Quarterlytics / Financial Services / Investment - Banking & Investment Services / Interactive Brokers Group

Interactive Brokers Group

ibkr · NASDAQ Financial Services
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Ticker ibkr
Exchange NASDAQ
Sector Financial Services
Industry Investment - Banking & Investment Services
Employees 501-1000
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FY2019 Annual Report · Interactive Brokers Group
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2019

A N N U A L

R E P O R T

A Year of Strength, 
Growth and Innovation

Interactive Brokers offers a continually-expanding set of global products and 
services on a single, technologically advanced platform, all at no to low cost.

2014   

2019   

Company  
Net Revenues

$1.0 billion

$1.9 billion

Company  
Pretax  
Margin

Brokerage  
Pretax  
Profit

49%

60%

$589 million

$1.2 billion

Equity  
Capital

$5.2 billion

$7.9 billion

Client Accounts
(Thousands)

20%
GROWTH* 

Currently in over 200  
countries and territories

Client Equity
(Billions)

25%
GROWTH* 

Total Client DARTs
(Thousands)

8%
GROWTH* 

690

598 

483 

385 

331

281

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

$174.1

$124.8

$128.4

$85.5

$67.4

$56.7

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

862

833

647

660

688

566

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

$180

$160

$140

$120

$100

$80

$60

$40

$20

$0

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

* Five-year compound annual growth rate

Minimizing Trading Costs1 With  
The Lowest Margin Rates2 and  
Industry-Leading Efficient Executions

The 
Interactive 
Brokers’  
Margin Rate 
Advantage

US Margin Loan Rates Comparison for IBKR Pro3

$25K

$300K

$1.5M

$3.5M

Interactive Brokers 4

3.08%

2.74%

2.44%

2.20%

E-Trade

Fidelity

Schwab

9.75%

8.25%

6.75%

6.75%

8.82%

7.57%

5.00%

5.00%

8.82%

7.57%

N/A

N/A

TD Ameritrade

9.75%

8.25%

N/A

N/A

Each firm's information reflects the standard online margin loan rates obtained from their respective websites. Competitor rates 
and offers subject to change without notice. Services vary by firm. Margin borrowing is only for sophisticated investors with 
high risk tolerance. You may lose more than your initial investment. For additional information regarding margin loan rates,  
see ibkr.com/interest 

1. Lower investment costs will increase your overall return on investment, but lower costs do not guarantee that your investment 
will be profitable. 

2. According to StockBrokers.com Online Broker Survey 2020: Read the full article Online Broker Reviews. For more information 
see, www.ibkr.com/awards

3. Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on USD margin loan balances for IBKR Pro as of 02/10/2020. Interactive Brokers calculates 
the interest charged on margin loans using the applicable rates for each interest rate tier listed on its website. For additional 
information on margin loan rates, see ibkr.com/interest.

4. Options and futures are risky and are not suitable for all investors. Please review "Characteristics and Risks of Standardized 
Options" and the CFTC Futures Trading Risk Disclosure. You can obtain a copy by calling 312 542-6901 before trading these 
respective products.

SmartRouting Delivers Execution 
Excellence to IBKR Pro

IB SmartRoutingSM  searches for the best prices 
available at the time of the order, and seeks to 

immediately execute the order electronically.

	■ Continuously evaluates fast-changing  

market conditions. 

	■ Dynamically re-routes all or parts of the order  

to achieve optimal execution.

For IBKR Pro clients, Interactive Brokers does not  
sell its customer order flow to high frequency 

traders. Orders go directly to an execution venue, 

including exchanges, ECNs and dark pools.

US Equities Execution Price Improvement Comparison5

Interactive Brokers

Industry

IBKR Advantage

Price Improvement
(per 100 shares)

$0.45

$0.02

$0.43

Net US Dollar Price Improvement vs. Industry Bid / Offer. Net US Dollar Improvement per Share Definition: ((# of 
Price Improved Shares * Price Improvement Amount) - (# of Price Disimproved Shares * Price Disimprovement 
Amount)) / Total Number of Executed Shares

5. According to IHS Markit, a third-party provider of transaction analysis.

Interactive Brokers’ 

US stock price 

executions were 

significantly better 

than the industry’s 
during the second 
half of 2019.5

Low cost?  
Try no cost

Unlimited, commission-free 
trading on US exchange-listed 
stocks and ETFs1

Introduced on September 26, 2019, IBKR Lite provides our award-winning 
technology for market participants to enjoy unlimited, commission-free trading 
in US exchange-listed stocks and ETFs1, plus the same low-cost access to markets 
worldwide with no account minimums and no inactivity fees2.

IBKR Lite 
Margin Loan Rate
4.08%3

Client interest benefits:

	■ Earn competitive interest on the idle cash in their accounts4 

	■ Borrow against the securities in their accounts

	■  Join the Stock Yield Enhancement Program, lend their fully 
paid stock and IBKR will share the earnings with them    

IBKR Lite clients have access to our desktop platform and 

to IBKR Mobile, our robust mobile trading app that gives the 

freedom to trade on-the-go.

See ibkr.com/lite for more details

1. The IBKR Lite pricing plan is available to the following account types: Individual, Joint, Trust and IRA. In addition, US financial advisors can offer IBKR Lite to their clients. 2. Certain orders are subject to non-commission related fees, and trades in non-exchange listed stocks or certain order types may be subject to standard commission rates. See ibkr.com/liteinfo for details.3. Rates as of 02/10/20204. Accounts with a NAV of less than USD 100,000  (or equivalent) will be paid at a rate proportional to accounts with a NAV of USD 100,000 (or equivalent) or more. The proportion is determined by the ratio of the account’s NAV to USD 100,000 (or equivalent). This does not apply to currencies with negative interest rates.  See ibkr.com/interest for details.Customer-Focused Innovation

BET, LEARN, WIN

Interactive Brokers’ 
Simulated Sports 
Betting Exchange

We introduced our simulated sports betting exchange –  
BET, LEARN, WIN – to teach the nature of trading and 
investing, and to introduce our platform to more people.

Bet, Learn, Win operates as a simulated peer-to-peer 
market where participants buy, sell and trade bets on real 

sporting events, such as football, soccer, and basketball. 

Each player will start with $1,000 in virtual currency to use 
for simulated betting.

Up to $100 of IBKR Share Credits are being offered as a 
reward to up to 1 million new clients who open Interactive 

Brokers brokerage accounts and convert up to $1,000 of 

their simulated betting virtual profits to real IBKR shares. 

See sports.ibkr.com for more details

Adding Value and Technology
Interactive Brokers continuously adds new products...

CME Group Micro E-mini Futures

Interactive Brokers participated at the open of trading in  
these futures, the most successful product launch  

in CME Group's history.

Fractional Shares

Investors can now buy and sell fractions of shares, which 
allows them to transact a specific dollar amount, as 
low as USD 1.00, of a security or ETF. Those who prefer 
to invest a certain dollar amount, and investors who are 

handling smaller amounts of money but still want to invest 

in a particular group of securities, can participate.

Mutual Fund/ETF Parser

The Parser, part of our robust PortfolioAnalystTM 

application, identifies and classifies the individual 

component stocks within mutual funds and ETFs. Clients 
can then get an accurate, granular picture of their 
overall exposure quarterly to asset classes, industry 
sectors, and individual companies. We provide access 

to over 20,000 mutual funds around the world, including 

over 8,000 with no transaction fee.

 …and new international opportunities

Access to the Moscow Exchange

Interactive Brokers clients around the world can 
now trade on the Moscow Exchange, expanding our 

global access.

Stock Yield Enhancement Program in Canada 

Our clients can now lend their fully-paid Canadian 
stock shares to earn additional yield, by enrolling 
easily online. We are the first broker to offer this 

program in Canada.

Singapore

Interactive Brokers continues to broaden its global 

presence, with the recent approval to open an office in 

Singapore which should be operational in early 2020.

Tools and Content to Learn, 
Collaborate and Get the 
Latest Market Commentary

Traders’ Academy 

Traders’ Academy continues to expand its offerings 

of online courses, webinars and short videos to help 

our clients better understand asset classes, markets 

and currencies, and how IBKR’s tools can help capture 
market opportunities. Visit ibkr.com/ibta

Traders' Insight

Our market commentary website is located at 
tradersinsight.news and conveniently integrated within 
TWS for our clients. Commentaries from ETF providers, 
asset managers, exchanges, research providers and 

IBKR analysts help to navigate gyrations in stocks, 

options, futures, forex, bonds and more.

IBKR Quant 

IBKR Quant serves quantitative professionals who 

are interested in programming, with topics ranging 

from deep learning, AI, Blockchain, and programming 

languages like R and Python. Contributors cover 

markets throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. 
Visit ibkr.com/quant

Traders’ UniversityInvest Responsibly with Environmental, 
Social and Governance Scores

As growing numbers of investors seek to invest more responsibly, Interactive Brokers 

can make Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing easier.

ESG scores from Thomson Reuters are 
now available across all of IBKR’s trading 

platforms, providing traders and investors 

with additional data for making investment 

decisions and evaluating risks on more 

than just financial factors.

ESG Controversies Score

IBKR trading platforms 
present ESG scores 
ESG Score
in an easy-to-use and 
Environmental Score
understand graphical 
Social Score
format. 

Corporate Governance Score

Interactive Advisors, our online advisory 
affiliate, introduced five socially responsible 

investing portfolios, designed to invest in 

companies that operate businesses with socially 

desirable products and services, and incorporate 

ESG factors into investment decision-making.

Interactive Advisors enables ESG investing 
at low cost, with an AUM fee of just 0.11%

ESGFinancial Strength with 
Liquidity and Capital 

Liquid Balance Sheet

99% of our balance sheet is comprised of liquid assets.

Liquid Assets

Total Assets

$61.2

$60.5

$54.7

$71.7

$54.2

$60.8

$60.2 

$71.1

$48.7

$43.4

$43.0

$48.3

S
N
O

I

L

L

I

B

$70

$60

$50

$40

$30

$20

$10

$0

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Strong Capital Base

Consolidated Equity

$7.9 billion of consolidated equity. 
Over $6 billion of capital in excess of regulatory requirements. 
No long-term debt.

S
N
O

I

L

L

I

B

$8

$7

$6

$5

$4

$3

$2

$1

$0

$7.9

$7.2

$6.4

$5.2

$5.3

$5.8

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Consistent Recognition as 
an Industry Leader

2019 Barron’s Awards1:

2019 Investopedia Awards:

Interactive Brokers was Rated #1 – Best Online Broker

Best Overall

Rated 4.5 for Best for Mobile Traders

Rated 5 for Best for International Traders

Rated 4.5 for Best for Frequent Traders

Best for Low Costs

Best for International Trading

Best for Options Trading

2019 Preqin Prime Broker Awards:

2019 ForexBrokers.com Awards:

Top 10 Prime Broker for Single-Manager Hedge Funds

Rated #1 for Professionals

Top 10 Broker for CTAs

Top 10 Prime Broker for North America

2019 Investor’s Business Daily Awards:

Rated #1 for Low Commissions and Fees

Rated #1 for Mobile Trading Platform/Apps

Rated #1 for Range of Products

Rated #1 for Website Security

1. Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

For more information, see ibkr.com/awards

2019 Streetwise Reports Awards:

Best for Research (both US and Canada)

2019 HFM Week US  
Hedge Fund Services Awards:

Best Mobile Application

2019 HFM Week European  
Hedge Fund Services Awards:

Best Prime Broker – Technology

Dear Shareholders:

February 25, 2020

As your ranks change over the years, a periodic overview of the Company may be 
helpful to understand where we have come from, where we are today and what we  
see for the future.

Forty three years ago, I started Interactive Brokers on the options trading floor of the 
American Stock Exchange with $200,000 of capital. Over that time period, with the 
exception of small losses in 1991 and 1992, when we could not quite cover overhead,  
the company has been profitable every year. Today our equity capital exceeds $8 billion, 
all from retained earnings after dividends, and our market value is $23 billion. 

As open outcry exchanges in the U.S. and worldwide began to go electronic in the 
1990s, we built our electronic brokerage platform so that we, along with our fellow floor 
traders, would be able to carry on with our trading activities.

Our initial clients were the professional traders whose trading activity was their main source of income, which necessitated 
the very best possible executions, with zero custodial charges, very low interest rates on margin loans and borrowed 
shares, and high interest rates paid on idle cash and shares lent.

Many of our clients were international arbitrageurs, so we incorporated the ability to trade and invest in products  
globally onto our platform.

Some of these clients then moved on to hedge funds and asked us to build the trading tools needed by sophisticated hedge 
funds, opening up a new client base. In addition, to distinguish ourselves from other prime brokers, we developed technology 
like online, real time displays of our loan and borrow rates for specific shares and actionable bids and offers for bonds.

Another group of clients decided to pool their resources to form proprietary trading groups, and used the sophisticated 
features created for hedge funds.

Yet another group went into the money management business by forming Investment Advisory businesses. This group needed 
different account structures, automated portfolio building, and allocation and rebalancing tools which we built for them.

All along, our strategy has been that whatever we build for one client must be available to all, at no charge. That is the 
reason why today, everyone on our platform, from large institutions to a single individual, has the ability to use all of our 
research and investment tools, from the simplest to the most complex.

While we do not provide capital introduction like our prime broker and RIA custodian competitors, we maintain that 
providing a more versatile platform, with better execution prices and lower costs, allows all of our clients to outperform their 
peers. Superior performance is the best recommendation.

As to the immediate economic outlook, I see smooth sailing ahead, though this may be interrupted by the coronavirus 
and potential election year political turbulence. Some people hate Trump, some like him and many do not know just what 
to think. The question for market observers is whether the President’s personality can be put aside to ensure that future 
economic growth, through the appointments of judges and regulators with free market convictions, can continue. 

Do voters want officials to favor more regulation and government control over their lives, or do they want less regulation 
and individual freedom? That is the question Americans will answer in November and their answer will reverberate through 
the markets all around the world.

Sincerely,

Thomas Peterffy 
Chairman

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the year ended December 31, 2019

Commission File Number: 001-33440
INTERACTIVE BROKERS GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

30-0390693
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

One Pickwick Plaza
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
(Address of principal executive office)

(203) 618-5800
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share

Trading Symbol
IBKR

Name of the exchange on which registered
The Nasdaq Global Select Market

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the securities act. Yes ☒ No □

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the act. Yes □ No ☒

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 ☒ No □

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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and
post such files). Yes ☒ No □

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller
reporting company. See the definitions of ‘‘large accelerated filer,’’ ‘‘accelerated filer’’ and ‘‘smaller reporting company’’ in Rule 12b-2 of
the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ☒ Accelerated filer □ Non-accelerated filer □ Smaller reporting company □ Emerging growth company □

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. □

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes □ No ☒

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately
$4,032,724,571 computed by reference to the $54.20 closing sale price of the common stock on the Investors Exchange LLC, on June 28,
2019, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

As of February 25, 2020, there were 76,750,794 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.

Documents Incorporated by Reference: Portions of Registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its 2020 annual meeting of shareholders
are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K.

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART I

Table of Contents

ITEM 1
ITEM 1A
ITEM 1B
ITEM 2
ITEM 3
ITEM 4

PART II

ITEM 5

ITEM 6
ITEM 7

ITEM 7A
ITEM 8
ITEM 9

ITEM 9A
ITEM 9B

PART III

ITEM 10
ITEM 11
ITEM 12

ITEM 13
ITEM 14

PART IV

Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Risk Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unresolved Staff Comments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Legal Proceedings and Regulatory Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mine Safety Disclosures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer

Purchases of Equity Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Selected Financial Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of

Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial

Disclosure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Controls and Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Executive Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related

Stockholder Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons . . . . . . . .
Principal Accountant Fees and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1

2
18
27
28
28
30

31
33

35
60
65

111
111
113

113
113

113
113
113

ITEM 15
ITEMS 15 (a)(1)
and 15 (a)(2)

ITEM 16
SIGNATURES

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

114

Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10-K Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

116
116

i

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

We have included or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and from time to time our
management may make statements that may constitute ‘‘forward-looking statements’’ within the meaning of the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are
not historical facts, but instead represent only our beliefs regarding future events, many of which, by their nature,
are inherently uncertain and outside our control. These statements include statements other than historical
information or statements of current condition and may relate to our future plans and objectives and results,
among other things, and may also include our belief regarding the effect of various legal proceedings, as set forth
under ‘‘Legal Proceedings and Regulatory Matters’’ in Part I, Item 3 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as
well as statements about the objectives and effectiveness of our liquidity policies, statements about trends in or
growth opportunities for our businesses, included in ‘‘Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations’’ in Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. By identifying
these statements for you in this manner, we are alerting you to the possibility that our actual results may differ,
possibly materially, from the anticipated results indicated in these forward-looking statements. Important factors
that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, those
discussed below and under ‘‘Risk Factors’’ in Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and
‘‘Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations’’ in Part II, Item 7 of
this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, expressed or implied, in these
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

general economic conditions in the markets where we operate;

increased industry competition and downward pressures on electronic brokerage commissions and on
bid/offer spreads in the remaining market making business we operate;

risks inherent to the electronic brokerage and market making businesses;

implied versus actual price volatility levels of the products in which we continue to make markets;

the general level of interest rates;

failure to protect or enforce our intellectual property rights in our proprietary technology;

our ability to keep up with rapid technological change;

system failures, cyber security threats and other disruptions;

non-performance of third-party vendors;

conflicts of interest and other risks due to our ownership and holding company structure;

the loss of key executives and failure to recruit and retain qualified personnel;

the risks associated with the expansion of our business;

our possible inability to integrate any businesses we acquire;

the impact of accounting standards issued but not yet adopted;

compliance with laws and regulations, including those relating to the securities industry; and

other factors discussed under ‘‘Risk Factors’’ in Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or
elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances that may arise after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

1

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Overview

PART I

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (‘‘IBG, Inc.’’ or the ‘‘Company’’) is an automated global electronic broker and
market maker (although, we have substantially exited the options market making business - see Note 2 -
Discontinued Operations and Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities to the audited consolidated
financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K). We custody and service accounts for
hedge and mutual funds, registered investment advisors, proprietary trading groups, introducing brokers and
individual investors. We specialize in routing orders while striving to achieve best executions and processing
trades in stocks, options, futures, foreign exchange instruments (‘‘forex’’), bonds, mutual funds and exchange
traded funds (‘‘ETFs’’) on more than 135 electronic exchanges and market centers around the world. In the
United States of America (‘‘U.S.’’), we conduct our business primarily from our headquarters in Greenwich,
Connecticut, and from Chicago, Illinois. Abroad, we conduct our business through offices located in Canada, the
United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Switzerland, India, China (Hong Kong and Shanghai), Japan, and Australia. As of
December 31, 2019, we had 1,643 employees worldwide.

IBG, Inc. is a holding company whose primary asset is the ownership of approximately 18.5% of the
membership interests of IBG LLC (the ‘‘Group’’), the current holding company for our businesses. IBG, Inc. is
the sole managing member of IBG LLC.

When we use the terms ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our,’’ we mean IBG, Inc. and its subsidiaries (including IBG LLC).
Unless otherwise indicated, the terms ‘‘common stock’’ and ‘‘IBKR shares’’ refer to the Class A common stock
of IBG, Inc.

We are a successor to the market making business founded by our Chairman, Mr. Thomas Peterffy, on the floor
of the American Stock Exchange in 1977. Since our inception, we have focused on developing proprietary
software to automate broker-dealer functions. During that time, we have been a pioneer in developing and
applying technology as a financial intermediary to increase liquidity and transparency in the capital markets in
which we operate. The proliferation of electronic exchanges since the early 1990s has provided us with the
opportunity to integrate our software with an increasing number of exchanges and market centers to create one
automatically functioning, computerized platform that requires minimal human intervention. Over four decades of
developing our automated trading platforms and our automation of many middle and back office functions have
allowed us to become one of the lowest cost providers of broker-dealer services and significantly increase the
volume of trades we handle.

Our activities are divided into two principal business segments: electronic brokerage and market making (being
discontinued). For a description of these segments and the products and services they provide, refer to ‘‘Business
Segments’’ below in this Item 1.

Our internet address is www.interactivebrokers.com and the investor relations section of our website is located at
www.interactivebrokers.com/ir. We make available free of charge, on or through the investor relations section of
our website, this Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K
and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as well as proxy statements, registration statements, prospectus supplements, and Section 16 filings
for our directors and officers, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or
furnish it to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’). The SEC maintains an internet site,
www.sec.gov, that contains annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy and information statements and other
information that issuers file electronically with the SEC. Our electronic SEC filings are made available to the
public on the SEC’s internet site. In addition, posted on our website are our Bylaws, our Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, charters for the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee of our board of directors, our Accounting Matters Complaint Policy, our
Whistle Blower Hotline, our Corporate Governance Guidelines and our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
governing our directors, officers and employees. Within the time periods required by SEC and the Nasdaq Stock
Market LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’), we will post on our website any amendment to the Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics and any waiver applicable to any executive officer, director or senior financial officer. In addition, our
website includes information concerning purchases and sales of our equity securities by our executive officers
and directors, as well as disclosure relating to certain non-GAAP financial measures, if any, (as defined in

2

Regulation G) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘‘Securities Act’’) and the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the ‘‘Exchange Act’’) that we may make public orally,
telephonically, by webcast, by broadcast or by similar means from time to time.

Our Investor Relations Department can be contacted at Interactive Brokers Group, Inc., Two Pickwick Plaza,
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830, Attn: Investor Relations, telephone: 203-618-4070, e-mail:
investor-relations@interactivebrokers.com.

Our Organizational Structure and Overview of Recapitalization Transactions

The graphic below illustrates our current ownership structure and reflects current ownership percentages. The
graphic below does not display the subsidiaries of IBG LLC.

Public  Stockholders

IBG  Holdings  LLC  Members

kcots nommoc A ssalC fo renwo %0.001•
Approximately 18.5% voting interest in IBG, Inc.
•
.cnI ,GBI ni tseretni cimonoce %001 yletamixorppA•

gnitov elos eht sa ,yffreteP samohT .rM yb dellortnoC•

member and sole managing member

yletamixorppa nwo setailiffa sih dna yffreteP samohT .rM•

89.6% of the membership interests

IBG  Holdings  LLC

• 100% owner of Class B common stock
(representing approximately 81.5%
voting interest in IBG, Inc.)

• Approximately 81.5% of membership interests

Interactive  Brokers 
Group,  Inc.  (IBG,  Inc.) 
Public company 
(Nasdaq: IBKR)

• Sole managing member
• Approximately 18.5% of membership interests

IBG  LLC

Operating  Subsidiaries of IBG  LLC

(1)

In connection with redemption transactions in 2018, as of December 31, 2019, IBG Holdings LLC held for
sale for the benefit of certain of its members 869,135 shares of IBG, Inc. Class A common stock,
representing an additional 0.21% of the voting interests in IBG, Inc.

Our primary assets are our ownership of approximately 18.5% of the membership interests of IBG LLC, the
current holding company for our businesses, and our controlling interest and related contractual rights as the sole
managing member of IBG LLC. The remaining approximately 81.5% of IBG LLC membership interests are held
by IBG Holdings LLC (‘‘Holdings’’), a holding company that is owned directly and indirectly by our founder

3

and Chairman, Mr. Thomas Peterffy and his affiliates, management and other employees of IBG LLC, and
certain other members. The IBG LLC membership interests held by Holdings will be subject to purchase by us
over time in connection with offerings by us of shares of our common stock.

The table below presents the amount of IBG LLC membership interests held by IBG, Inc. and Holdings as of
December 31, 2019.

Ownership % . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Membership interests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

18.5%

81.5%

100.0%

76,759,595

338,670,642

415,430,237

IBG, Inc.

Holdings

Total

Purchases of IBG LLC membership interests, held by Holdings, by the Company are governed by the exchange
agreement among us, IBG LLC, Holdings and the historical members of IBG LLC, (the ‘‘Exchange
Agreement’’), a copy of which was filed as an exhibit to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 2009 and filed with the SEC on November 9, 2009. The Exchange Agreement, as amended
June 6, 2012, provides that the Company may facilitate the redemption by Holdings of interests held by its
members through the issuance of shares of common stock through a public offering in exchange for the interests
in IBG LLC being redeemed by Holdings. Periodically since June 2011, with the consent of Holdings and the
Company (on its own behalf and acting as the sole managing member of IBG LLC), IBG LLC has agreed to
redeem certain membership interests from Holdings through the sale of common stock and to distribute the
proceeds of such sale to the beneficial owners of such membership interests. From 2011 through 2019, the
Company issued 15,417,157 shares of common stock (with a fair value of $506 million) to Holdings in exchange
for an equivalent number of shares of member interests in IBG LLC.

Business Segments

Electronic Brokerage

Electronic brokerage represented 97% of net revenues and 98% of income before income taxes from electronic
brokerage and market making combined during 2019. As an electronic broker, we execute, clear and settle trades
globally for both institutional and individual customers. Capitalizing on our proprietary technology originally
developed for our market making business, our systems provide our customers with the capability to monitor
multiple markets around the world simultaneously and to execute trades electronically in these markets at a low
cost in multiple products and currencies from a single trading account.

Since launching this business in 1993, we have grown to approximately 690 thousand institutional and individual
brokerage customers. We provide our customers with what we believe to be one of the most effective and
efficient electronic brokerage platforms in the industry, which includes advanced order management, trade
execution and portfolio management. Our brokerage system features unique architectural aspects that may impose
a significant barrier to entry for firms wishing to compete in this business and permit us to compete favorably
against our competitors.

We are able to provide our customers with high-speed trade execution at low commission rates, in large part
because of our proprietary technology. As a result of our advanced electronic brokerage platform, we attract
sophisticated and active investors. No single customer represented more than 1% of our commissions in 2019.

Our key product offerings include:

•

•

IBKR ProSM is the traditional IBKR service designed for sophisticated investors. IBKR ProSM offers the
lowest cost access to stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs on over 135
electronic exchanges and market centers in 33 countries.

IBKR LiteSM is a new offering that provides unlimited commission-free trades on U.S. exchange-listed
stocks and ETFs as well as low cost access to global markets without required account minimums or
inactivity fees to participating U.S. customers. IBKR LiteSM was designed to meet the needs of
investors who are seeking a simple, commission-free way to trade U.S. exchange-listed stocks and
ETFs and do not wish to consider our efforts to obtain greater price improvement through our IB
SmartRoutingSM system.

4

•

•

•

•

IBKR Integrated Investment Account - From a single point of entry in one IBKR Integrated Investment
Account our customers are able to transact in 25 currencies, across multiple classes of tradable,
primarily exchange-listed products traded on more than 135 electronic exchanges and market centers in
33 countries around the world seamlessly. Our offering features a suite of cash management services,
including:

•

•

•

Interactive Brokers Debit Mastercard® - Interactive Brokers Debit Mastercard® allows customers
to spend and borrow directly against their account at lower rates than credit cards, personal loans
and home equity lines of credit, with no monthly minimum payments and no late fees. Customers
can use their card to make purchases and ATM withdrawals anywhere Debit Mastercard®1 is
accepted around the world.

Bill Pay – Our Bill Pay program allows customers to make electronic or check payments to almost
any company or individual in the U.S. It can be configured for one-time or recurring payments
and permits customers to schedule future payments.

Direct Deposit – Our Direct Deposit program allows customers to automatically deposit
paychecks, pension distributions and other recurring payments to their (non-retirement) brokerage
account with us.

Insured Bank Deposit Sweep Program - Our Insured Bank Deposit Sweep Program provides eligible
customers with up to $2,500,000 of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (‘‘FDIC’’) insurance on
their eligible cash balances in addition to the existing $250,000 Securities Investor Protection
Corporation (‘‘SIPC’’) coverage for total coverage of $2,750,000. Customers continue earning the same
competitive interest rates currently applied to cash held in their brokerage accounts with us. We sweep
each participating customer’s eligible cash balances daily to one or more banks, up to $246,500 per
bank, allowing for the accrual of interest and keeping within the FDIC protected threshold. Cash
balances above $2,750,000 remain subject to safeguarding under the SEC’s Customer Protection Rule
15c3-3.

Investors’ MarketplaceSM - The Investors’ MarketplaceSM is an expansion of our Money Manager
Marketplace and our Hedge Fund Capital Introduction program. This program is the first electronic
meeting place that brings together individual investors, financial advisors, money managers, fund
managers, research analysts, technology providers, business developers and administrators, allowing
them to interact to form connections and conduct business.

Fractional Trading – Fractional Trading allows customers to buy and sell using a cash quantity or
fractional shares, which are stock units that amount to less than one full share. This new functionality
allows customers to purchase as little as $1 of almost any U.S. stock, experiment with trading and
investing without committing substantial sums of money, and learn about building and rebalancing
diversified portfolios.

For all customers, our platform offers:

•

•

Low Costs - We provide our customers with among the industry’s lowest overall transaction costs in
two ways. First, we offer among the lowest execution, commission and financing costs in the industry.
Second, our IBKR ProSM customers benefit from our advanced routing of orders designed to achieve
the best available trade price.

IB SmartRoutingSM – IB SmartRoutingSM retains control of the customer’s order, continuously searches
for the best available price and, unlike most other routers, dynamically routes and re-routes all or parts
of a customer’s order to achieve optimal execution and among the lowest execution and commission
costs in the industry. To highlight the quality of our price executions, we publish on our website
independent measurements performed by a third-party provider of transaction analysis to illustrate our
net price improvement for commissionable trades versus the industry. We also offer Transaction Cost

1 Debit Mastercard is a trademark registered to Mastercard International Incorporated Corporation, Delaware,

2000 Purchase Street, Purchase, New York 10577-2405.

5

Analysis reporting to allow customers to track execution performance using multiple criteria. Our IBKR
ProSM customers benefit from our advanced order routing technology for all trades, while our IBKR
LiteSM customers benefit from this technology for their trades in products not eligible for IBKR LiteSM.

Automated Risk Controls - Throughout the trading day, we calculate margin requirements for each of
our customers on a real-time basis across all product classes and across all currencies. Our customers
are alerted to approaching margin violations and if a customer’s equity falls below what is required to
support that customer’s margin, we attempt to automatically liquidate positions on a real-time basis to
bring the customer’s account into margin compliance. This is done to protect us, as well as the
customer, from excessive losses.

Flexible and Customizable System - Our platform is designed to provide an efficient customer
experience, beginning with a highly automated account opening process and ending with a fast trade
execution and reporting. Our sophisticated interface provides interactive real-time views of account
balances, positions, profits or losses, buying power and ‘‘what-if’’ scenarios to enable our customers to
more easily make informed investment decisions and trade effectively. Our system is configured to
remember the user’s preferences and is specifically designed for multi-screen systems. When away
from their main workstations, customers are able to access their accounts through our IB WebTraderSM
or MobileTraderSM interfaces for a seamless experience.

Securities Financing Services - We offer a suite of automated Stock Borrow and Lending tools,
including our depth of availability, transparent rates, global reach and dedicated service representatives.
Our Stock Yield Enhancement Program allows our customers to lend their fully-paid stock shares to us
in exchange for cash collateral. In turn, we lend these stocks in exchange for collateral and earn stock
lending fees. We pay our customers a rebate on the cash collateral generally equal to 50% of the
income we earn from lending the shares. This allows customers holding fully-paid long stock positions
to enhance their returns.

Trade Desk - We offer broker-assisted trading through our block trade desk, which is ideal when
customers are away from their computer; and through our corporate bond desk, for times when large
customer orders need access to more liquidity than is currently available electronically.

•

•

•

•

New promotional offerings this year included:

•

•

BET, LEARN, WIN Promotion – During 2019 we launched our simulated sports betting exchange
(‘‘Simulated Exchange’’) that operates as a simulated peer-to-peer market where participants can buy,
sell and trade simulated bets on real sporting events. As part of the launch, we are offering the first
2.2 million participants who open a Simulated Exchange account $1,000 in virtual currency for trading
these contracts. Winnings in Simulated Exchange accounts may be converted, by eligible participants,
into up to $100 worth of IBKR shares, on a one-time basis, upon opening of a brokerage account with
us. This promotion is intended to teach participants about the probabilistic nature of markets, trading
and investing and to introduce new customers to our brokerage platform. The promotion is scheduled to
end on December 31, 2020 or when all awards are distributed, whichever occurs first.

IBKR Welcome Shares Program – We offer ‘‘Welcome Shares’’ of up to $1,000 in IBKR to friends of
our satisfied customers. We invite certain customers to refer their friends to open a new account, and
those customers will be eligible to receive $1 worth of IBKR shares (capped at $1,000) for each $100
of net deposits into their account during the first year. Our customers making the referral are not
eligible to receive any IBKR shares or other monetary benefit under this program.

Analytical offerings on our platform include:

•

IB Risk NavigatorSM - We offer free to all customers our real-time market risk management platform
that unifies exposure across multiple asset classes around the globe. The system is capable of
identifying overexposure to risk by starting at the portfolio level and drilling down into successively
greater detail within multiple report views. Report data is updated every ten seconds or upon changes
to portfolio composition. Predefined reports allow the summarization of a portfolio from different risk

6

•

•

perspectives, and allow views of Exposure, Value at Risk (‘‘VaR’’), Delta, Gamma, Vega and Theta,
profit and loss and position quantity measures for the different portfolio views. The system also offers
the customer the ability to modify positions through ‘‘what-if’’ scenarios that show hypothetical
changes to the risk summary.

PortfolioAnalyst – Our PortfolioAnalyst reporting tool is designed to allow customers to evaluate the
performance of their portfolio by creating and saving reports based on a set of measurement criteria
and optionally comparing their data to selected industry benchmarks.

Portfolio Builder - Portfolio Builder allows our customers to set up an investment strategy based on
research and rankings from top buy-side providers and fundamental data; use filters to define the
universe of equities that will comprise their strategy and back-test their strategy using up to three years
of historical performance; work in hypothetical mode to adjust the strategy until the historical
performance meets their standards; and with the click of a button let the system create the orders to
invest in a strategy and track its performance in their portfolio.

• Mutual Fund/ETF Parser - The Parser categorizes the individual component stocks within mutual funds
and ETFs. Customers can get an accurate, granular picture of their overall exposure to asset classes,
industry sectors and companies.

•

•

Interactive AnalyticsSM and IB Option AnalyticsSM - We offer our customers state-of-the-art tools,
which include a customizable trading platform, advanced analytic tools and over 100 sophisticated
order types and algorithms. We also provide a real-time option analytics window which displays values
that reflect the rate of change of an option’s price with respect to a unit change in each of a number of
risk dimensions.

Probability Lab® (Patent Pending) - The Probability Lab® provides customers with an intuitive, visual
method to analyze market participants’ future stock price forecasts based on current option prices.
This tool compares a customer’s stock price forecast versus that of the market, and scans the entire
option universe for the highest Sharpe ratio multi-leg option strategies that take advantage of the
customer’s forecast.

We cater to various customer groups with specific service needs.

For advisors, we offer:

•

Greenwich Compliance – Greenwich Advisor Compliance Services (‘‘Greenwich Compliance’’) offers
direct expert registration and start-up compliance services, as well as answers to basic day-to-day
compliance questions for experienced investors and traders looking to start their own investment
advisor firms. Greenwich Compliance professionals have regulatory and industry experience, and can
help investment advisors trading on our brokerage platform meet their registration and compliance
needs.

• Model Portfolios - Model Portfolios offer advisors an efficient and time-saving approach to investing
customer assets. They allow advisors to create groupings of financial instruments based on specific
investment themes, and then invest customer funds into these models.

•

IBKR Client Risk Profile - IBKR Client Risk Profile is designed to help advisors determine the most
suitable investments for their customers, based on each customer’s risk tolerance. This information is
collected through a custom-designed questionnaire. Advisors can view the scores through the Advisor
Portal and create custom pre-trade allocation groups and profiles in TWS to place orders and allocate
trades for customers with similar risk profiles.

For introducing brokers and advisors, we offer:

• White Branding - Our large financial advisor and broker-dealer customers may ‘‘white brand’’ our

trading interface, account management and reports with their firm’s identity. Broker-dealer customers
can also select from among our modular functionalities, such as order routing, trade reporting or
clearing, on specific products or exchanges where they may not have up-to-date technology, in order to
offer to their customers a complete global range of services and products.

7

For customers looking for online advisory services, we offer:

•

Interactive Advisors (formerly known as IBKR Asset Management) – Interactive Advisors recruits
registered financial advisors, vets them, analyzes their investment track records, and groups them by
their risk profile. Retail investors who are interested in having their individual accounts robo-traded are
grouped by their risk and return preferences. Retail investors can assign their accounts to be traded by
one or more advisors. Interactive Advisors also offers our customers Smart Beta Portfolios which
combine the benefits of actively managed fund stock selection techniques with passive ETFs low cost
automation to provide broad market exposure and potentially higher returns, as well as Socially
Responsible Investing.

Market Making

Market making represented 3% of net revenues from electronic brokerage and market making combined during
2019. As previously announced, we transferred our U.S. options market making operations to Two Sigma
Securities, LLC effective September 29, 2017 and also exited the majority of our options market making
activities outside the U.S. by December 31, 2017. During 2019, we discontinued our market making activities in
Canada. We intend to continue conducting certain proprietary trading activities in stocks and related instruments
to facilitate our electronic brokerage customers’ trading in products such as ETFs, ADRs, CFDs and other
financial instruments, as well as exchange-traded market making activities in a few select markets outside of the
U.S. However, we do not expect the facilitation activity to be of sufficient size as to require reporting as a
separate segment in the near future.

As a market maker, we provide liquidity by offering competitively tight bid/offer spreads over a broad base of
tradable, exchange-listed products, including equity derivative products, equity index derivative products, equity
securities and futures. As principal, we commit our own capital and derive revenues or incur losses from the
difference between the price paid when securities are bought and the price received when those securities are
sold. Historically, our profits have been principally a function of transaction volume and price volatility of
electronic exchange-traded products rather than the direction of price movements. Other factors, including the
ratio of actual to implied volatility and shifts in foreign currency exchange rates, can also have a meaningful
impact on our results, as described further in ‘‘Business Environment’’ in Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report
on Form 10-K.

Our strategy is to calculate quotes at which supply and demand for a particular security are likely to be in
balance a few seconds ahead of the market and execute small trades at tiny but favorable differentials.
Because we provide continuous bid and offer quotations and we are continuously both buying and selling quoted
securities, we may have either a long or a short position in a particular product at a given point in time. As a
matter of practice, we will generally not take portfolio positions in either the broad market or the financial
instruments of specific issuers in anticipation that prices will either rise or fall. Our entire portfolio is evaluated
many times per second and continuously rebalanced throughout the trading day, thus minimizing the risk of our
portfolio at all times. This real-time rebalancing of our portfolio, together with our real-time proprietary risk
management system, enables us to curtail risk and trade efficiently. Our quotes are based on our proprietary
model rather than customer order flow.

As of December 31, 2019, we continued to conduct market making operations in India through our subsidiary,
Interactive Brokers (India) Private Limited (‘‘IBI’’), which is a member of the National Stock Exchange of India
Ltd. and the Bombay Stock Exchange; and in Hong Kong through our subsidiary, Interactive Brokers Hong
Kong Limited (‘‘IBHK’’), a member of the cash and derivatives markets of the Hong Kong Exchange. All other
options market making operations we previously conducted were discontinued. We expect to continue assessing
whether and when to discontinue the remaining operations.

The above trading activities take place on exchanges, and all securities and commodities that we trade are
cleared by exchange owned or authorized clearing houses.

Technology

Our proprietary technology is the key to our success. We believe that integrating our system with electronic
exchanges and market centers worldwide results in transparency, liquidity and efficiencies of scale. Together with
the IB SmartRoutingSM system and our low execution costs, this approach reduces overall transaction costs to

8

our customers and, in turn, increases our transaction volume and profits. Over the past 40 years, we have
developed an integrated trading system and communications network and have positioned our company as an
efficient conduit for the global flow of risk capital across asset and product classes on electronic exchanges
around the world, permitting us to have one of the lowest cost structures in the industry. We believe that
developing, maintaining and continuing to enhance our proprietary technology provides us and our customers
with the competitive advantage of being able to adapt quickly to the changing environment of our industry and
to take advantage of opportunities presented by new exchanges, products or regulatory changes before our
competitors.

Our proprietary technology infrastructure enables us to provide our customers with the ability to execute trades at
among the lowest execution costs in the industry for comparable services. Customer trades are both automatically
captured and reported in real time in our system. Our customers trade on more than 135 electronic exchanges
and market centers in 33 countries around the world. These exchanges and market centers are all partially or
fully electronic, meaning that a customer can buy or sell a product traded on that exchange via an electronic link
from his or her computer terminal or mobile device through our system to the exchange. We offer our products
and services through a global communications network that is designed to provide secure, reliable and timely
access to the most current market information. We provide our customers with a variety of means to connect to
our brokerage systems, including cross connects, dedicated point-to-point data lines, extranets, virtual private
networks and the Internet.

Specifically, our customers receive worldwide electronic access through our Trader Workstation (our real-time
Java-based trading platform), our proprietary Application Programming Interface (‘‘API’’), our IBKR Mobile app,
our browser-based IB WebTraderSM, our customer-portal-based Quick Trade or industry standard Financial
Information Exchange (‘‘FIX’’) connectivity. Customers who want a professional quality trading application with
a sophisticated user interface utilize our Trader Workstation, which can be accessed through a desktop or variety
of mobile devices. Customers interested in developing program trading applications in Python, Java, C++, .NET
(C#), ActiveX and Excel technologies utilize our API. Large institutions with FIX infrastructure prefer to use our
FIX solution for seamless integration of their existing order gathering and reporting applications.

While many brokerages, including some online brokerages, rely on manual procedures to execute many
day-to-day functions, we employ proprietary technology to automate, or otherwise facilitate, many of the
following functions:

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

account opening process;

order routing and best execution;

seamless trading across all types of securities and currencies around the world from one account;

order types and analytical tools offered to customers;

delivery of customer information, such as confirmations, customizable real-time account statements and
audit trails;

compliance;

customer service; and

risk management through automated real-time credit management of all new orders and margin
monitoring.

Research and Development

One of our core strengths is our expertise in the rapid development and deployment of automated technology for
the financial markets. Our core software technology is developed internally, and we do not generally rely on
outside vendors for software development or maintenance. To achieve optimal performance from our systems, we
are continuously rewriting and upgrading our software. Use of the best available technology not only improves
our performance but also helps us attract and retain talented developers. Our software development costs are
relatively low because the employees who oversee the development of the software are often the same employees
who design the application, evaluate its performance, and participate along with our quality assurance
professionals in our robust quality assurance testing procedures. The involvement of our developers in each of
these processes enables us to add features and further refine our software rapidly.

9

Our internally-developed, fully integrated trading and risk management systems are unique and transact across all
product classes on more than 135 electronic exchanges and market centers and in 25 currencies around the world.
These systems have the flexibility to assimilate new exchanges and new product classes without compromising
transaction speed or fault tolerance. Fault tolerance, or the ability to maintain system performance despite exchange
malfunctions or hardware failures, is crucial to ensuring best executions for our customers. Our systems are designed
to detect exchange malfunctions and quickly take corrective actions by re-routing pending orders when possible.

Our company is technology-focused, and our management team is hands-on and technology-savvy. Most members of
the management team write detailed program specifications for new applications. The development queue is prioritized
and highly disciplined. Progress on programming initiatives is generally tracked on a bi-weekly basis by a steering
committee consisting of senior executives. This enables us to prioritize key initiatives and achieve rapid results.
All new business starts as a software development project. We generally do not engage in any business that we cannot
automate and incorporate into our platform prior to entering into the business.

The rapid software development and deployment cycle is achieved by our ability to leverage a highly integrated,
object-oriented development environment. The software code is modular, with each object providing a specific
function and being reusable in multiple applications. New software releases are tracked and tested with proprietary
automated testing tools. We are not hindered by disparate and often limiting legacy systems assembled through
acquisitions. Virtually all of our software has been developed and maintained with a unified purpose.

For over 40 years, we have built and continuously refined our automated and integrated, real-time systems for
world-wide trading, risk management, clearing and cash management, among others. We have also assembled a
proprietary connectivity network between us and exchanges around the world. Efficiency and speed in
performing prescribed functions are always crucial requirements for our systems. As a result, our systems are
able to assimilate market data, disseminate market prices to customers and update risk management information
in real time, across tradable products in all available product classes.

Risk Management Activities

The core of our risk management philosophy is the utilization of our fully integrated computer systems to
perform critical risk-management activities on a real-time basis. In our electronic brokerage business, integrated
risk management seeks to ensure that each customer’s positions are continuously credit checked and brought into
compliance if equity falls short of margin requirements, curtailing bad debt losses. In our market making
business, our real-time integrated risk management system seeks to ensure that our overall positions are
continuously hedged at all times, curtailing risk.

We actively manage our global currency exposure on a continuous basis by maintaining our equity in a basket of
currencies we call the GLOBAL. We define the GLOBAL as consisting of fractions of a U.S. dollar, Euro,
Japanese yen, British pound, Swiss franc, Hong Kong dollar, Indian rupee, Canadian dollar, Chinese renminbi,
Australian dollar, Mexican peso, Swedish krona, Norwegian krone, and Danish krone. We currently transact
business and are required to manage balances in each of these 14 currencies. The currencies comprising the
GLOBAL and their relative proportions can change over time. Additional information regarding our currency
diversification strategy is set forth in ‘‘Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk’’ in Part II,
Item 7A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Electronic Brokerage

We calculate margin requirements for each of our customers on a real-time basis across all product classes
(stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs) and across all currencies. Recognizing that our
customers are experienced investors, we expect our customers to manage their positions proactively and we
provide tools to facilitate our customers’ position management. However, if a customer’s equity falls below what
is required to support that customer’s margin, we will automatically liquidate positions on a real-time basis to
bring the customer’s account into margin compliance. We do this to protect us, as well as the customer, from
excessive losses. These systems further contribute to our low-cost structure. The entire credit management
process is completely automated.

10

As a safeguard, all liquidations are displayed on custom built liquidation monitoring screens that are part of the
toolset our technical staff uses to monitor performance of our systems at all times the markets around the world
are open. In the event our systems absorb erroneous market data from exchanges, which prompts liquidations,
risk specialists on our technical staff have the capability to halt liquidations that meet specific criteria.
The liquidation halt function is highly restricted.

Our customer interface includes color coding on the account screen and pop-up warning messages to notify customers
that they are approaching their margin limits. This feature allows customers to take action, such as entering margin
reducing trades, to avoid having us liquidate their positions. These tools and real-time margining aid our customers in
understanding their trading risk at any moment of the day and help us maintain low commissions.

Market Making

We employ certain hedging and risk management techniques to protect us from a severe market dislocation.
Our risk management policies are developed and implemented by our Chairman and our steering committee,
which is comprised of senior executives of our various operating subsidiaries. Our strategy is to calculate quotes
a few seconds ahead of the market and execute small trades at a tiny but favorable differential as a result.
This strategy is made possible by our proprietary pricing model, which evaluates and monitors the risks inherent
in our portfolio, assimilates market data and reevaluates the outstanding quotes in our portfolio many times per
second. Our model automatically rebalances our positions throughout each trading day to manage risk exposures
both on our options and futures positions and on underlying securities, and it will price the increased risk that a
position would add to the overall portfolio into the bid and offer prices we post. Under risk management policies
implemented and monitored primarily through our computer systems, reports to management, including risk
profiles, profit and loss analysis and trading performance, are prepared on a real-time basis as well as daily and
periodical bases. Although our market making is completely automated, the trading process and our risk are
monitored by a team of individuals who, in real-time, observe various risk parameters of our consolidated
positions. Our assets and liabilities are marked-to-market daily for financial reporting purposes and re-valued
continuously throughout the trading day for risk management and asset/liability management purposes.

Operational Controls

We have automated the full cycle of controls surrounding our businesses. Key automated controls include the
following:

•

•

•

•

•

Our technical operations team continuously monitors our network and the proper functioning of each of
our nodes (exchanges and market centers, internet service providers (‘‘ISPs’’), leased customer lines
and our own data centers) around the world.

Our real-time credit manager software provides pre and post-execution controls by:

•

•

testing every customer order to ensure that the customer’s account holds enough equity to support
the execution of the order, rejecting the order if equity is insufficient or directing the order to an
execution destination without delay if equity is sufficient; and

continuously updating a customer account’s equity and margin requirements and, if the account’s
equity falls below its minimum margin requirements, automatically issuing liquidating orders in a
smart sequence designed to minimize the impact on the account’s equity.

Our clearing system captures trades in real-time and performs automated reconciliation of trades and
positions, corporate action processing, customer account transfer, options exercise, securities lending
and inventory management, allowing us to effectively manage operational risk.

Our accounting system operates with automated data feeds from clearing and banking systems,
allowing us to produce financial statements for all parts of our business every day by mid-day on the
day following trade date.

Software developed to interface with the accounting and market making systems performs daily profit
and loss reconciliations, which provide tight financial controls over market making functions.

11

•

Our market making system continuously evaluates securities and futures products in which we provide
bid and offer quotes and changes our bids and offers in such a way as to maintain an overall hedge and
a low-risk profile. The speed of communicating with exchanges and market centers is maximized
through continuous software and network engineering maintenance, thereby allowing us to achieve
real-time controls over market exposure.

Transaction Processing
Our transaction processing is automated over the full life cycle of a trade. Our fully automated IB SmartRoutingSM
system searches for the best possible combination of prices available at the time a customer order is placed and
immediately seeks to execute that order electronically or send it where the order has the highest possibility of
execution at the best price. Our market making software generates and disseminates to the exchanges and market
centers, in which we still operate, continuous bid and offer quotes on tradable, exchange-listed products.

At the moment a trade is executed, our systems capture and deliver this information back to the source, either to
the customer via the brokerage system or the market making system, in most cases within a fraction of a second.
Simultaneously, the trade record is written into our clearing system, where it flows through a chain of control
accounts that allow us to reconcile trades, positions and money until the final settlement occurs. Our integrated
software tracks other important activities, such as dividends, corporate actions, options exercises, securities
lending, margining, risk management and funds receipt and disbursement.

IB SmartRoutingSM
IB SmartRoutingSM searches for the best destination price in view of the displayed prices, sizes and accumulated
statistical information about the behavior of market centers at the time an order is placed, and IB
SmartRoutingSM immediately seeks to execute that order electronically. Unlike other smart routers, IB
SmartRoutingSM never relinquishes control of the order, and constantly searches for the best price. It
continuously evaluates fast-changing market conditions and dynamically re-routes all or parts of the order
seeking to achieve optimal execution. IB SmartRoutingSM can represent each leg of a spread order independently,
if needed, and in that event enters each leg at the best possible venue. IB SmartRouting AutorecoverySM
re-routes a customer’s U.S. options order in the case of an exchange malfunction, and we absorb the risk of
double executions. In addition, IB SmartRoutingSM checks each new order to see if it could be executed against
any of its pending orders. As the system gains more users, this feature becomes more important for customers in
a world of multiple exchanges, market centers and penny priced orders because it increases the possibility of best
executions for our customers ahead of customers of other brokers. As a result of this feature, our customers have
a greater chance of executing limit orders and can do so sooner than those who use other routers.

Clearing and Margining

Our activities in the U.S. are entirely self-cleared. We are a clearing member of OCC (the Options Clearing
Corporation), the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Clearing House, The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation
and ICE Clear U.S.

In addition, we are fully or partially self-cleared in Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, Germany,
Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, India, Hong Kong and Australia.

Customers

We currently service approximately 690 thousand cleared customer accounts and have customers residing in over
200 countries and territories around the world. Our target customer is one who requires the latest in trading
technology and worldwide access, and who expects low overall transaction costs. Our customers are mainly
comprised of individuals, trading desk professionals, electronic retail brokers, hedge funds, mutual funds,
financial advisors, proprietary trading firms, and introducing brokers and banks that require global access.

Our customers primarily fall into two groups based on services provided: cleared customers which are the
majority of our customers, and non-cleared customers, the latter also known as trade execution customers.

•

Cleared Customers: We provide trade execution and clearing services to our cleared customers who are
generally attracted to our low commissions, low financing rates, high interest paid and best price
execution. Our cleared customers include institutional and individual traders and investors, hedge funds,
financial advisors and introducing brokers.

12

•

Trade Execution Customers: We offer trade execution for customers who choose to clear with another
prime broker or a custodian bank; these customers take advantage of our low commissions for trade
execution as well as our best price execution. Our non-cleared customers include online brokers and the
customer trading units of commercial banks. These customers are attracted by our IB SmartRoutingSM
technology as well as our direct access to stock, options, futures, forex, bond, mutual fund and ETFs
markets worldwide.

Employees and Culture

We take pride in our technology-focused company culture and embrace it as one of our fundamental strengths.
We continually improve our technology and we minimize corporate hierarchy to facilitate efficient
communication among employees. We have assembled what we believe is a highly talented group of employees
and we expect to continue to provide significant rewards for our employees who provide substantial value to us
and the world’s financial markets.

As of December 31, 2019, we had 1,643 employees, of which 1,580 own either common shares of the Company,
restricted stock units or both, all of whom were employed on a full-time basis. None of our employees are
covered by collective bargaining agreements. We believe that our relations with our employees are good.

Competition

Electronic Brokerage

The market for electronic brokerage services is rapidly evolving and highly competitive. We believe that we fit
neither within the definition of a traditional retail broker nor that of a traditional prime broker. Our primary
competitors include the prime brokerage and electronic brokerage arms of major commercial and investment
banks and brokers, such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan, and offerings to target professional
traders by large online retail brokers. We also encounter competition to a lesser extent from full commission
brokerage firms, including Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley, as well as other financial institutions, most of
which provide online brokerage services, such as Fidelity and Pershing. The electronic brokerage businesses of
many of our competitors are relatively insignificant within the totality of their firms’ business.

Market Making

The competitive environment for market makers has evolved considerably in the past several years, most notably
with the rise in high frequency traders (‘‘HFTs’’), which transact significant trading volume on electronic
exchanges by using complex algorithms and high-speed execution software that analyzes market conditions.
HFTs that are not registered market makers operate with fewer regulatory restrictions and are able to move more
quickly and trade more cheaply. This issue has been an area of focus amongst regulators who examine the
practices of HFTs and their impact on market structure.

As previously described, we are in the process of discontinuing our options market making activities globally.

Regulation

Our securities and derivatives businesses are extensively regulated by U.S. federal and state regulators, foreign
regulatory agencies, numerous exchanges and self-regulatory organizations of which our subsidiaries are
members. In the current era of heightened regulation of financial institutions, we expect to incur increasing
compliance costs, along with the industry as a whole. Our approach has been to build many of our regulatory
and compliance functions into our integrated order routing, custodial and market making systems.

Overview

As registered U.S. broker-dealers, Interactive Brokers LLC (‘‘IB LLC’’) and Timber Hill LLC (‘‘TH LLC’’) are
subject to the rules and regulations of the Exchange Act, and as members of various exchanges, we are also
subject to such exchanges’ rules and requirements. Additionally, IB LLC is subject to the Commodity Exchange
Act and rules promulgated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (‘‘CFTC’’) and the various
commodity exchanges of which it is a member. We are also subject to the requirements of various self-regulatory
organizations such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (‘‘FINRA’’) and the National Futures
Association (‘‘NFA’’). Our foreign subsidiaries are similarly regulated under the laws and institutional
frameworks of the countries in which they operate.

13

U.S. broker-dealers and futures commission merchants are subject to laws, rules and regulations that cover all
aspects of the securities and derivatives business, including:

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

sales methods;

trade practices;

use and safekeeping of customers’ funds and securities;

capital structure;

risk management;

record-keeping;

financing of customers’ purchases; and

conduct of directors, officers and employees.

In addition, the businesses that we may conduct are limited by our agreements with and our oversight by
regulators. Participation in new business lines, including trading of new products or participation on new
exchanges or in new countries often requires governmental and/or exchange approvals, which may take
significant time and resources. As a result, we may be prevented from entering new businesses that may be
profitable in a timely manner, or at all.

As certain of our subsidiaries are members of FINRA, we are subject to certain regulations regarding changes in
control of our ownership. FINRA Rule 1017 generally provides that FINRA approval must be obtained in
connection with any transaction resulting in a change in control of a member firm. FINRA defines control as
ownership of 25% or more of the firm’s equity by a single entity or person and would include a change in
control of a parent company. As a result of these regulations, our future efforts to sell shares or raise additional
capital may be delayed or prohibited by FINRA.

Net Capital Rule

The SEC, FINRA, CFTC and various other regulatory agencies within the U.S. have stringent rules and
regulations with respect to the maintenance of specific levels of net capital by regulated entities. Generally, a
broker-dealer’s capital is its net worth plus qualified subordinated debt less deductions for certain types of assets.
The Net Capital Rule requires that at least a minimum part of a broker-dealer’s assets be maintained in a
relatively liquid form.

If these net capital rules are changed or expanded, or if there is an unusually large charge against our net capital,
our operations that require the intensive use of capital would be limited. A large operating loss or charge against
our net capital could adversely affect our ability to expand or even maintain these current levels of business,
which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

The U.S. regulators impose rules that require notification when net capital falls below certain predefined criteria.
These rules also dictate the ratio of debt-to-equity in the regulatory capital composition of a broker-dealer, and
constrain the ability of a broker-dealer to expand its business under certain circumstances. If a firm fails to
maintain the required net capital, it may be subject to suspension or revocation of registration by the applicable
regulatory agency, and suspension or expulsion by these regulators could ultimately lead to the firm’s liquidation.
Additionally, the Net Capital Rule and certain FINRA rules impose requirements that may have the effect of
prohibiting a broker-dealer from distributing or withdrawing capital and requiring prior notice to U.S. regulators
and approval from FINRA for certain capital withdrawals.

As of December 31, 2019, aggregate excess regulatory capital for all of the operating subsidiaries was
$6.4 billion.

IB LLC is subject to the Uniform Net Capital Rule (Rule 15c3-1) under the Exchange Act and to the CFTC’s
minimum financial requirements (Regulation 1.17) under the Commodities Exchange Act. Additionally,
Interactive Brokers Canada Inc. (‘‘IBC’’) is subject to the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of
Canada (‘‘IIROC’’) risk adjusted capital requirement; Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited (‘‘IBUK’’) is subject to
the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (‘‘FCA’’) financial resources requirement; IBKR Europe S.a.r.l. (‘‘IBEU’’)
is subject to the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (‘‘CSSF’’) financial resources

14

requirement; IBKR Financial Services AG (‘‘IBKRFS’’), is subject to the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory
Authority (‘‘FINMA’’) eligible equity requirement; Interactive Brokers (India) Private Limited (‘‘IBI’’) is subject
to the National Stock Exchange of India net capital requirements; Interactive Brokers Hong Kong Limited
(‘‘IBHK’’) is subject to the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (‘‘SFC’’) financial resource
requirement; Interactive Brokers Securities Japan, Inc. (‘‘IBSJ’’) is subject to the Japanese Financial Services
Agency (‘‘FSA’’) capital requirements; and Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Limited (‘‘IBA’’) is subject to the
Australian Securities Exchange liquid capital requirement.

The table below summarizes capital, capital requirements and excess regulatory capital as of December 31, 2019.

IB LLC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IBKRFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IBHK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other regulated operating subsidiaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net Capital/
Eligible Equity

Requirement
(in millions)

$5,381
584
360
867

$7,192

$549
91
145
44

$829

Excess

$4,832
493
215
823

$6,363

As of December 31, 2019, all of the operating subsidiaries were in compliance with their respective regulatory
capital requirements. For additional information regarding our net capital requirements see Note 16 –
‘‘Regulatory Requirements’’ to the audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual
Report on Form 10-K.

Protection of Customer Assets

To conduct customer activities, IB LLC is obligated under rules mandated by its primary regulators, the SEC and
the CFTC, to segregate cash or qualified securities belonging to customers. In accordance with the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, IB LLC is required to maintain separate bank accounts for the exclusive benefit of
customers. In accordance with the Commodity Exchange Act, IB LLC is required to segregate all monies,
securities and property received from commodities customers in specially designated accounts. IBC, IBUK,
IBEU, IBI, IBHK, IBSJ and IBA are subject to similar requirements within their respective jurisdictions.

To further enhance the protection of our customers’ assets, since 2011 IB LLC has been performing daily (i.e.,
instead of the required weekly) customer reserve computations along with daily adjustments of the money set
aside in safekeeping for our customers.

Supervision and Compliance

Our Compliance Department supports and seeks to ensure proper operations of our electronic brokerage and
market making businesses in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. The philosophy of the
Compliance Department, and the Company as a whole, is to build automated systems to try to minimize manual
steps in the compliance process and then to augment these systems with experienced staff members who apply
their judgment where needed. We have built automated systems to handle wide-ranging compliance issues such
as trade and audit trail reporting, financial operations reporting, enforcement of short sale rules, enforcement of
margin rules and pattern day trading restrictions, review of employee correspondence, archival of required
records, execution quality and order routing reports, approval and documentation of new customer accounts, and
anti-money laundering and anti-fraud surveillance. Our automated operations and automated compliance systems
provide substantial efficiencies to our Compliance Department. Nonetheless, we have increased our Compliance
staffing over the past several years to meet the increased regulatory burdens faced by all industry participants.

Our electronic brokerage subsidiaries have Chief Compliance Officers who report to the Chief Executive Officer
or business head for their subsidiary, Global Chief Regulatory Officer (or regional Compliance Head) and the
IBG LLC Audit and Compliance Committee. In the U.S., these Chief Compliance Officers, plus certain other
senior staff members, are FINRA and NFA registered principals with supervisory responsibility over the
compliance aspects of our businesses. Similar roles are undertaken by staff in certain non-U.S. locations as well.
Staff members in the Compliance Department and in other departments of the firm are also registered with
FINRA, NFA or other regulatory organizations.

15

Patriot Act and Increased Anti-Money Laundering (‘‘AML’’) and ‘‘Know Your Customer’’ Obligations

Registered broker-dealers traditionally have been subject to a variety of rules that require that they ‘‘know their
customers’’ and monitor their customers’ transactions for potential suspicious activities. Under the Uniting and
Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001
(the ‘‘USA Patriot Act’’), broker-dealers are subject to even more stringent requirements. Likewise, the SEC,
CFTC, foreign regulators, and the various exchanges and self-regulatory organizations, of which our operating
subsidiaries are members, have passed numerous AML and customer due diligence rules. Significant criminal and
civil penalties can be imposed for violations of the USA Patriot Act, and significant fines and regulatory
penalties can also be imposed for violations of other governmental and self-regulatory organization AML rules.

As required by the USA Patriot Act and other rules, we have established comprehensive anti-money laundering
and customer identification procedures, designated AML Compliance Officers for each electronic brokerage
subsidiary, trained our employees and conducted independent audits of our programs. Our anti-money laundering
screening is conducted using a mix of automated and manual reviews and has been structured to comply with
regulations in various jurisdictions. We collect required information through our new account opening process
and screen accounts against databases for the purposes of identity verification and for review of potential
negative information and appearance on government lists, including the Office of Foreign Assets and Control,
Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons lists. Additionally, we have designed and implemented
restrictions to prevent certain types of high-risk activity, including potentially manipulative patterns of trading,
and generate and review a sophisticated suite of surveillance reports and queues to identify potential money
laundering, market manipulation, fraud and other suspicious activities.

Dodd-Frank Reform Act

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act imposes strict reporting and disclosure
requirements on the financial services industry. We maintain a robust system for evidence of our supervisory
review of controls over financial reporting and management monitors accounting and regulatory rulemaking
developments for their potential effect on our financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting.

Business Continuity Planning

Federal regulators and industry self-regulatory organizations have passed a series of rules in the past several
years requiring regulated firms to maintain business continuity plans that describe what actions firms would take
in the event of a disaster (such as a fire, natural disaster or terrorist incident) that might significantly disrupt
operations. We have developed business continuity plans that describe steps that we and our employees would
take in the event of various scenarios. We have built backup capabilities for key operations performed at our
regional offices in North America, Europe and Asia that would be utilized in the event of a significant outage at
our main data center or primary office locations. In addition, we have strengthened our technical infrastructure
and have built redundancy of systems so that certain operations can be handled from multiple offices or
remotely. We continually evaluate opportunities to further our business continuity planning efforts.

Foreign Regulation

Our international subsidiaries are subject to extensive regulation in the various jurisdictions where they have
operations. The most significant of our international subsidiaries are: IBC, registered to do business in Canada as
an investment dealer; IBUK, registered to do business in the U.K. as a broker; IBEU, registered to do business in
Luxembourg as an investment firm; IBKRFS, registered to do business in Switzerland as a securities dealer; IBI,
registered to do business in India as a stock broker; IBHK, registered to do business in Hong Kong as a
securities dealer; IBSJ, registered in Japan as a financial instruments firm; and IBA, registered to do business in
Australia as a securities dealer and futures broker.

In Canada, IBC is subject to the IIROC risk adjusted capital requirement. In the United Kingdom, IBUK is
subject to the FCA financial resources requirement. In Luxembourg, IBEU is subject to the CSSF financial
resources requirement. In Switzerland, IBKRFS is subject to the FINMA eligible equity requirement. In India,
IBI is subject to the National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange capital requirements. In Hong Kong,
IBHK is subject to the SFC rules with respect to net capital requirements and stockholder’s equity requirements.
In Japan, IBSJ is subject to the FSA, the Osaka Securities Exchange, and the Tokyo Stock Exchange capital
requirements. In Australia, IBA is subject to the Australian Securities Exchange liquid capital requirement.

16

Executive Officers and Directors of Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.

The table below presents the names, ages and positions of our current directors and executive officers as of
December 31, 2019.

Name

Thomas Peterffy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Milan Galik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Earl H. Nemser
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Paul J. Brody . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thomas A. Frank . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lawrence E. Harris . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gary Katz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
John M. Damgard . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Philip Uhde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Age

75
53
73
59
64
63
59
80
34

Position

Chairman of the Board of Directors
Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
Vice Chairman and Director
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary and Director
Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Director
Director
Director
Director

Thomas Peterffy - Mr. Peterffy has been at the forefront of applying computer technology to automate trading
and brokerage functions since he emigrated from Hungary to the United States in 1965. In 1977, after purchasing
a seat on the American Stock Exchange and trading as an individual marker maker in equity options,
Mr. Peterffy was among the first to apply a computerized mathematical model to continuously value equity
option prices. By 1986, Mr. Peterffy developed and employed a fully integrated, automated market making
system for stocks, options and futures. As this pioneering system extended around the globe, online brokerage
functions were added and, in 1993, Interactive Brokers was formed.

Milan Galik - Mr. Galik joined us in 1990 as a software developer and has served as the Chief Executive Officer
of the Company since October 2019. He has also served as President of the Company and IBG LLC since
October 2014. Mr. Galik served as Senior Vice President, Software Development of IBG LLC from October
2003 to October 2014. In addition, Mr. Galik has served as Vice President of Timber Hill LLC since April 1998
and serves as a member of the board of directors of the Boston Options Exchange. Mr. Galik received a Master
of Science degree in electrical engineering from the Technical University of Budapest in 1990.

Earl H. Nemser - Mr. Nemser has been our Vice Chairman since November 2006. Mr. Nemser has been the Vice
Chairman of the Company since 1988 and also serves as a director and/or officer for various subsidiaries of IBG
LLC. Mr. Nemser serves as an Independent Advisor to the law firm Dechert LLP. Mr. Nemser served as Special
Counsel to Dechert LLP from January 2005 to October 2018. Prior to such time Mr. Nemser served as Partner at
the law firms of Swidler Berlin Shereff Friedman, LLP from 1995 to December 2004 and Cadwalader,
Wickersham & Taft LLP prior to 1995. Mr. Nemser received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from New
York University in 1967 and a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Boston University School of Law in 1970.

Paul J. Brody - Mr. Brody has been our Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary since November 2006.
Mr. Brody joined the Company in 1987 and has served as Chief Financial Officer of IBG LLC since December
2003. Mr. Brody serves as a director and/or officer for various subsidiaries of IBG LLC. From 2005 to 2012,
Mr. Brody served as a director, and for a portion of the time as member Vice Chairman, of The Options Clearing
Corporation, of which Interactive Brokers LLC and Timber Hill LLC are members. He also served as a director
of Quadriserv Inc., an electronic securities lending platform provider, from 2009 to 2015. Mr. Brody received a
Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Cornell University in 1982.

Thomas A. Frank - Dr. Frank joined us in 1985 and has served since July 1999 as Executive Vice President and
Chief Information Officer of Interactive Brokers LLC. In addition, Dr. Frank has served as Vice President of
Timber Hill LLC since December 1990. Mr. Frank has served as a director of The Options Clearing Corporation,
since 2015. Dr. Frank received a Ph.D. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1985.

Lawrence E. Harris - Dr. Harris has been a director since July 2007. He is a professor of Finance and Business
Economics at the University of Southern California, where he holds the Fred V. Keenan Chair in Finance at the
Marshall School of Business. Dr. Harris also serves as trustee of the Clipper Fund, director of the Selected
Funds, and as the research coordinator of the Institute for Quantitative Research in Finance. Dr. Harris formerly
served as Chief Economist of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Dr. Harris earned his Ph.D. in
Economics from the University of Chicago, and is a CFA charterholder. He is an expert in the economics of
securities market microstructure and the uses of transactions data in financial research. He has written extensively

17

about trading rules, transaction costs, index markets, and market regulation. Dr. Harris is also the author of the
widely respected textbook Trading and Exchanges: Market Microstructure for Practitioners.

Gary Katz – Mr. Katz has been a director since January 2017. He was the President and Chief Executive Officer
of the International Securities Exchange (‘‘ISE’’) and a co-founder of ISE. Mr. Katz was one of the principal
developers of the unique options market structure – an auction market on an electronic platform – used by all
three options exchanges; ISE, ISE Gemini and ISE Mercury and was named as inventor or co-inventor on six
patents that the ISE received or applied for relating to its proprietary trading system and technology. He served
on the Executive Board of Eurex and on the Board of Directors of The Options Clearing Corporation and chaired
the Board’s newly formed technology committee. Mr. Katz also served on the Board of Directors of Direct Edge.
Mr. Katz graduated from New York University with a master’s degree in Statistics with Distinction and a
bachelor’s degree from Queens College. Mr. Katz is currently chairman of the board of Farmer’s Pantry LLC, a
start-up in the consumer goods industry and also serves on the board of STRS, LLC, a start-up in the financial
industry meeting the unique needs of credit card issuers and merchants.

John M. Damgard - Mr. Damgard has been a director since December 2018. He served as President of the Futures
Industry Association (‘‘FIA’’) from 1982 to 2013 and was a founder, past president and a member of the board of the
Institute for Financial Markets. Prior to joining FIA in 1982, Mr. Damgard directed the Washington office of ACLI
International, a leading commodity merchant firm active in cash and futures markets worldwide. Mr. Damgard served
as Deputy Assistant and Acting Assistant Secretary of Agriculture and was responsible for the major marketing and
regulatory functions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (‘‘USDA’’). While at the USDA, Mr. Damgard led the
Administration’s efforts during the creation of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a new independent
regulatory agency. Mr. Damgard studied at the University of Virginia for two years and received a B.A. from Knox
College in 1964 with a major in Political Science and a minor in Economics.

Philip Uhde - Mr. Uhde, is the founder and Managing Partner of Echinus Partners, an approximately $1.2 billion
investment partnership making concentrated, long-term investments in the public markets. Mr. Uhde has led many
investments in financial services companies, including Moody’s, S&P Global, Fimalac (Fitch), MSCI, Visa,
MercadoLibre, Charles Schwab, Guidewire and IBG, Inc. Prior to founding Echinus Partners in 2012, Mr. Uhde was a
member of the investment team at SPO Partners, an investment partnership founded in 1969. Before that he was an
analyst at Sloane Robinson, an emerging markets hedge fund, where he focused on Asian equities. He received a BA
in Economics and East Asian Studies from Yale University in 2008. Echinus Partners manages a fund that has been an
IBKR shareholder for many years. During the course of this ownership, Mr. Uhde has made in-depth studies into
various aspects of the Company’s business with numerous recommendations to management.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

We face a variety of risks that are substantial and inherent in our businesses, including market, liquidity, credit,
operational, legal and regulatory. In addition to the risks identified elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form
10-K, the following risk factors apply to our business results of operations and financial condition:

Risks Related to Our Company Structure

Control by Mr. Thomas Peterffy of a majority of the combined voting power of our common stock may give
rise to conflicts of interests and could discourage a change of control that other stockholders may favor,
which could negatively affect our stock price, and adversely affect stockholders in other ways.

Mr. Thomas Peterffy, our founder and Chairman, and his affiliates beneficially own approximately 89.6% of the
economic interests and all of the voting interests in Holdings, which owns all of our Class B common stock,
representing approximately 81.5% of the combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock. As a result,
Mr. Thomas Peterffy has the ability to elect all of the members of our board of directors and thereby to control
our management and affairs, including determinations with respect to acquisitions, dispositions, material
expansions or contractions of our business, entry into new lines of business, borrowings, issuances of common
stock or other securities, and the declaration and payment of dividends on our common stock. In addition,
Mr. Thomas Peterffy is able to determine the outcome of all matters requiring stockholder approval and will be
able to cause or prevent a change of control of our company or a change in the composition of our board of
directors and could preclude any unsolicited acquisition of our company. The concentration of ownership could
discourage potential takeover attempts that other stockholders may favor and could deprive stockholders of an
opportunity to receive a premium for their common stock as part of a sale of our company and this may
adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

18

Moreover, because of Mr. Thomas Peterffy’s substantial ownership, we are eligible to be and are, treated as a
‘‘controlled company’’ for purposes of the Nasdaq Rules. As a result, we are not required by Nasdaq to have a
majority of independent directors or to maintain Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committees composed entirely of independent directors to continue to list the shares of our common stock on
Nasdaq. Our Compensation Committee is comprised of Messrs. Thomas Peterffy (Chairman of the Compensation
Committee) and Earl H. Nemser (our Vice Chairman). Mr. Thomas Peterffy’s membership on the Compensation
Committee may give rise to conflicts of interests in that Mr. Thomas Peterffy is able to influence all matters
relating to executive compensation, including his own compensation.

We are dependent on IBG LLC to distribute cash to us in amounts sufficient to pay our tax liabilities and
other expenses.

We are a holding company and our primary assets are our approximately 18.5% equity interest in IBG LLC and
our controlling interest and related rights as the sole managing member of IBG LLC and, as such, we operate
and control all of the business and affairs of IBG LLC and are able to consolidate IBG LLC’s financial results
into our financial statements. We have no independent means of generating revenues. IBG LLC is treated as a
partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, as such, is not subject to U.S. federal income tax. Instead,
its taxable income is allocated on a pro rata basis to Holdings and us. Accordingly, we incur income taxes on our
proportionate share of the net taxable income of IBG LLC, and also incur expenses related to our operations.
We intend to cause IBG LLC to distribute cash to its members in amounts at least equal to that necessary to
cover their tax liabilities, if any, with respect to the earnings of IBG LLC. To the extent we need funds to pay
such taxes, or for any other purpose, and IBG LLC is unable to provide such funds, it could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are required to pay Holdings for the benefit relating to additional tax depreciation or amortization
deductions we claim as a result of the tax basis step-up our subsidiaries received in connection with our initial
public offering and certain subsequent redemptions of Holdings membership interests.

In connection with our initial public offering (‘‘IPO’’), we purchased interests in IBG LLC from Holdings for
cash. In connection with redemptions of Holdings membership interests, we acquired additional interests in IBG
LLC by issuing shares of Class A common stock in exchange for an equivalent number of shares of member
interests in IBG LLC (the ‘‘Redemptions’’). In addition, IBG LLC membership interests held by Holdings may
be sold in the future to us and financed by our issuances of shares of our common stock. The initial purchase
and the Redemptions did, and the subsequent purchases may, result in increases in the tax basis of the tangible
and intangible assets of IBG LLC and its subsidiaries that otherwise would not have been available.
Such increase will be approximately equal to the amount by which our stock price at the time of the purchase
exceeds the income tax basis of the assets of IBG LLC underlying the IBG LLC interests acquired by us. These
increases in tax basis will result in increased deductions in computing our taxable income and resulting tax
savings for us generally over the 15 year period which commenced with the initial purchase. We have agreed to
pay 85% of these tax savings, if any, to Holdings as they are realized as additional consideration for the IBG
LLC interests that we acquire.

As a result of the IPO and the Redemptions by Holdings, the increase in the tax basis attributable to our interest
in IBG LLC is $1.3 billion. The tax savings that we would actually realize as a result of this increase in tax basis
likely would be significantly less than this amount multiplied by our effective tax rate due to a number of
factors, including the allocation of a portion of the increase in tax basis to foreign or non-depreciable fixed
assets, the impact of the increase in the tax basis on our ability to use foreign tax credits and the rules relating to
the amortization of intangible assets, for example. Based on facts and assumptions as of December 31, 2019,
including that subsequent purchases of IBG LLC interests will occur in fully taxable transactions, the potential
tax basis increase resulting from the historical and future purchases of the IBG LLC interests held by Holdings
could be as much as $9.0 billion. The Tax Receivable Agreement requires 85% of such tax savings, if any, to be
paid to Holdings, with the balance to be retained by us. The actual increase in tax basis depends, among other
factors, upon the price of shares of our common stock at the time of the purchase and the extent to which such
purchases are taxable and, as a result, could differ materially from this amount. Our ability to achieve benefits
from any such increase, and the amount of the payments to be made under the Tax Receivable Agreement,
depends upon a number of factors, as discussed above, including the timing and amount of our future income.

19

The tax basis of $9.0 billion assumes that (a) all remaining IBG LLC membership interests held by Holdings are
purchased by us in a taxable transaction and (b) such purchases in the future are made at prices that reflect the
closing share price as of December 31, 2019. In order to have a $9.0 billion tax basis, the offering price per
share of Class A common stock in such future public offering will need to exceed the then current cost basis per
share of Class A common stock by approximately $29.93.

If either immediately before or immediately after any purchase or the related issuance of our stock, the Holdings
members own or are deemed to own, in the aggregate, more than 20% of our outstanding common stock, then all
or part of any increase in the tax basis of goodwill may not be amortizable and, thus, our ability to realize the
annual tax savings that otherwise would have resulted if such tax basis were amortizable may be significantly
reduced. Although the Holdings members are prohibited under the Exchange Agreement from purchasing shares
of Class A common stock in a public offering, grants of our common stock to employees and directors who are
also members or related to members of Holdings and the application of certain tax attribution rules, such as
among family members and partners in a partnership, could result in Holdings members being deemed for tax
purposes to own shares of Class A common stock.

If the Internal Revenue Services (‘‘IRS’’) successfully challenges the tax basis increase, under certain
circumstances, we could be required to make payments to Holdings under the Tax Receivable Agreement in
excess of our cash tax savings.

Future sales of our common stock in the public market could lower our stock price, and any additional capital
raised by us through the sale of equity or convertible securities may dilute your ownership in us.

The members of Holdings have the right to cause the redemption of their Holdings membership interests over
time in connection with offerings of shares of our common stock. We intend to sell additional shares of common
stock in public offerings in the future, which may include offerings of our common stock to finance future
purchases of IBG LLC membership interests which, in turn, will finance corresponding redemptions of Holdings
membership interests. These offerings and related transactions are anticipated to occur at least annually into the
future. The size and occurrence of these offerings may be affected by market conditions. We may also issue
additional shares of common stock or convertible debt securities to finance future acquisitions or business
combinations. We currently have approximately 77 million outstanding shares of common stock. Assuming no
anti-dilution adjustments based on combinations or divisions of our common stock, the offerings referred to
above could result in the issuance by us of up to an additional approximately 339 million shares of common
stock. It is possible, however, that such shares could be issued in one or a few large transactions.

We cannot predict the size of future issuances of our common stock or the effect, if any, that future issuances
and sales of shares of our common stock may have on the market price of our common stock. Sales of
substantial amounts of our common stock (including shares issued in connection with an acquisition), or the
perception that such sales could occur, may cause the market price of our common stock to decline.

Certain provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may prevent efforts by our
stockholders to change our direction or management.

Provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation could make it more difficult for a
third-party to acquire us, even if doing so might be beneficial to our stockholders. For example, our amended
and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to determine the rights, preferences,
privileges and restrictions of unissued series of preferred stock, without any vote or action by our stockholders.
We could issue a series of preferred stock that could impede the completion of a merger, tender offer or other
takeover attempt. These provisions may discourage potential acquisition proposals and may delay, deter or
prevent a change of control of us, including through transactions, and, in particular, unsolicited transactions, that
some or all of our stockholders might consider to be desirable. As a result, efforts by our stockholders to change
our direction or management may be unsuccessful.

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Risks Related to Our Business

Our business may be harmed by global events beyond our control, including overall slowdowns in securities
trading.

Like other brokerage and financial services firms, our business and profitability are directly affected by elements
that are beyond our control, such as economic and political conditions, broad trends in business and finance,
changes in volume of securities and futures transactions, changes in the markets in which such transactions occur
and changes in how such transactions are processed. A weakness in equity markets, such as a slowdown causing
reduction in trading volume in U.S. or foreign securities and derivatives, has historically resulted in reduced
transaction revenues and would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of
operations.

Our business could be harmed by a systemic market event.

Some market participants could be overleveraged. In case of sudden, large price movements, such market
participants may not be able to meet their obligations to brokers who, in turn, may not be able to meet their
obligations to their counterparties. As a result, the financial system or a portion thereof could collapse, and the
impact of such an event could be catastrophic to our business.

Our future success will depend on our response to the demand for new services, products and technologies.

The demand for our services that rely on electronic communications gateways, is characterized by:

•

•

•

•

rapid technological change;

changing customer demands;

the need to enhance existing services and products or introduce new services and products; and

evolving industry standards.

New services, products and technologies may render our existing services, products and technologies less
competitive. Our future success will depend, in part, on our ability to respond to the demand for new services,
products and technologies on a timely and cost-effective basis and to adapt to technological advancements and
changing standards to address the increasingly sophisticated requirements and varied needs of our customers and
prospective customers. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in developing, introducing or marketing
new services, products and technologies. In addition, we may experience difficulties that could delay or prevent
the successful development, introduction or marketing of these services and products, and our new service and
product enhancements may not achieve market acceptance. Any failure on our part to anticipate or respond
adequately to technological advancements, customer requirements or changing industry standards, or any
significant delays in the development, introduction or availability of new services, products or enhancements
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our reliance on our computer software could cause us great financial harm in the event of any disruption or
corruption of our computer software. We may experience technology failures while developing our software.

We rely on our computer software to receive and properly process internal and external data. Any disruption in
the proper functioning of our software due to, for example, erroneous or corrupted data, or cyber-attacks, may
cause us to make erroneous trades or suspend our services and could cause us great financial harm. To maintain
our competitive advantage, our software is under continuous development. As we identify and enhance our
software, there is risk that software failures may occur and result in service interruptions and have other
unintended consequences.

We depend on our proprietary technology, and our future results may be impacted if we cannot maintain
technological superiority in our industry.

Our success in the past has largely been attributable to our sophisticated proprietary technology that has taken many
years to develop. We have benefited from the fact that the type of proprietary technology equivalent to that which we
employ has not been widely available to our competitors. If our technology becomes more widely available to our
current or future competitors for any reason, our operating results may be adversely affected. Additionally, adoption or

21

development of similar or more advanced technologies by our competitors may require that we devote substantial
resources to the development of more advanced technology to remain competitive. The markets in which we compete
are characterized by rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards and changing trading systems, practices
and techniques. Although we have been at the forefront of many of these developments in the past, we may not be
able to keep up with these rapid changes in the future, develop new technology, realize a return on amounts invested
in developing new technologies or remain competitive in the future.

The loss of our key employees would materially adversely affect our business.

Our key executives have substantial experience and have made significant contributions to our business, and our
continued success is dependent upon the retention of our key management executives, as well as the services
provided by our staff of trading system, technology and programming specialists and a number of other key
managerial, marketing, planning, financial, technical and operations personnel. The loss of such key personnel
could have a material adverse effect on our business. Growth in our business is dependent, to a large degree, on
our ability to retain and attract such employees.

We may not pay dividends on our common stock at any time in the foreseeable future.

As a holding company for our interest in IBG LLC, we will be dependent upon the ability of IBG LLC to
generate earnings and cash flows and distribute them to us so that we may pay any dividends to our
stockholders. To the extent (if any) that we have excess cash, any decision to declare and pay dividends in the
future will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our
results of operations, financial conditions, cash requirement, contractual restrictions and other factors that our
board of directors may deem relevant. Since the second quarter of 2011, we have declared and paid a quarterly
cash dividend of $0.10 per share. Although not required, we currently intend to pay quarterly dividends of $0.10
per share to our common stockholders for the foreseeable future.

Our future efforts to sell shares or raise additional capital may be delayed or prohibited by regulations.

As certain of our subsidiaries are members of FINRA, we are subject to certain regulations regarding changes in
control of our ownership. FINRA Rule 1017 generally provides that FINRA approval must be obtained in
connection with any transaction resulting in a change in control of a member firm. FINRA defines control as
ownership of 25% or more of the firm’s equity by a single entity or person and would include a change in
control of a parent company. IBC, IBUK, IBEU, IBKRFS and IBHK are subject to similar change in control
regulations promulgated by the IIROC in Canada, the FCA in the United Kingdom, the CSSF in Luxembourg,
FINMA in Switzerland and the SFC in Hong Kong, respectively. As a result of these regulations, our future
efforts to sell shares or raise additional capital may be delayed or prohibited. We may be subject to similar
restrictions in other jurisdictions in which we operate.

Regulatory and legal uncertainties could harm our business.

The securities and derivatives businesses are heavily regulated. Firms in financial service industries have been
subject to an increasingly regulated environment over recent years, and penalties and fines sought by regulatory
authorities have increased accordingly. This regulatory and enforcement environment has created uncertainty with
respect to various types of transactions that historically had been entered into by financial services firms and that
were generally believed to be permissible and appropriate. Our broker-dealer subsidiaries are subject to
regulations in the U.S. and abroad covering all aspects of their business. Regulatory bodies include, in the U.S.,
the SEC, FINRA, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Chicago Board Options Exchange,
the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the CFTC, and the NFA; in Canada, the IIROC and various Canadian
securities commissions; in the United Kingdom, the FCA; in Luxembourg, the CSSF; in Switzerland, FINMA; in
India, the Securities and Exchange Board of India; in Hong Kong, the SFC; in Japan, the FSA and the Japan
Securities Dealers Association; and in Australia, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. Our mode
of operation and profitability may be directly affected by additional legislation changes in rules promulgated by
various domestic and foreign government agencies and self-regulatory organizations that oversee our businesses,
and changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and rules, including the potential imposition of
transaction taxes. Noncompliance with applicable laws or regulations could result in sanctions being levied
against us, including fines and censures, suspension or expulsion from a certain jurisdiction or market or the

22

revocation or limitation of licenses. Noncompliance with applicable laws or regulations could adversely affect
our reputation, prospects, revenues and earnings. In addition, changes in current laws or regulations or in
governmental policies could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to regulatory oversight and examination by numerous governmental and self-regulatory
authorities. We are currently providing information to certain of such authorities, including FINRA, the SEC, the
CFTC and the United States Department of Justice, and cooperating with those authorities. The regulators are
focused on compliance practices, including anti money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act practices. We
periodically review these practices to make them more robust and to keep pace with changing regulatory
standards, and we have been enhancing and augmenting our procedures and personnel in these areas over the
past several years. While the outcome of the examinations and inquiries currently in progress cannot be
predicted, we do not believe that they are likely to have a materially adverse effect on our financial results.

Domestic and foreign stock exchanges, other self-regulatory organizations and state and foreign securities
commissions can censure, fine, issue cease-and-desist orders, suspend or expel a broker-dealer or any of its
officers or employees. Our ability to comply with all applicable laws and rules is largely dependent on our
internal system to ensure compliance, as well as our ability to attract and retain qualified compliance personnel.
We could be subject to disciplinary or other actions in the future due to claimed noncompliance, which could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. To continue to
operate and to expand our services internationally, we may have to comply with the regulatory controls of each
country in which we conduct, or intend to conduct business, the requirements of which may not be clearly
defined. The varying compliance requirements of these different regulatory jurisdictions, which are often unclear,
may limit our ability to continue existing international operations and further expand internationally.

Our direct market access clearing and non-clearing brokerage operations face intense competition.

With respect to our direct market access brokerage business, the market for electronic and interactive bidding,
offering and trading services in connection with equities, options and futures is rapidly evolving and intensely
competitive. We expect competition to continue and intensify in the future. Our current and potential future
competition principally comes from five categories of competitors:

•

•

•

•

•

prime brokers who, in an effort to satisfy the demands of their customers for hands-on electronic
trading facilities, universal access to markets, smart routing, better trading tools, lower commissions
and financing rates, have embarked upon building such facilities and product enhancements;

direct market access and online options and futures firms;

direct market access and online equity brokers;

software development firms and vendors who create global trading networks and analytical tools and
make them available to brokers; and

traditional brokers.

In addition, we compete with financial institutions, mutual fund sponsors and other organizations, many of which
provide online, direct market access or other investing services. A number of brokers provide our technology and
execution services to their customers, and these brokers will become our competitors if they develop their own
technology. Some of our competitors in this area have greater name recognition, longer operating histories and
significantly greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we have and offer a wider range of
services and financial products than we do. Some of our competitors may also have an ability to charge lower or
zero commissions. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete effectively or efficiently with current or
future competitors. These increasing levels of competition in the online trading industry could significantly harm
this aspect of our business.

We are subject to potential losses as a result of our clearing and execution activities.

As a clearing member firm providing financing services to certain of our brokerage customers, we are ultimately
responsible for their financial performance in connection with various securities and derivatives transactions.
Our clearing operations require a commitment of our capital and, despite safeguards implemented by our
software, involve risks of losses due to the potential failure of our customers to perform their obligations under
these transactions. If our customers default on their obligations, we remain financially liable for such obligations,

23

and although these obligations are collateralized, we are subject to market risk in the liquidation of customer
collateral to satisfy those obligations. There can be no assurance that our risk management procedures will be
adequate. Any liability arising from clearing operations could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations.

As a clearing member firm of securities and derivatives clearing houses in the U.S. and abroad, we are also
exposed to clearing member credit risk. Securities and derivatives clearing houses require member firms to
deposit cash, stock and/or government securities for margin requirements and to clearing funds. If a clearing
member defaults in its obligations to the clearing house in an amount larger than its own margin and clearing
fund deposits, the shortfall is absorbed pro rata from the deposits of the other clearing members. Many clearing
houses of which we are members also have the authority to assess their members for additional funds if the
clearing fund is depleted. A large clearing member default could result in a substantial cost to us if we are
required to pay such assessments.

We are exposed to risks associated with our international operations.

During 2019, approximately 21% of our net revenues were generated by our operating subsidiaries outside the
U.S. We are exposed to risks and uncertainties inherent in doing business in international markets, particularly in
the heavily regulated brokerage industry. Such risks and uncertainties include political, economic and financial
instability; unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, tariffs and other trade barriers; exchange rate
fluctuations; applicable currency controls; and difficulties in staffing, including reliance on newly hired local
experts, and managing foreign operations. These risks could cause a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations.

We do not have fully redundant systems. System failures could harm our business.

If our systems fail to perform, we could experience unanticipated disruptions in operations, slower response
times or decreased customer service and customer satisfaction. Our ability to facilitate transactions successfully
and provide high quality customer service also depends on the efficient and uninterrupted operation of our
computer and communications hardware and software systems. Our service has experienced periodic system
interruptions, which we believe will continue to occur from time to time. Our systems and operations also are
potentially vulnerable to damage or interruption from human error, cyber-attacks, natural disasters, power loss,
telecommunication failures, break-ins, sabotage, computer viruses, intentional acts of vandalism and similar
events. While we currently maintain redundant servers to provide limited service during system disruptions, we
do not have fully redundant systems, and our formal disaster recovery plan does not include restoration of all
services. For example, we have backup facilities at our disaster recovery site that enable us, in the case of
complete failure of our main North America data center, to recover and complete all pending transactions,
provide customers with access to their accounts to deposit or withdraw money, transfer positions to other brokers
and manage their risk by continuing trading through the use of marketable orders. These backup services are
currently limited to U.S. markets. We do not currently have separate backup facilities dedicated to our non-U.S.
operations. It is our intention to provide for and progressively deploy backup facilities for our global facilities
over time. In addition, we do not carry business interruption insurance to compensate for losses that could occur
to the extent not required. Any system failure that causes an interruption in our service or decreases the
responsiveness of our service could impair our reputation, damage our brand name and materially adversely
affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Failure of third-party systems on which we rely could adversely affect our business.

We rely on certain third-party computer systems or third-party service providers, including clearing systems,
banking systems, exchange systems, Internet service, co-location facilities, communications facilities and other
facilities. Any interruption in these third-party services, or deterioration in their performance, could be disruptive
to our business. If our arrangement with any third-party is terminated, we may not be able to find an alternative
source of systems support on a timely basis or on commercially reasonable terms. This could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Internet-related issues may reduce or slow the growth in the use of our services in the future.

Critical issues concerning the commercial use of the Internet, such as ease of access, security, privacy, reliability,
cost, and quality of service, remain unresolved and may adversely impact the growth of Internet use. If Internet
usage continues to increase rapidly, the Internet infrastructure may not be able to support the demands placed on

24

it by this growth, and its performance and reliability may decline. Although our larger institutional customers use
leased data lines to communicate with us, our ability to increase the speed with which we provide services to
consumers and to increase the scope and quality of such services is limited by and dependent upon the speed and
reliability of our customers’ access to the Internet, which is beyond our control. If periods of decreased
performance, outages or delays on the Internet occur frequently or other critical issues concerning the Internet are
not resolved, overall Internet usage or usage of our web based products could increase more slowly or decline,
which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our computer infrastructure may be vulnerable to security breaches. Any such problems could jeopardize
confidential information transmitted over the Internet, cause interruptions in our operations or cause us to
have liability to third persons.

Our computer infrastructure is potentially vulnerable to physical or electronic computer break-ins, cyber-attacks,
viruses and similar disruptive problems and security breaches. Any such problems or security breaches could
cause us to have liability to one or more third parties, including our customers, and disrupt our operations.
A party able to circumvent our security measures could misappropriate proprietary information or customer
information, jeopardize the confidential nature of information transmitted over the Internet or cause interruptions
in our operations. Concerns over the security of Internet transactions and the privacy of users could also inhibit
the growth of the Internet or the electronic brokerage industry in general, particularly as a means of conducting
commercial transactions. To the extent that our activities involve the storage and transmission of proprietary
information such as personal financial information, security breaches could expose us to a risk of financial loss,
litigation and other liabilities. Our estimated annual losses from reimbursements to customers whose accounts
have been negatively affected by unauthorized access have historically been less than $500,000 annually and
were significantly reduced since the widespread introduction of our Secure Login System. Our current insurance
program may protect us against some, but not all, of such losses. Any of these events, particularly if they
(individually or in the aggregate) result in a loss of confidence in our company or electronic brokerage firms in
general, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights or may be prevented from using intellectual
property necessary for our business.

We rely primarily on trade secret, contract, copyright, patent and trademark laws to protect our proprietary
technology. It is possible that third parties may copy or otherwise obtain and use our proprietary technology
without authorization or otherwise infringe on our rights. We may also face claims of infringement that could
interfere with our ability to use technology that is material to our business operations.

In the future, we may have to rely on litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights, protect our trade secrets,
determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others or defend against claims of infringement or
invalidity. Any such litigation, whether successful or unsuccessful, could result in substantial costs and the diversion of
resources and the attention of management, any of which could negatively affect our business.

We are subject to risks relating to litigation and potential securities laws liability.

We are exposed to substantial risks of liability under federal and state securities laws, other federal and state
laws and court decisions, as well as rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the CFTC, the Federal
Reserve, state securities regulators, self-regulatory organizations and foreign regulatory agencies. We are also
subject to the risk of litigation and claims that may be without merit. We could incur significant legal expenses
in defending ourselves against and resolving lawsuits or claims. An adverse resolution of any future lawsuits or
claims against us could result in a negative perception of the Company and have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition and results of operations. See ‘‘Legal Proceedings and Regulatory Matters’’ in
Part I, Item 3 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

We are subject to counterparty risk whereby defaults by parties with whom we do business can have an
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In our electronic brokerage business, our customer margin credit exposure is to a great extent mitigated by our
policy of automatically evaluating each account throughout the trading day and closing out positions
automatically for accounts that are found to be under-margined. While this methodology is effective in most
situations, it may not be effective in situations in which no liquid market exists for the relevant securities or

25

commodities or in which, for any reason, automatic liquidation for certain accounts has been disabled. If no
liquid market exists or automatic liquidation has been disabled, we are subject to risks inherent in extending
credit, especially during periods of rapidly declining markets. Any loss or expense incurred due to defaults by
our customers in failing to repay margin loans or to maintain adequate collateral for these loans would cause
harm to our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Any future acquisitions may result in significant transaction expenses, integration and consolidation risks and
risks associated with entering new markets, and we may be unable to profitably operate our consolidated
company.

Although our growth strategy has not focused historically on acquisitions, we may in the future engage in
evaluations of potential acquisitions and new businesses. We may not have the financial resources necessary to
consummate any acquisitions in the future or the ability to obtain the necessary funds on satisfactory terms.
Any future acquisitions may result in significant transaction expenses and risks associated with entering new
markets in addition to integration and consolidation risks. Because acquisitions historically have not been a core
part of our growth strategy, we have little experience in successfully utilizing acquisitions. We may not have
sufficient management, financial and other resources to integrate any such future acquisitions or to successfully
operate new businesses and we may be unable to profitably operate our expanded company.

Because our revenues and profitability depend on trading volume, they are prone to significant fluctuations
and are difficult to predict.

Our revenues are dependent on the level of trading activity on securities and derivatives exchanges in the U.S.
and abroad. In the past, our revenues and operating results have varied significantly from period to period
primarily due to movements and trends in the underlying markets and to fluctuations in trading levels. As a
result, period to period comparisons of our revenues and operating results may not be meaningful, and future
revenues and profitability may be subject to significant fluctuations or declines.

We may incur material trading losses from our market making activities.

A portion of our revenues and operating profits is derived from our trading as principal in our role as a market
maker. We may incur trading losses relating to these activities since each primarily involves the purchase or sale
of securities for our own account. In any period, we may incur trading losses in a significant number of
securities for a variety of reasons including:

•

•

•

price changes in securities;

lack of liquidity in securities in which we have positions; and

the required performance of our market making obligations.

These risks may limit or restrict our ability to either resell securities we purchased or to repurchase securities we sold.
In addition, we may experience difficulty borrowing securities to make delivery to purchasers to whom we sold short,
or lenders from whom we have borrowed. From time to time, we have large position concentrations in securities of a
single issuer or issuers engaged in a specific industry or traded in a particular market. Such a concentration could
result in higher trading losses than would occur if our positions and activities were less concentrated.

In our role as a market maker, we attempt to derive a profit from the difference between the prices at which we
buy and sell, or sell and buy, securities. However, competitive forces often require us to match the quotes other
market makers display and to hold varying amounts of securities in inventory. By having to maintain inventory
positions, we are subjected to a high degree of risk. We cannot assure you that we will be able to manage such
risk successfully or that we will not experience significant losses from such activities, which could have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Reduced spreads in securities pricing, levels of trading activity and trading through market makers could
harm our business.

Computer-generated buy/sell programs and other technological advances and regulatory changes in the
marketplace may continue to tighten spreads on securities transactions. Tighter spreads and increased competition
could make market making activities less profitable.

26

We may incur losses in our market making activities in the event of failures of our proprietary pricing model.

Our market making business is substantially dependent on the accuracy of our proprietary pricing mathematical
model, which continuously evaluates and monitors the risks inherent in our portfolio, assimilates market data and
reevaluates our outstanding quotes many times per second. Our model is designed to automatically rebalance our
positions throughout the trading day to manage risk exposures on our positions in options, futures and the
underlying securities. In the event of a flaw in our pricing model and/or a failure in the related software, our
pricing model may lead to unexpected and/or unprofitable trades, which may result in material trading losses.

The valuation of the financial instruments we hold may result in large and occasionally anomalous swings in
the value of our positions and in our earnings in any period.

The market prices of our long and short positions are reflected on our books at closing prices which are typically
the last trade price before the official close of the primary exchange on which each such security trades. If prices
of derivatives and their underlying securities close out of alignment, there may be large and occasionally
anomalous swings in the value of our positions daily and, accordingly, in our earnings in any period. This is
especially true on the last business day of each calendar quarter.

We are exposed to losses due to lack of perfect information.

As market makers, we provide liquidity by buying from sellers and selling to buyers. Quite often, we trade with
others who have different information than we do, and as a result, we may accumulate unfavorable positions
preceding large price movements in companies. Should the frequency or magnitude of these events increase, our
losses will likely increase correspondingly.

Rules governing designated market makers may require us to make unprofitable trades or prevent us from
making profitable trades.

Designated market makers are granted certain rights and have certain obligations to ‘‘make a market’’ in a
particular security. They agree to specific obligations to maintain a fair and orderly market. In acting as a
designated market maker, we are subjected to a high degree of risk by having to support an orderly market.
In this role, we may at times be required to make trades that adversely affect our profitability. In addition, we
may at times be unable to trade for our own account in circumstances in which it may be to our advantage to
trade, and we may be obligated to act as a principal when buyers or sellers outnumber each other. In those
instances, we may take a position counter to the market, buying or selling securities to support an orderly
market. Additionally, the rules of the markets which govern our activities as a designated market maker are
subject to change. If these rules are made more stringent, our trading revenues and profits as a designated market
maker could be adversely affected.

We face competition in our market making activities.

In our market making activities, we compete with other firms based on our ability to provide liquidity at
competitive prices and to attract order flow. These firms include registered market makers as well as HFTs that
act as market makers. Both types of competitors range from sole proprietors with very limited resources to a few
highly sophisticated groups which have substantially greater financial and other resources, including research and
development personnel, than we do. These larger and better capitalized competitors may be better able to respond
to changes in the market making industry, to compete for skilled professionals, to finance acquisitions, to fund
internal growth and to compete for market share generally. HFTs that are not registered market makers have
certain advantages over registered market making firms that may allow them to bypass regulatory restrictions and
trade more quickly and cheaply than registered market makers at some exchanges. We may not be able to
compete effectively against HFTs or market makers with greater financial resources, and our failure to do so
could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. As in the past,
we may in the future face enhanced competition, resulting in narrowing bid/offer spreads in the marketplace that
may adversely impact our financial performance. This is especially likely if HFTs continue to receive advantages
in capturing order flow or if others can acquire systems that enable them to predict markets or process trades
more efficiently than we can.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

27

ITEM 2.

PROPERTIES

Our headquarters are located in Greenwich, Connecticut. We lease office and data center facilities in 24 cities
throughout the world where we conduct our operations as set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, all
properties are used by both our electronic brokerage and market making segments. We believe our present
facilities, together with our current options to extend lease terms, are adequate for our current needs.

The table below presents certain information with respect to our leased facilities as of December 31, 2019.

Location

North America

Space (sq. feet)

Principal Usage

Greenwich, CT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chicago, IL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other (7 locations) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

163,510
60,276
28,662

Headquarters
Office space and data center
Office space and data center

Europe

Zug, Switzerland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
London, United Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tallinn, Estonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other (4 locations) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

25,009
12,969
11,010
19,980

Office space
Office space
Office space
Office space

Asia - Pacific

Mumbai, India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hong Kong. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other (4 locations) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

54,275
17,565
19,741

Office space
Office space and data center
Office space

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND REGULATORY MATTERS

The securities and commodities industry is highly regulated and many aspects of our business involve substantial
risk of liability. In past years, there has been an increasing incidence of litigation involving the brokerage
industry, including class action suits that generally seek substantial damages, including in some cases punitive
damages. Compliance and trading problems that are reported to federal, state and provincial regulators,
exchanges or other self-regulatory organizations by dissatisfied customers are investigated by such regulatory
bodies, and, if pursued by such regulatory body or such customers, may rise to the level of arbitration or
disciplinary action. We are also subject to periodic regulatory audits and inspections.

Like other brokerage firms, we have been named as a defendant in lawsuits and from time to time we have been
threatened with, or named as a defendant in arbitrations and administrative proceedings. The following contains
information regarding potentially material pending litigation and pending regulatory inquiries. We may in the
future become involved in additional litigation or regulatory proceedings in the ordinary course of our business,
including litigation or regulatory proceedings that could be material to our business.

Trading Technologies Matter

On February 3, 2010, Trading Technologies International, Inc. (‘‘Trading Technologies’’) filed a complaint in the
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, against IBG LLC and IB LLC
(‘‘Defendants’’). The complaint, as amended, alleges that the Defendants have infringed and continue to infringe
twelve U.S. patents held by Trading Technologies. Trading Technologies is seeking, among other things,
unspecified damages and injunctive relief. The Defendants filed an answer to Trading Technologies’ amended
complaint, as well as related counterclaims. The Defendants deny Trading Technologies’ claims, assert that the
asserted patents are not infringed and are invalid, and assert several other defenses as well.

The asserted patents were the subject of petitions before the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(‘‘USPTO’’) seeking Covered Business Method Review (‘‘CBM Review’’). The USPTO Patent Trial Appeal
Board (‘‘PTAB’’) found all claims of ten of the twelve asserted patents to be invalid. Of the remaining two
patents, 53 of the 56 claims of one patent were held invalid and the other patent survived CBM Review
proceedings. Appeals were filed by either Defendants or Trading Technologies on all PTAB determinations.

28

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit vacated the CBM Review determinations of invalidity
for four patents, concluding that these patents were not eligible for CBM Review. The District Court trial with
respect to these four patents is scheduled for May 2020; however, the parties have filed a motion with the
District Court to move the trial to November 2020.

While it is difficult to predict the outcome of the matter, the Company believes it has meritorious defenses to the
allegations made in the complaint and intends to defend itself vigorously against them. However, litigation is
inherently uncertain and there can be no guarantee that the Company will prevail or that the litigation can be
settled on favorable terms.

Class Action Matter

On December 18, 2015, a former individual customer filed a purported class action complaint against IB LLC,
IBG, Inc., and Thomas Frank, PhD, the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, in
the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. The complaint alleges that the purported class of IB
LLC’s customers were harmed by alleged ‘‘flaws’’ in the computerized system used to close out (i.e., liquidate)
positions in customer brokerage accounts that have margin deficiencies. The complaint seeks, among other
things, undefined compensatory damages and declaratory and injunctive relief.

On September 28, 2016, the District Court issued an order granting the Company’s motion to dismiss the
complaint in its entirety, and without providing plaintiff leave to amend. On September 28, 2017, plaintiff
appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. On September 26, 2018, the Court of
Appeals affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s claims of breach of contract and commercially unreasonable
liquidation but vacated and remanded back to the District Court plaintiff’s claims for negligence.
On November 30, 2018, the plaintiff filed a second amended complaint. The Company filed a motion to dismiss
the new complaint on January 15, 2019, which was denied on September 30, 2019. On December 9, 2019, the
Company filed a motion requesting that the District Court certify to the Connecticut Supreme Court two
questions of Connecticut law directly relevant to the motion to dismiss. Briefing has only recently been
completed, and the District Court has not yet ruled on the motion. Regardless of the outcome of this motion, the
Company does not believe that a purported class action is appropriate given the great differences in portfolios,
markets and many other circumstances surrounding the liquidation of any particular customer’s margin deficient
account. IB LLC and the related defendants intend to continue to defend themselves vigorously against the case
and, consistent with past practice in connection with this type of unwarranted action, any potential claims for
counsel fees and expenses incurred in defending the case may be fully pursued against the plaintiff.

Regulatory Matters

The Company is currently providing information to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (‘‘FINRA’’), the
SEC, the Commodities and Futures Trading Commission (‘‘CFTC’’) and the United States Department of Justice
focused on anti-money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act practices. The Company periodically reviews these
practices to make them more robust and to keep pace with changing regulatory standards, and the Company has
been enhancing and augmenting its procedures and personnel in these areas over the past several years.
While the outcome of the examinations and inquiries currently in progress cannot be predicted, the Company
does not believe that they are likely to have a materially adverse effect on its results of operations.

Pending Regulatory Inquiries

Our businesses are heavily regulated by state, federal and foreign regulatory agencies as well as numerous
exchanges and self-regulatory organizations. Most of our companies are regulated under some or all of the
following: state securities laws, U.S. and foreign securities, commodities and financial services laws and the rules
of the more than 120 exchanges, market centers and self-regulatory organizations of which one or more of our
companies may be members. In the current era of dramatically heightened regulatory scrutiny of financial
institutions, we have incurred increased compliance costs, along with the industry as a whole.
Increased regulation also creates increased barriers to entry. We have built and continue to build human and
automated infrastructure in light of increasing regulatory scrutiny, which provides us with a possible advantage
over potential newcomers to the business.

We receive thousands of regulatory inquiries each year in addition to being subject to frequent regulatory
examinations. The great majority of these inquiries do not lead to fines or any further action against us.

29

Most often, regulators do not inform us as to when and if an inquiry has been concluded. We are currently the
subject of active or dormant regulatory inquiries regarding subjects including, but not limited to: audit trail
reporting, trade reporting, best execution and order execution procedures, short sales, margin lending, anti-money
laundering or potentially manipulative trading by customers, procedures for transfers and trading of U.S.
Micro-Cap securities, procedures for accounts managed by independent financial advisors or referred by third
parties, technology development practices, business continuity planning and other topics of recent regulatory
interest. The Company has procedures for evaluating whether potential regulatory fines are probable, estimable
and material and for updating its contingency reserves and disclosures accordingly. In the current climate, we
expect to pay significant and increasing regulatory fines on various topics on an ongoing basis, as other regulated
financial services businesses do. The amount of any fines, and when and if they will be incurred, typically is
impossible to predict given the nature of the regulatory process.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

30

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY; RELATED STOCKHOLDER

MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Common Stock Information

Interactive Brokers Group Inc.’s Class A common stock trades under the symbol ‘‘IBKR’’ on the Nasdaq Stock
Market LLC. As of February 24, 2020, there were seventeen holders of record, which does not reflect those
shares held beneficially or those shares held in ‘‘street’’ name. Accordingly, the number of beneficial owners of
our common stock exceeds this number.

Dividends and Other Restrictions

We currently intend to pay quarterly dividends of $0.10 per share to our common stockholders for the
foreseeable future.

Stockholder Return Performance Graph

The graph below compares cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock, the S&P 500 Index and the
Nasdaq Financial-100 Index from December 31, 2014 to December 31, 2019. The comparison assumes $100 was
invested on December 31, 2014 in our common stock and each of the foregoing indices and assumes
reinvestment of dividends before consideration of income taxes.

(1) The Nasdaq Financial-100 Index includes 100 of the largest domestic and international financial securities
listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market based on market capitalization. They include companies classified
according to the Industry Classification Benchmark as Financials, which are included within the Nasdaq
Bank, Nasdaq Insurance, and Nasdaq Other Finance Indexes.

(2) The S&P 500 Index includes 500 large cap common stocks actively traded in the U.S. The stocks included
in the S&P 500 are those of large publicly held companies that trade on either of the two largest American
stock markets, the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.

The stock performance depicted in the graph above is not to be relied upon as indicative of future performance.
The stock performance graph shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any of our filings under
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate the same by
reference, nor shall it be deemed to be ‘‘soliciting material’’ or to be ‘‘filed’’ with the SEC or subject to
Regulations 14A or 14C or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act.

31

 
Use of Proceeds

On October 7, 2019, the Company filed a Prospectus Supplement on Form 424B (File Number 333-219552) with
the SEC to register up to 1,000,000 shares of common stock, offering the opportunity for eligible persons to
receive awards in the form of such shares by participating in one or more promotions that are designed to attract
new customers to the Company’s brokerage platform, increase assets held with the Company’s brokerage
subsidiaries and enhance customer loyalty. As of December 31, 2019, the Company has issued 10,000 shares to
IBG LLC for distribution to eligible customers of certain of its subsidiaries. Assuming all shares were issued,
IBG, Inc.’s interest in IBG LLC would increase from 18.5% to 18.7%.

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

The table below presents information about shares of common stock available for future awards under all the
Company’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2019. The Company has not made grants of common
stock outside of its equity compensation plans.

Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights

Weighted-average exercise
price of outstanding options
warrants and rights

Number of securities
remaining available for
future awards under
equity compensation plans(1)

Equity compensation plans
approved by security holders . . . . . .

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

N/A

—

N/A

—

4,659,381

4,659,381

(1) Amount represents restricted stock units available for future issuance of grants under the Company’s

amended 2007 Stock Incentive Plan.

32

ITEM 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The tables below present selected historical consolidated financial and other data of the Company for the periods
indicated.

2019

Year-Ended December 31,
2017
(in millions, except share and per share amounts)

2016

2018

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive

Income Data

Revenues

Commissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trading gains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other (loss) income(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$

Total revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total net revenues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Non-interest expenses

Execution, clearing and distribution fees . . . . .
Fixed expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer bad debt(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total non-interest expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax expense (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling

interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net income available for common stockholders . .

Earnings per share

Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Diluted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Comprehensive income available for common

stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Comprehensive income attributable to

noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Comprehensive earnings per share

Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Diluted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Weighted average common shares outstanding

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

706
1,726
27
121

2,580
643

1,937

251
485
44

780

1,157
68

1,089

928

161

2.11

2.10

165

948

2.18

2.16

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

777
1,392
39
158

2,366
463

1,903

269
434
4

707

1,196
71

1,125

956

169

2.30

2.28

156

890

2.12

2.09

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

647
908
40
332

1,927
225

1,702

241
410
2

653

1,049
256

793

717

76

1.09

1.07

87

771

1.24

1.22

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

612
606
163
94

1,475
79

1,396

244
385
6

635

761
62

699

615

84

1.28

1.25

80

594

1.21

1.19

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

2015

617
492
269
(122)

1,256
67

1,189

231
354
146

731

458
43

415

366

49

0.80

0.78

39

313

0.64

0.62

Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

76,121,570

73,438,209

69,926,933

66,013,247

61,043,071

Diluted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

76,825,863

74,266,370

70,904,921

67,299,413

62,509,796

(1) The results for 2017 include the impact of the Tax Cuts and Job Act (‘‘Tax Act’’) which was enacted on

December 22, 2017. The Tax Act resulted in additional income tax expense of $62 million for the one-time
transition tax on deemed repatriation of earnings of some of our foreign subsidiaries and $115 million from the
remeasurement of the Company’s deferred tax assets at the reduced corporate income tax rate of 21%. Other
income includes a $93 million gain from the remeasurement of Tax Receivable Agreement liability, payable to
Holdings, which is associated with and offsetting to the expense on remeasurement of deferred tax assets. See
Note 4 – ‘‘Equity and Earnings per Share’’ and Note 11 – ‘‘Income Taxes’’ to the audited consolidated financial
statements, in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

33

(2) The results for 2019 include an unusual loss of $42 million recorded as customer bad debt which reflects losses
recognized on margin lending to a small number of our brokerage customers that had taken relatively large
positions in a security listed on a major U.S. exchange, which lost a substantial amount of its value in a very
short timeframe. See Note 14 – ‘‘Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees’’ to the audited consolidated
financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details.

The results for 2015 include an unusual loss of $137 million recorded as customer bad debt. On January 15,
2015, in an unprecedented action, the Swiss National Bank removed a previously instituted and repeatedly
confirmed cap of the currency relative to the euro, causing a sudden move in the value of the Swiss franc.
Several of our customers holding currency futures and spot positions suffered losses in excess of their
deposits with us. We took immediate action to hedge our exposure to the foreign currency receivables from
these customers. As of December 31, 2019, we have incurred cumulative losses, net of hedging activity and
debt collection efforts, of $115 million. We continue to actively pursue collection of the debts. The ultimate
effect of this incident on our results will depend upon the outcome of our debt collection efforts.

2019

2018

December 31,
2017
(in millions)

2016

2015

Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition Data
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments(1) . . . . . . . . . . $33,217 $26,937 $23,999 $26,053 $23,105
Total assets(2),(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $71,676 $60,547 $61,162 $54,673 $48,734
Total liabilities(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $63,736 $53,391 $54,729 $48,853 $43,390
Stockholders’ equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,452 $ 1,282 $ 1,090 $
863
Noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 6,488 $ 5,874 $ 5,343 $ 4,846 $ 4,481

974 $

(1) Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments represent cash and cash equivalents, cash and securities
segregated under federal and other regulations, short-term investments and securities purchased under
agreements to resell.

(2) As of December 31, 2019, approximately $71.1 billion, or 99.2%, of total assets were considered liquid and

consisted primarily of cash, marketable securities and collateralized receivables.

(3) As a result of the Company’s acquisition from Holdings of IBG LLC membership interests, the Company

received not only an interest in IBG LLC but also, for federal income tax purposes, a step-up to the federal
income tax basis of the assets of IBG LLC underlying such additional interest. This increased tax basis is
expected to result in tax benefits as a result of increased amortization deductions. The Company will retain
15% of the tax benefits actually realized. As set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement the Company
entered into with Holdings, the Company will pay the remaining 85% of the realized tax benefits relating to
any applicable tax year to Holdings. The deferred tax asset was $116 million, $140 million, $146 million,
$273 million, and $288 million and the corresponding payable to Holdings was $139 million, $171 million,
$187 million, $285 million, and $291 million as of December 31, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015,
respectively. See ‘‘Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations’’ in Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details related to the
impact of the Tax Act on the Company.

34

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and
the related notes in Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition to historical information,
the following discussion also contains forward-looking statements that include risks and uncertainties. Our actual
results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain
factors, including those set forth under the heading ‘‘Risk Factors’’ in Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report on
Form 10-K.

Business Overview

We are an automated global electronic broker and market maker (although, we have substantially exited our
options market making business - see Note 2 – ‘‘Discontinued Operations and Costs Associated with Exit or
Disposal Activities’’ to the audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on
Form 10-K). We custody and service accounts for hedge and mutual funds, registered investment advisers,
proprietary trading groups, introducing brokers and individual investors. We specialize in routing orders and
executing and processing trades in stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs on more than
135 electronic exchanges and market centers around the world. Since our inception in 1977, we have focused on
developing proprietary software to automate broker-dealer functions. The proliferation of electronic exchanges
over nearly the last three decades has provided us with the opportunity to integrate our software with an
increasing number of exchanges and market centers into one automatically functioning, computerized platform
that requires minimal human intervention.

Our primary assets are our ownership of approximately 18.5% of the membership interests of IBG LLC,
the current holding company for our businesses, and our controlling interest and related contractual rights as the
sole managing member of IBG LLC. The remaining approximately 81.5% of IBG LLC membership interests are
held by Holdings, a holding company that is owned by our founder and Chairman, Mr. Thomas Peterffy and his
affiliates, management and other employees of IBG LLC, and certain other members. The IBG LLC membership
interests held by Holdings will be subject to purchase by us over time in connection with offerings by us of
shares of our common stock.

Business Segments

We report our results in two operating business segments, electronic brokerage and market making (being
discontinued). These segments are analyzed separately as these are the two principal business activities from
which we derive our revenues and to which we allocate resources.

Electronic Brokerage. As an electronic broker, we execute, clear and settle trades globally for both institutional
and individual customers. Capitalizing on our proprietary technology, our systems provide our customers with the
capability to monitor multiple markets around the world simultaneously and to execute trades electronically in
these markets at a low cost, in multiple products and currencies from a single trading account. We offer our
customers access to all classes of tradable, primarily exchange-listed products, including stocks, options, futures,
forex, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs traded on more than 135 electronic exchanges and market centers in
33 countries and in 25 currencies seamlessly around the world. The emerging complexity of multiple market
centers has provided us with the opportunity to build and continuously adapt our order routing software to secure
excellent execution prices.

Our customer base is diverse with respect to geography and segments. Currently, approximately 70% of our
customers reside outside the U.S. in over 200 countries and territories, and over 50% of new customers come
from outside the U.S. Approximately 65% of our customers’ equity is in institutional accounts such as hedge
funds, financial advisors, proprietary trading desks and introducing brokers. Specialized products and services
that we have developed are successfully attracting these accounts. For example, we offer prime brokerage
services, including financing and securities lending to hedge funds; our model portfolio technology and
automated share allocation and rebalancing tools are particularly attractive to financial advisors; and our trading
platform, global access and low pricing attract introducing brokers.

Market Making. As previously announced, we transferred our U.S. options market making operations to Two Sigma
Securities, LLC effective September 29, 2017 and also exited the majority of our options market making activities

35

outside the U.S. by December 31, 2017. During 2019, we exited our Canadian market making operations. We intend
to continue conducting certain proprietary trading activities in stocks and related instruments to facilitate our electronic
brokerage customers’ trading in products such as ETFs, ADRs, CFDs and other financial instruments, as well as
exchange-traded market making activities in a few select markets outside of the U.S. However, we do not expect the
remaining activity to be of sufficient size as to require reporting as a separate segment in the future.

Business Environment

During 2019, U.S. market volatility was generally lower than in the prior year, amid greater optimism about
global economic growth and continued monetary easing by central banks. Equity market indices around the globe
were predominantly up, led by the U.S., where the S&P 500 index rose 29%. U.S. interest rates were lowered
three times by the Federal Reserve in 2019, nearly reversing all the rate hikes of the prior year, while trends in
benchmark rates of other currencies were mixed.

Among our customer base, volatility is highly correlated with customer trading activity across product types.
In 2019, lower volatility led to decreases in trading volume, notably in the U.S., as our customers’ trading
activity, which is sensitive to overall market trends, showed declines. In addition, lower benchmark interest rates,
which can be beneficial by reducing the rate of interest paid on customer cash, can also give us fewer
opportunities to earn more net interest income on fully interest-sensitive balances.

In an improving market environment, with mainly lower interest rates and rising asset values, customer account
growth was robust, with total customer accounts increasing 15% from 2018 to 690 thousand. Healthy inflows
from customers, combined with securities market increases that generally benefited customers’ investment values,
led to customer equity growth of 36% to $174.1 billion. Institutional customers, such as hedge funds, mutual
funds, introducing brokers, proprietary trading groups and financial advisors, comprised approximately 50% of
total accounts and approximately 65% of total customer equity at the end of 2019. We continue to attract large
customers that seek our superior technology and execution capabilities, high interest rates on cash balances, and
low costs, as well as our securities finance services, including margin lending and short sale support.

The following is a summary of the key profit drivers that affect our business and how they compared to 2018:

Global trading volumes. According to data received from exchanges, volumes in exchange-listed equity-based
options decreased by approximately 13% in the U.S. for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to 2018.
Further, U.S. volumes decreased in exchange-listed futures by 19% and in equities by 20%, due to the decline in
volatility among other factors. See the ‘‘Trading Volumes and Brokerage Statistics’’ section below in this Item 7
for additional details regarding our trade volumes, contract and share volumes, and brokerage statistics.

Volatility. Based on the Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index (‘‘VIX®’’), average U.S. market
volatility decreased to 15.4 in 2019, down 7% from the average of 16.6 in 2018. Lower volatility tends to curtail
our electronic brokerage performance because it generally corresponds to lower trading volumes. In 2019, as the
VIX decreased, we saw a negative impact on customer trading activity, which decreased 6%, and our
commissions revenue, which decreased 9%.

Interest Rates. The U.S. Federal Reserve conducted a series of reductions in the target federal funds rate in 2019,
with rate cuts in July, September and October, while rates in other currencies were mixed. Decreases in
benchmark rates can lead to lower net interest income and a narrower net interest margin. As our margin
balances are tied to benchmark rates, declining U.S. interest rates reduce the interest we receive on our
U.S. dollar customer margin balances. Falling rates also reduce the interest we earn on our segregated cash, the
majority of which is invested in U.S. government securities and related instruments. Lower rates also reduce our
interest expense, as we pass along the reduced interest rate to our customers. Because we pay among the highest
rates in the brokerage industry on qualified customer cash balances, and charge among the lowest rates on
margin borrowings, we attract customers who seek to maximize their yields and minimize their costs. We believe
our low rates on margin borrowings and high yields on qualified cash balances are important factors that attract
customers to our platform.

While the interest we pay on customer cash balances and the interest we earn on customer margin loans is based
on fixed spreads around benchmark rates, additional net interest income is earned on lower or
non-interest-bearing customer balances, e.g., on securities accounts with less than $100,000 in equity, and on
rising balances. Electronic brokerage net interest income grew 17%, compared to 2018. Higher net interest
income was due to rising average customer credit balances, up 9% in 2019, in part due to an inflow of new

36

accounts, along with expanded prime broker financing and strong securities lending activity. This was partly
offset by average customer margin loan balances decreasing 9%, due to our customers’ reduced appetite for
leverage as compared to 2018.

Currency fluctuations. As a global electronic broker and market maker trading on exchanges around the world in
multiple currencies, we are exposed to foreign currency risk. We actively manage this exposure by keeping our
net worth in proportion to a defined basket of 14 currencies we call the ‘‘GLOBAL’’ to diversify our risk and to
align our hedging strategy with the currencies that we use in our business. Because we report our financial
results in U.S. dollars, the change in the value of the GLOBAL versus the U.S. dollar affects our earnings.
During 2019 the value of the GLOBAL, as measured in U.S. dollars, decreased 0.06% compared to its value as
of December 31, 2018, which had a negative impact on our comprehensive earnings for 2019.

A discussion of our approach for managing foreign currency exposure is contained in Part II, Item 7A of this
Annual Report on Form 10-K entitled ‘‘Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.’’

Financial Overview

In the fourth quarter of this year, we introduced the reporting of non-GAAP financial measures, which exclude
certain items that may not be indicative of our core operating results and business outlook and may be useful in
evaluating the operating performance of our business and provide a better comparison of our results in the
current period to those in prior and future periods. See the ‘‘Non-GAAP Financial Measures’’ section below in
this Item 7 for additional details.

Diluted earnings per share were $2.10 for the year ended December 31, 2019 (‘‘current year’’), compared to
diluted earnings per share of $2.28 for the year ended December 31, 2018 (‘‘prior year’’). Adjusted diluted
earnings per share were $2.27 for the current year, compared to adjusted diluted earnings per share of $2.28 for
the prior year. The calculation of diluted earnings per share is detailed in Note 4 to the audited consolidated
financial statements, in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Consolidated: For the current year, our net revenues were $1,937 million and income before income taxes was
$1,157 million, compared to net revenues of $1,903 million and income before income taxes of $1,196 million in
the prior year. Adjusted net revenues were $1,984 million and adjusted income before income taxes was
$1,246 million, compared to adjusted net revenues of $1,913 million and adjusted income before income taxes of
$1,206 million in the prior year. The increase in income before income taxes in the current year was mainly
driven by a 17% increase in net interest income partially offset by a 9% decrease in commissions revenue and a
23% decrease in other income. Our pre-tax profit margin was 60%, compared to 63% for the prior year.

Electronic Brokerage: For the current year, income before income taxes in our electronic brokerage segment increased
$20 million, or 2%, compared to the prior year, driven by higher net interest income and lower execution, clearing and
distribution fees, partially offset by lower commissions revenue and other income, and higher customer bad debt
expense, general and administrative expenses, and employee compensation and benefits expense. Net revenues
increased 4%, mainly from a 17% increase in net interest income, driven by higher average Federal Funds rates and
higher average customer credit balances; partially offset by a 9% decrease in commissions, primarily driven by lower
options and futures contract and stock share volumes and a 3% decrease in other income led by lower net
mark-to-market gains on our U.S. government securities portfolio and lower risk exposure fees. Pre-tax profit margin
was 62% for the current year and 64% for the prior year. Customer accounts grew 15% and customer equity increased
36% from the prior year. For the current year, total DARTs for cleared and execution-only customers decreased 3% to
833 thousand, compared to 862 thousand for the prior year.

As previously disclosed, over an extended period in 2018, a small number of our brokerage customers had taken
relatively large positions in a security listed on a major U.S. exchange. We extended margin loans against the
security at a conservatively high collateral requirement. In December 2018, within a very short timeframe, this
security lost a substantial amount of its value. The customer accounts were well margined and at December 31,
2018 they had incurred losses but had not fallen into any deficits. During the quarter ended March 31, 2019,
subsequent price declines in the stock caused these accounts to fall into deficits, despite our efforts to liquidate
the customers’ positions. During the year ended December 31, 2019, we recognized a net aggregate loss of
approximately $42 million. The maximum aggregate loss, which would occur if the security’s price fell to zero
and none of the debts were collected, would be approximately $50 million. The ultimate effect of this incident on
our results will depend upon market conditions and the outcome of our debt collection efforts.

37

Market Making: For the current year, income before income taxes in our market making segment decreased
$4 million, or 12%, to $30 million compared to the prior year, driven by lower trading gains, partially offset by
higher net interest income and lower operating costs on the remaining operations.

In the third quarter of 2017, we completed the transfer of our U.S. options market making business to
Two Sigma Securities, LLC and by the end of 2017 we had exited the majority of our market making activities
outside the U.S. Pursuant to the agreement with Two Sigma Securities, LLC, we have the opportunity for future
income from an earn-out agreement, based on the performance of the options market making business under
Two Sigma Securities, LLC’s control. Under the agreement, we would earn a share of any U.S. profits after
variable costs and other agreed-upon costs for three years; and a separate share of any non-U.S. profits after
variable costs for four years. The agreement provides Two Sigma Securities, LLC the opportunity to enter
non-U.S. parts of this business and, while it does not preclude us from participating in those markets, the
earn-out would be effective only in markets where we did not compete.

Corporate: In connection with our currency diversification strategy (i.e., GLOBALs) as of December 31, 2019,
approximately 30% of our equity was denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. In the current year,
our currency diversification strategy decreased our comprehensive earnings by $36 million (compared to a
decrease of $99 million in the prior year), as the U.S. dollar value of the GLOBAL decreased by approximately
0.06%, compared to its value as of December 31, 2018. The effects of our currency diversification strategy are
reported as (1) a component of other income (loss of $60 million) in the consolidated statement of
comprehensive income and (2) other comprehensive income (‘‘OCI’’) (gain of $24 million) in the consolidated
statement of financial condition and the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. The full effect of the
GLOBAL is captured in comprehensive income.

In June 2018 we consummated a strategic investment in Up Fintech Holding Limited (‘‘Tiger Brokers’’) by
purchasing preferred shares that represented a 7.4% beneficial ownership interest. On March 20, 2019, Tiger
Brokers priced its initial public offering of American Depositary Shares listed on Nasdaq Global Select market
and, concurrently with their initial public offering, we purchased unregistered ordinary shares in Tiger Brokers
through a private placement offering which transactions resulted in a beneficial ownership interest of 7.6%. For
the year ended December 31, 2019 we recognized a net mark-to-market gain of $9 million on this investment.

Net Revenues

Commissions

We earn commissions from our cleared customers for whom we act as an executing and clearing broker and from
our non-cleared customers for whom we act as an execution-only broker. We have a commission structure that
allows customers to choose between an all-inclusive fixed, or ‘‘bundled’’, rate and a tiered, or ‘‘unbundled’’, rate
that offers lower commissions for high volume customers. For ‘‘unbundled’’ commissions, we pass through
regulatory and exchange fees separately from our commissions, adding transparency to our fee structure.
Commissions accounted for 36%, 41%, and 38% of our total net revenues for the years ended December 31,
2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

Our commissions are geographically diversified. In 2019, 2018, and 2017 we generated 33%, 32%, and 32%,
respectively, of commissions from operations conducted internationally.

Interest Income and Interest Expense

We earn interest on customer funds segregated in safekeeping accounts; on customer borrowings on margin,
secured by marketable securities these customers hold with us; from our investments in U.S. and foreign
government securities; from borrowing and lending securities; and on deposits with banks. Interest income
accounted for 89%, 73%, and 53% of our total net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and
2017, respectively. Interest income is partially offset by interest expense.

We pay interest on cash balances customers hold with us; for borrowing and lending securities; and on our
borrowings. Interest expense accounted for 33%, 24%, and 13% of our total net revenues for the years ended
December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

Net interest income accounted for approximately 56%, 49%, and 40% of our total net revenues for the years
ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

38

Trading Gains

Trading gains are generated in the normal course of our remaining market making business. Trading gains are, in
general, proportional to the trading activity in the markets. Trading gains accounted for approximately 1%, 2%,
and 2% of our total net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

Trading gains also include revenues from net dividends. Market making activities require us to hold an inventory
of equity securities. We derive revenues in the form of dividend income from these equity securities. This
dividend income is largely offset by dividend expense incurred when we make payments in lieu of dividends on
short positions in securities in our portfolio. Dividend income and expense arise from holding market making
positions over dates on which dividends are paid to shareholders of record. When a stock pays a dividend, its
market price is generally adjusted downward to reflect the value paid to the shareholders of record, which will
not be received by those who purchase the stock on or after the ex-dividend date. Hence, the apparent gains and
losses due to these price changes must be taken together with the dividends paid and received, respectively, to
accurately reflect the results of our market making activities.

Other Income

A primary component of other income is foreign currency gains and losses from our currency diversification
strategy. A discussion of our approach to managing foreign currency exposure is contained in Part II, Item 7A of
this Annual Report on Form 10-K entitled ‘‘Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.’’

Other income also consists of mark-to-market gains and losses on our U.S. government securities portfolio;
income from market data fees, account activity fees, risk exposure fees, payments for order flow from exchange
mandated programs and IBKR LiteSM liquidity providers, and other brokerage related fees; and gains and losses
on financial instruments that are not held for our market making activities. Other income accounted for
approximately 6%, 8%, and 20% of our total net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and
2017, respectively.

Non-Interest Expenses

Execution, Clearing and Distribution Fees

Execution, clearing and distribution fees include the costs of executing and clearing our electronic brokerage and
market making trades, as well as liquidity rebates received from various exchanges and market centers,
regulatory fees and market data fees. Execution fees are paid primarily to electronic exchanges and market
centers on which we trade. Clearing fees are paid to clearing houses and clearing agents. Market data fees are
paid to third parties to receive streaming price quotes and related information.

Employee Compensation and Benefits

Employee compensation and benefits include salaries, bonuses and other incentive compensation plans, group
insurance, contributions to benefit programs and other related employee costs.

Occupancy, Depreciation and Amortization

Occupancy expenses consist primarily of rental payments on office and data center leases and related occupancy
costs, such as utilities. Depreciation and amortization expenses result from the depreciation of fixed assets, such
as computing and communications hardware, as well as amortization of leasehold improvements and capitalized
in-house software development.

Communications

Communications expenses consist primarily of the cost of voice and data telecommunications lines supporting
our business, including connectivity to exchanges and market centers around the world.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of advertising; professional services expenses, such as
legal and audit work; legal and regulatory matters; and other operating expenses.

39

Customer Bad Debt

Customer bad debt expenses consist primarily of losses incurred by customers in excess of their assets with us,
net of amounts recovered by us.

Income Tax Expense

We pay U.S. federal, state and local income taxes on our taxable income, which is proportional to the percentage
we own of IBG LLC. Also, our operating subsidiaries are subject to income tax in the respective jurisdictions in
which they operate.

Noncontrolling Interest

We are the sole managing member of IBG LLC and, as such, operate and control all of the business and affairs
of IBG LLC and its subsidiaries and consolidate IBG LLC’s financial results into our financial statements. As of
December 31, 2019, we held approximately 18.5% ownership interest in IBG LLC. Holdings holds
approximately 81.5% ownership interest in IBG LLC. We reflect Holdings’ ownership as a noncontrolling
interest in our consolidated statement of financial condition, consolidated statement of comprehensive income,
consolidated statement of changes in equity and consolidated statement of cash flows. Our share of IBG LLC’s
net income, excluding Holdings’ noncontrolling interest, for the current year was approximately 18.4%, compared
to approximately 17.8% for the prior year.

Certain Trends and Uncertainties

We believe that our current operations may be favorably or unfavorably impacted by the following trends that
may affect our financial condition and results of operations:

•

•

•

•

•

•

Retail participation in the equity markets has fluctuated over the past few years due to investor
sentiment, market conditions and a variety of other factors. Retail transaction volumes may not be
sustainable and are not predictable.

Additional consolidation among market centers may adversely affect the value of our IB
SmartRoutingSM software.

Benchmark interest rates have fluctuated over the past years due to economic conditions. Changes in
interest rates may not be predictable.

Price competition in commissions and other fees among broker-dealers may continue to intensify.

Scrutiny of equity and options market makers, hedge funds and soft dollar practices by regulatory and
legislative authorities has increased. New legislation or modifications to existing regulations and rules
could occur in the future.

Our market making activities will continue to be impacted by the following trends until we complete
its wind-down.

•

•

•

The effects of market structure changes, competition (in particular, from high frequency traders)
and market conditions have, during certain periods, exerted downward pressure on bid/offer
spreads realized by market makers.

In an effort to improve the quality of their executions as well as to increase efficiencies, market
makers have increased the level of automation within their operations, which may allow them to
compete more effectively with us.

A driver of our market making profits is the relationship between actual and implied volatility in
the equities markets. The cost of maintaining our conservative risk profile is based on implied
volatility, while our profitability, in part, is based on actual volatility. Hence, our profitability is
increased when actual volatility runs above implied volatility and it is decreased when actual
volatility falls below implied volatility. Implied volatility tends to lag actual volatility.

See ‘‘Risk Factors’’ in Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of other risks that
may affect our financial condition and results of operations.

40

Results of Operations

The table below presents our consolidated results of operations for the periods indicated. The period-to-period
comparisons below of financial results are not necessarily indicative of future results.

Year-Ended December 31,
2018
(in millions, except share and per share amounts)

2017

2019

Revenues

Commissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
Interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trading gains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total net revenues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Non-interest expenses

Execution, clearing and distribution fees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Employee compensation and benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Occupancy, depreciation and amortization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General and administrative. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer bad debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total non-interest expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Income before income taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. . . . . . . . . . .

$

706
1,726
27
121

2,580
643

1,937

251
288
60
25
112
44

780

1,157
68

1,089
928

$

777
1,392
39
158

2,366
463

1,903

269
264
49
25
96
4

707

1,196
71

1,125
956

Net income available for common stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $

161

$

169

$

Earnings per share

Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $

Diluted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $

2.11

2.10

$

$

2.30

2.28

$

$

647
908
40
332

1,927
225

1,702

241
249
47
28
86
2

653

1,049
256

793
717

76

1.09

1.07

Weighted average common shares outstanding

Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

76,121,570

73,438,209

69,926,933

Diluted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

76,825,863

74,266,370

70,904,921

Comprehensive income

Net income available for common stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $

161

$

169

$

Other comprehensive income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cumulative translation adjustment, before income taxes . . . . . . . . . .
Income taxes related to items of other comprehensive income . . . . .

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4
—

4

(14)
(1)

(13)

Comprehensive income available for common stockholders . . . . . . . . . $

165

$

156

$

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
Other comprehensive income - cumulative translation adjustment . .

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . $

928
20

948

$

$

956
(66)

890

$

$

76

11
—

11

87

717
54

771

41

The table below presents our consolidated results of operations as a percent of our total net revenues for the
periods indicated.

Year-Ended December 31,
2018

2017

2019

Revenues

Commissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trading gains. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest expense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total net revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Non-interest expenses

Execution, clearing and distribution fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Employee compensation and benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Occupancy, depreciation and amortization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General and administrative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer bad debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total non-interest expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Income before income taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax expense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net income available for common stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

36%
89%
1%
6%

133%
33%

100%

13%
15%
3%
1%
6%
2%

40%

60%
4%
56%
48%

8%

41%
73%
2%
8%

124%
24%

100%

14%
14%
3%
1%
5%
0%

37%

63%
4%
59%
50%

9%

38%
53%
2%
20%

113%
13%

100%

14%
15%
3%
2%
5%
0%

38%

62%
15%
47%
42%

4%

Year Ended December 31, 2019 (‘‘current year’’) compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2018
(‘‘prior year’’)

Net Revenues

Total net revenues, for the current year, increased $34 million, or 2%, compared to the prior year, to
$1,937 million. The increase in net revenues was primarily due to higher net interest income, partially offset by
lower commissions and other income.

Commissions

Commissions, for the current year, decreased $71 million, or 9%, compared to the prior year, to $706 million,
driven by lower customer trading volumes in options, futures and stocks. Total customer options and futures
contract and stock share volumes decreased 3%, 15% and 16%, respectively, compared to the prior year.
The declines were in line with lower volatility and lower overall industry volumes. Total DARTs for cleared and
execution-only customers, for the current year, decreased 3% to 833 thousand, compared to 862 thousand for the
prior year. DARTs for cleared customers, i.e., customers for whom we execute trades, as well as, clear and carry
positions, for the current year, decreased 5% to 748 thousand, compared to 791 thousand for the prior year.
Average commission per commissionable order for cleared customers, for the current year, decreased 5% to
$3.67, compared to $3.87 for the prior year, reflecting smaller trade sizes across all product types.

Interest Income and Interest Expense

Net interest income (interest income less interest expense), for the current year, increased $154 million, or 17%,
compared to the prior year, to $1,083 million. The increase in net interest income was driven by higher customer
credit balances and higher average benchmark rates.

42

Net interest income on customer balances, for the current year, increased $87 million, compared to the prior year,
driven by a $4.4 billion increase in average customer credit balances, a portion of which were invested in
interest-bearing U.S. government securities and a 0.33% increase in the average Federal Funds effective rate to
2.16%, compared to the prior year.

We earn income on securities loaned and borrowed to support customer long and short stock holdings in margin
accounts. In addition, our Stock Yield Enhancement Program provides an opportunity for customers with
fully-paid stock to allow us to lend it out. We pay customers a rebate on the cash collateral generally equal to
50% of the income we earn from lending the shares. We place cash collateral securing the loans in the
customer’s account.

In the current year, average securities borrowed increased 19%, to $3.9 billion and average securities loaned
increased 3%, to $4.1 billion, compared to the prior year. Securities borrowed and loaned balances were both
impacted by increased activity in the electronic brokerage segment. Net interest earned from securities lending is
also affected by the level of demand for securities positions held by our customers. During the current year, net
interest earned from securities lending transactions increased $41 million, or 19%, compared to the prior year.
It should be noted that securities lending transactions entered into to support customer activity may produce
interest income (expense) that is offset by interest expense (income) related to customer balances.

The Company measures return on interest-earning assets using net interest margin (‘‘NIM’’). NIM is computed
by dividing the annualized net interest income by the average interest-earning assets for the period.
Interest-earning assets consist of cash and securities segregated for regulatory purposes (including U.S.
government securities and securities purchased under agreements to resell), customer margin loans, securities
borrowed, other interest-earning assets (solely firm assets) and customer cash balances swept into FDIC-insured
banks as part of our Insured Bank Deposit Sweep Program. Interest-bearing liabilities consist of customer credit
balances, securities loaned, and other interest-bearing liabilities.

Yields are generally a reflection of benchmark interest rates in each currency in which the Company and its
customers hold cash balances. Because a substantial portion of customer cash and margin loans are denominated
in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, changes in U.S. benchmark interest rates do not impact the total amount
of segregated cash and securities, customer margin loans and customer credit balances. Furthermore, because
interest is paid only on eligible cash credit balances (i.e., balances over $10 thousand or equivalent, in securities
accounts with over $100 thousand in equity, and in smaller accounts at reduced rates), changes in benchmark
interest rates are not passed through to the total amount of customer credit balances. Finally, the Company’s
policies with respect to currencies with negative interest rates impact the yields on segregated cash and customer
credit balances as effective interest rates in those currencies fluctuate.

Generally, as benchmark interest rates rise a larger portion of the interest earned on securities lending
transactions is reported as net interest income on ‘‘Segregated cash and securities, net’’ instead of ‘‘Securities
borrowed and loaned, net’’ because interest earned on cash collateral held in specially designated bank accounts
for the benefit of customers, in accordance with the U.S. customer protection rules, increases.

43

The table below presents net interest income information corresponding to interest-earning assets and
interest-bearing liabilities for the periods indicated.

2019

Year-Ended December 31,
2018
(in millions)

2017

Average interest-earning assets

Segregated cash and securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer margin loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities borrowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other interest-earning assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FDIC sweeps(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$27,812
26,483
3,930
5,407
2,046

$20,911
29,253
3,310
4,362
1,259

$23,824
23,289
3,964
2,930
124

$65,678

$59,095

$54,131

Average interest-bearing liabilities

Customer credit balances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities loaned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other interest-bearing liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$52,625
4,088
196

$48,179
3,982
241

$45,515
3,917
101

$56,909

$52,402

$49,533

Net Interest income

Segregated cash and securities, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer margin loans(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities borrowed and loaned, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer credit balances, net(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other net interest income(1/3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net interest income(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$

$

560
694
257
(515)
121

$

337
677
216
(362)
90

201
392
192
(137)
40

$ 1,117

$

958

$

688

Net interest margin (‘‘NIM’’) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.70%

1.62%

1.27%

Annualized Yields

Segregated cash and securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer margin loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer credit balances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.01%
2.62%
0.98%

1.61%
2.31%
0.75%

0.84%
1.68%
0.30%

(1) Represents the average amount of customer cash swept into FDIC-insured banks as part of our Insured Bank
Deposit Sweep Program. This item is not recorded in the Company’s consolidated statements of financial
condition. Income derived from program deposits is reported in other net interest income in the table above.

(2)

(3)

Interest income and interest expense on customer margin loans and customer credit balances, respectively,
are calculated on daily cash balances within each customer’s account on a net basis, which may result in an
offset of balances across multiple account segments (e.g., between securities and commodities segments).

Includes income from financial instruments which has the same characteristics as interest, but is reported in
other income in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income, of $34 million,
$29 million and $5 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Trading Gains

Trading gains, for the current year, decreased $12 million, or 31%, compared to the prior year, to $27 million,
on the remaining market making operations. Our market making operations executed 17.1 million trades
compared to 18.7 million trades executed in the prior year, reflecting the continuing wind-down of our market
making activities. In addition, market making options and futures contract and stock share volumes decreased
16%, 27% and 21%, respectively.

Included in trading gains are net dividends. Dividend income and expense arise from holding market making
positions over dates on which dividends are paid to shareholders of record. When a stock pays a dividend,

44

its market price is generally adjusted downward to reflect the value paid, which will not be received by those
who purchase stock on or after the ex-dividend date. Hence, the apparent gains and losses due to these price
changes, reflecting the value of dividends paid to shareholders, must be taken together with the dividends paid
and received, respectively, to accurately reflect the results of our market making activities.

Other Income

Other income, for the current year, decreased $37 million, or 23%, compared to the prior year, to $121 million.
Other income from core items decreased $5 million, or 4%, compared to the prior year, to $136 million, mainly
driven by a $10 million decrease in risk exposure fee income, partially offset by a $5 million increase in FDIC
sweep fee income. Other income from non-core items decreased $32 million, to a $15 million loss, mainly driven
by a $41 million decrease due to our currency diversification strategy, partially offset by net mark-to-market
gains of $16 million on our investments, including $9 million on Tiger Brokers. A discussion of our approach to
managing foreign currency exposure is contained in Part II, Item 7A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K
entitled ‘‘Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.’’

Non-Interest Expenses

Non-interest expenses, for the current year, increased $73 million, or 10%, compared to the prior year, to
$780 million, mainly due to a $40 million increase in customer bad debt expense, as described above in the
Financial Overview section; a $24 million increase in employee compensation and benefits expenses; a
$16 million increase in general and administrative expenses; and an $11 million increase in occupancy,
depreciation and amortization; partially offset by an $18 million decrease in execution, clearing and distribution
fees, compared to the prior year. As a percentage of total net revenues, non-interest expenses were 40% for the
current year and 37% for the prior year.

Execution, Clearing and Distribution Fees

Execution, clearing and distribution fees, for the current year, decreased $18 million, or 7%, compared to the
prior year, to $251 million, driven by lower trade volumes as customer options and futures contract and stock
share volumes decreased 3%, 15% and 16%, respectively, compared to the prior year.

Employee Compensation and Benefits

Employee compensation and benefits expenses, for the current year, increased $24 million, or 9%, compared to
the prior year, to $288 million, associated with a 16% increase in the average number of employees to 1,523,
for the current year, compared to 1,317 for the prior year. Within the operating business segments, we continued
to add staff in customer service, legal and compliance, and software development to support electronic brokerage
and to reduce staff in market making. As we continue to grow, our focus on automation has allowed us to
maintain a relatively small staff. As a percentage of total net revenues, employee compensation and benefits
expenses were 15% for the current year and 14% for the prior year.

Occupancy, Depreciation and Amortization

Occupancy, depreciation and amortization expenses, for the current year, increased $11 million, or 22%,
compared to the prior year, to $60 million, mainly due to higher office rent and related expenses as we expand
our physical space for both offices and data centers. As a percentage of total net revenues, occupancy,
depreciation and amortization expenses were 3% for both the current year and the prior year.

Communications

Communications expenses, for the current year, were unchanged, compared to the prior year.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses, for the current year, increased $16 million, or 17%, compared to the prior
year, to $112 million, mainly due to higher professional services fees and expenses related to legal and regulatory
matters. As a percentage of total net revenues, general and administrative expenses were 6% for the current year
and 5% for the prior year.

45

Customer Bad Debt

Customer bad debt expense, for the current year, increased $40 million, compared to the prior year, to
$44 million, due to net margin lending losses, as described in the Financial Overview section above in Item 7.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense, for the current year, decreased $3 million, or 4%, to $68 million, compared to the prior year
due to lower income taxes at some of our foreign subsidiaries.

In 2017, the Tax Act significantly revised U.S. corporate income tax law by, among other things, reducing the
corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% and implementing a modified territorial tax system that includes a
one-time transition tax on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. As a result of the Tax Act, the
prior year results include a net reduction of approximately $84 million related to the following: (1) the one-time
transition tax on deemed repatriation of earnings on some of our foreign subsidiaries resulted in an additional
income tax expense of $62 million, to be paid over an eight-year period, (2) the remeasurement of deferred tax
assets and liabilities at the reduced corporate income tax rate of 21% resulted in additional income tax expense
of $115 million, and (3) in connection with the remeasurement of our deferred tax asset arising from the
acquisition of interests in IBG LLC, we also remeasured the related Tax Receivable Agreement liability, payable
to Holdings, resulting in the recognition of a $93 million gain, which is reported in other income in the
consolidated statements of comprehensive income. See Note 9 – ‘‘Other Income’’ and Note 11 – ‘‘Income Taxes’’
to the audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The table below presents information about our income tax expense for the periods indicated.

Year-Ended December 31,
2017
2018
2019
(in millions, except %)

Consolidated

Consolidated income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,157 $1,196 $1,049
IBG, Inc. stand-alone income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(1)

2

92(1)

Operating subsidiaries income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,158 $1,194 $ 957

Operating subsidiaries

Income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,158 $1,194 $ 957
31
Income tax expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
62
Income tax expense - effect of the Tax Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net income available to members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,135 $1,162 $ 864

32
—

23
—

IBG, Inc.

Average ownership percentage in IBG LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net income available to IBG, Inc. from operating subsidiaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 207 $ 206 $ 147
IBG, Inc. stand-alone income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax expense - effect of the Tax Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(1)
206
45
—

2
208
39
—

18.4% 17.8% 17.0%

Net income available to common stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 161 $ 169 $

92(1)
239
48
115
76

Consolidated income tax expense

Income tax expense attributable to operating subsidiaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
Income tax expense attributable IBG, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Consolidated income tax expense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $

23 $
45
68 $

93
32 $
39
163
71 $ 256

Consolidated effects of the Tax Act

One-time repatriation tax expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ — $ — $
Remeasurement of U.S. deferred tax assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Remeasurement of liability under the Tax Receivable Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

—
—

—
—

Total decrease in earnings resulting from the Tax Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ — $ — $

62
115
(93)
84

(1)

Includes a $93 million gain from the remeasurement of the Tax Receivable Agreement liability as a result of
the Tax Act, included in other income.

46

Operating Results

Income before income taxes, for the current year, decreased $39 million, or 3%, to $1,157 million, compared to
the prior year. Pretax profit margin was 60% for the current year and 63% for the prior year.

Comparing our operating results for the current year to the prior year, excluding the effects of our currency
diversification strategy, our net mark-to-market on investments and unusual bad debt expense: adjusted net
revenues were $1,984 million, up 4%; adjusted income before income taxes was $1,246 million, up 3%; and
adjusted pre-tax profit margin was 63% for both the current year and the prior year. See the ‘‘Non-GAAP
Financial Measures’’ section below in this Item 7 for additional details.

Year Ended December 31, 2018 compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2017

For a discussion of changes for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the Year Ended December 31,
2017 refer to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2019.

47

Trading Volumes and Brokerage Statistics

The tables below present historical trading volumes and brokerage statistics for our business. However, volumes
are not the only drivers in our business.

TRADE VOLUMES:

(in 000’s, except %)

Period
2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Brokerage
Cleared
Trades
242,846
259,932
265,501
328,099
302,289

%
Change

Brokerage
Non
Cleared
Trades
18,769
7% 16,515
2% 14,835
24% 21,880
26,346
(8%)

%
Change

Market
Making
Trades
65,937
(12%) 64,038
(10%) 31,282
47% 18,663
20% 17,136

%
Change

Total
Trades
327,553
(3%) 340,485
(51%) 311,618
(40%) 368,642
(8%) 345,771

%
Change

4%
(8%)
18%
(6%)

Avg. Trades
per U.S.
Trading Day
1,305
1,354
1,246
1,478
1,380

CONTRACT AND SHARE VOLUMES:

(in 000’s, except %)

TOTAL

Period

Options
(contracts)

%
Change

Futures(1)
(contracts)

%
Change

Stocks
(shares)

%
Change

2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

634,388
572,834
395,885
408,406
390,739

(10%)
(31%)

140,668
143,287
124,123
3% 151,762
128,770
(4%)

172,742,520
2% 155,439,227
(13%) 220,247,921
22% 210,257,186
(15%) 176,752,967

(10%)
42%
(5%)
(16%)

BROKERAGE TOTAL

Period

Options
(contracts)

%
Change

Futures(1)
(contracts)

%
Change

Stocks
(shares)

%
Change

2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

298,982
265,457
293,860
358,852
349,287

125,693
(11%)
129,082
11% 118,427
22% 148,485
126,363
(3%)

157,366,444
3% 142,356,340
(8%) 213,108,299
25% 198,909,375
(15%) 167,826,490

(10%)
50%
(7%)
(16%)

BROKERAGE CLEARED

Period

Options
(contracts)

%
Change

Futures(1)
(contracts)

%
Change

Stocks
(shares)

%
Change

2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

244,356
227,413
253,304
313,795
302,068

124,206
(7%)
128,021
11% 116,858
24% 146,806
125,225
(4%)

153,443,988
3% 138,523,932
(9%) 209,435,662
26% 194,012,882
(15%) 163,030,500

(10%)
51%
(7%)
(16%)

(1) Futures contract volume includes options on futures.

48

MARKET MAKING

Period

Options
(contracts)

%
Change

Futures(1)
(contracts)

%
Change

Stocks
(shares)

%
Change

2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

335,406
307,377
102,025
49,554
41,452

(8%)
(67%)
(51%)
(16%)

14,975
14,205
5,696
3,277
2,407

15,376,076
(5%) 13,082,887
7,139,622
(60%)
11,347,811
(42%)
8,926,477
(27%)

(15%)
(45%)
59%
(21%)

(1) Futures contract volume includes options on futures.

BROKERAGE STATISTICS:

(in 000’s, except % and where noted)

Year over Year

4Q2019

4Q2018 % Change

Total Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer Equity (in billions)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

690
$174.1

598
$128.4

Cleared DARTs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total Customer DARTs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

719
797

856
951

Cleared Customers (in $’s, except DART per account)

Commission per Cleared Commissionable Order(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cleared Avg. DART per Account (Annualized) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net Revenue per Avg. Account (Annualized). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 3.63
266
$2,801

$ 3.79
364
$3,225

15%
36%

(16%)
(16%)

(4%)
(27%)
(13%)

(1) Excludes non-customers.

(2) Commissionable order – a customer order that generates commissions

Business Segments

The following sections discuss the results of our operations by business segment, excluding a discussion of
corporate segment income and expense. In the following tables, revenues and expenses directly associated with
each business segment are included in determining income before income taxes. Due to the integrated nature of
the business segments, estimates and judgments have been made in allocating certain revenue and expense items.
Transactions between business segments generally result from one subsidiary facilitating the business of another
subsidiary through the use of its existing trading memberships and clearing arrangements. In such cases, certain
revenue and expense items are eliminated to accurately reflect the external business conducted in each business
segment. Rates on transactions between business segments are designed to approximate full costs. In addition to
execution, clearing and distribution fees, each business segment’s operating expenses include: (i) employee
compensation and benefits expenses that are incurred directly in support of each business segment, (ii) general
and administrative expenses, which include directly incurred expenses for property leases, professional fees,
travel and entertainment, communications and information services, equipment, and (iii) indirect support costs
(including compensation and other related operating expenses) for administrative services provided by corporate
segment subsidiaries. Such administrative services include, but are not limited to, computer software development
and support, accounting, tax, legal and facilities management.

49

Electronic Brokerage

The table below presents the results of our electronic brokerage operations for the periods indicated.

2019

Year-Ended December 31,
2018
(in millions)

2017

Revenues

Commissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total net revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 706
1,738
164

2,608
687

1,921

$ 777
1,386
169

2,332
490

1,842

$ 648
829
108

1,585
180

1,405

Non-interest expenses

Execution, clearing and distribution fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Employee compensation and benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Occupancy, depreciation and amortization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General and administrative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer bad debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total non-interest expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

238
142
21
16
263
44

724

254
131
17
16
243
4

665

210
122
18
15
178
2

545

Income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,197

$1,177

$ 860

Year Ended December 31, 2019 (‘‘current year’’) compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2018
(‘‘prior year’’)

Electronic brokerage total net revenues, for the current year, increased $79 million, or 4%, compared to the prior year,
to $1,921 million, due to higher net interest income, partially offset by lower commissions and other income.

Commissions, for the current year, decreased $71 million, or 9%, compared to the prior year, to $706 million,
driven by lower customer trading volumes in options, futures and stocks. Total customer options and futures
contract and stock share volumes decreased 3%, 15% and 16%, respectively, compared to the prior year.
The decline was in line with lower volatility and lower industry trade volumes. Total DARTs for cleared and
execution-only customers, for the current year, decreased 3% to 833 thousand, compared to 862 thousand for the
prior year. DARTs for cleared customers, i.e., customers for whom we execute trades, as well as, clear and carry
positions, for the current year, decreased 5% to 748 thousand, compared to 791 thousand for the prior year.
Average commission per commissionable order for cleared customers, for the current year, decreased 5% to
$3.67, compared to $3.87 for the prior year, reflecting smaller trade sizes across all product types.

Net interest income, for the current year, increased $155 million, or 17%, compared to the prior year, to
$1,051 million driven by a $4.4 billion increase in average customer credit balances, a portion of which were
invested in interest-bearing U.S. government securities and an 0.33% increase in the average Federal Funds
effective rate to 2.16%, partially offset by a $2.8 billion decrease in average customer margin loans. As a result
of the increase in the average Federal Funds effective rate, interest expense on customer credit balances
denominated in U.S. dollars increased from the prior year, in part, as we passed along more interest to our
customers. Increased customer activity impacted securities borrowed and loaned balances. During the current
year, net interest earned from securities lending transactions increased $33 million, or 16%, compared to the
prior year. Note that securities lending transactions that support customer activity may produce interest income
(expense) that is offset by interest expense (income) related to customer balances.

Other income, for the current year, decreased $5 million, or 3%, compared to the prior year, to $164 million,
mainly driven by a $10 million decrease in risk exposure fees, and a $7 million net mark-to-market gain on our
U.S. government securities portfolio in the current year compared to a $9 million net mark-to-market gain in the
prior year, partially offset by a $5 million increase in FDIC sweep fee income and a $4 million increase in
account activity fee income, compared to the prior year.

50

Non-interest expenses, for the current year, increased $59 million, or 9%, compared to the prior year, to
$724 million. The increase is driven by a $40 million increase in customer bad debt expense, as described in the
Financial Overview section above; a $20 million increase in general and administrative expenses, mainly due to
higher expenses related to legal and regulatory matters; and an $11 million increase in employee compensation
and benefits expenses driven by a 13% increase in the average number of employees providing services to the
electronic brokerage segment. Within non-interest expenses, execution, clearing and distribution fees decreased
$16 million, reflecting the decline in trade volumes in the current year. As a percentage of total net revenues,
non-interest expenses were 38% for the current year and 36% for the prior year.

Operating Results

Income before income taxes, for the current year, increased $20 million, or 2%, compared to the prior year, to
$1,197 million. As a percentage of total net revenues for the electronic brokerage segment, income before income
taxes was 62% for the current year and 64% for the prior year.

Comparing electronic brokerage operating results for the current year to the prior year: excluding the net
mark-to-market gains and losses from our U.S. government securities portfolio, and the unusual bad debt expense
described in the Financial Overview above, adjusted net revenues were $1,914 million, up 4%; adjusted income before
income taxes was $1,232 million, up 5%; and adjusted pre-tax profit margin was 64% for both the current year and
the prior year. See the ‘‘Non-GAAP Financial Measures’’ section below in this Item 7 for additional details.

Year Ended December 31, 2018 compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2017

For a discussion of changes for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the Year Ended December 31,
2017 refer to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2019.

Market Making

The table below presents the results of our market making operations for the periods indicated.

Year-Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2019
(in millions)

Revenues

Trading gains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total net revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$27
48
7
82
15
67

Non-interest expenses

14
Execution, clearing and distribution fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Employee compensation and benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11
Occupancy, depreciation and amortization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . —
1
Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11
General and administrative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total non-interest expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
37
$30
Income (loss) before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$39
49
9
97
21
76

16
10
—
1
15
42
$34

$ 40
89
16
145
59
86

32
25
3
7
46
113
$ (27)

Year Ended December 31, 2019 (‘‘current year’’) compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2018
(‘‘prior year’’)

As previously described, since 2017 we have been winding down our options market making operations and the
market making results described below reflect this pull back.

Market making total net revenues, for the current year, decreased $9 million, or 12%, compared to the prior year,
to $67 million, due to lower trading gains and other income, partially offset by higher net interest income.

51

Trading gains, for the current year, decreased $12 million, or 31%, compared to the prior year, to $27 million,
on the remaining market making operations. Our market making operations executed 17.1 million trades
compared to 18.7 million trades executed in the prior year, reflecting the continuing wind-down of our market
making activities. In addition, market making options and futures contract and stock share volumes decreased
16%, 27% and 21%, respectively.

Net interest income, for the current year, increased $5 million, or 18%, compared to the prior year, to
$33 million.

Other income, for the current year, decreased $2 million, or 22%, compared to the prior year, to $7 million,
mainly due to a decrease in consulting fee income and the non-recurrence of an $2 million recovery of costs
related to the sale of our U.S. options market making operations to Two Sigma Securities, LLC in the prior year,
partially offset by an increase in dividend income from investments.

Non-interest expenses, for the current year, decreased $5 million, or 12%, compared to the prior year, to
$37 million. Within non-interest expenses, execution, clearing and distribution fees decreased $2 million, or 13%,
on lower trading volumes in options, futures and stocks, and general and administrative expenses decreased
$4 million, or 27%, compared to the prior year. As a percentage of total net revenues, non-interest expenses were
55% for both the current year and for the prior year.

Income before income taxes, for the current year, decreased $4 million, compared to the prior year, to
$30 million.

Year Ended December 31, 2018 compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2017

For a discussion of changes for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the Year Ended December 31,
2017 refer to our Annual Report on form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2019.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use certain non-GAAP financial measures as additional measures to enhance the understanding of our
financial results. These non-GAAP financial measures include adjusted net revenues, adjusted income before
income taxes, adjusted net income available for common stockholders and adjusted diluted earnings per share
(‘‘EPS’’). We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures are important measures of our financial
performance because they exclude certain items that may not be indicative of our core operating results and
business outlook and may be useful to investors and analysts in evaluating the operating performance of the
business and facilitating a meaningful comparison of our results in the current period to those in prior and future
periods.

Adjusted net revenues, adjusted income before income taxes, adjusted net income available for common
stockholders and adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC Regulation G.

• We define adjusted net revenues as net revenues adjusted to remove the effect of our currency

diversification strategy and net mark-to-market on investments.

• We define adjusted income before income taxes as income before income taxes adjusted to remove the
effect of our currency diversification strategy, net mark-to-market on investments and unusual bad debt
expense.

• We define adjusted net income available to common stockholders as net income available for common
stockholders adjusted to remove the after-tax effects of our currency diversification strategy, net
mark-to-market on investments, and unusual bad debt expense attributable to IBG, Inc.

Mark-to-market on investments represents the net mark-to-market gains (losses) on our U.S. government
securities portfolio, which are typically held to maturity, investments in equity securities that do not qualify for
equity method accounting which are measured at fair value, and equity securities taken over by the Company
from customers related to losses on margin loans described below.

Unusual bad debt expense includes material losses on margin loans resulting from unusual events that occur in
the marketplace. For the twelve months ending December 31, 2019, unusual bad debt expense reflects losses
recognized on margin lending to a small number of our brokerage customers that had taken relatively large
positions in a security listed on a major U.S. exchange, which lost a substantial amount of its value in a very

52

short timeframe. (See Note 14 – ‘‘Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees’’ to the audited consolidated
financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual report on Form 10-K.)

The effect of our currency diversification strategy, net mark-to-market on investments and unusual bad debt
expense are excluded because management does not believe they are indicative of our underlying core business
performance.

These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, measures of
financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP2.

The table below presents a reconciliation of consolidated GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures for the periods
indicated.

Adjusted net revenues
Net revenues - GAAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-GAAP adjustments

Currency diversification strategy, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mark-to-market on investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total non-GAAP adjustments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adjusted net revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Adjusted income before income taxes
Income before income taxes - GAAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-GAAP adjustments

Currency diversification strategy, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mark-to-market on investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unusual bad debt expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total non-GAAP adjustments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adjusted income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Year-Ended December 31,

2019

2018

(in millions, except share
and per share amounts)

$1,937

$1,903

60
(13)
47
$1,984

19
(9)
10
$1,913

$1,157

$1,196

60
(13)
42
89
$1,246

19
(9)
—
10
$1,206

Adjusted pre-tax profit margin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

63%

63%

Adjusted net income available for common stockholders
Net income available for common stockholders - GAAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-GAAP adjustments

Currency diversification strategy, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mark-to-market on investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unusual bad debt expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax effect of above adjustments(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total non-GAAP adjustments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adjusted net income available for common stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 161

$ 169

11
(2)
8
(3)
13
$ 174

3
(2)
—
(1)
1
$ 170

2 Refers to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

53

Adjusted diluted EPS
Diluted EPS - GAAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
Non-GAAP adjustments

Currency diversification strategy, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mark-to-market on investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unusual bad debt expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax effect of above adjustments(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total non-GAAP adjustments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adjusted diluted EPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $

Year-Ended December 31,

2019

2018

(in millions, except share
and per share amounts)

2.10

$

2.28

0.14
(0.03)
0.10
(0.04)
0.17
2.27

$

0.05
(0.02)
0.00
(0.02)
0.01
2.28

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

76,825,863

74,266,370

(1) The income tax effect is estimated using the corporate income tax rates applicable to the Company.

The table below presents a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures for the electronic brokerage
segment for the periods indicated.

Adjusted net revenues
Net revenues - GAAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-GAAP adjustments

Mark-to-market on U.S. government securities portfolio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total non-GAAP adjustments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Year-Ended December 31,

2019

2018

(in millions)

$1,921

$1,842

(7)

(7)

(9)

(9)

Adjusted net revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,914

$1,833

Adjusted income before income taxes
Income before income taxes - GAAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-GAAP adjustments

Mark-to-market on U.S. government securities portfolio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unusual bad debt expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total non-GAAP adjustments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,197

$1,177

(7)
42

35

(9)
—

(9)

Adjusted income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,232

$1,168

Adjusted pre-tax profit margin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

64%

64%

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We maintain a highly liquid balance sheet. The majority of our assets consist of investments of customer funds,
collateralized receivables arising from customer-related and proprietary securities transactions, and
exchange-listed marketable securities, which are marked-to-market daily. Collateralized receivables consist
primarily of customer margin loans, securities borrowed, and securities purchased under agreements to resell.
As of December 31, 2019, total assets were $71.7 billion of which approximately $71.1 billion, or 99.2%, were
considered liquid.

Daily monitoring of liquidity needs and available collateral levels is undertaken to help ensure that an
appropriate liquidity cushion, in the form of unpledged collateral, is maintained at all times. We actively manage
our excess liquidity and we maintain significant borrowing facilities through the securities lending markets and
with banks. As a general practice, we maintain sufficient levels of cash on hand to provide us with a buffer
should we need immediately available funds for any reason. Based on our current level of operations, we believe
our cash flows from operations, available cash and available borrowings will be adequate to meet our future
liquidity needs for more than the next twelve months.

54

Liability balances, as of December 31, 2019, in connection with securities loaned and payable to customers were
higher than their respective average monthly balances during the current year and our short-term borrowings
were lower than the average monthly balance during the current year.

Cash and cash equivalents held by our non-U.S. operating subsidiaries as of December 31, 2019 were
$1,121 million ($769 million as of December 31, 2018). These funds are primarily intended to finance each
individual operating subsidiary’s local operations, and thus would not be available to fund U.S. domestic
operations unless repatriated through payment of dividends to IBG LLC. In 2018 a dividend of $54 million was
paid to IBG LLC from one of our non-U.S. subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2019, we had no intention to
repatriate further amounts from non-U.S. operating subsidiaries, except for Timber Hill Canada Company, which
discontinued its market making activities in Canada this year. With the enactment of the Tax Act, we recognized
a $62 million liability for the one-time transition tax on deemed repatriation of earnings of some of our foreign
subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2017. As a result, in the event dividends were to be paid to the
Company in the future by a non-U.S. operating subsidiaries, the Company would not be required to accrue and
pay income taxes on such dividends, except for foreign taxes in the form of dividend withholding tax, if any,
imposed on the recipient of the distribution or dividend distribution tax imposed on the payor of the distribution.

Historically, our consolidated equity has consisted primarily of accumulated retained earnings, which to date have
been sufficient to fund our operations and growth. Our consolidated equity increased 11% to $7.9 billion as of
December 31, 2019 from $7.2 billion as of December 31, 2018. This increase is attributable to total
comprehensive income, partially offset by distributions and dividends paid during 2019.

Cash Flows

The table below presents our cash flows from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities for
the periods indicated.

Year-Ended December 31,
2017
2018
2019
(in millions)

Net cash provided by operating activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,666 $2,356 $1,065
(26)
Net cash used in investing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(374)
Net cash used in financing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
65
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash . . . . . . . .

(57)
(399)
(79)

(89)
(419)
24

Increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,182 $1,821 $ 730

Our cash flows from operating activities are largely a reflection of the changes in customer credit and margin
loan balances in our electronic brokerage business. Our cash flows from investing activities are primarily related
to other investments, capitalized internal software development, purchases and sales of memberships at
exchanges where we trade, and strategic investments where such investments may enable us to offer better
execution alternatives to our current and prospective customers, allow us to influence exchanges to provide
competing products at better prices using sophisticated technology, or enable us to acquire either technology or
customers faster than we could develop them on our own. Our cash flows from financing activities are comprised
of short-term borrowings, capital transactions and payments made to Holdings under the Tax Receivable
Agreement. Short-term borrowings from banks are part of our daily cash management in support of operating
activities. Capital transactions consist primarily of quarterly dividends paid to common stockholders and related
distributions paid to Holdings.

Year Ended December 31, 2019: Our cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash (i.e., cash and cash equivalents
that are subject to withdrawal or usage restrictions) increased by $2,182 million to $12.3 billion for the year
ended December 31, 2019. We raised $2,666 million in net cash from operating activities. We used net cash of
$508 million in our investing and financing activities, primarily for distributions to noncontrolling interests,
dividends paid to our common stockholders and payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Investing
activities mainly consisted of purchases of other investments and property, equipment and intangible assets.

55

Year Ended December 31, 2018: For a discussion of changes in cash flows for the year ended December 31,
2018 refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2019.

Year Ended December 31, 2017: For a discussion of changes in cash flows for the year ended December 31,
2018 refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2019.

Regulatory Capital Requirements

Our principal operating subsidiaries are subject to separate regulation and capital requirements in the U.S. and
other jurisdictions. IB LLC, TH LLC and IB Corp are subject to the Uniform Net Capital Rule (Rule 15c3-1)
under the Exchange Act, IB LLC is also subject to the CFTC’s minimum financial requirements
(Regulation 1.17). IBC is subject to the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada risk adjusted
capital requirement, IBUK is subject to the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority Capital Requirements
Directive, IBEU is subject to the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier financial
resources requirement, IBKRFS is subject to the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority eligible equity
requirement, IBI is subject to the National Stock Exchange of India net capital requirements, IBHK is subject to
the Hong Kong Securities Futures Commission liquid capital requirement, IBSJ is subject to the Japanese
Financial Supervisory Agency capital requirements and IBA is subject to the Australian Securities Exchange
liquid capital requirement.

As of December 31, 2019, aggregate excess regulatory capital for all of the operating subsidiaries was
$6.4 billion, and all of the operating subsidiaries were in compliance with their respective regulatory capital
requirements.

The table below summarizes the capital, capital requirements and excess regulatory capital as of December 31, 2019.

IB LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IBKRFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IBHK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other regulated operating subsidiaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net Capital/

Eligible Equity Requirement

Excess

(in millions)

$5,381
584
360
867

$7,192

$549
91
145
44

$829

$4,832
493
215
823

$6,363

Capital Expenditures

Our capital expenditures are comprised of compensation costs of our software engineering staff for development
of software for internal use and expenditures for computer, networking and communications hardware, and
leasehold improvements. These expenditure items are reported as property, equipment, and intangible assets.
Capital expenditures for property, equipment, and intangible assets were approximately $74 million, $36 million,
and $28 million for the three years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. The increase during
2019 is mainly driven by the renovation of our U.S. headquarters and the relocation of our primary data center.
In the future, we plan to meet capital expenditure needs with cash from operations and cash on hand, as we
continue our focus on technology infrastructure initiatives to further enhance our competitive position. In
response to changing economic conditions, we believe we have the flexibility to modify our capital expenditures
by adjusting them (either upward or downward) to match our actual performance. If we pursue any additional
strategic acquisitions, we may incur additional capital expenditures.

56

Contractual Obligations Summary

Our contractual obligations principally include obligations associated with our outstanding indebtedness and
interest payments as of December 31, 2019.

Payments Due by Year

Total

2020-2021 2022-2023 Thereafter

(in millions)

Payable to Holdings under Tax Receivable Agreement(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $139
150
Operating leases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transition Tax liability(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
56
Total contractual cash obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $345

$33
36
10

$79

$39
32
10

$81

$ 67
82
36

$185

(1) As of December 31, 2019, contractual amounts owed under the Tax Receivable Agreement of $139 million

have been recorded in payable to affiliate in the consolidated financial statements representing
management’s best estimate of the amounts currently expected to be owed under the Tax Receivable
Agreement. Through December 31, 2019, approximately $188 million of cumulative cash payments have
been made.

(2) The Tax Act implemented a modified territorial tax system that includes a one-time transition tax on deemed
repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries to be paid over an eight-year period starting in 2018. We believe
this tax will not have a material impact on our liquidity.

Seasonality

Our businesses are subject to seasonal fluctuations, reflecting varying numbers of market participants at times
during the year, varying numbers of trading days from quarter-to-quarter, and declines in trading activity due to
holidays. Typical seasonal trends may be superseded by market or world events, which can have a significant
impact on prices and trading volume.

Inflation

Although we cannot accurately anticipate the effects of inflation on our operations, we believe that, for the three
most recent years, inflation has not had a material impact on our results of operations and will not likely have a
material impact in the foreseeable future.

Investments in U.S. Government Securities

We invest in U.S. government securities for the purpose of satisfying U.S. regulatory requirements. As a
broker-dealer, unlike banks, we are required to mark these investments to market even though we intend to hold
them to maturity. Sudden increases (decreases) in interest rates will cause mark-to-market losses (gains) on these
securities, which are recovered (eliminated) if we hold them to maturity, as currently intended. The impact of
changes in interest rates is further described in Part II, Item 7A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K entitled
‘‘Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.’’

Strategic Investments and Acquisitions

We regularly evaluate potential strategic investments and acquisitions. We hold strategic investments in electronic
trading exchanges including BOX Options Exchange, LLC and OneChicago LLC. In addition, in June 2018,
we consummated a strategic investment in Tiger Brokers, an online stock brokerage established for Chinese retail
and institutional customers. On March 20, 2019, Tiger Brokers priced its initial public offering (‘‘IPO’’) of
American Depositary Shares listed on Nasdaq Global Select market and, concurrently with the IPO,
we purchased unregistered ordinary shares in Tiger Brokers through a private placement offering which
transactions resulted in a beneficial ownership interest of 7.6%.

We intend to continue making acquisitions on an opportunistic basis, generally only when the acquisition
candidate will, in our opinion, enable us to offer better execution alternatives to our current and prospective
customers, allow us to influence exchanges to provide competing products at better prices using sophisticated
technology, or enable us to acquire either technology or customers faster than we could develop them on our
own. As of December 31, 2019, there were no other definitive agreements with respect to any material
acquisition.

57

Certain Information Concerning Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements

We may be exposed to a risk of loss not reflected in our consolidated financial statements for futures products,
which represent our obligations to settle at contracted prices, and which may require us to repurchase or sell in
the market at prevailing prices. Accordingly, these transactions result in off-balance sheet risk, as our cost to
liquidate such futures contracts may exceed the amounts reported in our consolidated statements of financial
condition.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the
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. We believe that the critical policies listed below represent the most significant estimates used in
the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. See Note 2 – ‘‘Significant Accounting Policies’’ to the
audited consolidated financial statements for a summary of our significant accounting policies in Part II, Item 8
of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Contingencies

Our policy is to estimate and accrue for potential losses that may arise out of litigation and regulatory
proceedings, to the extent that such losses are probable and can be estimated. Significant judgment is required in
making these estimates and our final liabilities may ultimately be materially different. Our total liability accrued
with respect to litigation and regulatory proceedings is determined on a case-by-case basis and represents an
estimate of probable losses based on, among other factors, the progress of each case, our experience with and
industry experience with similar cases and the opinions and views of internal and external legal counsel. Given
the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of our litigation and regulatory matters, particularly in cases or
proceedings in which substantial or indeterminate damages or fines are sought, or where cases or proceedings are
in the early stages, we cannot estimate losses or ranges of losses for cases or proceedings where there is only a
reasonable possibility that a loss may be incurred.

Income Taxes

Our income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and reserves for unrecognized tax benefits are based
on enacted tax laws and reflect management’s best assessment of estimated future taxes to be paid. We are
subject to income taxes in both 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 the underlying assets and liabilities. In evaluating our ability to recover our deferred tax
assets within the jurisdictions from which they arise, we consider 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 we are 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 our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws
and regulations in a multitude of jurisdictions across our global operations. Changes in tax laws and rates could
also affect recorded deferred tax assets and liabilities in the future. The enactment of the Tax Act on
December 22, 2017 significantly revised the U.S corporate income tax law by, among other things, reducing the
corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% and implementing a modified territorial tax system that includes a
one-time transition tax on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. See Note 11 – ‘‘Income Taxes’’ to
the audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We record

58

tax liabilities in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (‘‘FASB’’) ASC Topic 740 and adjust
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.

We recognize that a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized 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.

Accounting Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Adopted

For additional information regarding FASB Accounting Standards Updates (‘‘ASU’’s) that have been issued but
not yet adopted and that may impact the Company, refer to Note 2 – ‘‘Significant Accounting Policies’’ to the
audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this annual Report on form 10-K.

59

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to various market risks. Our exposures to market risks arise from assumptions built into our
pricing models, equity price risk, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations related to our international
operations, changes in interest rates and risks relating to the extension of margin credit to our customers.

Market risk refers to the risk that a change in the level of one or more market prices, rates, indices, implied
volatilities (the price volatility of the underlying instrument imputed from option prices), correlations or other
market factors, such as market liquidity, will result in losses for a position or portfolio. Generally, we incur
trading-related market risk as a result of activities in the market making segment, where the substantial majority
of our Value-at-Risk (‘‘VaR’’) for market risk exposures is generated. In addition, we incur non-trading-related
market risk primarily from investment activities and from foreign currency exposure held in the equity of our
foreign subsidiaries, i.e., our non-U.S. brokerage subsidiaries and information technology subsidiaries, and held
to meet target balances in our currency diversification strategy.

We use various risk management tools in managing our market risk, which are embedded in our real-time market
making systems. We employ certain hedging and risk management techniques to protect us from a severe market
dislocation. Our risk management policies are developed and implemented by our Chairman and our steering
committee, which is comprised of senior executives of our various companies. Our market making strategy is to
calculate quotes a few seconds ahead of the market and execute small trades at a tiny but favorable differential
as a result. This is made possible by our proprietary pricing model, which evaluates and monitors the risks
inherent in our portfolio, assimilates external market data and reevaluates the outstanding quotes in our portfolio
many times per second. Our model automatically rebalances our positions throughout each trading day to manage
risk exposures on our options and futures positions and the underlying securities, and will price the increased risk
that a position would add to the overall portfolio into the bid and offer prices we post. Under risk management
policies implemented and monitored primarily through our computer systems, reports to management, including
risk profiles, profit and loss analysis and trading performance, are prepared on a real-time basis as well as daily
and periodical bases. Although our market making is completely automated, the trading process and our risk are
monitored by a team of individuals who, in real time, observe various risk parameters of our consolidated
positions. Our assets and liabilities are marked-to-market daily for financial reporting purposes and re-valued
continuously throughout the trading day for risk management and asset/liability management purposes.

We use a covariant VaR methodology to measure, monitor and review the market risk of our market making
portfolios, with the exception of fixed income products, and our currency exposures. The risk of fixed income
products, which comprise primarily U.S. government securities, is measured using a stress test.

Pricing Model Exposure

As described above, our proprietary pricing model, which continuously evaluates and monitors the risks inherent
in our portfolio, assimilates external market data and reevaluates the outstanding quotes in our entire portfolio
many times per second. Certain aspects of the model rely on historical prices of securities. If the behavior of
price movements of individual securities diverges substantially from what their historical behavior would predict,
we might incur trading losses. We attempt to limit such risks by diversifying our portfolio across many different
options, futures and underlying securities and avoiding concentrations of positions based on the same underlying
security. Historically, our losses from these events have been immaterial in comparison to our annual trading
profits.

60

Foreign Currency Exposure

As a result of our international activities and accumulated earnings in our foreign subsidiaries, our income and
net worth is exposed to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. For example, our European operations and some
of our Asian operations are conducted by our Swiss subsidiary, IBKRFS. IBKRFS is regulated by the Swiss
Financial Market Supervisory Authority as a securities dealer and its financial statements are presented in Swiss
francs. Accordingly, IBKRFS is exposed to certain foreign exchange risks as described below:

•

•

IBKRFS buys and sells securities denominated in various currencies and carries bank balances and
borrows and lends such currencies in its regular course of business. At the end of each accounting
period, IBKRFS’ assets and liabilities are revalued into Swiss francs for presentation in its financial
statements. The resulting foreign currency gains or losses are reported in IBKRFS’ income statement
and, as translated into U.S. dollars for U.S. GAAP purposes, in our consolidated statement of
comprehensive income as a component of other income.

IBKRFS’ financial statements are presented in Swiss francs (i.e., its functional currency) as noted
above. At the end of each accounting period, IBKRFS’ net worth is translated at the then prevailing
exchange rate into U.S. dollars and the resulting translation gain or loss is reported as OCI in our
consolidated statement of financial condition and consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
OCI is also produced by our other non-U.S. subsidiaries.

Historically, we have taken the approach of not hedging the above exposures, based on the notion that the cost of
constantly hedging over the years would amount to more than the random impact of rate changes on our
non-U.S. dollar balances. For instance, an increase in the value of the Swiss franc would be unfavorable to the
earnings of IBKRFS but would be counterbalanced to some extent by the fact that the translation gain or loss
into U.S. dollars is likely to move in the opposite direction.

Our risk management systems incorporate cash forex to hedge our currency exposure at little or no cost
throughout each day on a continuous basis. The majority of currency spot positions held as part of our currency
diversification strategy are regularly transferred to the parent holding company, IBG LLC, where they are held
and reported in the corporate segment. In connection with the development of our currency diversification
strategy, we determined to base our net worth in GLOBALs, a basket of currencies.

Because we conduct business in many countries and many currencies and because we consider ourselves a global
enterprise based in a diversified basket of currencies rather than a U.S. dollar based company, we actively
manage our global currency exposure by maintaining our equity in GLOBALs. The U.S. dollar value of the
GLOBAL decreased 0.06% as of December 31, 2019 compared to December 31, 2018. As of December 31,
2019, approximately 30% of our equity was denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.

The table below presents a comparison of the U.S. dollar equivalent of the GLOBAL for the periods indicated.

Currency

Composition FX Rate

GLOBAL in
USD Equiv.

% of
Comp.

Net Equity

(in USD millions) FX Rate

GLOBAL in
USD Equiv.

% of
Comp.

Net Equity
(in USD millions)

CHANGE in
% of Comp.

As of 12/31/2018

As of 12/31/2019

USD . . . .
EUR . . . .
JPY. . . . .
GBP . . . .
HKD . . . .
INR. . . . .
CHF . . . .
CAD
CNH . . . .
AUD . . . .
MXN . . . .
SEK . . . .
NOK . . . .
DKK . . . .

0.68
0.09
4.41
0.02
0.14
1.10
0.02
0.02
0.10
0.02
0.17
0.05
0.03
0.02

1.0000
1.1467
0.0091
1.2760
0.1277
0.0144
1.0190
0.7332
0.1456
0.7052
0.0509
0.1129
0.1157
0.1536

0.680
0.103
0.040
0.026
0.018
0.016
0.020
0.015
0.015
0.014
0.009
0.006
0.003
0.003

0.967

70.3%
10.7%
4.2%
2.6%
1.8%
1.6%
2.1%
1.5%
1.5%
1.5%
0.9%
0.6%
0.4%
0.3%

100.0%

$5,031
763
298
189
132
117
151
108
108
104
64
42
26
23

$7,156

61

1.0000
1.1213
0.0092
1.3261
0.1284
0.0140
1.0334
0.7699
0.1437
0.7017
0.0528
0.1068
0.1139
0.1501

0.680
0.101
0.041
0.027
0.018
0.015
0.021
0.015
0.014
0.014
0.009
0.005
0.003
0.003

0.967

70.3%
10.4%
4.2%
2.7%
1.9%
1.6%
2.1%
1.6%
1.5%
1.5%
0.9%
0.6%
0.4%
0.3%

100.0%

$5,586
829
333
218
147
126
170
127
118
115
74
44
28
25

$7,940

0.0%
-0.2%
0.0%
0.1%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.1%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%

0.0%

The effects of our currency diversification strategy appear in two places in the consolidated financial statements:
(1) as a component of other income in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income and (2) as OCI in
the consolidated statement of financial condition and the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
The full effect of the GLOBAL is captured in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

Reported results on a comprehensive basis reflect the U.S. GAAP convention that requires the reporting of
currency translation results contained in OCI as part of reportable earnings.

Interest Rate Risk

We had no variable-rate debt outstanding as of December 31, 2019.

We pay our electronic brokerage customers interest based on benchmark overnight interest rates in various
currencies, on cash balances above $10 thousand (or equivalent) in securities accounts holding more than $100
thousand and at lower, tiered rates for accounts holding less than $100 thousand (or equivalent) net asset value.
In a normal rate environment, we typically invest a portion of these funds in U.S. government securities with
maturities of up to two years. If interest rates were to increase rapidly and substantially, our net interest income
would not increase proportionally with the interest rates for the portion of the funds invested in the U.S.
government securities with fixed yields. In addition, the mark-to-market changes in the value of these fixed rate
securities will be reflected in other income, instead of net interest income. Based on customer balances and
investments outstanding as of December 31, 2019, and assuming reinvestment of maturing instruments in
instruments of short-term duration, an unexpected increase of 0.25% over current U.S. dollar interest rate levels
would increase our net interest income by approximately $20 million over the first year and $22 million on an
annualized basis, assuming the full effect of reinvestment at higher rates. Our interest rate sensitivity estimate
contains separate assumptions for U.S. dollar rates from other currencies’ rates and it isolates the effects of a rate
increase on reinvestments. We do not approximate mark-to-market impact from interest rate changes; if U.S.
government securities whose prices were to fall under these scenarios were held to maturity, as intended, then the
reduction in other income would be temporary, as the securities would mature at par value.

We also face the potential for reduced net interest income from customer deposits due to interest rate spread
compression in a low rate environment. Based on customer balances and investments outstanding as of
December 31, 2019, and assuming reinvestment of maturing instruments in instruments of short-term duration, an
unexpected decrease in U.S. dollar interest rates of 0.25% would decrease our net interest income by
approximately $17 million over the first year and $22 million on an annualized basis, assuming the full effect of
reinvestment at lower rates.

We also face interest rate risk due to positions carried in our market making business to the extent that long or
short stock positions may have been established for future or forward dates on options or futures contracts and
the value of such positions are impacted by interest rates. The amount of such risk cannot be quantified,
however, the reduction of market making positions has substantially reduced this exposure.

Dividend Risk

We face dividend risk in our market making business as we derive revenues and incur expenses in the form of
dividend income and expense, respectively, from our inventory of equity securities, and must make payments in
lieu of dividends on short positions in equity securities within our portfolio. Projected future dividends are an
important component of pricing equity options and other derivatives, and incorrect projections may lead to
trading losses. The amount of such risk cannot be quantified, however, the reduction of market making positions
has substantially reduced this exposure.

Margin Loans

We extend margin loans to our customers, which are subject to various regulatory requirements. Margin loans are
collateralized by cash and securities in the customers’ accounts. The risks associated with margin credit increase
during periods of fast market movements or in cases where collateral is concentrated and market movements
occur. During such times, customers who utilize margin loans and who have collateralized their obligations with
securities may find that the securities have a rapidly depreciating value and may not be sufficient to cover their
obligations in the event of a liquidation. We are also exposed to credit risk when our customers execute
transactions, such as short sales of options and equities that can expose them to risk beyond their invested
capital.

62

We expect this kind of exposure to increase with the growth of our overall business. Because we indemnify and
hold harmless our clearing houses and counterparties from certain liabilities or claims, the use of margin loans
and short sales may expose us to significant off-balance-sheet risk in the event that collateral requirements are
not sufficient to fully cover losses that customers may incur and those customers fail to satisfy their obligations.
As of December 31, 2019, we had $31.3 billion in margin loans extended to our customers. The amount of risk
to which we are exposed from the margin loans we extend to our customers and from short sale transactions by
our customers is unlimited and not quantifiable as the risk is dependent upon analysis of a potential significant
and undeterminable rise or fall in stock prices. Our account level margin requirements meet or exceed those
required by Regulation T of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve and FINRA portfolio margin rules,
as applicable. As a matter of practice, we enforce real-time margin compliance monitoring and liquidate
customers’ positions if their equity falls below required margin requirements.

We have a comprehensive policy implemented in accordance with regulatory standards to assess and monitor the
suitability of investors to engage in various trading activities. To mitigate our risk, we also continuously monitor
customer accounts to detect excessive concentration, large orders or positions, patterns of day trading and other
activities that indicate increased risk to us.

Our credit exposure is to a great extent mitigated by our policy of automatically evaluating each account
throughout the trading day and closing out positions automatically for accounts that are found to be
under-margined. While this methodology is effective in most situations, it may not be effective in situations
where no liquid market exists for the relevant securities or commodities or where, for any reason, automatic
liquidation for certain accounts has been disabled. Our Risk Management Committee continuously monitors and
evaluates our risk management policies, including the implementation of policies and procedures to enhance the
detection and prevention of theoretical events to mitigate margin loan losses.

Value-at-Risk

We estimate VaR using an historical approach, which uses the historical daily price returns of underlying assets
as well as estimates of the end of day implied volatility for options. Our one-day VaR is defined as the
unrealized loss in portfolio value that, based on historically observed market risk factors, would have been
exceeded with a frequency of one percent, based on a calculation with a confidence interval of 99%.

Our VaR model generally takes into account exposures to equity and commodity price risk and foreign exchange
rates.

We use VaR as one of a range of risk management tools. Among their benefits, VaR models permit estimation of
a portfolio’s aggregate market risk exposure, incorporating a range of varied market risks and portfolio assets.
One key element of the VaR model is that it reflects risk reduction due to portfolio diversification or hedging
activities. However, VaR has various strengths and limitations, which include, but are not limited to: use of
historical changes in market risk factors, which may not be accurate predictors of future market conditions, and
may not fully incorporate the risk of extreme market events that are outsized relative to observed historical
market behavior or reflect the historical distribution of results beyond the confidence interval; and reporting of
losses in a single day, which does not reflect the risk of positions that cannot be liquidated or hedged in one day.
A small proportion of market risk generated by trading positions is not included in VaR. The modeling of the
risk characteristics of some positions relies on approximations that, under certain circumstances, could produce
significantly different results from those produced using more precise measures. VaR is most appropriate as a
risk measure for trading positions in liquid financial markets and will understate the risk associated with severe
events, such as periods of extreme illiquidity.

The VaR calculation simulates the performance of the portfolio based on several years of the daily price changes
of the underlying assets and determines the VaR as the calculated loss that occurs at the 99th percentile.

Since the reported VaR statistics are estimates based on historical data, VaR should not be viewed as predictive
of our future revenues or financial performance or of our ability to monitor and manage risk. There can be no
assurance that our actual losses on a particular day will not exceed the indicated VaR or that such losses will not
occur more than one time in 100 trading days. VaR does not predict the magnitude of losses which, should they
occur, may be significantly greater than the VaR amount.

63

Stress Test

We estimate the market risk of our fixed income portfolio using a risk analysis model provided by a leading
external vendor. For corporate bonds, this stress test is configured to calculate the change in value of each fixed
income security in the portfolio over one day in seven scenarios each of which represents a parallel shift of the
U.S. Treasury yield curve. The scenarios are shifts of +/−100, +/−200 and +/−300 basis points. For U.S.
government securities, the stress test is configured to calculate the change in value of each fixed income security
in the portfolio over one day in three scenarios each of which represents a parallel shift of the U.S. Treasury
yield curve. The scenarios are shifts of +/−25 basis points.

VaR and Stress Test Measures

Market Risk Category

Trading(1)

At December 31,
2019

At December 31,
2018
(in millions)

Average
2019

High
2019

Equities and Currencies(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fixed Income(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trading Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Non-Trading(1)

Equities and Currencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fixed Income, Other(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-Trading Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 7
—

$ 7

$17
2

$19

$ 7
—

$ 7

$15
4

$19

$ 7
—

$ 7

$15
4

$19

$ 8
—

$ 8

$18
6

$24

(1) The product categories displayed in the table as ‘‘Trading’’ reflect activities undertaken in the Company’s

market making segment.

The ‘‘Non-trading’’ category reflects investment activities and foreign currency exposures held in the equity
of the Company’s non-market making subsidiaries, i.e., its brokerage subsidiaries and information
technology subsidiaries. This category also includes corporate segment activities in foreign exchange
designed to achieve the Company’s currency diversification strategy.

The average and high VaR amounts for equities and currencies are based on end of day calculations
performed in 2019. The fixed income stress amounts are based on the four quarter ending calculations
performed in 2019.

(2) Equities and currencies held for market making purposes are combined because these products are part of an

integrated, hedged market making portfolio, on which the risk is measured using VaR.

(3) The Trading – Fixed Income category contains primarily foreign government securities held in connection

with market making activities. The risks on these products were managed separately and measured using the
stress test analysis.

(4) The Non-Trading – Fixed Income, Other category contains primarily U.S. government securities held in

segregated safekeeping accounts for the exclusive benefit of our brokerage customers, on which the risk is
measured using a stress test analysis.

64

ITEM 8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and

2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017 . . . . . . .
Consolidated Statements of Change in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017 . .
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Supplementary Data—Unaudited Quarterly Results. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

66
68

69
70
71
72
109

65

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.
Greenwich, CT

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition of Interactive Brokers Group,
Inc. and subsidiaries (the ‘‘Company’’) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of
comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the ‘‘financial statements’’). In our opinion,
the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of
December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 2019, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019,
based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 28, 2020, expressed an
unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm
registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with
the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of
material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that
respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial
statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial
statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to
accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging,
subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our
opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter
below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it
relates.

Income taxes — Refer to Notes 2 and 11 to the consolidated financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

The Company’s income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities (net of valuation allowance, if any), and
reserves for unrecognized tax benefits are based on enacted tax laws and reflects management’s best assessment
of estimated future taxes to be paid. The Company is subject to income taxes in both the U.S. and numerous
foreign jurisdictions. The Company has deferred tax assets resulting from the tax basis step-up received in
connection with the Company’s public equity offerings. Determining income tax expense requires significant
management judgments and estimates.

66

We identified management’s calculation of income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities (net of
valuation allowance, if any), and reserves for unrecognized tax benefits as a critical audit matter because of the
significant judgments and estimates management makes to determine these amounts. This required a high degree
of audit judgment and an increased effort, including the need to involve our income tax specialists when
performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of management’s interpretation of tax law in multiple
countries, and its estimate of the associated provisions, tax charges, and uncertain tax positions.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to income taxes included, among others, the following:

• We tested the design and operating effectiveness of controls over income tax balances, including the
provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities (including valuation allowance) and
unrecognized tax benefits.

• With the assistance of our income tax specialists, we assessed the Company’s income tax expense by:

-

-

-

-

Evaluating the Company’s income tax provision calculation, including testing the appropriateness
of income tax rates applied and of income allocations among the taxing jurisdictions, application
of the provisions in the Tax Act, and the mathematical accuracy of the calculation.

Evaluating the Company’s analyses supporting its conclusions as to the recognition and
measurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities, including the calculation of the deferred tax
asset related to the tax basis step-up received in connection with the Company’s public equity
offering.

Evaluating management’s assessment of the Company’s ability to utilize the net deferred tax assets
in future years.

Evaluating the appropriateness of the Company having no significant unrecognized tax benefits.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
New York, New York
February 28, 2020

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1990.

67

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

(in millions, except share amounts)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash - segregated for regulatory purposes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities - segregated for regulatory purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities borrowed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities purchased under agreements to resell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Financial instruments owned, at fair value

Financial instruments owned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Financial instruments owned and pledged as collateral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total financial instruments owned, at fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Receivables

Customers, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $86 and $42 as of

December 31,

2019

2018

$ 2,882
9,400
17,824
3,916
3,111

$ 2,597
7,503
15,595
3,331
1,242

1,755
161
1,916

1,931
188
2,119

December 31, 2019 and 2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total receivables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

31,304
685
158
32,147
480
$71,676

27,017
706
141
27,864
296
$60,547

Liabilities and equity
Short-term borrowings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities loaned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Payables

Customers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Affiliate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total payables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total liabilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Commitments, contingencies and guarantees (see Note 14)
Equity
Stockholders’ equity

Common stock, $0.01 par value per share
Class A – Authorized - 1,000,000,000, Issued - 76,889,040 and 75,230,400 shares,

Outstanding – 76,750,110 and 75,100,952 shares as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 . .

Class B – Authorized, Issued and Outstanding – 100 shares as of December 31, 2019

and 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Additional paid-in capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Retained earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of income taxes of $0 and $0 as of

$

16
4,410
1,909
457

$

17
4,037
—
681

56,248
220
152
295
29
56,944
63,736

47,993
298
171
153
41
48,656
53,391

1

—
934
520

1

—
898
390

December 31, 2019 and 2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Treasury stock, at cost, 138,930 and 129,448 shares as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 . .
Total stockholders’ equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total liabilities and equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

—
(3)
1,452
6,488
7,940
$71,676

(4)
(3)
1,282
5,874
7,156
$60,547

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

68

647
908
40
332

1,927
225

1,702

241
249
47
28
86
2

653

1,049
256

793
717

76

1.09

1.07

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

Year-Ended December 31,
2018

2017

2019

(in millions, except share or per share amounts)

Revenues

Commissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
Interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trading gains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total net revenues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Non-interest expenses

Execution, clearing and distribution fees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Employee compensation and benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Occupancy, depreciation and amortization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General and administrative. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer bad debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total non-interest expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Income before income taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. . . . . . . . . . . .

706 $

777 $

1,726
27
121

2,580
643

1,937

251
288
60
25
112
44

780

1,157
68

1,089
928

1,392
39
158

2,366
463

1,903

269
264
49
25
96
4

707

1,196
71

1,125
956

Net income available for common stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $

161 $

169 $

Earnings per share

Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $

Diluted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $

2.11 $

2.10 $

2.30 $

2.28 $

Weighted average common shares outstanding

Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

76,121,570

73,438,209

69,926,933

Diluted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

76,825,863

74,266,370

70,904,921

Comprehensive income
Net income available for common stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
Other comprehensive income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cumulative translation adjustment, before income taxes . . . . . . . . .
Income taxes related to items of other comprehensive income . . . .

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

161 $

169 $

4
—

4

(14)
(1)

(13)

Comprehensive income available for common stockholders . . . . . . . . . . $

165 $

156 $

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
Other comprehensive income - cumulative translation adjustment . . .

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . $

928 $
20

948 $

956 $
(66)

890 $

76

11
—

11

87

717
54

771

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

69

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in millions)

Cash flows from operating activities
Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities

Deferred income taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Depreciation and amortization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Amortization of right-of-use assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Employee stock plan compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unrealized (gain) loss on other investments, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gain on remeasurement of Tax Receivable Agreement liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bad debt expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Impairment loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Change in operating assets and liabilities

Securities - segregated for regulatory purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities borrowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities purchased under agreements to resell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Financial instruments owned, at fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Receivables from customers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other receivables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities loaned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Payable to customers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other payables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net cash provided by operating activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cash flows from investing activities

Purchases of other investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Distributions received and proceeds from sales of other investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Purchase of property, equipment and intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net cash used in investing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cash flows from financing activities

Short-term borrowings, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dividends paid to stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Distributions from IBG LLC to noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Repurchases of common stock for employee tax withholdings under stock incentive plans . . . . . .
Proceeds from the sale of treasury stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net cash used in financing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Year-Ended December 31,
2018

2017

2019

$ 1,089

$ 1,125

$

793

24
31
21
60
(8)
—
44
1

(2,229)
(585)
(1,869)
210
(4,332)
4
(169)
373
1,909
(224)
8,255
61

2,666

(19)
4
(74)

(89)

(1)
(31)
(357)
(27)
26
(29)

(419)

24

21
26
—
58
2
(3)
4
1

(1,910)
(374)
793
1,034
2,800
92
11
(407)
(1,316)
(86)
445
40

2,356

(22)
1
(36)

(57)

2
(29)
(339)
(45)
40
(28)

(399)

(79)

147
25
—
53
(4)
(93)
2
21

4,708
672
(1,924)
886
(10,414)
158
(3)
151
1,316
(1,378)
5,817
132

1,065

—
2
(28)

(26)

(59)
(28)
(272)
(21)
21
(15)

(374)

65

Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2,182
10,100

1,821
8,279

730
7,549

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$12,282

$10,100

$ 8,279

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2,882
9,400

2,597
7,503

1,732
6,547

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$12,282

$10,100

$ 8,279

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information

Cash paid for interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cash paid for taxes, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cash paid for amounts included in lease liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Non-cash financing activities

Issuance of common stock in exchange of member interests in IBG LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Redemption of member interests from IBG Holdings LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Adjustments to additional paid-in capital for changes in proportionate ownership in IBG LLC . . . .

Adjustments to noncontrolling interests for changes in proportionate ownership in IBG LLC . . . . .

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

654

51

20

1

(1)

24

(24)

Non-cash distributions to noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ —

$

$

444

50

$ —

$

$

$

$

$

94

(94)

28

(28)

(11)

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

209

47

—

49

(49)

28

(28)

—

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

70

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
Three Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017

Class A Common Stock Additional
Par
Paid-In
Value
Capital

Issued
Shares

Treasury
Stock

Retained
Earnings

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income

Total
Stockholders’
Equity

Non-
controlling
Interests

Total
Equity

68,119,412

$1

$775

$ (3)

$203

$ (2)

$ 974

$4,846

$5,820

Balance, December 31, 2017 . . . . . . . . . .

71,609,049

$1

$832

$ (3)

76

$251

11

$ 9

(in millions, except share amounts)

Balance, December 31, 2016 . . . . . . . . . .
Issuance of common stock in follow-on

offering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Common stock distributed pursuant to

1,214,860

stock incentive plans. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2,274,777

Compensation for stock grants vesting in

the future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Deferred tax benefit retained - follow-on

offering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Repurchases of common stock for

employee tax withholdings under stock
incentive plans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sales of treasury stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dividends paid to stockholders. . . . . . . . .
Distributions from IBG LLC to

noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . . . . .

Adjustments for changes in proportionate

ownership in IBG LLC . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comprehensive income. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Issuance of common stock in follow-on

offering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,537,727

Common stock distributed pursuant to

stock incentive plans. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2,083,624

Compensation for stock grants vesting in

the future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Deferred tax benefit retained - follow-on

offering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Repurchases of common stock for

employee tax withholdings under stock
incentive plans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sales of treasury stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dividends paid to stockholders. . . . . . . . .
Distributions from IBG LLC to

noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . . . . .

Adjustments for changes in proportionate

ownership in IBG LLC . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comprehensive income. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

21,075

1,627,565
10,000

Issuance of common stock in follow-on

offering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Common stock distributed pursuant to

stock incentive plans. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Issuance of common stock - Promotions. . .
Compensation for stock grants vesting in

the future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Repurchases of common stock for

employee tax withholdings under stock
incentive plans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sales of treasury stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dividends paid to stockholders. . . . . . . . .
Distributions from IBG LLC to

noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . . . . .

Adjustments for changes in proportionate

ownership in IBG LLC . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comprehensive income. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

18

9

2

28

(21)
21

(28)

25

10

3

28

(45)
45

(1)
(29)

1

11

24

(27)
27

(31)

Balance, December 31, 2018 . . . . . . . . . .

75,230,400

$1

$898

$ (3)

169

$390

(13)

$ (4)

Balance, December 31, 2019 . . . . . . . . . .

76,889,040

$1

$934

$ (3)

161

$520

4

$ —

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

71

18

—

9

2

(21)
21
(28)

—

28
87

(18)

44

—

—

53

2

(21)
21
(28)

(272)

(272)

(28)
771

—
858

$1,090

$5,343

$6,433

25

—

10

3

(45)
44
(29)

—

28
156

(25)

48

(4)

—

—

58

3

(45)
40
(29)

(350)

(350)

(28)
890

—
1,046

$1,282

$5,874

$7,156

1

—
—

11

(27)
27
(31)

—

24
165

(1)

49

(1)

—

—
—

60

(27)
26
(31)

(357)

(357)

(24)
948

—
1,113

$1,452

$6,488

$7,940

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to 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 18.5% 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 securities, futures, foreign exchange instruments, bonds and mutual funds on more than 135 electronic
exchanges and market centers around the world and offering custody, prime brokerage, securities and margin
lending services to customers. 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, Luxembourg, Switzerland, India,
China (Hong Kong and Shanghai), Japan and Australia. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had
1,643 employees worldwide.

IBG LLC is a Connecticut limited liability company that conducts its business through its significant operating
subsidiaries: Interactive Brokers LLC (‘‘IB LLC’’); Interactive Brokers Canada Inc. (‘‘IBC’’); Interactive Brokers
(U.K.) Limited (‘‘IBUK’’); IBKR Europe S.a.r.l. (‘‘IBEU’’); IBKR Financial Services AG (‘‘IBKRFS’’);
Interactive Brokers (India) Private Limited (‘‘IBI’’), Interactive Brokers Hong Kong Limited (‘‘IBHK’’),
Interactive Brokers Securities Japan, Inc. (‘‘IBSJ’’) and Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Limited (‘‘IBA’’).

The Company operates in two business segments: electronic brokerage and market making, both supported by
corporate. The electronic brokerage business provides electronic execution and clearing services to customers
worldwide. The market making business currently consists of customer facilitation in products such as CFDs,
ETFs and single stock futures, as well as exchange traded market making activities in a few select markets
outside the U.S. (See Note 2 – Discontinued Operations and Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities).
Corporate enables the Company to operate cohesively and effectively by providing support via development
services and control functions to the business segments and also by executing the Company’s currency
diversification strategy.

Certain of the 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 16). IB LLC, IBC, IBUK, IBEU, IBI, IBHK, IBSJ and IBA carry securities accounts for customers or
perform custodial functions relating to customer securities.

2.

Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

These 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-K.

These 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.

Principles of Consolidation, including Noncontrolling Interests

These 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.

72

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Discontinued Operations and Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities

On March 8, 2017, the Company announced its intention to discontinue its options market making activities
globally. Additionally, as previously announced, on September 29, 2017 the Company completed the transfer of
its U.S. options market making operations to Two Sigma Securities, LLC and recognized a gain on sale of
$11 million, reflecting the recovery of exit costs, recorded in other income in the consolidated statements of
comprehensive income. The Company also exited the majority of its market making activities outside of the U.S.
by December 31, 2017 and will report discontinued operations if it meets the criteria under FASB Topic
ASC 205-20, ‘‘Discontinued Operations.’’

The Company recognized approximately $25 million in one-time restructuring costs during the year ended
December 31, 2017. The one-time restructuring costs included approximately $22 million of non-cash
expenditures, consisting of impairment of the carrying value of certain exchange trading rights and stock-based
compensation, included in general and administrative expenses and employee compensation and benefits,
respectively, and $3 million of cash expenditures primarily related to severance costs for employee terminations,
included employee compensation and benefits, in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. During
the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company did not incur any additional restructuring costs.

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 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 doubtful accounts, valuation of certain investments, compensation accruals, current and deferred
income taxes, costs associated with exit or disposal activities, 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

Level 2

Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for
identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

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 in the event that the Company may hold a large position whereby a purchase or sale could
reasonably impact quoted prices.

73

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

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 be generally corroborated by market data.
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 the 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.

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.

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 consolidated statements of cash flows.

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

U.S. government securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities purchased under agreements to resell(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

December 31,

2019

2018

(in billions)

$ 3.8
14.0

$17.8

$ 4.2
11.4

$15.6

(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 on a daily
basis, with additional collateral obtained or refunded as permitted contractually. The Company’s policy is to net,
in the consolidated statements of financial condition, securities borrowed and securities loaned 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’’).

74

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

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

Customer Receivables and Payables

Customer securities transactions are recorded on a settlement date basis and customer commodities transactions
are recorded on a trade date basis. 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
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 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
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.

75

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
•

At adjusted cost if the investment does not have a readily determinable fair value. Adjusted cost
represents the historical cost, less impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable
price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer 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 an 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.

Equity method investments(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Investments in equity securities at adjusted cost(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Investments in equity securities at fair value(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Investments in exchange memberships and equity securities of certain exchanges(2) . . . . . . . . .

December 31,

2019

2018

(in millions)

$22
5
36
3

$66

$23
25
—
5

$53

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

comprehensive income.

(2) These investments do not qualify for equity method of accounting and the dividends received are included

in other income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Property, Equipment, and Intangible Assets

Property, equipment, and intangible assets, which are included in other assets in the 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
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 consolidated statements of financial condition
and any resulting gain or loss is recorded in other income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive
income. Fully depreciated (or amortized) assets are retired periodically throughout the year.

Leases

On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted FASB ASC Topic 842, ‘‘Leases,’’ (‘‘ASC Topic 842’’) which requires
that a lessee recognize in the statement of financial condition a lease liability and a corresponding right-of-use
asset, including for those leases that the Company had classified as operating leases. The right-of-use asset and

76

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

the lease liability were initially measured using the present value of the remaining lease payments.
ASC Topic 842 was implemented using a modified retrospective approach which resulted in no cumulative-effect
adjustment in the opening balance of retained earnings as of January 1, 2019. As a result, the consolidated
statement of financial condition prior to January 1, 2019 was not restated and continues to be reported under
FASB ASC Topic 840, ‘‘Leases,’’ (‘‘ASC Topic 840’’), which did not require the recognition of a right-of-use
asset or lease liability for operating leases. As permitted under ASC Topic 842, the Company adopted the
following practical expedients: (1) not to reassess whether an expired or non-lease contract that commenced
before January 1, 2019 contained an embedded lease, (2) not to reassess the classification of existing leases,
(3) not to determine whether initial direct costs related to existing leases should be capitalized under ASC
Topic 842, and (4) not to separate lease and non-lease components.

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 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
in nature 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 consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Comprehensive Income and Foreign Currency Translation

The Company’s operating results are reported in the 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

77

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

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 consolidated statements of financial condition. In June of 2018, the Company
liquidated its Australian subsidiary, Timber Hill Australia Pty Limited, and accordingly reclassified the accumulated
OCI of $32 million to other income and the related accumulated tax effect of $1 million to income tax expense in the
consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

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 consolidated statements of comprehensive income. 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 consolidated statements of comprehensive
income.

Trading Gains

Trading gains and losses are recorded on trade date and are reported on a net basis. Trading gains and losses are
comprised of changes in the fair value of financial instruments owned, at fair value and financial instruments
sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value (i.e., unrealized gains and losses) and realized gains and losses related
to the Company’s market making business segment. Included in trading gains are net gains and losses on stocks,
options, futures, foreign exchange 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, held for market making purposes, are reported on
a net basis in trading gains in the 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 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 related to the market making core-business activities are reported in trading
gains; (c) foreign currency gains and losses arising from currency swap transactions in the electronic brokerage
business are reported in interest income or interest expense; and (d) 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 order flow in the marketplace and are recorded on
an accrual basis. Rebates are recorded net within execution, clearing and distribution fees in the 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 consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

78

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

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 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. On December 22, 2017,
the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the ‘‘Tax Act’’) was enacted, significantly revising the U.S corporate income tax law
by, among other things, reducing the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% and implementing a modified
territorial tax system that includes a one-time transition tax on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign
subsidiaries (see Note 11).

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.

79

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

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 consolidated statements of comprehensive
income.

FASB Standards Adopted During 2019

Standard

Leases (Topic 842)

Issued February 2016

Summary of Guidance
• All leases greater than one year must
be recognized on the statements of
financial condition by recording a
lease right-of-use asset and a
corresponding lease liability.

• Additional qualitative and

quantitative leasing disclosures
required.

Effect on Financial Statements

• Adopted January 1, 2019.
• For further information, refer to

Note 12 – Leases.

FASB Standards issued but not adopted as of December 31, 2019

Standard

Summary of Guidance

Effect on Financial Statements

Financial instruments –
credit losses (Topic 326)

Issued June 2016

Fair Value Measurement
(Topic 820)

Issued August 2018

• Replaces the current incurred loss

impairment guidance and establishes
a single allowance framework for
financial assets carried at amortized
cost.

• The allowance must reflect

managements’ estimate of credit
losses over the life of the asset
taking future economic changes into
consideration.

• As of the beginning of the reporting

period of adoption, a
cumulative-effect adjustment to
retained earnings should be
recognized.

• Eliminates the requirement to

disclose: (a) the amount and reasons
for transfers between Level 1 and
Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy;
(b) an entity’s policy for timing of
transfers between levels; (c) and, an
entity’s valuation processes for
Level 3 fair value measurements.

• Effective date: January 1, 2020.
• The changes will not have a

material impact on the Company’s
consolidated financial statements,
as the Company will apply the
practical expedient relating to
financial assets subject to collateral
maintenance provisions.

• Effective date: January 1, 2020.
• Changes relating to Level 3 fair

value measurements may be applied
prospectively. All other changes
should be applied retrospectively.
• The adoption of the changes will
not have a material impact on the
Company’s consolidated financial
statements.

80

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Standard

Compensation – Stock
Compensation (Topic 718)
and Revenue from
Contracts with Customers
(Topic 606)

Issued August 2019

Income Taxes (Topic 740)

Issued December 2019

Summary of Guidance
• Requires that share-based payments
granted to customers as part of a
revenue arrangement and are not in
exchange for a distinct good or
service, be recorded as a reduction
in transaction price using the grant
date fair value.

• Share-based payments are measured
and classified under ASC 718 unless
they are subsequently modified and
the grantee is no longer a customer,
in which case they are classified
under other U.S. GAAP.

• Simplifies the accounting for income
taxes by removing certain exceptions
to the general principles in
Topic 740.

Effect on Financial Statements

• Effective date: January 1, 2020.
• The guidance may be applied using
a modified retrospective approach.

• The changes will not have a

material impact on the Company’s
consolidated financial statements.

• Effective date: January 1, 2021.
Early adoption is permitted.

• The guidance is being evaluated for

impact.

3. Trading Activities and Related Risks

The Company’s trading activities include providing securities brokerage and market making services. Trading
activities expose the Company to market and credit risks. These risks are managed in accordance with
established risk management policies and procedures. To accomplish this, management has established a risk
management process that includes:

•

•

•

a regular review of the risk management process by executive management as part of its oversight role;

defined risk management policies and procedures supported by a rigorous analytic framework; and

articulated risk tolerance levels as defined by executive management that are regularly reviewed to
ensure that the Company’s risk-taking is consistent with its business strategy, its capital structure, and
current and anticipated market conditions.

Market Risk

The Company is exposed to various market risks. Exposures to market risks arise from equity price risk, foreign
currency exchange rate fluctuations and changes in interest rates. The Company seeks to mitigate market risk
associated with trading inventories by employing hedging strategies that correlate rate, price and spread
movements of trading inventories and related financing and hedging activities. The Company uses a combination
of cash instruments and exchange traded derivatives to hedge its market exposures. The Company does not apply
hedge accounting. The following discussion describes the types of market risk faced:

Equity Price Risk

Equity price risk arises from the possibility that equity security prices will fluctuate, affecting the value of
equity securities and other instruments that derive their value from a particular stock, a defined basket of
stocks, or a stock index. The Company is subject to equity price risk primarily in financial instruments
owned, at fair value and financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value. The Company
attempts to limit such risks by continuously reevaluating prices and by diversifying its portfolio across many
different options, futures and underlying securities and avoiding concentrations of positions based on the
same underlying security.

81

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

3. Trading Activities and Related Risks (Continued)

Currency Risk

Currency risk arises from the possibility that fluctuations in foreign exchange rates will impact the value of
financial instruments. The Company manages this risk using spot (i.e., cash) currency transactions, currency
futures contracts and currency forward contracts. As a global electronic broker and market maker trading on
exchanges around the world in multiple currencies, the Company is exposed to foreign currency risk.
The Company actively manages its currency exposure using a currency diversification strategy that is based
on a defined basket of 14 currencies internally referred to as the ‘‘GLOBAL.’’ These strategies minimize the
fluctuation of the Company’s net worth as expressed in GLOBALs, thereby diversifying its risk in alignment
with these global currencies, weighted by the Company’s view of their importance. As the Company’s
financial results are reported in U.S. dollars, the change in the value of the GLOBAL as expressed in U.S.
dollars affects the Company’s earnings. The impact of this currency diversification strategy in the
Company’s earnings is included in other income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate risk arises from the possibility that changes in interest rates will affect the value of financial
instruments. The Company is exposed to interest rate risk on cash and margin balances, positions carried in
equity and fixed income securities, options, futures and on its borrowings. These risks are managed through
investment policies and by entering into interest rate futures contracts.

Credit Risk

The Company is exposed to risk of loss if a customer, counterparty or issuer fails to perform its obligations
under contractual terms (‘‘default risk’’). Both cash instruments and derivatives expose the Company to default
risk. The Company has established policies and procedures for mitigating credit risk on principal transactions,
including reviewing and establishing limits for credit exposure, maintaining collateral, and continually assessing
the creditworthiness of counterparties.

The Company’s credit risk is limited as contracts entered into are settled directly at securities and commodities
clearing houses or are settled through member firms and banks with substantial financial and operational
resources. Over-the-counter transactions, such as securities lending and contracts for differences (‘‘CFDs’’), are
marked to market daily and are conducted with counterparties that have undergone a thorough credit review.
The Company seeks to control the risks associated with its customer margin activities by requiring customers to
maintain collateral in compliance with regulatory and internal guidelines.

In the normal course of business, the Company executes, settles, and finances various customer securities
transactions. Execution of these transactions includes the purchase and sale of securities which exposes the
Company to default risk arising from the potential that customers or counterparties may fail to satisfy their
obligations. In these situations, the Company may be required to purchase or sell financial instruments at
unfavorable market prices to satisfy obligations to customers or counterparties. Liabilities to other brokers and
dealers related to unsettled transactions (i.e., securities fails to receive) are recorded at the amount for which the
securities were purchased, and are paid upon receipt of the securities from other brokers or dealers. In the case
of aged securities fails to receive, the Company may purchase the underlying security in the market and seek
reimbursement for any losses from the counterparty.

For cash management purposes, the Company enters into short-term securities purchased under agreements to
resell and securities sold under agreements to repurchase transactions (‘‘repos’’) in addition to securities
borrowing and lending arrangements, all of which may result in credit exposure in the event the counterparty to a
transaction is unable to fulfill its contractual obligations. Repos are collateralized by securities with a market
value in excess of the obligation under the contract. Similarly, securities lending agreements are collateralized by
deposits of cash or securities. The Company attempts to minimize credit risk associated with these activities by
monitoring collateral values on a daily basis and requiring additional collateral to be deposited with or returned
to the Company as permitted under contractual provisions.

82

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

3. Trading Activities and Related Risks (Continued)

Concentrations of Credit Risk

The Company’s exposure to credit risk associated with its trading and other activities is measured on an
individual counterparty basis, as well as by groups of counterparties that share similar attributes. Concentrations
of credit risk can be affected by changes in political, industry, or economic factors. To reduce the potential for
risk concentration, credit limits are established and exposure is monitored in light of changing counterparty and
market conditions. As of December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any material concentrations of credit
risk outside the ordinary course of business.

Off-Balance Sheet Risks

The Company may be exposed to a risk of loss not reflected in the consolidated financial statements to settle
futures and certain over-the-counter contracts at contracted prices, which may require repurchase or sale of the
underlying products in the market at prevailing prices. Accordingly, these transactions result in off-balance sheet
risk as the Company’s cost to liquidate such contracts may exceed the amounts reported in the Company’s
consolidated statements of financial condition.

4. Equity and Earnings per Share

In connection with IBG, Inc.’s initial public offering of Class A common stock (‘‘IPO’’) in May 2007, it
purchased 10.0% of the membership interests in IBG LLC from IBG Holdings LLC (‘‘Holdings’’), became the
sole managing member of IBG LLC and began to consolidate IBG LLC’s financial results into its financial
statements. Holdings owns all of IBG, Inc.’s Class B common stock, which has voting rights in proportion to its
ownership interests in IBG LLC. The table below presents the amount of IBG LLC membership interests held by
IBG, Inc. and Holdings as of December 31, 2019.

Ownership % . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Membership interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

18.5%

81.5%

100.0%

76,759,595

338,670,642

415,430,237

These consolidated financial statements reflect the results of operations and financial position of IBG, Inc.,
including consolidation of its investment in IBG LLC and its subsidiaries. The noncontrolling interests in IBG
LLC attributable to Holdings are reported as a component of total equity in the consolidated statements of
financial condition.

IBG, Inc.

Holdings

Total

Recapitalization and Post-IPO Capital Structure

Immediately prior to and immediately following the consummation of the IPO, IBG, Inc., Holdings, IBG LLC
and the members of IBG LLC consummated a series of transactions collectively referred to herein as the
‘‘Recapitalization.’’ In connection with the Recapitalization, IBG, Inc., Holdings and the historical members of
IBG LLC entered into an exchange agreement, dated as of May 3, 2007 (the ‘‘Exchange Agreement’’), pursuant
to which the historical members of IBG LLC received membership interests in Holdings in exchange for their
membership interests in IBG LLC. Additionally, IBG, Inc. became the sole managing member of IBG LLC.

In connection with the consummation of the IPO, Holdings used the net proceeds to redeem 10.0% of members’
interests in Holdings in proportion to their interests. Immediately following the Recapitalization and IPO,
Holdings owned approximately 90% of IBG LLC and 100% of IBG, Inc.’s Class B common stock.

Since consummation of the IPO and Recapitalization, IBG, Inc.’s equity capital structure has been comprised of
Class A and Class B common stock. All shares of common stock have a par value of $0.01 per share and have
identical rights to earnings and dividends and in liquidation. As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018,
1,000,000,000 shares of Class A common stock were authorized, of which 76,889,040 and 75,230,400 shares
have been issued; and 76,750,110 and 75,100,952 shares were outstanding, respectively. Class B common stock
is comprised of 100 authorized shares, of which 100 shares were issued and outstanding as of
December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. In addition, 10,000 shares of preferred stock have been
authorized, of which no shares are issued or outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018,
respectively.

83

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

4. Equity and Earnings per Share (Continued)

As a result of a federal income tax election made by IBG LLC applicable to the acquisition of IBG LLC
member interests by IBG, Inc., the income tax basis of the assets of IBG LLC acquired by IBG, Inc. have been
adjusted based on the amount paid for such interests. Deferred tax assets were recorded as of the IPO date and in
connection with subsequent redemptions of Holdings member interests in exchange for common stock. These
deferred tax assets are included in other assets in the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition
and are being amortized as additional deferred income tax expense over 15 years from the IPO date and from the
additional redemption dates, respectively, as allowable under current tax law. As of December 31, 2019 and
December 31, 2018, the unamortized balance of these deferred tax assets was $116 million and $140 million,
respectively.

IBG, Inc. also entered into an agreement (the ‘‘Tax Receivable Agreement’’) with Holdings to pay Holdings
(for the benefit of the former members of IBG LLC) 85% of the tax savings that IBG, Inc. actually realizes as
the result of tax basis increases. These payables to Holdings are reported as payable to affiliate in the Company’s
consolidated statements of financial condition. The remaining 15% is accounted for as a permanent increase to
additional paid-in capital in the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition. In 2017, as a result of
the reduction of the corporate rate from 35% to 21% under the Tax Act, the Company remeasured the Tax
Receivable Agreement liability, payable to Holdings, resulting in the recognition of a $93 million gain which is
reported in other income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

The cumulative amounts of deferred tax assets, payables to Holdings and additional paid-in capital arising from
stock offerings from the date of the IPO through December 31, 2019 were $499 million, $424 million, and
$75 million, respectively. Amounts payable under the Tax Receivable Agreement are payable to Holdings
annually following the filing of IBG, Inc.’s federal income tax return. The Company has paid Holdings a
cumulative total of $188 million through December 31, 2019 pursuant to the terms of the Tax Receivable
Agreement.

The Exchange Agreement, as amended, provides for future redemptions of member interests and for the purchase
of member interests in IBG LLC by IBG, Inc. from Holdings, which could result in IBG, Inc. acquiring the
remaining member interests in IBG LLC that it does not own. On an annual basis, members of Holdings are able
to request redemption of their interests.

At the time of IBG, Inc.’s IPO in 2007, three hundred sixty (360) million shares of authorized common stock
were reserved for future sales and redemptions. From 2008 through 2010, Holdings redeemed 5,013,259
IBG LLC interests with a total value of $114 million, which redemptions were funded using cash on hand at
IBG LLC. Upon cash redemption these IBG LLC interests were retired. From 2011 through 2018, IBG, Inc.
issued 15,396,082 shares of common stock (with a fair value of $505 million) directly to Holdings in exchange
for an equivalent number of member interests in IBG LLC. On July 26, 2019, the Company filed a Prospectus
Supplement on Form 424B5 (File Number 333-219552) with the SEC to issue 21,075 shares of common stock
(with a fair value of $1 million) in exchange for an equivalent number of shares of member interests in
IBG LLC. This issuance of shares slightly increased the Company’s ownership in IBG LLC.

As a consequence of these redemption transactions, and distribution of shares to employees (see Note 10), IBG,
Inc.’s interest in IBG LLC has increased to approximately 18.5%, with Holdings owning the remaining 81.5% as
of December 31, 2019. The redemptions also resulted in an increase in the Holdings interest held by Mr. Thomas
Peterffy and his affiliates from approximately 84.6% at the IPO to approximately 89.6% as of
December 31, 2019.

On October 7, 2019, the Company filed a Prospectus Supplement on Form 424B (File Number 333-219552) with
the SEC to register up to 1,000,000 shares of common stock, offering the opportunity for eligible persons to
receive awards in the form of such shares by participating in one or more promotions that are designed to attract
new customers to the Company’s brokerage platform, increase assets held with the Company’s brokerage
subsidiaries and enhance customer loyalty. Assuming all shares were issued, IBG, Inc.’s interest in IBG LLC
would increase from 18.5% to 18.7%.

84

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

4. Equity and Earnings per Share (Continued)

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is calculated utilizing net income available for common stockholders divided by the
weighted average number of shares of Class A and Class B common stock outstanding for that period.

Year-Ended December 31,
2018
(in millions, except share or per share amounts)

2019

2017

Basic earnings per share

Net income available for common stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$

161

$

169

$

76

Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding

Class A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

76,121,470
100

73,438,109
100

69,926,833
100

76,121,570

73,438,209

69,926,933

Basic earnings per share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$

2.11

$

2.30

$

1.09

Diluted earnings per share are calculated utilizing the Company’s basic net income available for common
stockholders divided by diluted weighted average shares outstanding with no adjustments to net income available
to common stockholders for potentially dilutive common shares.

Year-Ended December 31,
2018
(in millions, except share or per share amounts)

2019

2017

Diluted earnings per share

Net income available for common stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$

161

$

169

$

76

Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding

Class A

Issued and outstanding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Potentially dilutive common shares

76,121,470

73,438,109

69,926,833

Issuable pursuant to employee stock incentive plans. . . . .
Class B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

704,293
100

828,161
100

977,988
100

76,825,863

74,266,370

70,904,921

Diluted earnings per share. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$

2.10

$

2.28

$

1.07

Member Distributions and Stockholder Dividends

During the three years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, IBG LLC made distributions totaling
$438 million, $426 million, and $328 million, to its members, of which IBG, Inc.’s proportionate share was
$81 million, $76 million, and $56 million, respectively. The Company paid quarterly cash dividends of $0.10 per
share of common stock, totaling $31 million, $29 million, and $28 million during 2019, 2018, and 2017,
respectively.

On January 21, 2020, the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per common share, payable on
March 13, 2020 to stockholders of record as of February 28, 2020.

85

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

5. Comprehensive Income

The table below presents comprehensive income and earnings per share on comprehensive income for the periods
indicated.

Year-Ended December 31,
2018
(in millions, except share or per share amounts)

2019

2017

Comprehensive income available for common stockholders . . . . . . .

Earnings per share on comprehensive income

Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$

$

$

165

2.18

2.16

$

$

$

156

2.12

2.09

$

$

$

87

1.24

1.22

Weighted average common shares outstanding

Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

76,121,570

73,438,209

69,926,933

Diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

76,825,863

74,266,370

70,904,921

6.

Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The tables below present, by level within the fair value hierarchy (see Note 2), financial assets and liabilities,
measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the periods indicated. As required by ASC Topic 820, financial
assets and financial liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant
to the respective fair value measurement.

Financial Assets at Fair Value as of
December 31, 2019
Level 3
Level 2

Total

Level 1

Securities segregated for regulatory purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Financial instruments owned, at fair value

Stocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warrants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
U.S. and foreign government securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corporate bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Currency forward contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total financial instruments owned, at fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other assets - other investments at fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total financial assets at fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(in millions)

$3,797

$—

$—

$3,797

540
1,333
—
34
—
—
1,907
36
$5,740

—
—
—
—
—
6
6
—
$ 6

—
—
—
—
3
—
3
—
$ 3

540
1,333
—
34
3
6
1,916
36
$5,749

Financial Liabilities at Fair Value as of
December 31, 2019
Level 2

Level 3

Level 1

Total

Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value

Stocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Currency forward contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value . .
Total financial liabilities at fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$183
273
—
456
$456

(in millions)

$—
—
1
1
$ 1

$—
—
—
—
$—

$183
273
1
457
$457

86

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

6.

Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (Continued)

Financial Assets at Fair Value as of
December 31, 2018
Level 3
Level 2

Total

Level 1

(in millions)

Securities segregated for regulatory purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$4,213

$—

$—

$4,213

Financial instruments owned, at fair value

Stocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warrants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
U.S. and foreign government securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corporate and municipal bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Currency forward contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total financial instruments owned, at fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

494
1,479
1
113
—
—

2,087

—
—
—
—
1
28

29

—
—
—
—
3
—

3

494
1,479
1
113
4
28

2,119

Total financial assets at fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$6,300

$29

$ 3

$6,332

Financial Liabilities at Fair Value as of
December 31, 2018
Level 2

Level 3

Level 1

Total

Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value

Stocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Currency forward contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value . .

Total financial liabilities at fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$273
404
—

677

$677

(in millions)

$—
—
4

4

$ 4

$—
—
—

—

$—

$273
404
4

681

$681

Transfers between Level 1 and Level 2

Transfers of financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value to or from Levels 1 and 2 arise where the
market for a specific financial instrument has become active or inactive during the period. The fair values
transferred are ascribed as if the financial assets or financial liabilities had been transferred as of the end of the
period.

Level 3 Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

The Company’s Level 3 financial assets are comprised of delisted and illiquid securities reported within financial
instruments owned, at fair value in the consolidated statements of financial condition. As of December 31, 2019
Level 3 financial assets included $3 million in corporate bonds, which were not traded in active markets and
were valued by the Company based on internal estimates. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the
Company recognized a $1 million unrealized loss related to stocks classified as Level 3.

During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, no transfers occurred between levels for financial assets
and liabilities, at fair value.

87

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

6.

Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (Continued)

Trading Gains from Market Making Transactions

The table below presents trading gains and losses from market making transactions, reported in the consolidated
statements of comprehensive income, by major product types for the periods indicated.

Equities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total trading gains, net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Year-Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2019
(in millions)

$27
—

$27

$39
—

$39

$42
(2)

$40

These transactions are related to the Company’s financial instruments owned and financial instruments sold, but
not yet purchased, at fair value and include both derivative and non-derivative financial instruments, including
exchange traded options and futures. These gains and losses also include market making related dividend income
and expense.

Financial Assets and Liabilities Not Measured at Fair Value

The tables below represent the carrying value, fair value, and fair value hierarchy category of certain financial
assets and liabilities that are not recorded at fair value in the Company’s consolidated statements of financial
condition for the periods indicated. The tables below exclude certain financial instruments such as equity
investments and all non-financial assets and liabilities.

December 31, 2019

Carrying
Value

Fair
Value

Level 1
(in millions)

Level 2

Level 3

Financial assets, not measured at fair value

Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash - segregated for regulatory purposes . . . . . . . . .
Securities - segregated for regulatory purposes. . . . . .
Securities borrowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities purchased under agreements to resell . . . . .
Receivables from customer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Receivables from broker, dealers, and clearing

organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 2,882
9,400
14,027
3,916
3,111
31,304

685
158
9

$ 2,882
9,400
14,027
3,916
3,111
31,304

685
158
9

$ 2,882
9,400
—
—
—
—

—
—
—

$ —
—
14,027
3,916
3,111
31,304

685
158
3

$—
—
—
—
—
—

—
—
6

Total financial assets, not measured at fair value . . . . . .

$65,492

$65,492

$12,282

$53,204

$ 6

Financial liabilities, not measured at fair value

Short-term borrowings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities loaned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase . . . . .
Payables to customer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing

organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$

16
4,410
1,909
56,248

$

16
4,410
1,909
56,248

$ — $
—
—
—

16
4,410
1,909
56,248

220
29

220
29

—
—

220
29

Total financial liabilities, not measured at fair value . . .

$62,832

$62,832

$ — $62,832

$—
—
—
—

—
—

$—

88

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

6.

Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (Continued)

December 31, 2018

Carrying
Value

Fair
Value

Level 1
(in millions)

Level 2

Level 3

Financial assets, not measured at fair value

Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash - segregated for regulatory purposes . . . . . . . . .
Securities - segregated for regulatory purposes. . . . . .
Securities borrowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities purchased under agreements to resell . . . . .
Receivables from customer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Receivables from broker, dealers, and clearing

organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 2,597
7,503
11,382
3,331
1,242
27,017

706
141
5

$ 2,597
7,503
11,382
3,331
1,242
27,017

706
141
6

$ 2,597
7,503
—
—
—
—

—
—
—

$ —
—
11,382
3,331
1,242
27,017

706
141
6

$—
—
—
—
—
—

—
—
—

Total financial assets, not measured at fair value . . . . . .

$53,924

$53,925

$10,100

$43,825

$—

Financial liabilities, not measured at fair value

Short-term borrowings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities loaned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase . . . . .
Payables to customer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing

organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$

17
4,037
—
47,993

$

17
4,037
—
47,993

$ — $
—
—
—

17
4,037
—
47,993

298
41

298
41

—
—

298
41

Total financial liabilities, not measured at fair value . . .

$52,386

$52,386

$ — $52,386

$—
—
—
—

—
—

$—

Netting of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

The Company’s policy is to net securities borrowed and securities loaned, and securities purchased under
agreements to resell and securities sold under agreements to repurchase that meet the offsetting requirements
prescribed in ASC Topic 210-20. In the tables below, the amounts of financial instruments that are not offset in
the consolidated statements of financial condition, but could be netted against cash or financial instruments with
specific counterparties under master netting agreements, according to the terms of the agreements, including
clearing houses (exchange traded options, warrants and discount certificates) or over the counter currency
forward contract counterparties, are presented to provide financial statement readers with the Company’s net
payable or receivable with counterparties for these financial instruments.

89

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

6.

Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (Continued)

The tables below present the netting of financial assets and of financial liabilities for the periods indicated.

Gross
Amounts
of Financial
Assets and
Liabilities
Recognized

Amounts
Offset in the
Consolidated
Statement of
Financial Condition(2)

December 31, 2019

Net Amounts
Presented in the
Consolidated
Statement of
Financial Condition
(in millions)

Amounts Not
Offset in the
Consolidated Statement
of Financial Condition
Cash or Financial
Instruments

Net Amount

Offsetting of financial assets
Securities segregated for
regulatory purposes -
purchased under
agreements to resell. . . .
Securities borrowed . . . . . .
Securities purchased under
agreements to resell. . . .

Financial instruments
owned, at fair value
Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warrants . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Currency forward

$14,027(1)
3,916

3,111

1,333
—

contracts . . . . . . . . . . .

6

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$22,393

Offsetting of financial

$—
—

—

—
—

—

$—

$14,027
3,916

$(14,027)
(3,765)

$ —
151

3,111

(3,111)

—

1,333
—

6

$22,393

(267)
—

—

1,066
—

6

$(21,170)

$1,223

$ 4,410

$—

$ 4,410

$ (4,186)

$ 224

liabilities
Securities loaned . . . . . . . .
Securities sold under
agreements to
repurchase . . . . . . . . . . .
Financial instruments sold,
but not yet purchased,
at fair value
Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warrants . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Currency forward

contracts . . . . . . . . . . .

273
—

1

1,909

—

1,909

(1,909)

273
—

1

(267)
—

—

—

6
—

1

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 6,593

$ 6,593

$ (6,362)

$ 231

—
—

—

$—

90

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

6.

Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (Continued)

Gross
Amounts
of Financial
Assets and
Liabilities
Recognized

Amounts
Offset in the
Consolidated
Statement of
Financial Condition

December 31, 2018

Net Amounts
Presented in the
Consolidated
Statement of
Financial Condition
(in millions)

Amounts Not
Offset in the
Consolidated
Statement of
Financial Condition
Cash or Financial
Instruments

Net Amount

Offsetting of financial assets
Securities segregated for
regulatory purposes -
purchased under
agreements to resell. . . .
Securities borrowed . . . . . .
Securities purchased under
agreements to resell. . . .

Financial instruments
owned, at fair value
Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warrants . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Currency forward

$11,382(1)
3,331

1,242

1,479
1

contracts . . . . . . . . . . .

28

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$17,463

Offsetting of financial

$—
—

—

—
—

—

$—

$11,382
3,331

$(11,382)
(3,199)

$ —
132

1,242

(1,242)

—

1,479
1

28

$17,463

(398)
—

—

1,081
1

28

$(16,221)

$1,242

$ 4,037

$—

$ 4,037

$ (3,838)

$ 199

liabilities
Securities loaned . . . . . . . .
Securities sold under
agreements to
repurchase . . . . . . . . . . .
Financial instruments sold,
but not yet purchased,
at fair value
Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warrants . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Currency forward

contracts . . . . . . . . . . .

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 4,445

—

—

404
—

4

—
—

—

$—

—

404
—

4

—

(398)
—

—

—

6
—

4

$ 4,445

$ (4,236)

$ 209

(1) As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had $14.0 billion and $11.4 billion,

respectively, of securities purchased under agreements to resell that were segregated to satisfy regulatory
requirements. These securities are included in ‘‘Securities - segregated for regulatory purposes’’ in the
consolidated statements of financial condition.

(2) The Company did not have any balances eligible for netting in accordance with ASC Topic 210-20 at

December 31, 2019 and 2018.

91

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

6.

Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (Continued)

Secured Financing Transactions – Maturities and Collateral Pledged

The tables below present gross obligations for securities loaned transactions by remaining contractual maturity
and class of collateral pledged for the periods indicated.

Securities loaned

Stocks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corporate bonds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign government securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total securities loaned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

U.S. government securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Securities loaned

Stocks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corporate bonds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign government securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total securities loaned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Overnight
and Open

$4,356
54
—

$4,410

1,909

$6,319

Overnight
and Open

$3,970
65
2

$4,037

December 31, 2019
Remaining Contractual Maturity
Less than
30 days

30 – 90
days

Over 90
days

(in millions)

$—
—
—

$—

—

$—

$—
—
—

$—

—

$—

$—
—
—

$—

—

$—

December 31, 2018
Remaining Contractual Maturity
Less than
30 days

30 – 90
days

Over 90
days

(in millions)

$—
—
—

$—

$—
—
—

$—

$—
—
—

$—

Total

$4,356
54
—

$4,410

1,909

$6,319

Total

$3,970
65
2

$4,037

7. Collateralized Transactions

The Company enters into securities borrowing and lending transactions and agreements to repurchase and resell
securities to finance trading inventory, to obtain securities for settlement and to earn residual interest rate
spreads. In addition, the Company’s customers pledge their securities owned to collateralize margin loans. Under
these transactions, the Company either receives or provides collateral, including equity, corporate debt and U.S.
government securities. Under typical agreements, the Company is permitted to sell or repledge securities received
as collateral and use these securities to secure securities purchased under agreements to resell, enter into
securities lending transactions or deliver these securities to counterparties to cover short positions.

The Company also engages in securities financing transactions with and for customers through margin lending.
Customer receivables generated from margin lending activity are collateralized by customer-owned securities held
by the Company. Customers’ required margin levels and established credit limits are monitored continuously by
risk management staff using automated systems. Pursuant to the Company’s policy and as enforced by such
systems, customers are required to deposit additional collateral or reduce positions, when necessary to avoid
automatic liquidation of their positions.

92

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

7. Collateralized Transactions (Continued)

Margin loans are extended to customers on a demand basis and are not committed facilities. Factors considered
in the acceptance or rejection of margin loans are the amount of the loan, the degree of leverage being employed
in the customer account and an overall evaluation of the customer’s portfolio to ensure proper diversification or,
in the case of concentrated positions, appropriate liquidity of the underlying collateral. Additionally, transactions
relating to concentrated or restricted positions are limited or prohibited by raising the level of required margin
collateral (to 100% in the extreme case). Underlying collateral for margin loans is evaluated with respect to the
liquidity of the collateral positions, valuation of securities, volatility analysis and an evaluation of industry
concentrations. Adherence to the Company’s collateral policies significantly limits the Company’s credit exposure
to margin loans in the event of a customer’s default. Under margin lending agreements, the Company may
request additional margin collateral from customers and may sell securities that have not been paid for or
purchase securities sold but not delivered from customers, if necessary. As of December 31, 2019 and
December 31, 2018, approximately $31.3 billion and $27.0 billion, respectively, of customer margin loans were
outstanding.

The table below presents a summary of the amounts related to collateralized transactions for the periods
indicated.

Securities lending transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securities purchased under agreements to resell transactions(1) . .
Customer margin assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

December 31, 2019

December 31, 2018

Permitted
to Repledge

Sold or
Repledged

Permitted
to Repledge

Sold or
Repledged

$31,994
17,185
34,156

$83,335

(in millions)

$ 3,944
16,627
11,189

$31,760

$21,412
12,672
25,778

$59,862

$ 3,284
11,881
6,616

$21,781

(1) As of December 31, 2019, $14.0 billion or 84% (as of December 31, 2018, $11.4 billion or 96%) of
securities acquired through agreements to resell that are shown as repledged have been deposited in a
separate bank account for the exclusive benefit of customers in accordance with SEC Rule 15c3-3.

In the normal course of business, the Company pledges qualified securities with clearing organizations to satisfy
daily margin and clearing fund requirements. As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the majority of
the Company’s U.S. and foreign government securities owned were pledged to clearing organizations.

The table below presents financial instruments owned and pledged as collateral, including amounts pledged to
affiliates, where the counterparty has the right to repledge, for the periods indicated.

Stocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
U.S. and foreign government securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

December 31,

2019

2018

(in millions)

$128
33

$161

$121
67

$188

8. Revenues from Contracts with Customers

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU No. 2014-09, ‘‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’’
(‘‘ASC Topic 606’’) using the modified retrospective method (i.e., applied prospectively effective January 1,
2018 without revising prior periods), which had no impact on the Company’s opening retained earnings.

Revenue from contracts with customers is recognized when, or as, the Company satisfies its performance
obligations by transferring the promised services to the customers. A service is transferred to a customer when,
or as, the customer obtains control of that service. A performance obligation may be satisfied at a point in time

93

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

8. Revenues from Contracts with Customers (Continued)

or over time. Revenue from a performance obligation satisfied at a point in time is recognized at the point in
time that the Company determines the customer obtains control over the promised service. Revenue from a
performance obligation satisfied over time is recognized by measuring the Company’s progress in satisfying the
performance obligation in a manner that depicts the transfer of the services to the customer. The amount of
revenue recognized reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those promised
services (i.e., the ‘‘transaction price’’). In determining the transaction price, the Company considers multiple
factors, including the effects of variable consideration, if any.

The Company’s revenues from contracts with customers are recognized when the performance obligations are
satisfied at an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange for such services.
The majority of the Company’s performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time and are typically
collected from customers by debiting their brokerage account with the Company.

Nature of Services

The Company’s services under contracts with customers are mainly related to its electronic brokerage business.
The Company’s main sources of revenues from contracts with customers are as follows:

-

-

-

-

-

Commissions are charged to customers for order execution services and trade clearing and settlement
services. These services represent a single performance obligation as the services are not separately
identifiable in the context of the contract. The Company recognizes revenue at a point in time at the
execution of the order (i.e., trade date). Commissions are generally collected from cleared customers on
trade date and from non-cleared customers monthly.

Market data fees are charged to customers for market data services to which they subscribe that the
Company delivers. The Company recognizes revenue monthly as the performance obligation is satisfied
over time by continually providing market data for the period. Market data fees are collected monthly,
generally in advance.

Risk exposure fees are charged to customers who carry positions with market risk that exceeds defined
thresholds. The Company recognizes revenue daily as the performance obligation is satisfied at a point
in time by the Company taking on additional risk of account liquidation and potential losses due to
insufficient margin. Risk exposure fees are collected daily.

Payments for order flow are earned from various options exchanges based upon options trading volume
originated by the Company that meets certain criteria and from IBKR LiteSM liquidity providers.
The Company recognizes revenue daily as the performance obligation is satisfied at a point in time on
customer orders that qualify for payments subject to exchange-mandated programs. Payments for order
flow are collected monthly, in arrears.

Minimum activity fees are charged to customers that do not generate the required minimum monthly
commission. The Company recognizes revenue monthly as the performance obligation is satisfied at a
point in time by servicing customer accounts that do not generate the required minimum monthly
commissions. Minimum activity fees are collected monthly, in arrears.

The Company’s electronic brokerage business also earns revenues from other services, including order
cancelation or modification fees, position transfer fees, telecommunications fees, withdrawal fees, and bank
sweep program fees, among others.

94

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

8. Revenues from Contracts with Customers (Continued)

Disaggregation of Revenue

The tables below present revenue from contracts with customers by business segment, geographic location, and
major types of services for the periods indicated.

Geographic location(1)

United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
International. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Major types of services

Commissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Market data fees(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Risk exposure fees(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Payments for order flow(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minimum activity fees(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Geographic location(1)

United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
International. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Major types of services

Commissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Market data fees(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Risk exposure fees(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Payments for order flow(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minimum activity fees(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Year-Ended December 31, 2019

Electronic
Brokerage

Market
Making

Corporate

Total

(in millions)

$599
244

$843

$706
45
16
21
27
28

$843

$ 2
—

$ 2

$—
—
—
—
—
2

$ 2

$ 2
—

$ 2

$—
—
—
—
—
2

$ 2

$603
244

$847

$706
45
16
21
27
32

$847

Year-Ended December 31, 2018

Electronic
Brokerage

Market
Making

Corporate

Total

(in millions)

$658
260

$918

$777
46
26
21
23
25

$918

$ 5
—

$ 5

$—
—
—
—
—
5

$ 5

$ 2
—

$ 2

$—
—
—
—
—
2

$ 2

$665
260

$925

$777
46
26
21
23
32

$925

(1) Based on the location of the subsidiaries in which the revenues are recorded.

(2)

Included in other income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Receivables and Contract Balances

Receivables arise when the Company has an unconditional right to receive payment under a contract with a
customer and are derecognized when the cash is received. Receivables of $10 million and $9 million, as of
December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, are reported in other assets in the consolidated
statements of financial condition.

95

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

8. Revenues from Contracts with Customers (Continued)

Contract assets arise when the revenue associated with the contract is recognized prior to the Company’s
unconditional right to receive payment under a contract with a customer (i.e., unbilled receivable) and are
derecognized when either it becomes a receivable or the cash is received. Contract assets are reported in other
assets in the consolidated statements of financial condition. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, contract asset
balances were not material.

Contract liabilities arise when customers remit contractual cash payments in advance of the Company satisfying
its performance obligations under the contract and are derecognized when the revenue associated with the
contract is recognized either when a milestone is met triggering the contractual right to bill the customer or when
the performance obligation is satisfied. Contract liabilities are reported in accounts payable, accrued expenses and
other liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018,
contract liability balances were not material.

9. Other Income

The table below presents the components of other income for the periods indicated.

Market data fees(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Risk exposure fees(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Payments for order flow(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minimum activity fees(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other brokerage related fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gains on financial instruments, at fair value and other investments, net . . . . . . . . . . .
Gains (losses) from currency diversification strategy, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other, net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Year-Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2019
(in millions)

$ 45
16
21
27
27
40
(60)
5

$121

$ 46
26
21
23
25
24
(19)
12

$158

$ 39
24
15
20
13
1
110
110

$332

(1) See Note 8 for description of these revenues.

Other brokerage related fees include FDIC sweep fees, order routing fees, IPO concession fees and other
miscellaneous fees charged to customers. Gains on financial instruments, at fair value and other investments, net
include (1) realized and unrealized gains and losses on financial instruments that (a) are held for purposes other
than the Company’s market making activities, (b) are subject to restrictions, or (c) are accounted for under the
equity method and (2) dividends on investments accounted at cost less impairment. For the year ended
December 31, 2017, other, net includes a gain on the sale of the Company’s U.S. options market making
operations to Two Sigma Securities, LLC of $11 million, reflecting the recovery of exit costs, and a $93 million
gain from the remeasurement of the Tax Receivable Agreement liability as a result of the Tax Act (see Note 4
and Note 11).

96

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

10. Employee Incentive Plans

Defined Contribution Plan

The Company offers substantially all employees of U.S.-based operating subsidiaries who have met minimum
service requirements the opportunity to participate in defined contribution retirement plans qualifying under the
provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The general purpose of this plan is to provide
employees with an incentive to make regular savings in order to provide additional financial security during
retirement. This plan provides for the Company to match 50% of the employees’ pre-tax contribution, up to a
maximum of 10% of eligible earnings. The employee is vested in the matching contribution incrementally over
six years of service. Included in employee compensation and benefits expenses in the consolidated statements of
comprehensive income were $4 million, $4 million and $3 million of plan contributions for the years ended
December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

2007 ROI Unit Stock Plan

In connection with the IPO, the Company adopted the IBG, Inc. 2007 ROI Unit Stock Plan (‘‘ROI Unit Stock
Plan’’). An aggregate of 1,271,009 shares of restricted common stock (consisting of 1,250,000 shares issued
under the ROI Unit Stock Plan and 21,009 shares under the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as described below), with
a fair value at the date of grant of $38 million were issued to IBG LLC and held as treasury stock.

As of December 31, 2018, the Company has distributed all shares of restricted common stock under the ROI
Unit Stock Plan.

2007 Stock Incentive Plan

In 2017, the Company amended the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the ‘‘Stock Incentive Plan’’) to extend its term
for a ten-year period through April 4, 2027, which was approved by the Company’s stockholders at its 2018
Annual Meeting, held on April 19, 2018. Under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan, up to 30 million shares of
the Company’s Class A common stock may be issued to satisfy vested restricted stock units granted to directors,
officers, employees, contractors and consultants of the Company. The purpose of the Stock Incentive Plan is to
promote the Company’s long-term financial success by attracting, retaining and rewarding eligible participants.

As a result of the Company’s organizational structure, a description of which can be found in ‘‘Business – Our
Organizational Structure’’ in Part I, Item 1 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, there is no dilutive
effect upon ownership of common stockholders of issuing shares under the Stock Incentive Plan. The issuances
do not dilute the book value of the ownership of common stockholders since the restricted stock units are
granted at market value, and upon their vesting and the related issuance of shares of common stock, the
ownership of IBG, Inc. in IBG LLC, increases proportionately to the shares issued. As a result of such
proportionate increase in share ownership, the dilution upon issuance of common stock is borne by IBG LLC’s
majority member (i.e., noncontrolling interest), Holdings, and not by IBG, Inc. or its common stockholders.
Additionally, dilution of earnings that may take place after issuance of common stock is reflected in EPS
reported in the Company’s financial statements. The EPS dilution can be neither estimated nor projected, but
historically it has not been material.

The Stock Incentive Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.
The Compensation Committee has discretionary authority to determine the eligibility to participate in the Stock
Incentive Plan and establishes the terms and conditions of the awards, including the number of awards granted to
each participant and all other terms and conditions applicable to such awards in individual grant agreements.
Awards are expected to be made primarily through grants of restricted stock units. Stock Incentive Plan awards
are subject to issuance over time. All previously granted but not yet earned awards may be cancelled by the
Company upon the participant’s termination of employment or violation of certain applicable covenants prior to
issuance, unless determined otherwise by the Compensation Committee.

97

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

10. Employee Incentive Plans (Continued)

The Stock Incentive Plan provides that, upon a change in control, the Compensation Committee may, at its
discretion, fully vest any granted but not yet earned awards under the Stock Incentive Plan, or provide that any
such granted but not yet earned awards will be honored or assumed, or new rights substituted by the new
employer on a substantially similar basis and on terms and conditions substantially comparable to those of the
Stock Incentive Plan.

The Company expects to continue to grant awards on or about December 31 of each year to eligible participants
as part of an overall plan of equity compensation. Restricted stock units vest and become distributable to
participants in accordance with the following schedule:

•

•

10% on the first vesting date, which is on or about May 9 of each year; and

an additional 15% on each of the following six anniversaries of the first vesting, assuming continued
employment with the Company and compliance with non-competition and other applicable covenants.

Awards granted to external directors vest, and are distributed, over a five-year period (20% per year)
commencing one year after the date of grant. A total of 27,245 restricted stock units have been granted to the
external directors cumulatively since the plan’s inception.

The table below presents Stock Incentive Plan awards granted and the related fair values since the plan’s
inception.

Prior periods (since inception) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
December 31, 2017. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
December 31, 2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
December 31, 2019. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Units

23,551,137
946,489
1,146,267(1)
1,374,560

27,018,453

Fair Value at
Date of Grant
($ millions)

$504
57
62
65

$688

(1) Stock Incentive Plan number of granted restricted stock units related to 2018 was adjusted by 640 additional

restricted stock units during the year ended December 31, 2019.

Estimated future grants under the Stock Incentive Plan are accrued for ratably during each year (see Note 2).
In accordance with the vesting schedule, outstanding awards vest and are distributed to participants yearly on or
about May 9 of each year. At the end of each year, no vested awards remain undistributed.

Compensation expense related to the Stock Incentive Plan recognized in the consolidated statements of
comprehensive income was $60 million, $58 million, and $53 million for the years ended December 31, 2019,
2018, and 2017, respectively. Estimated future compensation costs for unvested awards, net of credits for
cancelled awards, as of December 31, 2019 are $40 million.

98

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

10. Employee Incentive Plans (Continued)

The table below summarizes the Stock Incentive Plan and ROI Unit Stock Plan activities for the periods
indicated.

Stock
Incentive Plan
Units

Intrinsic Value
of SIP Shares
which Vested and
were Distributed
($ millions)(1)

Balance, December 31, 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7,917,719

Granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cancelled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Distributed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Balance, December 31, 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cancelled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Distributed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

946,489
(115,711)
(2,274,777)

6,473,720
1,146,267(2)
(63,657)
(2,083,624)

Balance, December 31, 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5,472,706

Granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cancelled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Distributed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,374,560
(91,443)
(1,627,565)

Balance, December 31, 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5,128,258

$ 81

$164

$ 91

ROI Unit
Stock Plan
Shares

4,994

—
—
(1,145)

3,849

—
—
(3,849)

—

—
—
—

—

(1)

Intrinsic value of SIP units distributed represents the compensation value reported to the participants.

(2) Stock Incentive Plan number of granted restricted stock units related to 2018 was adjusted by 640 additional

restricted stock units during the year ended December 31, 2019.

Awards previously granted but not yet earned under the stock plans are subject to the plans’ post-employment
provisions in the event a participant ceases employment with the Company. Through December 31, 2019, a total
of 977,905 restricted stock units have been distributed under these post-employment provisions. These
distributions are included in the table above.

11.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense for the three years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017 differs from the U.S. federal
statutory rate primarily due to the taxation treatment of income attributable to noncontrolling interests in IBG
LLC and the enactment of the Tax Act, as discussed below. These noncontrolling interests are held directly
through a U.S. partnership. Accordingly, the income attributable to these noncontrolling interests is reported in
the consolidated statements of comprehensive income, but the related U.S. income tax expense attributable to
these noncontrolling interests is not reported by the Company as it is generally the obligation of the
noncontrolling interests. Income tax expense is also affected by the differing effective tax rates in foreign, state
and local jurisdictions where certain of the Company’s subsidiaries are subject to corporate taxation.

Deferred income taxes arise primarily due to the amortization of the deferred tax assets recognized in connection
with the common stock offerings (see Note 4), differences in the valuation of financial assets and liabilities, and
for other temporary differences arising from the deductibility of compensation and depreciation expenses in
different time periods for accounting and income tax return purposes.

99

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

11.

Income Taxes (Continued)

The Tax Act, as previously described (see Note 2), makes broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code,
including, but not limited to, (1) reducing the U.S. federal corporate tax rate to 21%, effective January 1, 2018;
(2) requiring a one-time transition tax on certain undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries to be paid over
eight years; (3) generally eliminating U.S. federal income taxes on dividends from foreign subsidiaries;
(4) requiring a current inclusion in U.S. federal taxable income of certain earnings of controlled foreign
corporations; (5) eliminating the corporate alternative minimum tax (‘‘AMT’’) and changing how existing AMT
credits can be realized; (6) creating the base erosion anti-abuse tax, a new minimum tax; (7) creating a new
limitation on deductible interest expense; (8) changing rules related to uses and limitations of net operating loss
carryforwards created in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017; (9) repealing the Section 199
manufacturing deduction; and (10) full expensing of qualified property for tax return purposes.

The SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 (‘‘SAB 118’’), now codified into ASC Topic 740, which
provides guidance on accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Act. SAB 118 provides a measurement period that
should not extend beyond one year from the enactment of the Tax Act for entities to complete the accounting
under ASC Topic 740. In accordance with SAB 118, an entity must reflect the income tax effects of those
aspects of the Tax Act for which the accounting under ASC Topic 740 is complete. To the extent that an entity’s
accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act is incomplete but it is able to determine a reasonable
estimate, the entity must record a provisional estimate on its financial statements. However, if an entity cannot
determine a provisional estimate to be included on its financial statements, the entity should continue to apply
ASC Topic 740 on the basis of the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately before the
enactment of the Tax Act.

The Company’s accounting for the following elements of the Tax Act is complete. The Company has recorded
the effects of the Tax Act as follows:

Reduction of U.S. federal corporate tax rate: The Tax Act reduces the corporate tax rate to 21%, effective
January 1, 2018. For certain of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities, the Company recognized a
provisional net decrease of $115 million with a corresponding adjustment to deferred income tax expense
(or deferred tax benefit) for the year ended December 31, 2017. Through the year ended December 31, 2018,
the Company made no significant adjustments to the provisional amount recorded as of December 31, 2017.

Deemed Repatriation Transition Tax: The Deemed Repatriation Transition Tax (‘‘Transition Tax’’) is a tax on
previously untaxed accumulated and current earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries. To determine the amount of
the Transition Tax, the Company must determine, in addition to other factors, the amount of post-1986 earnings
of the relevant foreign subsidiaries, as well as the amount of non-U.S. income taxes paid on such earnings. As of
December 31, 2017, the Company recognized a provisional Transition Tax obligation of $62 million and through
the year ended December 31, 2018 made no significant adjustments to the provisional amount recorded.

The Tax Act creates a new requirement that global intangible low taxed income (‘‘GILTI’’) earned by controlled
foreign corporations (‘‘CFC’’s) must be included currently in the gross income of the CFC’s U.S. shareholder.
GILTI is the excess of the shareholder’s ‘‘net CFC-tested income’’ over the deemed tangible income return,
which is currently defined as the excess of (1) 10 percent of the aggregate of the U.S shareholder’s pro rata
share of the qualified business asset investment in each CFC with respect to which it is a U.S shareholder over
(2) the amount of certain interest expense taken into account in the determination of net CFC-tested income.

Under U.S. GAAP, the Company is allowed to make an accounting policy election of either (1) treating taxes
due on future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to GILTI as a current-period expense when incurred
(the ‘‘period cost method’’) or (2) factoring such amounts into the Company’s measurement of its deferred taxes
(the ‘‘deferred method’’). The Company elected the period cost method.

100

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

11.

Income Taxes (Continued)

The table below presents the components of the provision for income taxes for the periods indicated.

Current

Federal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
State and local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Deferred

Federal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
State and local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total deferred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Year-Ended December 31,
2017
2018
2019
(in millions)

$19
3
22
44

24
—
—
24
$68

$15
3
32
50

22
—
(1)
21
$71

$ 76(1)
1
32
109

148(2)
—
(1)
147
$256

(1)

(2)

Includes $62 million of Transition Tax under the Tax Act.

Includes the remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities of $115 million due to the Tax Act.

The table below presents a reconciliation of the statutory U.S. Federal income tax rate of 21% to the Company’s
effective tax rate for the two years ending December 31, 2019 and 2018, and 35% for the year ending
December 31, 2017.

U.S. Statutory Tax Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less: rate attributable to noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
State, local and foreign taxes, net of federal benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Subtotal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Effects of the Tax Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Year-Ended December 31,
2019
2017
2018
21.0% 21.0% 35.0%
(26.5%)
(16.8%)
(16.8%)
1.7%
1.7%
2.1%
5.9% 10.6%
5.9%
0.0% 13.7%
0.0%
5.9% 24.3%
5.9%

The table below presents significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are
reported in other assets and in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, respectively, in the
consolidated statements of financial condition for the periods indicated.

Deferred tax assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Arising from the acquisition of interests in IBG LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deferred compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total deferred tax assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Deferred tax liabilities

Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total deferred tax liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net deferred tax assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

December 31,
2018
(in millions)

$140
4
10
154

—
1
1
$153

2017

$146
4
7
157

1
—
1
$156

2019

$116
5
11
132

1
3
4
$128

101

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

11.

Income Taxes (Continued)

As of and for the years ended December 31, 2019, and 2018, the Company had no valuation allowances on its
deferred tax assets.

The Company is subject to taxation in the U.S. and various states and foreign jurisdictions. As of December 31,
2019, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. Federal and State income tax examinations for tax years prior to
2014, and to non-U.S. income tax examinations for tax years prior to 2009.

As of December 31, 2019, accumulated earnings held by non-U.S. subsidiaries totaled $1.3 billion (as of
December 31, 2018 $1.1 billion). Of this amount, approximately $0.2 billion (as of December 31, 2018
$0.2 billion) is attributable to earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries that are considered ‘‘pass-through’’
entities for U.S. income tax purposes. Since the Company accounts for U.S. income taxes on these earnings on a
current basis, no additional U.S. tax consequences would result from the repatriation of these earnings other than
that which would be due arising from currency fluctuations between the time the earnings are reported for U.S.
tax purposes and when they are remitted. With respect to certain of these non-U.S. subsidiaries’ accumulated
earnings, approximately $0.2 billion and $0.2 billion as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018,
respectively would result in additional foreign taxes in the form of dividend withholding tax imposed on the
recipient of the distribution or dividend distribution tax imposed on the payor of the distribution upon
repatriation. The Company has not provided for its proportionate share of these additional foreign taxes as it does
not intend to repatriate these earnings in the foreseeable future. For the same reason, the Company has not
provided deferred U.S. tax on cumulative translation adjustments associated with these earnings.

12. Leases

All of the Company’s leases are classified as operating leases and primarily consist of real estate leases for
corporate offices, data centers, and other facilities. As of December 31, 2019, the weighted-average remaining
lease term on these leases is approximately 9 years and the weighted-average discount rate used to measure the
lease liabilities is approximately 4.06%. For the year ended December 31, 2019, right-of-use assets obtained
under operating leases were $140 million. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any residual value
guarantees, restrictions or covenants.

The table below presents balances reported in the consolidated statements of financial condition related to the
Company’s leases for the period indicated.

Right-of-use assets(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lease liabilities(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

December 31,
2019
(in millions)

$118
$124

(1) Right-of-use assets are included in other assets and lease liabilities are included in accounts payable, accrued

expenses and other liabilities in the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition.

The table below presents balances reported in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income related to
the Company’s leases for the period indicated.

Operating lease cost. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Variable lease cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total lease cost. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Year-Ended
December 31,
2019
(in millions)

$25
4

$29

102

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

12. Leases (Continued)

The table below reconciles the undiscounted cash flows of the Company’s leases to the present value of its
operating lease payments for the period indicated.

2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thereafter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total undiscounted operating lease payments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less: imputed interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Present value of operating lease liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

December 31,
2019
(in millions)

$ 19
17
17
15
13
69
150
(26)
$124

The table below presents the Company’s minimum annual lease commitments in accordance with ASC Topic 840
for the period indicated.

Year

2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thereafter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

December 31,
2018
(in millions)

$ 18
19
16
16
15
83
$167

13. Property, Equipment and Intangible Assets

Property, equipment and intangible assets, which are included in other assets in the consolidated statements of
financial condition, consist of leasehold improvements, computer equipment, software developed for the
Company’s internal use, office furniture and equipment. The table below presents balances related to property,
equipment and intangible assets for the periods indicated.

Leasehold improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Computer equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Office furniture and equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Property and equipment, net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Internally developed software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less - accumulated amortization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Intangible assets, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total property, equipment, and intangible assets, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

December 31,

2019

2018

(in millions)

$ 37
24
14
75
(13)
62

68
(34)
34
$ 96

$ 9
19
5
33
(13)
20

61
(28)
33
$ 53

103

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

13. Property, Equipment and Intangible Assets (Continued)

Depreciation and amortization of $31 million, $26 million, and $25 million, for the three years ended
December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively, is included in occupancy, depreciation and amortization
expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Amortization expense related to the
Company’s intangible assets as of December 31, 2019 is expected to be approximately $19 million, $11 million,
and $4 million, for years ended December 31, 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively.

14. Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees

Claims Against Customers

Over an extended period in 2018, a small number of the Company’s brokerage customers had taken relatively
large positions in a security listed on a major U.S. exchange. The Company extended margin loans against the
security at a conservatively high collateral requirement. In December 2018, within a very short timeframe, this
security lost a substantial amount of its value. During the quarter ended March 31, 2019, subsequent price
declines in the stock caused these accounts to fall into deficits, despite the Company’s efforts to liquidate the
customers’ positions. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company has recognized an aggregate loss of
approximately $42 million. The maximum aggregate loss, which would occur if the security’s price fell to zero
and none of the debts were collected, would be approximately $50 million. The Company is currently evaluating
pursuing the collection of the debts, although debt collection efforts are inherently difficult and uncertain.
The ultimate effect of this incident on the Company’s results will depend upon market conditions and the
outcome of the Company’s debt collection efforts.

Litigation

The Company is subject to certain pending and threatened legal actions that arise out of the normal course of
business. Litigation is inherently unpredictable, particularly in proceedings where claimants seek substantial or
indeterminate damages, or which are in their early stages. The Company has not been able to quantify the actual
loss or range of loss related to such legal proceedings, the manner in which they will be resolved, the timing of
final resolution or the ultimate settlement. Management believes that the resolution of these actions will not have
a material effect, if any, on the Company’s business or financial condition, but may have a material impact on
the results of operations for a given period.

The Company accounts for potential losses related to litigation in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 450,
‘‘Contingencies.’’ As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, reserves provided for potential losses related to litigation
matters were not material.

Trading Technologies Matter

On February 3, 2010, Trading Technologies International, Inc. (‘‘Trading Technologies’’) filed a complaint in the
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, against IBG LLC and IB LLC
(‘‘Defendants’’). The complaint, as amended, alleges that the Defendants have infringed and continue to infringe
twelve U.S. patents held by Trading Technologies. Trading Technologies is seeking, among other things,
unspecified damages and injunctive relief. The Defendants filed an answer to Trading Technologies’ amended
complaint, as well as related counterclaims. The Defendants deny Trading Technologies’ claims, assert that the
asserted patents are not infringed and are invalid, and assert several other defenses as well.

The asserted patents were the subject of petitions before the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(‘‘USPTO’’) seeking Covered Business Method Review (‘‘CBM Review’’). The USPTO Patent Trial Appeal
Board (‘‘PTAB’’) found all claims of ten of the twelve asserted patents to be invalid. Of the remaining two
patents, 53 of the 56 claims of one patent were held invalid and the other patent survived CBM Review
proceedings. Appeals were filed by either Defendants or Trading Technologies on all PTAB determinations.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit vacated the CBM Review determinations of invalidity
for four patents, concluding that these patents were not eligible for CBM Review. The District Court trial with
respect to these four patents is scheduled for May 2020; however, the parties have filed a motion with the
District Court to move the trial to November 2020.

104

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

14. Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees (Continued)

While it is difficult to predict the outcome of the matter, the Company believes it has meritorious defenses to the
allegations made in the complaint and intends to defend itself vigorously against them. However, litigation is
inherently uncertain and there can be no guarantee that the Company will prevail or that the litigation can be
settled on favorable terms.

Class Action Matter

On December 18, 2015, a former individual customer filed a purported class action complaint against IB LLC,
IBG, Inc., and Thomas Frank, PhD, the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, in
the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. The complaint alleges that the purported class of IB
LLC’s customers were harmed by alleged ‘‘flaws’’ in the computerized system used to close out (i.e., liquidate)
positions in customer brokerage accounts that have margin deficiencies. The complaint seeks, among other
things, undefined compensatory damages and declaratory and injunctive relief.

On September 28, 2016, the District Court issued an order granting the Company’s motion to dismiss the
complaint in its entirety, and without providing plaintiff leave to amend. On September 28, 2017, plaintiff
appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. On September 26, 2018, the Court of
Appeals affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s claims of breach of contract and commercially unreasonable
liquidation but vacated and remanded back to the District Court plaintiff’s claims for negligence. On
November 30, 2018, the plaintiff filed a second amended complaint. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the
new complaint on January 15, 2019, which was denied on September 30, 2019. On December 9, 2019, the
Company filed a motion requesting that the District Court certify to the Connecticut Supreme Court two
questions of Connecticut law directly relevant to the motion to dismiss. Briefing has only recently been
completed, and the District Court has not yet ruled on the motion. Regardless of the outcome of this motion, the
Company does not believe that a purported class action is appropriate given the great differences in portfolios,
markets and many other circumstances surrounding the liquidation of any particular customer’s margin-deficient
account. IB LLC and the related defendants intend to continue to defend themselves vigorously against the case
and, consistent with past practice in connection with this type of unwarranted action, any potential claims for
counsel fees and expenses incurred in defending the case may be fully pursued against the plaintiff.

Regulatory Matters

The Company is currently providing information to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the SEC, the
Commodities and Futures Trading Commission (‘‘CFTC’’) and the United States Department of Justice focused
on anti-money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act practices. The Company periodically reviews these practices to
make them more robust and to keep pace with changing regulatory standards, and the Company has been
enhancing and augmenting its procedures and personnel in these areas over the past several years. While the
outcome of the examinations and inquiries currently in progress cannot be predicted, the Company does not
believe that they are likely to have a materially adverse effect on its financial results.

Guarantees

Certain of the operating subsidiaries provide guarantees to securities and commodities clearing houses and
exchanges which meet the accounting definition of a guarantee under FASB ASC Topic 460, ‘‘Guarantees.’’
Under standard membership agreements, clearing house and exchange members are required to guarantee
collectively the performance of other members. Under the agreements, if a member becomes unable to satisfy its
obligations, other members would be required to meet shortfalls. In the opinion of management, the operating
subsidiaries’ liability under these arrangements is not quantifiable and could exceed the cash and securities they
have posted as collateral. However, the potential for these operating subsidiaries to be required to make payments
under these arrangements is remote. Accordingly, no contingent liability is carried in the consolidated statements
of financial condition for these arrangements.

In connection with its retail brokerage business, IB LLC or other electronic brokerage operating subsidiaries
perform securities and commodities execution, clearance and settlement on behalf of their customers for whom

105

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

14. Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees (Continued)

they commit to settle trades submitted by such customers with the respective clearing houses. If a customer fails
to fulfill its settlement obligations, the respective operating subsidiary must fulfill those settlement obligations.
No contingent liability is carried on the consolidated statements of financial condition for such customer
obligations.

Other Commitments

Certain clearing houses, clearing banks and firms used by certain operating subsidiaries are given a security
interest in certain assets of those operating subsidiaries held by those clearing organizations. These assets may be
applied to satisfy the obligations of those operating subsidiaries to the respective clearing organizations.

15. Segment and Geographic Information

The Company has two operating business segments: electronic brokerage and market making. These segments
are supported by the corporate segment, which provides centralized services and executes the Company’s
currency diversification strategy.

The Company conducts its electronic brokerage business through certain Interactive Brokers subsidiaries, which
provide electronic trade execution and clearing services to customers worldwide. The Company conducts its
remaining market making business (see Note 2 – Discontinued Operations and Costs Associated with Exit or
Disposal Cost) principally through its Timber Hill subsidiaries on some of the world’s leading exchanges and
market centers, primarily in exchange-traded equities, equity options and equity-index options and futures.

Significant transactions and balances between the operating subsidiaries occur, primarily as a result of certain
operating subsidiaries holding exchange or clearing organization memberships, which are utilized to provide
execution and clearing services to subsidiaries. Charges for transactions between segments are designed to
approximate full costs. Intra-segment and intra-region income and expenses and related balances have been
eliminated in this segment and geographic information to reflect the external business conducted in each segment
or geographic region. Corporate items include non-allocated corporate income and expenses that are not
attributed to segments for performance measurement, net gains and losses on positions held as part of the
Company’s overall currency diversification strategy, corporate assets and eliminations.

Management believes that the following information by business segment provides a reasonable representation of
each segment’s contribution to total net revenues and income before income taxes and total assets for the periods
indicated.

Year-Ended December 31,
2017
2018
2019
(in millions)

Net revenues
Electronic brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Market making . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corporate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,921
67
(51)

$1,842
76
(15)

$1,405
86
211

Total net revenues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,937

$1,903

$1,702

Income before income taxes
Electronic brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Market making . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corporate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,197
30
(70)

$1,177
34
(15)

$ 860
(27)
216

Total income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,157

$1,196

$1,049

106

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

15. Segment and Geographic Information (Continued)

2019

December 31,
2018
(in millions)

2017

Segment assets
Electronic brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $69,857 $58,631 $58,787
8,469
Market making . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(6,094)
Corporate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2,806
(987)

2,736
(820)

Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $71,676 $60,547 $61,162

The Company operates its automated global business in the U.S. and international markets on more than
135 electronic exchanges and market centers. A significant portion of the Company’s net revenues is generated
by subsidiaries operating outside the U.S. International operations are comprised of electronic brokerage and
market making activities in 32 countries in Europe, Asia/Pacific and the Americas (outside the U.S.). The
following table presents total net revenues and income before income taxes by geographic area for the periods
indicated. The geographic analysis presented below is based on the location of the subsidiaries in which the
transactions are recorded. This geographic information does not reflect the way the Company’s business is
managed.

Year-Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2019
(in millions)

Net revenues
United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,524
413

$1,501
402

$1,393
309

Total net revenues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,937

$1,903

$1,702

Income before income taxes
United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 997
160

$1,029
167

$ 947
102

Total income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,157

$1,196

$1,049

107

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

16. Regulatory Requirements

As of December 31, 2019, aggregate excess regulatory capital for all of the operating subsidiaries was
$6.4 billion.

IB LLC, TH LLC and IB Corp are subject to the Uniform Net Capital Rule (Rule 15c3-1) under the Exchange
Act, IB LLC is also subject to the CFTC’s minimum financial requirements (Regulation 1.17), and IBKRFS is
subject to the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority eligible equity requirement. IBC is subject to the
Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada risk adjusted capital requirement, IBUK is subject to the
United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority Capital Requirements Directive, IBEU is subject to the
Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier financial resources requirement, IBHK is subject
to the Hong Kong Securities Futures Commission liquid capital requirement, IBI is subject to the National Stock
Exchange of India net capital requirements, IBSJ is subject to the Japanese Financial Supervisory Agency capital
requirements and IBA is subject to the Australian Securities Exchange liquid capital requirement. The table
below summarizes capital, capital requirements and excess regulatory capital as of December 31. 2019.

IB LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IBKRFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IBHK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other regulated operating subsidiaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net Capital/

Eligible Equity Requirement

Excess

(in millions)

$5,381
584
360
867

$7,192

$549
91
145
44

$829

$4,832
493
215
823

$6,363

Regulatory capital requirements could restrict the operating subsidiaries from expanding their business and
declaring dividends if their net capital does not meet regulatory requirements. Also, certain operating subsidiaries
are subject to other regulatory restrictions and requirements.

As of December 31, 2019, all of the regulated operating subsidiaries were in compliance with their respective
regulatory capital requirements.

17. Related Party Transactions

Receivable from affiliate, reported in other assets in the consolidated statement of financial condition, represents
amounts advanced to Holdings and payable to affiliate represents amounts payable to Holdings under the Tax
Receivable Agreement (see Note 4).

Included in receivables from and payables to customers in the consolidated statements of financial condition as
of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 were accounts receivable from directors, officers and their
affiliates of $23 million and $13 million, respectively, and payables of $939 million and $918 million,
respectively. The Company may extend credit to these related parties in connection with margin and securities
loans. Such loans are (i) made in the ordinary course of business, (ii) are made on substantially the same terms,
including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable loans with persons not
related to the company, and (iii) do not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other
unfavorable features.

18. Subsequent Events

As required by FASB ASC Topic 855, ‘‘Subsequent Events,’’ the Company has evaluated subsequent events for
adjustment to or disclosure in its consolidated financial statements through the date the consolidated financial
statements were issued.

Except as disclosed in Note 4 and Note 14, no other recordable or disclosable events occurred.

*****

108

SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Unaudited Quarterly results

The tables below present the Company’s unaudited quarterly results which reflect the condensed consolidated
operating results for the periods indicated.

2019 Quarterly Data
Second

Fourth
First
(in millions, except per share amounts)

Third

Revenues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 720
162

558

$ 586
173

413

$ 643
177

466

$ 631
131

500

Non-interest expenses

Execution and clearing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Employee compensation and benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total non-interest expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

61
71
87

219

339
15
275

Net income available for common stockholders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 49

Basic earnings per share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$0.65

Diluted earnings per share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$0.64

Net income available for common stockholders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other comprehensive income

$ 49

Cumulative translation adjustment, before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income taxes related to items of other comprehensive income . . . . . . . . . .

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(1)
—

(1)

63
75
50

188

225
15
178

$ 32

$0.43

$0.43

$ 32

4
—

4

68
67
50

185

281
20
225

$ 36

$0.46

$0.45

$ 36

(6)
—

(6)

59
75
54

188

312
18
250

$ 44

$0.58

$0.57

$ 44

7
—

7

Comprehensive income available for common stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 48

$ 36

$ 30

$ 51

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other comprehensive income—cumulative translation adjustment . . . . . . .

$ 275
(1)

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests. . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 274

$ 178
12

$ 190

$ 225
(22)

$ 203

$ 250
31

$ 281

109

2018 Quarterly Data
Second

Third

First
Fourth
(in millions, except per share amounts)

Revenues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 621
94

527

$ 553
108

445

$ 558
119

439

$ 634
142

492

Non-interest expenses

Execution and clearing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Employee compensation and benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total non-interest expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

73
70
44

187

340
21
273

Net income available for common stockholders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 46

Basic earnings per share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$0.64

Diluted earnings per share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$0.63

Net income available for common stockholders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other comprehensive income

$ 46

66
68
40

174

271
13
217

$ 41

$0.57

$0.57

$ 41

57
63
43

163

276
18
219

$ 39

$0.52

$0.51

$ 39

Cumulative translation adjustment, before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income taxes related to items of other comprehensive income . . . . . . . . . .

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1
—

1

(14)
(1)

(13)

(1)
—

(1)

73
63
47

183

309
19
247

$ 43

$0.58

$0.57

$ 43

—
—

—

Comprehensive income available for common stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 47

$ 28

$ 38

$ 43

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other comprehensive income—cumulative translation adjustment . . . . . . .

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests. . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 273
7

$ 280

$ 217
(65)

$ 219
(2)

$ 247
(6)

$ 152

$ 217

$ 241

110

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to provide reasonable assurance
that information required to be disclosed in the reports it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the ‘‘Exchange Act’’) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported accurately and within the time
periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation,
controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the
reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management,
including the Chief Executive Officer (‘‘CEO’’) and Chief Financial Officer (‘‘CFO’’), as appropriate, to allow
timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO and our CFO, we
conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures; as such term is defined under Exchange
Act Rule 13a-15(e). Based on this evaluation, our CEO and our CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and
procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial
reporting. IBG, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in
accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that pertain to the
maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of
the assets of IBG, Inc.; provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that our
receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of IBG, Inc.’s management and
directors; and provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition,
use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.

In 2012, the Company’s management created the Accounting Policy Committee (the ‘‘APC’’) to provide a robust
framework for the design and implementation of all relevant controls. The APC is comprised of eight
(8) experienced subject matter experts from within the Company’s accounting and regulatory disciplines, and
includes the CFO and the Chief Accounting Officer. The APC is responsible for assessing the effects of complex
transactions and related accounting guidance on the Company’s financial statements and to report the results of
its assessments to management and to the Audit Committee. The APC’s mandate includes review and approval of
the adoption and implementation of accounting guidance (new or newly applicable) by the Company.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect
misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls
may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or
procedures may deteriorate.

Management, including our CEO and our CFO, assessed the effectiveness of IBG, Inc.’s internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2019. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth
in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission (‘‘COSO’’). Based on management’s assessment and those criteria, management
concluded that IBG, Inc. maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019.

The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, has been
audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report,
which appears herein.

Changes to Internal Control over Financial Reporting

No changes to our internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2019 have
materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

111

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.
Greenwich, CT

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and subsidiaries
(the ‘‘Company’’) as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated
Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework
(2013) issued by COSO.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated statements of financial condition as of December 31, 2019 and 2018
and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, cash flows, and changes in equity for each of
the three years in the period December 31, 2019 , of the Company and our report dated February 28, 2020,
expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and
for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion
on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm
registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with
the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial
reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal
control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the
design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other
procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable
basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting
includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail,
accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable
assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made
only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable
assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the
company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect
misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that
controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the
policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
New York, New York
February 28, 2020

112

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

Not applicable.

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Information related to the Company’s directors and nominees under the following captions in the Company’s
Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference herein:

•

•

‘‘Item 1 - Election of Directors’’

‘‘Item 1 - Election of Directors - Board Meetings and Committees’’

Code of Ethics

IBG, Inc.’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct applies to all directors, officers and employees, including its
Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer and its Chief Accounting Officer. Information relating to our
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is included in Part I, Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We will
post any amendments to the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, and any waivers that are required to be
disclosed by the rules of either the SEC or Nasdaq on the investor relations section of our website located at
www.interactivebrokers.com/ir.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Information relating to director and executive officer compensation under the following captions in the
Company’s Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference herein:

•

•

‘‘Compensation of Directors’’

‘‘Executive Compensation’’

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Other information relating to security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is set forth under
the caption ‘‘Beneficial Ownership of Directors, Executive Officers and Owners of More than Five Percent’’ in
the Company’s Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated by reference herein.

ITEM 13. TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS, PROMOTERS AND CERTAIN CONTROL

PERSONS

Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions under the following caption in the Company’s
Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated by reference herein:

•

‘‘Certain Relationships and Related Transactions’’

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Information regarding principal accounting fees and under the following caption in the Company’s Proxy
Statement is incorporated by reference herein:

•

‘‘Item 3 - Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’’

113

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

Documents filed as part of this report

1. Consolidated Financial Statements

The consolidated financial statements required to be filed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K are listed on
page 65 hereof and in Part II, Item 8 hereof.

2. Financial Statement Schedule

The financial statement schedule required in the Annual Report on Form 10-K is listed on page 116 hereof.
The required schedule appears on pages 116 through F-5 hereof.

114

3. Exhibits

Exhibit
Number
3.1

3.2

4.1
10.1

10.2

10.3

10.4

10.5

10.6

10.7

10.8

10.9

21.1
23.1
31.1

31.2

32.1

32.2

101.INS
101.SCH
101.CAL
101.DEF
101.LAB
101.PRE
104

Description

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (filed as
Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company
on April 4, 2007).**
Amended bylaws of Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Form 8-K filed by
the Company on February 24, 2016).**
Description of the Registrant’s Securities.
Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of IBG LLC (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2007 filed by the Company on
June 15, 2007).**
Form of Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of IBG Holdings LLC (filed as Exhibit
10.5 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company on
February 12, 2007).**
Exchange Agreement by and among Interactive Brokers Group, Inc., IBG Holdings LLC, IBG
LLC and the Members of IBG LLC (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2009 filed by the Company on November 11,
2009).**
Tax Receivable Agreement by and between Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and IBG Holdings
LLC (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period Ended
March 31, 2007 filed by the Company on June 15, 2007).**
Amended Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan. (filed as Exhibit 10.5 to
Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2014 filed by the Company on March 2, 2015)**+
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. 2007 ROI Unit Stock Plan. (filed as Exhibit 10.9 to Amendment
No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company on April 4, 2007).**+
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. Amendment to the Exchange Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to
the Form 8-K filed by the Company on June 6, 2012).**+
Second Amendment to Exchange Agreement by and among Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.,
IBG Holdings LLC, IBG (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
Quarterly Period Ended September 31, 2015 filed by the Company on November 9, 2015).**
First Amendment to Limited Liability Company Agreement of IBG Holdings LLC (filed as
Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period Ended September 31,
2015 filed by the Company on November 9, 2015).**
Subsidiaries of the registrant.
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002.
Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002.
Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002.
Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002.
XBRL Instance Document*
XBRL Extension Schema*
XBRL Extension Calculation Linkbase*
XBRL Extension Definition Linkbase*
XBRL Extension Label Linkbase*
XBRL Extension Presentation Linkbase*
Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline
XBRL document.

** Previously filed; incorporated herein by reference.
†
*

These exhibits relate to management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements.
Attached as Exhibit 101 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the annual period ended December 31,
2019, are the following materials formatted in iXBRL (Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language)
(i) the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive
Income, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (iv) the Consolidated Statement of Changes in
Stockholders’ Equity and (v) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements tagged in detail levels 1-4.

115

ITEMS. 15 (a)(1) and 15 (a)(2) INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT
SCHEDULE

Financial Statement Schedule

Schedule I—Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Parent Company Only)

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Condensed Statements of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years ended December 31, 2019, 2018,

and 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Condensed Statements of Cash Flow for the Years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017 . . . . . . .
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F-1
F-2

F-3
F-4
F-5

ITEM 16. 10-K SUMMARY

None.

116

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.
Greenwich, CT

Opinion on the Financial Statement Schedules

We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (the
‘‘Company’’) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2019, and the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, and
have issued our reports thereon dated February 28, 2020; such consolidated financial statements and reports are
included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. Our audits also included the financial statement schedules of the
Company listed in the Index at Item 15. These condensed financial statement schedules are the responsibility of
the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statement
schedules based on our audits. In our opinion, such condensed financial statement schedules, when considered in
relation to the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the
information set forth therein.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
New York, New York
February 28, 2020

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1990

F-1

INTERACTIVE BROKERS GROUP, INC.
(Parent Company Only)
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(in millions, except share amounts)

Assets
Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Investments in subsidiaries, equity basis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Liabilities and Equity
Liabilities:
Payable to affiliates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued expenses and other liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

December 31,

2019

2018

$

1
1,469
143

$1,613

$

1
1,302
152

$1,455

$ 152
9

161

$ 171
2

173

Stockholders’ equity:

Common stock, $0.01 par value per share: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class A – Authorized - 1,000,000,000, Issued - 76,889,040 and 75,230,400 shares,

Outstanding – 76,750,110 and 75,100,952 shares as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 . . .

Class B – Authorized, Issued and Outstanding – 100 shares as of December 31, 2019

and 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Additional paid-in capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Retained earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of income taxes $0 and $0 as of

December 31, 2019 and 2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Treasury stock, at cost, 138,930 and 129,448 shares as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 . . .

1

—
934
520

—
(3)

1

—
898
390

(4)
(3)

Total equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,452

1,282

Total liabilities and equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,613

$1,455

See accompanying notes to the condensed financial statements.

F-2

INTERACTIVE BROKERS GROUP, INC.
(Parent Company Only)
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in millions)

Year-Ended December 31,
2018

2017

2019

Income (loss) before income from subsidiaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Undistributed gains of subsidiaries, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net income available for common stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cumulative translation adjustment, net of tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Comprehensive income available for common stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ (2)
208
45

$161

$161
4

$165

$

2
206
39

$169

$169
(13)

$156

$ 92
147
163

$ 76

$ 76
11

$ 87

See accompanying notes to the condensed financial statements.

F-3

INTERACTIVE BROKERS GROUP, INC.
(Parent Company Only)
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in millions)

Cash flows from operating activities

Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by

operating activities
Undistributed gains of subsidiaries, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gain on remeasurement of Tax Receivable Agreement liability . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changes in operating assets and liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net cash used in operating activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cash flows provided by investing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cash flows used in financing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information

Cash paid for interest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Year-Ended December 31,
2018

2017

2019

$ 161

$ 169

$ 76

(208)
23
—
(1)

(25)

81

(60)

4

—
1

1

2

$

$

(206)
23
(3)
15

(2)

74

(58)

(13)

1
—

$

$

1

1

(147)
149
(93)
(9)

(24)

56

(43)

11

—
—

$ —

$ —

$ 13

Cash paid for taxes, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 20

$ 14

Non-cash investing activities:

Non-cash distributions from subsidiaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ —

$

2

$ —

See accompanying notes to the condensed financial statements.

F-4

INTERACTIVE BROKERS GROUP, INC.
(Parent Company Only)
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed financial statements (the ‘‘Parent Company Financial Statements’’) of Interactive
Brokers Group, Inc. (‘‘IBG, Inc.’’), a Delaware holding company, including the notes thereto, should be read in
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of IBG, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the ‘‘Company’’) and the
notes thereto. IBG, Inc.’s primary asset is its ownership interest in IBG LLC, an automated global electronic
broker and market maker specializing in executing and clearing trades in securities, futures, foreign exchange
instruments, bonds and mutual funds on more than 135 electronic exchanges and market centers around the
world and offering custody, prime brokerage, securities and margin lending services to customers.

The preparation of the Parent Company Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts and disclosures in the condensed financial statements and accompanying notes.

Income Taxes

Refer to Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

2. Related Party Transactions

As of December 31, 2019, there were no receivables from affiliates. Dividends received from IBG LLC for the
three years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, were $83 million, $76 million and $56 million,
respectively.

As of December 31, 2019, and 2018, respectively, payable to affiliates of $152 million and $171 million
consisted primarily of amounts payable to Holdings under the Tax Receivable Agreement.

3. Stockholders’ Equity

Refer to Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements.

4. Employee Incentive Plans

Refer to Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.

5. Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees

Refer to Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements.

6. Subsequent Events

As required by FASB ASC Topic, ‘‘Subsequent Events,’’ IBG, Inc. has evaluated subsequent events for
adjustment to or disclosure in its condensed financial statements through the date the condensed financial
statements were issued.

Except as disclosed in Note 4 and Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements, no other recordable or
disclosable events occurred.

****

F-5

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

SIGNATURES

INTERACTIVE BROKERS GROUP, INC.

/s/ Paul J. Brody

Name: Paul J. Brody
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
Title:
(Signing both in his capacity as a duly authorized officer
and as principal financial officer of the registrant)

Date: February 28, 2020

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the
following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

Signature

Title

Date

/s/ THOMAS PETERFY

Thomas Peterffy

/s/ MILAN GALIK

Milan Galik

/s/ DENIS MENDONCA

Denis Mendonca

/s/ LAWERENCE E. HARRIS

Lawrence E. Harris

/s/ GARY KATZ

Gary Katz

/s/ PHILIP UHDE

Philip Uhde

Chairman of the Board of Directors

February 28, 2020

Chief Executive Officer and President
(Principal Executive Officer)

February 28, 2020

Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)

February 28, 2020

Director

February 28, 2020

Director

February 28, 2020

Director

February 28, 2020

EXHIBIT 4.1

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a summary of Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.’s capital stock and provisions of our certificate of
incorporation and bylaws, as each is currently in effect. This summary does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by the provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, copies of which are
incorporated by reference as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. When we use the terms ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’
and ‘‘our,’’ we mean solely Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and not our subsidiaries.

Our authorized capital stock consists of 1,000,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, 100 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share and 10,000 shares of preferred stock. In
this section, when we refer to ‘‘common stock,’’ we are referring to Class A common stock and Class B common
stock, taken as a whole.

Common Stock

Except as otherwise provided in our organizational documents and applicable law, all shares of common stock
are identical and entitle the holder to the same rights and privileges and subjects them to the same limitations
and restrictions. The principle difference between the Class A and Class B common stock concerns relative
voting rights.

Class A common stock

Voting rights

The holders of Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share. Holders of shares of Class A common
stock are not entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors. Generally, all matters to be voted on by
stockholders must be approved by a majority (or, in the case of election of directors, by a plurality) of the votes
entitled to be cast by all shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock present in person or
represented by proxy, voting together as a single class. Except as otherwise provided by law, amendments to our
amended and restated certificate of incorporation must be approved by a majority of the combined voting power
of all shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class. However,
amendments to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would alter or change the powers,
preferences or special rights of the Class A common stock so as to affect them adversely also must be approved
by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the shares affected by the amendment, voting as a
separate class. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of
incorporation to increase or decrease the authorized shares of any class of common stock shall be approved upon
the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Class A common stock and Class B common
stock, voting together as a single class.

Dividend rights

Holders of Class A common stock share ratably (based on the number of shares of common stock held) in any
dividend declared by our board of directors. Dividends consisting of shares of Class A common stock may be
paid only as follows: (i) shares of Class A common stock may be paid only to holders of shares of Class A
common stock; and (ii) shares are paid proportionally with respect to each outstanding share of Class A common
stock. We may not subdivide or combine shares of either class of common stock without at the same time
proportionally subdividing or combining shares of the other class. Dividends payable to holders of Class B
common stock can only be paid if dividends in the same amount per share are simultaneously paid to holders of
Class A common stock.

Liquidation rights

On our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, all holders of Class A common stock are entitled to share ratably
in any assets available for distribution to holders of shares of common stock.

Other matters

In accordance with the amended and restated limited liability company agreement pursuant to which IBG LLC is
governed, we intend to keep the number of outstanding IBG LLC membership interests owned by us equal to the
number of outstanding shares of our common stock at all times. This means that as we issue additional shares of

our common stock we would expect to use the proceeds to acquire a corresponding number of shares in IBG
LLC. To the extent this occurs, existing common stockholders experience no material dilution with regard to
their equity interest in IBG LLC as a result of the issuance of additional shares of our common stock.

In the event of our merger or consolidation with or into another company in connection with which shares of
either class of common stock are converted into or exchangeable for shares of stock, other securities or property
(including cash), all holders of common stock, regardless of class, are entitled to receive the same kind and
amount of shares of stock and other securities and property (including cash), provided that if shares of either
class of common stock are exchanged for shares of capital stock, such shares exchanged for or changed into may
differ to the extent that the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock differ.

No shares of either class of common stock are subject to redemption or have preemptive rights to purchase
additional shares of either class of common stock. All outstanding shares of Class A common stock have been
legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Class B common stock

Voting rights

The holders of Class B common stock, in the aggregate, are entitled to the number of votes equal to the number
of IBG LLC membership interests held by such holders. IBG Holdings LLC, as the sole holder of the Class B
common stock, is entitled to approximately 338.7 million votes, as of December 31, 2019.

Holders of shares of Class B common stock are not entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors.
Generally, all matters to be voted on by stockholders must be approved by a majority (or, in the case of election
of directors, by a plurality) of the votes entitled to be cast by all shares of Class B common stock and Class A
common stock present in person or represented by proxy, voting together as a single class. Except as otherwise
provided by law, amendments to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation must be approved by a
majority of the combined voting power of all shares of Class B common stock and Class A common stock,
voting together as a single class. However, amendments to the certificate of incorporation that would alter or
change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Class B common stock so as to affect them adversely also
must be approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the shares affected by the
amendment, voting as a separate class. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment to our amended and
restated certificate of incorporation to increase or decrease the authorized shares of any class of common stock
shall be approved upon the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Class B common stock
and Class A common stock, voting together as a single class.

Dividend rights

Holders of Class B common stock share ratably (based on the number of shares of common stock held) in any
dividend declared by the board of directors. Dividends consisting of shares of Class B common stock may be
paid only as follows: (i) shares of Class B common stock may be paid only to holders of shares of Class B
common stock; and (ii) shares are paid proportionally with respect to each outstanding share of Class B common
stock. We may not subdivide or combine shares of either class of common stock without at the same time
proportionally subdividing or combining shares of the other class. Dividends payable to holders of Class B
common stock can only be paid if dividends in the same amount per share are simultaneously paid to holders of
Class A common stock.

Liquidation rights

On our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, all holders of Class B common stock are entitled to share ratably
in any assets available for distribution to holders of shares of common stock.

Other matters

In the event of our merger or consolidation with or into another company in connection with which shares of
either class of common stock are converted into or exchangeable for shares of stock, other securities or property
(including cash), all holders of common stock, regardless of class, are entitled to receive the same kind and
amount of shares of stock and other securities and property (including cash), provided that, if shares of either
class of common stock are exchanged for shares of capital stock, such shares exchanged for or changed into may
differ to the extent that the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock differ.

No shares of either class of common stock are subject to redemption or will have preemptive rights to purchase
additional shares of either class of common stock. All outstanding shares of Class B common stock have been
legally issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

Preferred Stock

Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue our preferred stock
in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions thereof. These rights,
preferences, and privileges include dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption,
liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms, and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of
such series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of our common stock. The issuance of our
preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of our holders of common stock and the likelihood that
such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation. In addition, the issuance of our
preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing a change in our control.

Anti-takeover Effects of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and
Restated Bylaws

Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our bylaws could have
anti-takeover effects. These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the
composition of our corporate policies formulated by our board of directors. In addition, these provisions also are
intended to ensure that our board of directors will have sufficient time to fulfill its fiduciary duties to us and our
stockholders. These provisions also are designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited proposal for our
takeover that does not contemplate the acquisition of all of our outstanding shares or an unsolicited proposal for
the restructuring or sale of all or part of us. The provisions are also intended to discourage certain tactics that
may be used in proxy fights. However, these provisions could delay or frustrate the removal of incumbent
directors or the assumption of control of us by the holder of a large block of common stock, and could also
discourage or make more difficult a merger, tender offer, or proxy contest, even if such event would be favorable
to the interest of our stockholders.

Special meetings of stockholders. Our bylaws preclude our stockholders from calling special meetings of
stockholders or requiring the board of directors or any officer to call such a meeting or from proposing business
at such a meeting. Our bylaws provide that only a majority of our board of directors, the chairman of the board
or the chief executive officer can call a special meeting of stockholders. Because our stockholders do not have
the right to call a special meeting, a stockholder cannot force stockholder consideration of a proposal over the
opposition of the board of directors by calling a special meeting of stockholders prior to the time a majority of
the board of directors, the chairman of the board or the chief executive officer believes the matter should be
considered or until the next annual meeting provided that the requestor met the notice requirements. The
restriction on the ability of stockholders to call a special meeting means that a proposal to replace board
members also can be delayed until the next annual meeting.

Other limitations on stockholder actions. Advance notice is required for stockholders to nominate directors or to
submit proposals for consideration at meetings of stockholders. This provision may have the effect of precluding
the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper notice is not provided and may also discourage or deter
a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or
otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company. In addition, the ability of our stockholders to remove
directors without cause is precluded.

Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

We are subject to Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, which prohibits a
Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of
three years following the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, with the following
exceptions:

•

•

prior to such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or
the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested holder;

upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested
stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation

outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number
of shares outstanding those shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and by
employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially
whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; and

•

on or subsequent to such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and
authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders, and not by written consent, by the
affirmative vote of at least 662⁄3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested
stockholder.

Section 203 defines business combination to include the following:

•

•

•

•

•

any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving
the interested stockholder;

subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation
of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;

any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the
stock or any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or

the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loss, advances, guarantees, pledges, or
other financial benefits by or through the corporation.

In general, Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as an entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more
of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation or any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or
controlled by such entity or person.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for shares of our common stock is Computershare Shareholder Services, Inc.

Listing

Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol ‘‘IBKR.’’

SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY

Name
IBG LLC

The following is a list of subsidiaries of IBG LLC:

Name
Interactive Brokers LLC(1)
Timber Hill LLC(2)
IB Exchange Corp.
IB Global Investments LLC(3)
Timber Hill Canada Company
Interactive Brokers (India) Private Limited(3)
IBKR Europe S.a.r.l.(3)
Interactive Brokers Software Services (India) Private Limited
Interactive Brokers Singapore Pte. Ltd.

(1)

IBG LLC owns 99.9% and Mr. Thomas Peterffy owns 0.1%.

(2)

IBG LLC owns 99.99% and Mr. Thomas Peterffy owns 0.01%.

(3)

IBG LLC Owns 99.99% and IB Exchange Corp. owns 0.01%

The following is a list of subsidiaries of IB Exchange Corp:

Name
Interactive Brokers Canada Inc.
Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited
Interactive Brokers Hong Kong Limited
Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Limited
Interactive Brokers Securities Japan, Inc.
IB Business Services (Shanghai) Company Limited
IBKR Financial Services AG
Interactive Brokers Hungary Informatikai KFT
Interactive Brokers Software Services Estonia OU
Interactive Brokers Software Services Rus
Interactive Brokers Corp.
Covestor, Inc.
Greenwich Advisor Compliance Services Corp.

The following is a list of subsidiaries of IBKR Financial Services AG:

Name
THLI AG
Global Financial Information Services GmbH
Interactive Marketing LLC

The following is a list of subsidiaries of Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited:

Name
Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Nominee Limited

The following is a list of subsidiaries of Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Limited:

Name
Interactive Brokers Australia Nominees Pty Limited

The following is a list of subsidiaries of Covestor, Inc.:

Name
Covestor Limited

EXHIBIT 21.1

Jurisdiction of Organization
Connecticut, U.S.A.

Jurisdiction of Organization
Connecticut, U.S.A.
Connecticut, U.S.A.
Delaware, U.S.A.
Delaware, U.S.A.
Canada
India
Luxembourg
India
Singapore

Jurisdiction of Organization
Canada
United Kingdom
Hong Kong
Australia
Japan
China
Switzerland
Hungary
Estonia
Russia
Delaware, U.S.A.
Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Delaware, U.S.A.

Jurisdiction of Organization
Liechtenstein
Switzerland
Delaware, U.S.A.

Jurisdiction of Organization
United Kingdom

Jurisdiction of Organization
Australia

Jurisdiction of Organization
United Kingdom

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 333-142686, 333-174913 and
333-203358 on Form S-8 and Registration No. 333-219552 on Form S-3 of our reports dated February 28, 2020
relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules of Interactive Brokers Group,
Inc. and subsidiaries, and the effectiveness of Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and subsidiaries internal control
over financial reporting, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. and
subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2019.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
New York, New York
February 28, 2020

I, Milan Galik, certify that:

CERTIFICATION

EXHIBIT 31.1

1.

I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 of Interactive
Brokers Group, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this

report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows
of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f))
and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and

procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over

financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding
the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in
this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of
the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that

occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in
the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of
internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the
registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control

over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a

significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

By:

/s/ MILAN GALIK

Name: Milan Galik
Title:

Chief Executive Officer and President

Date: February 28, 2020

I, Paul J. Brody, certify that:

CERTIFICATION

EXHIBIT 31.2

1.

I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 of Interactive
Brokers Group, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this

report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows
of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f))
and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and

procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over

financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding
the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in
this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of
the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that

occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in
the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of
internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the
registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control

over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a

significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

By:

/s/ PAUL J. BRODY

Name: Paul J. Brody
Title:

Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary

Date: February 28, 2020

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, the undersigned officer of Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (the ‘‘Company’’)
hereby certifies that the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the
‘‘Report’’) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects,
the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

By:

/s/ MILAN GALIK

Name: Milan Galik
Title:

Chief Executive Officer and President

Date: February 28, 2020

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350 and is not being filed as part
of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, the undersigned officer of Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (the ‘‘Company’’)
hereby certifies that the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the
‘‘Report’’) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects,
the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

EXHIBIT 32.2

By:

/s/ PAUL J. BRODY

Name: Paul J. Brody
Title:

Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and
Secretary

Date: February 28, 2020

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350 and is not being filed as part
of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.

Corporate Information 

Officers and Directors

Thomas Peterffy 
Chairman of the Board of Directors

Earl H. Nemser   
Vice Chairman and Director

Milan Galik 
President, Chief Executive Officer  
and Director

Thomas A. Frank 
Executive Vice President and  
Chief Information Officer

Paul J. Brody 
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer,  
Secretary and Director

Lawrence E. Harris 
Lead Independent Director

Gary Katz  
Director 

John M. Damgard 
Director

Philip Uhde 
Director

Corporate Headquarters  
One Pickwick Plaza, Greenwich, CT 06830  
877-442-2757

Independent Registered Public 
Accounting Firm  
Deloitte & Touche LLP

Common Stock 
Our stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select 
Market under the symbol “IBKR”

Corporate Website  
www.ibkr.com

Media 
media@ibkr.com  
203-913-1369

Investor Relations  
investor-relations@ibkr.com  
203-618-4070

Organizational Structure

Public Stockholders

100% economic interest  
18.5% voting interest

Interactive Brokers 
 Group, Inc.

81.5% voting interest

Members of  IBG 
Holdings LLC

IBG Holdings LLC

18.5% economic interest

81.5% economic interest

IBG LLC

Operating Subsidiaries of IBG LLC

www.ibkr.com

Interactive Brokers Group 
Sales Office Locations:

Greenwich, CT

Chicago, IL

San Francisco, CA

West Palm Beach, FL

855-861-6414

Montreal, Canada 

877-745-4222

Toronto, Canada 

647-621-8211

London, United Kingdom

44-207-710-5680

Zug, Switzerland

41-41-726-50-78 

Mumbai, India

91-22-61289-836

Hong Kong

852-3410-7500

Tokyo, Japan

81-3-4588-9707

Sydney, Australia

61-2-8093-7301

Singapore

65-6694-7410

Member: NYSE, FINRA, SIPC.