Equity

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2022

Equity [Abstract]

Equity

Equity

Dividends

On January 26, 2022, the Board of Directors approved a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.77 per share.

On February 28, 2022, the Board of Directors approved a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.85 per share. The quarterly dividend will increase from $0.77 to $0.85 per share in the second quarter.

Stock Repurchases

On January 29, 2020, the Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing the purchase of 30 million shares (the "2020 Repurchase Program"), which was approximately 12% of the total shares of our outstanding common stock at that time. On December 4, 2013, the Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing the purchase of 50 million shares (the "2013 Repurchase Program"), which was approximately 18% of the total shares of our outstanding common stock at that time.

Our purchased shares may be used for general corporate purposes, including the issuance of shares for stock compensation plans and to offset the dilutive effect of the exercise of employee stock options. As of March 31, 2022, we completed the 2013 repurchase program and 15.5 million shares remained available under the 2020 Repurchase Program. Our 2020 Repurchase Program has no expiration date and purchases under this program may be made from time to time on the open market and in private transactions, depending on market conditions.

We enter into accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) agreements with financial institutions to initiate share repurchases of our common stock. Under an ASR agreement, we pay a specified amount to the financial institution and receive an initial delivery of shares. This initial delivery of shares represents the minimum number of shares that we may receive under the agreement. Upon settlement of the ASR agreement, the financial institution delivers additional shares. The total number of shares ultimately delivered, and therefore the average price paid per share, is determined at the end of the applicable purchase period of each ASR agreement based on the volume weighted-average share price, less a discount. We account for our ASR agreements as two transactions: a stock purchase transaction and a forward stock purchase contract. The shares delivered under the ASR agreements resulted in a reduction of outstanding shares used to determine our weighted average common shares outstanding for purposes of calculating basic and diluted earnings per share. The repurchased shares are held in Treasury. The forward stock purchase contracts were classified as equity instruments.

During the three months ended March 31, 2022, we initiated a series of three identical uncapped ASR agreements aggregating a total of $7 billion as follows:

(in millions, except average price)
ASR Agreement Initiation Date	Initial Shares Delivered	Additional Shares Delivered	Total Number of Shares Purchased	Average Price Paid Per Share		Total Cash Utilized
March 1, 2022 1	15.2	—	15.2	$	390.58	$	7,000

1 The ASR agreement was structured as an uncapped ASR agreement in which we paid $7 billion and received an initial delivery of 15.2 million shares, representing 85% of the $7 billion at a price equal to the then market price of the Company. The final settlement of the transaction under the ASR is expected to be completed no later than the third quarter of 2022. The ASR agreement was executed under our 2020 Repurchase Program.

During the three months ended March 31, 2022, we purchased a total of 15.2 million shares for $7.0 billion of cash. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we did not use cash to repurchase shares.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

The agreement with the minority partners that own 27% of our S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC joint venture contains redemption features whereby interests held by minority partners are redeemable either (i) at the option of the holder or (ii) upon the occurrence of an event that is not solely within our control. Specifically, under the terms of the operating agreement of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, CME Group and CME Group Index Services LLC ("CGIS") has the right at any time to sell, and we are obligated to buy, at least 20% of their share in S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. In addition, in the event there is a change of

control of the Company, for the 15 days following a change in control, CME Group and CGIS will have the right to put their interest to us at the then fair value of CME Group's and CGIS' minority interest.

If interests were to be redeemed under this agreement, we would generally be required to purchase the interest at fair value on the date of redemption. This interest is presented on the consolidated balance sheets outside of equity under the caption “Redeemable noncontrolling interest” with an initial value based on fair value for the portion attributable to the net assets we acquired, and based on our historical cost for the portion attributable to our S&P Index business. We adjust the redeemable noncontrolling interest each reporting period to its estimated redemption value, but never less than its initial fair value, using both income and market valuation approaches. Our income and market valuation approaches incorporate Level 3 fair value measures for instances when observable inputs are not available. The more significant judgmental assumptions used to estimate the value of the S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC joint venture include an estimated discount rate, a range of assumptions that form the basis of the expected future net cash flows (e.g., the revenue growth rates and operating margins), and a company specific beta. The significant judgmental assumptions used that incorporate market data, including the relative weighting of market observable information and the comparability of that information in our valuation models, are forward-looking and could be affected by future economic and market conditions. Any adjustments to the redemption value will impact retained income.

Noncontrolling interests that do not contain such redemption features are presented in equity.

Changes to redeemable noncontrolling interest during the three months ended March 31, 2022 were as follows:

(in millions)
Balance as of December 31, 2021	$	3,429
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	59
Distributions payable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	(60)
Redemption value adjustment	1
Balance as of March 31, 2022	$	3,429

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The following table summarizes the changes in the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2022:

(in millions)	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans			Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Cash Flow Hedges			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance as of December 31, 2021	$	(336)		$	(305)		$	(200)		$	(841)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	(26)		1	5			82			61
Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to net earnings	—			(1)		2	(1)		3	(2)
Net other comprehensive (loss) income	(26)			4			81			59
Balance as of March 31, 2022	$	(362)		$	(301)		$	(119)		$	(782)

1Includes an unrealized gain related to our cross currency swaps. See note 5 – Derivative Instruments for additional detail of items recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

2Reflects amortization of net actuarial losses and is net of a tax benefit of $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. See Note 6 — Employee Benefits for additional details of items reclassed from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net earnings.

3See Note 5 — Derivative Instruments for additional details of items reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net earnings.