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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

The Brink’s Company (along with its subsidiaries, “we,” “our,” “Brink’s” or the “Company”), based in Richmond, Virginia, is a leading provider of secure transportation, cash management services and other security-related services to banks and financial institutions, retailers, government agencies, mints, jewelers and other commercial operations around the world. Brink’s is the oldest and largest secure transportation and cash management services company in the U.S., and a market leader in many other countries.

Consolidation

The 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.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue RecognitionRevenue is recognized when services related to armored vehicle transportation, ATM services, cash management services, payment services, guarding and the secure international transportation of valuables are performed. We assess our customers' ability to meet contractual terms, including payment terms, before entering into contracts. Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are not included in revenues in the consolidated statements of operations.

For performance obligations related to the services described above, we generally satisfy our obligations as each action to provide the service to the customer occurs. Because the customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits from our services, these performance obligations are deemed to be satisfied over time. We use an output method, units of service provided, to recognize revenue because that is the best method to represent the transfer of our services to the customer at the agreed upon rate for each action.

Although not as significant as our service offerings, we also sell goods to customers from time to time, such as safe devices. In those transactions, we satisfy our performance obligation at a point in time. We recognize revenue when the goods are delivered to the customer as that is the point in time that best represents when control has transferred to the customer.

Our contracts with customers describe the services we can provide along with the fees for each action to provide the service. We typically send invoices to customers for all of the services we have provided within a monthly period and payments are generally due within 30 to 60 days of the invoice date.

Although our customer contracts specify the fees for each action to provide service, the majority of the services stated in our contracts do not have a defined quantity over the contract term. Accordingly, the transaction price is considered variable as there is an unknown volume of services that will be rendered over the course of the contract. We recognize revenue for these services in the period in which they are provided to the customer based on the contractual rate at which we have the right to invoice the customer for each action.

Some of our contracts with customers contain clauses that define the level of service that the customer will receive. The service level agreements (“SLA”) within those contracts contain specific calculations to determine whether the appropriate level of service has been met within a specific period, which is typically a month. We estimate SLA penalties and recognize the amounts as a reduction to revenue.

Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are not included in revenues in the consolidated statements of operations.

The majority of our revenues from contracts with customers are earned by providing services and these performance obligations are satisfied over time. Smaller amounts of revenues are earned from selling goods, such as safes, to customers where the performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time.

Certain of our high-value services involve the leasing of assets, such as safes, to our customers along with the regular servicing of those safe devices. Revenues related to the leasing of these assets are recognized in accordance with applicable lease guidance, but are included in the above table as the amounts are a small percentage of overall revenues.

Contract Balances

Contract Assets

Although payment terms and conditions can vary, for the majority of our customer contracts, we invoice for all of the services provided to the customer within a monthly period. For certain customer contracts, the timing of our performance may precede our right to invoice the customer for the total transaction price. For example, Brink's affiliates in certain countries, primarily in Latin America, negotiate annual price adjustments with certain customers and, once the price increases are finalized, the pricing changes are made retroactive to services provided in earlier periods. These retroactive pricing adjustments are estimated and recognized as revenue with a corresponding contract asset in the same period in which the related services are performed. As the estimate of the ultimate transaction price changes, we recognize a cumulative catch-up adjustment for the change in estimate. In our Rest of World segment, certain Brink's affiliates provide services to specific customers and, per contract, a portion of the consideration is retained by the customers until the contract is completed. The retention amounts are reported as contract assets until we have the right to bill the customer for these amounts. Contract assets expected to be collected within one year ($3.0 million at December 31, 2021) are included in prepaid expenses and other on the consolidated balance sheet. Amounts not expected to be billed and collected within one year ($3.3 million at December 31, 2021) are reported in other noncurrent assets on the consolidated balance sheet.

Contract Liabilities

For other customer contracts, we may obtain the right to payment or receive customer payments prior to performing the related services under the contract. When the right to customer payments or receipt of payments precedes our performance, we recognize a contract liability.

The amount of revenue recognized in 2021 that was included in the January 1, 2021 contract liability balance was $12.5 million. This revenue consists of services provided to customers who had prepaid for those services prior to the current year.

Revenue recognized in 2021 from performance obligations satisfied in the prior year was not significant. This revenue is a result of changes in the transaction price of our contracts with customers.

Contract Costs

Sales commissions directly related to obtaining new contracts with customers are capitalized when incurred and are then amortized to expense ratably over the term of the contracts. At December 31, 2021, the net capitalized costs to obtain contracts was included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. The capitalized amounts at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were $2.0 million and $0.7 million, respectively. The amortization expense in 2021 and 2020 was $0.7 million and $0.5 million, respectfully.

Practical Expedients

For the majority of our contracts with customers, we invoice a fixed amount for each unit of service we have provided. These contracts provide us with the right to invoice for an amount or rate that corresponds to the value we have delivered to our customers. The volume of services that will be provided to customers over the term is not known at inception of these contracts. Therefore, while the rate per unit of service is known, the transaction price itself is variable. For this reason, we recognize revenue from these contracts equal to the amount for which we have the contractual right to invoice the customers. Because we are not required to estimate variable consideration related to the transaction price in order to recognize revenue, we are also not required to estimate the variable consideration to provide certain disclosures. As a result, we have elected to use the optional exemption related to the disclosure of transaction prices, amounts allocated to remaining performance obligations and the future periods in which revenue will be recognized, sometimes referred to as backlog.

We have also elected to use the practical expedient for financing components related to our contract liabilities. We do not recognize interest expense on contracts for which the period between our receipt of customer payments and our service to the customer is one year or less.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, demand deposits and investments with original maturities of three months or less. Cash and cash equivalents include amounts held by certain of our secure cash management services operations for customers for which, under local regulations, the title transfers to us for a short period of time. The cash is generally credited to customers’ accounts the following day and we do not consider it as available for general corporate purposes in the management of our liquidity and capital resources. We record a liability for the amounts owed to customers (see Note 13).

Restricted Cash

Restricted CashCash that is held for a specific purpose and is not available for immediate or general business use due to external restrictions is classified in our consolidated balance sheets as restricted cash. In Malaysia, we offer ATM replenishment services to certain of our financial institution customers. Providing this service requires our Malaysia subsidiary to take temporary title to the cash received in advance of ATM replenishment. The cash for which we have temporary title is restricted and cannot be used for any other purpose other than to service our customers who participate in this service offering. In France, we offer services to certain of our customers where we manage some or all of their cash supply chains. In connection with this offering, we take temporary title to certain customers' cash, which is included as restricted cash in our financial statements due to customer agreement or regulation. In addition, in accordance with a revolving credit facility, we are required to maintain a restricted cash reserve and, due to this contractual restriction, we have classified these amounts as restricted cash (see Note 20).

Trade Accounts Receivable

Trade Accounts ReceivableTrade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. We assess the collectability of our receivables on a pool basis, which we aggregate by geographical location. We determine historical loss rates for each pool and these historical loss rates represent the primary assumption used in estimating the allowance for doubtful accounts. We monitor the aging of accounts receivables by country along with any significant economic events to identify any current or expected trends and risks within a pool that could impact the collectability of receivables that were not contemplated or relevant during a previous period. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote.

Right-of-use assets

Right-of-Use AssetsFor operating leases, right-of-use assets (and related lease liabilities) are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is calculated principally on the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of individual assets or classes of assets.

Leased property and equipment meeting financing lease criteria are capitalized at the lower of the present value of the related lease payments or the fair value of the leased asset at the inception of the lease. Amortization is calculated on the straight-line method based on the lease term. See Note 17 for further information.

Leasehold improvements are recorded at cost. Amortization is calculated principally on the straight-line method over the lesser of the estimated useful life of the leasehold improvement or the lease term. Renewal periods are included in the lease term when the renewal is determined to be reasonably assured.

Part of the costs related to the development or purchase of internal-use software is capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life of the software. Costs that are capitalized include external direct costs of materials and services to develop or obtain the software, and internal costs, including compensation and employee benefits for employees directly associated with a software development project.


Estimated Useful Lives			Years
Buildings			16 to 25
Building leasehold improvements			3 to 10
Vehicles			3 to 10
Capitalized software			3 to 5
Other machinery and equipment			3 to 10

Expenditures for routine maintenance and repairs on property and equipment are charged to expense. Major renewals, betterments and modifications are capitalized and depreciated over the lesser of the remaining life of the asset or, if applicable, the lease term.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Other Intangible AssetsGoodwill is recognized for the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible net assets of businesses acquired. Intangible assets arising from business acquisitions include customer lists, customer relationships, developed technology, covenants not to compete, trademarks and other identifiable intangibles. At December 31, 2021, finite-lived intangible assets have remaining useful lives ranging from 1 to 15 years and are amortized based on the pattern in which the economic benefits are used or on a straight-line basis.

Impairment of Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets

Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment at least 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. We perform the test of goodwill impairment at the reporting unit level, which is 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. We performed a goodwill impairment test on these reporting units as of October 1, 2021 and elected to forego the optional qualitative assessment and performed a quantitative goodwill impairment assessment instead. We estimated the fair value of each reporting unit using a weighting of two valuation methodologies: the Income Approach and the Public Company Market Multiple Method, with greatest weight placed on the Income Approach. The resulting reporting unit fair values were compared to each reporting unit's carrying value. As a result of the evaluation, we concluded that goodwill was not impaired, and the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value for all reporting units.

We completed these goodwill impairment tests, as well as the tests in the previous two years, with no impairment charges required.

Indefinite-lived intangibles are also tested for impairment at least annually by comparing their carrying values to their estimated fair values. We have had no significant impairments of indefinite-lived intangibles in the last three years.

Long-lived assets other than goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangibles are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. For long-lived assets other than goodwill that are to be held and used in operations, an impairment is indicated when the estimated total undiscounted cash flow associated with the asset or group of assets is

less than carrying value. If impairment exists, an adjustment is made to write the asset down to its fair value, and a loss is recorded as the difference between the carrying value and fair value. See Note 8 for further information.

Retirement Benefit Plans

We account for retirement benefit obligations under Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 715, Compensation – Retirement Benefits. For U.S. and certain non-U.S. retirement plans, we derive the discount rates used to measure the present value of benefit obligations using the cash flow matching method. Under this method, we compare the plan’s projected payment obligations by year with the corresponding yields on a Mercer yield curve. Each year’s projected cash flows are then discounted back to their present value at the measurement date and an overall discount rate is determined. The overall discount rate is then rounded to the nearest tenth of a percentage point. We used Mercer’s Above-Mean Curve to determine the discount rates for the year-end benefit obligations and retirement cost of our U.S. retirement plans. We use a local or regional version of the Mercer yield curve in the majority of our non-U.S. locations. In non-U.S. locations where the cash flow matching method is not possible, rates of local high-quality long-term government bonds are used to select the discount rate.

We select the expected long-term rate of return assumption for our U.S. pension plan and retiree medical plans using advice from our investment advisor. The selected rate considers plan asset allocation targets, expected overall investment manager performance and long-term historical average compounded rates of return.

Benefit plan actuarial gains and losses are recognized in other comprehensive income (loss). Accumulated net benefit plan actuarial gains and losses that exceed 10% of the greater of a plan’s benefit obligation or plan assets at the beginning of the year are amortized into earnings from other comprehensive income (loss) on a straight-line basis. The amortization period for pension plans is the average remaining service period of employees expected to receive benefits under the plans. The amortization period for other retirement plans is primarily the average remaining life expectancy of inactive participants.

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded to recognize the expected future tax benefits or costs of events that have been, or will be, reported in different years for financial statement purposes than tax purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which these items are expected to reverse. We recognize tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions if we believe it is more likely than not the benefit will be realized. We review our deferred tax assets to determine if it is more-likely-than-not that they will be realized. If we determine it is not more-likely-than-not that a deferred tax asset will be realized, we record a valuation allowance to reverse the previously recognized tax benefit. See Note 5 for further information.

Foreign Currency Translation

Our 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 and available for sale debt 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. For nonmonetary available for sale debt securities traded in highly inflationary economies, the fair market value of these debt securities are remeasured at the current exchange rates, with changes recorded in the gains (losses) on marketable securities component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). We reclassify amounts from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into earnings when these debt securities are sold. Revenues and expenses are translated at rates of exchange in effect during the year. See "Venezuela" and "Argentina" sections below for further information.

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 year ended December 31, 2021 and 5% and 6% of our consolidated revenues for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The operating environment in Argentina continues to present business challenges, including ongoing devaluation of the Argentine peso and significant inflation. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Argentine peso declined by approximately 37% (from 37.6 to 59.9 pesos to the U.S. dollar). For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Argentine peso declined by approximately 29% (from 59.9 to 84.0 pesos to the U.S. dollar). For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Argentine peso declined approximately 19% (from 84.0 to 103.1 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 now remeasured at each balance sheet date using the currency exchange rate then in effect, with currency remeasurement gains and losses recognized in earnings. In 2021, we recognized $9.0 million in pretax remeasurement loss. In 2020 and in 2019, we recognized $7.7 million and $11.3 million pretax remeasurement losses, respectively.

At December 31, 2021, Argentina's economy remains highly inflationary for accounting purposes. At December 31, 2021, we had net monetary assets denominated in Argentine pesos of $60.1 million (including cash of $52.9 million) and net nonmonetary assets of $155.3 million (including $99.8 million of goodwill, $8.2 million in equity securities denominated in Argentine pesos and $4.3 million in debt 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 and during the fourth quarter of 2019, 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, we recognized $10.4 million in 2020 and $4.7 million in 2019 of such conversion losses when we converted Argentine pesos into U.S. dollars at rates that were approximately 100% and 25% less favorable than the rates at which we remeasured the financial statements of Brink’s Argentina. These conversion losses are classified in the consolidated statements of operations as other operating income (expense). We did not have any such conversion losses in 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 the conditions, we do not meet the accounting criteria for control over our Venezuelan operations and, as a result, we began reporting 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, 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.

Concentration of Credit Risks

We routinely assess the financial strength of significant customers and this assessment, combined with the large number and geographic diversity of our customers, limits our concentration of risk with respect to accounts receivable. Financial instruments which potentially

subject us to concentrations of credit risks are principally cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivables. Cash and cash equivalents are held by major financial institutions.

Use of Estimates

In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), we 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 consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ materially from those 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.

Fair-value estimates

Fair-value estimates. We have various financial instruments included in our financial statements. Financial instruments are carried in our financial statements at either cost or fair value. We estimate fair value of assets using the following hierarchy using the highest level possible:

Level 1: Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2: Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are directly or indirectly observable, or inputs that are derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data by correlation or other means.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect estimates and assumptions.

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 16).

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Reform Act. We adopted ASU 2018-02 effective January 1, 2019 and elected to recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment increasing retained earnings by $28.8 million related to the change in the U.S. federal corporate tax rate.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which changes the fair value measurement disclosure requirements. The amendments in this ASU eliminate some disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial, modify/clarify the specific requirements of certain disclosures and add disclosure requirements for Level 3 fair value measurements. We adopted ASU 2018-13 effective January 1, 2020 and the standard did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.

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.