XML 19 R8.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.21.2

Significant Accounting Policies | 9 Months Ended
--- | ---
Sep. 30, 2021
Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Significant Accounting Policies | 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 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which was filed with the SEC on March 1, 2021. The condensed consolidated financial information as of December 31, 2020, 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 published 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:
Level 1 | Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
Level 2 | Quoted prices for similar assets in an active market, quoted prices in markets that are not considered to be active or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3 | Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to fair value measurement and unobservable.
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.
|  | September 30, |  | December 31,
|  | 2021 |  | 2020
|  | (in millions)
U.S. government securities |  | $ | 3,925 |  | $ | 4,750
Securities purchased under agreements to resell 1 |  |  | 10,475 |  |  | 23,071
|  | $ | 14,400 |  | $ | 27,821
________________________ (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.
|  | September 30, |  | December 31,
|  | 2021 |  | 2020
|  | (in millions)
Equity method investments 1 |  | $ | 24 |  | $ | 11
Investments in equity securities at adjusted cost 2 |  |  | 16 |  |  | 10
Investments in equity securities at fair value 2 |  |  | 106 |  |  | 80
Investments in exchange memberships and equity securities of certain exchanges 2 |  |  | 3 |  |  | 3
|  | $ | 149 |  | $ | 104
________________________ (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 and the 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 one to twelve 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. 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, minimum activity fees, 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, futures, foreign exchange, precious metals and other derivative instruments. 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 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 Adopted During 2021
Standard |  | Summary of guidance |  | Effect on financial statements
Income Taxes (Topic 740) ‎ ‎Issued December 2019 |  | Simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic740. |  | Adopted January 1, 2021. The adoption of the changes did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountingPoliciesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122369 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SignificantAccountingPoliciesTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration