| Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies | Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies References herein to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “Conduent” refer to Conduent Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries unless the context suggests otherwise. Description of Business Conduent Incorporated is a New York corporation, organized in 2016. Conduent delivers digital business solutions and services spanning the commercial, government and transportation spectrum – creating valuable outcomes for its clients and the millions of people who count on them. Conduent leverages cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation and advanced analytics to deliver mission-critical business process solutions. Through a dedicated global team of associates, process expertise, and advanced technologies, Conduent's solutions and services digitally transform its clients’ operations to enhance customer experiences, improve performance, increase efficiencies and reduce costs. Basis of Presentation The Company's Consolidated Financial Statements included the historical basis of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the individual businesses of the Company, including joint ventures and partnerships over which the Company has a controlling financial interest. The Company has prepared the Consolidated Financial Statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years' amounts to conform to the current year presentation. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. In the first quarter of 2023, the Company identified an error and recorded an out-of-period adjustment to correct the recognition of revenue on a Government segment contract that originated in 2020 and impacted all quarterly periods through December 31, 2022. This adjustment resulted in a reduction to revenue and income (loss) before income taxes of $7 million and a corresponding decrease to accounts receivable of $1 million and an increase to other current liabilities of $6 million in the first quarter of 2023. The Company evaluated the impact of the out-of-period adjustment and concluded it was not material to any previously issued interim or annual consolidated financial statements and the adjustment is not material to the year ending December 31, 2023. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through February 21, 2024. Conduent's common stock began trading on January 3, 2017, on the New York Stock Exchange, under the ticker "CNDT". In December 2019, Conduent changed the listing of its publicly traded common stock from the New York Stock Exchange to the Nasdaq Global Select Market ("Nasdaq"), where it remains listed under the ticker "CNDT". Use of Estimates The Company prepared the Consolidated Financial Statements using financial information available at the time of preparation, which requires it to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. The Company's most significant estimates pertain to intangible assets, valuation of goodwill, contingencies and litigation and income taxes. These estimates are based on management's best knowledge of current events, historical experience, and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. As a result, actual results may be different from these estimates. As of December 31, 2023, the effects of global macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition continue to evolve. As a result, many of the Company's estimates and assumptions continue to require increased judgment and carry a higher degree of variability and volatility. As events continue to evolve and additional information becomes available, the Company's estimates may change materially in the future. New Accounting Standards Segment Reporting: In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued final guidance that expands reportable segment disclosures, particularly incremental segment expense disclosures. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is not early adopting this guidance. The Company is currently in the process of gathering the data required to be disclosed upon adoption. As the guidance is disclosure related, adoption will not have any impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. Income Taxes: In December 2023, the FASB issued final guidance designed to improve income tax disclosures, particularly disclosures around business entities' income tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. The guidance requires consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the reconciliation of an entity's statutory tax rate to its effective tax rate and information about income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is not early adopting this guidance. The Company is currently in the process of gathering the data required to be disclosed upon adoption. As the guidance is disclosure related, adoption will not have any impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. Recently Adopted Accounting Standards The Company did not adopt any new accounting standards in 2023 that had a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements. Summary of Accounting Policies Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, including money market funds and investments with original maturities of three months or less. Receivable Sales In 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company sold certain accounts receivable and derecognized the corresponding receivable balance. Refer to Note 5 – Accounts Receivable, Net for more details on the Company's receivable sales. Assets/Liabilities Held for Sale The Company classifies assets as held for sale in the period when the following conditions are met: (i) management, having the authority to approve the action, commits to a plan to sell the asset (disposal group); (ii) the asset (disposal group) is available for immediate sale in its present condition subject only to terms that are usual and customary for sales of such assets (disposal group); (iii) an active program to locate a buyer and other actions required to complete the plan to sell the asset (disposal group) have been initiated; (iv) the sale of the asset (disposal group) is probable, and transfer of the asset (disposal group) is expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale within one year, except if events or circumstances beyond our control extend the period of time required to sell the asset (disposal group) beyond one year; (v) the asset (disposal group) is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value; and (vi) actions required to complete the plan indicate that it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn. A long-lived asset (disposal group) that is classified as held for sale is initially measured at the lower of its carrying value or fair value less any costs to sell. Any loss resulting from this measurement is recognized in the period in which the held for sale criteria are met. Conversely, gains are not recognized on the sale of a long-lived asset (disposal group) until the date of sale. The fair value of a long-lived asset (disposal group) less any costs to sell is assessed each reporting period it remains classified as held for sale and any subsequent changes are reported as an adjustment to the carrying value of the asset (disposal group), as long as the new carrying value does not exceed the carrying value of the asset at the time it was initially classified as held for sale. Refer to Note 4 – Assets/Liabilities Held for Sale and Divestitures to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. Land, Buildings and Equipment Land, buildings and equipment are recorded at cost. Buildings and equipment are depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life. Significant improvements are capitalized and maintenance and repairs are expensed when incurred. Refer to Note 6 – Land, Buildings, Equipment and Software, Net for further discussion. Internal Use and Product Software Internal Use Software: The Company capitalizes direct costs associated with developing, purchasing or otherwise acquiring software for internal use and amortizes these costs on a straight-line basis over the expected useful life of the software, beginning when the software is implemented. Costs for upgrades and enhancements that will not result in additional functionality are expensed as incurred. Amounts incurred for Internal Use Software are included in Cash Flows from Investing Activities. Produc t Software : The Company also capitalizes certain costs related to the development of software solutions to be sold to its customers upon reaching technological feasibility. These costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated economic life of the software. Amounts incurred for Product Software are included in Cash Flows from Operating activities. The Company performs annual reviews to ensure that unamortized Product Software costs remain recoverable from estimated future operating profits (net realizable value). Costs to support or service licensed software are charged to Costs of services as incurred. Internal use and Product software are included in Other long-term assets on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. Refer to Note 6 – Land, Buildings, Equipment and Software, Net for further information. Cloud Computing Arrangements The Company incurs costs to implement cloud computing arrangements that are hosted by third party vendors. Implementation costs associated with cloud computing arrangements are capitalized when incurred during the application development phase. Amortization is calculated on a straight-line basis over the contractual term of the cloud computing arrangement, which includes renewal options that are reasonably certain to be exercised. Capitalized amounts related to such arrangements are recorded within Other current assets and Other long-term assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The amortization expense and the associated hosting fees are included in Cost of services and Selling, general and administrative expenses, depending on the nature of the underlying use of the cloud computing arrangement, in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). In the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company wrote-off approximately $28 million of previously capitalized implementation costs. There were no such write-offs in either 2023 or 2022. Refer to Note 6 – Land, Buildings, Equipment and Software, Net for further information. Leases The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at the inception of the contract and whether that lease meets the classification criteria of a finance or operating lease. The Company has operating and finance leases for real estate and equipment. Operating leases are included in Operating lease right of use ("ROU") assets, Other current liabilities, and Operating lease liabilities in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. Finance leases are included in Land, buildings and equipment, net, Current portion of long-term debt, and Long-term debt in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. ROU assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company's obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the net present value of lease payments over the lease term using the Company’s incremental borrowing rates as the Company's leases generally do not provide an implicit rate. The incremental borrowing rate represents an estimate of the interest rate that the Company would incur at lease commencement to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments on a collateralized basis over the term of a lease within a particular currency environment. The Company's lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option based on economic factors. The Company recognizes operating fixed lease expense and finance lease depreciation on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease expense is recognized in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. Leases with an initial term of one year or less are expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company accounts for lease and non-lease components separately for its equipment leases, based on the estimated standalone price of each component, and combines lease and non-lease components for its real estate leases. Refer to Note 7 – Leases for further information. Contingencies and Litigation The Company is currently involved in various claims and legal proceedings. At least quarterly, it reviews the status of each significant matter and assesses its potential financial exposure considering all available information including, but not limited to, the impact of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel and other updated information and events pertaining to a particular matter. If the potential loss from any claim or legal proceeding is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, the Company accrues a liability for the estimated loss. The estimated losses are recorded within Litigation settlements (recoveries), net in the Company's income statement. Significant judgment is required in both the determination of probability and the determination as to whether an exposure is reasonably estimable. Because of uncertainties related to these matters, accruals are based only on the best information available at the time. As additional information becomes available, the Company reassesses the potential liability related to pending claims and litigation and may revise its estimates. These revisions in the estimates of the potential liabilities could have a material impact on the results of operations and financial position. The Company's policy is to expense legal defense costs related to such matters as incurred. These costs are recorded within Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Company's income statement. Any insurance recoveries for litigation settlements and defense costs are recorded when such recoveries are deemed probable and collectability is reasonably assured. Such recoveries are recorded in the same financial statement line as the related costs to which the recoveries relate. Refer to Note 16 – Contingencies and Litigation to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding loss contingencies. Goodwill For acquired businesses, the Company records the acquired assets and assumed liabilities based on their relative fair values at the date of acquisitions (commonly referred to as the purchase price allocation). Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price paid in excess of the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired. For the Company’s business acquisitions, the purchase price is allocated to identifiable intangible assets separate from goodwill if they are from contractual or other legal rights, or if they could be separated from the acquired business and sold, transferred, licensed, rented or exchanged. The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually or more frequently if an event or change in circumstances indicate the asset may be impaired. Impairment testing for goodwill is done at the reporting unit level. Goodwill is tested for impairment using a qualitative and/or quantitative assessment. For the quantitative assessment, the Company determines the fair value of its reporting units utilizing a combination of both an Income Approach and a Market Approach. The Income Approach utilizes a discounted cash flow analysis based upon the forecasted future business results of its reporting units. The Market Approach utilizes the guideline public company method. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, an impairment charge would be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. Refer to Note 8 – Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net for further information. Other Intangible Assets Other intangible assets primarily consist of assets acquired through business combinations, primarily installed customer base. Other intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated economic lives unless impairment is identified. Refer to Note 8 – Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net for further information. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The Company reviews the recoverability of its long-lived assets, including buildings, equipment, internal use software, product software, right-of-use assets and other intangible assets, when events or changes in circumstances occur that indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. The assessment of possible impairment is based on the Company's ability to recover the carrying value of the asset from the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) of the related operations. If these cash flows are less than the carrying value of such asset, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between estimated fair value and carrying value. The Company's primary measure of fair value is based on forecasted cash flows. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are based on differences between U.S. GAAP reporting and tax bases of assets or liabilities and based on current tax laws, regulations and rates. The recognition of deferred tax assets requires an assessment to determine the realization of such assets. Management establishes valuation allowances on deferred tax assets when it is determined “more-likely-than-not” that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets may not be realized. Management considers positive and negative evidence in evaluating the ability of the Company to realize its deferred tax assets, including its historical results and forecasts of future ability to realize its deferred tax assets, including projected future taxable income, the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences and tax planning strategies. The Company is subject to ongoing tax examinations and assessments in various jurisdictions. The Company has unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions. The Company follows U.S. GAAP which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Company's ongoing assessments of the more-likely-than-not outcomes of the examinations and related tax positions require judgment and can materially increase or decrease its effective tax rate, as well as impact its operating results. On December 22, 2017, the U.S. enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("Tax Reform"). The Tax Reform includes a tax on global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”), which imposes a U.S. tax on certain income earned by the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. The Company elected to treat the tax on GILTI as a period cost when incurred and therefore, no deferred taxes for GILTI were recognized for the year ended December 31, 2023. Refer to Note 15 – Income Taxes for further discussion. Share Repurchase Program On May 16, 2023, the Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program, granting approval for the Company to repurchase up to $75 million of its common stock over the next three years. The Company has the discretion to repurchase shares periodically through open market transactions and may include Rule 10b5-1 trading plans. This share repurchase program does not obligate the Company to acquire a specific number of shares and the program may be modified, suspended or discontinued at any time at the Company’s discretion without prior notice. The Company holds repurchased shares of common stock as treasury stock. The Company accounts for treasury stock under the cost method and includes treasury stock as a component of shareholders' equity. The Company accrues the cost of repurchased shares and excludes such shares from the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share, as of the trade date. The Company recognizes a liability for share repurchases which have not settled and for which cash has not been paid in Other current liabilities on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. Noncontrolling Interest The Company's Consolidated Financial Statements include the historical basis of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the individual businesses of the Company, including joint ventures over which the Company has a controlling financial interest. Control is based on ownership interest. The ownership interest held by an owner other than the Company in a less than wholly owned subsidiary is classified as a non-controlling interest. Net income (loss) is allocated to the noncontrolling interest based on ownership interest. In May 2023, the Company signed a new customer contract with the State of Victoria, Australia to provide the next generation of the state's public transport ticketing system. As a result, the Company and Convergint Australia Pty Ltd (“Convergint”) entered into a shareholder agreement to form Conduent Victoria Ticketing System Pty Ltd (“Conduent Victoria”). The Company holds an 80% equity investment in Conduent Victoria and the remaining 20% is owned by Convergint. For the year ended December 31, 2023, noncontrolling interest in Conduent Victoria was not material to the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) or Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) and, therefore, the Company did not present any separate disclosures for such noncontrolling interest in those statements. Foreign Currency Translation and Re-measurement The functional currency for most foreign operations is the local currency. Net assets are translated at current rates of exchange and income, expense and cash flow items are translated at average exchange rates for the applicable period. The translation adjustments are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss. The U.S. Dollar is used as the functional currency for certain foreign subsidiaries that conduct their business in U.S. Dollars. A combination of current and historical exchange rates is used in re-measuring the local currency transactions of these subsidiaries and the resulting exchange adjustments are recorded in Currency (gains) and losses within Other (income) expenses, net together with other foreign currency re-measurements. Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to its customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration that the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The Company's contracts with customers often include promises to transfer multiple products and services to a customer. Determining whether products and services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately, versus together, may require judgment. Typically, the Company’s contracts include performance obligation(s) to stand-ready on a daily or monthly basis to provide services to the customers. 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. Accordingly, the promise to stand-ready is accounted for as a single-series performance obligation. Once the Company determines the performance obligations, the Company determines the transaction price, which is based on fixed and/or variable consideration. Typical forms of variable consideration include variable pricing based on the number of transactions processed or usage-based pricing arrangements. Variable consideration is also present in the form of volume discounts, tiered and declining pricing, penalties for service level agreements, performance bonuses and credits. In circumstances where the Company meets certain requirements to allocate variable consideration to a distinct service within a series of related services, it allocates variable consideration to each distinct period of service within the series. In limited circumstances, if the Company does not meet those requirements, it includes an estimate of variable consideration in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty is resolved. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, the transaction price is allocated to the separate performance obligations on a relative standalone selling price basis. The Company generally determines standalone selling prices based on the prices charged to customers or by using expected cost plus a reasonable margin. The Company typically satisfies its performance obligations over time as the services are provided. A time-elapsed output method is used to measure progress because the nature of the Company’s promise is a stand-ready service and efforts are expended evenly throughout the period. In limited circumstances, such as contracts for implementation or development projects, the Company also uses a cost-to-cost based input method. The Company has determined that the above methods provide a faithful depiction of the transfer of services to the customer. Estimates of revenue expected to be recognized in future periods exclude unexercised customer options to purchase additional services that do not represent material rights to the customer. Customer options that do not represent a material right are only accounted for when the customer exercises its option to purchase additional goods or services. The Company recognizes revenue for non-refundable upfront implementation fees on a straight-line basis over the period between the initiation of the services through the end of the contract term. When more than one party is involved in providing services to a customer, the Company evaluates whether it is the principal, and reports revenue on a gross basis, or an agent, and reports revenue on a net basis. In this assessment, the Company considers the following: if it obtains control of the specified services before they are transferred to the customer; is primarily responsible for fulfillment and inventory risk; and has discretion in establishing price. The Company reports revenue net of any revenue-based taxes assessed by governmental authorities that are imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue-producing transactions. The primary revenue-based taxes are sales tax and value-added tax ("VAT"). The Company's payment terms vary by type of services offered. The time between invoicing and when payment is due is not significant. For certain services and customer types, the Company requires payment before services are rendered. From time to time, the Company's contracts are modified to account for additions or changes to existing performance obligations. The Company's contract modifications related to stand-ready performance obligations are generally accounted for prospectively. Refer to Note 2 – Revenue for further discussion. |
