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Investments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Investments [Abstract]  
Investments

 

 

 

 

6. Investments

Trading Securities

Trading securities, which are included in financial investments, at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, were $145 million as of September 30, 2013 and $201 million as of December 31, 2012. These securities are primarily comprised of Swedish government debt securities, of which $102 million as of September 30, 2013 and $134 million as of December 31, 2012, are assets utilized to meet regulatory capital requirements primarily for our clearing operations at NASDAQ OMX Nordic Clearing.

Available-for-Sale Investment Security

Investment in DFM

Our available-for-sale investment security, which is included in financial investments, at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, represents our 1% investment in Dubai Financial Market PJSC, or DFM. The adjusted cost basis of this security was $18 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. The fair value of this investment was $45 million as of September 30, 2013 and $22 million as of December 31, 2012. The gross change between the adjusted cost basis and fair value as of September 30, 2013 of $27 million is reflected as an unrealized holding gain in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Equity Method Investments

The carrying amounts of our equity method investments totaled  $26 million as of September 30, 2013  and $13 million as of December 31, 2012 and are included in other non-current assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our equity method investments consisted primarily of our equity interests in European Multilateral Clearing Facility N.V., or EMCF, and TOM which we acquired in April 2013. See “Acquisition of Dutch Cash Equities and Equity Derivatives Trading Venue,” of Note 4, “Acquisitions and Divestiture,” for further discussion.

In July 2013, we entered into a  definitive agreement to become equal shareholders in a new combined clearinghouse to be called EuroCCP. EuroCCP is expected to combine the risk management and customer service organization of EuroCCP with the technology and operations infrastructure of EMCF. Our ownership interest will be 25%. Subject to regulatory approvals, this transaction is expected to close before the end of 2013.

Income recognized from our equity interest in the earnings and losses of these equity method investments was  $1 million for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and immaterial for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.  

In the first quarter of 2012, we recorded a non-cash, other-than-temporary impairment charge on our equity investment in EMCF of $12 million due to a decline in operations at EMCF during the three months ended March 31, 2012. This loss is included in asset impairment charges in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  

Cost Method Investment

The carrying amount of our cost method investment totaled $65 million as of September 30, 2013 and  $37 million as of December 31, 2012 and is included in other non-current assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our cost method investment represents our ownership interest in LCH Clearnet Group Limited, or LCH, which was 5% as of September 30, 2013 and 3.7% as of December 31, 2012. The increase in our ownership interest of 1.3% was the result of our participation in LCH’s capital raise in May 2013, undertaken by LCH to meet increased regulatory capital requirements. We paid $28 million in cash for this additional investment. We account for this investment as a cost method investment as we do not control and do not exercise significant influence over LCH and there is no readily determinable fair value of LCH’s shares since they are not publicly traded.