2.2.0.7 false Business and Basis of Presentation 0201 - Disclosure - Business and Basis of Presentation true false false false 1 CAD false false CAD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 CAD iso4217 0 $ 2 Business and Basis of Presentation [Abstract] 0 us-gaap_GeneralPoliciesAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 3 Business and Basis of Presentation 1 wu_BusinessAndBasisOfPresentationTextBlock wu false na duration May include a description of the formation of the entity, the nature of an entity's business, the major service it provides,... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0   <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%">  <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times"> </font></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 0pt; font-size: 1pt"></div> <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times"> </font></b> </div> <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times"></font></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent; text-align: left"> <tr> <td width="3%"></td> <td width="97%"></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">1.  </font></b> </td> <td> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">Business and Basis of Presentation</font></b> </td> </tr> </table> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <i><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">Business</font></i> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> 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<sup style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">®</sup> brand is globally recognized. The Company’s services are available through a network of agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories. Each location in the Company’s agent network is capable of providing one or more of the Company’s services. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> The Western Union business consists of the following segments: </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="text-align: left"> <tr> <td width="4%"></td> <td width="2%"></td> <td width="94%"></td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td> </td> <td> •  </td> <td align="left"> <font style="white-space: nowrap">Consumer-to-consumer —</font> money transfer services between consumers, primarily through a global network of third-party agents using the Company’s multi-currency, real-time money transfer processing systems. This service is available for international cross-border transfers — that is, the transfer of funds from one country to another — and, in certain countries, intra-country transfers — that is, money transfers from one location to another in the same country. </td> </tr> <tr style="line-height: 6pt; font-size: 1pt"> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td> </td> <td> •  </td> <td align="left"> Global business payments — the processing of payments from consumers or businesses to other businesses. The Company’s business payments services allow consumers to make payments to a variety of organizations including utilities, auto finance companies, mortgage servicers, financial service providers, government agencies and other businesses. As described further in Note 4, in September 2009, the Company acquired Canada-based Custom House, Ltd. (“Custom House”), a provider of international <font style="white-space: nowrap">business-to-business</font> payment services, which is included in this segment. Custom House, which has been rebranded “Western Union Business Solutions,” facilitates cross-border, cross-currency payment transactions. While the Company continues to pursue further international expansion of its offerings in this segment, the majority of the segment’s revenue was generated in the United States during all periods presented. </td> </tr> </table> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> All businesses that have not been classified into the <font style="white-space: nowrap">consumer-to-consumer</font> or global business payments segments are reported as “Other” and primarily include the Company’s money order services business. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> There are legal or regulatory limitations on transferring certain assets of the Company outside of the countries where these assets are located, or which constitute undistributed earnings of affiliates of the Company accounted for under the equity method of accounting. However, there are generally no limitations on the use of these assets within those countries. Additionally, the Company must meet minimum capital requirements in some countries in order to maintain operating licenses. As of September 30, 2010, the amount of net assets subject to these limitations totaled nearly $200 million. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> Various aspects of the Company’s services and businesses are subject to United States federal, state and local regulation, as well as regulation by foreign jurisdictions, including certain banking and other financial services regulations. </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <i><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">Basis of Presentation</font></i> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and were prepared in accordance with the instructions for <font style="white-space: nowrap">Form 10-Q</font> and Article 10 of <font style="white-space: nowrap">Regulation S-X.</font> In compliance with those instructions, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in this quarterly report are presented on a consolidated basis and include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries. Results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> In the opinion of management, these condensed consolidated financial statements include all the normal recurring adjustments necessary to fairly present the Company’s condensed consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows as of September 30, 2010 and for all periods presented. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements within the Company’s Annual Report on <font style="white-space: nowrap">Form 10-K</font> for the year ended December 31, 2009. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> Consistent with industry practice, the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are unclassified due to the short-term nature of Western Union’s settlement obligations contrasted with the Company’s ability to invest cash awaiting settlement in long-term investment securities. </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <i><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">Use of Estimates</font></i> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <i><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">Restructuring and Related Expenses</font></i> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> The Company records severance-related expenses once they are both probable and estimable in accordance with the provisions of the applicable accounting guidance for severance provided under an ongoing benefit arrangement. One-time, involuntary benefit arrangements and other exit costs are generally recognized when the liability is incurred. The Company also evaluates impairment issues associated with restructuring activities when the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable, in accordance with the appropriate accounting guidance. Restructuring and related expenses consist of direct and incremental expenses associated with restructuring and related activities, including severance, outplacement and other employee related benefits; facility closure and migration of the Company’s IT infrastructure; and other expenses related to the relocation of various operations to new or existing Company facilities and third-party providers, including hiring, training, relocation, travel and professional fees. Also included in the facility closure expenses are non-cash expenses related to fixed asset and leasehold improvement write-offs and the acceleration of depreciation. For more information on the Company’s restructuring and related expenses, see Note 3. </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <i><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities</font></i> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: transparent"> On January 1, 2010, the Company adopted new accounting standards for the consolidation of variable interest entities. These new accounting standards amend the evaluation criteria to determine whether an enterprise has a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity. This determination identifies the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity as the enterprise that has both the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impacts the entity’s economic performance and the ability to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity. The new guidance also requires an ongoing reassessment of the primary beneficiary. Adoption of these new requirements did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock May include a description of the formation of the entity, the nature of an entity's business, the major service it provides, the restricted net assets of the entity, basis of presentation, the use of estimates, accounting policies and new accounting guidance. 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