Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2023 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 10-Q

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Commission File Number: 001-33440

INTERACTIVE BROKERS GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

One Pickwick Plaza

Greenwich, Connecticut 06830

(Address of principal executive office)

(203) 618-5800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 þ 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. (Check one):

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 þ

As of May 5, 2023, there were 102,993,269 shares of the issuer’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding and 100 shares of the issuer’s Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding.

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2023

Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

Three Months Ended March 31, 2023

(Unaudited)

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Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

Three Months Ended March 31, 2022

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

1.  Organization of Business

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (“IBG, Inc.”) is a Delaware holding company whose primary asset is its ownership of approximately 24.5% of the membership interests of IBG LLC, which, in turn, owns operating subsidiaries (collectively, “IBG LLC”). IBG, Inc. together with IBG LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, “the Company”), is an automated global electronic broker specializing in executing and clearing trades in stocks, options, futures, foreign exchange instruments, bonds, mutual funds exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and precious metals on more than 150 electronic exchanges and market centers around the world and offering custody, prime brokerage, securities and margin lending services to customers. In addition, our customers can use our trading platform to trade certain cryptocurrencies through a third-party cryptocurrency service provider that executes, clears and custodies the cryptocurrencies. In the United States of America (“U.S.”), the Company conducts its business primarily from its headquarters in Greenwich, Connecticut and from Chicago, Illinois. Abroad, the Company conducts its business through offices located in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland, Hungary, India, China (Hong Kong and Shanghai), Japan, Singapore, and Australia. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had 2,872 employees worldwide.

IBG LLC is a Connecticut limited liability company that conducts its business through its significant operating subsidiaries: Interactive Brokers LLC (“IB LLC”); IBKR Securities Services LLC (“IBKRSS”); Interactive Brokers Canada Inc. (“IBC”); Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited (“IBUK”); Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited (“IBIE”); IBKR Financial Services AG (“IBKRFS”); Interactive Brokers Central Europe Zrt. (“IBCE”); Interactive Brokers (India) Private Limited (“IBI”); Interactive Brokers Hong Kong Limited (“IBHK”); Interactive Brokers Securities Japan, Inc. (“IBSJ”); Interactive Brokers Singapore Private Limited ("IBSG"); and Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Limited (“IBA”).

Certain operating subsidiaries are members of various securities and commodities exchanges in North America, Europe and the Asia/Pacific region and are subject to regulatory capital and other requirements (see Note 15). IB LLC, IBKRSS, IBC, IBUK, IBIE, IBCE, IBI, IBHK, IBSJ, IBSG and IBA carry securities accounts for customers or perform custodial functions relating to customer securities.

2.  Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

These condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regarding financial reporting with respect to Form 10-Q.

These condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which was filed with the SEC on February 24, 2023. The condensed consolidated financial information as of December 31, 2022 has been derived from the audited financial statements not included herein.

These condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and reflect all adjustments of a normal and recurring nature that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the results for the periods presented. The operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the entire year.

Principles of Consolidation, including Noncontrolling Interests

These condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of IBG, Inc. and its majority and wholly-owned subsidiaries. As sole managing member of IBG LLC, IBG, Inc. exerts control over IBG LLC’s operations. In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 810, “Consolidation,” the Company consolidates IBG LLC’s financial statements and records the interests in IBG LLC that it does not own as noncontrolling interests.

The Company’s policy is to consolidate all other entities in which it owns more than 50% unless it does not have control. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in these condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates and assumptions are based on judgment and the best available information at the time. Therefore, actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Such estimates include the allowance for credit losses, valuation of certain investments, compensation accruals, current and deferred income taxes, and contingency reserves.

Fair Value

Substantially all of the Company’s assets and liabilities, including financial instruments, are carried at fair value based on observable market prices and are marked to market, or are assets and liabilities which are short-term in nature and are carried at amounts that approximate fair value.

The Company applies the fair value hierarchy in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement” (“ASC Topic 820”), to prioritize the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are:

Financial instruments owned, at fair value, and financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value are generally classified as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company’s Level 1 financial instruments, which are valued using quoted market prices as published by exchanges and clearing houses or otherwise broadly distributed in active markets, include active listed stocks, options, warrants and U.S. and foreign government securities. The Company does not adjust quoted prices for financial instruments classified as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy, even if the Company may hold a large position whereby a purchase or sale could reasonably be expected to impact quoted prices.

Currency forward contracts are valued using broadly distributed bank and broker prices and are classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy since inputs to their valuation can generally be corroborated by market data. Precious metals are valued using an internal model, which incorporates the exchange-traded futures price of the underlying instruments, benchmark interest rates and estimated storage costs, and are classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy since the significant inputs to their valuation are observable. Other securities that are not traded in active markets are also classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Level 3 financial instruments are comprised of securities that have been delisted or otherwise are no longer tradable in active markets and have been valued by the Company based on internal estimates.

Earnings per Share

Earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 260, “Earnings per Share.” Basic EPS is computed by dividing the net income available for common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for that period. Diluted EPS is calculated by dividing the net income available for common stockholders by the diluted weighted average shares outstanding for that period. Diluted EPS includes the determinants of basic EPS and, in addition, reflects the dilutive effect of shares of common stock estimated to be distributed in the future under the Company’s stock-based compensation plans, with no adjustments to net income available for common stockholders for potentially dilutive common shares.

Current Expected Credit Losses

The Company follows FASB ASC Topic 326 – “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses” (“ASC Topic 326”) which applies to financial assets measured at amortized cost, held-to-maturity debt securities and off-balance sheet credit exposures. For on-balance sheet assets, an allowance must be recognized at the origination or purchase of in-scope assets and represents the expected credit losses over the contractual life of those assets. Expected credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures must be estimated over the contractual period the Company is exposed to credit risk as a result of a present obligation to extend credit. The impact to the current period is not material since the Company’s in-scope assets are primarily subject to collateral maintenance provisions for which the Company elected to apply the practical expedient of reporting the difference between the fair value of the collateral and the amortized cost for the in-scope assets as the allowance for current expected credit losses.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of deposits with banks and all highly liquid investments, with maturities of three months or less, that are not segregated and deposited for regulatory purposes or to meet margin requirements at clearing houses and clearing banks.

Cash and Securities – Segregated for Regulatory Purposes

As a result of customer activities, certain operating subsidiaries are obligated by rules mandated by their primary regulators to segregate or set aside cash or qualified securities to satisfy such regulations, which have been promulgated to protect customer assets. Restricted cash represents cash and cash equivalents that are subject to withdrawal or usage restrictions. Cash segregated for regulatory purposes meets the definition of restricted cash and is included in “cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash” in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

The table below presents the composition of the Company’s securities segregated for regulatory purposes for the periods indicated.

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(1)These balances are collateralized by U.S. government securities.

Securities Borrowed and Securities Loaned

Securities borrowed and securities loaned are recorded at the amount of the cash collateral advanced or received. Securities borrowed transactions require the Company to provide counterparties with collateral, which may be in the form of cash, letters of credit or other securities. With respect to securities loaned, the Company receives collateral, which may be in the form of cash or other securities in an amount generally in excess of the fair value of the securities loaned. The Company monitors the market value of securities borrowed and loaned daily, with additional collateral obtained or refunded as permitted contractually. The Company’s policy is to net, in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition, securities borrowed and securities loaned contracts entered into with the same counterparty that meet the offsetting requirements prescribed in FASB ASC Topic 210-20, “Balance Sheet – Offsetting” (“ASC Topic 210-20”).

Securities lending fees received and paid by the Company are included in interest income and interest expense, respectively, in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Securities Purchased Under Agreements to Resell and Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase

Securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold under agreements to repurchase, which are reported as collateralized financing transactions, are recorded at contract value, which approximates fair value. To ensure that the fair value of the underlying collateral remains sufficient, the collateral is valued daily with additional collateral obtained or excess collateral returned, as permitted under contractual provisions. The Company’s policy is to net, in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition, securities purchased under agreements to resell transactions and securities sold under agreements to repurchase transactions entered into with the same counterparty that meet the offsetting requirements prescribed in ASC Topic 210-20.

Financial Instruments Owned and Financial Instruments Sold, But Not Yet Purchased, at Fair Value

Financial instrument transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Financial instruments owned and financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased are stated at fair value based upon quoted market prices, or if not available, are valued by the Company based on internal estimates (see Fair Value above). The Company’s financial instruments pledged to counterparties where the counterparty has the right, by contract or custom, to sell or repledge the financial instruments are reported as financial instruments owned and pledged as collateral in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

Customer Receivables and Payables

Receivables from and payables to customers include amounts due on cash and margin transactions, including futures contracts transacted on behalf of customers. Securities owned by customers, including those that collateralize margin loans or other similar transactions, are not reported in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Amounts receivable from customers that are determined by management to be uncollectible are recorded as customer bad debt expense in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Receivables from and Payables to Brokers, Dealers and Clearing Organizations

Receivables from and payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations include net receivables and payables from unsettled trades, including amounts related to futures and options on futures contracts executed on behalf of customers, amounts receivable for securities not delivered by the Company to the purchaser by the settlement date (“fails to deliver”) and cash deposits. Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations also include amounts payable for securities not received by the Company from a seller by the settlement date (“fails to receive”).

Investments

The Company makes certain strategic investments related to its business which are included in other assets in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company accounts for these investments as follows:

Under the equity method of accounting as required under FASB ASC Topic 323, “Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures.” These investments, including where the investee is a limited partnership or limited liability company, are recorded at the fair value amount of the Company’s initial investment and are adjusted each period for the Company’s share of the investee’s income or loss. Contributions paid to and distributions received from equity method investees are recorded as additions or reductions, respectively, to the respective investment balance.

At fair value, if the investment in equity securities has a readily determinable fair value.

At adjusted cost, if the investment does not have a readily determinable fair value. Adjusted cost represents the historical cost, less impairment if any. If the Company identifies observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer, the Company measures the equity security at fair value as of the date that the observable transaction occurred in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 321, “Investments in Equity Securities.”

A judgmental aspect of accounting for investments is evaluating whether a decline in the value of an investment has occurred. The evaluation of impairment is dependent on specific quantitative and qualitative factors and circumstances surrounding an investment, including recurring operating losses, credit defaults and subsequent rounds of financing. Most of the Company’s equity investments do not have readily determinable market values. All investments are reviewed for changes in circumstances or occurrence of events that suggest the Company’s investment may not be recoverable. An impairment loss, if any, is recognized in the period the determination is made.

The table below presents the composition of the Company’s investments for the periods indicated.

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(1)The Company’s share of income or losses is included in other income in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

(2)These investments do not qualify for the equity method of accounting. Dividends received are included in other income in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Property, Equipment and Intangible Assets

Property, equipment and intangible assets, which are included in other assets in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition, consist of leasehold improvements, computer equipment, software developed for the Company’s internal use, office furniture and equipment.

Property and equipment are recorded at historical cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Additions and improvements that extend the lives of assets are capitalized, while expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method. Equipment is depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets, while leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the estimated economic useful life of the asset or the term of the lease. Computer equipment is depreciated over three to five years and office furniture and equipment are depreciated over five to seven years. Intangible assets with a finite life are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of three to five years, and tested for recoverability whenever events indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Qualifying costs for internally developed software are capitalized and amortized over the expected useful life of the developed software, not to exceed three years. Upon retirement or disposition of property and equipment, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition and any resulting gain or loss is recorded in other income in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Fully depreciated (or amortized) assets are retired periodically throughout the year.

Leases

The Company reviews all relevant contracts to determine if the contract contains a lease at its inception date. A contract contains a lease if the contract conveys to the company the right to control the use of an underlying asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. If the Company determines that a contract contains a lease, it recognizes, in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition, a lease liability and a corresponding right-of-use asset on the commencement date of the lease. The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the future lease payments over the lease term using the rate implicit in the lease or, if not readily determinable, the Company’s secured incremental borrowing rate. An operating lease right-of-use asset is initially measured at the value of the lease liability minus any lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred plus any prepaid rent.

The Company’s leases are classified as operating leases and consist of real estate leases for office space, data centers and other facilities. Each lease liability is measured using the Company’s secured incremental borrowing rate, which is based on an internally developed yield curve using interest rates of third parties’ corporate debt issued with a similar risk profile as the Company and a duration similar to the lease term. The Company’s leases have remaining terms of less than one year to fourteen years, some of which include options to extend the lease term, and some of which include options to terminate the lease upon notice. The Company considers these options when determining the lease term used to calculate the right-of-use asset and the lease liability when the Company is reasonably certain it will exercise such option.

The Company’s operating leases contain both lease components and non-lease components. Non-lease components are distinct elements of a contract that are not related to securing the use of the underlying assets, such as common area maintenance and other management costs. The Company elected to measure the lease liability by combining the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component. As such, the Company includes the fixed payments and any payments that depend on a rate or index that relate to the lease and non-lease components in the measurement of the lease liability. Some of the non-lease components are variable and not based on an index or rate, and as a result, are not included in the measurement of the right-of-use asset or lease liability.

Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is included in occupancy, depreciation and amortization expense in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Crypto-assets safeguarding liability and corresponding safeguarding asset

Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121 (“SAB 121”) requires an entity to recognize a liability to reflect its obligation to safeguard the crypto-assets held for its platform users and a corresponding safeguarding asset on its balance sheet, even when the Company does not control the crypto-assets. Both the crypto-asset safeguarding liability and the corresponding safeguarding asset shall be measured at the fair value of the crypto-assets held for the platform users with the measurement of the safeguarding asset taking into account any potential loss events.

The Company operates a trading platform that allows customers of some of its affiliates to access trading in digital assets through third parties.

Eligible customers of IB LLC can enroll to access a digital asset exchange and custody services provided by a third-party Cryptocurrency Service Provider (“CSP”) to buy, sell and hold crypto-assets in an account in the customer’s name at the CSP. IB LLC does not provide execution, custody or safeguarding services for the customers’ crypto-assets and does not maintain (or have access to) the cryptographic key information and wallets necessary to access the crypto-assets, nor does IB LLC have any legal title or claim to those crypto-assets. The CSP is responsible for securing the customers’ crypto-assets and protecting them from loss or theft. The agreement the customer signs with IB LLC before the customer is permitted to access the CSP’s services through IB LLC’s platform provides that:

[Customer] acknowledges and agrees that [IB LLC] is not responsible for any trading or other losses (including, without limitation, losses due to theft, fraud, cybersecurity breach, loss of control of private keys, or any other loss arising from trading or holding digital assets with [the CSP]) resulting directly or indirectly from or in connection with [Customer’s] relationship with [the CSP] and/or [Customer’s] trading or holding of digital assets, including activity or holdings in the [CSP] Account.

Even though IB LLC is not responsible for the custody or safeguarding of crypto-assets at the CSP, its customers’ crypto-assets held at the CSP are deemed to be in scope of SAB 121.

IBHK has obtained a license from the Hong Kong Securities & Futures Commission (“SFC”) to provide virtual asset dealing services. Starting in the first quarter of 2023, eligible customers of IBHK can enroll to trade and hold crypto-assets through a relationship IBHK has established with an SFC-licensed digital asset exchange and custodian (the “Virtual Asset Exchange”). The crypto-assets are sub-custodied by the Virtual Asset Exchange on an omnibus basis for the benefit of the customers of IBHK. IBHK notifies its customers that exchange and sub-custody services are provided by a third-party Virtual Asset Exchange. IBHK does not maintain (or have access to) the cryptographic key information and wallets necessary to access the crypto-assets, nor does IBHK have any legal title or claim to those crypto-assets. The Virtual Asset Exchange is responsible for securing the customers’ crypto-assets and protecting them from loss or theft, and the SFC requires the Virtual Asset Exchange to maintain adequate controls and insurance against the risk of theft or loss of customer digital assets. The agreement the customer signs with IBHK before the customer is permitted to access digital asset trading provides that:

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Rules, [IBHK] is not liable to [Customer] for loss arising from or attributable to the insolvency of any Virtual Asset Exchange, in the event of hacking or otherwise caused by the default of the Virtual Asset Exchange, where [IBHK] has not failed to exercise reasonable care and diligence in the selection, appointment and ongoing monitoring of the Virtual Asset Exchange, except (i) such loss arising from the gross negligence, willful default or fraud of [IBHK], or (ii) to the extent prohibited under applicable Rules. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Terms, in the absence of either (a) a failure by [IBHK] to exercise reasonable care and diligence in the selection, appointment and ongoing monitoring of the Virtual Asset Exchange, or (b) gross negligence, wilful default or fraud on the part of [IBHK], [IBHK] will only be obliged to return Virtual Assets held for [Customer] with the Virtual Asset Exchange who is insolvent, or which Virtual Assets have otherwise been subjected to loss due to an event of hacking, embezzlement, or theft at the Virtual Asset Exchange or which losses are otherwise caused by the default of the Virtual Asset Exchange, solely if and to the extent that those Virtual Assets or equivalent value are recovered by [IBHK] from the Virtual Asset Exchange. Unless otherwise provided under applicable Rules, [Customer] hereby agree[s] not to bring any action against [IBHK] on any claim arising from a loss occurring at the Virtual Asset Exchange, in the absence of circumstances addressed under (a) or (b) above, so long as [IBHK] makes commercially reasonable efforts to assert a claim for recovery against the Virtual Asset Exchange.

As of March 31, 2023, the fair value of the crypto-assets held (i) in the customers’ names at the CSP and (ii) at the Virtual Asset Exchange in an omnibus account for the benefit of customers that the Company recognized on its balance sheet for both the crypto-asset safeguarding liability and the corresponding safeguarding asset, which are included in “accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities” and “other assets,” respectively, in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition, was $109 million ($80 million as of December 31, 2022), which consisted of $66 million of Bitcoin, $40 million of Ethereum and $3 million of other crypto-assets. Changes in the fair value of crypto-assets, held by our customers, do not impact our condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income unless a loss event is identified. As of March 31, 2023, neither the CSP nor the Virtual Asset Exchange identified any loss events.

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Comprehensive Income and Foreign Currency Translation

The Company’s operating results are reported in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 220, “Comprehensive Income.”

Comprehensive income consists of two components: net income and other comprehensive income (“OCI”). The Company’s OCI is comprised of gains and losses resulting from translating foreign currency financial statements of non-U.S. subsidiaries, net of related income taxes, where applicable. In general, the practice and intention of the Company is to reinvest the earnings of its non-U.S. subsidiaries in those operations; therefore, tax is usually not accrued on OCI.

The Company’s non-U.S. domiciled subsidiaries have a functional currency that is other than the U.S. dollar. Such subsidiaries’ assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates, and revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Adjustments that result from translating amounts from a subsidiary’s functional currency to the U.S. dollar (as described above) are reported net of tax, where applicable, in accumulated OCI in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

Revenue Recognition

Commissions

Commissions earned for executing and/or clearing transactions are accrued on a trade date basis and are reported as commissions in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Commissions also include payments for order flow income received from IBKR Lite^SM liquidity providers. The Company’s IBKR Lite^SM offering provides commission-free trades on U.S. exchange-listed stocks and ETFs and generates no commission revenues from customers on these trades. See Note 8 for further information on revenue from contracts with customers.

Other Fees and Services

The Company earns fee income on services provided to customers, which includes market data fees, risk exposure fees, payments for order flow from exchange-mandated programs, and other fees and services charged to customers. Fee income is recognized either daily or monthly. See Note 8 for further information on revenue from contracts with customers.

Interest Income and Expense

The Company earns interest income and incurs interest expense primarily in connection with its electronic brokerage customer business and its securities lending activities, which are recorded on an accrual basis and are included in interest income and interest expense, respectively, in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Principal Transactions

Principal transactions include gains and losses as a result of changes in the fair value of financial instruments owned, at fair value, financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value, and other investments measured at fair value (i.e., unrealized gains and losses) and realized gains and losses related to the Company’s principal transactions. Included are net gains and losses on stocks, options, U.S. and foreign government securities, municipal securities, futures, foreign exchange, precious metals and other derivative instruments, which are reported on a net basis in other income in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Dividends are integral to the valuation of stocks. Accordingly, dividend income and expense attributable to financial instruments owned, at fair value and financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value, are reported on a net basis in other income in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Foreign Currency Gains and Losses

Foreign currency balances are assets and liabilities in currencies other than the Company’s functional currency. At every reporting date, the Company revalues its foreign currency balances to its functional currency at the spot exchange rate and records the associated foreign currency gains and losses. These foreign currency gains and losses are reported in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income, as follows: (a) foreign currency gains and losses related to the Company’s currency diversification strategy are reported in other income; (b) foreign currency gains and losses arising from currency swap transactions are reported in interest income or interest expense; and (c) all other foreign currency gains and losses are reported in other income.

Rebates

Rebates consist of volume discounts, credits, or payments received from exchanges or other market centers related to the placement and/or removal of liquidity from the marketplace and are recorded on an accrual basis. Rebates are recorded net within execution, clearing and distribution fees in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Rebates received for trades executed on behalf of customers that elect tiered pricing are passed, in whole or part, to these customers, and such pass-through amounts are recorded net within commissions in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company follows FASB ASC Topic 718, “Compensation - Stock Compensation” (“ASC Topic 718”), to account for its stock-based compensation plans. ASC Topic 718 requires all share-based payments to employees to be recognized in the condensed consolidated financial statements using a fair value-based method. Grants, which are denominated in U.S. dollars, are communicated to employees in the year of the grant, thereby establishing the fair value of each grant. The fair value of awards granted to employees are generally expensed as follows: 50% in the year of grant in recognition of the plans’ post-employment provisions (as described below) and the remaining 50% over the related vesting period utilizing the “graded vesting” method permitted under ASC Topic 718. In the case of “retirement eligible” employees (those employees older than 59), 100% of awards are expensed when granted.

Awards granted under stock-based compensation plans are subject to the plans’ post-employment provisions in the event an employee ceases employment with the Company. The plans provide that employees who discontinue employment with the Company without cause and continue to meet the terms of the plans’ post-employment provisions will be eligible to earn 50% of previously granted but not yet earned awards, unless the employee is over the age of 59, in which case the employee would be eligible to receive 100% of previously granted but not yet earned awards.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC Topic 740”). The Company’s income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and reserves for unrecognized tax benefits are based on enacted tax laws (see Note 11) and reflect management’s best assessment of estimated future taxes to be paid. The Company is subject to income taxes in the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Determining income tax expense requires significant judgment and estimates.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities arise from temporary differences between the tax and financial statement recognition of underlying assets and liabilities. In evaluating the ability to recover deferred tax assets within the jurisdictions from which they arise, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies and results of recent operations. In projecting future taxable income, historical results are adjusted for changes in accounting policies and incorporate assumptions including the amount of future state, federal and foreign pre-tax operating income, the reversal of temporary differences, and the implementation of feasible and prudent tax-planning strategies. These assumptions require significant judgment about the forecasts of future taxable income and are consistent with the plans and estimates the Company is using to manage the underlying businesses. In evaluating the objective evidence that historical results provide, three years of cumulative operating income (loss) are considered. Deferred income taxes have not been provided for U.S. tax liabilities or for additional foreign taxes on the unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries that have been indefinitely reinvested.

The calculation of the Company’s tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws and regulations in a multitude of jurisdictions across the Company’s global operations. Changes in tax laws and rates could also affect recorded deferred tax assets and liabilities in the future.

The Company records tax liabilities in accordance with ASC Topic 740 and adjusts these liabilities when management’s judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information not previously available. Because of the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in payments that are different from the current estimates of these tax liabilities. These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which new information becomes available.

The Company recognizes a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, on the basis of the technical merits. A tax position that meets this standard is measured at the largest amount of benefit that will more likely than not be realized on settlement.

The Company recognizes interest related to income tax matters as interest income or interest expense and penalties related to income tax matters as income tax expense in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

FASB Standards recently adopted