Acquisitions (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]

Acquisitions

We continue to evaluate strategic opportunities to expand our industry expertise, strengthen our position in high-growth and key strategic geographical markets and industry sectors, advance technological capabilities and improve operational efficiency through both acquisitions and increased ownership interests in current investments. Our acquisitions typically provide for an initial payment at the time of closing and additional contingent purchase price payments based on the future performance of the acquired entity. We have entered into agreements that may require us to purchase additional equity interests in certain consolidated and unconsolidated subsidiaries. The amounts at which we record these transactions in our financial statements are based on estimates of the future financial performance of the acquired entity, the timing of the exercise of these rights, changes in foreign currency exchange rates and other factors.

During 2021, no acquisitions occurred and we did not record any additional goodwill or other intangible assets related to acquisitions.

During 2020, we completed four acquisitions, three of which were included in the IAN reportable segment, and one of which was included in the DXTRA reportable segment. These acquisitions include a traditional advertising agency based in Colombia, a marketing and communications agency based in the U.K., a boutique post-production company based in New York, and a mobile app design agency based in the U.K. During 2020, we recorded approximately $28.0 of goodwill and other intangible assets related to our acquisitions.

During 2019, we completed one acquisition, a content communications agency based in the U.K. This acquisition was included in the IAN reportable segment. During 2019, we recorded approximately $7.6 of goodwill and other intangible assets related to our acquisitions.

The results of operations of our acquired companies were included in our consolidated results from the closing date of each acquisition. We did not make any payments in stock related to our acquisitions in 2020 or 2019.

Details of cash paid for current and prior years' acquisitions are listed below.


	Years ended December 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Cost of investment: current-year acquisitions	$	—	$	8.5	$	0.6
Cost of investment: prior-year acquisitions	28.0		45.9		15.8
Less: net cash acquired	—		(2.9)		—
Total cost of investment	28.0		51.5		16.4
Operating payments 1	39.1		2.9		9.3
Total cash paid for acquisitions 2	$	67.1	$	54.4	$	25.7

1Represents cash payments for amounts that have been recognized in operating expenses since the date of acquisition either relating to adjustments to estimates in excess of the initial value of contingent payments recorded or were contingent upon the future employment of the former owners of the acquired companies. Amounts are reflected in the operating section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

2Of the total cash paid for acquisitions, $0.0, $4.9 and $0.6 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are classified under the investing section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as acquisitions, net of cash acquired. These amounts relate to initial payments for new transactions. Of the total cash paid for acquisitions, $28.0, $46.6 and $15.8 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are classified under the financing section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as acquisition-related payments. These amounts relate to deferred payments and increases in our ownership interest for prior acquisitions.

For companies acquired, we estimate the fair values of the assets and liabilities based on 100% of the business for consolidation. The purchase price in excess of the estimated fair value of the tangible net assets acquired is allocated to identifiable intangible assets and then to goodwill. Due to the characteristics of advertising, specialized marketing and communication services companies, our acquisitions typically do not have significant amounts of tangible assets since the principal assets we acquire are client relationships and talent. As a result, a substantial portion of the purchase price is primarily allocated to customer lists, trade names and goodwill.

For acquisitions we record deferred payment and redeemable noncontrolling interest amounts on our Consolidated Balance Sheets based on their acquisition-date fair value. Deferred payments are recorded on a discounted basis and adjusted quarterly, if necessary, through operating income or net interest expense, depending on the nature of the arrangement, for both changes in estimate and accretion between the acquisition date and the final payment date. See Note 16 for further information on contingent acquisition obligations. Redeemable noncontrolling interests are adjusted quarterly, if necessary, to their estimated redemption value, but not less than their initial fair value. Any adjustments to the redemption value impact retained earnings or additional paid in capital, except for foreign currency translation adjustments. The following table presents changes in our redeemable noncontrolling interests.


	Years ended December 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Balance at beginning of period	$	93.1	$	164.7	$	167.9
Change in related noncontrolling interests balance	2.2		(5.4)		(2.8)
Changes in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests:
Additions	0.0		0.0		24.3
Redemptions and other	(41.9)		(20.6)		(24.9)
Redemption value adjustments 1	(37.8)		(45.6)		0.2
Balance at end of period	$	15.6	$	93.1	$	164.7

1Redemption value adjustments for the year ended December 31, 2021 were primarily attributable to the expiration of redemption provision related to redeemable noncontrolling interests.

For all acquisitions, if a portion of the deferred payments and purchases of additional interests after the effective date of purchase are contingent upon employment terms, then that amount is accounted for separately from the business combination and recognized as compensation expense over the required earn-out period. Payments deemed as compensation are excluded from the fair value purchase price allocation to tangible net assets and intangible assets acquired.