Earnings Labs

The Western Union Company (WU)

Q4 2013 Earnings Call· Tue, Feb 11, 2014

$9.02

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Transcript

Operator

Operator

Good afternoon, and welcome to the Western Union Fourth Quarter 2013 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please note, this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Mike Salop, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations. Please go ahead, sir.

Michael A. Salop

Analyst

Thank you, Lauren. Good afternoon, everyone. On today's call, Hikmet Ersek, Western Union's President and Chief Executive Officer; and Raj Agrawal, Executive Vice President and Interim Chief Financial Officer, will discuss the company's fourth quarter results and 2014 outlook, and then we will take your questions. The slides that accompany this call and webcast can be found on westernunion.com, under the Investor Relations tab, and will remain available after the call. Additional operational statistics have been provided in supplemental tables with our press release. Today's call is being recorded, and our comments include forward-looking statements. Please refer to the cautionary language in the earnings release and in Western Union's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the 2012 Form 10-K, for additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. During the call, we will discuss some items that do not conform to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. We have reconciled those items to the most comparable GAAP measures on our website, westernunion.com, under the Investor Relations section. All statements made by Western Union officers on this call are the property of the Western Union Company and subject to copyright protection. Other than the replay noted in our press release, Western Union has not authorized and disclaims responsibility for any recording, replay or distribution of any transcription of this call. I would now like turn the call over to Hikmet Ersek.

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

Thank you, Mike, and good afternoon, everyone. Overall, our 2013 results were consistent with our expectations entering the year, and we made good progress executing the key strategic initiatives we began in late 2012. As you recall, our plan included making pricing and other strategic investments and undertaking cost initiatives to better position our business for the future. We also continued increasing our compliance investments, including hiring a new Chief Compliance Officer and other senior compliance leaders last year to better navigate the evolving and complex global environment. From a financial perspective, we were able to deliver earnings per share of $1.43, which was at the higher end of our outlook range entering the year. Our key strategies in 2013 were: Focus on strengthening our consumer money transfer business and our business-to-business foundation, while at the same time, continuing to generate and deploy strong cash flow for our shareholders. We believe we made good progress in each of these areas. In Consumer Money transfer, our pricing investments delivered the transaction growth we expected, and we further advanced our capabilities in electronic channels. The pricing and other strategic actions were initiated in Consumer Money Transfer were intended to increase consumer usage, driven by better value propositions and more choice of channel options. Our transaction growth trends at the end of 2013 represented strong improvements from the beginning of the year and this gives us good momentum heading into 2014. In the fourth quarter, Consumer Money Transfer transactions grew 9%. Transactions increased 20% in the quarter in corridors where pricing had been implemented, or 15%, excluding westernunion.com. The turnaround in Mexico continued. As we benefited from pricing investment, bigger growth and capturing more of the business previously moving through banks. Mexico delivered 20% transaction growth in the quarter, far outperforming the market…

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

Thank you, Hikmet, and I'm pleased to join you today. As I review the 2013 financial results, I will primarily focus on the fourth quarter. The similar information for the full year can be found in our press release and the attached financial schedules. Fourth quarter consolidated revenue of $1.4 billion was flat compared to the prior year period. On a constant currency basis, revenues increased 1% in the quarter. Electronic channels and Business Solutions each delivered strong growth, but these increases were largely offset by the impact of the previously implemented pricing investments in C2C. In the Consumer-to-Consumer segment, revenue declined 1% and was flat on a constant currency basis. Our pricing actions are yielding strong results, as total transactions grew 9% in the quarter. Transactions increased 20% in the quarters where we implemented pricing actions, or 15%, excluding westernunion.com. In the non-priced corridors, total transactions increased 5%. C2C cross-border principal increased 8% in the quarter, with no impact in currency, while principal per transaction declined 2%. The spread between the C2C transaction growth and the revenue decline in the quarter was 10 percentage points, including a negative 1% impact from currency. For C2C, the impact of net price decreases was approximately 6% in the quarter, while mix had a negative impact of approximately 3%. Turning to the regions. All of the regions delivered good transaction growth rates in the fourth quarter. In the Europe and CIS region, revenue decreased 2% year-over-year, including a positive 1% impact from currency. Transactions in the region increased 7%, driven by continued growth in key markets, such as Germany, Italy, France and the U.K. North America revenue declined 2% in the quarter, while transactions increased 6%. As Hikmet mentioned, we delivered strong growth in Mexico, where we continue to grow faster than the…

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] And our first question today comes from Bryan Keane of Deutsche Bank.

Bryan Keane - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division

Analyst

I wanted to ask about the new compliance procedures. I guess, what's been the impact so far in the fourth quarter? Did you see an impact on transaction growth? And then, secondly, in the guidance. It sounds like you're expecting some type of impact on transaction growth. Just trying to figure out if that's 2 points, 4 points or how much of transaction growth are you expecting to be impacted by the increase in compliance costs?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

We do see some impact on the compliance pressure, especially in the higher bands, Bryan. It does do impact our revenues. And we did a forecast also for 2014, some impact here. And in that impact, we believe it's mainly the higher bands and also, the transactions will be not -- the transaction number will be okay, I believe, but the revenue number will have some impact on the higher bands. And in our outlook, we did put that in and calculate in our procedures.

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

Yes, Bryan, let me just add to what Hikmet said. We do expect to see some negative impact on our revenue in 2014 from compliance procedures. And those are primarily impacts to our high principal transactions, high frequency senders and receivers, and sometimes, high-risk corridors. But we've factored in, into our outlook a negative, a 1 to 2 point negative impact in revenue for the year.

Bryan Keane - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division

Analyst

Okay, now that's helpful. And then I might have missed it, but what are you guys expecting for pricing in 2014?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

Well, it's again, it's also in our outlook. Generally, we don't assume that we're going to have a pricing, but we did it in last -- end of 2012 and beginning of 2013. So we believe that we're going to have the -- we don't see a big competitive reaction on our pricing. Our price corridors are working very well. And I believe that we have good momentum and gaining in main corridors, some main market share gain.

Michael A. Salop

Analyst

Yes, so Bryan, we're trying to get away from giving pricing guidance so we can react however we need to, as we go through the year and just really try to drive revenue growth. But the pricing assumption is certainly a lot lower than what we did last year.

Bryan Keane - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division

Analyst

Okay. So that's -- the pricing impact will be less, I guess, and probably more to the typical range, I guess, of where we went previously?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

Yes.

Michael A. Salop

Analyst

Yes, we still have to anniversary, the first half of the year, the pricings that we did last year, still see that in the numbers. But the pricing actions will be much lower than last year.

Bryan Keane - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division

Analyst

Okay, and then just last question for me. We've been hearing some banks have been getting out of the remittance business due to some of these higher compliance costs. Just curious if you've seen any impact from that, or if you've heard of that so far?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

Yes, Bryan, we do see it. Some of the banks even are calling us and given the compliance environment, want to partner with us. I mean, one of the things we definitely see is that a part of our growth in Mexico corridor is that some banks are getting out of this business. And obviously, enhancing our compliance activities does help getting this revenue for us, because we do invest in the compliance, and that helps. But generally, don't forget that 75% of our network is international banks and financial institutions, and we do have a good relationship with them.

Operator

Operator

And the next question will come from Tien-tsin Huang of JPMorgan. Tien-tsin Huang - JP Morgan Chase & Co, Research Division: A lot of good detail here. Just, I guess, on the margin side. Just wanted to clarify. So it sounds like the compliance expenses, you're trimming the investment by 50 bps on the high end. Is that right? And then also, the $45 million in savings that you're talking about from some of the restructuring, how much of that is incremental savings versus 2013? Just trying to clear those 2 things up on margin first.

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

Tien-tsin, this is Raj. You're right, the compliance spend is 3.5% to 4%. So that is our expectation for the year. And then the -- the $45 million of savings is incremental to what we achieved in 2013. So that's an incremental savings in 2014.

Michael A. Salop

Analyst

So Tien-tsin, you'll recall, last year, we were expecting an incremental $15 million of savings in 2014. We took some additional actions in the fourth quarter, and that impacted our fourth quarter margin. But we're driving additional savings on top of that 15. So the $45 million is incremental. Tien-tsin Huang - JP Morgan Chase & Co, Research Division: All right, great. So $45 million is purely incremental, so that is new. So that's great. And then just, I guess, glad to hear the step-up in the buybacks through the working capital. I mean, is it -- should we assume that you could also take on some additional debt to hit that $500 million bogey? Are there some other options that you might want to consider as well? Or is it all coming from the working capital?

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

Tien-tsin, it'll primarily be coming from the working capital initiative. That's really just managing our intercompany payment flows more effectively, more efficiently. And I expect that we'll have more opportunities, longer-term in that area as well. Certainly, as the business grows, it will create more debt capacity as well. And we have, obviously, a lot of different funding needs in the business, not just share repurchase, but -- and so we're looking at all different options, and use the best vehicle available to us. Tien-tsin Huang - JP Morgan Chase & Co, Research Division: All right, great. Glad to hear it. Last one, I promise. Just the growth in C2C transactions, where you did not adjust price, did I hear correctly, 5%? I think it was 6% the prior quarter, just trying to gauge how that came in versus your internal plan?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

It was 5%. Yes, Tien-tsin. Tien-tsin Huang - JP Morgan Chase & Co, Research Division: Okay, 5%. How does that compare versus plan, Hikmet?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

I think we are very -- we have a good momentum. And that's why we -- I feel comfortable with the transactions growth. And especially, also -- even the non-priced corridors, we are very well-positioned. As you know, this business, Tien-tsin, it's corridor by corridor. And we do see a good growth corridor by corridor and in the major markets. So I am -- that's why it fit the growth rates.

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

Yes, Tien-tsin, the growth was also 5% last quarter, and it accelerated throughout the course of the year. So we're happy with where that's at.

Operator

Operator

The next question is from George Mihalos of Credit Suisse. Georgios Mihalos - Crédit Suisse AG, Research Division: Just looking at the compliance costs for 2014, the 3.5% to 4.5%. Is any portion of that onetime in nature? And then, I just want to confirm that I heard correctly that you're expecting a similar percentage of revenue expense going into 2015. Is that correct?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

Yes, you heard it, except one part. We said 3.5% to 4%. As you recall, we were giving an assumption in the last quarter, it was 3.5% to 4.5%. But the team did a great job and looked at the procedures, looked at the technology, looked at the processes. We have a dedicated team, worked with our Chief Compliance Officer. And I think it's about -- we project from today points of view, about 3.5% to 4% on compliance expenses of the revenue, '14 revenue. And the second part of the question was? Georgios Mihalos - Crédit Suisse AG, Research Division: Just -- is there a portion of that, that is onetime in nature, versus it being in the run rate going forward permanently?

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

George, this is Raj. Certainly, we expect that we'll finish some activities this year. But we also expect that there'll be new things that we need to do as we move forward into 2015 and into more geographies. So we believe that 3.5% to 4% is a good range for this year, and it's also good range from where we stand today, for next year. Georgios Mihalos - Crédit Suisse AG, Research Division: Okay, great. And then just on the transaction and revenue growth trends. Overall, nice acceleration across most of the business. Just the Middle East and Africa seemed to slow a bit from the prior quarter. Anything to call out there or...

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

Not really, George. We're starting to anniversary some of the price decreases that we had, so we're starting to see the impact of that, but nothing in particular there. Georgios Mihalos - Crédit Suisse AG, Research Division: Okay. And just, last question. I don't think I saw the agent count, as of the end of the year.

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

Yes, it's more than 500,000. We just -- we gave, as I said, before we have more have more than 500,000 agent locations and 100,000 ATMs. I don't think we gave the agent count.

Michael A. Salop

Analyst

Not in the quarter, I think, as Hikmet said during the call, we are going through a process now where we're pruning some of the dormant locations and as compliant, there's more compliance costs around having dormant locations now. So we're looking at that. So there's going to be some ups and downs. But -- so we're reporting more rounded figures. But were over 500,000 at the end of the year.

Operator

Operator

And the next question will come from Kevin McVeigh of Macquarie.

Kevin D. McVeigh - Macquarie Research

Analyst

So it looks like, if I have it right, the incremental cost actions cost about $0.04, $0.05 in Q4. Is that the right way to think about it?

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

Yes, it's...

Michael A. Salop

Analyst

Yes, we had about $33 million of kind of non-recurring expenses related to the cost savings initiatives in Q4.

Kevin D. McVeigh - Macquarie Research

Analyst

Great. And then just so I'm clear, that -- is it $45 million incremental, on top of the $15 million? Or the $15 million becomes $45 million for the cost savings in 2014?

Michael A. Salop

Analyst

Yes, the $15 million becomes $45 million.

Kevin D. McVeigh - Macquarie Research

Analyst

Great, great. And then just real quick. As you think about kind of the business impact, the compliance costs, the 3.5% to 4%, longer term, Hikmet, as you think about kind of more incremental capacity coming to market just as more competitors kind of exit, you're starting to see Mexico, is that something you kind of expect to accelerate, as we work our way through the year?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

It's hard to say. But I can generally say that some parts in Mexico, we saw some impact to our, positive impact our transactions. But generally, I would not, from today points of view, I would not -- build a model on that and saying that our revenue was increased. My expectation is that competition will also invest here on the compliance environment and the people who can't do that, maybe they exit. We, will see some, in some markets, they can't afford it, maybe we can get the revenue here. But generally, I would say that we are very much focused on our compliance activities. We are the industry leader. We are focused on that. We are driving it, and we will like to set up. And I believe it's long term. Long term, I believe, yes, it's a competitive advantage, Kevin.

Kevin D. McVeigh - Macquarie Research

Analyst

Great. And then, I apologize, last question. Is the buyback factored into the guidance? Or will that be incremental upside, as we think about the buyback we announced today?

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

Yes, Kevin, the buyback is factored into the $1.40 to $1.50 range that we gave.

Operator

Operator

And the next question is from Kartik Mehta of Northcoast Research.

Kartik Mehta - Northcoast Research

Analyst

Hikmet, have you seen some of the regional and smaller companies having to deal with some of the compliance issues that you and -- that you're dealing with, or do you anticipate that this will become a little bit more prevalent throughout the industry?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

I think that -- I can't speak, as I said, for the name of the competition that -- But, believe me, the regulatory environment is very -- changing very fast, evolving. And we are on, I believe, as the industry leader, we are setting here best practices. We are driving it. We have a great compliance officer. We had -- he hired very great people. We do invest our CIO. David Thompson is very focused on the, also on the technology, how we can activate the technology to be more effective on the compliance, making -- the most focus is on the know your agent and know your customer. And so there's some diligence activities. And I believe, we gave -- we were anticipating that in Q3, we told you and we looked at that. And now we are investing, we are -- we signed an agreement with Southwest Border. I am very pleased that has been -- we were -- we had a budget that cost for longer time because we were working with them longer time. So I would say, generally, it's a tough environment. But we, as the industry leader, I believe that we are on top of the things.

Kartik Mehta - Northcoast Research

Analyst

And then, Raj, I think you said anticipate higher commission rates. Is that just a result of more competition trying to sign agents? Or is that a result of, maybe some of your other agents becoming more mature, so they're moving to different tiers? I guess, what's causing that?

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

Kartik, we do expect some increase in retail commissions this year. That's from recent signings and renewals that we did. We have a long history of being very successful in signing agents. And I think we've been quite successful there. The competitive environment is more difficult in some markets. But in other markets, we've been quite successful. So I don't see that being a long-term trend. I do believe that we have opportunities to take our commissions down, as we add more agents of the mix, and as we actually change our business mix over time with the Digital business, so.

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

So, Raj, just as a reminder, Kartik, maybe -- sorry, I interrupted you. The top 40 agents, sent agents, top 40 sent agents has been 18 years exclusive with us and --

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

18 years, yes.

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

I don't see, Kartik, big changes, it happens year-over-year. But long term, as you recall, Kartik, the commission rates has been going down. I believe that, as we said in '13 already, '14, will have some impact on the commission rates. But also, the other thing will help us is the strong growing electronic channels, dot-com. You don't have the send side agent commission here. I believe also that electronics, westernunion.com, electronic channels long-term will have similar margins, like the company margins. We are investing there now to grow that. We are very pleased with the growth. So I believe that will help our commission rates also, long term.

Kartik Mehta - Northcoast Research

Analyst

And then just one last one. Raj, so there any opportunity is take additional cost out in 2014 to help offset some of the compliance costs that you'll incur in 2015?

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

Kartik, we're going to keep looking at our cost structure and look for opportunities to take more costs out. It's not something specific that we're going to call out, because it'll be part of our normal operations. But rest assured that we're continuing to evaluate our cost structure.

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

Yes, we have a team that is looking hard on our cost structure. So Kartik, we are very focused on that.

Operator

Operator

And the next question will come from Darrin Peller of Barclays.

Darrin D. Peller - Barclays Capital, Research Division

Analyst

Look, I just wanted to add one question in on the compliance cost. As we look forward into further out years, how do we think about how you're really analyzing the growth of that number, in the sense that you're saying it should be relatively similar on a percentage of a revenue basis. And yet, revenue's growing now, and we should expect it to grow again, I think in 2015. And so the dollar number keeps getting bigger. Maybe just give us a little more concrete examples of what's causing that dollar amount to increase? Is it -- that you have to move from U.S. compliance to international, or expecting other areas? Maybe just a little more specific samples, I think would be great.

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

Yes, you're absolutely right, Darrin. It will be assumed that it will be about 3.5% to 4%. But the more, the expansion, international expansion, the global environment is changing. It's mainly also know your agent and know your customer activities. We have to do more questions on your customers, ask the customer, register the customers, doing diligence on the customers. But also on the agent side, with the front line associates, we are doing more diligence, understanding who is serving our customers. They trust us, and they want to trust also to the -- from loan associates. We do some diligences is there. And I think that's the main investment we're going to continue to happen in the future. Now it is, today points of view, I am pretty much confident that it will be about 3.5% to 4%, from today points of view, and that's what we see.

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

Darrin, we'll also, keep looking for automation opportunities and look for efficiencies as we move through the next few years, but that's our current estimate. And clearly, we want to automate as much as the activity as we can, over time.

Darrin D. Peller - Barclays Capital, Research Division

Analyst

Okay, that's great. I appreciate that. And then, just one follow-up. With regard to the opportunities for growth in the non-C2C businesses, I mean, it seems like those are still trending pretty well relative to where they were, a couple of years back. Give us a little more color on any other strategies of change there? Is that just going to keep going, and should we expect this kind of growth, going forward?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

I just want to congratulate Raj, that he did a good job on B2B. On the B2B, I am very much -- we have a new leadership here. Kerry comes from the business. He knows the business. And this team is very focused on the sales activities. The existing customers are using us more, we see that the volume of the existing customers is using more. It's also -- you could see that improvement, transaction improvement quarter-by-quarter, revenue improvement quarter-by-quarter. And we also start to expand to the new countries. The other thing we expanded is the new categories, like universities and the NGOs and financial institutions. They started to use us. That has been a strong growth on the B2B. On the C2B business, especially in the U.S., we see a strong growth on the electronic channels. Our electronic channel is growing strong, a little bit slowdown on the walk-in, where the people walk in on our location, want to pay their bills. They do use more on money transfer than using the bills. So generally, I am satisfied. The integration issues then are almost gone. We do -- had some in the beginning, had normal acquisition. And the team worked very hard. I think, it's -- do you want to add something on the B2B here?

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

Yes, no, the B2B business is well-positioned. Had accelerated growth, as Hikmet said, every quarter of last year. And we expect low double-digit growth this year, throughout the year. So it's well-positioned, whether it's taking more products to the existing markets or new vertical opportunities, or even expanding its distribution, it has an online business that is relatively small right now, but what we want to be in a position there in that business to serve customers however they want. So low touch or high touch, and that business is a good position to be able to do that. So I think it's well positioned.

Darrin D. Peller - Barclays Capital, Research Division

Analyst

If I could just squeeze one last quick one in. There's a lot of -- a lot of times we get questions about your Domestic business. And I think that's now, what, about 7% or 8% of total revenues. And I think the question's coming from the fact there's a lot more P2P models coming to market, whether it's Square Cash or others, that you're seeing offering very low price for that. Is that something we need to watch for you guys? Or are you -- do you think the customer base is really just different enough that it's really not a concern?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

I think -- as you do, I am watching also every competition. But I am satisfied with the domestic money transfer, especially in the lower bands. Transaction growth rates we see, the customers who want this in minutes. But the higher bands has have an impact. And that's why also, you saw a little bit slowdown on the domestic money transfer. But where I'm very satisfied on the Domestic Money Transfer and team is doing a good job is the electronic parts. People are using, sending fast money from their PCs or from their mobile phones. And one of the strongest growth rate on the westernunion.com is using of the mobile phones. I don't know, I think it's growing very fast there. It's faster than the normal parts, right?

Michael A. Salop

Analyst

Yes, And I would just add Darrin, that in the U.S., all of our domestic money transfer is paid out in cash, and about half of it is for emergency purposes. So there are some different use cases there. But you're right, this kind of the new entry is where they most would effect is Domestic Money Transfer. That's something we keep an eye on.

Operator

Operator

And the next question will come from Andrew Jeffrey of SunTrust.

Andrew W. Jeffrey - SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., Research Division

Analyst

I guess, what I have is more of sort of a qualitative, high level question, and it sort of pertains to the long-term profile of the business, because '13 had its unique charges. '14 is a little bit of a transition year, vis-à-vis, the compliance spending and so forth. It looks like there are a lots of moving parts. On one hand, pricing to drive transaction growth. And that -- the impact of that on revenue. The higher compliance costs, perhaps, somewhat offset by the cost takeouts. And as well as rising short term commissions, would you think can fall long term? Now I mean it feels to me like, if all of the tailwinds break your way, and some of the headwinds dissipate, we could see accelerating growth in '15? And if it doesn't quite break that way, maybe '14 is more of the template? I'm just wondering, as you long-range plan, how do you handicap all the moving parts? Because if you don't sort of get them all lined up, you can have a year like the '13, '14 kind of transition. So I'm just thinking more of strategically internally. How are you balancing the puts and takes in the business?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

It's a very good question, actually. I think -- so what we do is that, we do look at the long-term opportunities on the business. First of all, the good news is that, it's -- the remittance market's a growing market. The global trade market is a growing market. And on the remittance market, we are definitely leading, but we have a 16%, 17% market share. So it's huge -- there's still room to grow, especially on the Digital where our emphasis is that we can grow. There's no company, from a strategic point of view, can -- in the hybrid economy, can connect cash with digital, ATM with the account, account with the business, business with the consumer, in 200 countries. I believe we are very well-positioned on the respond to the global economic changes with our omni channel, multi-channel strategy. That's #1, it's a growing economy, and that's doing that. The regulatory environment has been an evolving environment the last 2 years, and especially fast-changing. And I believe also, that the investments we do today will respond for the future environments, and it will be putting us long-term, in a competitive advantage. You've been following us, Andrew, for so long. You know of our brands, how our brand awareness, we are -- it's high, it's very, very high, and the people like us. And they use us. I don't have to talk about that. So I do see, really quite good growth opportunities. Lastly, our business model is a fantastic business model. On the 35% of our costs, fixed costs, 65% are variable costs. And once you grow the revenue, I think also it will help our profit growth and margin expansion over time.

Andrew W. Jeffrey - SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., Research Division

Analyst

That's helpful. You make me feel old, Hikmet. One more, just to follow on, if I may. You mentioned the macro. Can you quantify how much in improving global remittance volume growth environment informs your '14 revenue growth outlook? And I assume that from all indications, it's -- '14's going to be a better year than '13, and '13 was better than '12.

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

I -- we believe that the '14, from global economy, I believe that things has not changed. I mean, they are always ups and downs in the different part of the world. But a World Bank saves about 6% to 7% of principal, and the revenue will be a little bit lower, about 3% to 4% in revenue growth over the next few, over 2014 and next few years, I guess, is that right, Mike? Mike is looking at me...

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

Price declines and those kind of things, you would expect revenue to be lower than that in the industry.

Michael A. Salop

Analyst

Yes, a little bit lower than the principal growth because of pricing. In terms of our outlook for '14, basically, it's assumed a similar economic situation in '14 and '13, a couple of exceptions. Southern Europe has been doing better for us in the back half of last year. And then, as Raj mentioned, we have accounted for some of the turbulence we're seeing in the currency changes in some of the emerging markets, particularly in South America.

Operator

Operator

And the next question is from Ashwin Shirvaikar of Citi.

Ashwin Shirvaikar - Citigroup Inc, Research Division

Analyst

My first question is on CapEx. So '13 was, what, 4.4% of revenues. You guys are talking about down the road, 2% to 3%. How do you get there, in terms of bringing it down to that lower level?

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

Ashwin, our -- we would not expect to be at the 2% to 3% level. I expect the CapEx will be more in the 5% range for 2014. And the increase is primarily driven by higher compliance-related activities that we're putting in place, as well as discontinued investment in our -- in the faster growing areas of our business. So I think in any given year, we might expect it to be between 4% and 5%, but that would be the expected range.

Ashwin Shirvaikar - Citigroup Inc, Research Division

Analyst

Oh, got it, okay. And to what extent -- it wasn't clear to me, to what extent is the buyback of $500 million dependent on making those working capital changes? What specifically are you doing that, there?

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

Ashwin we, yes, we have -- as you can imagine, we have payment flows all over the world, billions and billions of dollars of payment flows. So what we're doing is taking advantage of those payment flows and just utilizing intercompany working capital in a more effective and efficient manner. And that will continue to give us opportunities down the road, I believe. So that's primarily what we're doing.

Ashwin Shirvaikar - Citigroup Inc, Research Division

Analyst

So that will be a one-time benefit to get that, and then it becomes part of doing business?

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

Yes, it becomes part of doing business. It's well within what we can do in terms of our payment flows. So it's a strategy that we've been utilizing, we plan to continue to utilize. But it's just looking for pockets of opportunity. As you know, we added Travelex and Custom House and other entities as part of the business. So they have a lot of payment flows between them. And so it just allows us to look for more opportunities in that regard.

Ashwin Shirvaikar - Citigroup Inc, Research Division

Analyst

That makes sense. And then you will use all of that to do the $500 million buyback? It wasn't clear, all of that in the second half?

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

Yes, that will be the primary way of doing the buyback. And it depends on overall cash flows of the business during the course of the year, and how the company performs. So it'll be a combination of things. But primarily, it's the working capital strategy.

Ashwin Shirvaikar - Citigroup Inc, Research Division

Analyst

Got it. Last question, if I may. From a pricing strategy perspective, as I look at your website over time, and try to figure out what you're charging for people. It seems like over time, you've been shifting, perhaps to a lower fee-base, it's always 0 fee, that $1 fee kind of thing, with a greater focus on making money out of FX. Is that -- I mean, could you say that, that's sort of the direction you're going in more clearly than before? Is that a -- I mean, what kind of difference does that make to your business, Raj?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

I'll take that one. Absolutely not, it's not the strategy. I think the fees continue to be a main driver of our revenue, and will stay as a main driver of our revenue. It really depends, as you know our business very well, Ashwin. It really depends on the corridor, right? In a competitive corridor, where the price -- revenues are -- sorry, fees are lower, you could definitely also respond to the market environment than to -- also have on the foreign exchange. It really depends on the -- market by market, corridor pricing actions. And I would say that it's -- our strategy on the pricing has not changed. We feel comfortable and we will continue to evolve our pricing corridor by corridor as business as usual.

Operator

Operator

And next, we have a question from David Togut of Evercore.

David Togut - Evercore Partners Inc., Research Division

Analyst

Hikmet, when the 2014 proxy is published in the next few weeks, what will be the primary drivers of management compensation for 2014? And then, if you could look out longer term, as well.

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

Well, let's wait until the proxy has been published. Obviously, I have to talk up with the board and everything. But generally, overall, I would say that our compensation has been, always performance-based. My CEO compensation was very much in the past, always, as you know, very much variable, long-term focus, on the shareholder focus. That -- I don't think that's going to change. And -- but let's wait until the proxy's -- comes out in a few weeks.

David Togut - Evercore Partners Inc., Research Division

Analyst

But I guess, broadly speaking, what are the primary financial metrics that the board wants management to be compensated based upon?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

Yes, revenue and profit.

David Togut - Evercore Partners Inc., Research Division

Analyst

And are there broad, long-term targets for that?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

Yes, there are. Of our long-term targets, we do have some targets. Yes, we are very much on revenue growth and profit growth focused.

David Togut - Evercore Partners Inc., Research Division

Analyst

And what are the targets?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

We don't give long-term guidance.

Michael A. Salop

Analyst

Yes David, there are annual targets and then there are long-term targets as well. The long-term ones are -- we don't make public.

Operator

Operator

And next, we have Tom McCrohan of Janney.

Thomas C. McCrohan - Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Research Division

Analyst

Are there any insights you can give us on adding new customers and the recent pricing actions, or maybe usage patterns, repeat customers, from the investments you made on the pricing side?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

Yes, I think, most of the pricing actions we did in was the main corridors, I could see that we did gain some market share. In some quarters, we were losing market share like in Mexico, the customers came back to us. And also, in some corridors, where we, there are compliance issues as the customer joined us. I would say also, in some corridors, where we are entering new, is -- where we had very good response to the new pricing, like in digital area. But in the digital, especially 80% of the customers did not use our service the last 12 months. We know that they are registered customers. We check that every time, and they did not use it. And so it's a good response to the pricing actions.

Thomas C. McCrohan - Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Research Division

Analyst

And on the importance of mobile seems critical long-term. Is there any chronic developments, soon-to-be launched in 2014, even mobile and the online side, that is worthwhile calling out?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

Absolutely, absolutely. We are very focused on the mobile. Mobile, more are using as a -- on our digital send site. We do have apps. I mean, I can only recommended that you download our apps and use our app. It's a really good moving, fast-moving. You have to register and then customers are very satisfied. We get also reviews about our apps. And the apps will be expanded to the different countries. And mobile is -- the people are to -- use mobile phones more often. They do use their send money in a spontaneous environment at different use cases.

Thomas C. McCrohan - Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Research Division

Analyst

And if you disclose, like what percentage of the total C2C transactions are initiated on mobile and online?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

We did not disclose that. But I can only say that 5% of our revenue is electronic.

Thomas C. McCrohan - Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Research Division

Analyst

Okay. Last question. Just what share count assumption as baked into your 2014 EPS guidance?

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

We have -- we just assume that the buyback, that the majority of the stock will be bought back this year. So I think I gave you the ending share count. So you just help to make so much assumptions around that, in terms of overall share count. Tien-tsin Huang - JP Morgan Chase & Co, Research Division: So 549, end of the year and then assume that 500 million is exhausted?

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

The majority of the program would be exhausted this year.

Michael A. Salop

Analyst

Yes, the basic share count, so it is a little bit higher. [Operator Instructions]

Operator

Operator

And that question will come from Jason Kupferberg of Jefferies.

Jason Kupferberg - Jefferies LLC, Research Division

Analyst

Just want to make sure I have the math right on the electronic channels. And I know you indicated it was 5% of revenue in 2013. So I think that comes out to about $275 million or so. Are you still reinforcing the $500 million target for 2015? And if so, just talk about your confidence level in seeing the kind of growth acceleration that you would need to see in 2014 and 2015 to get there? Because I think you grew it probably about 25% in 2013.

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

Yes, I'm getting day by day more confident on the -- to reach our goal, approximately $500 million. The reason for that is our revenue growth is accelerating quarter-by-quarter. The reason -- the main reason of that, as you recall, as we disclose our strategy, the first strategy was acquiring customers. And we are acquiring customers. And we know once you acquire customers, they do use more often the digital westernunion.com. So -- and that's -- plan really started to work out. The people are using it. The other factor why I am -- where we have this target and we did not change to approximately $500 million target, is we are expanding to more countries. Now we are in 24 countries, sending money to 200 countries. So that's going to continue the expansion of our westernunion.com site, send sites, to the countries that you can connect online with our 500,000 locations or 100,000 ATMs.

Jason Kupferberg - Jefferies LLC, Research Division

Analyst

Okay, understood. And any update on Walgreens, as far as whether or not the roll out there has started across their 8,000 locations. Anything you can tell us when that roll out might be done?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

Yes, I think the teams, our technical teams and operational teams, are working together to combine their host with our host. We did not launch it yet. And so -- but the teams are working hard on that to launch it.

Jason Kupferberg - Jefferies LLC, Research Division

Analyst

Okay. But you still expect it to be launched, I guess, relatively soon, is that fair?

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

I don't have an update. Maybe I'll take -- you can, Mike, would take the call afterwards. I don't have an update in front of me. But I assume that's the case. It's one of our major agents. We are very focused on that.

Jason Kupferberg - Jefferies LLC, Research Division

Analyst

Okay. And then just last question. Obviously, it seems like Raj is doing a great job so far in the CFO seat, but I know the interim tag is still there. When do you think we'll get an update on the CFO search?

Rajesh K. Agrawal

Analyst

You want me to answer that?

Jason Kupferberg - Jefferies LLC, Research Division

Analyst

Absolutely.

Hikmet Ersek

Analyst

The good thing is that Raj really knows the business. He is the Interim CFO, but he's an internal candidate. He is one of our highest talents in the company. He has been a great -- he has been sitting in different functions. So he knows the business very well, especially given the complex business, evolving business. He is doing a great job. But I also launched the CFO search. I'm looking at all the options. And we believe that we will announce that soon, the fixed CFO role.

Michael A. Salop

Analyst

Thanks, everyone, for joining us on the call today. We hope to talk to you soon. And have a good evening. Thanks.

Operator

Operator

The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.