Basis of presentation (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Use of Estimates	have made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these condensed consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. The most significant estimates are related to goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived assets, pension and other retirement benefit assets and obligations, legal contingencies, allowance for doubtful accounts, deferred tax assets and purchase price allocations.
Consolidation	Consolidation The condensed consolidated financial statements include our controlled subsidiaries. Control is determined based on ownership rights or, when applicable, based on whether we are considered to be the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. See "Venezuela" section below for further information. For controlled subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned, the noncontrolling interests are included in net income and in total equity. Investments in businesses that we do not control, but for which we have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies, are accounted for under the equity method and our proportionate share of income or loss is recorded in other operating income (expense). Investments in businesses for which we do not have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for at fair value, if readily determinable, with changes in fair value recognized in net income. For equity investments that do not have a readily determinable fair value, we measure these investments at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes from observable price changes. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Foreign Currency Translation	Foreign Currency Translation Our condensed consolidated financial statements are reported in U.S. dollars. Our foreign subsidiaries maintain their records primarily in the currency of the country in which they operate. The method of translating local currency financial information into U.S. dollars depends on whether the economy in which our foreign subsidiary operates has been designated as highly inflationary or not. Economies with a three-year cumulative inflation rate of more than 100% are considered highly inflationary. Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries in non-highly inflationary economies are translated into U.S. dollars using rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. Translation adjustments are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss). Revenues and expenses are translated at rates of exchange in effect during the year. Transaction gains and losses are recorded in net income. Foreign subsidiaries that operate in highly inflationary countries use the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. Local currency monetary assets and liabilities are remeasured into U.S. dollars using rates of exchange as of each balance sheet date, with remeasurement adjustments and other transaction gains and losses recognized in earnings. Other than nonmonetary equity securities, nonmonetary assets and liabilities do not fluctuate with changes in local currency exchange rates to the dollar. For nonmonetary equity securities traded in highly inflationary economies, the fair market value of the equity securities are remeasured at the current exchange rates to determine gain or loss to be recorded in net income. Revenues and expenses are translated at rates of exchange in effect during the year. Argentina We operate in Argentina through wholly owned subsidiaries and a smaller controlled subsidiary (together "Brink's Argentina"). Revenues from Brink's Argentina represented approximately 4% of our consolidated revenues for the first nine months of 2021 and 5% of our consolidated revenues for the first nine months of 2020. The operating environment in Argentina continues to present business challenges, including ongoing devaluation of the Argentine peso and significant inflation. In the first nine months of 2021 and 2020, the Argentine peso declined approximately 15% (from 84.0 to 99.0 pesos to the U.S. dollar) and approximately 22% (from 59.9 to 76.3 pesos to the U.S. dollar), respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Argentine peso declined approximately 29% (from 59.9 to 84.0 pesos to the U.S. dollar). Beginning July 1, 2018, we designated Argentina's economy as highly inflationary for accounting purposes. As a result, we consolidated Brink's Argentina using our accounting policy for subsidiaries operating in highly inflationary economies beginning with the third quarter of 2018. Argentine peso-denominated monetary assets and liabilities are remeasured at each balance sheet date using the currency exchange rate then in effect, with currency remeasurement gains and losses recognized in earnings. In the first nine months of 2021, we recognized a $6.6 million pretax remeasurement loss. In the first nine months of 2020, we recognized a $5.3 million pretax remeasurement loss. At September 30, 2021, Argentina's economy remains highly inflationary for accounting purposes. At September 30, 2021, we had net monetary assets denominated in Argentine pesos of $58.6 million (including cash of $49.1 million). At September 30, 2021, we had net nonmonetary assets of $143.2 million (including $99.8 million of goodwill). At September 30, 2021, we had minimal equity securities denominated in Argentine pesos. At December 31, 2020, we had net monetary assets denominated in Argentine pesos of $31.3 million (including cash of $24.4 million) and net nonmonetary assets of $146.2 million (including $99.8 million of goodwill). At December 31, 2020, we had minimal equity securities denominated in Argentine pesos. During September 2019, the Argentine government announced currency controls on both companies and individuals. The Argentine central bank issued details as to how the exchange control procedures would operate in practice. Under these procedures, central bank approval is required for many transactions, including dividend repatriation abroad. During the third quarter of 2020, we elected to use other market mechanisms to convert Argentine pesos into U.S. dollars. Conversions under these other market mechanisms generally settle at rates that are less favorable than the rates at which we remeasure the financial statements of Brink’s Argentina. As a result, in the three months ended September 30, 2020, we recognized $10.4 million of such conversion losses when we converted Argentine pesos into U.S. dollars at rates that were approximately 100% less favorable than the rates at which we remeasured the financial statements of Brink’s Argentina. These conversion losses are classified in the condensed consolidated statements of operations as other operating income (expense). We did not have any such conversion losses in the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Although the Argentine government has implemented currency controls, Brink’s management continues to provide guidance and strategic oversight, including budgeting and forecasting for Brink’s Argentina. We continue to control our Argentina business for purposes of consolidation of our financial statements and continue to monitor the situation in Argentina. Venezuela Our Venezuelan operations offer transportation and route-based logistics management services for cash and valuables throughout Venezuela. Currency exchange regulations, combined with other government regulations, such as price controls and strict labor laws, significantly limit our ability to make and execute operational decisions at our Venezuelan subsidiaries. As a result of these conditions, we do not meet the accounting criteria for control over our Venezuelan operations and, as a result, we report the results of our investment in our Venezuelan subsidiaries using the cost method of accounting, the basis of which approximates zero. Prior to the imposition of the U.S. government sanctions in 2019, we provided immaterial amounts of financial support to our Venezuela operations. We continue to monitor the situation in Venezuela, including the imposition of sanctions by the U.S. government targeting Venezuela.
Goodwill	Goodwill Goodwill is recognized for the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible net assets of businesses acquired. We review goodwill for impairment annually, as of October 1, and whenever events or circumstances in interim periods indicate that it is more likely than not that an impairment may have occurred. Impairment indicators were reviewed as of September 30, 2021 and we concluded that there were no indicators that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. We will continue to monitor results in future periods to determine whether any indicators of impairment exist that would cause us to perform an impairment review. We perform the test of goodwill impairment at the reporting unit level, which is defined as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment. Goodwill is assigned to one or more reporting units at the date of acquisition. During the fourth quarter of 2020, we implemented changes to our organization and management structure. Based on our preliminary evaluation for year-end 2020 reporting, we changed our reporting units from eight reporting units to nine reporting units. During the first quarter of 2021, we finalized our evaluation and changed from nine reporting units to four reporting units, which are equal to our operating segments: •North America •Latin America •Europe •Rest of World We were not required to reallocate goodwill after the reporting unit change as each of the previously identified nine reporting units is completely included in one of the four new reporting units.
Restricted Cash	Restricted CashIn France and Malaysia, we offer services to certain of our customers where we manage some or all of their cash supply chains. In connection with these offerings, we take temporary title to certain customers' cash, which is included as restricted cash in our financial statements due to customer agreement or regulation.
New Accounting Standards	New Accounting Standards In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which changes the way entities recognize impairment of many financial assets. This new guidance requires immediate recognition of estimated credit losses expected to occur over the life of the asset and incorporates estimated, forward-looking data when measuring lifetime Expected Credit Losses (ECL). The standard was designed to provide greater transparency and understanding of credit risk by requiring enhanced financial statement disclosures which fall into three general categories: ECL estimate methodology and assumptions, quantitative information and metrics, and policy and process explanations. We adopted the standard using the modified retrospective transition method. Results for the reporting period beginning January 1, 2020 are presented under ASC 326 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP. We recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment decreasing retained earnings by $1.7 million on January 1, 2020. The adoption of the standard also resulted in expanded disclosures related to credit losses (see Note 10). In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which removes certain exceptions for recognizing deferred taxes for investments, performing intraperiod tax allocations and calculating income taxes in interim periods. The ASU also adds guidance to reduce complexity in certain areas, including recognizing deferred taxes for tax goodwill and allocating taxes to members of a consolidated group. ASU 2019-12 was effective for us on January 1, 2021. We recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment increasing retained earnings by $0.5 million on January 1, 2021.

Basis of presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

have made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these condensed consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. The most significant estimates are related to goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived assets, pension and other retirement benefit assets and obligations, legal contingencies, allowance for doubtful accounts, deferred tax assets and purchase price allocations.

Consolidation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include our controlled subsidiaries. Control is determined based on ownership rights or, when applicable, based on whether we are considered to be the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. See "Venezuela" section below for further information. For controlled subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned, the noncontrolling interests are included in net income and in total equity.

Investments in businesses that we do not control, but for which we have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies, are accounted for under the equity method and our proportionate share of income or loss is recorded in other operating income (expense). Investments in businesses for which we do not have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for at fair value, if readily determinable, with changes in fair value recognized in net income. For equity investments that do not have a readily determinable fair value, we measure these investments at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes from observable price changes. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Foreign Currency Translation

Our condensed consolidated financial statements are reported in U.S. dollars. Our foreign subsidiaries maintain their records primarily in the currency of the country in which they operate. The method of translating local currency financial information into U.S. dollars depends on whether the economy in which our foreign subsidiary operates has been designated as highly inflationary or not. Economies with a three-year cumulative inflation rate of more than 100% are considered highly inflationary.

Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries in non-highly inflationary economies are translated into U.S. dollars using rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. Translation adjustments are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss). Revenues and expenses are translated at rates of exchange in effect during the year. Transaction gains and losses are recorded in net income.

Foreign subsidiaries that operate in highly inflationary countries use the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. Local currency monetary assets and liabilities are remeasured into U.S. dollars using rates of exchange as of each balance sheet date, with remeasurement adjustments

and other transaction gains and losses recognized in earnings. Other than nonmonetary equity securities, nonmonetary assets and liabilities do not fluctuate with changes in local currency exchange rates to the dollar. For nonmonetary equity securities traded in highly inflationary economies, the fair market value of the equity securities are remeasured at the current exchange rates to determine gain or loss to be recorded in net income. Revenues and expenses are translated at rates of exchange in effect during the year.

Argentina

We operate in Argentina through wholly owned subsidiaries and a smaller controlled subsidiary (together "Brink's Argentina"). Revenues from Brink's Argentina represented approximately 4% of our consolidated revenues for the first nine months of 2021 and 5% of our consolidated revenues for the first nine months of 2020.

The operating environment in Argentina continues to present business challenges, including ongoing devaluation of the Argentine peso and significant inflation. In the first nine months of 2021 and 2020, the Argentine peso declined approximately 15% (from 84.0 to 99.0 pesos to the U.S. dollar) and approximately 22% (from 59.9 to 76.3 pesos to the U.S. dollar), respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Argentine peso declined approximately 29% (from 59.9 to 84.0 pesos to the U.S. dollar).

Beginning July 1, 2018, we designated Argentina's economy as highly inflationary for accounting purposes. As a result, we consolidated Brink's Argentina using our accounting policy for subsidiaries operating in highly inflationary economies beginning with the third quarter of 2018. Argentine peso-denominated monetary assets and liabilities are remeasured at each balance sheet date using the currency exchange rate then in effect, with currency remeasurement gains and losses recognized in earnings. In the first nine months of 2021, we recognized a $6.6 million pretax remeasurement loss. In the first nine months of 2020, we recognized a $5.3 million pretax remeasurement loss.

At September 30, 2021, Argentina's economy remains highly inflationary for accounting purposes. At September 30, 2021, we had net monetary assets denominated in Argentine pesos of $58.6 million (including cash of $49.1 million). At September 30, 2021, we had net nonmonetary assets of $143.2 million (including $99.8 million of goodwill). At September 30, 2021, we had minimal equity securities denominated in Argentine pesos.

At December 31, 2020, we had net monetary assets denominated in Argentine pesos of $31.3 million (including cash of $24.4 million) and net nonmonetary assets of $146.2 million (including $99.8 million of goodwill). At December 31, 2020, we had minimal equity securities denominated in Argentine pesos.

During September 2019, the Argentine government announced currency controls on both companies and individuals. The Argentine central bank issued details as to how the exchange control procedures would operate in practice. Under these procedures, central bank approval is required for many transactions, including dividend repatriation abroad.

During the third quarter of 2020, we elected to use other market mechanisms to convert Argentine pesos into U.S. dollars. Conversions under these other market mechanisms generally settle at rates that are less favorable than the rates at which we remeasure the financial statements of Brink’s Argentina. As a result, in the three months ended September 30, 2020, we recognized $10.4 million of such conversion losses when we converted Argentine pesos into U.S. dollars at rates that were approximately 100% less favorable than the rates at which we remeasured the financial statements of Brink’s Argentina. These conversion losses are classified in the condensed consolidated statements of operations as other operating income (expense). We did not have any such conversion losses in the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

Although the Argentine government has implemented currency controls, Brink’s management continues to provide guidance and strategic oversight, including budgeting and forecasting for Brink’s Argentina. We continue to control our Argentina business for purposes of consolidation of our financial statements and continue to monitor the situation in Argentina.

Venezuela

Our Venezuelan operations offer transportation and route-based logistics management services for cash and valuables throughout Venezuela. Currency exchange regulations, combined with other government regulations, such as price controls and strict labor laws, significantly limit our ability to make and execute operational decisions at our Venezuelan subsidiaries. As a result of these conditions, we do not meet the accounting criteria for control over our Venezuelan operations and, as a result, we report the results of our investment in our Venezuelan subsidiaries using the cost method of accounting, the basis of which approximates zero. Prior to the imposition of the U.S. government sanctions in 2019, we provided immaterial amounts of financial support to our Venezuela operations. We continue to monitor the situation in Venezuela, including the imposition of sanctions by the U.S. government targeting Venezuela.

Goodwill

Goodwill is recognized for the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible net assets of businesses acquired. We review goodwill for impairment annually, as of October 1, and whenever events or circumstances in interim periods indicate that it is more likely than not that an impairment may have occurred. Impairment indicators were reviewed as of September 30, 2021 and we concluded that there were no indicators that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. We will continue to monitor results in future periods to determine whether any indicators of impairment exist that would cause us to perform an impairment review.

We perform the test of goodwill impairment at the reporting unit level, which is defined as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment. Goodwill is assigned to one or more reporting units at the date of acquisition. During the fourth quarter of 2020, we implemented changes to our organization and management structure. Based on our preliminary evaluation for year-end 2020 reporting, we changed our reporting units from eight reporting units to nine reporting units. During the first quarter of 2021, we finalized our evaluation and changed from nine reporting units to four reporting units, which are equal to our operating segments:

•North America

•Latin America

•Europe

•Rest of World

We were not required to reallocate goodwill after the reporting unit change as each of the previously identified nine reporting units is completely included in one of the four new reporting units.

Restricted Cash

Restricted CashIn France and Malaysia, we offer services to certain of our customers where we manage some or all of their cash supply chains. In connection with these offerings, we take temporary title to certain customers' cash, which is included as restricted cash in our financial statements due to customer agreement or regulation.

New Accounting Standards

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which changes the way entities recognize impairment of many financial assets. This new guidance requires immediate recognition of estimated credit losses expected to occur over the life of the asset and incorporates estimated, forward-looking data when measuring lifetime Expected Credit Losses (ECL). The standard was designed to provide greater transparency and understanding of credit risk by requiring enhanced financial statement disclosures which fall into three general categories: ECL estimate methodology and assumptions, quantitative information and metrics, and policy and process explanations. We adopted the standard using the modified retrospective transition method. Results for the reporting period beginning January 1, 2020 are presented under ASC 326 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP. We recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment decreasing retained earnings by $1.7 million on January 1, 2020. The adoption of the standard also resulted in expanded disclosures related to credit losses (see Note 10).

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which removes certain exceptions for recognizing deferred taxes for investments, performing intraperiod tax allocations and calculating income taxes in interim periods. The ASU also adds guidance to reduce complexity in certain areas, including recognizing deferred taxes for tax goodwill and allocating taxes to members of a consolidated group. ASU 2019-12 was effective for us on January 1, 2021. We recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment increasing retained earnings by $0.5 million on January 1, 2021.