Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Funds Held for Clients and Corporate Investments

v3.20.1
Funds Held for Clients and Corporate Investments
9 Months Ended
Feb. 29, 2020
Funds Held for Clients and Corporate Investments [Abstract]  
Funds Held for Clients and Corporate Investments Note F: Funds Held for Clients and Corporate Investments

Funds held for clients and corporate investments are as follows:

February 29, 2020

Gross

Gross

Amortized

unrealized

unrealized

Fair

In millions

cost

gains

losses

value

Type of issue:

Funds held for clients' money market securities and other cash equivalents

$

1,226.1

$

$

$

1,226.1

Available-for-sale securities:

Asset-backed securities

68.0

1.1

69.1

Corporate bonds

667.6

24.0

691.6

General obligation municipal bonds

741.8

16.9

758.7

Pre-refunded municipal bonds(1)

21.9

0.3

22.2

Revenue municipal bonds

586.9

14.5

601.4

U.S. government agency and treasury securities

866.2

27.3

893.5

Variable rate demand notes

149.9

149.9

Total available-for-sale securities

3,102.3

84.1

3,186.4

Other

25.6

2.0

(0.4)

27.2

Total funds held for clients and corporate investments

$

4,354.0

$

86.1

$

(0.4)

$

4,439.7

May 31, 2019

Gross

Gross

Amortized

unrealized

unrealized

Fair

In millions

cost

gains

losses

value

Type of issue:

Funds held for clients' money market securities and other cash equivalents

$

204.5

$

$

$

204.5

Available-for-sale securities:

Asset-backed securities

5.3

5.3

Corporate bonds

442.1

5.3

(0.9)

446.5

General obligation municipal bonds

840.6

7.5

(0.3)

847.8

Pre-refunded municipal bonds(1)

25.6

0.2

25.8

Revenue municipal bonds

545.4

4.7

(0.2)

549.9

U.S. government agency and treasury securities

612.5

4.7

(1.3)

615.9

Variable rate demand notes

1,129.6

1,129.6

Total available-for-sale securities

3,601.1

22.4

(2.7)

3,620.8

Other

26.3

1.7

(0.3)

27.7

Total funds held for clients and corporate investments

$

3,831.9

$

24.1

$

(3.0)

$

3,853.0

(1) Pre-refunded municipal bonds are secured by an escrow fund of U.S. government obligations.

Included in funds held for clients' money market securities and other cash equivalents as of February 29, 2020 and May 31, 2019 were bank demand deposit accounts, commercial paper, and money market funds. In addition, as of February 29, 2020, certain U.S. government agency and treasury securities with maturities of 90 days or less at acquisition and time deposits were included in funds held for clients' money market securities and other cash equivalents.

Classification of funds held for clients and investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets is as follows:

February 29,

May 31,

In millions

2020

2019

Funds held for clients

$

4,355.7

$

3,803.8

Corporate investments

73.8

39.0

Long-term corporate investments

10.2

10.2

Total funds held for clients and corporate investments

$

4,439.7

$

3,853.0

Funds held for clients’ money market securities and other cash equivalents is collected from clients before due dates for payroll tax administration services and employee payment services, and is invested until remitted to the applicable tax or regulatory agencies or client employees. Based upon the Company’s intent and its contractual obligation to clients, these funds are considered restricted until they are remitted to fund these client obligations.

The Company’s available-for-sale securities reflected net unrealized gains of $84.1 million and $19.7 million as of February 29, 2020 and May 31, 2019, respectively. Included in the net unrealized gain totals as of February 29, 2020 and May 31, 2019 were two and 269 available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position, respectively. The available-for-sale securities with immaterial unrealized losses as of February 29, 2020 included two securities in an unrealized loss position with a fair value totaling $1.4 million for more than twelve months and no securities in an unrealized loss position for less than twelve months. The available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position as of May 31, 2019 were as follows:

May 31, 2019

Securities in an unrealized 
loss position for less than 
twelve months

Securities in an unrealized 
loss position for more than 
twelve months

Total

Gross

Gross

Gross

unrealized

Fair

unrealized

Fair

unrealized

Fair

In millions

losses

value

losses

value

losses

value

Type of issue:

Corporate bonds

$

$

1.5

$

(0.9)

$

133.8

$

(0.9)

$

135.3

General obligation municipal bonds

3.0

(0.3)

168.3

(0.3)

171.3

Pre-refunded municipal bonds

0.1

1.6

1.7

Revenue municipal bonds

0.1

(0.2)

79.2

(0.2)

79.3

U.S. government agency and treasury securities

4.7

(1.3)

175.6

(1.3)

180.3

Total

$

$

9.4

$

(2.7)

$

558.5

$

(2.7)

$

567.9

The Company regularly reviews its investment portfolios to determine if any investment is other-than-temporarily impaired due to changes in credit risk or other potential valuation concerns. The Company believes that the investments held as of February 29, 2020 that had immaterial gross unrealized losses were not other-than-temporarily impaired. The Company believes that it is probable that the principal and interest will be collected in accordance with contractual terms, and that the unrealized losses on these securities were due to changes in interest rates and were not due to increased credit risk or other valuation concerns. All of the securities in an unrealized loss position as of February 29, 2020 held an A rating and all of the securities in an unrealized loss position as of May 31, 2019 held an AA rating or better. The Company does not intend to sell these investments until the recovery of their amortized cost basis or maturity, and further believes that it is not more-likely-than-not that it will be required to sell these investments prior to that time. The Company’s assessment that an investment is not other-than-temporarily impaired could change in the future due to new developments, including those developments related to COVID-19, or changes in the Company’s strategies or assumptions related to any particular investment.

Realized gains and losses on the sales of securities are determined by specific identification of the amortized cost basis of each security. On the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income, realized gains and losses from funds held for clients are included in interest on funds held for clients and realized gains and losses from corporate investments are included in other (expense)/income, net. Realized gains and losses were as follows:

For the three months ended

For the nine months ended

February 29,

February 28,

February 29,

February 28,

In millions

2020

2019

2020

2019

Realized gains

$

0.6

$

0.4

$

2.4

$

0.5

Realized losses

(0.3)

(0.6)

Net realized gains/(losses)

$

0.6

$

0.1

$

2.4

$

(0.1)

The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale securities that had stated maturities as of February 29, 2020 are shown below by contractual maturity. Expected maturities can differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to prepay obligations without prepayment penalties.

February 29, 2020

Amortized

Fair

In millions

cost

value

Maturity date:

Due in one year or less

$

332.6

$

333.9

Due after one year through three years

782.2

798.2

Due after three years through five years

890.2

917.9

Due after five years

1,097.3

1,136.4

Total

$

3,102.3

$

3,186.4

Variable rate demand notes (“VRDNs”) are primarily categorized as due after five years in the table above as the contractual maturities on these securities are typically 20 years to 30 years. Although these securities are issued as long-term securities, they are priced and traded as short-term instruments because of the liquidity provided through the tender feature.