Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
______________
 
FORM 10-Q
______________

ý        QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the Quarterly Period Ended December 31, 2017

OR

o        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 1-5397
______________

AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
______________
Delaware
22-1467904
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
 
One ADP Boulevard, Roseland, New Jersey
07068 
(Address of principal executive offices) 
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (973) 974-5000
______________
 
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  ý   No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).  Yes  ý       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,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer [x]
 
Accelerated filer [ ]
Non-accelerated filer [ ]
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company [ ]
Emerging growth company [ ]
 
 
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. o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No  ý

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of January 26, 2018 was 443,269,657.



Table of Contents
 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statements of Consolidated Earnings
Three and six months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016
 
 
 
 
Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income
Three and six months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
At December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows
Six Months Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2


Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Statements of Consolidated Earnings
(In millions, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
REVENUES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues, other than interest on funds held
for clients and PEO revenues
$
2,188.8

 
$
2,077.4

 
$
4,269.8

 
$
4,114.8

Interest on funds held for clients
106.7

 
91.8

 
206.1

 
181.0

PEO revenues (A)
939.9

 
818.1

 
1,838.3

 
1,608.4

TOTAL REVENUES
3,235.4

 
2,987.3

 
6,314.2

 
5,904.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EXPENSES:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Costs of revenues:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Operating expenses
1,719.3

 
1,560.4

 
3,366.0

 
3,091.9

Systems development and programming costs
158.1

 
152.5

 
315.1

 
307.4

Depreciation and amortization
69.3

 
54.9

 
131.9

 
112.2

TOTAL COSTS OF REVENUES
1,946.7

 
1,767.8

 
3,813.0

 
3,511.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
717.2

 
640.8

 
1,379.6

 
1,288.6

Interest expense
27.5

 
20.5

 
55.5

 
40.4

TOTAL EXPENSES
2,691.4

 
2,429.1

 
5,248.1

 
4,840.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other income, net
(21.7
)
 
(228.0
)
 
(47.8
)
 
(251.1
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
565.7

 
786.2

 
1,113.9

 
1,314.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for income taxes
98.2

 
275.3

 
244.9

 
435.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NET EARNINGS
$
467.5

 
$
510.9

 
$
869.0

 
$
879.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
$
1.06

 
$
1.14

 
$
1.97

 
$
1.95

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
$
1.05

 
$
1.13

 
$
1.96

 
$
1.94

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
441.3

 
447.9

 
441.8

 
450.1

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
443.7

 
450.3

 
444.4

 
452.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dividends declared per common share
$
0.630

 
$
0.570

 
$
1.200

 
$
1.100


(A) Professional Employer Organization (“PEO”) revenues are net of direct pass-through costs, primarily consisting of payroll wages and payroll taxes of $10,632.3 million and $9,145.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $19,370.8 million and $16,833.1 million for the six months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

See notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

3



Automatic Data Processing, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income
(In millions)
(Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Net earnings
$
467.5

 
$
510.9

 
$
869.0

 
$
879.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income/loss:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency translation adjustments
4.1

 
(55.0
)
 
46.6

 
(44.2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized net losses on available-for-sale securities
(147.3
)
 
(413.3
)
 
(160.2
)
 
(484.7
)
Tax effect
53.1

 
145.4

 
56.6

 
171.6

Reclassification of net losses/(gains) on available-for-sale securities to net earnings
1.0

 
(1.3
)
 
1.1

 
(1.4
)
Tax effect
(0.4
)
 
0.6

 
(0.4
)
 
0.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reclassification of pension liability adjustment to net earnings
2.3

 
5.1

 
4.6

 
10.2

Tax effect
(0.8
)
 
(1.8
)
 
(1.7
)
 
(3.7
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
(88.0
)
 
(320.3
)
 
(53.4
)
 
(351.6
)
Comprehensive income
$
379.5

 
$
190.6

 
$
815.6

 
$
528.0































See notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

4


Automatic Data Processing, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In millions, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
December 31,
 
June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2017
Assets
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1,773.4

 
$
2,780.4

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $52.8 and $49.6, respectively
 
2,045.5

 
1,703.6

Other current assets
 
1,079.8

 
883.2

Total current assets before funds held for clients
 
4,898.7

 
5,367.2

Funds held for clients
 
34,451.3

 
27,291.5

Total current assets
 
39,350.0

 
32,658.7

Long-term receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.7 and $0.8, respectively
 
27.4

 
28.0

Property, plant and equipment, net
 
799.9

 
779.9

Other assets
 
1,371.2

 
1,352.2

Goodwill
 
2,164.3

 
1,741.0

Intangible assets, net
 
832.7

 
620.2

Total assets
 
$
44,545.5

 
$
37,180.0

 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 
 

 
 

Accounts payable
 
$
136.8

 
$
149.7

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
 
1,583.9

 
1,381.9

Accrued payroll and payroll-related expenses
 
496.6

 
562.5

Dividends payable
 
275.2

 
250.5

Short-term deferred revenues
 
227.5

 
232.9

Income taxes payable
 
22.8

 
49.0

Total current liabilities before client funds obligations
 
2,742.8

 
2,626.5

Client funds obligations
 
34,508.1

 
27,189.4

Total current liabilities
 
37,250.9

 
29,815.9

Long-term debt
 
2,002.4

 
2,002.4

Other liabilities
 
824.8

 
830.2

Deferred income taxes
 
148.6

 
163.1

Long-term deferred revenues
 
387.6

 
391.4

Total liabilities
 
40,614.3

 
33,203.0

 
 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
 


 


 
 
 
 
 
Stockholders' equity:
 
 

 
 

Preferred stock, $1.00 par value: Authorized, 0.3 shares; issued, none
 

 

Common stock, $0.10 par value: authorized, 1,000.0 shares; issued, 638.7 shares at December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017;
outstanding, 442.7 and 445.0 shares at December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017, respectively
 
63.9

 
63.9

Capital in excess of par value
 
903.5

 
867.8

Retained earnings
 
15,060.1

 
14,728.2

Treasury stock - at cost: 196.0 and 193.7 shares at December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017, respectively
 
(11,663.7
)
 
(11,303.7
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(432.6
)
 
(379.2
)
Total stockholders’ equity
 
3,931.2

 
3,977.0

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
$
44,545.5

 
$
37,180.0



See notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

5

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows
(In millions)
(Unaudited)



 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
*As Adjusted
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
 
 
 
 
Net earnings
 
$
869.0

 
$
879.6

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash flows provided by operating activities:
 
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
 
182.0

 
156.0

Deferred income taxes
 
7.3

 
27.7

Stock-based compensation expense
 
77.7

 
66.9

Net pension expense
 
5.5

 
12.1

Net amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on available-for-sale securities
 
37.9

 
45.5

Gain on sale of divested businesses, net of tax
 

 
(121.4
)
Other
 
14.8

 
13.6

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures of businesses:
 
 

 
 

Increase in accounts receivable
 
(337.1
)
 
(119.7
)
Increase in other assets
 
(244.7
)
 
(144.1
)
Decrease in accounts payable
 
(2.7
)
 
(16.1
)
Increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
65.4

 
41.0

Net cash flows provided by operating activities
 
675.1

 
841.1

 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
 
 

 
 

Purchases of corporate and client funds marketable securities
 
(2,454.2
)
 
(2,359.5
)
Proceeds from the sales and maturities of corporate and client funds marketable securities
 
1,866.0

 
1,878.0

Capital expenditures
 
(118.3
)
 
(119.7
)
Additions to intangibles
 
(132.4
)
 
(106.6
)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired
 
(487.4
)
 
(20.0
)
Proceeds from the sale of divested businesses
 

 
234.0

Net cash flows used in investing activities
 
(1,326.3
)
 
(493.8
)
 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
 
 

 
 

Net increase / (decrease) in client funds obligations
 
7,207.1

 
(2,799.9
)
Payments of debt
 
(6.3
)
 
(1.0
)
Repurchases of common stock
 
(408.3
)
 
(765.3
)
Net proceeds from stock purchase plan and stock-based compensation plans
 
(5.5
)
 
19.2

Dividends paid
 
(506.7
)
 
(482.3
)
Net cash flows provided by / (used in) financing activities
 
6,280.3

 
(4,029.3
)
 
 
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents
 
49.1

 
(55.1
)
 
 
 
 
 
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents
 
5,678.2

 
(3,737.1
)
 
 
 
 
 
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents, beginning of period
 
8,181.6

 
15,458.6

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
13,859.8

 
$
11,721.5

 
 
 
 
 
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents to the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1,773.4

 
$
2,705.2

Restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents included in funds held for clients (A)
 
12,086.4

 
9,016.3

Total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents
 
$
13,859.8

 
$
11,721.5

 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
 
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest
 
$
54.3

 
$
39.2

Cash paid for income taxes, net of income tax refunds
 
$
389.2

 
$
332.6


*See Note 2 for a summary of adjustments.

(A) See Note 8 for a reconciliation of restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in funds held for clients on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.


See notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

6


Automatic Data Processing, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 1.  Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes thereto of Automatic Data Processing, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“ADP” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).  The Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes thereto are unaudited.  In the opinion of the Company’s management, the Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, that are necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s interim financial results.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses, and accumulated other comprehensive income that are reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes thereto.  Actual results may differ from those estimates. The Interim Financial Data by Segment footnote reflects changes to the allocation methodology for certain allocations and has been adjusted in both the current period and the prior period and did not materially affect reportable segment results. Refer to Note 16 for further information.

Interim financial results are not necessarily indicative of financial results for a full year.  The information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 (“fiscal 2017”).

Note 2.  New Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Effective July 1, 2017, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-18, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash." ASU 2016-18 requires that the statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash. The Company retrospectively adopted the new standard, and as a result included restricted cash with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts presented on the Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows. Accordingly, the statement of cash flows has been revised to include restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents associated with funds held to satisfy client obligations, as a component of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents.

As a result of this adoption, the Company adjusted the Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows from previously reported amounts as follows:
 
Six Months Ended
 
December 31, 2016
(unaudited)
 
As previously reported
 
Adjustments
 
As adjusted
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net decrease / (increase) in restricted cash and cash equivalents held to satisfy client funds obligations
$
3,213.0

 
$
(3,213.0
)
 
$

Net cash flows provided by / (used in) investing activities
2,719.2

 
(3,213.0
)
 
(493.8
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents

(16.9
)
 
(38.2
)
 
(55.1
)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents
(485.9
)
 
(3,251.2
)
 
(3,737.1
)
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents, end of period
$
2,705.2

 
$
9,016.3

 
$
11,721.5

 
Effective July 1, 2017, the Company adopted ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairments.” ASU 2017-04 establishes a one-step process for testing goodwill for a decrease in value, requiring a goodwill impairment loss to be measured as the excess of the reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value. The guidance eliminates the second step of the current two-step process that requires the impairment to be measured as the difference between the implied value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the goodwill’s carrying amount. The adoption of ASU

7


2017-04 is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.

In July 2017, the Company adopted ASU 2017-01, "Business Combinations (Topic 805) - Clarifying the Definition of a Business." ASU 2017-01 clarifies the definition of a business in order to allow for the evaluation of whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. The adoption of ASU 2017-01 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

The following table summarizes recent ASU's issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") that could have a material impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
Standard
Description
Effective Date
Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2017-07 Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Post-retirement Benefit Cost
This standard requires reporting the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising during the period in the Statements of Consolidated Earnings. The other components of net periodic pension cost are required to be presented in the Statements of Consolidated Earnings separately from the service cost component. Such changes are to be applied retrospectively from the date of adoption. The ASU also allows only the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization, when applicable, prospectively from the date of adoption.
For fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted.
The Company will adopt ASU 2017-07 beginning on July 1, 2018. This ASU will be applied retrospectively and will require the reclassification of the non-service cost components of the net periodic benefit cost from within the respective line items of our Statements of Consolidated Earnings to Other income, net. Also, the requirement set forth under this ASU only allows the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost to be capitalized. The Company does not expect the adoption of the new accounting rules to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
ASU 2016-02
Leases (Topic 842)
This update amends the existing accounting standards for lease accounting, and requires lessees to recognize most lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and to disclose key information about leasing arrangements. This ASU requires a modified retrospective transition approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial application.
For fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted.
The Company will adopt ASU 2016-02 beginning on July 1, 2019. The Company has not yet determined the impact of this ASU on its consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.

8


Standard
Description
Effective Date
Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2014-09
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)
This standard outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance, and has since issued additional amendments to ASU 2014-09. These new standards require an entity to recognize revenue depicting the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standards will also result in enhanced revenue related disclosures. Entities have the option to apply the new guidance under a retrospective approach to each prior reporting period presented or a modified retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially applying the new guidance recognized at the date of initial application within the Statements of Consolidated Financial Position.
For fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted.
The Company had been assessing the impact of the new revenue recognition standard on its relationships with its clients. In fiscal 2017, the Company determined it would not early adopt the standard, and instead would adopt the new standard in its fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2018. Further, the Company anticipates applying the guidance under the full retrospective approach. The Company is nearly complete with its comprehensive diagnostic of the measurement and recognition provisions of the new standard and is in the process of finalizing its conclusions and policies. The Company expects the provisions of the new standard to primarily impact the manner in which it treats certain costs to fulfill contracts (i.e., implementation costs) and costs to acquire new contracts (i.e., selling costs). The provisions of the new standard will require the Company to capitalize and amortize additional implementation costs than those capitalized and amortized under current U.S. GAAP. Further, under current U.S. GAAP, the Company immediately expenses all selling expenses. The provisions of the new standard will require that the Company capitalize incremental selling expenses such as commissions and bonuses paid to the sales force for obtaining contracts with new clients and/or selling additional business to current clients. These capitalized expenses will be amortized over the expected client life. While the Company grows, the impact of deferring and amortizing additional costs creates higher overall pre-tax income, net earnings, and earnings per share, when compared to current U.S. GAAP. The Company does not expect the provisions of the new standard to materially impact the timing or amount of revenue it recognizes.

The Company has not yet determined the impacts of all the disclosure requirements and specifically is assessing the manner in which it will disaggregate its revenue to illustrate how the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors. Additionally, while the Company is in the process of assessing its accounting and forecasting processes to ensure its ability to record, report, forecast, and analyze results under the new standard, it is not expecting significant changes to its business processes or systems.




Note 3. Acquisitions

In October 2017, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of Global Cash Card, Inc. ("GCC"), a leader in digital payments, including paycards and other electronic accounts, for approximately $490 million in cash, net of cash acquired. The acquisition of GCC makes ADP the only human capital management provider with a proprietary digital payments processing platform. The results of GCC are reported within the Company’s Employer Services segment. Pro forma information has not been presented because the effect of the acquisition is not material to the Company's consolidated financial results.

The preliminary allocation of the purchase price is based upon estimates and assumptions that are subject to change within the purchase price allocation period, which is generally one year from the acquisition date. The primary areas of the purchase price allocation that are not yet finalized relate to the measurement of certain assets and liabilities, including identifiable intangible assets, and the finalization of net working capital items included in the purchase price allocation. Accordingly, the

9


measurement period for such purchase price allocations will end when the information becomes available but will not exceed twelve months from the date of acquisition.

The preliminary purchase price allocation for GCC is as follows:
Goodwill
$
404.3

Identifiable intangible assets
132.2

Other assets
3.2

Total assets acquired
$
539.7

 
 
Total liabilities acquired
$
48.7


The Company determined the purchase price allocations for this acquisition based on estimates of the fair value of tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, utilizing recognized valuation techniques, including the income and market approaches. The goodwill recorded as a result of the GCC transaction represents future economic benefits we expect to achieve as a result of the acquisition and expected cost synergies. None of the goodwill resulting from the acquisition is tax deductible.
Intangible assets for GCC, which totaled $132.2 million, included technology and software, and customer contracts and lists which are being amortized over a weighted average life of approximately 8 years.

Note 4. Divestitures

In November 2016, the Company completed the sale of its Consumer Health Spending Account ("CHSA") and Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act ("COBRA") businesses for a pre-tax gain of $205.4 million, and recorded such gain within Other income, net on the Statements of Consolidated Earnings. The historical results of operations of these businesses are included in the Employer Services segment. 

The Company determined that the CHSA and COBRA divestitures did not meet the criteria for reporting discontinued operations under ASU 2014-08 as the disposition of these businesses does not represent a strategic shift that has a major effect on the Company's operations or financial results.

Note 5. Service Alignment Initiative

On July 28, 2016, the Company announced a Service Alignment Initiative that is intended to simplify the Company's service organization by aligning the Company's service operations to its strategic platforms and locations. In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 ("fiscal 2016"), the Company entered into leases in Norfolk, Virginia and Maitland, Florida, and in fiscal 2017, the Company entered into a lease in Tempe, Arizona as part of this effort. The Company began incurring charges for this initiative during the first quarter of fiscal 2017 and expects to continue to incur charges throughout the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 ("fiscal 2018") as the initiative is executed. The charges primarily relate to employee separation benefits recognized under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 712, and also include charges for the relocation of certain current Company employees, lease termination costs, and accelerated depreciation of fixed assets. The Company expects to recognize pre-tax restructuring charges of about $25 million for the remainder of fiscal 2018, consisting primarily of cash expenditures for employee separation benefits.

The table below summarizes the composition of the Company's Service Alignment Initiative charges/(reversals):
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
Cumulative amount from inception through
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
Employee separation benefits (a)
$
2.3

 
$

 
$
(2.9
)
 
$
37.3

 
$
81.2

Other initiative costs (b)
1.0

 
1.2

 
2.9

 
3.8

 
8.8

Total (c)
$
3.3

 
$
1.2

 
$

 
$
41.1

 
$
90.0


10




Activity for the Service Alignment Initiative liability for the six months ended December 31, 2017 was as follows:
 
Employee
separation benefits
 
Other initiative costs
 
Total
Balance at June 30, 2017
$
73.9

 
$
0.5

 
$
74.4

Charged to expense
7.9

 
2.9

 
10.8

Reversals
(10.8
)
 

 
(10.8
)
Cash payments
(18.0
)
 
(2.2
)
 
(20.2
)
Non-cash utilization

 
(0.6
)
 
(0.6
)
Balance at December 31, 2017
$
53.0


$
0.6


$
53.6


(a) - Charges/(reversals) are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses on the Statements of Consolidated Earnings.
(b) - Other initiative costs include costs to relocate certain current Company employees to new locations, lease termination charges (both included within selling, general and administrative expenses on the Statements of Consolidated Earnings), and accelerated depreciation on fixed assets (included within depreciation and amortization on the Statements of Consolidated Earnings).
(c) - All charges are included within the Other segment.

Note 6.  Earnings per Share (“EPS”)
 
 
Basic
 
Effect of Employee Stock Option Shares
 
Effect of
Employee
Restricted
Stock
Shares
 
Diluted
Three Months Ended December 31, 2017
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net earnings
 
$
467.5

 
 

 
 

 
$
467.5

Weighted average shares (in millions)
 
441.3

 
1.2

 
1.2

 
443.7

EPS
 
$
1.06

 
 

 
 

 
$
1.05

Three Months Ended December 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net earnings
 
$
510.9

 
 

 
 

 
$
510.9

Weighted average shares (in millions)
 
447.9

 
1.1

 
1.3

 
450.3

EPS
 
$
1.14

 
 

 
 

 
$
1.13

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings
 
$
869.0

 
 

 
 

 
$
869.0

Weighted average shares (in millions)
 
441.8

 
1.1

 
1.5

 
444.4

EPS
 
$
1.97

 
 

 
 

 
$
1.96

Six Months Ended December 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net earnings
 
$
879.6

 
 

 
 

 
$
879.6

Weighted average shares (in millions)
 
450.1

 
1.1

 
1.5

 
452.7

EPS
 
$
1.95

 
 

 
 

 
$
1.94


Options to purchase 1.1 million and 1.2 million shares of common stock for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and 0.8 million shares of common stock for the six months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.


11



Note 7. Other Income, Net
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Interest income on corporate funds
$
(22.7
)
 
$
(21.3
)
 
$
(48.5
)
 
$
(44.3
)
Realized gains on available-for-sale securities
(0.2
)
 
(2.0
)
 
(0.5
)
 
(2.5
)
Realized losses on available-for-sale securities
1.2

 
0.7

 
1.6

 
1.1

Gain on sale of assets

 

 
(0.4
)
 

Gain on sale of businesses (see Note 4)

 
(205.4
)
 

 
(205.4
)
Other income, net
$
(21.7
)
 
$
(228.0
)
 
$
(47.8
)
 
$
(251.1
)

Note 8. Corporate Investments and Funds Held for Clients

Corporate investments and funds held for clients at December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017 were as follows:
 
December 31, 2017
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
 Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
 Fair Market Value (A)
Type of issue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market securities, cash and other cash equivalents
$
13,859.8

 
$

 
$

 
$
13,859.8

Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate bonds
9,435.9

 
57.7

 
(39.7
)
 
9,453.9

Asset-backed securities
4,445.0

 
4.7

 
(22.0
)
 
4,427.7

U.S. government agency securities
2,913.6

 
10.6

 
(22.8
)
 
2,901.4

U.S. Treasury securities
2,481.4

 
1.0

 
(38.6
)
 
2,443.8

Canadian government obligations and
Canadian government agency obligations
1,148.3

 
0.9

 
(20.1
)
 
1,129.1

Canadian provincial bonds
760.8

 
8.3

 
(3.3
)
 
765.8

Municipal bonds
586.0

 
6.3

 
(2.0
)
 
590.3

Other securities
661.2

 
5.0

 
(2.7
)
 
663.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total available-for-sale securities
22,432.2

 
94.5

 
(151.2
)
 
22,375.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total corporate investments and funds held for clients
$
36,292.0

 
$
94.5

 
$
(151.2
)
 
$
36,235.3

                                                            
(A) Included within available-for-sale securities are corporate investments with fair values of $10.6 million and funds held for clients with fair values of $22,364.9 million. All available-for-sale securities were included in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

12



 
June 30, 2017
 
Amortized 
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Market Value (B)
Type of issue:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Money market securities, cash and other cash equivalents
$
8,181.6

 
$

 
$

 
$
8,181.6

Available-for-sale securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Corporate bonds
9,325.3

 
98.8

 
(22.0
)
 
9,402.1

Asset-backed securities
4,453.1

 
16.9

 
(8.6
)
 
4,461.4

U.S. government agency securities
3,557.7

 
22.2

 
(13.4
)
 
3,566.5

U.S. Treasury securities
1,585.9

 
2.6

 
(14.3
)
 
1,574.2

Canadian government obligations and
Canadian government agency obligations
1,053.6

 
2.9

 
(11.4
)
 
1,045.1

Canadian provincial bonds
746.9

 
14.3

 
(1.4
)
 
759.8

Municipal bonds
582.5

 
11.3

 
(1.3
)
 
592.5

Other securities
493.6

 
7.3

 
(1.4
)
 
499.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total available-for-sale securities
21,798.6

 
176.3

 
(73.8
)
 
21,901.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total corporate investments and funds held for clients
$
29,980.2

 
$
176.3

 
$
(73.8
)
 
$
30,082.7


(B) Included within available-for-sale securities are corporate investments with fair values of $10.8 million and funds held for clients with fair values of $21,890.3 million. All available-for-sale securities were included in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

For a description of the fair value hierarchy and the Company's fair value methodologies, including the use of an independent third-party pricing service, see Note 1 "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2017. The Company did not transfer any assets between Levels during the six months ended December 31, 2017 or fiscal 2017. In addition, the Company concurred with and did not adjust the prices obtained from the independent pricing service. The Company has no available-for-sale securities included in Level 1 or Level 3 at December 31, 2017.

The unrealized losses and fair values of available-for-sale securities that have been in an unrealized loss position for a period of less than and greater than 12 months as of December 31, 2017, are as follows: 
 
December 31, 2017
 
Securities in Unrealized Loss Position Less Than 12 Months
 
Securities in Unrealized Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months
 
Total
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Market
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Market
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Market Value
Corporate bonds
$
(18.3
)
 
$
3,437.6

 
$
(21.4
)
 
$
1,186.2

 
$
(39.7
)
 
$
4,623.8

Asset-backed securities
(10.8
)
 
2,463.5

 
(11.2
)
 
1,065.1

 
(22.0
)
 
3,528.6

U.S. government agency securities
(9.6
)
 
1,390.0

 
(13.2
)
 
656.1

 
(22.8
)
 
2,046.1

U.S. Treasury securities
(17.1
)
 
1,412.9

 
(21.5
)
 
982.1

 
(38.6
)
 
2,395.0

Canadian government obligations and
Canadian government agency obligations
(20.1
)
 
895.3

 

 

 
(20.1
)
 
895.3

Canadian provincial bonds
(2.7
)
 
315.1

 
(0.6
)
 
55.4

 
(3.3
)
 
370.5

Municipal bonds
(1.4
)
 
189.2

 
(0.6
)
 
17.8

 
(2.0
)
 
207.0

Other securities
(1.9
)
 
269.2

 
(0.8
)
 
41.6

 
(2.7
)
 
310.8

 
$
(81.9
)
 
$
10,372.8

 
$
(69.3
)
 
$
4,004.3

 
$
(151.2
)
 
$
14,377.1



13



The unrealized losses and fair values of available-for-sale securities that have been in an unrealized loss position for a period of less than and greater than 12 months as of June 30, 2017, are as follows:
 
June 30, 2017
 
Securities in Unrealized Loss Position Less Than 12 Months
 
Securities in Unrealized Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months
 
Total
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Market
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Market
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Market Value
Corporate bonds
$
(22.0
)
 
$
2,619.9

 
$

 
$
7.4

 
$
(22.0
)
 
$
2,627.3

Asset-backed securities
(8.5
)
 
1,916.1

 
(0.1
)
 
11.3

 
(8.6
)
 
1,927.4

U.S. government agency securities
(13.4
)
 
1,935.3

 

 

 
(13.4
)
 
1,935.3

U.S. Treasury securities
(14.3
)
 
1,317.8

 

 
1.0

 
(14.3
)
 
1,318.8

Canadian government obligations and
Canadian government agency obligations
(11.4
)
 
699.6

 

 

 
(11.4
)
 
699.6

Canadian provincial bonds
(1.4
)
 
179.8

 

 

 
(1.4
)
 
179.8

Municipal bonds
(1.2
)
 
98.8

 
(0.1
)
 
1.2

 
(1.3
)
 
100.0

Other securities
(1.3
)
 
148.0

 
(0.1
)
 
8.9

 
(1.4
)
 
156.9

 
$
(73.5
)
 
$
8,915.3

 
$
(0.3
)
 
$
29.8

 
$
(73.8
)
 
$
8,945.1


At December 31, 2017, corporate bonds include investment-grade debt securities, which include a wide variety of issuers, industries, and sectors, primarily carry credit ratings of A and above, and have maturities ranging from January 2018 through March 2026.

At December 31, 2017, asset-backed securities include AAA rated senior tranches of securities with predominantly prime collateral of fixed-rate credit card, auto loan, equipment lease, and rate reduction receivables with fair values of $2,183.6 million, $1,581.6 million, $439.6 million, and $222.9 million, respectively. These securities are collateralized by the cash flows of the underlying pools of receivables.  The primary risk associated with these securities is the collection risk of the underlying receivables.  All collateral on such asset-backed securities has performed as expected through December 31, 2017.

At December 31, 2017, U.S. government agency securities primarily include debt directly issued by Federal Home Loan Banks and Federal Farm Credit Banks with fair values of $2,058.8 million and $603.0 million, respectively. U.S. government agency securities represent senior, unsecured, non-callable debt that primarily carry ratings of Aaa by Moody's and AA+ by Standard & Poor's with maturities ranging from June 2018 through November 2025.

At December 31, 2017, other securities and their fair value primarily represent: AAA and AA rated supranational bonds of $154.1 million, U.S. government agency commercial mortgage-backed securities of $147.0 million issued by Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae") and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Aa2 rated United Kingdom Gilt securities of $137.8 million, AAA and AA rated sovereign bonds of $110.8 million, and AA rated mortgage-backed securities of $87.2 million. The Company's mortgage-backed securities represent an undivided beneficial ownership interest in a group or pool of one or more residential mortgages. These securities are collateralized by the cash flows of 15-year and 30-year residential mortgages and are primarily guaranteed by Fannie Mae as to the timely payment of principal and interest.

Classification of corporate investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets is as follows:
 
 
December 31,
 
June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2017
Corporate investments:
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1,773.4

 
$
2,780.4

Short-term marketable securities (a)
 
3.2

 
3.2

Long-term marketable securities (b)
 
7.4

 
7.6

Total corporate investments
 
$
1,784.0

 
$
2,791.2

 

14



(a) - Short-term marketable securities are included within Other current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(b) - Long-term marketable securities are included within Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Funds held for clients represent assets that, based upon the Company's intent, are restricted for use solely for the purposes of satisfying the obligations to remit funds relating to the Company’s payroll and payroll tax filing services, which are classified as client funds obligations on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Funds held for clients have been invested in the following categories:
 
 
December 31,
 
June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2017
Funds held for clients:
 
 
 
 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents held to satisfy client funds obligations
 
$
12,086.4

 
$
5,401.2

Restricted short-term marketable securities held to satisfy client funds obligations
 
2,285.3

 
2,918.5

Restricted long-term marketable securities held to satisfy client funds obligations
 
20,079.6

 
18,971.8

Total funds held for clients
 
$
34,451.3

 
$
27,291.5


Client funds obligations represent the Company's contractual obligations to remit funds to satisfy clients' payroll and tax payment obligations and are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at the time that the Company impounds funds from clients.  The client funds obligations represent liabilities that will be repaid within one year of the balance sheet date.  The Company has reported client funds obligations as a current liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheets totaling $34,508.1 million and $27,189.4 million at December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017, respectively.  The Company has classified funds held for clients as a current asset since these funds are held solely for the purposes of satisfying the client funds obligations.  The Company has reported the cash flows related to the purchases of corporate and client funds marketable securities and related to the proceeds from the sales and maturities of corporate and client funds marketable securities on a gross basis in the investing section of the Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows.  Beginning September 30, 2017, as a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-18 (see Note 2), the Company has reported the cash and cash equivalents related to client funds investments with original maturities of ninety days or less, within the beginning and ending balances of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents. These amounts have been reconciled to the Consolidated Balance Sheets on the Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows. Refer to Note 2 for a summary of the change in presentation as a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-18. The Company has reported the cash flows related to the cash received from and paid on behalf of clients on a net basis within net increase in client funds obligations in the financing activities section of the Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows.

Approximately 80% of the available-for-sale securities held a AAA or AA rating at December 31, 2017, as rated by Moody's, Standard & Poor's, DBRS for Canadian denominated securities, and Fitch for asset-backed and commercial mortgage backed securities.  All available-for-sale securities were rated as investment grade at December 31, 2017.
 
Expected maturities of available-for-sale securities at December 31, 2017 are as follows:
One year or less
$
2,288.5

One year to two years
4,112.2

Two years to three years
5,290.8

Three years to four years
4,556.3

After four years
6,127.7

Total available-for-sale securities
$
22,375.5



15



Note 9. Goodwill and Intangibles Assets, net

Changes in goodwill for the six months ended December 31, 2017 are as follows:
 
Employer
Services
 
PEO
Services
 
Total
Balance at June 30, 2017
$
1,736.2

 
$
4.8

 
$
1,741.0

Additions and other adjustments, net
403.8

 

 
403.8

Currency translation adjustments
19.5

 

 
19.5

Balance at December 31, 2017
$
2,159.5

 
$
4.8

 
$
2,164.3


Components of intangible assets, net, are as follows:
 
 
December 31,
 
June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2017
Intangible assets:
 
 
 
 
Software and software licenses
 
$
2,187.6

 
$
1,975.2

Customer contracts and lists
 
703.2

 
614.1

Other intangibles
 
234.1

 
228.2

 
 
3,124.9

 
2,817.5

Less accumulated amortization:
 
 

 
 

Software and software licenses
 
(1,559.9
)
 
(1,483.7
)
Customer contracts and lists
 
(522.1
)
 
(506.0
)
Other intangibles
 
(210.2
)
 
(207.6
)
 
 
(2,292.2
)
 
(2,197.3
)
Intangible assets, net
 
$
832.7

 
$
620.2


Other intangibles consist primarily of purchased rights, purchased content, trademarks and trade names (acquired directly or through acquisitions).  All intangible assets have finite lives and, as such, are subject to amortization.  The weighted average remaining useful life of the intangible assets is 5 years (4 years for software and software licenses, 9 years for customer contracts and lists, and 6 years for other intangibles).  Amortization of intangible assets was $51.8 million and $42.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $98.4 million and $85.4 million for the six months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Estimated future amortization expenses of the Company's existing intangible assets are as follows:
 
Amount
Six months ending June 30, 2018
$
98.9

Twelve months ending June 30, 2019
$
206.9

Twelve months ending June 30, 2020
$
178.3

Twelve months ending June 30, 2021
$
130.0

Twelve months ending June 30, 2022
$
96.9

Twelve months ending June 30, 2023
$
58.5



16



Note 10. Short-term Financing

The Company has a $3.5 billion, 364-day credit agreement that matures in June 2018 with a one year term-out option.  The Company also has a $2.25 billion five-year credit facility that matures in June 2022 that also contains an accordion feature under which the aggregate commitment can be increased by $500 million, subject to the availability of additional commitments. In addition, the Company has a five-year $3.75 billion credit facility maturing in June 2021 that contains an accordion feature under which the aggregate commitment can be increased by $500 million, subject to the availability of additional commitments.  The interest rate applicable to committed borrowings is tied to LIBOR, the effective federal funds rate, or the prime rate, depending on the notification provided by the Company to the syndicated financial institutions prior to borrowing.  The Company is also required to pay facility fees on the credit agreements.  The primary uses of the credit facilities are to provide liquidity to the commercial paper program and funding for general corporate purposes, if necessary.  The Company had no borrowings through December 31, 2017 under the credit agreements.

The Company's U.S. short-term funding requirements related to client funds are sometimes obtained on an unsecured basis through the issuance of commercial paper, rather than liquidating previously-collected client funds that have already been invested in available-for-sale securities. This commercial paper program provides for the issuance of up to $9.5 billion in aggregate maturity value. The Company’s commercial paper program is rated A-1+ by Standard & Poor’s and Prime-1 by Moody’s.  These ratings denote the highest quality commercial paper securities.  Maturities of commercial paper can range from overnight to up to 364 days. At December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017, the Company had no commercial paper outstanding. For the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had average daily borrowings of $3.5 billion and $4.2 billion, respectively, at weighted average interest rates of 1.2% and 0.5%, respectively. For the six months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had average daily borrowings of $3.7 billion and $4.2 billion, respectively, at weighted average interest rates of 1.2% and 0.5%, respectively. The weighted average maturity of the Company’s commercial paper during the three and six months ended December 31, 2017 was approximately two days.
        
The Company’s U.S. and Canadian short-term funding requirements related to client funds obligations are sometimes obtained on a secured basis through the use of reverse repurchase agreements, which are collateralized principally by government and government agency securities, rather than liquidating previously-collected client funds that have already been invested in available-for-sale securities.  These agreements generally have terms ranging from overnight to up to five business days. At December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017, there were no outstanding obligations related to the reverse repurchase agreements. For the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had average outstanding balances under reverse repurchase agreements of $537.0 million and $267.6 million, respectively, at weighted average interest rates of 1.2% and 0.5%, respectively. For the six months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had average outstanding balances under reverse repurchase agreements of $531.6 million and $313.4 million, respectively, at weighted average interest rates of 1.1% and 0.5%, respectively.

Note 11. Long-term Debt

The Company has fixed-rate notes with 5-year and 10-year maturities for an aggregate principal amount of $2.0 billion (collectively the “Notes”). The Notes are senior unsecured obligations, and interest is payable in arrears, semi-annually.
The principal amounts and associated effective interest rates of the Notes and other debt as of December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017, are as follows:
Debt instrument
 
Effective Interest Rate
 
December 31, 2017
 
June 30,
 2017
Fixed-rate 2.250% notes due September 15, 2020
 
2.37%
 
$
1,000.0

 
$
1,000.0

Fixed-rate 3.375% notes due September 15, 2025
 
3.47%
 
1,000.0

 
1,000.0

Other
 
 
 
14.0

 
20.3

 
 
 
 
2,014.0

 
2,020.3

Less: current portion
 
 
 
(2.5
)
 
(7.8
)
Less: unamortized discount and debt issuance costs
 
 
 
(9.1
)
 
(10.1
)
Total long-term debt
 
 
 
$
2,002.4

 
$
2,002.4

The effective interest rates for the Notes include the interest on the Notes and amortization of the discount and debt issuance costs.

17



As of December 31, 2017, the fair value of the Notes, based on Level 2 inputs, was $2,034.7 million. For a description of the fair value hierarchy and the Company's fair value methodologies, including the use of an independent third-party service, see Note 1 "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2017.

Note 12. Employee Benefit Plans

A.  Stock-based Compensation Plans
    
The Company's share-based compensation consists of stock options, time-based restricted stock, time-based restricted stock units, performance-based restricted stock, and performance-based restricted stock units. The Company also offers an employee stock purchase plan for eligible employees.

The Company currently utilizes treasury stock to satisfy stock option exercises, issuances under the Company's employee stock purchase plan, and restricted stock awards.  From time to time, the Company may repurchase shares of its common stock under its authorized share repurchase programs.  The Company repurchased 1.4 million and 4.6 million shares in the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively and repurchased 3.6 million and 8.6 million shares in the six months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company considers several factors in determining when to execute share repurchases, including, among other things, actual and potential acquisition activity, cash balances and cash flows, issuances due to employee benefit plan activity, and market conditions.

The following table represents stock-based compensation expense for the three and six months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Operating expenses
$
5.4

 
$
6.3

 
$
10.6

 
$
11.8

Selling, general and administrative expenses
27.5

 
24.3

 
56.1

 
45.9

System development and programming costs
5.8

 
5.2

 
11.0

 
9.2

Total stock-based compensation expense
$
38.7

 
$
35.8

 
$
77.7

 
$
66.9


The methods and assumptions used in the determination of the fair value of stock-based awards are consistent with those described in the Company's fiscal 2017 Form 10-K. See the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2017 for a detailed description of the Company's stock-based compensation awards and employee stock purchase plan, including information related to vesting terms, service and performance conditions, payout percentages, and process for estimating the fair value of stock options granted.

B.  Pension Plans

The components of net pension expense were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
December 31,
 
 
December 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
2017
 
2016
Service cost – benefits earned during the period
$
18.6

 
$
20.2

 
 
$
37.3

 
$
40.4

Interest cost on projected benefits
16.3

 
14.9

 
 
32.6

 
30.0

Expected return on plan assets
(34.3
)
 
(33.9
)
 
 
(68.6
)
 
(67.9
)
Net amortization and deferral
2.1

 
4.8

 
 
4.2

 
9.6

Net pension expense
$
2.7

 
$
6.0

 
 
$
5.5

 
$
12.1


Note 13. Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was 17.4% and 35.0%, respectively, and for the six months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was 22.0% and 33.1%, respectively. The decreases in the effective tax rates are primarily due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) enacted on December 22, 2017 and the impact of sale of the CHSA and COBRA businesses in the three months ended December 31, 2016.

18



The Act reduces the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. In accordance with ASC 740 companies are required to re-measure deferred tax balances using the new enacted tax rates. The Act requires companies to pay a one-time transition tax on earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred for U.S. income taxes and creates new taxes on the Company's foreign sourced earnings. The rate change is administratively effective at the beginning of the Company's fiscal year resulting in a blended rate for fiscal 2018 of 28.1%.
Income tax expense reported for the three and six months ended December 31, 2017 was adjusted to reflect the effects of the Act and resulted in a decrease in income tax expense of approximately $98.0 million which includes a one-time net benefit of $45.7 million. The $45.7 million is comprised of the application of the newly enacted rates to the Company's U.S. deferred tax balances partially offset by the one-time transition tax and the recording of a valuation allowance against the Company's foreign tax credits which may not be realized. The Act’s foreign tax credit provisions may limit the Company’s ability to utilize existing foreign tax credits in future periods, accordingly we have estimated that approximately $23.1 million will expire unutilized.
The accounting for the effects of the rate change on deferred tax balances is not complete and provisional amounts were recorded for these items. The Company re-measured certain deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the rates at which they are expected to reverse in the future. The benefit recorded relating to the re-measurement of the Company's deferred tax balances was $84.7 million.  The Company is still analyzing certain aspects of the Act and refining calculations, which could potentially affect the re-measurement of these balances or potentially give rise to new deferred tax amounts.
The one-time transition tax is based on the total post-1986 earnings and profits ("E&P") that was previously deferred from US income taxes. The Company recorded a provisional amount for the one-time transition tax liability of $15.9 million for the Company's foreign subsidiaries. The Company has not yet completed the calculation of the total post-1986 E&P for these foreign subsidiaries. Further, the transition tax is based in part on the amount of those earnings held in cash and other specified assets. This amount may change when the Company finalizes the calculation of post-1986 foreign E&P previously deferred from US federal taxation and finalizes the amounts held in cash or other specified assets.

Note 14. Commitments and Contingencies

In July 2016, Uniloc USA, Inc. and Uniloc Luxembourg, S.A. (“Uniloc”) filed a lawsuit against the Company in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (the "Court") alleging that Company products and services infringe four patents.  Uniloc alleged infringement of its patents concerning centralized management of application programs on a network, distribution of application programs to a target station on a network, management of configurable application programs on a network, and license use management on a network.  The complaint sought unspecified monetary damages, costs, and injunctive relief. On September 28, 2017, the Court granted ADP’s motion to dismiss the complaint on the grounds that all asserted claims of the four patents are invalid and dismissed the case with prejudice.

The Company has acquired a license to the four patents and a release for any potential past infringement liability.  Despite the Company being licensed and released, Uniloc appealed the Court's invalidity determination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.  The Company has moved to dismiss Uniloc's appeal on the ground that the license and release have removed any justiciable dispute between the parties concerning the patents; the Company's motion is pending.  Even though the Company's motion is pending, as a result of the license and release the Company does not believe the result of Uniloc’s appeal will have a material adverse impact on the Company.

The Company is subject to various claims, litigation and regulatory compliance matters in the normal course of business. When a loss is considered probable and reasonably estimable, the Company records a liability in the amount of its best estimate for the ultimate loss. Management currently believes that the resolution of these claims, litigation and regulatory compliance matters against us, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse impact on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. These matters are subject to inherent uncertainties and management's view of these matters may change in the future.

It is not the Company’s business practice to enter into off-balance sheet arrangements. In the normal course of business, the Company may enter into contracts in which it makes representations and warranties that relate to the performance of the Company’s services and products.  The Company does not expect any material losses related to such representations and warranties.


19


Note 15. Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ("AOCI")

Changes in AOCI by component are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
December 31, 2017
 
Currency Translation Adjustment
 
Net Gains/Losses on Available-for-sale Securities
 
Pension Liability
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance at September 30, 2017
$
(188.3
)
 
$
59.0

 
$
(215.3
)
 
$
(344.6
)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
before reclassification adjustments
4.1

 
(147.3
)
 

 
(143.2
)
Tax effect

 
53.1

 

 
53.1

Reclassification adjustments to
net earnings

 
1.0

(A)
2.3

(B)
3.3

Tax effect

 
(0.4
)
 
(0.8
)
 
(1.2
)
Balance at December 31, 2017
$
(184.2
)
 
$
(34.6
)
 
$
(213.8
)
 
$
(432.6
)

 
Three Months Ended
 
December 31, 2016
 
Currency Translation Adjustment
 
Net Gains/Losses on Available-for-sale Securities
 
Pension Liability
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance at September 30, 2016
$
(243.0
)
 
$
288.5

 
$
(291.9
)
 
$
(246.4
)
Other comprehensive loss
before reclassification adjustments
(55.0
)
 
(413.3
)
 

 
(468.3
)
Tax effect

 
145.4

 

 
145.4

Reclassification adjustments to
net earnings

 
(1.3
)
(A)
5.1

(B)
3.8

Tax effect

 
0.6

 
(1.8
)
 
(1.2
)
Balance at December 31, 2016
$
(298.0
)
 
$
19.9

 
$
(288.6
)
 
$
(566.7
)


Six Months Ended

December 31, 2017

Currency Translation Adjustment

Net Gains/Losses on Available-for-sale Securities

Pension Liability

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance at June 30, 2017
$
(230.8
)
 
$
68.3

 
$
(216.7
)
 
$
(379.2
)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
before reclassification adjustments
46.6

 
(160.2
)
 

 
(113.6
)
Tax effect

 
56.6

 

 
56.6

Reclassification adjustments to
net earnings

 
1.1

(A)
4.6

(B)
5.7

Tax effect

 
(0.4
)
 
(1.7
)
 
(2.1
)
Balance at December 31, 2017
$
(184.2
)
 
$
(34.6
)
 
$
(213.8
)
 
$
(432.6
)


20


 
Six Months Ended
 
December 31, 2016
 
Currency Translation Adjustment
 
Net Gains/Losses on Available-for-sale Securities
 
Pension Liability
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance at June 30, 2016
$
(253.8
)
 
$
333.8

 
$
(295.1
)
 
$
(215.1
)
Other comprehensive loss
before reclassification adjustments
(44.2
)
 
(484.7
)
 

 
(528.9
)
Tax effect

 
171.6

 

 
171.6

Reclassification adjustments to
net earnings

 
(1.4
)
(A)
10.2

(B)
8.8

Tax effect

 
0.6

 
(3.7
)
 
(3.1
)
Balance at December 31, 2016
$
(298.0
)
 
$
19.9

 
$
(288.6
)
 
$
(566.7
)

(A) Reclassification adjustments out of AOCI are included within Other income, net, on the Statements of Consolidated Earnings.

(B) Reclassification adjustments out of AOCI are included in net pension expense (see Note 12).

Note 16. Interim Financial Data by Segment

Based upon similar economic and operational characteristics, the Company’s strategic business units have been aggregated into the following two reportable segments: Employer Services and PEO Services. The primary components of the “Other” segment are non-recurring gains and losses, miscellaneous processing services, the elimination of intercompany transactions, interest expense, the results of operations of ADP Indemnity (a wholly-owned captive insurance company that provides workers’ compensation and employee’s liability deductible reimbursement insurance protection for PEO Services’ worksite employees), and certain charges and expenses that have not been allocated to the reportable segments. Changes to the allocation methodology for certain allocations have been adjusted in both the current period and the prior period in the table below and did not materially affect reportable segment results.

Certain revenues and expenses are charged to the reportable segments at a standard rate for management reasons.  Other costs are recorded based on management responsibility.  There is a reconciling item for the difference between actual interest income earned on invested funds held for clients and interest credited to Employer Services and PEO Services at a standard rate of 4.5%.  This allocation is made for management reasons so that the reportable segments' results are presented on a consistent basis without the impact of fluctuations in interest rates. This reconciling adjustment to the reportable segments' revenues and earnings before income taxes is eliminated in consolidation.


21



Segment Results:
 
Revenues
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Employer Services
$
2,437.6

 
$
2,309.3

 
$
4,754.0

 
$
4,570.6

PEO Services
945.3

 
822.9

 
1,848.8

 
1,617.6

Other
(1.9
)
 
(2.3
)
 
(3.9
)
 
(6.0
)
Reconciling item:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Client fund interest
(145.6
)
 
(142.6
)
 
(284.7
)
 
(278.0
)
 
$
3,235.4

 
$
2,987.3

 
$
6,314.2

 
$
5,904.2

  
 
Earnings before Income Taxes
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Employer Services
$
706.4

 
$
681.1

 
$
1,353.0

 
$
1,337.1

PEO Services
128.2

 
114.5

 
245.0

 
221.6

Other
(123.3
)
 
133.2

 
(199.4
)
 
34.1

Reconciling item:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Client fund interest
(145.6
)
 
(142.6
)
 
(284.7
)
 
(278.0
)
 
$
565.7

 
$
786.2

 
$
1,113.9

 
$
1,314.8



22



Note 17. Subsequent Events

In January 2018, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of Work Market, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-based freelance management solutions, for approximately $125 million in cash. The results of Work Market, Inc. will be reported within the Company’s Employer Services segment. The acquisition will be accounted for using the acquisition method of business combination under ASC 805, Business Combinations.

23


Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
(Tabular dollars are presented in millions, except per share amounts)

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document and other written or oral statements made from time to time by Automatic Data Processing, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("ADP" or "the Company") may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical in nature and which may be identified by the use of words like “expects,” “assumes,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “we believe,” “could” and other words of similar meaning, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements or that could contribute to such difference include: ADP's success in obtaining and retaining clients, and selling additional services to clients; the pricing of products and services; compliance with existing or new legislation or regulations; changes in, or interpretations of, existing legislation or regulations; overall market, political and economic conditions, including interest rate and foreign currency trends; competitive conditions; our ability to maintain our current credit ratings and the impact on our funding costs and profitability; security or privacy breaches, fraudulent acts, system interruptions and failures; employment and wage levels; changes in technology; availability of skilled technical associates; and the impact of new acquisitions and divestitures. ADP disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. These risks and uncertainties, along with the risk factors discussed under “Item 1A. - Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 ("fiscal 2017"), and in other written or oral statements made from time to time by ADP, should be considered in evaluating any forward-looking statements contained herein.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Our Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).  The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates, judgments, and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and other comprehensive income.  We continually evaluate the accounting policies and estimates used to prepare the Consolidated Financial Statements.  The estimates are based on historical experience and assumptions believed to be reasonable under current facts and circumstances.  Actual amounts and results could differ from these estimates made by management.  Certain accounting policies that require significant management estimates and are deemed critical to our results of operations or financial position are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2017 in the Critical Accounting Policies section of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Executive Overview     

We are one of the largest providers of global cloud-based Human Capital Management ("HCM") solutions - including payroll, talent management, human resources and benefits administration, and time and attendance management - to employers around the world. As a leader in this industry, we deliver on our global HCM strategy and make investments in highly strategic areas in order to strengthen our underlying business model and prospects for continued growth.

Highlights from the six months ended December 31, 2017 include:

Revenue grew 7% for the six months ended December 31, 2017
Diluted earnings per share ("EPS") increased from $1.94 to $1.96; adjusted diluted earnings per share increased from $1.73 to $1.90
Continued our shareholder friendly actions by returning over $400 million via share repurchases and approximately $500 million via dividends

During the six months ended December 31, 2017, we continued to migrate clients to our strategic platforms while making investments in R&D to provide best-in-class cloud-based HCM solutions to our clients. Simultaneously, we continued to streamline our service organization. These actions are improving client satisfaction and retention. We remain focused on

24



delivering results and executing on our strategy to transform our business for continued success within the competitive global HCM environment.

Our new business bookings increased 2% in the six months ended December 31, 2017, compared to the six months ended December 31, 2016. We see growth in the business as we continue to build momentum going into the second half of fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 ("fiscal 2018") and we are confident that the investments in our sales force and products will drive results in line with our expectations.

Overall revenue retention improved 70 basis points across our businesses during the six months ended December 31, 2017. This improvement was driven by the upgrades of our clients from legacy platforms to our new cloud-based solutions, our focus on improving the client experience, and the loss of a large client within our former Consumer Health Spending Account ("CHSA") business during the six months ended December 31, 2016. This focus is translating well as we are seeing strong retention on our strategic platforms.

Our implementation team's ability to implement our services as well as our sales force's ability to sell to clients and prospects drove revenue growth during the six months ended December 31, 2017. Our revenue growth also benefited from the continued increase in our pays per control metric, which we measure as the number of employees on our clients' payrolls as measured on a same-store-sales basis utilizing a representative subset of payrolls ranging from small to large businesses that are reflective of a broad range of U.S. geographic regions.

In October 2017, we acquired Global Cash Card, Inc. ("GCC"), a leader in digital payments, allowing us to differentiate ADP’s leadership position in employee payments and makes ADP the only human capital management provider with a proprietary digital payments processing platform. The acquisition of this established company helps us innovate around the essential service of delivering pay, enabling us to provide new tools to consumers that help them manage their finances.

Also, in January 2018, we acquired Work Market, Inc. ("Work Market"), a leading provider of cloud-based freelance management solutions, for approximately $125 million in cash. As the composition of work is increasingly moving toward the contingent, or "gig" worker, this acquisition will allow us to expand our market opportunities while building on our current portfolio of industry-leading payroll and human capital management solutions.

We have a strong business model and operate in a large, growing market. We continue to maintain a high percentage of recurring revenues, healthy margins, and retain our ability to generate consistent healthy cash flows. Our financial condition and balance sheet remain solid at December 31, 2017, with cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities of approximately $1.8 billion. We will benefit from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Act") signed into law in late December 2017 which offers us additional flexibility and greater access to cash world-wide. Our estimated fiscal 2018 adjusted effective tax rate is 26.9% and we anticipate a future adjusted effective tax rate, excluding one time items, of 25% to 26% beyond fiscal 2018. With this increased operating cash flow and greater access to our cash worldwide, we will continue our disciplined approach to capital allocation decisions, including assessing reinvestments into the business, potential acquisitions, and/or returning cash to shareholders through dividends and sharebacks, among other potential uses.


25



Analysis of Consolidated Operations

 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
 
% Change
 
December 31,
 
% Change
 
2017
 
2016
 
As Reported
 
Constant Dollar Basis
(Note 1)
 
2017
 
2016
 
As Reported
 
Constant Dollar Basis
(Note 1)
Total revenues
$
3,235.4

 
$
2,987.3

 
8
 %
 
7
 %
 
$
6,314.2

 
$
5,904.2

 
7
 %
 
6
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs of revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Operating expenses
1,719.3

 
1,560.4

 
10
 %
 
9
 %
 
3,366.0

 
3,091.9

 
9
 %
 
8
 %
Systems development and programming costs
158.1

 
152.5

 
4
 %
 
2
 %
 
315.1

 
307.4

 
3
 %
 
1
 %
Depreciation and amortization
69.3

 
54.9

 
26
 %
 
25
 %
 
131.9

 
112.2

 
18
 %
 
17
 %
Total costs of revenues
1,946.7

 
1,767.8

 
10
 %
 
9
 %
 
3,813.0

 
3,511.5

 
9
 %
 
8
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general and administrative costs
717.2

 
640.8

 
12
 %
 
11
 %
 
1,379.6

 
1,288.6

 
7
 %
 
7
 %
Interest expense
27.5

 
20.5

 
n/m

 
n/m

 
55.5

 
40.4

 
n/m

 
n/m

Total expenses
2,691.4

 
2,429.1

 
11
 %
 
10
 %
 
5,248.1

 
4,840.5

 
8
 %
 
8
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
Other income, net
(21.7
)
 
(228.0
)
 
n/m

 
n/m

 
(47.8
)
 
(251.1
)
 
n/m

 
n/m

 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings before income taxes
$
565.7

 
$
786.2

 
(28
)%
 
(29
)%
 
$
1,113.9

 
$
1,314.8

 
(15
)%
 
(16
)%
Margin
17.5
%
 
26.3
%
 
 
 
 
 
17.6
%
 
22.3
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for income taxes
$
98.2

 
$
275.3

 
(64
)%
 
(65
)%
 
$
244.9

 
$
435.2

 
(44
)%
 
(44
)%
Effective tax rate
17.4
%
 
35.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
22.0
%
 
33.1
%
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings
$
467.5

 
$
510.9

 
(8
)%
 
(9
)%
 
$
869.0

 
$
879.6

 
(1
)%
 
(2
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted earnings per share
$
1.05

 
$
1.13

 
(7
)%
 
(7
)%
 
$
1.96

 
$
1.94

 
1
 %
 
 %

n/m - not meaningful

Note 1 - Non GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to our U.S. GAAP results, we use the adjusted results and other non-GAAP metrics set forth in the table below to evaluate our operating performance in the absence of certain items and for planning and forecasting of future periods:

    

26



Adjusted Financial Measure
U.S. GAAP Measures
Adjustments/Explanation - as applicable in the periods
Adjusted EBIT
Net earnings
- Provision for income taxes
- All other interest expense and income
- Certain restructuring charges
- Gains/losses on sales of businesses and assets
- Non-operational costs related to proxy contest matters

See footnotes (a), (b), and (f)
Adjusted provision for income taxes
Provision for income taxes
Tax impacts of:

- Gains/losses on sales of businesses and assets
- Certain restructuring charges
- Non-operational costs related to proxy contest matters
- Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

See footnotes (c), (d), (f), and (g)
Adjusted net earnings
Net earnings
Pre-tax and tax impacts of:

- Certain restructuring charges
- Gains/losses on sales of businesses and assets
- Non-operational costs related to proxy contest matters
- Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

See footnotes (b), (c), (d), (f), and (g)
Adjusted diluted earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share
EPS impacts of:

- Gains/losses on sales of businesses and assets
- Certain restructuring charges
- Non-operational costs related to proxy contest matters
- Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

See footnotes (b), (c), (f), and (g)
Adjusted effective tax rate
Effective tax rate
See footnote (e)
Constant Dollar Basis
U.S. GAAP P&L line items
See footnote (h)

We believe that the exclusion of the identified items helps us reflect the fundamentals of our underlying business model and analyze results against our expectations, against prior period, and to plan for future periods by focusing on our underlying operations.  We believe that the adjusted results provide relevant and useful information for investors because it allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by management and improves their ability to understand and assess our operating performance.  The nature of these exclusions are for specific items that are not fundamental to our underlying business operations.  Since these adjusted financial measures and other non-GAAP metrics are not measures of performance calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP, they should not be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or superior to their U.S. GAAP measures, and they may not be comparable to similarly titled measures at other companies.



27



 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
 
% Change
 
December 31,
 
% Change
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
As Reported
 
Constant Dollar Basis
(h)
 
2017
 
2016
 
As Reported
 
Constant Dollar Basis
(h)
Net earnings
 
$
467.5

 
$
510.9

 
(8
)%
 
(9
)%
 
$
869.0

 
$
879.6

 
(1
)%
 
(2
)%
Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for income taxes
 
98.2

 
275.3

 
 
 
 
 
244.9

 
435.2

 
 
 
 
All other interest expense (a)
 
15.0

 
14.9

 
 
 
 
 
30.0

 
29.9

 
 
 
 
All other interest income (a)
 
(4.4
)
 
(4.4
)
 
 
 
 
 
(10.7
)
 
(9.2
)
 
 
 
 
Gain on sale of business
 

 
(205.4
)
 
 
 
 
 

 
(205.4
)
 
 
 
 
Service Alignment Initiative (b)
 
3.3

 
1.2

 
 
 
 
 

 
41.1

 
 
 
 
Proxy contest matters (f)
 
22.9

 

 
 
 
 
 
33.3

 

 
 
 
 
Adjusted EBIT
 
$
602.5

 
$
592.5

 
2
 %
 
1
 %
 
$
1,166.5

 
$
1,171.2

 
 %
 
(1
)%
Adjusted EBIT Margin
 
18.6
%
 
19.8
%
 
 
 
 
 
18.5
%
 
19.8
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for income taxes
 
$
98.2

 
$
275.3

 
(64
)%
 
(65
)%
 
$
244.9

 
$
435.2

 
(44
)%
 
(44
)%
Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain on sale of business (c)
 

 
(84.0
)
 
 
 
 
 

 
(84.0
)
 
 
 
 
Service Alignment Initiative (d)
 
1.3

 
0.4

 
 
 
 
 

 
15.5

 
 
 
 
Proxy contest matters (f)
 
6.3

 

 
 
 
 
 
10.3

 

 
 
 
 
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (g)
 
45.7

 

 
 
 
 
 
45.7

 

 
 
 
 
Adjusted provision for income taxes
 
$
151.5

 
$
191.7

 
(21
)%
 
(22
)%
 
$
300.9

 
$
366.7

 
(18
)%
 
(19
)%
Adjusted effective tax rate (e)
 
25.6
%
 
32.9
%
 
 
 
 
 
26.2
%
 
31.9
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings
 
$
467.5

 
$
510.9

 
(8
)%
 
(9
)%
 
$
869.0

 
$
879.6

 
(1
)%
 
(2
)%
Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain on sale of business
 

 
(205.4
)
 
 
 
 
 

 
(205.4
)
 
 
 
 
Provision for income taxes on gain on sale of business (c)
 

 
84.0

 
 
 
 
 

 
84.0

 
 
 
 
Service Alignment Initiative (b)
 
3.3

 
1.2

 
 
 
 
 

 
41.1

 
 
 
 
Income tax benefit for Service Alignment Initiative (d)
 
(1.3
)
 
(0.4
)
 
 
 
 
 

 
(15.5
)
 
 
 
 
Proxy contest matters (f)
 
22.9

 

 
 
 
 
 
33.3

 

 
 
 
 
Income tax benefit for proxy contest matters (f)
 
(6.3
)
 

 
 
 
 
 
(10.3
)
 

 
 
 
 
Income tax benefit from Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (g)
 
(45.7
)
 

 
 
 
 
 
(45.7
)
 

 
 
 
 
Adjusted net earnings
 
$
440.4

 
$
390.3

 
13
 %
 
12
 %
 
$
846.3

 
$
783.8

 
8
 %
 
7
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted EPS
 
$
1.05

 
$
1.13

 
(7
)%
 
(7
)%
 
$
1.96

 
$
1.94

 
1
 %
 
 %
Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain on sale of business (c)
 

 
(0.27
)
 
 
 
 
 

 
(0.27
)
 
 
 
 
Service Alignment Initiative (b)
 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 
0.06

 
 
 
 
Proxy contest matters (f)
 
0.04

 

 
 
 
 
 
0.05

 

 
 
 
 
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (g)
 
(0.10
)
 

 
 
 
 
 
(0.10
)
 

 
 
 
 
Adjusted diluted EPS
 
$
0.99

 
$
0.87

 
14
 %
 
13
 %
 
$
1.90

 
$
1.73

 
10
 %
 
9
 %

(a) We continue to include the interest income earned on investments associated with our client funds extended investment strategy and interest expense on borrowings related to our client funds extended investment strategy as we believe these amounts to be fundamental to the underlying operations of our business model. The adjustments in the table above represent the interest income and interest expense that is not related to our client funds extended investment strategy and are labeled as "All other interest expense" and "All other interest income."


28



(b) The majority of charges relating to our Service Alignment Initiative represent severance charges. Severance charges have been taken in the past and not included as an adjustment to get to adjusted results. Unlike severance charges in prior periods, these specific charges relate to our broad-based, company-wide Service Alignment Initiative.

(c) The taxes on the gain on sale of the business were calculated based on the annualized marginal rate in effect during the quarter of the adjustment. The tax amount was adjusted for a book vs. tax basis difference for the period ended December 31, 2016 due to the derecognition of goodwill upon the sale of the business.

(d) The tax benefit on the Service Alignment Initiative was calculated based on the annualized marginal rate in effect during the quarter of the adjustment.

(e) The Adjusted effective tax rate is calculated as our Adjusted provision for income taxes divided by our Adjusted net earnings plus our Adjusted provision for income taxes.

(f) Represents non-operational costs relating to proxy contest matters. The tax benefit on the non-operational charges related to proxy contest matters was calculated based on the annualized marginal rate in effect during the quarter of the adjustment.

(g) The one-time net benefit from the enactment of the Act is comprised of the application of the newly enacted U.S. corporate tax rates to our U.S. deferred tax balances partially offset by the one-time transition tax on the earnings and profits of our foreign subsidiaries and the recording of a valuation allowance against our foreign tax credits which may not be realized.

(h) “Constant dollar basis” provides information that isolates the actual growth of our operations. “Constant dollar basis” is determined by calculating the current year result using foreign exchange rates consistent with the prior year.

Total Revenues

Our revenues, as reported, increased 8% and 7% for the three and six months ended December 31, 2017. Our revenue growth includes one percentage point of benefit from foreign currency and the net impact of the acquisition of GCC offset by the disposition of our CHSA and Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act ("COBRA") businesses. Revenues increased primarily due to new business started from new business bookings. Refer to “Analysis of Reportable Segments” for additional discussion of the increases in revenue for both of our reportable segments, Employer Services and Professional Employer Organization ("PEO").

Total revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2017 include interest on funds held for clients of $106.7 million, as compared to $91.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016. The increase in the consolidated interest earned on funds held for clients resulted from an increase in the average interest rate earned to 1.9% during the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to 1.8% during the three months ended December 31, 2016, coupled with an increase in our average client funds balance of 7.4% to $22.5 billion for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016.

Total revenues for the six months ended December 31, 2017 include interest on funds held for clients of $206.1 million, as compared to $181.0 million for the six months ended December 31, 2016. The increase in the consolidated interest earned on funds held for clients resulted from an increase in the average interest rate earned to 1.9% during the six months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to 1.8% during the six months ended December 31, 2016, coupled with an increase in our average client funds balance of 6.6% to $21.8 billion for the six months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the six months ended December 31, 2016.

Total Expenses

Our total expenses, as reported, increased 11% for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase is primarily due to an increase in PEO services pass-through costs, increased costs to service our client base in support of our growing revenue, and investments in our sales force. Total expenses also increased due to the impact of foreign currency and costs related to proxy contest matters in the three months ended December 31, 2017.

Our total expenses, as reported, increased 8% for the six months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase is primarily due to an increase in PEO services pass-through costs, increased costs to service our client base in support of our growing revenue, and investments in our sales force. Total expenses also increased due to the

29



impact of foreign currency and costs related to proxy contest matters in the six months ended December 31, 2017 offset by a decrease in costs related to our Service Alignment Initiative as compared to the six months ended December 31, 2016.

Operating expenses, as reported, increased 10% for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016. Operating expenses include the costs directly attributable to servicing our clients and implementing new business. Also, operating expenses include PEO Services pass-through costs that are re-billable and which include costs for benefits coverage, workers’ compensation coverage, and state unemployment taxes for worksite employees. These pass-through costs were $705.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017, which included costs for benefits coverage of $607.1 million and costs for workers' compensation and payment of state unemployment taxes of $98.1 million. These pass-through costs were $610.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016, which included costs for benefits coverage of $527.5 million and costs for workers' compensation and payment of state unemployment taxes of $82.5 million. Additionally, operating expenses increased due to higher costs to service our client base in support of our growing revenue as well as the impact of foreign currency.

Operating expenses, as reported, increased 9% for the six months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the six months ended December 31, 2016. PEO Services pass-through costs were $1,391.7 million for the six months ended December 31, 2017, which included costs for benefits coverage of $1,202.3 million and costs for workers' compensation and payment of state unemployment taxes of $189.4 million. These pass-through costs were $1,207.8 million for the six months ended December 31, 2016, which included costs for benefits coverage of $1,043.5 million and costs for workers' compensation and payment of state unemployment taxes of $164.3 million. Additionally, operating expenses increased due to higher costs to service our client base in support of our growing revenue as well as the impact of foreign currency.

Systems development and programming costs, as reported, increased 4% and 3%, respectively, for the three and six months ended December 31, 2017, when compared to the same period in the prior year, due to increased investments in product innovation and costs to support and maintain our products.

Selling, general and administrative expenses, as reported, increased 12% and 7% for the three and six months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the three and six months ended December 31, 2016. The increase was primarily due to investments in our sales force and costs related to proxy contest matters in the three and six months ended December 31, 2017 offset by the charges related to our Service Alignment Initiative in the six months ended December 31, 2016.

Other Income, net
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
Interest income on corporate funds
$
(22.7
)
 
$
(21.3
)
 
$
1.4

 
$
(48.5
)
 
$
(44.3
)
 
$
4.2

Realized gains on available-for-sale securities
(0.2
)
 
(2.0
)
 
(1.8
)
 
(0.5
)
 
(2.5
)
 
(2.0
)
Realized losses on available-for-sale securities
1.2

 
0.7

 
(0.5
)
 
1.6

 
1.1

 
(0.5
)
Gain on sale of assets

 

 

 
(0.4
)
 

 
0.4

Gain on sale of business (see Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements)

 
(205.4
)
 
(205.4
)
 

 
(205.4
)
 
(205.4
)
Other income, net
$
(21.7
)
 
$
(228.0
)
 
$
(206.3
)
 
$
(47.8
)
 
$
(251.1
)
 
$
(203.3
)

Other income, net, decreased $206.3 million and $203.3 million for the three and six months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the three and six months ended months ended December 31, 2016 due to the gain on the sale of the CHSA and COBRA businesses in the three and six months ended December 31, 2016.




30



Earnings before Income Taxes

Earnings before income taxes, as reported, decreased 28% for the three months ended December 31, 2017 primarily due to the gain on the sale of the CHSA and COBRA businesses in the three months ended December 31, 2016 offset by the increases in revenues and increases in expenses discussed above. Overall margin decreased from 26.3% in the three months ended December 31, 2016 to 17.5% in the three months ended December 31, 2017 primarily due to the gain on the sale of the CHSA and COBRA businesses in the three months ended December 31, 2016, the impact of our acquisitions and incremental pressure from growth in our pass-through revenues in the three months ended December 31, 2017.

Earnings before income taxes, as reported, decreased 15% for the six months ended December 31, 2017 primarily due to the gain on the sale of the CHSA and COBRA businesses in the six months ended December 31, 2016 offset by the increases in revenues and increases in expenses discussed above. Overall margin decreased from 22.3% in the six months ended December 31, 2016 to 17.6% in the six months ended December 31, 2017 primarily due to the gain on the sale of the CHSA and COBRA businesses partially offset by the impact of the charges related to the Service Alignment Initiative in the six months ended December 31, 2016 combined with the impact of our acquisitions and incremental pressure from growth in our pass-through revenues in the six months ended December 31, 2017.

Adjusted EBIT

Adjusted EBIT excludes the impact of the charges related to the Service Alignment Initiative and non-operational costs related to proxy contest matters during the three and six months ended December 31, 2017, and charges related to the Service Alignment Initiative and the gain on the sale of the CHSA and COBRA businesses in the three and six months ended December 31, 2016.

For the three months ended December 31, 2017, adjusted EBIT increased 2% due to the increases in revenues and expenses discussed above. Overall adjusted EBIT margin decreased from 19.8% in the three months ended December 31, 2016 to 18.6% in the three months ended December 31, 2017 due to the impact of our acquisitions and incremental pressure from growth in our pass-through revenues.

For the six months ended December 31, 2017, adjusted EBIT remained flat due to the increases in revenues offset by the increases in expenses discussed above. Overall adjusted EBIT margin decreased from 19.8% in the six months ended December 31, 2016 to 18.5% in the six months ended December 31, 2017 due to the impact of our acquisitions and incremental pressure from growth in our pass-through revenues.

Provision for Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was 17.4% and 35.0%, respectively and for the six months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was 22.0% and 33.1%, respectively. The decreases in the effective tax rates are primarily due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted on December 22, 2017 and impact of the sale of the CHSA and COBRA businesses in the three months ended December 31, 2016. Refer to Note 13, Income Taxes, within the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

Adjusted Provision for Income Taxes

Adjusted provision for income taxes excludes the impact of the one-time net benefit as a result of the Act, the tax effects of the charges related to the Service Alignment Initiative and non-operational costs related to proxy contest matters during the three and six months ended December 31, 2017, and the tax effects of the charges related to the Service Alignment Initiative and the gain on the sale of the CHSA and COBRA businesses in the three and six months ended December 31, 2016.

The adjusted effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was 25.6% and 32.9%, respectively. The decrease in the adjusted effective tax rate is due to the reduction in the blended federal corporate statutory tax rate to 28.1% from 35% as a result of the Act in the three months ended December 31, 2017, partially offset by a decrease in excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation and a lower benefit related to the usage of foreign tax credits in the three months ended December 31, 2017.

The adjusted effective tax rate for the six months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was 26.2% and 31.9%, respectively. The decrease in the adjusted effective tax rate is due to the reduction in the blended federal corporate statutory tax rate to 28.1% from 35% as a result of the Act in the six months ended December 31, 2017. Our estimated fiscal 2018 adjusted effective tax

31



rate is 26.9% and we anticipate a future adjusted effective tax rate, excluding one time items, of 25% to 26% beyond fiscal 2018.

Net Earnings and Diluted Earnings per Share

Net earnings, as reported, decreased 8% and 1% for the three and six months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, due to the decrease in earnings before income taxes during the three and six months ended December 31, 2017 partially offset by the reduction in our effective tax rate described above when compared to the three and six months ended December 31, 2016.

For the three and six months ended December 31, 2017, diluted earnings per share reflects the decrease in net earnings and the impact of fewer shares outstanding as a result of the repurchase of 3.6 million shares during the six months ended December 31, 2017 and the repurchase of 13.5 million shares in fiscal 2017, offset by shares issued under our employee benefit plans.

Adjusted Net Earnings and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share

Adjusted net earnings increased 13% for the three months ended December 31, 2017 due to the increase in adjusted EBIT combined with the reduction in our adjusted effective tax rate described above when compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016.

Adjusted net earnings increased 8% for the six months ended December 31, 2017 due to adjusted EBIT remaining flat combined with the reduction in our adjusted effective tax rate described above when compared to the six months ended December 31, 2016.

For the three and six months ended December 31, 2017, adjusted diluted earnings per share reflects the increase in adjusted net earnings and the impact of fewer shares outstanding as a result of the repurchase of 3.6 million shares during the six months ended December 31, 2017 and the repurchase of 13.5 million shares in fiscal 2017, offset by shares issued under our employee benefit plans.

Analysis of Reportable Segments

 
Revenues
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
 
% Change
 
December 31,
 
% Change
 
2017
 
2016
 
As
Reported
 
Constant Dollar Basis
 
2017
 
2016
 
As
Reported
 
Constant Dollar Basis
Employer Services
$
2,437.6

 
$
2,309.3

 
6
%
 
4
%
 
$
4,754.0

 
$
4,570.6

 
4
%
 
3
%
PEO Services
945.3

 
822.9

 
15
%
 
15
%
 
1,848.8

 
1,617.6

 
14
%
 
14
%
Other
(1.9
)
 
(2.3
)
 
n/m

 
n/m

 
(3.9
)
 
(6.0
)
 
n/m

 
n/m

Reconciling item:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Client fund interest
(145.6
)
 
(142.6
)
 
n/m

 
n/m

 
(284.7
)
 
(278.0
)
 
n/m

 
n/m

 
$
3,235.4

 
$
2,987.3

 
8
%
 
7
%
 
$
6,314.2

 
$
5,904.2

 
7
%
 
6
%


32



 
Earnings before Income Taxes
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
 
% Change
 
December 31,
 
% Change
 
2017
 
2016
 
As Reported
 
Constant Dollar Basis
 
2017
 
2016
 
As
Reported
 
Constant Dollar Basis
Employer Services
$
706.4

 
$
681.1

 
4
 %
 
3
 %
 
$
1,353.0

 
$
1,337.1

 
1
 %
 
1
 %
PEO Services
128.2

 
114.5

 
12
 %
 
12
 %
 
245.0

 
221.6

 
11
 %
 
11
 %
Other
(123.3
)
 
133.2

 
n/m

 
n/m

 
(199.4
)
 
34.1

 
n/m

 
n/m

Reconciling item:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Client fund interest
(145.6
)
 
(142.6
)
 
n/m

 
n/m

 
(284.7
)
 
(278.0
)
 
n/m

 
n/m

 
$
565.7

 
$
786.2

 
(28
)%
 
(29
)%
 
$
1,113.9

 
$
1,314.8

 
(15
)%
 
(16
)%

n/m - not meaningful

Employer Services

Revenues

Employer Services' revenues, as reported, increased 6% for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016. Revenues increased primarily due to new business started from new business bookings. Our revenue growth includes one percentage point of benefit from foreign currency and one percentage point of benefit from the net impact of the acquisition of GCC offset by the disposition of our CHSA and COBRA businesses. Our revenues also benefited from the impact of an increase in the number of employees on our clients’ payrolls as our pays per control increased 2.6% for the three months ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016. Our worldwide client revenue retention rate for the three months ended December 31, 2017 decreased 20 basis points as we continued to experience pressure from losses on our legacy platforms.

Employer Services' revenues, as reported, increased 4% for the six months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the six months ended December 31, 2016. Revenues increased primarily due to new business started from new business bookings. Our revenue growth includes one percentage point of benefit from foreign currency and the net impact of the acquisition of GCC offset by the disposition of our CHSA and COBRA businesses. Our revenues also benefited from the impact of an increase in the number of employees on our clients’ payrolls as our pays per control increased 2.5% for the six months ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the six months ended December 31, 2016. Our worldwide client revenue retention rate for the six months ended December 31, 2017 increased 70 basis points. This improvement was driven by strong retention with clients who we have upgraded from legacy platforms to our new cloud-based solutions, our focus on improving the client experience, and the loss of a large client within our former CHSA business during the six months ended December 31, 2016.

Earnings before Income Taxes

Employer Services’ earnings before income taxes, as reported, increased 4% for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016. This increase was due to increased revenues discussed above partially offset by an increase in expenses of $103.0 million, primarily due to investments in implementation and operational resources to support our revenue growth coupled with investments in our sales force in the three months ended December 31, 2017.

Employer Services' overall margin decreased from 29.5% to 29.0% for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016. This decrease is due to the impact of our acquisitions and foreign currency in the three months ended December 31, 2017.

Employer Services’ earnings before income taxes, as reported, increased 1% for the six months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the six months ended December 31, 2016. This increase was due to increased revenues discussed above partially offset by an increase in expenses of $167.5 million, primarily due to investments in implementation and operational resources to support our revenue growth coupled with investments in our sales force in the six months ended December 31, 2017.


33



Employer Services' overall margin decreased from 29.3% to 28.5% for the six months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the six months ended December 31, 2016. This decrease is due to the impact of our acquisitions and foreign currency in the six months ended December 31, 2017.

PEO Services

Revenues

PEO Services' revenues, as reported, increased 15% for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016. Such revenues include pass-through costs of $705.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and $610.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016, associated with benefits coverage, workers' compensation coverage, and state unemployment taxes for worksite employees. The increase in revenues was due to a 10% increase in the average number of worksite employees, driven by an increase in the number of new PEO Services clients and growth in our existing clients as well as higher benefit pass-through revenues in our PEO benefit offerings.

PEO Services' revenues, as reported, increased 14% for the six months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the six months ended December 31, 2016. Such revenues include pass-through costs of $1,391.7 million for the six months ended December 31, 2017 and $1,207.8 million for the six months ended December 31, 2016, associated with benefits coverage, workers' compensation coverage, and state unemployment taxes for worksite employees. The increase in revenues was due to a 10% increase in the average number of worksite employees, driven by an increase in the number of new PEO Services clients and growth in our existing clients as well as higher benefit pass-through revenues in our PEO benefit offerings.

Earnings before Income Taxes

PEO Services' earnings before income taxes increased 12% for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016. The increase was due to the increased revenues discussed above, which is partially offset by an increase in expenses of $108.7 million. The increase in expenses is primarily related to an increase in pass-through costs of $95.2 million described above. Overall margin decreased from 13.9% to 13.6% for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016, due to pressure from growth in our pass-through revenues.

PEO Services' earnings before income taxes increased 11% for the six months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the six months ended December 31, 2016. The increase was due to the increased revenues discussed above, which is partially offset by an increase in expenses of $207.8 million. The increase in expenses is primarily related to an increase in pass-through costs of $183.9 million described above. Overall margin decreased from 13.7% to 13.2% for the six months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the six months ended December 31, 2016, due to pressure from growth in our pass-through revenues.

Other

The primary components of the “Other” segment are non-recurring gains and losses, miscellaneous processing services, the elimination of intercompany transactions, interest expense, the results of operations of ADP Indemnity, certain charges and expenses that have not been allocated to the reportable segments. Changes to the allocation methodology for certain corporate level allocations has been adjusted in both the current period and the prior period in the table above and did not materially affect reportable segment results.

ADP Indemnity provides workers' compensation and employer's liability deductible reimbursement insurance protection for PEO Services' worksite employees up to $1 million per occurrence.  PEO Services has secured a workers’ compensation and employer’s liability insurance policy that has a $1 million per occurrence retention and, in fiscal years 2012 and prior, aggregate stop loss insurance that covers any aggregate losses within the $1 million retention that collectively exceed a certain level, from an admitted and licensed insurance company of AIG.  We utilize historical loss experience and actuarial judgment to determine the estimated claim liability for the PEO Services business.  Premiums are charged by ADP Indemnity to PEO Services to cover the claims expected to be incurred by the PEO Services' worksite employees. The premiums charged from ADP Indemnity to PEO Services are eliminated in the Other segment. Changes in estimated ultimate incurred losses are recognized by ADP Indemnity and included in the Other segment.  For the fiscal years 2013 to 2018, ADP Indemnity paid premiums to enter into reinsurance arrangements with ACE American Insurance Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chubb Limited, to cover substantially all losses incurred by ADP Indemnity during these policy years. Each of these reinsurance arrangements limits our overall exposure incurred up to a certain limit. We believe the likelihood of ultimate losses exceeding this limit is remote. During the six months ended December 31, 2017, ADP Indemnity paid a premium of $235.0 million to enter into a reinsurance

34



arrangement with Chubb Limited to cover substantially all losses incurred by ADP Indemnity for the fiscal 2018 policy year on terms substantially similar to the fiscal 2017 reinsurance policy.

FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

For corporate liquidity, we expect existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term marketable securities, long-term marketable securities, and cash flow from operations together with our $9.5 billion of committed credit facilities and our ability to access both long-term and short-term debt financing from the capital markets will be adequate to meet our operating, investing, and financing activities such as our regular quarterly dividends, share repurchases, and capital expenditures. Additionally, we will benefit from the Act signed into law in late December 2017 which offers us additional flexibility and greater access to cash world-wide. Our estimated fiscal 2018 adjusted effective tax rate is 26.9% and we anticipate a future adjusted effective tax rate, excluding one time items, of 25% to 26% beyond fiscal 2018. With this increased operating cash flow and greater access to our cash worldwide, we will continue our disciplined approach to capital allocation decisions, including assessing reinvestments into the business, potential acquisitions, and/or returning capital to shareholders through dividends and sharebacks, among other potential uses.

For client funds liquidity, we have the ability to borrow through our financing arrangements under our U.S. short-term commercial paper program and our U.S. and Canadian short-term reverse repurchase agreements together with our $9.5 billion of committed credit facilities and our ability to use corporate liquidity when necessary to meet short-term funding requirements related to client funds obligations. Please see "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk" for a further discussion of the risks of our client funds investment strategy. See Note 10 of our Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of our short-term financing including commercial paper.

As of December 31, 2017, cash and cash equivalents, and short-term marketable securities were $1.8 billion, which were primarily invested in time deposits and money market funds.

Operating, Investing and Financing Cash Flows

Our cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities, as reflected in the Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows for the six months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, are summarized as follows:
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 
2017
 
2016
*As Adjusted
 
$ Change
Cash provided by (used in):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating activities
 
$
675.1

 
$
841.1

 
$
(166.0
)
Investing activities
 
(1,326.3
)
 
(493.8
)
 
(832.5
)
Financing activities
 
6,280.3

 
(4,029.3
)
 
10,309.6

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents
 
49.1

 
(55.1
)
 
104.2

Net change in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents

 
$
5,678.2

 
$
(3,737.1
)
 
$
9,415.3


*See Note 2 of our Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of adjustments.

Net cash flows provided by operating activities for the six months ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include cash payments for reinsurance agreements of $235.0 million and $221.0 million, respectively, which represent the policy premium for the entire fiscal year. The decrease in operating cash provided is primarily due to an unfavorable change in the components of working capital as compared to the six months ended December 31, 2016. These unfavorable changes were due to the timing of payments from our clients and to our vendors, associates, and taxing authorities in the ordinary course of business.

Net cash flows from investing activities changed due to the timing of proceeds from corporate and client funds marketable securities of $106.7 million, payments made related to acquisitions, purchases of intangibles and capital expenditures during the six months ended December 31, 2017 offset by proceeds from the sale of the CHSA and COBRA businesses of $234.0 million in the six months ended December 31, 2016.

35




Net cash flows from financing activities changed due to a net increase in client fund obligations of $10.0 billion, which is due to the timing of impounds from our clients and payments to our clients' employees.
    
We purchased 3.6 million shares of our common stock at an average price per share of $108.70 during the six months ended December 31, 2017 as compared to purchases of 8.6 million shares at an average price per share of $90.44 during the six months ended December 31, 2016.  From time to time, the Company may repurchase shares of its common stock under its authorized share repurchase programs.  The Company considers several factors in determining when to execute share repurchases, including, among other things, actual and potential acquisition activity, cash balances and cash flows, issuances due to employee benefit plan activity, and market conditions.

Capital Resources and Client Funds Obligations

In September 2015, we issued $2.0 billion of senior unsecured notes with maturity dates in 2020 and 2025. We may from time to time revisit the long-term debt market to refinance existing debt, finance investments including acquisitions for our growth, and maintain the appropriate capital structure. However, there can be no assurance that volatility in the global capital and credit markets would not impair our ability to access these markets on terms acceptable to us, or at all. See Note 11 of our Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of our long-term financing including this debt issuance.

Our U.S. short-term funding requirements related to client funds are sometimes obtained on an unsecured basis through the issuance of commercial paper, rather than liquidating previously-collected client funds that have already been invested in available-for-sale securities. This commercial paper program provides for the issuance of up to $9.5 billion in aggregate maturity value. Our commercial paper program is rated A-1+ by Standard & Poor’s and Prime-1 ("P-1") by Moody’s. These ratings denote the highest quality commercial paper securities. Maturities of commercial paper can range from overnight to up to 364 days. For the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, our average daily borrowings were $3.5 billion and $4.2 billion, respectively, at weighted average interest rates of 1.2% and 0.5%, respectively. For the six months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, our average daily borrowings were $3.7 billion and $4.2 billion, respectively, at weighted average interest rates of 1.2% and 0.5%, respectively. The weighted average maturity of our commercial paper during the six months ended December 31, 2017 was approximately two days. At December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017, we had no outstanding obligations under our short-term commercial paper program.

Our U.S. and Canadian short-term funding requirements related to client funds obligations are sometimes obtained on a secured basis through the use of reverse repurchase agreements, which are collateralized principally by government and government agency securities, rather than liquidating previously-collected client funds that have already been invested in available-for-sale securities. These agreements generally have terms ranging from overnight to up to five business days. We have successfully borrowed through the use of reverse repurchase agreements on an as-needed basis to meet short-term funding requirements related to client funds obligations. At December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017, there were no outstanding obligations related to the reverse repurchase agreements. For the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, we had average outstanding balances under reverse repurchase agreements of $537.0 million and $267.6 million, respectively, at weighted average interest rates of 1.2% and 0.5%, respectively. For the six months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, we had average outstanding balances under reverse repurchase agreements of $531.6 million and $313.4 million, respectively, at weighted average interest rates of 1.1% and 0.5%, respectively. See Note 8 of our Consolidated Financial Statements for client fund investments used as collateral for reverse repurchase agreements.

We vary the maturities of our committed credit facilities to limit the refinancing risk of any one facility. We have a $3.5 billion, 364-day credit agreement that matures in June 2018 with a one year term-out option. In addition, we have a five-year $2.25 billion credit facility and a five-year $3.75 billion credit facility maturing in June 2022 and June 2021, respectively, each with an accordion feature under which the aggregate commitment can be increased by $500.0 million, subject to the availability of additional commitments. The primary uses of the credit facilities are to provide liquidity to the commercial paper program and funding for general corporate purposes, if necessary.  We had no borrowings through December 31, 2017 under the credit facilities. We believe that we currently meet all conditions set forth in the revolving credit agreements to borrow thereunder and we are not aware of any conditions that would prevent us from borrowing part or all of the $9.5 billion available to us under the revolving credit agreements. See Note 10 of our Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of our short-term financing including credit facilities.

Our investment portfolio does not contain any asset-backed securities with underlying collateral of sub-prime mortgages, alternative-A mortgages, sub-prime auto loans or sub-prime home equity loans, collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations, credit default swaps, derivatives, auction rate securities, structured investment vehicles or non-investment

36



grade fixed-income securities. We own AAA rated senior tranches of fixed rate credit card, auto loan, equipment lease and rate reduction receivables, secured predominantly by prime collateral.  All collateral on asset-backed securities is performing as expected.  In addition, we own senior debt directly issued by Federal Home Loan Banks and Federal Farm Credit Banks.  We do own mortgage-backed securities, which represent an undivided beneficial ownership interest in a group or pool of one or more residential mortgages.  These securities are collateralized by the cash flows of 15-year and 30-year residential mortgages and are guaranteed primarily by Federal National Mortgage Association as to the timely payment of principal and interest.  Our client funds investment strategy is structured to allow us to average our way through an interest rate cycle by laddering the maturities of our investments out to five years (in the case of the extended portfolio) and out to ten years (in the case of the long portfolio).  This investment strategy is supported by our short-term financing arrangements necessary to satisfy short-term funding requirements relating to client funds obligations. See Note 8 of our Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of our corporate investments and funds held for clients.

Capital expenditures for the six months ended December 31, 2017 were $104.9 million, as compared to $123.5 million for the six months ended December 31, 2016.  Capital expenditures for fiscal 2018 are expected to be about $200 million, as compared to $249.1 million in fiscal 2017.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our overall investment portfolio is comprised of corporate investments (cash and cash equivalents, short-term marketable securities, and long-term marketable securities) and client funds assets (funds that have been collected from clients but not yet been remitted to the applicable tax authorities or client employees).

Our corporate investments are invested in cash and cash equivalents and highly liquid, investment-grade marketable securities.  These assets are available for repurchases of common stock for treasury and/or acquisitions, as well as other corporate operating purposes.  All of our short-term and long-term fixed-income securities are classified as available-for-sale securities.

Our client funds assets are invested with safety of principal, liquidity, and diversification as the primary objectives. Consistent with those objectives, we also seek to maximize interest income and to minimize the volatility of interest income.  Client funds assets are invested in highly liquid, investment-grade marketable securities, with a maximum maturity of 10 years at the time of purchase, and money market securities and other cash equivalents.  
    
We utilize a strategy by which we extend the maturities of our investment portfolio for funds held for clients and employ short-term financing arrangements to satisfy our short-term funding requirements related to client funds obligations.  Our client funds investment strategy is structured to allow us to average our way through an interest rate cycle by laddering the maturities of our investments out to five years (in the case of the extended portfolio) and out to ten years (in the case of the long portfolio).  As part of our client funds investment strategy, we use the daily collection of funds from our clients to satisfy other unrelated client funds obligations, rather than liquidating previously-collected client funds that have already been invested in available-for-sale securities.  We minimize the risk of not having funds collected from a client available at the time such client’s obligation becomes due by impounding, in virtually all instances, the client’s funds in advance of the timing of payment of such client’s obligation.  As a result of this practice, we have consistently maintained the required level of client funds assets to satisfy all of our obligations.

There are inherent risks and uncertainties involving our investment strategy relating to our client funds assets.  Such risks include liquidity risk, including the risk associated with our ability to liquidate, if necessary, our available-for-sale securities in a timely manner in order to satisfy our client funds obligations.  However, our investments are made with the safety of principal, liquidity, and diversification as the primary goals to minimize the risk of not having sufficient funds to satisfy all of our client funds obligations.  We also believe we have significantly reduced the risk of not having sufficient funds to satisfy our client funds obligations by consistently maintaining access to other sources of liquidity, including our corporate cash balances, available borrowings under our $9.5 billion commercial paper program (rated A-1+ by Standard and Poor’s and P-1 by Moody’s, the highest possible credit ratings), ability to engage in reverse repurchase transactions and available borrowings under our $9.5 billion committed credit facilities. The reduced availability of financing during periods of economic turmoil, even to borrowers with the highest credit ratings, may limit our ability to access short-term debt markets to meet the liquidity needs of our business.  In addition to liquidity risk, our investments are subject to interest rate risk and credit risk, as discussed below.

We have established credit quality, maturity, and exposure limits for our investments.  The minimum allowed credit rating at time of purchase for corporate, Canadian government agency and Canadian provincial bonds is BBB, for asset-backed

37



securities is AAA, and for municipal bonds is A.  The maximum maturity at time of purchase for BBB rated securities is 5 years, for single A rated securities is 7 years, and for AA rated and AAA rated securities is 10 years. Time deposits and commercial paper must be rated A-1 and/or P-1. Money market funds must be rated AAA/Aaa-mf.

Details regarding our overall investment portfolio are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Average investment balances at cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate investments
$
5,602.4

 
$
7,033.4

 
$
6,110.5

 
$
7,184.0

Funds held for clients
22,460.7

 
20,905.9

 
21,836.8

 
20,476.0

Total
$
28,063.1

 
$
27,939.3

 
$
27,947.3

 
$
27,660.0

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Average interest rates earned exclusive of realized
   (gains)/losses on:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Corporate investments
1.6
%
 
1.2
%
 
1.6
%
 
1.2
%
Funds held for clients
1.9
%
 
1.8
%
 
1.9
%
 
1.8
%
Total
1.8
%
 
1.6
%
 
1.8
%
 
1.6
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized gains on available-for-sale securities
$
(0.2
)
 
$
(2.0
)
 
$
(0.5
)
 
$
(2.5
)
Realized losses on available-for-sale securities
1.2

 
0.7

 
1.6

 
1.1

Net realized losses/(gains) on available-for-sale securities
$
1.0

 
$
(1.3
)
 
$
1.1

 
$
(1.4
)
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
June 30,
2017
Net unrealized pre-tax (losses)/gains on available-for-sale securities
$
(56.7
)
 
$
102.5

 
 
 
 
Total available-for-sale securities at fair value
$
22,375.5

 
$
21,901.1

 
We are exposed to interest rate risk in relation to securities that mature, as the proceeds from maturing securities are reinvested.  Factors that influence the earnings impact of interest rate changes include, among others, the amount of invested funds and the overall portfolio mix between short-term and long-term investments.  This mix varies during the fiscal year and is impacted by daily interest rate changes.  The annualized interest rates earned on our entire portfolio increased from 1.6% for the six months ended December 31, 2016 to 1.8% for the six months ended December 31, 2017.  A hypothetical change in both short-term interest rates (e.g., overnight interest rates or the federal funds rate) and intermediate-term interest rates of 25 basis points applied to the estimated average investment balances and any related short-term borrowings would result in approximately a $7 million impact to earnings before income taxes over the ensuing twelve-month period ending December 31, 2018.  A hypothetical change in only short-term interest rates of 25 basis points applied to the estimated average short-term investment balances and any related short-term borrowings would result in approximately a $2 million impact to earnings before income taxes over the ensuing twelve-month period ending December 31, 2018.

We are exposed to credit risk in connection with our available-for-sale securities through the possible inability of the borrowers to meet the terms of the securities.  We limit credit risk by investing in investment-grade securities, primarily AAA and AA rated securities, as rated by Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, DBRS for Canadian denominated securities, and Fitch for asset-backed and commercial mortgage backed securities. Approximately 80% of our available-for-sale securities held a AAA or AA rating at December 31, 2017.  In addition, we limit amounts that can be invested in any security other than U.S. government and government agency, Canadian government, and United Kingdom government securities.

We operate and transact business in various foreign jurisdictions and are therefore exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates that could impact our consolidated results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. We manage our exposure to these market risks through our regular operating and financing activities and, when deemed appropriate, through the use of derivative financial instruments. We may use derivative financial instruments as risk

38



management tools and not for trading purposes. We had no derivative financial instruments outstanding at December 31, 2017 or June 30, 2017.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

See Note 2, New Accounting Pronouncements, of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The information called for by this item is provided under the caption "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk" under Item 2 – Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "evaluation").  Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  Based on the evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2017 in ensuring that (i) information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and (ii) such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms.

There was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended December 31, 2017 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Except as noted below, all other items are either inapplicable or would result in negative responses and, therefore, have been omitted.

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to various claims and litigation.  While the outcome of any litigation is inherently unpredictable, the Company believes it has valid defenses with respect to the legal matters pending against it and the Company believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse impact on its financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in our risk factors disclosed in Part 1, Item 1A, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017.

39



Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
 
Total Number
of Shares Purchased (1)
 
Average Price
Paid per Share
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of the
Publicly
Announced
Common Stock Repurchase Plan (2)
 
Maximum Number
of Shares that
may yet be
Purchased under
the Common Stock
Repurchase Plan (2)
Period
 
 
 
 
October 1 to 31, 2017
 
552,197

 
$
113.85

 
540,293

 
22,162,980

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

November 1 to 30, 2017
 
563,653

 
$
111.81

 
563,549

 
21,599,431

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 1 to 31, 2017
 
264,706

 
$
116.04

 
259,427

 
21,340,004

Total
 
1,380,556

 
 
 
1,363,269

 
 


(1)  During the three months ended December 31, 2017, pursuant to the terms of the Company's restricted stock program, the Company purchased 17,287 shares at the then market value of the shares in connection with the vesting of restricted shares of employees under such program to satisfy certain tax withholding requirements through the delivery of shares to the Company instead of cash.

(2)  The Company announced the Board of Directors' approval to repurchase the shares of our common stock included in the table above as follows:
Date of Approval
Shares
August 2015
25 million

There is no expiration date for the common stock repurchase plan.


40



Item 6.  Exhibits

Exhibit Number
Exhibit
 
Subsidiaries of the Company

Certification by Carlos A. Rodriguez pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Certification by Jan Siegmund pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Certification by Carlos A. Rodriguez pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
Certification by Jan Siegmund pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
101.INS
XBRL instance document
 
101.SCH
XBRL taxonomy extension schema document
 
101.CAL
XBRL taxonomy extension calculation linkbase document
 
101.LAB
XBRL taxonomy label linkbase document
 
101.PRE
XBRL taxonomy extension presentation linkbase document
 
101.DEF
XBRL taxonomy extension definition linkbase document


41



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.

 
 
AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING, INC.
(Registrant)
 
 
 
Date:
February 1, 2018
/s/ Jan Siegmund
Jan Siegmund
 
 
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
(Title)


42