Western Union Ends Planned $500 Million Intermex Acquisition After California Conditions
Western Union said conditions attached to California’s regulatory approval would require material changes to its business model and agent relationships; neither side owes a termination payment.
DENVER — The Western Union Company terminated its agreement to acquire International Money Express, known as Intermex, on Nov. 10, 2026. Western Union said the decision followed final conditions issued by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) for its conditional approval of the transaction.
Western Union said it could not accept conditions that it believed would require material changes to its business model, agent relationships and long-term strategy. The company said it had secured approvals in 54 other jurisdictions but could not reach agreement with California. The DFPI’s conditions were intended to address consumer protection and fraud prevention, according to reporting on the matter.
The proposed transaction had been valued at approximately $500 million. Western Union said neither party is required to make a payment as a result of the termination. The acquisition will not proceed under the agreement, and the companies have not announced a replacement transaction.
The episode highlights how money-transfer combinations can depend on state-level oversight as well as federal and international clearances. For customers and agents, the immediate implication is continuity under the companies’ existing arrangements; any future changes to services, locations or ownership would require separate announcements.