XML 27 R11.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.7.0.1
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements

 

1.

ORGANIZATION, CONSOLIDATION AND PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Business Description: West Corporation (the “Company” or “West”) is a global provider of communication and network infrastructure services. “We,” “us” and “our” also refer to West and its consolidated subsidiaries, as applicable. We believe our products and services help our clients more effectively communicate, collaborate and connect with their audiences through a diverse portfolio of solutions that include unified communications services, safety services, interactive services such as automated notifications, specialized agent services and telecom services.

The scale and processing capacity of our technology platforms, combined with our expertise in managing multichannel interactions, enable us to provide reliable, high-quality, mission-critical communications designed to maximize return on investment for our clients and help them build smarter, more meaningful connections. We are dedicated to delivering and improving upon new channels, new capabilities and new choices for how businesses and consumers collaborate, connect and transact.

Our clients include Fortune 1000 companies, along with small and medium enterprises in a variety of industries. We have sales and/or operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and South America.

Pending Merger

On May 9, 2017, West entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among Mount Olympus Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), Olympus Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Sub”), and the Company, providing for, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of specified conditions, the acquisition of West by Parent at a price of $23.50 per share in cash (the “Merger Consideration”). Parent and Sub are affiliates of certain funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, LLC. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, Sub will be merged into West (the “Merger”), with West surviving the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. The Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement have been unanimously approved by the Company’s board of directors.

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each share of common stock of the Company (a “Share”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than (i) Shares held by stockholders of the Company who have properly exercised and perfected appraisal rights under Delaware law and (ii) Shares that are held in the treasury of the Company or owned of record by any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, Parent or any wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent) will be converted into the right to receive $23.50 per Share in cash, without interest, subject to any applicable withholding-taxes.

The consummation of the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of specified closing conditions, including (i) the approval of the Merger by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote thereon, (ii) the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), and the receipt of certain required foreign antitrust approvals, (iii) receipt of approval by the Federal Communications Commission, (iv) receipt of certain required state telecommunications regulatory approvals, (v) the absence of the occurrence of a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement) after the date of the Merger Agreement and (vi) other customary closing conditions. The consummation of the Merger is not subject to a financing condition. Early termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act was granted on June 6, 2017 and the required foreign antitrust approvals were obtained in July 2017. The Company received approval from the Federal Communications Commission in July 2017. On July 26, 2017, the Company’s stockholders approved the Merger. The Merger remains subject to the closing conditions described above (to the extent not already satisfied) and is expected to close during the second half of 2017.

Our Services

Unified Communications Services. We provide our clients with a range of integrated unified communications services. We combine reliable technologies with experience and flexibility to provide solutions that are easy to use and scalable for every client’s specific needs. Our products and services can improve many aspects of business by enabling personalized engagement, meetings anywhere, enhanced productivity and immersive communication experiences.

Safety Services. We provide technology solutions for wireline and wireless carriers; satellite, telematics and cable operators; Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) service providers; alarm/security companies; as well as public safety organizations, government agencies and enterprises. West services the entire public and personal safety ecosystem with reliable networks and a deep understanding of safety needs. We continue to innovate and develop next generation industry solutions that match new technologies. We connect people to first responders—firefighters, law enforcement, ambulance services, and the telecommunicators answering calls in public safety answering points. Our seamless, reliable, and fault tolerant infrastructure along with our data management experience and expertise are the underpinning for individuals’ requests for assistance that require the ability to be located, and have calls routed and delivered to the correct public safety agency. We provide 9-1-1 call routing, call location creation and delivery, and call delivery and accuracy compliance tools to the majority of U.S.-based telecommunications service providers including all major Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (“ILECs”), most Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (“CLECs”), as well as wireless carriers, VoIP service providers and telematics providers. We believe we are the leading database management provider in the industry, managing over 223 million ILEC, CLEC and VoIP records. We continue to develop and support new technologies for existing providers as well as support new entrants such as Over the Top ("OTT") providers.

Interactive Services. We design, integrate, deliver, manage and optimize applications, services, platforms and networks that aim to create a better customer experience, strengthen customer engagement and drive efficiencies for our clients. We specialize in cloud-based communication solutions that drive a smart, personalized and convenient customer experience, including interactive voice response (“IVR”) self-service, outbound proactive notifications and mobility, cloud contact center technologies, web, mobile application development and comprehensive professional services. Our applied technology uses an omni-channel approach that brings together multiple channels, including voice, text, email, push notification, fax, video, web, social media and cloud contact center technologies to create a connected customer, parent and/or patient experience. In most cases, our technology directly interfaces with our clients' internal systems, including customer relationship management ("CRM"), private branch exchange (“PBX”) and enterprise reporting platforms. Our systems and platforms receive or deliver tens of millions of multichannel messages on behalf of our clients every day.

Specialized Agent Services. We provide our clients a combination of highly skilled subject matter experts with proven analytics and technology to provide solutions for the fast-growing healthcare market. We believe we are the leading provider of healthcare advocacy products and services to employees of large organizations. We also help health insurance payers, third-party administrators and self-insured employers improve cash flow and reduce healthcare costs by identifying and recovering overpaid and third-party liability claims. Additionally, we offer business-to-business sales across multiple vertical markets with a focus on increasing our clients’ market share and improving customer relationships.

Telecom Services. We provide local and national tandem switching services that facilitate an efficient exchange of network traffic between originating and terminating networks throughout the U.S. We connect people and unite networks by delivering interconnection services for all types of providers, including wireless, wireline, cable and VoIP. We operate a next-generation technology-agnostic national network providing a cost effective means for time-division multiplexing to internet protocol (“IP”) conversion for IP networks that require access to the public switched telephone network. We provide carrier-grade interconnections that reduce cost and merge traditional telecom, mobile and IP technologies onto a common, efficient backbone. Telecom Services also provides much of the telecommunications network infrastructure that supports our conferencing and collaboration business.

Our five operating segments (Unified Communications Services, Safety Services, Interactive Services, Specialized Agent Services and Telecom Services) are aggregated into four reportable segments as follows:

 

Unified Communications Services, including conferencing and collaboration services, unified communications as a service (“UCaaS”) solutions and telecom services;

 

Safety Services, including carrier services, next generation 9-1-1, government solutions and advanced services;

 

Interactive Services, including outbound (proactive notification – voice/text/short message service (“SMS”) and chat), inbound speech solutions ("IVR"), cloud contact center technologies, web, mobile and professional services; and

 

Specialized Agent Services, including healthcare advocacy services, cost management services and revenue generation services. 

Basis of Consolidation—The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of West and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, together with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. Our results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of what our results will be for other interim periods or for the full fiscal year.

Use of Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition—Revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Amounts billed in advance of providing service are deferred and recorded as deferred revenue or other long-term liabilities on the balance sheet until service has been provided.

Income Tax—For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, income tax expense was $22.7 million and $44.2 million, respectively, and the effective income tax rate was 33.6% and 30.9%, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, income tax expense was $18.4 million and $43.2 million, respectively, and the effective income tax rate was 35.8% for both periods. The reduction in the effective tax rate was due primarily to several tax settlements. These settlements decreased our liability for uncertain tax positions by $15.7 million during the first quarter of 2017.

Dividend—On May 9, 2017, we announced the payment of future dividends had been suspended. The declaration and payment of all future dividends, if any, will be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors. We funded the dividends paid in 2016 and the first three months of 2017 with cash generated by our operations. On March 2, 2017, we paid a $0.225 per common share quarterly dividend. The total dividend paid was approximately $18.8 million to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 21, 2017.

Share Repurchase—Under a share repurchase program approved by the Company’s Board of Directors during the first quarter of 2016 authorizing the repurchase of up to an aggregate of $75 million of outstanding common stock, the Company purchased 1,000,000 shares of common stock through the open market during the first quarter of 2016 for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $22.0 million, which was funded with cash on hand. There were no shares repurchased during the second quarter of 2016 or the first and second quarters of 2017.

Assets Held for Sale—On June 21, 2016, we completed the sale of land, buildings and improvements which were previously classified as held for sale. Proceeds from the sale were $38.8 million, excluding related expenses. In connection with this sale, we realized a pre-tax gain of approximately $19.0 million. We also entered into a 12-year leaseback agreement for one of the buildings. This lease is classified as an operating lease and the related $6.1 million gain, included in the $19.0 million realized gain is being deferred and recognized over the lease term.

Recently Implemented Accounting Pronouncements—In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718). The new guidance requires excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies to be recorded in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled. In addition, cash flows related to excess tax benefits are no longer separately classified as a financing activity apart from other income tax cash flows. The standard also allows us to repurchase more of an employee’s shares for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting, clarifies that all cash payments made on an employee’s behalf for withheld shares should be presented as a financing activity on our consolidated cash flows statement, and provides an accounting policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur. Under the new guidance, we elected to change our forfeiture policy to recognize forfeitures of awards as they occur beginning January 1, 2017. The change in forfeiture policy was adopted using a modified-retrospective transition method. We recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment which increased our retained deficit by $0.1 million upon transition on January 1, 2017. We elected to apply the presentation requirements for cash flows related to excess tax benefits prospectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2016, excess tax benefits on stock options recognized in additional paid-in capital was $0.3 million. This is included in the “Proceeds from stock options and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) shares” line in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. The impact of this standard on our consolidated financial statements at the time of implementation was not material, however, the impact on our provision for income taxes in future periods will be dependent on the market price of our common stock on vesting dates of restricted stock awards compared to the fair value of those awards when they were granted.  

Recent Accounting Pronouncements—In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350). This update addresses the subsequent measurement of goodwill and eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under the amendments in this update, annual or interim goodwill impairment tests are to be performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge should be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Additionally, the income tax effects should be considered for any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss. The amendment also eliminates the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment and, if it fails that qualitative test, to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. Therefore, the same impairment assessment applies to all reporting units. The amendment requires disclosure of the amount of goodwill allocated to each reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount of net assets. The amendments in this update should be applied on a prospective basis. This amendment will be effective for us in January 2020. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company is in the process of assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows – Restricted Cash (Topic 230). The standard requires entities to include in their cash and cash-equivalent balances in the statement of cash flows those amounts that are deemed to be restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. The ASU does not define the terms “restricted cash” and “restricted cash equivalents.” The amendment is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years and is to be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. Early adoption is permitted. Based on our preliminary assessment, we do not believe there will be a material impact to our consolidated statement of cash flows upon adoption.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows – Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (Topic 230). The amendments in this update address eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. This amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. An entity that elects early adoption must adopt all of the amendments in the same period. The amendments in this update should be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. If it is impracticable to apply the amendments retrospectively for some of the issues, the amendments for those issues would be applied prospectively as of the earliest date practicable. Based on our preliminary assessment, we do not believe there will be a material impact to our consolidated statement of cash flows upon adoption.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326). The amendments in this update will require a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured on an amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. This amendment is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Adoption of this update is required through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained deficit as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective (that is, a modified-retrospective approach). The Company is in the process of assessing the impact of this standard on its financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The amendments in this update will increase the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. ASU 2016-02 is required to be applied with a modified retrospective approach to each prior reporting period presented. The Company is in the process of assessing the impact of this standard on its financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This standard requires the recognition of revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which a Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard also requires enhanced disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. We plan to adopt ASU 2014-09 on January 1, 2018. The new standard can be adopted either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. We will likely adopt this accounting standard on a cumulative-effect method, which would result in an adjustment to retained earnings for the cumulative effect, if any, of applying the standard to contracts in process as of the adoption date. Based on our preliminary assessment, we do not believe there will be a material impact to our revenues upon adoption. We are continuing to evaluate the impacts of our pending adoption of this standard and our preliminary assessments are subject to change. Our implementation efforts are progressing as planned.