Western Union Terminates Acquisition of International Money Express
Western Union Company canceled its agreement to acquire International Money Express after California regulators imposed conditions the company deemed unacceptable.
The Western Union Company terminated its agreement to acquire International Money Express, Inc. on November 11, 2026, following the imposition of regulatory conditions in California. The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation delivered final Conditions of Approval that Western Union claimed would necessitate material changes to its long-term strategy, agent relationships, and business model.
Although California had initially granted approval on February 11, 2026, the state later withdrew that approval. Western Union had already secured merger clearance in the United States and obtained approvals from 54 other states, territories, and foreign countries, including change of control filings in Spain and the United Kingdom. The company noted that California regulators did not identify any failures regarding customer access, money laundering, or fraud prevention.
Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, neither company is required to make a payment to the other as a result of the termination. Devin McGranahan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Union, stated that while the company was disappointed it could not complete the acquisition on acceptable terms, the decision was in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.
