Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018March 31, 2019

OR
 TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from             to             

Commission file number: 001-16111

globalpaymentswordmarkrgba06.jpg
GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
Georgia 58-2567903
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
3550 Lenox Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30326
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (770) 829-8000
Title of each classTicker symbolName of exchange on which registered
Common stock, no par valueGPNNew York Stock Exchange

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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer",filer," "accelerated filer",filer," "smaller reporting company"company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer x
 
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o
 
Smaller reporting company o
  
Emerging growth company o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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

The number of shares of the issuer’s common stock, no par value, outstanding as of October 28, 2018April 30, 2019 was 158,212,663.157,182,370.

GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.
FORM 10-Q
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018March 31, 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS
   Page
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. 
  
  
  
  
  
ITEM 2. 
ITEM 3. 
ITEM 4. 
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. 
ITEM 1A.
ITEM 2. 
ITEM 6. 
  



PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1—FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)

Three Months EndedThree Months Ended
September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017March 31, 2019 March 31, 2018
      
Revenues$857,670
 $1,038,907
$883,039
 $794,977
Operating expenses:      
Cost of service265,013
 493,883
305,230
 252,386
Selling, general and administrative369,495
 372,553
378,317
 386,421
634,508
 866,436
683,547
 638,807
Operating income223,162
 172,471
199,492
 156,170
      
Interest and other income3,134
 2,347
2,934
 11,694
Interest and other expense(46,356) (40,764)(59,081) (45,605)
(43,222) (38,417)(56,147) (33,911)
Income before income taxes179,940
 134,054
143,345
 122,259
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes6,089
 (15,692)
Provision for income taxes(24,140) (24,673)
Net income186,029
 118,362
119,205
 97,586
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of income tax(9,659) (7,622)(6,864) (6,187)
Net income attributable to Global Payments$176,370
 $110,740
$112,341
 $91,399
      
Earnings per share attributable to Global Payments:      
Basic earnings per share$1.12
 $0.72
$0.71
 $0.57
Diluted earnings per share$1.11
 $0.71
$0.71
 $0.57
See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)

 Nine Months Ended
 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017
    
Revenues$2,485,811
 $2,920,910
Operating expenses:   
Cost of service781,943
 1,418,969
Selling, general and administrative1,133,799
 1,092,648
 1,915,742
 2,511,617
Operating income570,069
 409,293
    
Interest and other income17,397
 5,787
Interest and other expense(139,681) (130,422)
 (122,284) (124,635)
Income before income taxes447,785
 284,658
Provision for income taxes(46,441) (40,893)
Net income401,344
 243,765
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of income tax(24,506) (17,302)
Net income attributable to Global Payments$376,838
 $226,463
    
Earnings per share attributable to Global Payments:   
Basic earnings per share$2.37
 $1.48
Diluted earnings per share$2.36
 $1.47
See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.




GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands)

 Three Months Ended
 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017
    
Net income$186,029
 $118,362
Other comprehensive income (loss):   
Foreign currency translation adjustments(15,395) 42,417
Income tax benefit related to foreign currency translation adjustments140
 
Unrealized gains on hedging activities1,845
 341
Reclassification of unrealized (gains) losses on hedging activities to interest expense(1,663) 1,172
Income tax provision related to hedging activities(110) (670)
Other, net(58) 18
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax(15,241) 43,278
    
Comprehensive income170,788
 161,640
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests(21,333) (9,950)
Comprehensive income attributable to Global Payments$149,455
 $151,690

Nine Months EndedThree Months Ended
September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017March 31, 2019 March 31, 2018
      
Net income$401,344
 $243,765
$119,205
 $97,586
Other comprehensive income (loss):      
Foreign currency translation adjustments(80,620) 133,921
5,196
 13,324
Income tax provision related to foreign currency translation adjustments(224) 
Unrealized gains (losses) on hedging activities12,353
 (2,214)
Reclassification of unrealized (gains) losses on hedging activities to interest expense(2,830) 4,667
Income tax provision related to hedging activities(2,420) (919)
Other, net(59) (196)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax(73,800) 135,259
Income tax benefit related to foreign currency translation adjustments34
 399
Net unrealized (losses) gains on hedging activities(14,509) 7,682
Reclassification of net unrealized gains on hedging activities to interest expense(1,830) (169)
Income tax benefit (provision) related to hedging activities3,985
 (1,865)
Other, net of tax111
 (52)
Other comprehensive income (loss)(7,013) 19,319
      
Comprehensive income327,544
 379,024
112,192
 116,905
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests(36,264) (32,352)(2,284) (17,480)
Comprehensive income attributable to Global Payments$291,280
 $346,672
$109,908
 $99,425
See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.



GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017March 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
(Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  
ASSETS    
    
Current assets:    
    
Cash and cash equivalents$990,604
 $1,335,855
$1,277,633
 $1,210,878
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $3,495 and $1,827, respectively321,664
 301,887
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $4,247 and $3,164, respectively381,608
 348,400
Settlement processing assets2,894,226
 2,459,292
2,775,371
 1,600,222
Prepaid expenses and other current assets207,496
 206,545
235,139
 216,708
Total current assets4,413,990
  4,303,579
4,669,751
  3,376,208
Goodwill6,130,921
  5,703,992
6,345,998
  6,341,355
Other intangible assets, net2,278,968
  2,181,707
2,405,333
  2,488,618
Property and equipment, net640,976
  588,348
674,199
  653,542
Deferred income taxes9,237
 13,146
7,288
 8,128
Other noncurrent assets365,144
  207,297
647,052
  362,923
Total assets$13,839,236
  $12,998,069
$14,749,621
  $13,230,774
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY        
Current liabilities:        
Settlement lines of credit$685,878
 $635,166
$641,906
 $700,486
Current portion of long-term debt92,689
 100,308
133,019
 115,075
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities1,065,435
  1,039,607
1,161,421
  1,176,703
Settlement processing obligations2,423,069
 2,040,509
2,579,876
 1,276,356
Total current liabilities4,267,071
  3,815,590
4,516,222
  3,268,620
Long-term debt4,707,510
 4,559,408
5,170,377
 5,015,168
Deferred income taxes516,357
  436,879
569,169
  585,025
Other noncurrent liabilities172,730
  220,961
351,392
  175,618
Total liabilities9,663,668
  9,032,838
10,607,160
  9,044,431
Commitments and contingencies

  



  

Equity:        
Preferred stock, no par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized and none issued
  

  
Common stock, no par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 158,186,371 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018 and 159,180,317 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017
  
Common stock, no par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 157,130,438 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2019 and 157,961,982 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018
  
Paid-in capital2,250,828
  2,379,774
2,151,623
  2,235,167
Retained earnings1,994,003
  1,597,897
2,111,798
  2,066,415
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(270,545)  (183,144)(312,608)  (310,175)
Total Global Payments shareholders’ equity3,974,286
  3,794,527
3,950,813
  3,991,407
Noncontrolling interests201,282
 170,704
191,648
 194,936
Total equity4,175,568
 3,965,231
4,142,461
 4,186,343
Total liabilities and equity$13,839,236
  $12,998,069
$14,749,621
  $13,230,774
See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Nine Months EndedThree Months Ended
September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017March 31, 2019 March 31, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:      
Net income$401,344
 $243,765
$119,205
 $97,586
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:      
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment105,734
 80,868
41,155
 33,918
Amortization of acquired intangibles263,714
 249,095
107,475
 87,825
Amortization of capitalized contract costs15,847
 10,213
Share-based compensation expense44,937
 30,771
11,418
 14,898
Provision for operating losses and bad debts32,309
 37,203
12,709
 9,237
Amortization of capitalized contract costs37,281
 32,863
Deferred income taxes(4,973) (51,093)(5,774) 910
Other, net(17,185) 34,190
9,043
 (1,937)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effects of acquisitions:   
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effects of business combinations:   
Accounts receivable(27,696) (6,070)(36,493) 13,050
Settlement processing assets and obligations, net(58,693) (232,713)118,347
 82,235
Prepaid expenses and other assets(117,824) (78,302)(76,740) (56,906)
Accounts payable and other liabilities2,058
 19,546
(86,463) (6,488)
Net cash provided by operating activities661,006
 360,123
229,729
 284,541
Cash flows from investing activities:      
Business and other acquisitions, net of cash acquired(769,082) (563,009)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired(74,830) 
Capital expenditures(156,060) (136,612)(55,123) (43,775)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment131
 37,520
Other, net(2,514) (48,056)13,672
 (1,586)
Net cash used in investing activities(927,525) (710,157)(116,281) (45,361)
Cash flows from financing activities:      
Net borrowings of settlement lines of credit49,381
 77,397
Net repayments of settlement lines of credit(55,350) (192,517)
Proceeds from long-term debt1,606,214
 1,713,324
344,000
 309,000
Repayments of long-term debt(1,468,505) (1,386,721)(173,060) (687,820)
Payment of debt issuance costs(12,544) (9,520)
 (586)
Repurchase of common stock(180,897) (32,811)(155,997) 
Proceeds from stock issued under share-based compensation plans12,571
 7,068
7,848
 2,613
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans(44,824) (21,171)(9,507) (1,058)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests(5,686) (9,301)(5,572) 
Dividends paid(4,750) (5,141)(1,571) (1,593)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities(49,040) 333,124
Net cash used in financing activities(49,209) (571,961)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash(29,692) 40,181
2,516
 2,749
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents(345,251) 23,271
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents66,755
 (330,032)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period1,335,855
 1,162,779
1,210,878
 1,335,855
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period$990,604
 $1,186,050
$1,277,633
 $1,005,823
See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
 (in thousands)

 
Number of Shares 
 
Paid-in Capital 
 
Retained Earnings 
 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Total Global Payments Shareholders’ Equity Noncontrolling Interests Total Equity
Number of Shares 
 
Paid-in Capital 
 
Retained Earnings 
 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Total Global Payments Shareholders’ Equity Noncontrolling Interests Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2017159,180
 $2,379,774
 $1,597,897
 $(183,144) $3,794,527
 $170,704
 $3,965,231
Balance at December 31, 2018157,962
 $2,235,167
 $2,066,415
 $(310,175) $3,991,407
 $194,936
 $4,186,343
Net income    376,838
   376,838
 24,506
 401,344
    112,341
   112,341
 6,864
 119,205
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax      (85,558) (85,558) 11,758
 (73,800)
Other comprehensive loss      (2,433) (2,433) (4,580) (7,013)
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans895
 12,571
     12,571
   12,571
542
 7,848
     7,848
   7,848
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans(277) (32,508) 

   (32,508)   (32,508)(79) (10,200) 

   (10,200)   (10,200)
Share-based compensation expense  44,937
     44,937
   44,937
  11,418
     11,418
   11,418
Distributions to noncontrolling interest        
 (5,686) (5,686)        
 (5,572) (5,572)
Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting standard    50,969
 (1,843) 49,126
   49,126
Repurchase of common stock(1,612) (153,946) (26,951)   (180,897)   (180,897)(1,295) (92,610) (65,387)   (157,997)   (157,997)
Dividends paid ($0.03 per share)    (4,750)   (4,750)   (4,750)
Balance at September 30, 2018158,186
 $2,250,828
 $1,994,003
 $(270,545) $3,974,286
 $201,282
 $4,175,568
Dividends paid ($0.01 per share)    (1,571)   (1,571)   (1,571)
Balance at March 31, 2019157,130
 $2,151,623
 $2,111,798
 $(312,608) $3,950,813
 $191,648
 $4,142,461

 
Number of Shares 
 
Paid-in Capital 
 
Retained Earnings 
 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss 
Total Global Payments Shareholders’ Equity 
 Noncontrolling Interests Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2016152,186
 $1,816,278
 $1,137,230
 $(322,717) $2,630,791
 $148,551
 $2,779,342
Net income    226,463
   226,463
 17,302
 243,765
Other comprehensive income, net of tax      120,209
 120,209
 15,050
 135,259
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans851
 7,068
   

 7,068
   7,068
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans(256) (24,078)     (24,078)   (24,078)
Share-based compensation expense  30,771
     30,771
   30,771
Issuance of common stock in connection with a business combination6,358
 572,079
     572,079
   572,079
Dissolution of a subsidiary
 

 7,998
   7,998
 (7,998) 
Distributions to noncontrolling interest        
 (9,301) (9,301)
Repurchase of common stock(376) (25,787) (9,024)   (34,811)   (34,811)
Dividends paid ($0.03133 per share)    (5,141)   (5,141)   (5,141)
Balance at September 30, 2017158,763
 $2,376,331
 $1,357,526
 $(202,508) $3,531,349
 $163,604
 $3,694,953
 
Number of Shares 
 
Paid-in Capital 
 
Retained Earnings 
 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss 
Total Global Payments Shareholders’ Equity 
 Noncontrolling Interests Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2017159,180
 $2,379,774
 $1,597,897
 $(183,144) $3,794,527
 $170,704
 $3,965,231
Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting standard    50,970
 (1,843) 49,127
   49,127
Net income    91,399
   91,399
 6,187
 97,586
Other comprehensive income      8,026
 8,026
 11,293
 19,319
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans418
 2,613
   

 2,613
   2,613
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans(56) (6,411)     (6,411)   (6,411)
Share-based compensation expense  14,898
     14,898
   14,898
Repurchase of common stock(9) (852) (128)   (980)   (980)
Dividends paid ($0.01 per share)    (1,593)   (1,593)   (1,593)
Balance at March 31, 2018159,533
 $2,390,022
 $1,738,545
 $(176,961) $3,951,606
 $188,184
 $4,139,790
See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.



NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
NOTE 1—BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Business, consolidation and presentation— We are a leading worldwide provider of payment technology and software solutions delivering innovative services to our customers globally. Our technologies, services and employee expertise enable us to provide a broad range of solutions that allow our customers to accept various payment types and operate their businesses more efficiently. We distribute our services across a variety of channels in 3132 countries throughout North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and Brazil and operate in three reportable segments: North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
  
We were incorporated in Georgia as Global Payments Inc. in 2000 and spun-off from our former parent company in 2001. Including our time as part of our former parent company, we have been in the payment technology services business since 1967. Global Payments Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries are referred to collectively as "Global Payments," the "Company," "we," "our" or "us," unless the context requires otherwise.
 
These unaudited consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our majority-owned subsidiaries, and all intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") for interim financial information pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"("SEC"). The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 20172018 was derived from the audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20172018 but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP for annual financial statements.

In the opinion of our management, all known adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the interim periods have been made. These adjustments consist of normal recurring accruals and estimates that affect the carrying amount of assets and liabilities. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018.

Use of estimatesThe preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

New Revenue Accounting Standard

We adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, as well as other clarifications and technical guidance issued byIn February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") related to this new revenue standard (collectively codified in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 606: Revenue from Contracts with Customers, "ASC 606" and ASC Subtopic 340-40: Other Assets and Deferred Costs - Contracts with Customers, "ASC 340-40"), on January 1, 2018. We elected the modified retrospective transition method, which resulted in a net increase to retained earnings of $51.0 million for the cumulative effect of applying the standard. The primary component of the cumulative-effect adjustment was the result of changes in the accounting for certain costs to obtain customer contracts and the related income tax effects, which resulted in increases to other noncurrent assets and deferred income tax liabilities of $64.6 million and $15.6 million, respectively. Previously, we amortized these assets to expense over the related contract term. Under ASC 340-40, we now amortize these assets over the expected period of benefit, which is generally longer than the initial contract term. Under the new standard, we also capitalized certain costs that were not previously capitalized, including certain commissions and related payroll taxes and certain costs incurred to fulfill a contract before the performance obligation has been satisfied, primarily compensation to employees engaged in customer implementation activities in our technology-enabled businesses.

Under the modified retrospective transition method, we are required to provide additional disclosures during 2018 of the amount by which each financial statement line item is affected in the current reporting period, as compared to the guidance that was in effect before the change, and an explanation of the reasons for significant changes, if any. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we presented revenue net of certain payments made to third parties, including payment networks. This change in presentation

had the effect of reducing our revenues and operating expenses by the same amounts. As a result, revenues, cost of service and selling, general and administrative expenses were lower than the amounts without the effect of the new accounting standard by $291.3 million, $273.6 million and $17.7 million, respectively, during the three months ended September 30, 2018; and lower than the amounts without the effect of the new accounting standard by $825.5 million, $774.5 million and $51.0 million, respectively, during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material effect on any other line items in our consolidated statement of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 or consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2018, and had no effect on our cash flows from operating activities, investing activities or financing activities included in our consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Other Recently Adopted Accounting Standards Updates

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, "Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities." The ASU expands and refines hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and aligns the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. In addition, the amendments in this update modify disclosure requirements for presentation of hedging activities. Those modifications include a tabular disclosure related to the effect on the income statement of fair value and cash flow hedges and eliminate the requirement to disclose the ineffective portion of the change in fair value of hedging instruments, if any. We adopted ASU 2017-12 on January 1, 2018 with no effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, "Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business." The ASU clarifies the definition of a business, which affects many areas of accounting including acquisitions, disposals, goodwill and consolidation. The new standard is intended to help companies and other organizations evaluate whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses, with the expectation that fewer will qualify as acquisitions (or disposals) of businesses. The ASU became effective for us on January 1, 2018. These amendments have been applied prospectively from the date of adoption. The effect of ASU 2017-01 is dependent upon the nature of future acquisitions or dispositions that we make.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory." The amendments in this update state that an entity should recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory, such as intellectual property and property and equipment, when the transfer occurs. We adopted ASU 2016-16 on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective transition method with no effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, "Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities." The amendments in this update address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. The amendments in this update supersede the guidance to classify equity securities with readily determinable fair values into different categories (that is, trading or available-for-sale) and require equity securities (including other ownership interests, such as partnerships, unincorporated joint ventures and limited liability companies) to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through earnings. Equity investments that are accounted for under the equity method of accounting or result in consolidation of an investee are not included within the scope of this update. The amendments allow equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values to be remeasured at fair value either upon the occurrence of an observable price change or upon identification of an impairment. The amendments also require enhanced disclosures about those investments. We adopted ASU 2016-01 on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective transition method with no material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

New Lease Accounting Standard

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases." This updateASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize, on the balance sheet,recognition of assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by leases. In addition, severalleases and new disclosures will be required.

Although early adoption is permitted, we expect to adoptabout leases. We adopted ASU 2016-02, as well as other related clarifications and interpretive guidance issued by the FASB, when it becomes effective for us on January 1, 2019. We plan to elect2019 using the optional modified retrospective transition method to apply the provisions of the new standard at the adoption date, which will result in recognition and measurement

of assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by leases in the period of adoption.method. Under this transition method, we woulddid not recast the prior period financial statements presented.

We have not completed our evaluation of the effect of ASU 2016-02 on our consolidated financial statements; however, we expect to recognize right of use assets and liabilities for our operating leases in the balance sheet upon adoption. We plan to electelected the transition package of three practical expedients, which among other things, allowsallowed for the carryforward of historical lease classifications, and we expect to make anclassifications. We made accounting policy electionelections not to not apply the recognition requirements torecognize assets or liabilities for leases with a term of less than twelve months.months and to account for all components in a lease arrangement as a single combined lease component.

Our existing leases consist primarilyThe adoption of real estate leases for office space throughoutASU 2016-02 resulted in the marketsmeasurement and recognition of lease liabilities in whichthe amount of $274.0 million and right-of-use assets in the amount of $236.0 million as of January 1, 2019. Lease liabilities were measured as the present value of remaining lease payments, and the corresponding right-of-use assets were measured at an amount equal to the lease liabilities adjusted by the amounts of certain assets and liabilities, such as deferred lease obligations and prepaid rent, that we conduct business. We are currently finalizingpreviously recognized on the analysis of our existing lease arrangements to evaluate the potential effects of this new accounting standard on our consolidated financial statements. We expect to implement new accounting processes and internal controls to meet the requirements for financial reporting and disclosures of our leases and are coordinating with various internal stakeholders to evaluate, design and implement these new processes and controls. We are also implementing a new technology solution to assist with the necessary calculations to support the accounting and disclosure requirements of the new accounting standard. We expect these evaluation and implementation activities will continue throughout the remainder of 2018balance sheet prior to the effective dateinitial application of adoptionASU 2016-02. To calculate the present value of remaining lease payments, we elected to use an incremental borrowing rate based on January 1, 2019.the remaining lease term at transition.

SEC Rules and Other Accounting Standards UpdatesRecently Issued Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In August 2018, the SEC issued a final rule that amends certain of its disclosure requirements. The changes are generally intended to reduce or eliminate certain disclosures that have become redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated or superseded in light of other disclosures requirements or changes in the information environment. The rule also requires SEC registrants to present changes in stockholders' equity and the amount of dividends per share for each class of shares on a quarterly basis for the current and prior-year periods. The final rule is effective for SEC filings on Forms 10-Q and 10-K made on or after November 5, 2018.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, "Intangibles"Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract (A Consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)." This ASU 2018-15 provides additional guidance on the accounting for costs of implementation activities performed in a cloud computing arrangement (i.e., hosting arrangement) that is a service contract. The new guidance amends the definition of a hosting arrangement and requires a customer in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract to capitalize certain implementation costs as if the arrangement was an

internal-use software project. We have historically capitalized implementation costs for internal-use software projects and will continue to do so pursuant to the clarifications provided in the new guidance. We expect to amortize deferred implementation costs to expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the hosting arrangement. The amendments in this update also provide additional presentation and disclosure requirements, including requirements to disclose the nature of an entity’s hosting arrangements that are service contracts. This ASU iscontracts as well as quantitative information about capitalized implementation costs and related amortization expense. The guidance will become effective for annual and interimus on January 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted for periods beginning on or after December 15,January 1, 2019. Entities have the option to apply the guidance prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption or retrospectively. We are evaluatingcomparing the guidance in ASU 2018-15 to our current accounting practices for costs of implementation activities performed in cloud computing arrangements. We have not yet quantified the effect, if any, of ASU 2018-15 on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement." This ASU provides an update to modify the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820. This ASU is effective for annualbalance sheet or our statements of income and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. We are evaluating the effect of ASU 2018-13 on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, "Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income: Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income." This ASU provides an option to reclassify stranded tax effects within accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") to retained earnings in each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "2017 U.S. Tax Act") (or portion thereof) is recorded. This ASU requires disclosure of a description of the accounting policy for releasing income tax effects from AOCI; whether election is made to reclassify the stranded income tax effects from the 2017 U.S. Tax Act; and information about the income tax effects that are reclassified. This ASU is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Although we do not believe adoption of ASU 2018-02 will have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements, we are continuing to evaluate whether to elect the option.cash flows.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments." The amendments in this update change how companies measure and recognize credit impairment for many financial assets.instruments measured at amortized cost. The new model for current expected credit loss modellosses ("CECL") will require companiesus to immediately recognize an estimate of credit losses expected to occur over the remaining life of the financial assets (including trade receivables)instruments that are in the scope of the update. The update, also made amendmentsincluding accounts receivable and settlement processing assets, each of which are short-term in nature. Under current GAAP, credit losses on these financial instruments are not recognized until their occurrence is deemed to the current impairment model for held-to-maturity and available-for-sale debt securities and certain guarantees.be probable. The guidance will become effective for us on January 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019. In general, the new guidance will require modified retrospective application to all outstanding financial assets that are in the scope of the update, with a cumulative-effect adjustment, if any, recorded to retained earnings as of the date of adoption. We are evaluating the effect of ASU 2016-13 on our consolidated financial statements.statements, including comparing how we currently measure and recognize our allowance for doubtful accounts on accounts receivable and our reserve for operating losses and sales allowances to how we would make such measurements applying the new CECL model. We have not yet quantified the effect, if any, of ASU 2016-13 on our consolidated balance sheet or our statement of income.

NOTE 2—ACQUISITIONS

See "Note 14—Subsequent Events"The transactions described below were accounted for a discussionas business combinations, which requires that we record the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at fair value as of an additional businessthe acquisition we completed in October 2018.date.

SICOM

On October 17, 2018, we acquired SICOM Systems, Inc. ("SICOM") for total purchase consideration of $410.2 million, which we funded with cash on hand and by drawing on our Revolving Credit Facility (described in "Note 7—Long-Term Debt and Lines of Credit"). SICOM is a provider of end-to-end enterprise, cloud-based software solutions and other technologies to quick service restaurants and food service management companies. SICOM's technologies are complementary to our existing Xenial solutions, and we believe this acquisition will expand our software-driven payments strategy by enabling us to increase our capabilities and expand on our existing presence in the restaurant vertical market.

The provisional estimated acquisition-date fair values of major classes of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of March 31, 2019, including a reconciliation to the total purchase consideration, were as follows (in thousands):
Cash and cash equivalents $7,540
Property and equipment 5,838
Identified intangible assets 188,294
Other assets 22,275
Deferred income taxes (48,560)
Other liabilities (31,350)
Total identifiable net assets 144,037
Goodwill 266,164
Total purchase consideration $410,201


During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we made an adjustment to reflect an increase in the total purchase consideration of $1.0 million. As of March 31, 2019, we considered these balances to be provisional because we were still in the process of gathering and reviewing information to support the valuations of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Goodwill arising from the acquisition of $266.2 million, included in the North America segment, was attributable to expected growth opportunities, an assembled workforce and potential synergies from combining our existing businesses. We expect that approximately $40 million of the goodwill from this acquisition will be deductible for income tax purposes.

The following table reflects the estimated fair values of the identified intangible assets of SICOM and the respective aggregated weighted-average estimated amortization periods:
 Estimated Fair Values Weighted-Average Estimated Amortization Periods
    
 (in thousands) (years)
Customer-related intangible assets$104,900
 14
Acquired technologies65,312
 6
Trademarks and trade names11,202
 3
Contract-based intangible assets6,880
 5
Total estimated acquired intangible assets$188,294
 10

AdvancedMD

On September 4, 2018, we acquired AdvancedMD, Inc. ("AdvancedMD"), for total purchase consideration of $706.9 million, which we funded with cash on hand and by drawing on our Revolving Credit Facility. AdvancedMD is a provider of cloud-based enterprise software solutions to small-to-medium sized ambulatory care physician practices in the United States.practices. We believe thethis acquisition will expand our software-driven payments strategy by enabling us to enter the healthcare vertical market, a large and fragmented market with strong payment fundamentals and attractive growth opportunities.

We paid the seller cash consideration of approximately $700 million, which we funded with cash on hand and by drawing on our Revolving Credit Facility (described in Note 6—Long-Term Debt and Lines of Credit).

This transaction was accounted for as a business combination, which requires that we record the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at fair value as of the acquisition date. Due to the timing of the acquisition, the accounting for this acquisition was not complete as of September 30, 2018. The fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed have been determined provisionally and are subject to adjustment as we obtain additional information. In particular, additional time is needed to determine the valuation of assets and liabilities and to evaluate the basis differences for assets and liabilities for financial reporting and tax purposes.

As of September 30, 2018, we provisionally estimated that substantially all of the total identifiable assets were comprised of goodwill and other intangible assets. We expect the intangible assets to be similar in nature to intangible assets we have acquired in other recent acquisitions, including customer-related intangible assets and acquired technology. Further, our methodology for estimating the acquisition-date fair values of identified intangible assets is consistent with the approach we have applied in other recent acquisitions of similar businesses.

Goodwill arising from the acquisition, included in the North America segment, was attributable to expected growth opportunities, potential synergies from combining our existing businesses and an assembled workforce. Due to the timing of the transaction, we have not allocated the provisional estimated goodwill of $469 million to a reporting unit. We expect that substantially all of the goodwill will not be deductible for income tax purposes.

ACTIVE Network

We acquired the communities and sports divisions of Athlaction Topco, LLC ("ACTIVE Network") on September 1, 2017, for total purchase consideration of $1.2 billion. ACTIVE Network delivers cloud-based enterprise software, including payment technology solutions, to event organizers in the communities and health and fitness markets. This acquisition aligns with our technology-enabled, software driven strategy and adds an enterprise software business operating in two additional vertical markets that we believe offer attractive growth fundamentals.


The following table summarizes the cash and non-cash components of the consideration transferred on September 1, 2017 (in thousands):
Cash consideration paid to ACTIVE Network stockholders$599,497
Fair value of Global Payments common stock issued to ACTIVE Network stockholders572,079
 $1,171,576

We funded the cash consideration primarily by drawing on our Revolving Credit Facility (described in "Note 6Long-Term Debt and Lines of Credit"). The acquisition-date fair value of 6,357,509 shares of our common stock issued to the sellers was determined based on the share price of our common stock as of the acquisition date and the effect of certain transfer restrictions.

This transaction was accounted for as a business combination, which requires that we record the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at fair value as of the acquisition date. The estimated acquisition-date fair values of major classes of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of March 31, 2019, including a reconciliation to the total purchase consideration, arewere as follows:follows (in thousands):
December 31, 2017 Measurement-Period Adjustments September 30, 2018
     
(in thousands)
     
Cash and cash equivalents$42,913
 $
 $42,913
 $7,657
Property and equipment21,985
 (133) 21,852
 5,672
Identified intangible assets410,545
 
 410,545
 419,500
Other assets87,240
 (97) 87,143
 11,785
Deferred income taxes(31,643) 4,003
 (27,640) (93,372)
Other liabilities(144,132) (3,349) (147,481) (15,647)
Total identifiable net assets386,908
 424
 387,332
 335,595
Goodwill784,668
 (424) 784,244
 371,290
Total purchase consideration$1,171,576
 $
 $1,171,576
 $706,885

The measurement-periodDuring the three months ended March 31, 2019, we made measurement period adjustments, were the result of continued refinement of certain estimates, primarily those regarding the measurement of certain contingencies andincluding a $5.6 million decrease in deferred income taxes.tax liabilities, which resulted in a corresponding decrease in goodwill. As of March 31, 2019, we considered these balances to be provisional because we were still in the process of gathering and reviewing information to support the valuation of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Goodwill of $784.2 million arising from the acquisition of $371.3 million, included in the North America segment, was attributable to expected growth opportunities, an assembled workforce and potential synergies from combining our existing businesses and an assembled workforce.businesses. We expect that approximately 80%substantially all of the goodwill from this acquisition will not be deductible for income tax purposes.


The following table reflects the estimated fair values of the identified intangible assets of AdvancedMD and the respective aggregated weighted-average estimated amortization periods:
Estimated Fair Values Weighted-Average Estimated Amortization Periods
  Estimated Fair Values Weighted-Average Estimated Amortization Periods
(in thousands) (years)  
  (in thousands) (years)
Customer-related intangible assets$189,000
 17$303,100
 11
Acquired technology153,300
 9
Acquired technologies83,700
 5
Trademarks and trade names59,400
 1532,700
 15
Covenants-not-to-compete8,845
 3
Total estimated acquired intangible assets$410,545
 13$419,500
 10

TheValuation of Identified Intangible Assets

For the acquisitions discussed above, the estimated fair valuevalues of customer-related intangible assets waswere determined using the income approach, which iswas based on projected cash flows discounted to their present value using discount rates that consider the timing and risk of the forecasted cash flows. The discount raterates used isrepresented the average estimated value of a market participant’s cost of capital and debt, derived using customary market metrics. Acquired technology wastechnologies were valued using the replacement cost method, which required us to estimate the costcosts to construct an asset of equivalent utility at prices available at the time of the valuation analysis, with adjustments in value for physical deterioration and functional and economic obsolescence. Trademarks and trade names were valued using the relief-from-royalty"relief-from-royalty" approach. This method assumes that trademarks and trade names have value to the extent that their owner is relieved of the obligation to pay royalties for the benefits received from them. This method required us to estimate the future revenuerevenues for the related brands, the appropriate royalty rate and the weighted-average cost of capital. The discount raterates used isrepresented the average estimated value of a market participant’s cost of capital and debt, derived using customary market metrics.

NOTE 3—REVENUES

We are a leading worldwide provider of payment technology and software solutions delivering innovative services to our customers globally. Our technologies, services and employee expertise enable us to provide a broad range of solutions that allow our customers to accept various payment types and operate their businesses more efficiently. We distribute our services across a variety of channels to customers. The following disclosures in this note are applicable for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

The following tables present a disaggregation of our revenue from contracts with customers by distribution channel for the three and nine months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and 2018:
 Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
 North America Europe Asia-Pacific Total
        
 (in thousands)
        
Direct:       
Relationship-led$271,411
 $97,041
 $33,420
 $401,872
Technology-enabled341,241
 45,828
 28,327
 415,396
 612,652
 142,869
 61,747
 817,268
Wholesale65,771
 
 
 65,771
 $678,423
 $142,869
 $61,747
 $883,039


 Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
 North America Europe Asia-Pacific Total
        
 (in thousands)
        
Direct:       
Relationship-led$254,593
 $105,468
 $33,612
 $393,673
Technology-enabled317,206
 52,116
 22,759
 392,081
 571,799
 157,584
 56,371
 785,754
        
Wholesale71,916
 
 
 71,916
 $643,715
 $157,584
 $56,371
 $857,670

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
North America Europe Asia-Pacific TotalNorth America Europe Asia-Pacific Total
              
(in thousands)(in thousands)
              
Direct:              
Relationship-led$725,874
 $300,642
 $101,225
 $1,127,741
$226,420
 $92,214
 $35,242
 $353,876
Technology-enabled896,982
 155,850
 68,549
 1,121,381
283,358
 51,063
 22,429
 356,850
1,622,856
 456,492
 169,774
 2,249,122
509,778
 143,277
 57,671
 710,726
       
Wholesale236,689
 
 
 236,689
84,251
 
 
 84,251
$1,859,545
 $456,492
 $169,774
 $2,485,811
$594,029
 $143,277
 $57,671
 $794,977

ASC 606 requires that we determine for each customer arrangement whether revenue should be recognized at a point in time or over time. For the three and nine months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and 2018, substantially all of our revenues were recognized over time.

NatureSupplemental balance sheet information related to contracts from customers as of our Customer ArrangementsMarch 31, 2019 and 2018 was as follows:
 Balance Sheet Location March 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
      
   (in thousands)
      
Assets:     
Capitalized costs to obtain customer contracts, netOther noncurrent assets $201,896
 $194,616
Capitalized costs to fulfill customer contracts, netOther noncurrent assets $16,282
 $12,954
      
Liabilities:     
Contract liabilities, net (current)Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $140,808
 $146,947
Contract liabilities, net (noncurrent)Other noncurrent liabilities $9,045
 $8,595

Our payment services customers contract with us for payment services, which we provide in exchange for consideration for completed transactions. Our payment solutions are similar around the world in that we enable our customers to accept card, electronic and digital-based payments at the point of sale. Our comprehensive services include authorization services (including electronic draft capture), settlement and funding services, customer support and help-desk functions, chargeback resolution, payment security services, consolidated billing and statements and on-line reporting. In addition, we may sell or rent point-of-sale terminals or other equipment to customers.

At contract inception, we assess the goods and services promised in our contracts with customers and identify a performance obligation for each promise to transfer to the customer a good or service that is distinct. For our payment services specifically, the nature of our promise to the customer is that we stand ready to process transactions the customer requests on a daily basis over the contract term. Since the timing and quantity of transactions to be processed by us is not determinable, we view payment services to comprise an obligation to stand ready to process as many transactions as the customer requires. Under a stand-ready obligation, the evaluation of the nature of our performance obligation is focused on each time increment rather than the underlying activities. Therefore, we view payment services to comprise a series of distinct days of service that are substantially the same and have the same pattern of transfer to the customer. Accordingly, the promise to stand ready is accounted for as a single-series performance obligation.

In order to provide our payment services, we route and clear each transaction through the applicable payment network. We obtain authorization for the transaction and request funds settlement from the card issuing financial institution through the payment network. When third parties are involved in the transfer of goods or services to our customer, we consider the nature of each specific promised good or service and apply judgment to determine whether we control the good or service before it is transferred to the customer or whether we are acting as an agent of the third party. To determine whether or not we control the good or service before it is transferred to the customer, we assess indicators including whether we or the third party is primarily responsible for fulfillment and which party has discretion in determining pricing for the good or service, as well as other considerations. Based on our assessment of these indicators, we have concluded that our promise to our customer to provide our payment services is distinct from the services provided by the card issuing financial institutions and payment networks in connection with payment transactions. We do not have the ability to direct the use of and obtain substantially all of the benefits of the services provided by the card issuing financial institutions and payment networks before those services are transferred to our customer, and on that basis, we do not control those services prior to being transferred to our customer. As a result, we present our revenue net of the interchange fees charged by the card issuing financial institutions and the fees charged by the payment networks.

The majority of our processing services are priced as a percentage of transaction value or a specified fee per transaction, depending on the card type. We also charge other per occurrence fees based on specific services that may be unrelated to the number of transactions or transaction value. Given the nature of the promise and the underlying fees based on unknown quantities or outcomes of services to be performed over the contract term, the total consideration is determined to be variable consideration. The variable consideration for our payment processing service is usage-based and therefore it specifically relates to our efforts to satisfy our payment services obligation. In other words, the variability is satisfied each day the service is provided to the customer. We directly ascribe variable fees to the distinct day of service to which it relates, and we consider the services performed each

day in order to ascribe the appropriate amount of total fees to that day. Therefore, we measure revenue for our payment processing service on a daily basis based on the services that are performed on that day.

Certain of our technology-enabled customer arrangements contain multiple promises, such as payment services (as aforementioned, a series of distinct days of service), perpetual software licenses, software-as-a-service ("SaaS"), maintenance, installation services, training and equipment, each of which is evaluated to determine whether it represents a separate performance obligation. SaaS arrangements are generally offered on a subscription basis, providing the customers with access to the SaaS platform along with general support and maintenance services. Because these promised services within our SaaS arrangements are delivered concurrently over the contract term, we account for these promises as if they are a single performance obligation that includes a series of distinct services with the same pattern of transfer to the customer. In addition, certain installation services are not considered distinct from the SaaS, and are thereforeRevenue recognized over the expected period of benefit.

Once we determine the performance obligations and the transaction price, including an estimate of any variable consideration, we then allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation in the contract using a relative standalone selling price method. We determine standalone selling price based on the price at which the good or service is sold separately. If the standalone selling price is not observable through past transactions, we estimate the standalone selling price by considering all reasonably available information, including market conditions, trends or other company- or customer-specific factors. Substantially all of the performance obligations described above are satisfied over time. Only equipment sales, perpetual software licenses and certain professional services are generally transferred to the customer at a point in time. For certain other professional services that represent separate performance obligations, we generally use the input method and recognize revenue based on the number of hours incurred or services performed to date in relation to the total services expected to be required to satisfy the performance obligation.

We satisfy the combined SaaS performance obligation by standing ready to provide access to the SaaS. Consideration for SaaS arrangements may consist of fixed- or usage-based fees. Revenue is recognized over the period for which the services are provided or by directly ascribing any variable fees to the distinct day of service based on the services that are performed on that day.

Transaction Price Allocated to Future Performance Obligations

ASC 606 requires disclosure of the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations; however, as permitted by ASC 606, we have elected to exclude from this disclosure any contracts with an original duration of one year or less and any variable consideration that meets specified criteria. As described above, our most significant performance obligations consist of variable consideration under a stand-ready series of distinct days of service. Such variable consideration meets the specified criteria for the disclosure exclusion; therefore, the majority of the aggregate amount of transaction price that is allocated to performance obligations that have not yet been satisfied is variable consideration that is not required for this disclosure. The aggregate fixed consideration portion of customer contracts with an initial contract duration greater than one year is not material.

Accounts Receivable, Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities

A contract with a customer creates legal rights and obligations. As we perform under customer contracts, our right to consideration that is unconditional is considered to be accounts receivable. If our right to consideration for such performance is contingent upon a future event or satisfaction of additional performance obligations, the amount of revenues we have recognized in excess of the amount we have billed to the customer is recognized as a contract asset. Contract liabilities represent consideration received from customers in excess of revenues recognized. Contract assets and liabilities are presented net at the individual contract level in the consolidated balance sheet and are classified as current or noncurrent based on the nature of the underlying contractual rights and obligations.

Net contract liabilities included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet were $114.1 million at September 30, 2018, $116.9 million at July 1, 2018 and $100.6 million at January 1, 2018. Net contract liabilities included in other noncurrent liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet were $7.9 million at September 30, 2018, $8.3 million at July 1, 2018 and $6.0 million at January 1, 2018. Revenues for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and 2018 included $39.2 million thatfrom contract liability balances at the beginning of the period was in contract liabilities at July 1, 2018. Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 included $90.2 million that was in contract liabilities at January 1, 2018. Net contract assets were not material at September 30, 2018 or at January 1, 2018.


Contract Costs

We incur costs to obtain contracts with customers, including employee sales commissions and fees to business partners. At contract inception, we capitalize such costs that we expect to recover and that would not have been incurred if the contract had not been obtained. We also capitalize certain costs incurred to fulfill our contracts with customers that (i) relate directly to the contract, (ii) are expected to generate resources that will be used to satisfy our performance obligation under the contract and (iii) are expected to be recovered through revenue generated under the contract. At September 30, 2018, we had net capitalized costs to obtain and to fulfill contracts of $181.8$58.5 million and $9.8 million, respectively, included in other noncurrent assets on our consolidated balance sheet.

Contract costs are amortized on a systematic basis consistent with the transfer to the customer of the goods or services to which the asset relates. A straight-line or proportional amortization method is used depending upon which method best depicts the pattern of transfer of the goods or services to the customer. In addition, these contract costs are evaluated for impairment by comparing, on a pooled basis, the expected future net cash flows from underlying customer relationships to the carrying amount of the capitalized contract costs. At September 30, 2018, none of our capitalized contract costs were impaired.

In order to determine the appropriate amortization period for contract costs, we consider a combination of factors, including customer attrition rates, estimated terms of customer relationships, the useful lives of technology we use to provide goods and services to our customers, whether future contract renewals are expected and if there is any incremental commission to be paid on a contract renewal. We amortize these assets over the expected period of benefit, which, based on the factors noted above, is typically 7 years. Costs to obtain a contract with an expected period of benefit of one year or less are recognized as an expense when incurred. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, amortization of capitalized contract costs was $13.5 million and $37.3$40.6 million, respectively.


NOTE 4—SETTLEMENT PROCESSING ASSETS AND OBLIGATIONS

As of September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2017,2018, settlement processing assets and obligations consisted of the following:
September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017March 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
      
(in thousands)(in thousands)
      
Settlement processing assets:      
Interchange reimbursement$262,487
 $304,964
$268,329
 $154,978
Receivable from members116,843
 104,339
106,690
 228,107
Receivable from networks2,521,106
 2,055,390
2,406,807
 1,221,060
Exception items10,558
 7,867
9,885
 7,636
Merchant reserves(16,768) (13,268)(16,340) (11,559)
$2,894,226
 $2,459,292
$2,775,371
 $1,600,222
      
Settlement processing obligations:      
Interchange reimbursement$93,736
 $72,053
$85,322
 $193,235
Liability to members(23,693) (20,369)(21,004) (182,450)
Liability to merchants(2,352,216) (1,961,107)(2,504,918) (1,144,249)
Exception items6,307
 6,863
3,274
 7,146
Merchant reserves(143,020) (133,907)(136,686) (145,826)
Reserve for operating losses and sales allowances(4,183) (4,042)(5,864) (4,212)
$(2,423,069) $(2,040,509)$(2,579,876) $(1,276,356)


NOTE 5—GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

As of September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2017,2018, goodwill and other intangible assets consisted of the following:  
September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017March 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
      
(in thousands)(in thousands)
      
Goodwill$6,130,921
 $5,703,992
$6,345,998
 $6,341,355
Other intangible assets:      
Customer-related intangible assets$2,123,046
 $2,078,891
$2,493,426
 $2,486,217
Acquired technologies1,027,842
 722,466
914,127
 896,701
Trademarks and trade names245,814
 247,688
293,177
 289,588
Contract-based intangible assets137,097
 171,522
174,297
 178,391
3,533,799
 3,220,567
3,875,027
 3,850,897
Less accumulated amortization:      
Customer-related intangible assets806,204
 685,869
916,457
 860,715
Acquired technologies310,705
 210,063
390,868
 351,170
Trademarks and trade names73,977
 50,849
92,436
 83,234
Contract-based intangible assets63,945
 92,079
69,933
 67,160
1,254,831
 1,038,860
1,469,694
 1,362,279
$2,278,968
 $2,181,707
$2,405,333
 $2,488,618


The following table sets forth the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2018:March 31, 2019:
 North America Europe Asia-Pacific Total
        
 (in thousands)
        
Balance at December 31, 2017$4,896,491
 $513,138
 $294,363
 $5,703,992
Goodwill acquired468,798
 
 
 468,798
Effect of foreign currency translation(1,891) (20,063) (19,491) (41,445)
Measurement-period adjustments(424) 
 
 (424)
Balance at September 30, 2018$5,362,974
 $493,075
 $274,872
 $6,130,921
 North America Europe Asia-Pacific Total
        
 (in thousands)
        
Balance at December 31, 2018$5,530,087
 $484,761
 $326,507
 $6,341,355
Effect of foreign currency translation3,786
 (1,035) 1,948
 4,699
Measurement-period adjustments(4,092) 
 4,036
 (56)
Balance at March 31, 2019$5,529,781
 $483,726
 $332,491
 $6,345,998

There waswere no accumulated impairment losslosses for goodwill as of September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 or December 31, 2017.2018.

NOTE 6—LEASES

Our leases consist primarily of operating real estate leases for office space in the markets in which we conduct business. Many of our operating leases include escalating rental payments and incentives, as well as termination and renewal options. Certain of our lease agreements provide that we pay the cost of property taxes, insurance and maintenance. As described in "Note 1—Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies," we adopted ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019. Unless otherwise indicated, the following information in this footnote applies only to periods after December 31, 2018.

We evaluate each of our lease and service arrangements at inception to determine if the arrangement is, or contains, a lease and the appropriate classification of each identified lease. A lease exists if we obtain substantially all of the economic benefits of and have the right to control the use of an asset for a period of time. Right-of-use assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease agreement. We recognize right-of-use assets and leases liabilities at the lease commencement date based on the present values of fixed lease payments over the term of the lease. Lease costs are recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We consider a termination or renewal option in the determination of the lease term when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. The weighted-average remaining lease term at March 31, 2019 was 10.2 years. Because our leases generally do not provide a readily determinable implicit interest rate, we use an incremental borrowing rate to measure the lease liability and associated right-of-use asset at the lease commencement date. The incremental borrowing rate used is a fully collateralized rate that considers our credit rating, market conditions and the term of the lease at the lease commencement date. The weighted-average discount rate used in the measurement of our lease liabilities as of March 31, 2019 was 5.2%.

The effects of adopting ASU 2016-02 on our balance sheet is set forth in the table below. Adoption did not have a material effect on any line items in our consolidated statement of income or on our cash flows from operating activities, investing activities or financing activities included in our consolidated statement of cash flows. As of March 31, 2019 and January 1, 2019, right-of-use assets and lease liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):
  Balance Sheet Location March 31, 2019 January 1, 2019
       
       
       
Assets:      
Operating lease right-of-use assets(1)
 Other noncurrent assets $225,300
 $235,979
       
Liabilities:      
Operating lease liabilities (current) Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $36,394
 $37,339
Operating lease liabilities (noncurrent) Other noncurrent liabilities 230,260
 236,697
Total operating lease liabilities   $266,654
 $274,036

(1) Approximately 90% of our operating lease right-of-use assets are located in the United States.


As of March 31, 2019, maturities of lease liabilities were as follows (in thousands):
Year ending December 31,  
2019 $38,514
2020 43,533
2021 34,784
2022 31,883
2023 27,914
2024 26,323
2025 and thereafter 145,594
Total lease payments(1)
 348,545
Imputed interest (81,891)
Total operating lease liabilities $266,654

(1) Total lease payments do not include approximately $81 million for operating leases that had not yet commenced at March 31, 2019. We expect the lease commencement date for these leases to occur later in 2019 and in 2020.

Operating lease costs in our consolidated statement of income for the three months ended March 31, 2019 were $15.7 million, including $14.5 million in selling, general and administrative expenses and $1.2 million in cost of services.Total lease costs include variable lease costs of approximately $2.4 million, which are primarily comprised of the cost of property taxes, insurance and maintenance. Lease costs for leases with a term of less than twelve months were which are not material for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $12.5 million, which is included as a component of cash provided by operating activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows. Operating lease liabilities arising from obtaining new or modified right-of-use assets were $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Future minimum payments at December 31, 2018 for noncancelable operating leases were as follows (in thousands):
Year ending December 31:  
2019 $50,095
2020 47,700
2021 40,035
2022 37,055
2023 33,298
2024 and thereafter 225,225
   Total future minimum payments(1)
 $433,408

(1) Future minimum lease payments include approximately $70 million for operating leases that had not commenced at December 31, 2018.


NOTE 6—7—LONG-TERM DEBT AND LINES OF CREDIT

As of September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2017,2018, long-term debt consisted of the following:
September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017March 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
      
(in thousands)(in thousands)
      
Credit Facility:      
Term loans (face amounts of $3,984,386 and $3,932,677 at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, less unamortized debt issuance costs of $35,187 and $37,961 at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)$3,949,199
 $3,894,716
Term loans (face amounts of $4,441,578 and $4,463,643 at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, less unamortized debt issuance costs of $35,182 and $37,400 at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively)$4,406,396
 $4,426,243
Revolving Credit Facility851,000
 765,000
897,000
 704,000
Total long-term debt4,800,199
 4,659,716
5,303,396
 5,130,243
Less current portion of Credit Facility (face amounts of $101,174 and $108,979 at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, less unamortized debt issuance costs of $8,485 and $8,671 at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)92,689
 100,308
Less current portion of Credit Facility (face amounts of $142,044 and $124,176 at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, less unamortized debt issuance costs of $9,086 and $9,101 at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, and the current portion of capital lease obligations of $62)133,019
 115,075
Long-term debt, excluding current portion$4,707,510
 $4,559,408
$5,170,377
 $5,015,168

Maturity requirements on long-term debt as of September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 by year are as follows (in thousands):
Years ending December 31, 
2018$20,810
Year ending December 31, 
2019119,109
$102,111
2020154,979
159,979
2021190,848
195,848
2022262,587
267,587
20234,087,053
4,138,053
2024 and thereafter475,000
Total$4,835,386
$5,338,578

Credit Facility

We are party to a credit facility agreement with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and a syndicate of financial institutions as lenders and other agents (as amended from time to time, the "Credit Facility"). As of September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, the Credit Facility provided for secured financing comprised of (i) a $1.5 billion revolving credit facility (the "Revolving("Revolving Credit Facility"); (ii) a $1.5 billion term loan (the "Term("Term A Loan"), (iii) a $1.37 billion term loan (the "Term("Term A-2 Loan") and, (iv) a $1.14 billion term loan (the "Term("Term B-2 Loan"); and (v) a $500 million term loan ("Term B-4 Loan"). Substantially all of the assets of our domestic subsidiaries are pledged as collateral under the Credit Facility.

The borrowings outstandingtotal available commitments under our Credit Facility as of September 30, 2018 reflect activities we completed earlier in 2018, including a reduction to the interest rate margins applicable to our Term A Loan, Term A-2 Loan, Term B-2 Loan and the Revolving Credit Facility an extension of the maturity dates of the Term A Loan, Term A-2 Loan and the Revolving Credit Facility, and an increase in the total financing capacity under the Credit Facility to approximately $5.5 billion in June 2018. 

In October 2018, we entered into an additional term loan in the amount of $500at March 31, 2019 were $590.5 million. See "Note 14—Subsequent Events" for discussion.

The Credit Facility provides for an interest rate, at our election, of either London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") or a base rate, in each case plus a margin. As of September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, the interest rates on the Term A Loan, the Term A-2 Loan, and the Term B-2 Loan and the Term B-4 Loan were 3.74%4.00%, 3.66%4.00%, 4.25% and 3.99%4.25%, respectively. As of September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, the interest rate on the Revolving Credit Facility was 3.66%3.91%. In addition, we are required to pay a quarterly commitment fee onwith respect to the unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility at an applicable rate per annum ranging from 0.20% to 0.30% depending on our leverage ratio.


The Term A Loan and the Term A-2 Loan mature, and the Revolving Credit Facility expires, on January 20, 2023. The Term B-2 Loan matures on April 22, 2023. The Term B-4 Loan matures on October 18, 2025. The Term A Loan and Term A-2 Loan principalsprincipal amounts must each be repaid in quarterly installments in the amount of 0.625% of principal through June 2019, increasing to 1.25% of principal through June 2021, increasing to 1.875% of principal through June 2022 and increasing to 2.50% of principal through December 2022, with the remaining principal balance due upon maturity in January 2023. The Term B-2 Loan principal must be repaid in quarterly installments in the amount of 0.25% of principal through March 2023, with the remaining principal

balance due upon maturity in April 2023. The Term B-4 Loan principal must be repaid in quarterly installments in the amount of 0.25% of principal through September 2025, with the remaining principal balance due upon maturity in October 2025.

We may issue standby letters of credit of up to $100 million in the aggregate under the Revolving Credit Facility. Outstanding letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility reduce the amount of borrowings available to us under the Revolving Credit Facility.us. Borrowings available to us under the Revolving Credit Facility are further limited by the covenants described below under "Compliance with Covenants." The total available commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were $636.4 million and $473.3 million, respectively.

The portion of deferred debt issuance costs related to the Revolving Credit Facility is included in other noncurrent assets, and the portion of deferred debt issuance costs related to the term loans is reported as a reduction to the carrying amount of the term loans. Debt issuance costs are amortized as an adjustment to interest expense over the terms of the respective facilities.

Settlement Lines of Credit

In various markets where we do business, we have specialized lines of credit, which are restricted for use in funding settlement. The settlement lines of credit generally have variable interest rates, are subject to annual review and are denominated in local currency but may, in some cases, facilitate borrowings in multiple currencies. For certain of our settlement lines of credit, the available credit is increased by the amount of cash we have on deposit in specific accounts with the lender. Accordingly, the amount of the outstanding line of credit may exceed the stated credit limit. As of September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2017,2018, a total of $68.5$69.0 million and $59.3$70.6 million, respectively, of cash on deposit was used to determine the available credit.

As of September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2017,2018, respectively, we had $685.9$641.9 million and $635.2$700.5 million outstanding under these lines of credit with additional capacity of $759.9$725.2 million as of September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 to fund settlement. The weighted-average interest rate on these borrowings was 2.81%2.57% and 1.97%2.97% at September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2017,2018, respectively. During the three months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, the maximum and average outstanding balances under these lines of credit were $828.2$685.4 million and $409.8$390.0 million, respectively.

Compliance with Covenants

The Credit Facility Agreement contains customary affirmative and restrictive covenants, including, among others, financial covenants based on our leverage and interest coverage ratios, as defined in the agreement. As of September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, financial covenants under the Credit Facility Agreement required a leverage ratio no greater than: (i) 5.00 to 1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter ending during the period from April 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019; (ii) 4.75 to 1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter ending during the period from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020; and (iii) 4.50 to 1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter ending thereafter. The interest coverage ratio is required to be no less than 3.25 to 1.00.

The Credit Facility and settlement lines of credit also include various other covenants that are customary in such borrowings. The Credit FacilityAgreement includes covenants, subject in each case to exceptions and qualifications that may restrict certain payments, including in certain circumstances, the paymentrepurchasing of our common stock and paying cash dividends in excess of our current rate of $0.01 per share per quarter.

The Credit Facility also includes customary events of default, the occurrence of which, following any applicable cure period, would permit the lenders to, among other things, declare the principal, accrued interest and other obligations to be immediately due and payable. We were in compliance with all applicable covenants as of September 30, 2018.March 31, 2019.

Interest Rate Swap Agreements

We have interest rate swap agreements with financial institutions to hedge changes in cash flows attributable to interest rate risk on a portion of our variable-rate debt instruments. Net amounts to be received or paid under the swap agreements are reflected as adjustments to interest expense. Since we have designated the interest rate swap agreements as portfolio cash flow hedges,

unrealized gains or losses resulting from adjusting the swaps to fair value are recorded as components of other comprehensive income. The fair values of the interest rate swaps were determined based on the present value of the estimated future net cash flows using implied rates in the applicable yield curve as of the valuation date. These derivative instruments were classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy.


The table below presents the fair values of our derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges included in the consolidated balance sheets:
Derivative Financial Instruments Balance Sheet Location Weighted-Average Fixed Rate of Interest at September 30, 2018 
Range of Maturity Dates at
September 30, 2018
 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
           
        (in thousands)
           
Interest rate swaps (Notional of $500 million at September 30, 2018) Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1.52% February 28, 2019 $1,825
 $
Interest rate swaps (Notional of $800 million at September 30, 2018 and $1,300 million at December 31, 2017) Other noncurrent assets 1.63% December 31, 2019 - March 31, 2021 $16,900
 $9,202
        Fair Values
Derivative Financial Instruments Balance Sheet Location Weighted-Average Fixed Rate of Interest at March 31, 2019 
Range of Maturity Dates at
March 31, 2019
 March 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
           
        (in thousands)
           
Interest rate swaps (Notional of $250 million at March 31, 2019 and $750 million at December 31, 2018) Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1.58% December 31, 2019 $1,602
 $3,200
Interest rate swaps (Notional of $550 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018) Other noncurrent assets 1.65% July 31, 2020 - March 31, 2021 $5,248
 $8,256
Interest rate swaps (Notional of $1,250 million at March 31, 2019 and $950 million at December 31, 2018) Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 2.73% December 31, 2022 $26,333
 $14,601

The table below presents the effects of our interest rate swaps on the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 and 2017:2018:
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017
        
 (in thousands)
        
Amount of unrealized gains (losses) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)$1,845
 $341
 $12,353
 $(2,214)
Amount of unrealized (gains) losses reclassified out of other comprehensive income (loss) to interest expense$(1,663) $1,172
 $(2,830) $4,667
 Three Months Ended
 March 31, 2019 March 31, 2018
    
 (in thousands)
    
Amount of net unrealized (losses) gains recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)$(14,509) $7,682
Amount of net unrealized gains reclassified out of other comprehensive income (loss) to interest expense$(1,830) $(169)

As of September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, the amount of net unrealized gains in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to our interest rate swaps that is expected to be reclassified into interest expense during the next 12 months was approximately $9.9$1.3 million.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was approximately $46$55.4 million and $41$45.5 million for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and 2018, and 2017, respectively, and approximately $140 million and $130 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

NOTE 7—8—INCOME TAX

On December 22, 2017, the United States enacted the 2017 U.S. Tax Act, which resulted in numerous changes, including a reduction in the U.S. federalOur effective income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 and the transition of the U.S. federal tax system to a territorial regime. As of September 30, 2018, we have not completed our accountingwas 16.8% for the effects of the 2017 U.S. Tax Act; however, we made a reasonable estimate of the effects on our existing deferred tax balances and the one-time transition tax as of December 31, 2017 pursuant to guidance provided in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, which in March 2018 was codified by the FASB in ASU 2018-05 Income Taxes (Topic 740). We have continued to analyze our foreign tax pools and resulting foreign tax credits and, during the three months ended September 30, 2018, reduced our estimated transition tax liability by $23.3

million. We are continuing to gather additional information to complete our accountingMarch 31, 2019 and 20.2% for these items and expect to complete our accounting within the prescribed measurement period.

three months ended March 31, 2018. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was a benefit of 3.4%. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was 11.7%. Our effective income tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 were 10.4% and 14.4%, respectively. Our 2017 effective income tax rates differedMarch 31, 2019 differs from the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to income generated in international jurisdictions with lowerthe excess tax rates. Our 2018 effective income tax rates differed from the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to changes in estimatesbenefits of prior year liabilities, including the aforementioned $23.3 million adjustment to the one-time transition tax liability recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2018.share-based awards that are recognized upon vesting or settlement.

We conduct business globally and file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, we are subject to examination by taxing authorities around the world, including, without limitation, the United States and the United Kingdom. We are no longer subject to state income tax examinations for years ended on or before May 31, 2008,2010, U.S. federal income tax examinations for fiscal years prior to 2014ended on or before May 31, 2013 and U.K. federal income tax examinations for years ended on or before May 31, 2014.


NOTE 8—9—SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

We make repurchases of our common stock mainly through open market repurchase plans and, at times, through accelerated share repurchase programs. As of September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, we were authorized to repurchase up to $419.1$638.0 million of our common stock. During the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2019, through open market repurchase plans, we repurchased and retired 1,295,282 shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of $158.0 million, or an average cost of $121.98 per share, including commissions. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, through open market repurchase plans, we repurchased and retired 1,612,174 shares of our common stock, respectively, at a cost of $180.9 million, or an average cost of $112.19 per share, including commissions.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, through open market repurchase plans, we repurchased and retired 311,593 and 376,3098,926 shares of our common stock at a cost of $29.0 million and $34.8$1.0 million, or an average cost of $93.09 and $92.51$109.79 per share, including commissions.

On October 26, 2018,April 25, 2019, our board of directors declared a dividend of $0.01 per share payable on DecemberJune 28, 20182019 to common shareholders of record as of DecemberJune 14, 2018.2019.

NOTE 9—10—SHARE-BASED AWARDS AND OPTIONS

The following table summarizes share-based compensation expense and the related income tax benefit recognized for our share-based awards and stock options:
Three Months Ended Nine Months EndedThree Months Ended
September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017March 31, 2019 March 31, 2018
          
(in thousands)(in thousands)
          
Share-based compensation expense$14,833
 $9,617
 $44,937
 $30,771
$11,418
 $14,898
Income tax benefit$3,614
 $3,523
 $10,276
 $10,788
$2,509
 $3,285
 

Share-Based Awards

The following table summarizes the changes in unvested restricted stock and performance awards for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2018:March 31, 2019:
Shares 
Weighted-Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
Shares 
Weighted-Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
      
(in thousands)  (in thousands)  
      
Unvested at December 31, 20171,226
 
$78.29
Unvested at December 31, 20181,084
 
$108.51
Granted600
 107.16
458
 133.13
Vested(715) 62.89
(226) 92.19
Forfeited(55) 90.40
(28) 99.65
Unvested at September 30, 20181,056
 $104.52
Unvested at March 31, 20191,288
 
$120.33

The total fair value of restricted stock and performance awards vested during the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017 was $45.0$20.8 million and $27.6$13.0 million, respectively.

For restricted stock and performance awards, we recognized compensation expense of $13.8$10.1 million and $8.6$13.8 million during the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018, and September 30, 2017, respectively, and $41.1 million and $27.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively. As of September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, there was $67.7$110.4 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock and performance awards that we expect to recognize over a weighted-average period of 2.12.4 years. Our restricted stock and performance award plans provide for accelerated vesting under certain conditions.


Stock Options

The following table summarizes changes in stock option activity for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2018:March 31, 2019: 
Options Weighted-Average Exercise Price Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term Aggregate Intrinsic ValueOptions Weighted-Average Exercise Price Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term Aggregate Intrinsic Value
              
(in thousands)   (years) (in millions)(in thousands)   (years) (in millions)
        
Outstanding at December 31, 2017723
 
$47.79
 6.4 $37.9
Outstanding at December 31, 2018598
 
$59.16
 6.2 $27.3
Granted103
 114.70
 109
 128.22
 
Forfeited(9) 81.68
 
 
 
Exercised(188) 39.40
 (170) 35.91
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2018629
 
$60.75
 6.1 $41.8
Outstanding at March 31, 2019537
 
$80.59
 7.1 $30.0
        
Options vested and exercisable at September 30, 2018457
 
$47.50
 5.1 $36.5
Options vested and exercisable at March 31, 2019319
 
$58.70
 5.7 $24.8

We recognized compensation expense for stock options of $0.7 million during each of the three months ended September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 and 2017, and $2.3 million and $2.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively.2018. The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017 was $15.9 million and $9.9$2.1 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, we had $4.4$6.9 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock options that we expect to recognize over a weighted-average period of 2.02.4 years.


The weighted-average grant-date fair value of each stock option granted during the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018 was $39.60 and September 30, 2017 was $35.09, and $23.68, respectively. Fair value was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model with the following weighted-average assumptions:
Nine Months EndedThree Months Ended
September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017March 31, 2019 March 31, 2018
    
Risk-free interest rate2.60% 1.99%2.49% 2.60%
Expected volatility29% 30%30% 29%
Dividend yield0.04% 0.06%0.04% 0.04%
Expected term (years)5 55 5

The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield of a zero coupon U.S. Treasury security with a maturity equal to the expected life of the option from the date of the grant. Our assumption on expected volatility is based on our historical volatility. The dividend yield assumption is calculated using our average stock price over the preceding year and the annualized amount of our most current quarterly dividend per share. We based our assumptions on the expected term of the options on our analysis of the historical exercise patterns of the options and our assumption on the future exercise pattern of options.
 
NOTE 10—11—EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share ("EPS") is computed by dividing net income attributable to Global Payments by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period. Earnings available to common shareholders is the same as reported net income attributable to Global Payments for all periods presented.

Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income attributable to Global Payments by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period, including the effect of share-based awards that would have a dilutive effect on EPS. All stock options with an exercise price lower than the average market share price of our common stock for the period are assumed to have a dilutive effect on EPS.


The following table sets forth the computation of diluted weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 and 2017:2018:
Three Months Ended Nine Months EndedThree Months Ended
September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017March 31, 2019 March 31, 2018
          
(in thousands)(in thousands)
          
Basic weighted-average number of shares outstanding158,168
 154,560
 158,827
 153,138
157,519
 159,321
Plus: Dilutive effect of stock options and other share-based awards538
 842
 632
 941
499
 714
Diluted weighted-average number of shares outstanding158,706
 155,402
 159,459
 154,079
158,018
 160,035


NOTE 11—12—ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

The changes in the accumulated balances for each component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, were as follows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2017:2018:

 Foreign Currency Translation Unrealized Gains on Hedging Activities Other Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
        
 (in thousands)
        
Balance at June 30, 2018$(253,372) $14,030
 $(4,287) $(243,629)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax(26,930) 72
 (58) (26,916)
Balance at September 30, 2018$(280,302) $14,102
 $(4,345) $(270,545)
        
Balance at June 30, 2017$(239,669) $51
 $(3,841) $(243,459)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax40,090
 843
 18
 40,951
Balance at September 30, 2017$(199,579) $894
 $(3,823) $(202,508)
 Foreign Currency Translation Unrealized Gains on Hedging Activities Other Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
        
 (in thousands)
        
Balance at December 31, 2018$(304,274) $(2,374) $(3,527) $(310,175)
Other comprehensive income (loss)9,807
 (12,351) 111
 (2,433)
Balance at March 31, 2019$(294,467) $(14,725) $(3,416) $(312,608)
        
Balance at December 31, 2017$(185,856) $6,999
 $(4,287) $(183,144)
Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting standard(1,843) 
 
 (1,843)
Other comprehensive income (loss)2,430
 5,648
 (52) 8,026
Balance at March 31, 2018$(185,269) $12,647
 $(4,339) $(176,961)

Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, which relates only to foreign currency translation, was $11.7a loss of $4.6 million and $2.3income of $11.3 million for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018, and September 30, 2017, respectively.

 Foreign Currency Translation Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Hedging Activities Other Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
        
 (in thousands)
        
Balance at December 31, 2017$(185,856) $6,999
 $(4,287) $(183,144)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax(92,603) 7,103
 (58) (85,558)
Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting standard(1,843) 
 
 (1,843)
Balance at September 30, 2018$(280,302) $14,102
 $(4,345) $(270,545)
        
Balance at December 31, 2016$(318,450) $(640) $(3,627) $(322,717)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax118,871
 1,534
 (196) 120,209
Balance at September 30, 2017$(199,579) $894
 $(3,823) $(202,508)

Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests, which relates only to foreign currency translation, was $11.8 million and $15.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively.

NOTE 12—13—SEGMENT INFORMATION

We operate in three reportable segments: North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. We evaluate performance and allocate resources based on the operating income of each operating segment. The operating income of each operating segment includes the revenues of the segment less expenses that are directly related to those revenues. Operating overhead, shared costs and certain compensation costs are included in Corporate in the following table. Interest and other income, interest and other expense and provision for income taxes are not allocated to the individual segments. We do not evaluate the performance of or allocate resources to our operating segments using asset data. The accounting policies of the reportable operating segments are the same as those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20172018 and our summary of significant accounting policies in "Note 1Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies."




Information on segments and reconciliations to consolidated revenues and consolidated operating income was as follows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 and 2017:2018:
Three Months Ended Nine Months EndedThree Months Ended
September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2018 September 30, 2017March 31, 2019 March 31, 2018
          
(in thousands)(in thousands)
          
Revenues(1) (2):
       
Revenues(1):
   
North America$643,715
 $764,902
 $1,859,545
 $2,162,911
$678,423
 $594,029
Europe157,584
 205,203
 456,492
 557,258
142,869
 143,277
Asia-Pacific56,371
 68,802
 169,774
 200,741
61,747
 57,671
Consolidated revenues$857,670
 $1,038,907
 $2,485,811
 $2,920,910
$883,039
 $794,977
          
Operating income (loss)(2):
       
Operating income (loss)(1):
   
North America$174,012
 $138,345
 $446,600
 $344,604
$156,146
 $125,404
Europe85,781
 76,214
 239,011
 196,394
71,961
 70,548
Asia-Pacific23,692
 20,032
 67,043
 57,321
27,274
 23,774
Corporate(3)(2)
(60,323) (62,120) (182,585) (189,026)(55,889) (63,556)
Consolidated operating income$223,162
 $172,471
 $570,069
 $409,293
$199,492
 $156,170
     ��    
Depreciation and amortization(2):
       
Depreciation and amortization(1):
   
North America$106,022
 $95,056
 $313,980
 $277,219
$128,237
 $102,525
Europe11,660
 11,863
 36,180
 34,926
12,994
 12,745
Asia-Pacific4,381
 4,484
 13,740
 12,068
5,040
 4,632
Corporate1,994
 2,246
 5,548
 5,750
2,359
 1,841
Consolidated depreciation and amortization$124,057
 $113,649
 $369,448
 $329,963
$148,630
 $121,743

(1)As more fully described in "Note 1—Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" and "Note 3—Revenues," we adopted a new revenue accounting standard on January 1, 2018 that results in revenue being presented net of certain fees that we pay to third parties. This change in presentation affected our reported revenues and operating expenses during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 by the same amount and had no effect on operating income.

(2) Revenues, operating income and depreciation and amortization reflect the effect of acquired businesses from the respective dates of acquisition. For further discussion, see "Note 2Acquisitions."

(3)(2) During the three and nine months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018, operating loss for Corporate included acquisition and integration expenses of $8.2$5.3 million and $34.6$18.3 million, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, operating loss for Corporate included acquisition and integration expenses of $21.5 million and $69.5 million, respectively.

NOTE 13—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Leases

In May 2017, we sold our operating facility in Jeffersonville, Indiana, which we acquired as part of the Heartland merger, for $37.5 million and simultaneously leased the property back for an initial term of 20 years, followed by four optional renewal terms of five years. The arrangement met the criteria to be treated as a sale for accounting purposes, and as a result, we derecognized the associated property. There was no resulting gain or loss on the sale because the proceeds received were equal to the carrying amount of the property. We are accounting for the lease as an operating lease.

NOTE 14—SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On October 17, 2018, we drew approximately $415 million from our Revolving Credit Facility to fund our acquisition of SICOM Systems, Inc. ("SICOM"), a provider of enterprise, cloud-based SaaS solutions and other technologies to quick service restaurants and food service management companies. 

On October 18, 2018, we entered into a new term loan under the Credit Facility in the amount of $500 million (the "Term B-4 Loan"). We used the proceeds from the Term B-4 Loan to pay down a portion of the balance outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility. Like the other term loans issued under the Credit Facility, interest on the Term B-4 Loan will accrue at an interest rate, at our election, of either LIBOR or a base rate, in each case plus a margin. The Term B-4 Loan principal must be repaid in quarterly installments in the amount of 0.25% of principal through September 2025, with the remaining principal balance due upon maturity in October 2025.

ITEM 3—QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates on our long-term debt and cash investments. We invest our excess cash in securities that we believe are highly liquid and marketable in the short term. These investments earn a floating rate of interest and are not held for trading or other speculative purposes.

We have a Credit Facility for general corporate purposes, as well as various lines of credit that we use to fund settlement in certain of our markets. Interest rates on these debt instruments and settlement lines of credit are based on market rates and fluctuate accordingly. As of September 30, 2018, $5.5 billion was outstanding under these variable-rate debt arrangements and settlement lines of credit.

The interest earned on our invested cash and the interest incurred on our debt are based on variable interest rates; therefore, the exposure of our net income to a change in interest rates is partially mitigated as an increase in rates would increase both interest income and interest expense, and a reduction in rates would decrease both interest income and interest expense. Under our current policies, we may selectively use derivative instruments, such as interest rate swaps or forward rate agreements, to manage all or a portion of our exposure to interest rate changes. We have interest rate swaps that reduce a portion of our exposure to market interest rate risk on our LIBOR-based debt as discussed in "Note 6Long-Term Debt and Lines of Credit" in the notes to our accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Based on balances outstanding under variable-rate debt agreements, with consideration given to the related interest rate swaps, and interest-earning cash balances at September 30, 2018, a hypothetical change of 50 basis points in applicable interest rates as of September 30, 2018 would change our annual interest expense by approximately $20.5 million and change our annual interest income by approximately $2.3 million.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

A portion of our revenues and expenses may be affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We are also affected by fluctuations in exchange rates on assets and liabilities related to our foreign operations. We have not historically hedged our translation risk on foreign currency exposure, but we may do so in the future.

ITEM 2—MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 1 of Part 1I of this Quarterly Report and the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and consolidated financial statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements about our plans and expectations of what may happen in the future. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and our actual results could differ materially from the results anticipated by our forward-looking statements. See "Forward-Looking Statements" below for additional information.

Executive Overview

We are a leading worldwide provider of payment technology services and software solutions delivering innovative solutions to our customers globally. Our technologies, services and employee expertise enable us to provide a broad range of services that allow our customers to accept various payment types and operate their businesses more efficiently. We distribute our services across

a variety of channels in 3132 countries throughout North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and Brazil and operate in three reportable segments: North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

On September 1, 2017, we acquired the communities and sports divisions of Athlaction Topco, LLC ("ACTIVE Network"). On September 4, 2018, we acquired AdvancedMD, Inc. ("AdvancedMD"), a provider of cloud-based enterprise software solutions to small-to-medium sized ambulatory physician practices in the United States.

On October 17, 2018, we acquired SICOM Systems, Inc. ("SICOM"), for total purchase consideration of $410.2 million, which we funded with cash on hand and by drawing on our Revolving Credit Facility (described in "Note 7—Long-Term Debt and Lines of Credit" in the notes to the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements). SICOM is a provider of end-to-end enterprise, cloud-based SaaSsoftware solutions and other technologies to quick service restaurants and food service management companies. See "Note 2—Acquisitions" and "Note 14—Subsequent Events" in the notes to the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our acquisitions.

As more fully described in "Note 1—BasisOn September 4, 2018, we acquired AdvancedMD, Inc. ("AdvancedMD") for total purchase consideration of Presentation$706.9 million, which we funded with cash on hand and Summaryby drawing on our Revolving Credit Facility. AdvancedMD is a provider of Significant Accounting Policies" and "Note 3—Revenues" in the notescloud-based enterprise software solutions to the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements, we adopted a new revenue accounting standard on January 1, 2018 that results in revenue being presented net of certain fees that we pay to third parties, including payment network fees. This change in presentation affected our reported revenues and operating expenses during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 by the same amount and had no effect on operating income.small-to-medium sized ambulatory care physician practices.

Highlights related to our financial condition and results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 are provided below:March 31, 2019 are:

Consolidated revenues were $857.7 million and $2,485.8 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $1,038.9 million and $2,920.9 million, respectively, for the prior-year periods. Consolidated revenues without the effect of the new revenue accounting standard increased by 10.6% and 13.3% to $1,149.2 million and $3,309.3$883.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, compared to $1,038.9$795.0 million and $2,920.9 million, respectively, for the prior-year periods,period, primarily due to organic growth.additional revenues from businesses acquired in 2018.

Consolidated operating income was $223.2$199.5 million and $570.1 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, compared to $172.5$156.2 million and $409.3 million, respectively, for the prior-year periods.period. Our operating margin for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 was 26.0% and 22.9%22.6%, respectively. Without the effect of the new accounting standard, our operating margin for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was 18.6% and 16.3%, respectively, compared to 16.6% and 14.0%19.6% for the prior-year periods.period.

Net income attributable to Global Payments was $176.4$112.3 million and $376.8 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, compared to $110.7$91.4 million and $226.5 million, respectively, for the prior-year periods.period.

Diluted earnings per share was $1.11 and $2.36, respectively,$0.71 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, compared to $0.71 and $1.47, respectively,$0.57 for the prior-year periods.period.

Emerging Trends

The payments industry continues to grow worldwide and as a result, certain large payment technology companies, including us, have expanded operations globally by pursuing acquisitions and creating alliances and joint ventures. We expect to continue to expand into new markets and increase our scale and improve our competitiveness in existing markets by pursuing further acquisitions and joint ventures.

We believe electronic payment transactions will continue to grow and that an increasing percentage of these will be facilitated through emerging technologies. As a result, we expect an increasing portion of our future capital investment will be allocated to

support the development of new and emerging technologies; however, we do not expect our aggregate capital spending to increase materially from our current level of spending as a result of this.

We also believe new markets will continue to develop in areas that have been previously dominated by paper-based transactions. We expect industries such as education, government and healthcare, as well as payment types such as recurring payments and business-to-business payments, to continue to seemigrate transactions migrate to electronic-based solutions. We anticipate that the continued development of new services and the emergence of new vertical markets will be a factorfactors in the growth of our business and our revenue in the future.


Results of Operations

The following table sets forth key selected financial data for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and 2018, and 2017, this data as a percentage of total revenues and the changes between the periods in dollars and as a percentage of the prior-year amount.
Three Months Ended September 30, 2018 
% of Revenue(1)
 Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 
% of Revenue(1)
 Change % ChangeThree Months Ended March 31, 2019 
% of Revenues(1)
 Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 
% of Revenues(1)
 Change % Change
                      
(dollar amounts in thousands)(dollar amounts in thousands)
                      
Revenues(2):
           
Revenues:
           
North America$643,715
 75.1% $764,902
 73.6% $(121,187) (15.8)%$678,423
 76.8% $594,029
 74.7% $84,394
 14.2 %
Europe157,584
 18.4% 205,203
 19.8% (47,619) (23.2)%142,869
 16.2% 143,277
 18.0% (408) (0.3)%
Asia-Pacific56,371
 6.6% 68,802
 6.6% (12,431) (18.1)%61,747
 7.0% 57,671
 7.3% 4,076
 7.1 %
Total revenues$857,670
 100.0% $1,038,907
 100.0% $(181,237) (17.4)%$883,039
 100.0% $794,977
 100.0% $88,062
 11.1 %
                      
Consolidated operating expenses(2):
           
Consolidated operating expenses:
           
Cost of service$265,013
 30.9% $493,883
 47.5% $(228,870) (46.3)%$305,230
 34.6% $252,386
 31.7% $52,844
 20.9 %
Selling, general and administrative369,495
 43.1% 372,553
 35.9% (3,058) (0.8)%378,317
 42.8% 386,421
 48.6% (8,104) (2.1)%
Operating expenses$634,508
 74.0% $866,436
 83.4% $(231,928) (26.8)%$683,547
 77.4% $638,807
 80.4% $44,740
 7.0 %
                      
Operating income:
                      
North America$174,012
 

 $138,345
   $35,667
 25.8 %$156,146
 

 $125,404
 

 $30,742
 24.5 %
Europe85,781
   76,214
   9,567
 12.6 %71,961
   70,548
   1,413
 2.0 %
Asia-Pacific23,692
   20,032
   3,660
 18.3 %27,274
   23,774
   3,500
 14.7 %
Corporate(3)(2)
(60,323)   (62,120)   1,797
 (2.9)%(55,889)   (63,556)   7,667
 (12.1)%
Operating income$223,162
 26.0% $172,471
 16.6% $50,691
 29.4 %$199,492
 22.6% $156,170
 19.6% $43,322
 27.7 %
                      
Operating margin:
                      
North America27.0%   18.1%
  8.9%  23.0%   21.1%
  1.9%  
Europe54.4%   37.1%   17.3%  50.4%   49.2%   1.2%  
Asia-Pacific42.0%   29.1%
  12.9%  44.2%   41.2%
  3.0%  

(1) Percentage amounts may not sum to the total due to rounding.

(2)As more fully described in "Note 1—Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" and "Note 3—Revenues," we adopted a new revenue accounting standard on January 1, 2018 that results in revenue being presented net of certain fees that we pay to third parties, including payment network fees. This change in presentation affected our reported revenues and operating expenses during the three months ended September 30, 2018 by the same amount and had no effect on operating income.

(3) OperatingOperating loss for Corporate included acquisition and integration expenses of $8.2$5.3 million and $21.5$18.3 million during the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and 2018, and 2017, respectively. These expenses are included primarily in selling, general and administrative expenses in the unaudited consolidated statements of income.


The following table sets forth key selected financial data for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, this data as a percentage of total revenues and the changes between the periods in dollars and as a percentage of the prior-year amount.
 Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2018
 
% of Revenue(1)
 Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2017
 
% of Revenue(1)
 Change % Change
            
 (dollar amounts in thousands)
            
Revenues(2):
           
North America$1,859,545
 74.8% $2,162,911
 74.0% $(303,366) (14.0)%
Europe456,492
 18.4% 557,258
 19.1% (100,766) (18.1)%
Asia-Pacific169,774
 6.8% 200,741
 6.9% (30,967) (15.4)%
Total revenues$2,485,811
 100.0% $2,920,910
 100.0% $(435,099) (14.9)%
            
Consolidated operating expenses(2):
           
Cost of service$781,943
 31.5% $1,418,969
 48.6% $(637,026) (44.9)%
Selling, general and administrative1,133,799
 45.6% 1,092,648
 37.4% 41,151
 3.8 %
Operating expenses$1,915,742
 77.1% $2,511,617
 86.0% $(595,875) (23.7)%
            
Operating income:
           
North America$446,600
   $344,604
   $101,996
 29.6 %
Europe239,011
   196,394
   42,617
 21.7 %
Asia-Pacific67,043
   57,321
   9,722
 17.0 %
Corporate(3)
(182,585)   (189,026)   6,441
 (3.4)%
Operating income$570,069
 22.9% $409,293
 14.0% $160,776
 39.3 %
            
Operating margin:
           
North America24.0%   15.9%   8.1%  
Europe52.4%   35.2%   17.2%  
Asia-Pacific39.5%   28.6%   10.9%  

(1) Percentage amounts may not sum to the total due to rounding.

(2) As more fully described in "Note 1—Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" and "Note 3—Revenues," we adopted a new revenue accounting standard on January 1, 2018 that results in revenue being presented net of certain fees that we pay to third parties, including payment network fees. This change in presentation affected our reported revenues and operating expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 by the same amount and had no effect on operating income.

(3) Operating loss for Corporate included acquisition and integration expenses of $34.6 million and $69.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. These expenses are included primarily in selling, general and administrative expenses in the unaudited consolidated statements of income.



Revenues

As stated above, effective January 1, 2018 our revenues are presented net of certain fees that we pay to third parties, including payment networks. This change in presentation affected our reported revenues and operating expenses for the current-year periods by the same amount and had no effect on operating income. Consolidated revenues without the effect of the new revenue accounting standard increased by 10.6% and 13.3%, respectively,11.1% to $1,149.2$883.0 million and $3,309.3 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, compared to $1,038.9$795.0 million and $2,920.9 million, respectively, for the prior-year periods.period, despite the unfavorable effect of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, primarily due to revenue growth in our North America segment. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, currency exchange rate fluctuations reduced our consolidated revenues by $21.8 million compared to the prior year, calculated by converting revenues for the current period in local currencies using exchange rates for the prior-year period.

North America Segment. The change in presentation decreased our reported North America segment revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 by $188.7 million and $545.4 million, respectively. Revenues from our North America segment without the effect of the new revenue accounting standard increased by 8.9% and 11.1%, respectively,14.2% to $832.7$678.4 million and $2,402.9 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. For the three months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, compared to $594.0 million for the increase in revenue wasprior-year period, primarily due to organic growth. Duringadditional revenues from the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the increaseacquisitions of AdvancedMD and SICOM in revenue was primarily due to the acquisition of ACTIVE Network.2018.


Europe Segment. The change in presentation decreased our reported Europe segment revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 by $83.5 million and $223.8 million, respectively. Revenues from our Europe segment without the effect of the new revenue accounting standard increased by 17.5% and 22.1%, respectively, to $241.1 million and $680.3were relatively flat at $143 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, primarily dueMarch 31, 2019, compared to organic growth.the prior-year period, despite the unfavorable effect of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates of $14.4 million.

Asia-Pacific Segment. The change in presentation decreased our reported Asia-Pacific segment revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 by $19.0 million and $56.3 million, respectively. Revenues from our Asia-Pacific segment without the effect of the new revenue accounting standard increased by 9.6% and 12.6%, respectively,7.1% to $75.4 million and $226.1$61.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, compared to $57.7 million for the prior-year period primarily due to organic growth.growth, partially offset by the unfavorable effect of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates of $3.7 million.

Operating Expenses

Cost of Service. As described above, effective January 1, 2018, the new revenue accounting standard changed our presentation of certain fees that we pay to third parties, including payment network fees, which decreased cost of services by $273.6 million and $774.5 million, respectively, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. Cost of service without the effect of the new revenue accounting standard increased by 9.3% and 9.9%, respectively,20.9% to $539.9$305.2 million and $1,559.8 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, primarily dueMarch 31, 2019, compared to additional costs associated with revenue growth.$252.4 million for the prior-year period. Cost of service without the effect of the new accounting standard as a percentage of revenues without the effect of the new accounting standard were 47.0% and 47.1%, respectively,was 34.6% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, compared to 47.5% and 48.6%, respectively,31.7% for the prior-year periods.period. These increases were primarily due to an increase in amortization of acquired intangibles of $19.7 million and to additional costs to support the growth of our business.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. As described above, effective January 1, 2018, the new revenue accounting standard changed our presentation of certain fees that we pay to third parties, which decreased selling, general and administrative expenses by $17.7 million and $51.0 million, respectively, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. Selling, general and administrative expenses without the effect of the new revenue accounting standard increaseddecreased by 6.2% and 10.6%, respectively,2.1% to $395.8$378.3 million and $1,208.5 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, compared to $386.4 million for the prior year period. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues was 42.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to 48.6% for the prior-year period. These decreases were due primarily due to a decrease in acquisition and integration expenses of $13.0 million, partially offset by additional costs to support the growth of our business, partially offset by a reduction in acquisition and integration expenses of $13.3 million and $34.9 million, respectively. Selling, general and administrative expenses without the effect of the new accounting standard as a percentage of revenues without the effect of the new accounting standard decreased to 34.4% and 36.5%, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to 35.9% and 37.4%, respectively, for the prior-year periods, primarily due to the reduction in acquisition and integration expenses.business.

Operating Income and Operating Margin

North America Segment. Operating income in our North America segment increased by 25.8% and 29.6%, respectively,24.5% to $174.0$156.1 million and $446.6 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, compared to $125.4 million for the prior-year periods,period, primarily due to the acquisition of ACTIVE Network.revenue growth. Operating margin without the effect of the new accounting

standard increased to 19.8% and 17.4%, respectively,23.0% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, compared to 18.1% and 15.9%, respectively,21.1% for the prior-year periods.period.

Europe Segment. Operating income in our Europe segment increased by 12.6% and 21.7%, respectively,2.0% to $85.8$72.0 million and $239.0 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to the prior-year periods, primarily due to organic growth. Operating margin without the effect of the new accounting standard decreased to 35.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2018March 31, 2019, compared to 37.1%$70.5 million for the prior-year period. Operating margin without the effect of the new accounting standard was 35.2%increased to 50.4% for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017.March 31, 2019, compared to 49.2% for the prior-year period.

Asia-Pacific Segment. Operating income in our Asia-Pacific segment increased by 18.3% and 17.0%, respectively,14.7% to $23.7$27.3 million and $67.0 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, compared to $23.8 million for the prior-year periods,period, primarily due to organicrevenue growth. Operating margin without the effect of the new accounting standard increased to 31.0% and 29.3%44.2% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, compared to 29.1% and 28.6%41.2% for the prior-year periods asperiod, primarily due to a result of continued growthdecrease in organic revenue.certain operating expenses.

Corporate. Corporate expenses decreased by $1.812.1% to $55.9 million and $6.4 million, respectively, to $60.3 million and $182.6 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, compared to $63.6 million for the prior-year periods,period, primarily due to a reductiondecrease in acquisition and integration expenses of $13.3$13.0 million, and $34.9 million, respectively, partially offset by higher share-based compensation expense of $5.2 million and $14.2 million, respectively, and additional costs to support the growth of our business.

Other Income/Expense, Net

Interest and other income increaseddecreased by $0.8$8.8 million and $11.6 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, compared to the prior-year periods. The increase duringperiod. Interest and other income for the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2018 was due toincluded a gain of approximately $9.6 million recognized on the reorganization of a debit network association of which we were a member through one of our Canadian subsidiaries.

Interest and other expense increased by $5.6$13.5 million and $9.3 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, compared to the prior-year periods, to $46.4 million and $139.7 million, respectively.period. Interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 primarily reflects anthe increase in our outstanding long-term debt as well as an increase in the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR").debt.

Provision for Income Taxes

During the three months ended September 30, 2018, we continued to analyze our foreign tax pools and resulting foreign tax credits and reduced the estimated transition tax liability associated with the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "2017 U.S. Tax Act") by $23.3 million. Our effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 was a benefit of 3.4%.16.8%, compared to 20.2% for the prior-year period. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2019 was 11.7%. Our effective incomelower than the prior year primarily due to an increase in the excess tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 were 10.4% and 14.4%, respectively. Our 2018 effective income tax rates reflect the benefitbenefits of the aforementioned $23.3 million adjustment to the one-time transition tax liability recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2018.share-based awards that are recognized upon vesting or settlement.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

In the ordinary course of our business, a significant portion of our liquidity comes from operating cash flows. Cash flow from operationsoperating activities is used to make planned capital investments in our business, to pursue acquisitions that meet our corporate objectives, to pay dividends, to pay principal and interest on our outstanding debt and to repurchase shares of our common stock. Accumulated cash balances are invested in high-quality, marketable short-term instruments.

Our capital plan objectives are to support our operational needs and strategic plan for long-term growth while maintaining a low cost of capital. We use our financing, such as term loans and our Revolving Credit Facility, for general corporate purposes and to fund acquisitions. In addition, specialized lines of credit are also used in certain of our markets to fund merchant settlement prior to receipt

of funds from the card network. We regularly evaluate our liquidity and capital position relative to cash requirements, and we may elect to raise additional funds in the future, through the issuance of debt or equity or otherwise.by other means.

At September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents totaling $990.6$1,277.6 million. Of this amount, we consider $431.3$489.6 million to be available for general purposes, of which approximately $60$25 million is undistributed foreign earnings considered to be indefinitely reinvested outside the United States. Under the 2017 U.S. Tax Act, a company's foreign earnings accumulated under legacy tax laws are deemed repatriated, and the 2017 U.S. Tax Act generally eliminates U.S. federal income taxes on dividends from foreign subsidiaries. The estimate of $60 million is our provisional position under the 2017 U.S. Tax Act. The available cash of $431.3$489.6 million does not include the following: (i) settlement-related cash balances, (ii) funds held as collateral for merchant losses ("Merchant Reserves") and (iii) funds held for customers. Settlement-related cash balances represent funds that we hold when the incoming amount from the card networks precedes the funding obligation to the merchant. Settlement-related cash balances are not restricted; however, these funds are generally paid out in satisfaction of settlement processing obligations the following day. Merchant Reserves serve as collateral to minimize contingent liabilities associated with any losses that may occur under the merchant agreement. While this cash is not restricted in its use, we believe that designating this cash to collateralize Merchant Reserves strengthens our fiduciary standing with our member sponsors and is in accordance with the guidelines set by the card networks. Funds held for customers and the corresponding liability that we record in customer deposits include amounts collected prior to remittance on our customers' behalf.

Operating activities provided net cash of $661.0$229.7 million and $360.1$284.5 million for the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, which reflect net income adjusted for non-cash items, including depreciation and September 30, 2017, respectively.amortization expenses, and changes in operating assets and liabilities. Fluctuations in working capitaloperating assets and liabilities are affected primarily by timing of month-end and transaction volume, especially changes in settlement processing assets and liabilities.liabilities, and by the effects of businesses we acquire that have different working capital requirements. Changes in settlement processing assets and liabilities decreasedincreased operating cash flows by $58.7$118.3 million and $232.7$82.2 million during the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The decrease in cash flows from operating activities from the prior-year period was primarily due to the timing of supplier payments and September 30, 2017, respectively.customer receipts.

We used net cash in investing activities of $927.5$116.3 million and $710.2$45.4 million during the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Cash used for investing activities primarily represents cash used to fund acquisitions and September 30, 2017, respectively.capital expenditures. During the ninethree months ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, we invested approximately $700used cash of $74.8 million to acquire AdvancedMD. In addition, net cash used in investing activities includescomplete acquisitions. We made capital expenditures (including internal-use capitalized software development projects).of $55.1 million and $43.8 million to purchase property and equipment during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. These investments include software and hardware to support the development of new technologies, continued consolidation and enhancement of our operating platforms and infrastructure to support our growing business. During the year ending December 31, 2018,2019, we expect aggregate capital expenditures for property and equipment to approximate $210$230 million.

Financing activities include borrowings and repayments made under our Credit Facility (described in "Note 7—Long-Term Debt and Lines of Credit" in the notes to the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements) as well as borrowings and repayments made under specialized lines of credit to fund daily settlement activities. Our borrowing arrangements are further described below under "Long-Term Debt and Lines of Credit." Financing activities also include cash flows associated with common stock

repurchase programs and share-based compensation programs as well as cash distributions made to noncontrolling interests and our shareholders. Cash flows from financing activities used net cash of $49.0$49.2 million and $572.0 million during the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, primarily as a result of net borrowingsrepayments under our Credit Facility offset byand settlement lines of credit, as well as funds used to repurchase shares of our common stock. Cash flows from financing activities provided net cash of $333.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, primarily as a result of net borrowings under our Credit Facility.stock in 2019.

Proceeds fromRepayments of long-term debt were $1,606.2$173.1 million and $1,713.3$687.8 million for the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and 2018, and September 30, 2017, respectively. Repayments of long-term debt were $1,468.5 million and $1,386.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively. Proceeds from long-term debt include borrowingsconsist of repayments that we make from time-to-time under our Revolving Credit Facility. Repayments of long-term debt include repayments that we makewith available cash, from time-to-time, under our Revolving Credit Facility as well as scheduled principal repayments made under our term loans. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we repatriated $445.9 million from certain of our foreign subsidiaries and used the cash to reduce outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility.

Because we often receive funding from the payment networks after we fund our merchants, we have specialized lines of credit in various markets where we do business to fund settlement. Activity under our settlement lines of credit is affected primarily by timing of month-end and transaction volume. During the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2019 and 2018, and September 30, 2017, we had net borrowingsrepayments of settlement lines of credit of $49.4$55.4 million and $77.4$192.5 million, respectively.


We make repurchases of our common stock mainly through open market repurchase plans and, at times, through accelerated share repurchase programs. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we used $156.0 million to repurchase shares of our common stock. As of September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, we had $419.1$638.0 million of share repurchase authority remaining under a share repurchase program authorized by the board of directors, announced on February 6, 2018, to repurchase shares of our common stock. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we used $180.9 million to repurchase shares of our common stock, compared to $32.8 million in the prior-year period.5, 2019.

We believe that our current level of cash and borrowing capacity under our long-term debt and lines of credit described below, together with future cash flows from operations, will be sufficient to meet the needs of our existing operations and planned requirements for the foreseeable future.

Long-Term Debt and Lines of Credit

We are party to a credit facility agreement with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and a syndicate of financial institutions as lenders and other agents (as amended from time to time, the "Credit Facility"). As of September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, the Credit Facility provided for secured financing comprised of (i) a $1.5 billion revolving credit facility (the "Revolving Credit Facility"); (ii) a $1.5 billion term loan (the "Term("Term A Loan"), (iii) a $1.37 billion term loan (the "Term("Term A-2 Loan") and, (iv) a $1.14 billion term loan (the "Termfacility (Term B-2 Loan"); and (v) a $500 million term loan ("Term B-4 Loan"). Substantially all of the assets of our domestic subsidiaries are pledged as collateral under the Credit Facility.

The borrowings As of March 31, 2019, the aggregate outstanding under our Credit Facility as of September 30, 2018 reflect activities we completed earlier in 2018, including a reduction tobalance on the interest rate margins applicable to our Term A Loan, Term A-2 Loan, Term B-2 Loanterm loans was $4.4 billion, and the outstanding balance on the Revolving Credit Facility an extension of the maturity dates of the Term A Loan, Term A-2 Loan andwas $897.0 million. The total available commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility and an increase in the total financing capacity under the Credit Facility to approximately $5.5 billion in June 2018. 

In October 2018, we entered into an additional term loan in the amount of $500 million (the "Term B-4 Loan"). We used the proceeds from the Term B-4 Loan to pay down a portion of the balance outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility.at March 31, 2019 were $590.5 million.

The Credit Facility provides for an interest rate, at our election, of either LIBORthe London Interbank Offered Rate or a base rate, in each case plus a margin. As of September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, the interest rates on the Term A Loan, the Term A-2 Loan, and the Term B-2 Loan and the Term B-4 Loan were 3.74%4.00%, 3.66%4.00% and 3.99%4.25% and 4.25%, respectively. As of September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, the interest rate on the Revolving Credit Facility was 3.66%3.91%. In addition, we are required to pay a quarterly commitment fee onwith respect to the unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility at an applicable rate per annum ranging from 0.20% to 0.30%, depending on our leverage ratio.

The Term A Loan and the Term A-2 Loan mature, and the Revolving Credit Facility expires, on January 20, 2023. The Term B-2 Loan matures on April 22, 2023. The Term B-4 Loan matures on October 18, 2025. The Term A Loan and Term A-2 Loan principalsprincipal amounts must each be repaid in quarterly installments in the amount of 0.625% of principal through June 2019, increasing to 1.25% of principal through June 2021, increasing to 1.875% of principal through June 2022 and increasing to 2.50% of principal through December 2022, with the remaining principal balance due upon maturity` in January 2023. The Term B-2 Loan principal must be repaid in quarterly installments in the amount of 0.25% of principal through March 2023, with the remaining principal balance due upon maturity in April 2023. The Term B-4 Loan principal must be repaid in quarterly installments in the amount of 0.25% of principal through September 2025, with the remaining principal balance due upon maturity in October 2025.

We may issue standby letters of credit of up to $100 million in the aggregate under the Revolving Credit Facility. Outstanding letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility reduce the amount of borrowings available to us under the Revolving Credit Facility.us. Borrowings available to us under the Revolving Credit Facility are further limited by the covenants described below under "Compliance with Covenants." The total available commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were $636.4 million and $473.3 million, respectively.


Settlement Lines of Credit

In various markets where we do business, we have specialized lines of credit, which are restricted for use in funding settlement. The settlement lines of credit generally have variable interest rates, are subject to annual review and are denominated in local currency but may, in some cases, facilitate borrowings in multiple currencies. For certain of our lines of credit, the available credit is increased by the amount of cash we have on deposit in specific accounts with the lender. Accordingly, the amount of the outstanding line of

credit may exceed the stated credit limit. As of September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2017,2018, a total of $68.5$69.0 million and $59.3$70.6 million, respectively, of cash on deposit was used to determine the available credit.

As of September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2017,2018, respectively, we had $685.9$641.9 million and $635.2$700.5 million outstanding under these lines of credit with additional capacity of $759.9$725.2 million as of September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 to fund settlement. The weighted-average interest rate on these borrowings was 2.81%2.57% and 1.97%2.97% at September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2017,2018, respectively.

Compliance with Covenants

The Credit Facility Agreement contains customary affirmative and restrictive covenants, including, among others, financial covenants based on our leverage and interest coverage ratios as defined in the agreement. As of September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, financial covenants under the Credit Facility Agreement required a leverage ratio no greater than: (i) 5.00 to 1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter ending during the period from April 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019; (ii) 4.75 to 1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter ending during the period from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020; and (iii) 4.50 to 1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter ending thereafter. The interest coverage ratio is required to be no less than 3.25 to 1.00. We were in compliance with all applicable covenants as of March 31, 2019.

The Credit Facility Agreement and settlement lines of credit also include various other covenants that are customary in such borrowings. The Credit Facility Agreement includes covenants, subject in each case to exceptions and qualifications that may restrict certain payments, including, in certain circumstances, the repurchasing of our common stock and paying cash dividends in excess of our current rate of $0.01 per share per quarter.

The Credit Facility Agreement also includes customary events of default, the occurrence of which, following any applicable cure period, would permit the lenders to, among other things, declare the principal, accrued interest and other obligations to be immediately due and payable. We were in compliance with all applicable covenants as of September 30, 2018.

See "Note 6—7—Long-Term Debt and Lines of Credit" and "Note 14—Subsequent Events" in the notes to the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our borrowing arrangements.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have not entered into any off-balance sheet arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a material effect on our financial condition, revenues, results of operations or capital resources, other than the guarantee services described in Item 7, "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Critical Accounting Policies" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018.

Effect of New Accounting Pronouncements and Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

From time-to-time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other standards setting bodies that may affect our current and/or future financial statements. See "Note 1—Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in the notes to the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements for a discussion of recently adopted accounting pronouncements and recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted.

Forward-Looking Statements

Investors are cautioned that some of the statements we use in this report contain forward-looking statements and are made pursuant to the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties and depend upon future events or conditions. Actual events or results might differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, we cannot guarantee you that our plans and expectations will be achieved. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of our acquisitions, including future financial and operating results, the combined company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts.


Important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated by such forward-looking statements include our ability to safeguard our data; increased competition from larger companies and non-traditional competitors,

our ability to update our services in a timely manner; our ability to maintain Visa and MasterCard registration and financial institution sponsorship; our reliance on financial institutions to provide clearing services in connection with our settlement activities; our potential failure to comply with card network requirements; potential systems interruptions or failures; software defects or undetected errors; increased attrition of merchants, referral partners or independent sales organizations; our ability to increase our share of existing markets and expand into new markets; development of anticipated market trends and technologies; a decline in the use of cards for payment generally; unanticipated increases in chargeback liability; increases in credit card network fees; change in laws, regulations or network rules or interpretations thereof; foreign currency exchange and interest rate risks; political, economic and regulatory changes in the foreign countries in which we operate; future performance, integration and conversion of acquired operations, including without limitation difficulties and delays in integrating or fully realizing cost savings and other benefits of our acquisitions at all or within the expected time period; fully realizing anticipated annual interest expense savings from refinancing our Credit Facility; our loss of key personnel and other risk factors presented in Item 1- Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20172018 and any subsequent SEC filings, which we advise you to review.

Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as representing our plans and expectations as of any subsequent date. We undertake noWhile we may elect to update or revise forward-looking statements at some time in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to revisepublicly release the results of any revisions to our forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

ITEM 3—QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There has been no significant change in our exposure to market risk during the quarter ended March 31, 2019. For a discussion of these statementsour exposure to reflect future circumstances ormarket risk, refer to Part II, Item 7A, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk," contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the occurrence of unanticipated events.year ended December 31, 2018.

ITEM 4—CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, management carried out, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable rules and forms and are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in those reports is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
In September 2017, we completed the acquisition of ACTIVE Network, which is being integrated into our North America segment. As part of our ongoing integration activities, we are continuing to apply our controls and procedures to the ACTIVE Network business.

In September 2018, we completed the acquisition of AdvancedMD. The assets, excluding goodwill, of AdvancedMD constituted approximately 2% of our total consolidated assets as of September 30, 2018. Revenues and operating income of AdvancedMD for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 were not material to our consolidated financial statements.

In accordance with our integration efforts, we plan to incorporate the operations of these acquired businesses into our internal control over financial reporting program within the time period provided by the applicable SEC rules and regulations. There were no other changes in our internal control over financial reporting duringDuring the quarter ended September 30, 2018 that materially affected, or are reasonably likelyMarch 31, 2019, we added internal controls related to materially affect, ourthe automation of certain processes and activities associated with a newly implemented cloud-based accounting and financial reporting system. We also added internal control over financial reporting.


controls in support of the accounting, reporting and disclosure requirements of the new lease accounting standard, which was effective on January 1, 2019. To assist with the necessary calculations to support the accounting and disclosure requirements of the new lease accounting standard, we implemented a new technology solution, as well as related internal controls.


PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1—LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are party to a number of claims and lawsuits incidental to our business. In our opinion, the liabilities, if any, which may ultimately result from the outcome of such matters, individually or in the aggregate, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, liquidity, results of operations or cash flows.

ITEM 1A—RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes from the risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

ITEM 2UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

(a) Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
   ��
None.

(c) Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

Information about the shares of our common stock that we repurchased during the quarter ended September 30, 2018March 31, 2019 is set forth below:
Period
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
(1)
 Approximate Average Price Paid per Share Total Number of
Shares Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
 
Maximum
Number (or
Approximate
Dollar Value) of
Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under
the Plans or
Programs
(2)
       (in millions)
July 2018110,172
 $112.57
 
  
August 201814,677
 116.64
 
  
September 201885,725
 127.21
 
  
Total210,574
 $118.81
 
 $419.1
Period
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
(1)
 Approximate Average Price Paid per Share Total Number of
Shares Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
 
Maximum
Number (or
Approximate
Dollar Value) of
Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under
the Plans or
Programs
(2)
       (in millions)
January 2019403,663
 $109.02
 403,593
 $638.8
February 2019461,059
 122.78
 417,378
 638.4
March 2019509,235
 132.71
 474,311
 638.0
Total1,373,957
 $122.42
 1,295,282
 $638.0
 

(1) 
Our board of directors has authorized us to repurchase shares of our common stock through any combination of Rule 10b5-1 open-market repurchase plans, accelerated share repurchase plans, discretionary open-market purchases or privately negotiated transactions.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, pursuant to our employee incentive plans, we withheld 210,57478,675 shares at an average price per share of $118.81$129.65 in order to satisfy employees' tax withholding and payment obligations in connection with the vesting of awards of restricted stock, which we withheld at fair market value on the vesting date.

(2) 
On February 6, 2018,5, 2019, our board of directors approved an increase to our existing share repurchase program authorization, which raised the total available authorization to $600$750 million. As of September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, the approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under our share repurchase program was $419.1$638.0 million. The authorizations by the board of directors doauthorization does not expire, but could be revoked at any time. In addition, we are not required by any of the board’s authorizationsauthorization or otherwise to complete any repurchases by any specific time or at all.



ITEM 6—EXHIBITS

List of Exhibits
2.1 
2.2 
3.1 
3.2 
10.1* 
10.2* 
10.3* 
10.4*
31.1* 
31.2* 
32.1* 
101* The following financial information from the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018,March 31, 2019, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) and filed electronically herewith: (i) the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income; (ii) the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (iii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (iv) the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; (v) the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity; and (vi) the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.
______________________
* Filed herewith.
++ Certain schedules and exhibits to this agreement have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K and Global Payments Inc. agrees to furnish supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission a copy of any omitted schedule and/or exhibit upon request.


SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
      


  Global Payments Inc.
  (Registrant)
   
Date: October 30, 2018May 2, 2019 /s/ Cameron M. Bready
  Cameron M. Bready
  Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  (Principal Financial Officer)
   






4032