notes include a covenant that limits our ability to impose restrictions on subsidiary dividends. In addition, the Revolving Credit Facility requires us to maintain a consolidated adjusted EBITDA interest coverage ratio of greater than 2:1 (ratio of consolidated adjusted EBITDA, defined as net income plus the sum of (a) interest expense, (b) income tax expense, (c) depreciation expense, (d) amortization expense, (e) any other non-cash deductions, losses or changes made in determining net

income for such period and (f) extraordinary losses or charges, minus extraordinary gains, in each case determined in accordance with United States GAAP for such period, to interest expense) for each period comprising the four most recent consecutive fiscal quarters. Our consolidated interest coverage ratio was 10:1 for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

As of December 31, 2009, we were in compliance with our debt covenants. A violation of our debt covenants could impair our ability to borrow, and outstanding amounts borrowed could become due, thereby restricting our ability to use our excess cash for other purposes.

 

Cash Priorities

 

Liquidity

 

Our objective is to maintain strong liquidity and a capital structure consistent with our current credit ratings. We have existing cash balances, cash flows from operating activities, access to the commercial paper markets and our $1.5 billion revolving credit facility available to support the needs of our business.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

The total aggregate amount paid for contract costs, purchases of property and equipment, and purchased and developed software was $98.9 million, $153.7 million and $192.1 million in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Amounts paid for new and renewed agent contract costs vary depending on the terms of existing contracts as well as the timing of new and renewed contract signings. Other capital expenditures during 2009, 2008 and 2007 included investments in our information technology, purchased and developed software and, in 2008 and 2007, the renovation of certain facilities.

 

Acquisition of Businesses

 

On September 1, 2009, we acquired Canada-based Custom House, a provider of international business-to-business payment services, for cash consideration of $371.0 million for 100% of the common shares of this business and acquired cash of $2.5 million.

 

On February 24, 2009, we acquired the money transfer business of European-based FEXCO Group Holdings (“FEXCO Group”) one of our largest agents providing services in a number of European countries, primarily the United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden and Ireland. We surrendered our 24.65% interest in FEXCO Group and paid €123.1 million ($157.4 million) as consideration for 100% of the common shares of the money transfer business and acquired cash of $11.8 million.

 

In December 2008, we acquired 80% of our existing money transfer agent in Peru for a purchase price of $35.0 million. The aggregate consideration paid was $29.7 million, net of a holdback reserve of $3.0 million and cash acquired of $2.3 million.

 

On August 1, 2008, we acquired the money transfer assets from our existing money transfer agent in Panama for a purchase price of $18.3 million, which is net of cash acquired. The consideration paid was $14.3 million, net of a holdback reserve of $4.0 million.

 

We expect that we will continue to pursue opportunities to acquire companies, particularly outside of the United States, that complement our existing businesses worldwide.

 

Share Repurchases and Dividends

 

At December 31, 2009, common stock repurchases of up to $1.0 billion have been authorized by the Board of Directors through December 31, 2012. During the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, 24.8 million, 58.1 million and 34.7 million shares, respectively, have been repurchased for $400.0 million, $1,313.9 million and $726.5 million, respectively, excluding commissions, at an average cost of $16.10, $22.60 and $20.93 per share, respectively.

During the fourth quarter of 2009, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per common share representing $41.2 million in total dividends. During the fourth quarter of 2008 and 2007, our Board of Directors declared an annual cash dividend of $0.04 per common share representing $28.4 million and $30.0 million, respectively, in total dividends. These amounts were paid to shareholders of record in December of each respective year.

 

Equity Investments In and Loans to Certain Key Agents

 

In October 2007, we entered into agreements totaling $18.3 million to convert our non-participating interest in a joint venture with our Singapore agent, Hersing Corporation Ltd., into a fully participating 49% equity interest and extended the agent relationship at more favorable commission rates to Western Union. As a result, we earn a pro-rata share of profits and have enhanced voting rights. We also have the right to add additional agent relationships in Singapore under this agreement. In October 2007, we completed an agreement to acquire a 25% ownership interest in GraceKennedy Money Services Caribbean SRL (“GraceKennedy”), an agent in Jamaica (which also acts as our agent in several other Caribbean countries), and to extend the term of the agent relationship for $29.0 million. The aggregate consideration paid resulted in $20.2 million of identifiable intangible assets, including capitalized contract costs, which are being amortized over seven to 10 years.

 

From time to time, we also make advances and loans to agents. Most significantly, in the first quarter 2006, we signed a six year agreement with one of our existing agents which included a four year loan of $140.0 million to the agent, of which $33.1 million, $40.0 million and $30.0 million were repaid in the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The remaining loan receivable balance relating to this agent as of December 31, 2009 was $16.9 million and was fully repaid in January 2010.

 

As opportunities arise, we expect we will continue to strategically invest in agents to further strengthen our business.

 

Debt Service Requirements

 

Our 2010 debt service requirements will include interest payments on all outstanding indebtedness and may include payments on any future borrowings under our commercial paper program. We have the ability to use existing financing sources, such as our Revolving Credit Facility and commercial paper program, to meet obligations as they arise.

 

Our ability to continue to grow the business, make acquisitions, return capital to shareholders, including share repurchases and dividends, and service our debt will depend on our ability to continue to generate excess operating cash through our operating subsidiaries and to continue to receive dividends from those operating subsidiaries, our ability to obtain adequate financing and our ability to identify the appropriate acquisitions that will align with our long-term strategy.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

Other than facility and equipment leasing arrangements disclosed in Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements, we have no material off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a material current or future effect on our financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

 

Pension Plans

 

We have two frozen defined benefit pension plans (“Plans”) for which we have a recorded unfunded pension obligation of $124.2 million as of December 31, 2009. Due to the closure of one of our facilities in Missouri and a recent agreement with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, we funded $4.1 million into one of our subsidiary’s pension plans during 2009. No contributions were made to these plans by Western Union during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007. Pursuant to final guidance issued by the IRS in September 2009, we made certain interest rate elections under the Pension Protection Act which will require

us to fund approximately $15 million to the plans in 2010, which is less than was previously anticipated. In addition, we may make a discretionary contribution of up to approximately $10 million for a total contribution of $25 million to the plans in 2010.

 

Our most recent measurement date for our pension plans was December 31, 2009. The calculation of the funded status and net periodic benefit income is dependent upon two primary assumptions: 1) expected long-term return on plan assets; and 2) discount rate.

 

Western Union employs a building block approach in determining the long-term rate of return for plan assets. Historical markets are studied and long-term historical relationships between equities and fixed income securities are considered consistent with the widely accepted capital market principle that assets with higher volatility generate a greater return over the long run. Current market factors such as inflation and interest rates are evaluated before long-term capital market assumptions are determined. Consideration is given to diversification, re-balancing and yields anticipated on fixed income securities held. Peer data and historical returns are reviewed to check for reasonableness and appropriateness. We then apply this rate against a calculated value for our plan assets. The calculated value recognizes changes in the fair value of plan assets over a five-year period. Our expected long-term return on plan assets was 7.50% for 2009 and 2008. The expected long-term return on plan assets is 6.50% for 2010. A 25 basis point change in the assumed return for 2010 would impact our annual pension expense by approximately $0.8 million.

 

The discount rate assumption is set based on the rate at which the pension benefits could be settled effectively. The discount rate is determined by matching the timing and amount of anticipated payouts under the plans to the rates from an AA spot rate yield curve. The curve is derived from AA bonds of varying maturities. The discount rate assumption for our benefit obligation was 5.30% and 6.26% at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. A 25 basis point change in the discount rate would have an impact of less than $0.1 million to our annual pension expense.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations to third parties as of December 31, 2009 and the effect such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flows in future periods (in millions):

 

 

 

 

Other Commercial Commitments

 

We had $88.0 million in outstanding letters of credit and bank guarantees at December 31, 2009, with expiration dates through 2015, certain of which contain a one-year renewal option. The letters of credit and bank guarantees are primarily held in connection with lease arrangements and certain agent agreements. We expect to renew the letters of credit and bank guarantees prior to expiration in most circumstances.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition is based on our financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires that management make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported for revenues, expenses, assets, liabilities and other related disclosures. Actual results may or may not differ from these estimates. Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of the notes to consolidated financial statements, included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

Our critical accounting policies and estimates, described below, are very important to the portrayal of our financial position and our results of operations and applying them requires our management to make difficult, subjective and complex judgments. We believe that the understanding of these key accounting policies and estimates is essential in achieving more insight into our operating results and financial condition.