For the Quarterly Period ended December 31, 2009
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the QUARTERLY PERIOD ended December 31, 2009

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission File Number 001-33590

 

 

MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   98-0551260

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

717 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY

  10022
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 589-6200

 

 

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  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨    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 definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  ¨

   Accelerated filer  x    Non-accelerated filer  ¨    Smaller reporting company  ¨
     

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

  

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

The number of common stock outstanding of the registrant as of December 31, 2009, was 121,558,787.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

   PART I.—FINANCIAL INFORMATION   

Item 1.

  

Financial Statements

  
  

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations

   2
  

Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets

   3
  

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   4
  

Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

   6
  

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

   7
  

Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

   8

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   49

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   80

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

   85
   PART II—OTHER INFORMATION   

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

   86

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

   91

Item 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   91

Item 3.

  

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

   91

Item 4.

  

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   91

Item 5.

  

Other Information

   91

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

   92

 

1


Table of Contents

PART I.—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

    Three months ended
December 31,
    Nine months ended
December 31,
 
    2009     2008     2009     2008  

Revenues

       

Execution only commissions

  $ 81,913      $ 80,008      $ 240,848      $ 306,040   

Cleared commissions

    275,286        278,560        797,606        1,023,415   

Principal transactions

    89,551        109,948        175,444        242,344   

Interest income

    122,043        154,424        335,067        772,502   

Other

    8,733        73,924        31,745        99,887   
                               

Total revenues

    577,526        696,864        1,580,710        2,444,188   

Interest and transaction-based expenses:

       

Interest expense

    107,509        56,490        178,717        467,013   

Execution and clearing fees

    156,969        162,000        445,361        615,668   

Sales commissions

    62,044        56,353        182,068        191,944   
                               

Total interest and transaction-based expenses

    326,522        274,843        806,146        1,274,625   

Revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses

    251,004        422,021        774,564        1,169,563   
                               

Expenses

       

Employee compensation and benefits (excluding non-recurring IPO awards)

    151,644        217,325        488,722        642,551   

Employee compensation related to non-recurring IPO awards

    7,086        4,713        25,099        39,694   

Communications and technology

    31,352        28,165        87,173        92,065   

Occupancy and equipment costs

    9,884        12,110        29,351        33,594   

Depreciation and amortization

    13,482        14,132        41,341        42,290   

Professional fees

    18,678        18,955        56,060        69,009   

General and other

    21,705        29,683        81,418        77,002   

IPO-related costs

    —          6,365        894        17,100   

Impairment of goodwill

    1,165        —          2,325        —     
                               

Total other expenses

    254,996        331,448        812,383        1,013,305   

Gains/(losses) on exchange seats and shares

    1,680        (946     12,924        14,171   

Loss on extinguishment of debt

    —          —          9,682        —     

Interest on borrowings

    9,903        18,665        30,415        54,868   
                               

(Loss)/income before provision for income taxes

    (12,215     70,962        (64,992     115,561   

Provision/(benefit) for income taxes

    2,249        18,347        (17,154     36,274   

Equity in income/(loss) of unconsolidated companies (net of tax)

    330        (13,785     1,260        (15,417
                               

Net (loss)/income

    (14,134     38,830        (46,578     63,870   

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest (net of tax)

    484        100        1,525        1,338   
                               

Net (loss)/income attributable to MF Global Holdings Ltd.

  $ (14,618   $ 38,730      $ (48,103   $ 62,532   
                               

Dividends declared on preferred stock

    7,678        7,678        23,034        10,916   

Cumulative and participating dividends

    —          3,180        —          7,123   
                               

Net (loss)/income applicable to common shareholders

  $ (22,296   $ 27,872      $ (71,137   $ 44,493   
                               

(Loss)/earnings per share (see Note 11):

       

Basic

  $ (0.18   $ 0.23      $ (0.58   $ 0.37   

Diluted

  $ (0.18   $ 0.23      $ (0.58   $ 0.37   

Weighted average number of common stock outstanding:

       

Basic

    123,272,712        121,790,111        123,149,652        120,782,144   

Diluted

    123,272,712        121,790,111        123,149,652        120,782,144   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

2


Table of Contents

MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

     December 31,
2009
    March 31,
2009
 

Assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 754,333      $ 639,183   

Restricted cash and segregated securities

     9,612,137        9,670,494   

Securities purchased under agreements to resell (including $17,070,971 and $0 at fair value, respectively)

     19,024,673        12,902,670   

Securities borrowed (including $2,148,752 and $0 at fair value, respectively)

     8,229,595        8,624,906   

Securities received as collateral

     33,362        54,488   

Securities owned ($9,849,774 and $3,202,430 pledged, respectively)

     12,078,180        3,605,908   

Receivables:

    

Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

     5,368,519        2,473,341   

Customers (net of allowances of $24,659 and $24,585, respectively)

     431,651        415,532   

Affiliates

     —          95   

Other

     32,904        36,884   

Memberships in exchanges, at cost (market value of $22,546 and $19,375, respectively)

     6,531        6,370   

Furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements, net

     70,746        62,717   

Intangible assets, net

     131,828        151,688   

Other assets

     208,528        191,359   
                

TOTAL ASSETS

     55,982,987        38,835,635   
                

Liabilities and Equity

    

Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term borrowings

     151,535        148,835   

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (including $10,668,062 and $0 at fair value, respectively)

     31,314,770        14,271,698   

Securities loaned

     681,226        5,951,679   

Obligation to return securities borrowed

     33,362        54,488   

Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value

     5,055,963        2,884,591   

Payables:

    

Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

     4,405,061        1,077,379   

Customers

     12,209,253        11,766,390   

Affiliates

     —          1,602   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     184,317        293,207   

Long-term borrowings

     499,030        938,007   
                

TOTAL LIABILITIES

     54,534,517        37,387,876   
                

Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)

    

Preferred stock, $1.00 par value per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized;

    

1,500,000 Series A Convertible, issued and outstanding, cumulative

     96,167        96,167   

1,500,000 Series B Convertible, issued and outstanding, non-cumulative

     128,035        128,035   
                

EQUITY

    

Common stock, $1.00 par value per share; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 121,546,302 and 120,723,046 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

     121,546        120,723   

Treasury stock

     (214     (97

Receivable from shareholder

     (29,779     (29,779

Additional paid-in capital

     1,362,181        1,335,449   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (net of tax)

     (5,192     (24,015

Accumulated deficit

     (239,600     (191,497

Noncontrolling interest

     15,326        12,773   
                

TOTAL EQUITY

     1,224,268        1,223,557   
                

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

   $ 55,982,987      $ 38,835,635   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

     Nine months ended
December 31,
 
     2009     2008  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

    

Net (loss)/income

   $ (46,578   $ 63,870   

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

     1,525        1,338   
                

Net (loss)/income attributable to MF Global Holdings Ltd.

   $ (48,103   $ 62,532   

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income attributable to MF Global Holdings Ltd. to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Gains on sale of exchange seats and shares

     (576     (14,705

Depreciation and amortization

     41,341        42,290   

Stock-based compensation expense

     52,139        65,868   

Bad debt expense

     (1,139     16,520   

Deferred income taxes

     3,420        15,513   

Equity in (income)/losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax

     (1,260     1,770   

Dividend received from unconsolidated affiliates

     2,106        —     

Income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax

     1,525        1,338   

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     9,682        —     

Gain on disposal of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements

     —          (2

Impairment of goodwill

     2,325        —     

Write-down of capitalized professional fees

     —          1,820   

Amortization of debt issuance costs

     5,909        7,727   

Impairment of equity investment, net of tax

     —          13,647   

Decrease/(increase) in operating assets:

    

Restricted cash and segregated securities

     114,095        3,038,851   

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     (6,122,002     4,223,656   

Securities borrowed

     395,413        (1,465,191

Securities owned

     (8,471,804     4,577,650   

Receivables:

    

Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

     (2,835,216     3,417,815   

Customers

     (10,035     1,850,280   

Affiliates

     —          (42,999

Other

     4,506        18,793   

Other assets

     (34,235     29,420   

Increase/(decrease) in operating liabilities:

    

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     17,043,071        (7,013,511

Securities loaned

     (5,270,453     889,101   

Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value

     2,171,372        (252,200

Payables:

    

Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

     3,325,964        (5,073,889

Customers

     341,136        (4,163,037

Affiliates

     —          14,435   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     (123,206     (56,381
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 595,975      $ 207,111   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS, continued

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

     Nine months ended
December 31,
 
     2009     2008  

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    

Acquisitions (Note 3)

   $ (2,326   $ (5,750

Proceeds from sale of memberships in exchanges

     612        20,999   

Purchase of memberships in exchanges

     —          (1,369

Purchase of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements

     (24,096     (21,818

Proceeds from sale of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements

     —          27   
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (25,810     (7,911
                

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Repayment of bridge financing

     —          (1,400,000

Proceeds from other short-term borrowings, net

     2,700        (14,121

(Repayment)/proceeds from liquidity facility borrowings

     (200,000     350,000   

(Repayment)/proceeds of two-year term facility

     (240,000     240,000   

Issuance of convertible notes

     —          210,000   

Payment of debt issuance costs

     (791     (45,524

Issuance of preferred stock

     —          300,000   

Payment of preferred stock issuance costs

     —          (75,798

Proceeds from Man Group for indemnification of tax expense

     —          3,200   

Distribution to minority interest

     —          (593

Payment of dividends on preferred stock

     (23,034     (10,916
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (461,125     (443,752
                

Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

     6,110        (16,836
                

Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     115,150        (261,388

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     639,183        1,481,084   
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 754,333      $ 1,219,696   
                

SUPPLEMENTAL NON-CASH FLOW INFORMATION

    

Securities received as collateral

     21,126        619,416   

Obligation to return securities borrowed

     (21,126     (619,416

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

    Common
Stock
  Treasury
Stock
    Receivable
from
Shareholder
    Additional
paid-in capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Noncontrolling
interest in
subsidiaries
  Total
Equity
 

Equity at March 31, 2009

  $ 120,723   $ (97   $ (29,779   $ 1,335,449      $ (24,015   $ (191,497   $ 12,773   $ 1,223,557   

Stock-based compensation

          52,139              52,139   

Net loss attributable to MF Global Holdings Ltd.

              (48,103       (48,103

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax

                1,525     1,525   

Foreign currency translation

            18,823          1,028     19,851   

Stock issued

    823     (117       (1,473           (767

Windfall benefit to Man Group

          (900           (900

Dividend distributions

          (23,034           (23,034
                                                           

Equity at December 31, 2009

  $ 121,546   $ (214   $ (29,779   $ 1,362,181      $ (5,192   $ (239,600   $ 15,326   $ 1,224,268   
                                                           

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS

OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

     Three months ended
December 31,
    Nine months ended
December 31,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Net (loss)/income

   $ (14,134   $ 38,830      $ (46,578   $ 63,870   

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     5,175        (7,860     19,851        (23,465
                                

Comprehensive (loss)/income

   $ (8,959   $ 30,970      $ (26,727   $ 40,405   

Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax

     920        (191     2,553        (678
                                

Comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to MF Global Holdings Ltd.

   $ (9,879   $ 31,161      $ (29,280   $ 41,083   
                                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

7


Table of Contents

MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

Note 1: Organization and Basis of Presentation

MF Global Holdings Ltd. (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) is a leading intermediary offering customized solutions in global cash and derivatives markets. The Company provides execution and clearing services for exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivative products as well as for certain products in the cash market. The Company operates globally, with a presence in the United States, the United Kingdom (“U.K.”), France, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Canada, India, Switzerland and Japan, among others. The Company believes it is one of the leading intermediaries within the global cash and derivatives markets and serves a worldwide client base, including institutions, asset managers, hedge funds, professional traders and private clients. The Company is operated and managed on an integrated basis as a single operating segment. On January 4, 2010, MF Global Ltd. changed its jurisdiction of incorporation from Bermuda to the State of Delaware, a change which the Company refers to as the “Domestication”. As a result of the Domestication, MF Global Ltd. has continued its existence as a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware under the name of MF Global Holdings Ltd. Accordingly, any references to the “Company”, “MF Global Holdings Ltd.”, and similar terms mean, as of any time prior to the Domestication, MF Global Ltd. and, as of any time after the Domestication, MF Global Holdings Ltd. See Note 18 for further information.

The Company’s principal subsidiaries operate as registered futures commission merchants and as broker-dealers or the local equivalent and maintain futures, options and securities accounts for customers. The Company’s subsidiaries are members of various commodities, futures and securities exchanges in the United States, Europe, and the Asia/Pacific region and accordingly are subject to local regulatory requirements including those of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and the U.K. Financial Services Authority (“FSA”), among others.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the consolidated accounts of MF Global Holdings Ltd. and its subsidiaries. Management believes that these unaudited consolidated financial statements include all normally recurring adjustments and accruals necessary for a fair statement of the unaudited consolidated statements of operations, balance sheets, cash flows, changes in equity and comprehensive income for the periods presented. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.

On April 1, 2009, the Company adopted two new accounting standards each of which is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending March 31, 2010 and interim periods within such fiscal year. These standards require retrospective application and resulted in an adjustment to prior period financial statements. The first standard discusses accounting for noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements and resulted in a $12,773 increase to total equity for the year ended March 31, 2009 upon adoption. The second standard discusses accounting for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion including partial cash settlement and resulted in a $291 and $533 decrease to Net income attributable to MF Global Holdings Ltd. for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008, respectively. Additionally, this adoption resulted in a $1,002 decrease to total assets, a $6,993 decrease to total liabilities and a $5,991 increase to total equity for the year ended March 31, 2009.

All significant intercompany balances and transactions between the Company’s entities have been eliminated in consolidation. Man Group plc, a U.K. corporation, is the former parent company of MF Global Holdings Ltd. prior to the Company’s completion of certain reorganization, separation and recapitalization transactions leading up to the Company’s initial public offering in July 2007 (the “IPO”). During the three months ended September 30, 2009, Man Group sold, pursuant to a variable forward sale agreement, its remaining

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

investment in the Company of approximately 18.4% and, as such, transactions between Man Group and the Company are no longer separately disclosed as related party transactions as of September 30, 2009 and for periods thereafter. The Company’s policy is to consolidate all entities of which it owns more than 50% unless it does not have control. Investments in entities in which the Company generally owns greater than 20% but less than 50%, or exercises significant influence, but not control, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. As of December 31 and March 31, 2009, the Company had a 19.5% equity investment in Polaris MF Global Futures Co., Ltd.

Note 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The nature of the Company’s business is such that the results of any interim period may not be indicative of the results to be expected for a full year.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are comprised of cash and short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, other than those used for trading or margin purposes. The carrying amount of such cash equivalents approximates their fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

Restricted cash and securities segregated under federal and other regulations

Certain subsidiaries are obligated by rules mandated by their primary regulators, including the SEC and CFTC in the U.S. and the FSA in the U.K., to segregate or set aside cash or qualified securities to satisfy regulations, promulgated to protect customer assets. Also included within Restricted cash and segregated securities are fixed cash deposits of $65,165 and $48,630 as of December 31 and March 31, 2009, respectively, which are held as margin for the issuance of bank guarantees to satisfy local exchange requirements for day-to-day clearing. In addition, many of the subsidiaries are members of clearing organizations at which cash or securities are deposited as required to conduct day-to-day clearance activities. At December 31 and March 31, 2009, the Company was in compliance with its segregation requirements.

Collateral

The Company enters into collateralized financing transactions and matched book positions principally through the use of repurchase agreements and securities lending agreements. In these transactions, the Company receives cash or securities in exchange for other securities, including U.S. government and federal agency obligations, corporate debt and other debt obligations and equities. The Company records assets it has pledged as collateral in collateralized borrowings and other arrangements on the consolidated balance sheets when the Company is the debtor, in accordance with the accounting standard for transfers and servicing of financial assets and extinguishments of liabilities.

The Company obtains securities as collateral principally through the use of resale agreements, securities borrowing agreements, customer margin loans and other collateralized financing activities to facilitate its matched book arrangements, inventory positions, customer needs and settlement requirements. In many cases,

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

the Company is permitted to sell or repledge securities held as collateral. These securities may be used to collateralize repurchase agreements, to enter into securities lending agreements or to cover short positions. As of December 31 and March 31, 2009, the fair value of securities received as collateral by the Company, excluding collateral received under resale agreements, that it was permitted to sell or repledge was $14,061,541 and $9,693,486, respectively. The Company sold or repledged securities aggregating $5,667,154 and $7,396,382, respectively. Counterparties have the right to sell or repledge these securities. See Note 5 for a description of the collateral received and pledged in connection with agreements to resell or repurchase securities.

Held-to-maturity securities

Held-to-maturity securities consist primarily of U.S. government treasury securities, agency debentures and corporate obligations. The Company classifies securities as held-to-maturity that are owned by its non broker-dealer entities when it has the positive intent and the ability to hold the securities until maturity. These securities are carried on an amortized cost basis on the consolidated balance sheet in Securities owned or Restricted cash and segregated securities. See Note 7 for the analysis of held-to-maturity securities in these two categories. The Company designates these securities as held-to-maturity at the time of purchase and re-evaluates the designation at each balance sheet date.

Noncontrolling interests

On April 1, 2009, the Company adopted a new accounting standard which requires the Company to present noncontrolling interests (previously referred to as minority interests) as a separate component of total equity on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The adoption of this standard required retrospective application to the Company’s historical financial statements. See Note 1 for further details. The Company consolidates the results and financial position of entities it controls, but does not wholly own. As of December 31, 2009, the Company owned 70.2% of MF Global Sify Securities India Private Limited, 75.0% of MF Global Financial Services India Private Limited and 73.2% of MF Global Futures Trust Co. Ltd. As of December 31 and March 31, 2009, noncontrolling interest recorded in the consolidated balance sheets was $15,326 and $12,773, respectively.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASU No. 2010-06”). The guidance in ASU No. 2010-06 provides amendments to Subtopic 820-10 that requires a reporting entity to disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers. In addition, with regards to Level 3 assets, ASU No. 2010-6 now requires that a reporting entity should present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a gross basis in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). ASU No. 2010-6 also clarified the following matters with respect to Subtopic 820-10: A reporting entity should provide fair value measurement disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities; class is often a subset of assets or liabilities within a line item in the balance sheet; a reporting entity needs to use judgment in determining the appropriate classes of assets and liabilities; a reporting entity should provide disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements; and those disclosures are required for fair value measurements that fall in either Level 2 or Level 3. The Company will adopt the new disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosures in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. The Company will adopt the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll-forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements in the first quarter of fiscal 2012.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

In September 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-12, Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent) (“ASU No. 2009-12”). The guidance in ASU No. 2009-12 amends certain sections in ASC 820 which discusses accounting for fair value measurements and disclosures. The amendments permit, as a practical expedient, a reporting entity to measure the fair value of an investment that is within the scope of the amendments on the basis of the net asset value per share of the investment (or its equivalent) if the net asset value is calculated in a manner consistent with U.S. GAAP for investment companies as of the reporting entity’s measurement date. The amendments also require disclosures by major category of investment to be determined on the basis of the nature and risks of the investment. The Company adopted ASU No. 2009-12 in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 with no material impact to its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-5, Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value (“ASU No. 2009-5”). ASU No. 2009-5 provides amendments to ASC 820, for the fair value measurement of liabilities. It requires a reporting entity to measure the fair value of a liability using certain valuation techniques when a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability is not available. A reporting entity is not required to include a separate input or adjustment relating to the existence of a restriction that prevents the transfer of a liability when fair valuing that liability. The amendments in ASU No. 2009-5 also clarify the hierarchy of the fair value measurements to be used for a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability at the measurement date as well as for the quoted price for the identical liability when traded as an asset in an active market when no adjustments to the quoted price of the asset are required. The Company adopted ASU No. 2009-5 in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 and there was no material impact to its consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

In June 2009, the FASB issued Statements of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles—a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162, which was superseded by ASC 105. In September 2009, the FASB also issued ASU No. 2009-01, Topic 105—Generally Accepted Accounting Principles—amendments based on—Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 168—The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“ASU No. 2009-01”). ASC 105 and ASU No. 2009-01 establish the FASB Accounting Standards Codification as the single source of authoritative U.S. GAAP recognized by the FASB to be applied by non-governmental entities. Rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. On the effective date, the Codification superseded all then-existing, non-SEC accounting and reporting standards. All other non-grandfathered, non-SEC accounting literature not included in ASC 105 and ASU No. 2009-01 became non-authoritative. ASC 105 and ASU No. 2009-01 are effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The Company adopted ASC 105 and ASU No. 2009-01 in the second quarter of fiscal 2010 and made reference to accounting and reporting standards in its consolidated financial statements in accordance with ASC 105 and ASU No. 2009-01 upon adoption.

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R) which was codified and superseded by ASU 2009-17 (“ASU No. 2009-17”) in December 2009. ASU No. 2009-17 requires an enterprise to determine the primary beneficiary (or “consolidator”) of a variable-interest entity (“VIE”) based on whether the entity (1) has the power to direct matters that most significantly impact the activities of the VIE, and (2) has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. ASU No. 2009-17 changes the consideration of kick-out rights in determining if an entity is a VIE which may cause certain additional entities to now be considered VIEs. On January 27, 2010, the FASB agreed to finalize ASU Amendments to Statement 167 for Certain Investment Funds to indefinitely defer consolidation requirements for a reporting enterprise’s interest in certain entities and for certain money market mutual funds under ASU No. 2009-17. The ASU will also amend guidance that addresses whether fee

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

arrangements represent a variable interest for all decision-makers and service-providers. The ASU will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. The Company does not expect a material impact on its consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 166, Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140 which was codified and superseded by ASU No. 2009-16 (“ASU No. 2009-16”) in December 2009. ASU No. 2009-16 aims to improve the visibility of off-balance sheet vehicles currently exempt from consolidation and addresses practical issues involving the accounting for transfers of financial assets as sales or secured borrowings. ASU No. 2009-16 also introduces the concept of a “participating interest,” which will limit the circumstances where the transfer of a portion of a financial asset will qualify as a sale, assuming all other derecognition criteria are met. Furthermore, it clarifies and amends the derecognition criteria for determining whether a transfer qualifies for sale accounting. ASU No. 2009-16 is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first annual reporting period beginning after November 15, 2009. The Company will adopt ASU No. 2009-16 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011 and is currently evaluating the impact it will have on its consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

In June 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. EITF 03-6-1, Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities, which was superseded by ASC 260-10-45 (“ASC 260-10-45”). The guidance in ASC 260-10-45 applies to the calculation of earnings per share for share-based payment awards with rights to dividends or dividend equivalents. It clarifies that unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. ASC 260-10-45 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company adopted ASC 260-10-45 in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 with no material impact to its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position No. APB 14-1, Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement), which was superseded by ASC 470-20. ASC 470-20 specifies that issuers of convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion should separately account for the liability and equity components in a manner that will reflect the entity’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate when interest cost is recognized in subsequent periods. The Company adopted ASC 470-20 in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. See Note 1 for further details on the impact of adoption.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—An Amendment of ARB No. 51, which was superseded by certain sections in ASC 810. ASC 810 establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. The Company adopted the guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. See Note 1 for further details on the impact of adoption.

Note 3: Goodwill and Intangible Assets

During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2009, earn-out payments of $1,163 and $2,326, respectively, were made relating to prior acquisitions, which were accounted for as additional purchase consideration. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had one remaining arrangement that could result in further contingent, or earn-out, payments. These payments are based on earnings in future years, subject to maximum and minimum amounts. If the minimum earn-out is not reached at the end of 5 years (to 2012), the Company’s obligation to pay the earn-out can extend for up to 10 years, to 2017, subject to a remaining maximum of approximately $71,000.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of a business combination over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized and the Company’s single reporting unit is tested at least annually for impairment or when there is an interim triggering event. An assessment of goodwill for potential impairment is performed in two steps. Step 1 of the analysis is used to identify the impairment and involves determining and comparing the fair value of the Company with its carrying value, or equity. If the fair value of the Company exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is not impaired. Step 2 of the analysis compares the fair value of the Company to the aggregated fair values of its individual assets, liabilities and identified intangibles, to calculate the amount of impairment, if any.

In performing Step 1 of the analysis, the Company compared its net book value to its estimated fair value. In determining the estimated fair value, the Company performed a discounted cash flow analysis using management’s current business plans, which factored in current market conditions including contract and product volumes and pricing as the basis for expected future cash flows for the first five years and a 1% growth rate for the cash flows thereafter. Management used a weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”) of 12.57% as its discount rate in this analysis. The WACC was derived from market participant data and estimates of the fair value and yield of the Company’s debt, preferred stock, and equity as of the testing date. The WACC represents the yield of the Company’s financial instruments as currently stated. A discounted cash flow model involves the subjective selection and interpretation of data inputs and, given market conditions at December 31, 2009, there was a very limited amount of observable market data inputs available when determining the model.

Based on the results of Step 1 of the analysis, the Company determined its goodwill was impaired, as the fair value derived from the discounted cash flow model was less than the Company’s book value at December 31, 2009. Then, based on the results of Step 2 of the analysis, the Company determined that its market capitalization and the computed fair value from Step 1 of the analysis was less than the estimated fair value of the Company’s balance sheet and therefore recorded a charge of $1,165 in the three months and $2,325 in the nine months ended December 31, 2009 to write-off the entire amount of the Company’s goodwill. As discussed, the Company has an earn-out arrangement that could result in additional goodwill being recorded in future periods. The Company will continue to assess its goodwill annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an interim assessment is necessary.

The change in Goodwill is as follows:

 

Balance as of March 31, 2009

   $ —     

Addition

     2,326   

Impairment

     (2,325

Foreign currency translation

     (1
        

Balance as of December 31, 2009

   $ —     
        

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

Intangible assets, subject to amortization as of December 31 and March 31, 2009 are as follows:

 

     December 31,
2009
    March 31,
2009
 

Customer relationships

    

Gross carrying amount

   $ 259,943      $ 257,775   

Accumulated amortization

     (135,753     (116,234
                

Net carrying amount

     124,190        141,541   
                

Technology assets

    

Gross carrying amount

     32,114        31,388   

Accumulated amortization

     (26,098     (22,933
                

Net carrying amount

     6,016        8,455   
                

Trade names

    

Gross carrying amount

     2,934        2,827   

Accumulated amortization

     (1,312     (1,135
                

Net carrying amount

     1,622        1,692   
                

Total

   $ 131,828      $ 151,688   
                

The amortization included in Depreciation and amortization for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2009 was $7,759 and $23,479, respectively. The amortization expense for these assets for the next five fiscal years is approximately $31,335, $27,345, $22,004, $21,440 and $19,480, respectively. No triggering events were identified during the nine months ended December 31, 2009 that required an impairment assessment for the Company’s intangible assets.

Note 4: Receivables from and Payables to Customers

Receivables from and payables to customers, net of allowances, are as follows:

 

    December 31, 2009   March 31, 2009
    Receivables
from
customers
  Payables to
customers
  Receivables
from
customers
  Payables to
customers

Futures transactions

  $ 264,660   $ 10,868,046   $ 276,385   $ 10,869,884

Foreign currency and other OTC derivative transactions

    28,022     642,743     61,043     651,759

Securities transactions

    121,773     692,624     65,471     242,609

Other

    17,196     5,840     12,633     2,138
                       

Total

  $ 431,651   $ 12,209,253   $ 415,532   $ 11,766,390
                       

Note 5: Collateralized Financing Transactions

The Company’s policy is to take possession of securities purchased under resale agreements, which consist largely of securities issued by the U.S. government and federal agencies. The Company retains the right to re-pledge collateral received in collateralized financing transactions. As of December 31, 2009, the market value of collateral received under resale agreements was $66,819,939, of which $248,487 was deposited as margin with

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

clearing organizations. As of March 31, 2009, the market value of collateral received under resale agreements was $53,321,790, of which $837,359 was deposited as margin with clearing organizations. The collateral is valued daily and the Company may require counterparties to deposit additional collateral or may return collateral pledged, as appropriate. As of December 31 and March 31, 2009, the market value of collateral pledged under repurchase agreements was $81,458,632 and $58,662,562, respectively. As of December 31 and March 31, 2009, there were no amounts at risk with a counterparty under repurchase agreements or resale agreements greater than 10% of equity.

Resale and repurchase transactions are presented on a net-by-counterparty basis when certain requirements related to the offsetting of amounts related to certain repurchase and resale agreements are satisfied. In addition, the Company entered into certain of these agreements that are accounted for as sales and purchases and de-recognized related assets and liabilities from the consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2009, resale and repurchase agreements of $1,677,234 and $8,001,529, respectively, at contract value, were de-recognized.

At December 31, 2009, certain of the Company’s resale and repurchase agreements are carried at fair value as a result of the Company’s fair value election. The Company elected the fair value option for those resale and repurchase agreements that were entered into on or after April 1, 2009, and that do not settle overnight or have an open settlement date or that are not accounted for as purchase and sale agreements (such as repo-to-maturity transactions). The Company has elected the fair value option for these instruments to more accurately reflect market and economic events in its earnings and to mitigate a potential imbalance in earnings caused by using different measurement attributes (i.e. fair value versus carrying value) for certain assets and liabilities. At December 31, 2009, the fair value of these resale and repurchase agreements was $17,070,971 and $10,668,062, respectively. Changes in the fair value of these transactions are recorded in Principal transactions in the consolidated statement of operations. During the three months ended December 31, 2009, the amount of losses related to resale and repurchase agreements was $5,798 and $3,791, respectively. During the nine months ended December 31, 2009, the amount of gains and losses related to resale and repurchase agreements was $6,285 of gains and $2,778 of losses, respectively.

The Company has not specifically elected the fair value option for certain resale and repurchase agreements that are settled on an overnight or demand basis as these are carried at contract value, which approximates fair value.

The carrying values of the securities sold under repurchase agreements, including accrued interest, by maturity date are:

 

     December 31, 2009
     Demand    Overnight    Less than
30 days
   30 to 90 days    After 90 days    Total

Security type

                 

U.S. government

   $ 1,240,169    $ 19,838,105    $ 4,221,103    $ 821,116    $ 304,405    $ 26,424,898

U.S. corporations

     100,531      —        —        —        —        100,531

Foreign governments

     228,601      4,505      3,961,484      159,394      287,454      4,641,438

Foreign corporations

     36,817      —        111,086      —        —        147,903
                                         

Total

   $ 1,606,118    $ 19,842,610    $ 8,293,673    $ 980,510    $ 591,859    $ 31,314,770
                                         

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

     March 31, 2009
     Demand    Overnight    Less than
30 days
   30 to 90 days    After 90 days    Total

Security type

                 

U.S. government

   $ 282,108    $ 10,170,909    $ 57,487    $ 876,992    $ 280,288    $ 11,667,784

U.S. corporations

     2,344      —        —        —        —        2,344

Foreign governments

     17,164      1,774,401      662,841      1,829      —        2,456,235

Foreign corporations

     10,282      —        135,053      —        —        145,335
                                         

Total

   $ 311,898    $ 11,945,310    $ 855,381    $ 878,821    $ 280,288    $ 14,271,698
                                         

Securities borrowed and securities loaned transactions are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions. These transactions facilitate the settlement process and may require the Company to deposit cash or other collateral with the lender.

The Company elected to record at fair value securities borrowed and securities loaned transactions that are entered into on or after July 1, 2009 that have a specific termination date beyond the business day following the trade date. At December 31, 2009, the fair value of these securities borrowed agreements was $2,148,752. Changes in the fair value of these transactions are recorded in Principal transactions in the consolidated statement of operations. During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2009, the amount of gains related to securities borrowed agreements was $18. No securities loaned transactions were carried at fair value during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2009. For transactions not elected for fair value measurement, the amount of cash collateral advanced or received is recorded.

Note 6: Receivables from and Payables to Brokers, Dealers and Clearing Organizations

Receivables from and payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations consist of the following:

 

     December 31, 2009    March 31, 2009
     Receivables    Payables    Receivables    Payables

Securities failed to deliver/receive

   $ 1,932,384    $ 1,687,596    $ 531,270    $ 518,814

Due from/to clearing brokers

     939,701      8,744      529,542      93,056

Due from/to clearing organizations

     926,831      81,659      1,297,902      314,681

Fees and commissions

     1,031      52,162      1,034      58,892

Unsettled trades and other

     1,568,572      2,574,900      113,593      91,936
                           

Total

   $ 5,368,519    $ 4,405,061    $ 2,473,341    $ 1,077,379
                           

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

Note 7: Securities Owned, Securities Sold, Not Yet Purchased and Segregated Securities

Securities Owned and Securities Sold, Not Yet Purchased

Securities owned and securities sold, not yet purchased include securities carried at fair value as well as certain marketable securities classified as held-to-maturity securities. Securities owned and securities sold, not yet purchased, which are held at fair value, consist of the following:

 

     December 31, 2009    March 31, 2009
     Securities Owned    Securities Sold,
Not Yet Purchased
   Securities Owned    Securities Sold,
Not Yet Purchased

U.S. government securities and federal agency obligations

   $ 4,535,536    $ 3,812,433    $ 3,195,431    $ 2,757,372

Corporate debt securities and CDs

     141,581      124,711      224,958      —  

Foreign government bonds

     1,214,473      992,203      7,953      —  

Equities

     453,648      125,055      153,538      124,209

Shares in exchanges held in excess of clearing rights

     20,364      —        14,367      —  

Other

     13,991      1,561      9,661      3,010
                           

Total

   $ 6,379,593    $ 5,055,963    $ 3,605,908    $ 2,884,591
                           

U.S. government securities and federal agency obligations owned by the Company and deposited as margin with clearing organizations totaled $0 and $149,442, respectively as of December 31 and March 31, 2009.

Segregated Securities

At December 31 and March 31, 2009, the Company had segregated securities of $6,977,398 and $7,969,127, respectively, within Restricted cash and segregated securities. These amounts include securities purchased under agreements to resell that are subject to the segregation requirements of the CFTC and totaled $3,490,142 and $4,998,887 at December 31 and March 31, 2009, respectively, of which $942,279 and $0 are at fair value as a result of the Company’s fair value election, at December 31 and March 31, 2009, respectively.

Held-to-Maturity Securities

The Company has purchased certain securities for investment purposes and has the positive intent and ability to hold these securities to maturity. The Company has classified these securities as held-to-maturity securities and reported them on an amortized cost basis within Securities owned and Restricted cash and segregated securities on the consolidated balance sheet. At December 31, 2009, none of the held-to-maturity securities were impaired. The Company did not have any held-to-maturity securities in the year ended March 31, 2009.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

The following table summarizes the carrying value, fair value and unrealized gains and losses of the held-to-maturity securities by type of security at December 31, 2009:

 

     Securities Owned  
     Carrying Value    Fair Value    Gross Unrealized
Gain
   Gross Unrealized
Loss
 

Corporate debt securities

   $ 10,033    $ 10,227    $ 194    $ —     

Debt securities issued by the U.S. government and federal agencies

     5,688,554      5,676,749      572      (12,377
                             

Total

   $ 5,698,587    $ 5,686,976    $ 766    $ (12,377
                             
     Segregated Securities  
     Carrying Value    Fair Value    Gross Unrealized
Gain
   Gross Unrealized
Loss
 

Corporate debt securities

   $ 71,518    $ 72,641    $ 1,123    $ —     

Debt securities issued by the U.S. government and federal agencies

     2,131,703      2,131,610      2,779      (2,872
                             

Total

   $ 2,203,221    $ 2,204,251    $ 3,902    $ (2,872
                             

Note 8: Borrowings

Short term borrowings consist of the following:

 

     December 31,
2009
   March 31,
2009

Other short-term borrowings

   $ 142,500    $ 142,500

Bank overdrafts

     9,035      6,335
             

Total

   $ 151,535    $ 148,835
             

Long-term borrowings consist of the following:

 

     December 31,
2009
   March 31,
2009

9.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2038

   $ 199,030    $ 198,007

Two-year term facility

     —        240,000

Other long-term borrowings

     300,000      500,000
             

Total

   $ 499,030    $ 938,007
             

Liquidity Facility

In the year ended March 31, 2008, the Company entered into a $1,500,000 five-year unsecured committed revolving credit facility (the “liquidity facility”) with a syndicate of banks. Borrowings under this liquidity facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal to either, at the Company’s option, (1) a designated fluctuating base rate or (2) a designated fluctuating alternative base rate equal to seven-day or one-, two-, three-or six-month LIBOR plus a margin of 0.40% per annum, at the Company’s current senior unsecured non-credit enhanced

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

rating from Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s. The Company pays a facility fee of 10 basis points per annum. In the event the Company’s credit ratings are downgraded in the future, the terms of the liquidity facility would increase this fee to 12.5 basis points per annum. In addition, the Company paid an annual administration fee of $75 in connection with the liquidity facility. The liquidity facility contains financial and other customary covenants. In general terms, and subject to certain exceptions, the Company has agreed to maintain a consolidated tangible net worth of not less than $620,000 (plus 50% of the proceeds of certain equity offerings and 25% of the Company’s consolidated positive net income for each completed fiscal year), and the Company has agreed not to incur indebtedness through the Company’s subsidiaries exceeding 10% of the Company’s equity less goodwill and intangible assets, incur liens on its assets, merge or consolidate with (or dispose of substantially all of the Company’s assets to) any person, engage in material new businesses, engage in transactions with affiliates except on arm’s-length terms or fail to satisfy any regulatory net capital or financial resources requirement or comply with applicable laws or regulations. If the Company fails to pay any amount when due under the facility or to comply with its other requirements, if the Company fails to pay any amount when due on other material debt (defined as $50,000 or more in principal) or other material debt is accelerated in whole or in part by the lenders, or upon certain events of liquidation or bankruptcy, an event of default will occur under the facility. Upon an event of default, all outstanding borrowings, together with all accrued interest, fees and other obligations, under the facility will become due and the Company will not be permitted to make any further borrowings under the facility. In June 2008, the Company borrowed $350,000 under the liquidity facility and used the proceeds to pay down $350,000 under the 364-day unsecured revolving credit facility (the “bridge facility”). In connection with this drawdown and the Two-Year Term Facility (discussed below), the Company agreed to increase the interest rate margin by 1.10% per annum on the first $500,000 outstanding under the liquidity facility. On January 16, 2009, the Company’s agreed interest rate increased to 1.50% per annum on the outstanding balance, and the liquidity facility interest also increased to a margin of 0.40%, due to a downgrade in the Company’s credit ratings. In the event the Company’s credit ratings are further downgraded beyond a certain level, the rate on the $500,000 outstanding will increase to a maximum of 1.85% and the rate on other outstanding amounts will increase to a maximum of 0.525%. On December 16, 2009, the Company repaid $200,000 of the outstanding balance on its liquidity facility with excess and available cash. As of December 31, 2009 and March 31, 2009, $442,500 and $642,500, respectively, was outstanding under the liquidity facility with the remainder available to the Company as a committed facility. The Company intends to keep $300,000 of the amount outstanding at December 31, 2009 under the liquidity facility as long term debt and as part of its capital structure, unless the Company replaces some or all of these borrowings with other long-term debt. In October 2008, Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., one of the participating banks with a total commitment amounting to $75,000 under the liquidity facility filed for bankruptcy, and accordingly, the Company believes Lehman Commercial Paper Inc. will not fund the balance of its loan commitment, which is $60,000.

On July 24, 2009, the liquidity facility was amended to enable the Company, to move its jurisdiction of incorporation at an appropriate time to the U.S. from Bermuda. The Company paid a one-time fee of approximately $800.

At December 31, 2009, the Company was in compliance with its covenants under the liquidity facility.

Convertible Senior Notes

On June 25, 2008, the Company completed the issuance and sale of $150,000 aggregate principal amount of its 9.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2038 (the “Convertible Notes”). The Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 9.00% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning December 15, 2008. The Convertible Notes mature on June 20, 2038. Holders may convert the Convertible Notes

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

at their option at any time prior to the maturity date. Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, common stock or a combination thereof at the Company’s election. The initial conversion rate for the Convertible Notes is 95.6938 shares of common stock per $1 principal amount of Convertible Notes, equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $10.45 per share of common stock. The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment in certain events. The Company may redeem the Convertible Notes, in whole or in part, for cash at any time on or after July 1, 2013 at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest. Holders may require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of their Convertible Notes for cash on July 1, 2013, July 1, 2018, July 1, 2023, July 1, 2028 and July 1, 2033 at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Convertible Notes to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest.

In connection with the issuance of the Convertible Notes, the Company also granted the initial purchasers of the Convertible Notes an option to purchase up to an additional $60,000 aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes. On August 7, 2008, the initial purchasers exercised the option to purchase an additional $60,000 of the Convertible Notes. The Convertible Notes mature in 2038, subject to redemption at the Company’s option after five years and a right of holders to require repurchase every five years beginning five years after issue. The proceeds from the additional $60,000 Convertible Notes were used to pay down a portion of the Two-Year Term Facility.

On March 26, 2009, the Company completed its cash tender offer to purchase its $210,000 Convertible Notes at a purchase price equal to $0.64 per $1.00 of the principal amount. The Company validly repurchased $5,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes. The Company paid $3,326 in cash including accrued interest and related transaction costs. Additionally, the Company expensed $589 in unamortized costs. This resulted in a net gain of $1,539 on the early extinguishment of debt, which was recorded in other revenue in the consolidated statements of operations for the year-ended March 31, 2009.

On April 1, 2009 the Company adopted a new accounting standard, which required retrospective application to the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009 and interim periods within such fiscal year. This standard requires the issuer of certain convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash (or other assets) on conversion to separately account for the liability (debt) and equity (conversion option) components of the instrument in a manner that reflects the issuer’s non-convertible debt borrowing rate. The Company’s Convertible Notes are impacted by this new accounting standard, and as a result this adoption was retrospectively applied to its consolidated financial statements from the issuance date of the Convertible Notes in June 2008. The Company retrospectively recorded a debt discount and a component of equity representing the value of the conversion option. The discount is being amortized over the expected five-year life of the Convertible Notes, resulting in a non-cash increase to interest expense in historical and future periods. See Note 1 for further details. As of December 31, 2009, the Convertible Notes have a remaining outstanding aggregate principal balance of $205,000 and debt discount of $5,970, both of which are recorded in Long-term borrowings on the consolidated balance sheet.

On July 18, 2008, in connection with the issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock (as defined below), the Company entered into a replacement capital covenant, whereby the Company agreed for the benefit of certain of its debtholders identified therein, including initially the holders of the Company’s Convertible Notes, that it would not redeem or repurchase the Series A Preferred Stock on or before July 18, 2018 except from the proceeds of the issuance of certain qualified equity and/or equity-related securities and pursuant to the other terms and conditions set forth in the replacement capital covenant. As of the date of this report, the Company’s only debt that receives the benefit of its obligations under the replacement capital covenant is the Company’s Convertible Notes.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

Two-Year Term Facility

On July 18, 2008, the Company entered into a credit agreement with several banks that provided for a two-year, $300,000 unsecured term loan facility (the “Two-Year Term Facility”). On April 16, 2009, the Company paid the remaining outstanding balance of $240,000 on the Two-Year Term Facility ahead of its maturity date of July 16, 2010 thus terminating all remaining obligations under the Two-Year Term Facility. In connection with the repayment of the Two-Year Term Facility, the Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $9,682 related to the accelerated amortization of debt issuance costs.

Note 9: Stock-Based Compensation Plans

In connection with its IPO, the Company established the 2007 Long-term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) which provides for equity compensation awards in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards, cash-based awards and other awards to eligible employees, consultants, directors and other individuals who provide services to the Company, each as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. It can authorize up to 24,192,142 shares to be issued.

The Company issued restricted stock units, stock options, and restricted stock under the LTIP. Stock options vest in equal installments over three years and vested awards can be exercised, subject to continued employment, within seven years from the date of grant. Stock options have an exercise price equal to the price per share of common stock at the date of grant. Restricted stock units vest ratably or in full after three years, subject to continued employment or meeting certain retirement eligibility criteria. Restricted stock awards were issued to employees at the IPO, which vested in full on the first anniversary of the IPO, subject to continued employment. Restricted stock units and restricted stock issued at the IPO are defined as non-recurring IPO awards and presented in Employee compensation related to non-recurring IPO awards within the consolidated statements of operations.

The Company has elected to expand its use of stock-based awards as payment for employees’ incentive compensation, thereby further aligning employees with the interests of shareholders. Accordingly, during the three months ended December 31, 2009, management opted to increase the percentage of compensation paid in three-year vesting stock awards and reduced the cash portion of discretionary bonus expense.

Stock Option Exchange

In October 2009, the Company initiated a tender offer that enabled eligible employees to exchange options that were granted to them at the time of the Company’s IPO for a lower number of restricted stock units. The exchange program was designed so that the fair market value of the new restricted stock units would equal the approximate fair market value of the options exchanged, and as such there was no incremental compensation expense incurred in connection with the exchange. The offering period closed on November 10, 2009, and in connection with the tender offer 3,301,162 options were tendered and exchanged for 284,455 restricted stock units at an exchange rate of 11.6:1. The new restricted stock units will vest in equal annual installments over a three year period, with the remaining unamortized stock compensation expense related to the exchanged options spread out over three years.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

Net income for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 includes the following amounts related to the Company’s stock-based compensation arrangements:

 

     Three months ended
December 31,
   Nine months ended
December 31,
     2009    2008    2009    2008

Compensation costs

           

Employee compensation and benefits (excluding IPO awards)

   $ 8,409    $ 7,727    $ 26,984    $ 26,174

Employee compensation related to non-recurring IPO awards

     7,086      4,713      25,099      39,694
                           

Total

   $ 15,495    $ 12,440    $ 52,083    $ 65,868
                           

Income tax benefits

   $ 3,181    $ 4,263    $ 14,862    $ 20,663
                           

The Company has no pool of windfall tax benefits. The Company has deferred tax assets recorded on its consolidated balance sheets related to stock compensation awards issued in connection with the IPO. Due to declines in the Company’s stock price, these may not equal the tax benefit ultimately realized at the date of delivery of these awards, as the deferred tax assets are based on the stock awards’ grant date fair value and any shortfall will result in a charge to the income statement.

The fair value of each stock option is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model that uses the following assumptions:

Expected Volatility: Due to the lack of historical data for the Company’s own stock, the Company based its expected volatility on a representative peer group that took into account the following criteria: industry, market capitalization, stage of life cycle and capital structure.

Expected Term: Expected term represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The Company elected to use the ‘simplified’ calculation method, which is to be used for companies that lack extensive historical data. The mid-point between the vesting date and the contractual expiration date is used as the expected term under this method.

Expected Dividend Yield: The Company has not paid and does not expect to pay dividends on its common stock in the future. Accordingly, the assumed dividend yield is zero.

Risk Free Interest Rate: The risk-free rate is determined using the implied yield currently available on zero-coupon U.S. government bonds with a term consistent with the expected term on the date of grant.

 

     Nine months ended
December 31,
 
         2009             2008      

Expected volatility

   55.0   43.7

Risk free interest rate

   2.9   3.1

Expected dividend yield

   0.0   0.0

Expected term

   4.5 years      4.5 years   

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

The following tables summarize activity for the Company’s plans for the nine months ended December 31, 2009:

 

     Options     Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price

(per share)
   Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term

(in years)
   Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

Stock options outstanding as of April 1, 2009

   10,133,869      $ 25.27    5.5    $ 598

Granted

   1,317,530        5.92      

Options exchanged in connection with the stock option exchange program

   (3,301,162     30.00      

Forfeited and cancelled

   (964,605     21.13      
              

Stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2009

   7,185,632        20.10    5.2      2,614

Stock options expected to vest as of December 31, 2009

   6,948,956        20.41    5.2      2,426

Stock options exercisable at December 31, 2009

   3,383,141      $ 26.03    4.8    $ 408

During the nine months ended December 31, 2008, 2,703,695 options were granted and 2,974,096 were forfeited. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the nine months ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 was $2.81 and $4.29, respectively. No options were exercised during the nine months ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.

 

     Restricted Stock Units
     Awards     Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair Value

(per award)

Nonvested as of April 1, 2009

     6,930,294      $ 22.16

Granted

     1,631,145        5.91

Granted in connection with the stock option exchange program

     284,455        10.45

Exercised

     (525,579     16.86

Forfeited

     (214,205     29.26
          

Nonvested as of December 31, 2009

     8,106,110      $ 18.53

Total unrecognized compensation expense remaining

   $ 38,636     

Weighted-average years expected to be recognized over

     1.4     

During the nine months ended December 31, 2008, 1,008,361 restricted stock units were granted, with a weighted average grant date fair value of $11.79. During the nine months ended December 31, 2008, 273,927 shares of stock were issued from the vesting of restricted stock units. The total fair value of restricted stock units exercised during the nine months ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 was $8,861 and $4,736, respectively.

 

     Restricted Stock
     Awards    Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair Value

(per award)

Nonvested as of April 1, 2009

     270,958    $ 23.34

Granted

     44,976      6.67

Vested

     78,044      6.73
         

Nonvested as of December 31, 2009

     237,890    $ 25.64

Total unrecognized compensation expense remaining

   $ 1,513   

Weighted-average years expected to be recognized over

     0.7   

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

During the nine months ended December 31, 2008, 203,280 shares of stock vested. The total fair value of restricted stock vested during the nine months ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 was $525 and $5,706.

The Company has employee stock purchase plans in the U.S. and U.K. to provide employees with an opportunity to purchase shares of stock from the Company at a discount and to pay for these purchases through payroll deductions. In the U.S., participants can withhold 1-15% of their eligible compensation; however, no participant can purchase more than 500 shares or total shares exceeding $8 in fair market value. In the U.K., participants can withhold up to £0.25 per month over 3 to 5 years to purchase shares at a 20% discount from the price on the date of grant. These plans are accounted for as compensatory in accordance with the accounting standard for stock compensation. No stock was awarded from these plans in the nine months ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.

Note 10: Income Taxes

Effective Income Tax Rate

The effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2009 was approximately (18.4%) and 26.4%, respectively, as compared to approximately 25.8% and 31.2% for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008. The change in the Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2009 reflects a decrease in the estimated annual effective tax rate for the full year and a reduction in the proportion of the Company’s profits and losses being earned in lower-tax jurisdictions. The tax rate has also been impacted by the effects of non-deductible expenses, certain non-recurring costs and gains as well as the impact of a lower vesting date fair value on equity compensation awards granted. The Company’s effective tax rate on ordinary operations (excluding discrete items) for the three months ended December 31, 2009 was approximately 38.0%.

Uncertain Tax Positions

As of March 31, 2009, the Company had total unrecognized tax benefits of $27,755. For the nine months ended December 31, 2009, the Company has decreased gross unrecognized tax benefits by $12,755 due to a change in tax law analysis. The Company increased gross unrecognized tax benefits by $1,802 which includes $483 of interest on previously-recorded unrecognized tax benefits. The total balance of unrecognized tax benefits of $16,802 would, if recognized, affect the Company’s effective income tax rate in future periods. It is expected that unrecognized tax benefits will neither increase nor decrease in the next 12 months as a result of expiring statutes of limitations or settlements.

Note 11: Earnings per Share

The Company computes earnings per share in accordance with the applicable accounting standards, which discuss the accounting for earnings per share and participating securities and the two-class method. The Company’s Series A Preferred Stock is classified as participating securities whereby the holder participates in undistributed earnings with common shareholders.

The numerator for Basic EPS is net income attributable to MF Global Holdings Ltd., reduced by an allocation of earnings between common shareholders and the Series A Preferred Shareholder, based on their respective rights to receive dividends on the Company’s common stock as well as any undeclared dividends for the Series A Preferred Stock where the shareholder has a cumulative right to dividends. This is then reduced by dividends declared for the Series B Preferred Stock. The denominator for Basic EPS is the weighted average

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

number of shares of common stock outstanding. If dilutive, the numerator for Diluted EPS is net income attributable to MF Global Holdings Ltd. after adjusting for the interest expense recorded on the Convertible Notes, net of tax. The denominator for Diluted EPS is the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding including the potential effect of stock awards outstanding, calculated as Convertible Notes, Series A and Series B Preferred Stock, if dilutive, in accordance with the if-converted method.

The Company uses the treasury stock method to reflect the potentially dilutive effect of the unvested restricted stock and unexercised stock options. In calculating the number of shares of dilutive stock outstanding, the common stock underlying unvested restricted stock is assumed to have been delivered on the grant date. The assumed proceeds from the assumed vesting and delivery were calculated as the sum of (a) the amount of compensation cost attributed to future services and not yet recognized as of December 31, 2009 and (b) the amount of tax benefit, if any, that was credited to additional paid-in capital assuming vesting and delivery of the restricted stock. The tax benefit is the amount resulting from a tax deduction, if any, for compensation in excess of compensation expense recognized for financial statement reporting purposes.

The computation of earnings per share is as follows:

 

    Three months ended
December 31,
    Nine months ended
December 31,
 
    2009     2008     2009     2008  

Basic and diluted earnings per share:

       

Numerator:

       

Net (loss)/income attributable to MF Global Holdings Ltd.

  $ (14,618   $ 38,730      $ (48,103   $ 62,532   

Less: Dividends declared for Series A Preferred Stock

    (4,022     (4,022     (12,066     (5,228

Cumulative and participating dividends

    —          (3,180     —          (7,123

Dividends declared for Series B Preferred Stock

    (3,656     (3,656     (10,968     (5,688
                               

Net (loss)/income applicable to common shareholders

  $ (22,296   $ 27,872      $ (71,137   $ 44,493   
                               

Denominator:

       

Basic and Diluted weighted average common stock outstanding

    123,272,712        121,790,111        123,149,652        120,782,144   
                               

Basic and Diluted (loss)/earnings per share

  $ (0.18   $ 0.23      $ (0.58   $ 0.37   

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

Diluted loss/earnings per share is the same as basic loss/earnings per share for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 as the impact of outstanding stock awards, Convertible Notes and Series A and Series B Preferred Stock is anti-dilutive. The Convertible Notes and Series A and Series B Preferred Stock are weighted based on the period outstanding during the periods presented. The following table presents the potential stock excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive:

 

    Three months ended
December 31,
  Nine months ended
December 31,
    2009   2008   2009   2008

Restricted stock units and restricted stock

  8,304,651   8,024,275   8,304,651   8,024,275

Stock options

  7,185,632   10,612,907   7,185,632   10,612,907

9.00% Convertible Notes

  19,617,225   20,095,694   19,617,225   12,809,047

Series B Preferred Stock

  14,354,067   14,354,067   14,354,067   9,865,159

Series A Preferred Stock

  12,000,000   12,000,000   12,000,000   7,243,636
               

Total

  61,461,575   65,086,943   61,461,575   48,555,024
               

Note 12: Regulatory Requirements

One of the Company’s subsidiaries is registered as a futures commission merchant and broker-dealer and others are registered as local equivalents and accordingly are subject to the capital rules of the SEC, CFTC and FSA, principal exchanges of which they are members and other local regulatory bodies, as applicable.

One of the Company’s subsidiaries, MF Global Inc., is required to maintain minimum net capital equal to the greater of the amount required by the SEC or CFTC, as defined. At December 31, 2009, MF Global Inc. had net capital, as defined, of $562,942, which was $231,357 in excess of the minimum capital required to be maintained.

The Company is subject to certain notifications and other provisions of the net capital rules of the SEC regarding advances to affiliates, repayments of subordinated liabilities, dividend payments and other equity withdrawals. At December 31, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all of these provisions.

In accordance with the rules of the FSA in the U.K., the Company’s FSA-regulated subsidiaries must comply with financial resources requirements, which since January 1, 2008, are subject to the requirements of the European Union’s Capital Requirements Directive. The capital held is intended to absorb unexpected losses and a minimum requirement is calculated in accordance with a standard regulatory formula that addresses the exposure to counterparty credit risk, position/market risk, foreign exchange risk, operational risk and concentration risk. Counterparty risk is calculated as a percentage of unpaid customer margin for exchange traded business and an exposure calculation for off-exchange business. Position risk is calculated by applying percentages to positions based on the underlying instrument and maturity. However, for the purposes of prudential supervision, the Company as a consolidated group is not subject to the consolidated regulatory capital requirements under the current European Union’s Capital Requirements Directive.

At December 31, 2009, the Company’s FSA-regulated subsidiaries had financial resources in total, as defined, of $550,070, resource requirements of $211,285 and excess financial resources of $338,785. The Company is awaiting confirmation from the FSA regarding future capital requirements.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

The Company is also subject to the requirements of other regulatory bodies and exchanges of which it is a member in other international locations in which it conducts business. The Company was in compliance with all of these requirements at December 31 and March 31, 2009.

Note 13: Commitments and Contingencies

Legal

Set forth below are the potentially material litigations and regulatory proceedings to which the Company is a party or in which the Company is involved.

Unauthorized Trading Incident of February 26/27, 2008

One of the Company’s brokers, Evan Dooley, trading for his own account out of a Memphis, Tennessee branch office through one of the Company’s front end order entry systems, Order Express, put on a significant wheat futures position during the late evening of February 26, 2008 and early morning of February 27, 2008. The positions were liquidated at a loss of $141,045 on February 27, 2008. The trades were unauthorized and because the broker had no apparent means of paying for the trades, the Company, as a clearing member of the exchange, was required to pay the $141,045 shortfall (the “Dooley Trading Incident”). The exchange and regulators were immediately notified, the broker was promptly terminated, and a public announcement of the loss was made by the Company the next day. As a result of the Dooley Trading Incident:

 

   

Class Action Suits. The Company, Man Group, certain of its current and former officers and directors, and certain underwriters for the IPO have been named as defendants in five actions filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. These actions, which purport to be brought as class actions on behalf of purchasers of MF Global stock between the date of the IPO and February 28, 2008, seek to hold defendants liable under §§ 11, 12 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 for alleged misrepresentations and omissions related to the Company’s risk management and monitoring practices and procedures. The five purported shareholder class actions have been consolidated for all purposes into a single action. The Company made a motion to dismiss which has been granted, with plaintiff having a right to replead and/or appeal the dismissal. Plaintiffs made a motion to replead by filing an amended complaint, which was denied. Plaintiffs have appealed. Because the motion to dismiss was made before discovery, the litigation is in its early stages, and in the event plaintiffs successfully appeal the Company believes it has meritorious defenses. Therefore, no provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this matter.

 

   

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Chicago Examination. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago, Illinois is examining Mr. Dooley and the unauthorized trades. The Company has been cooperating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which has informed the Company that it is not a target of their investigation, and that Mr. Dooley is a target.

 

   

Commodity Futures Trading Commission Proceeding. Immediately after the Dooley Trading Incident, the CFTC, in coordination with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”), began an investigation relating to the circumstances of the Dooley Trading Incident. During the course of that investigation, the Company established an accrual of $10,000 to cover possible civil monetary penalties in any potential CFTC action relating to the Dooley Trading Incident and the two other matters referred to below under the captions “CFTC Potential Action” and “CFTC Natural Gas Price Information Investigation” (collectively, the “CFTC Proceedings”). The three separate matters comprising the CFTC Proceedings (together with a fourth non-material matter) were settled in a single comprehensive Order (the “CFTC Settlement”). Under the CFTC Settlement, the Company, without admitting or

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

 

denying any of the allegations made by the CFTC against it, accepted charges of lack of supervision in each of the matters, agreed to pay an aggregate civil monetary penalty of $10,000 and agreed to a cease and desist order. In addition, the Company agreed to specific undertakings related to its supervisory procedures and practices, as well as to engage an independent outside firm (Promontory Financial Group) to review and assess the implementation of the undertakings and certain recommendations previously made by Promontory Financial Group to, and accepted by, it.

 

   

CME Proceedings. At the same time as the CFTC Settlement, without admitting or denying the allegations made by the CME relating to the Dooley Trading Incident, the Company settled a CME Administrative Proceeding by paying a fine of $495 and agreeing to certain undertakings essentially coextensive with the CFTC undertakings referred to in the CFTC Settlement. The Company had previously established an accrual of $495 to cover any potential fines in the CME proceeding.

 

   

Retention of Consultants. The Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, composed of certain independent Board members, hired two consultants to help advise them and, through them, the Company, on matters relating to the Dooley Trading Incident. FTI Consultants advised on technology-related matters and Promontory Financial Group advised on policies and procedures in the risk aspects of the Company’s business.

 

   

Insurance Claim. The Company filed a claim under its Fidelity Bond Insurance (the “Bond”), which provides coverage for wrongful or fraudulent acts of employees, seeking indemnification for this loss. After months of investigation, the Company’s Bond insurers have denied payment of this claim based on certain definitions and exclusions to coverage in the Bond. They have also initiated an action against the Company in the Supreme Court of the State of New York seeking a declaration that there is no coverage for this loss under the Bond. The Company believes the insurers’ position to be in error and has filed a counterclaim in order to seek to enforce its right to payment in court.

CFTC Potential Action

In May 2007, the Company’s U.S. operating subsidiary, MF Global Inc., formerly known as Man Financial Inc, and two of its individual employees received what is commonly referred to as a “Wells notice” from the staff of the Division of Enforcement of the CFTC. The notice relates to two trades that the Company executed in 2004 for a customer and reported to NYMEX. This matter was settled under the terms of the CFTC Settlement referred to above under “Unauthorized Trading Incident of February 26/27, 2008—Commodity Futures Trading Commission Proceeding”.

CFTC Natural Gas Price Information Investigation

The Company has been cooperating in an investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York, which has brought an indictment in a related matter, and by a New York County Grand Jury. The CFTC and the SEC have also been involved in the investigation and each has brought cases in related matters. The investigation centers around trading by a market making energy trader at Bank of Montreal (BMO) who allegedly mismarked his book. One of the Company’s brokers did business with the BMO trader and used bid and offer prices for forward OTC trades the BMO trader sent to him as a basis for prices which the Company’s broker disseminated to its customers, including BMO, as price indications that reflected a consensus. The Company has been told that neither the Company nor its broker are targets of the Grand Jury investigation. This matter was settled under the terms of the CFTC Settlement referred to above under “Unauthorized Trading Incident of February 26/27, 2008—Commodity Futures Trading Commission Proceeding”.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

Bank of Montreal (“BMO”)

On August 28, 2009, BMO instituted suit against the Company and its former broker, Joseph Saab (as well as a firm named Optionable, Inc. and five of its principals or employees), in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. In its complaint, BMO asserts various claims against all defendants for their alleged misrepresentation of price quotes to BMO’s Market Risk Department (“MRD”) as independent quotes when defendants knew, or should have known, that David Lee, BMO’s trader, created the quotes which, in circular fashion, were passed on to BMO through the Company’s broker, thereby enabling Lee substantially to overvalue his book at BMO. BMO further alleges that the Company and Saab knew that Lee was fraudulently misrepresenting prices in his options natural gas book and aided and abetted his ability to do so by the Company’s actions in sending price indications to the MRD of BMO, and substantially assisted Lee’s breach of his fiduciary duties to BMO as its employee. The facts underlying this action also relate to the CFTC natural gas price information investigation described above in “CFTC Natural Gas Price Information Investigation.” The Complaint seeks to hold all defendants jointly and severally liable and, although it does not specify an exact damage claim, it claims CAD 680,000 (approximately $649,400) as a pre-tax loss for BMO in its natural gas trading, and claims that it would not have paid brokerage commissions to the Company (and Optionable, Inc.), would not have continued Lee and his supervisor as employees at substantial salaries and bonuses, and would not have incurred substantial legal costs and expenses to deal with the Lee mispricing. The Company made a motion to dismiss the complaint, which is pending before the court. This litigation is in its very earliest stages. No provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this matter.

Parabola/Tangent

In December 2006, Parabola/Tangent filed a claim in the Commercial Court in London against the Company and one of its brokers alleging alternatively fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation and breach of fiduciary duty in connection with execution-only accounts that were active in the Company’s London office between July 2001 and February 2002. The claimants sought £3,200 (approximately $5,300) in damages and speculative claims, including claims for lost profits, of up to an additional £28,000 (approximately $46,100). A trial began in March 2009. In May 2009 a judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiff and against the Company in the amount of £19,290 plus interest and costs. The Company has appealed this judgment. An expense of $8,000 was recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2009 in connection with this litigation, based on the judgment rendered, after adjusting for insurance proceeds of $23,500.

Eagletech Communications Inc., et al. v. Citigroup, Inc. et al.

The Company’s U.S. operating subsidiary, MF Global Inc., formerly known as Man Financial Inc, was named as a co-defendant in an action filed in Florida State Court by Eagletech Communications Inc. (“Eagletech”) and three of its alleged shareholders against 21 defendants, including banks, broker-dealers and clearing brokers, as well as “100 John Doe defendants or their nominee entities”. The complaint alleges that the defendants engaged in a criminal conspiracy designed to manipulate the publicly traded share price of Eagletech stock. Plaintiffs seek unspecified compensatory and special damages, alleging that “Man Group PLC d/b/a Man Financial Inc” participated in the conspiracy by acting as a clearing broker for a broker-dealer that traded in Eagletech stock. The complaint asserts claims under RICO, the Florida Securities and Investor Protection Act, the Florida Civil Remedies for Criminal Practices Act and a related negligence claim. On May 9, 2007, defendants filed a notice removing the State Court action to Federal Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a). On October 2, 2007, Plaintiffs filed a first amended complaint in the Federal Court action asserting additional claims against Man Financial Inc under Florida common law, including civil conspiracy, conversion and trespass to chattels. On February 26, 2008, the financial institution defendants, including MF Global Inc., filed a motion to

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

dismiss seeking dismissal of all claims asserted in the amended complaint on the ground that the claims are barred by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (“PSLRA”) and preempted by the federal securities laws. On June 27, 2008, the Court partially granted the motion, holding that the federal RICO claims are barred by the PSLRA and dismissing the RICO claims with prejudice. The Court declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims and remanded those claims to the Florida State Court. On July 25, 2008, plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal of the Court’s June 27, 2008 decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit but subsequently withdrew its appeal. The Company is unsure of whether plaintiffs will pursue the State Court action. Since the case is in its earliest stages, it is difficult to determine exposure, if any. The Company intends to vigorously defend this matter. No provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this litigation.

Amacker v. Renaissance Asset Management Fund et. al.

In December 2007, the Company, along with four other futures commission merchants (“FCMs”), were named as defendants in an action filed in the United States District Court in Corpus Christi, Texas by 47 individuals who were investors in a commodity pool (RAM I LLC) operated by Renaissance Asset Management LLC. The complaint alleges that the Company and the other defendants violated the Commodity Exchange Act and alleges claims of negligence, common law fraud, violation of a Texas statute relating to securities fraud and breach of fiduciary duty for allegedly failing to conduct due diligence on the commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor, having accepted executed trades directed by the commodity trading advisor, which was engaged in a fraudulent scheme with respect to the commodity pool, and having permitted the improper allocation of trades among accounts. The plaintiffs claim damages of $32,000, plus exemplary damages, from all defendants. All of the FCM defendants moved to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Following an initial pre-trial conference, the court granted plaintiffs leave to file an amended complaint. On May 9, 2008, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint in which plaintiffs abandoned all claims except a claim alleging that the FCM defendants aided and abetted violations of the Commodity Exchange Act. Plaintiffs now seek $17,000 in claimed damages plus exemplary damages from all defendants. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint which was granted by the court and appealed by the plaintiffs. The case is at its earliest stages so it is not possible to determine the Company’s exposure, if any. In any event, the Company intends to vigorously defend this matter. No provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this litigation.

Leaderguard Matter

Proceedings had been instituted against the Company’s U.K. subsidiary by the liquidator of Leaderguard Spot Forex Limited (“LSF”), a Mauritius based investment firm that became insolvent in March 2005. The Company’s U.K. subsidiary (originally through GNI Limited and then Man Financial Limited) provided foreign exchange broking services to two companies in the Leaderguard group between 2001 and 2005. The claim alleged, inter alia, that the Company was complicit in assisting the directors of various Leaderguard group companies to breach fiduciary duties owed by such directors to their companies and that the Company knowingly benefited from assets received in breach of such fiduciary duties. The claim further alleged the Company is liable to account for funds lost through transactions executed by such directors with its U.K. company which are alleged to amount to $18,000. The Leaderguard liquidator dismissed the action on July 17, 2009. No provision for losses was recorded in connection with this matter.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

Class Action Suit

The Company and certain of the Company’s executive officers and directors had been named as defendants in an action filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. This action, which purported to be brought as a class action on behalf of purchasers of MF Global stock between March 17, 2008 and June 20, 2008, sought to hold defendants liable under §§ 10 and 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for alleged misrepresentations and omissions related to the Company’s financial results and projections and capital structure. The Company filed a motion to dismiss which the court granted, with prejudice.

Voiran Trading Limited

On December 29, 2008, the Company received a letter before action from solicitors on behalf of Voiran Trading Limited (“Voiran”) which has now brought an LME arbitration proceeding. The letter and arbitration proceeding alleges that the Company’s U.K. affiliate was grossly negligent in advice it gave to Voiran between April 2005 and April 2006 in relation to certain copper futures contracts and claims $37,600 in damages. This litigation is in its very earliest stages. No provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this matter.

Sentinel Bankruptcy

The Liquidation Trustee (“Trustee”) for Sentinel Management Group, Inc. (“Sentinel”) sued MF Global Inc. in June 2009 on the theory that the Company’s withdrawal of $50,200 within 90 days of the filing of Sentinel’s bankruptcy petition on August 17, 2007 is a voidable preference under Section 547 of the Bankruptcy Code and, therefore, recoverable by the Trustee, along with interest and costs. The Company believes there are substantial defenses available to it and it intends to resist the Trustee’s attempt to recover those funds from the Company. In addition, to the extent the Trustee recovered any funds from the Company, it would be able to assert an offsetting claim in that amount against the assets available in Sentinel’s bankruptcy case. The matter is in its early stages and litigation has just commenced. No provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this claim.

Agape World

In May 2009, investors in a venture set up by Nicholas Cosmo sued Bank of America and the Company, among others, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, alleging that the Company, among others, aided and abetted Cosmo and related entities in a Ponzi scheme in which investors lost $400,000. The Company has made a motion to dismiss which has been granted with prejudice. The litigation is in its earliest stages. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses and intends to vigorously defend this matter. No provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this matter.

Phidippides Capital Management/Mark Trimble

In the late spring of 2009, the Company was sued in Oklahoma State Court by customers who were substantial investors with Mark Trimble and/or Phidippides Capital Management. Trimble and Phidippides may have been engaged in a Ponzi scheme. Plaintiffs allege that the Company “materially aided and abetted” Trimble’s and Phidippides’ violations of the anti-fraud provisions of the Oklahoma securities laws and they are seeking damages “in excess of” $10 each. The Company made a motion to dismiss which was granted by the court. Plaintiffs have appealed. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses and intends to vigorously defend this matter. No provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this matter.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

Man Group Receivable

In late April 2009, the Company formally requested that Man Group (its largest shareholder at the time and former parent company) make a payment of $29,779 that Man Group owes to the Company in connection with the recapitalization of its balance sheet at the time of the IPO in fiscal 2008. Man Group has demanded arbitration and the Company has agreed to an arbitration by the London Court of International Arbitration (“LCIA”). As a result of this unresolved claim, at March 31, 2009, the Company recorded a receivable of $29,779 in equity. If the Company prevails in its claim, the Company would expect to restore its equity by the amount it receives from Man Group (if any) and, if the Company is not successful, it would expect to write off the receivable to additional paid in capital and not to increase its equity. The reduction in equity does not affect amounts reported in the Company’s earnings, its income statement or its cash position for any prior period and the Company does not expect the resolution of the claim, whether favorable to the Company or not, to affect its earnings or its income statement for the current or any future period, although any amounts the Company recovers would increase its cash position. This matter is in its very earliest stages and the Company intends to pursue this claim vigorously.

Morgan Fuel/Bottini Brothers

MF Global Inc. (“MFG”) and MF Global Market Services LLC (“Market Services”) are currently involved in litigation with a former customer of Market Services, Morgan Fuel & Heating Co., Inc. (“Morgan Fuel”) and its principals, Anthony Bottini, Jr., Brian Bottini and Mark Bottini (the “Bottinis”). The litigations arise out of trading losses incurred by Morgan Fuel in over-the-counter derivative swap transactions, which were unconditionally guaranteed by the Bottini principals.

 

   

MF Global Market Services LLC v. Anthony Bottini, Jr., Brian Bottini and Mark Bottini, FINRA No. 08-03673. On October 6, 2008, Market Services commenced an arbitration against the Bottinis before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) to recover $8,300, which is the amount of the debt owed to Market Services by Morgan Fuel after the liquidation of the swap transactions. Each of the Bottinis executed a guaranty in favor of Market Services personally and unconditionally guaranteeing payment of the obligations of Morgan Fuel upon written demand by Market Services. Market Services asserted a claim of breach of contract based upon the Bottinis’ failure to honor the guarantees.

 

   

Morgan Fuel v. MFG and Market Services, FINRA No. 08-03879. On October 21, 2008, Morgan Fuel commenced a separate arbitration proceeding before FINRA against MFG and Market Services. Morgan Fuel claims that MFG and Market Services caused Morgan Fuel to incur approximately $14,200 in trading losses. Morgan Fuel seeks recovery of $5,900 in margin payments that it allegedly made to Market Services and a declaration that it has no responsibility to pay Market Services for the remaining $8,300 in trading losses. Morgan Fuel contends that MFG and Market Services should not have allowed Morgan Fuel to enter into, or maintain, the swap transactions. The Supreme Court of New York for the County of New York has temporarily stayed the arbitration commenced by Morgan Fuel on the ground that there is no agreement to arbitrate. The motion for a permanent stay was denied and the Company has appealed that decision.

 

   

The Bottinis asserted a third-party claim against Morgan Fuel, which in turn asserted a fourth-party claim against MFG, Market Services and Steven Bellino (a former MFG employee) in the arbitration proceeding commenced by Market Services. A motion to stay the fourth-party claim was also denied by the court and the Company has appealed that decision as well.

It is difficult at this stage to determine exposure, if any. In any event, the Company intends to vigorously defend this matter. No provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this matter.

 

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(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

Other

In addition to the matters discussed above, from time to time the Company is party to litigation and regulatory proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of its business. Aside from those matters discussed above, the Company does not believe that it is party to any pending or threatened litigation or regulatory proceedings that, individually or in the aggregate, would in the opinion of management have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

U.K. Bonus Tax

In December 2009, the U.K. government introduced legislation which would impose a 50% charge on certain discretionary bonus payments in excess of £25,000, made between December 9, 2009 and April 5, 2010 to U.K. employees within the financial services industry. This legislation has not yet been voted on by Parliament or received Royal Assent, as required under U.K. law, in order to be effective. Additionally, since introducing this legislation, the U.K. authorities have made several efforts to clarify the scope of the law, but the final version cannot be predicted at this time. Given that this law is not yet considered enacted, no accrual has been made with respect to this item in the Company’s financial statements as of December 31, 2009. In addition, the Company continues to monitor the guidance from, and to work with, the U.K. authorities to analyze the potential application of this proposed law to bonuses paid to its U.K. employees. At this time, the Company is still evaluating the impact the proposed laws, if enacted and applicable to the Company, will have on its financial results.

Guarantees

U.S. GAAP requires the disclosure of representations and warranties which the Company enters into and which may provide general indemnifications to others. As of December 31, 2009, the Company has guaranteed loans to certain individuals for their purchase of exchange seats. In these arrangements, the Company can sell the exchange seats to cover amounts outstanding. As of December 31, 2009, the Company has not recorded a guarantee liability, as the fair value of the exchange seats exceeds any potential loss on these loans.

Additionally, in its normal course of business, the Company may enter into contracts that contain such representations and warranties. The Company’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Company that have not yet occurred. However, based on its experience, the Company expects the risk of loss to be remote. The Company is a member of various exchanges and clearing organizations. Under the standard membership agreement, members are required to guarantee collectively the performance of other members. Under the agreements, if another member becomes unable to satisfy its obligations to the clearing house, other members would be required to meet shortfalls. The Company’s liability under these arrangements is not quantifiable and could exceed the cash and securities they have posted as collateral. However, the Company believes that the potential for the Company to be required to make payments under these arrangements is remote, and accordingly, no liability has been recorded.

Other Commitments

Certain clearing-houses, clearing banks, and clearing firms used by the Company are given a security interest in certain assets of the Company held by those clearing organizations. These assets may be applied to satisfy the obligations of the Company to the respective clearing organizations.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

Lines of Credit

The Company has a $1,500,000 five-year unsecured committed revolving liquidity facility. See Note 8 for further details. The Company also has uncommitted credit agreements with financial institutions, in the form of trading relationships, which facilitate execution, settlement, and clearing flow on a day-to-day basis for the Company’s clients, as well as provide evidence, as required, of liquidity to the exchanges on which it conducts business. As of December 31 and March 31, 2009, the Company had $9,000 and $22,000 of issued letters of credit, respectively.

Note 14: Segment and Geographic Information

The Company has one reportable business segment, as defined by the accounting standard for disclosures about segments of an enterprise and related information. This standard requires a public enterprise to report financial information on a basis consistent with that used by management to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company is operated and managed by its chief operating decision maker on an integrated basis as a single operating segment.

Each region’s contribution to the consolidated amounts is as follows:

 

     Three months ended
December 31,
   Nine months ended
December 31,
     2009    2008    2009    2008

Revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses:

           

North America

   $ 135,891    $ 286,471    $ 407,019    $ 650,160

Europe

     85,640      102,613      266,245      391,431

Rest of World

     29,473      32,937      101,300      127,972
                           

Total

   $ 251,004    $ 422,021    $ 774,564    $ 1,169,563
                           

Revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses are attributed to geographic areas based on the location of the relevant legal entities. Rest of world comprises primarily the Asia/Pacific region. No single customer accounted for greater than 10% of total revenues in the three and nine months ended December 31, 2009 and 2008. Revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses by product have not been provided as this information is impracticable to obtain.

Note 15: Related Party Transactions

Subsequent to the IPO, Man Group held approximately 18.4% of the Company’s outstanding common stock. During the three months ended September 30, 2009, Man Group sold, pursuant to a variable forward sale agreement, its remaining holdings of shares of common stock of the Company and, as such, transactions between Man Group and the Company after September 30, 2009 are no longer separately disclosed as related party transactions. Income and expense transactions between Man Group and the Company are disclosed below as related party transactions for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008. Income and expense transactions between Man Group and the Company are also disclosed for the six months ended September 30, 2009, as these transactions are included in the financial results for the nine months ended December 31, 2009. The Company clears transactions on behalf of certain managed investment funds which are related parties of Man Group. The Company earned commission revenues by executing and clearing brokerage transactions for these investment funds as well as incurred net interest expense. The related party revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, do not reflect the interest income earned from third parties from the reinvestment of related party fund balances by the Company.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

Revenues earned from and expenses incurred with Man Group for the six months ended September 30, 2009, and the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008 are summarized as follows:

 

     Six months ended
September 30,

2009
   Three months ended
December 31,

2008
    Nine months ended
December 31,

2008
 

Revenues

       

Cleared commissions

   $ 11,617    $ 1,738      $ 11,437   

Interest income

     291      463        661   
                       

Total revenues

     11,908      2,201        12,098   

Less: Interest expense

     301      4,960        19,119   
                       

Revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses

     11,607      (2,759     (7,021
                       
       

Expenses

       

Employee compensation and benefits

     109      850        850   

Communications and technology

     877      119        854   

Occupancy and equipment costs

     2,508      2,694        4,969   

Professional fees

     2      —          3,346   

General and other

     1,555      786        2,646   
                       

Total non-interest expenses

     5,051      4,449        12,665   
                       

Total, net

   $ 6,556    $ (7,208   $ (19,686
                       

The Company leases office space from and subleases office space to Man Group. In connection with the leasing of office space from Man Group, the Company receives certain office services that will continue for the duration of the lease.

The Company is party to a master separation agreement with Man Group, which was executed in connection with the IPO and which governs the principal terms of the separation of the Company’s business from Man Group. The master separation agreement and other agreements contain important provisions regarding the Company’s relationship with Man Group following the completion of the IPO, including provisions relating to non-competition and non-solicitation, access and confidentiality. Further, Man Group agreed to indemnify the Company against certain tax matters and the Company has agreed to pass certain stock compensation benefits to Man Group. As of December 31, 2009, the Company has recorded a $900 payable to Man Group within equity in relation to the tax agreements entered into in connection with the separation of the Company’s business from Man Group.

The Company had receivables and payables from Man Group of $95 and $1,602, respectively, at March 31, 2009. The Company has noted that an additional payment of $29,779 is due to the Company from Man Group in connection with the recapitalization at the time of the IPO in fiscal 2008. As a result of this unresolved claim, at March 31, 2009, the Company recorded a receivable of $29,779 in equity. The Company has made the request, Man Group has demanded arbitration, and the Company has agreed to an arbitration by the LCIA. If the claim is successful, the Company would expect to restore equity by the amount received from Man Group (if any), and if the claim is not successful the Company would expect to write off the receivable to additional paid in capital and not to increase equity. The reduction in equity does not affect amounts reported in the Company’s earnings, income statement or cash position for any prior period.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

Note 16: Convertible Preferred Stock

Non-Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B

On June 25, 2008, the Company completed the issuance and sale of $150,000 in aggregate liquidation preference of its 9.75% Non-Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B (the “Series B Preferred Stock”). The Company pays dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock, when, as and if declared by its board of directors, quarterly in arrears at a rate of 9.75% per year, payable on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, commencing on August 15, 2008. Dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock are not cumulative and may be paid in cash, common stock or both.

The Series B Preferred Stock is convertible, at the holder’s option, at any time, initially into 9.5694 shares of common stock based on an initial conversion price of approximately $10.45 per share, subject to specified adjustments. The conversion rate will also be adjusted upon the occurrence of certain make-whole acquisition transactions and other events. On or after July 1, 2018, if the closing price of the Company’s common stock exceeds 250% of the then-prevailing conversion price for 20 trading days during any consecutive 30 trading day period, the Company may, at its option, cause the Series B Preferred Stock to be automatically converted into common stock at the then-prevailing conversion price. There is no beneficial conversion feature to be recognized at the issuance date of the Series B Preferred Stock, however, given certain conditions, a beneficial conversion feature could be recognized in the future.

The Series B Preferred Stock ranks junior to the Company’s indebtedness and senior to the common stock. Upon liquidation of the Company, holders of Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to receive a liquidation amount of $100 per share plus declared dividends prior to any distribution to holders of Common Stock. The Company used the net proceeds from the sale of the Series B Preferred Stock to repay a portion of the Company’s bridge facility.

Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A

On July 18, 2008, the Company completed the issuance and sale of $150,000 in aggregate liquidation preference of its Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) to J.C. Flowers II L.P. (“J.C. Flowers”). The Company used the net proceeds from the sale of the Series A Preferred Stock to repay a portion of the Company’s bridge facility pursuant to its capital plan. Pursuant to certain previously disclosed adjustment provisions of its Investment Agreement with J.C. Flowers and as a result of its completed private offerings of Series B Preferred Stock and Convertible Notes, the Company paid J.C. Flowers approximately $36,300 in cash and reset the annual dividend rate on the Series A Preferred Stock, from 6.0% to 10.725%. Stock is subject to additional resets if the Company issues any equity security, as defined in the agreement. The Company also paid J.C. Flowers its $4,500 fee in cash in connection with the backstop facility provided by J.C. Flowers under the Investment Agreement. The Series A Preferred Stock ranks senior to the Company’s common stock with respect to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation of the Company.

Under the terms of the Investment Agreement, J.C. Flowers agreed to purchase a minimum of 1,500 shares, for an aggregate value of $150,000 and up to a maximum of 3,000 shares, for an aggregate value of $300,000, of a newly authorized series of the Company’s convertible preferred stock, designated as 6.0% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A at a stated offer price which was 100% of their liquidation amount or preference, i.e. $100 per share. The Series A Preferred Stock is convertible any time, at the option of the holder, into eight shares of the Company’s common stock, representing an initial conversion price of $12.50 per share.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

Subject to certain exceptions, J.C. Flowers may not beneficially own 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock for a period of three years after the closing. Immediately prior to signing the definitive agreement with J.C. Flowers, the Company also amended its shareholder rights plan to exclude J.C. Flowers (including any affiliate of J.C. Flowers), after the first time it becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Company’s common stock, and until such time as either it falls below the threshold or becomes the owner of 20% or more of the Company’s common stock, from the provision that triggers the shareholder rights plan when any person acquires 15% or more of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock without approval of its board of directors.

The conversion rate and the conversion price are subject to adjustments in certain circumstances. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are cumulative at the rate of 10.725% per annum, payable in cash or common stock, at the Company’s option, and holders will participate in common stock dividends, if any. Dividends are payable if, as and when determined by the Company’s board of directors, but if not paid they accumulate and dividends accrue on the arrearage at the same annual rate. Accumulated dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock become payable in full upon any conversion or any liquidation of the Company. The Company will not be permitted to pay any dividends on or to repurchase shares of its common stock during any period when dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears. Holders will have the right to vote with holders of the common stock on an “as-converted” basis. The Company may require the holders to convert the stock at any time after May 15, 2013 when the closing price of the common stock exceeds 125% of the conversion price for a specified period. If, prior to the first anniversary of the closing of the backstop commitment, the Company sells common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock at a price less than the conversion price on the Series A Preferred Stock, the Company will pay J.C. Flowers a make-whole amount reflecting the difference in pricing, payable at its option in cash or shares of common stock. In addition, if, prior to the first anniversary of the closing of the backstop commitment (or in any offering required under any future bank financings), the Company sells any other series of preferred stock with a dividend rate above 5.45%, the dividend rate on the Series A Preferred Stock held by J.C. Flowers will be increased so as to equal 110% of the other series’ dividend rate, with the increase to be payable at the Company’s option in cash or common stock. In connection with the investment, J.C. Flowers was granted the right to appoint a director to the Company’s Board of Directors. Pursuant to this right, on July 29, 2008, the Company appointed David I. Schamis to its board. In addition, if the Company fails to pay dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock for six quarterly periods, whether or not consecutive, the Series A preferred shareholders will have the right as a class to elect two additional directors to the Company’s board. See Note 8 for a discussion of the replacement capital covenant entered into in connection with the issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock.

On April 28, 2009, July 31, 2009 and October 30, 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on the Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock in amounts of $4,022 and $3,656, respectively, in each period. These dividends had a record date of May 1, 2009, August 5, 2009 and November 5, 2009 and were paid on May 14, 2009, August 17, 2009 and November 13, 2009, respectively.

Note 17: Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Activity

Fair Value

The Company follows the fair value accounting standard which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the quality of inputs used to measure fair value and enhances disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The Company has applied this standard to all financial instruments that are required to be reported at fair value.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

This standard also requires the Company to consider its own credit spreads when measuring the fair value of liabilities, including OTC derivative contracts. The Company has considered the impact of counterparty credit risk in the valuation of its assets and its own credit spreads when measuring the fair value of liabilities, including derivatives.

Securities owned, Securities sold, not yet purchased, certain Securities purchased under agreements to resell, certain Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, certain Securities borrowed and derivative transactions are carried at fair value and are classified and disclosed in the following categories:

Level 1—Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities. Level 1 consists of financial instruments whose fair values are estimated using quoted market prices. Included in Level 1 are exchange-traded equities and U.S. government securities as well as futures and options traded on exchanges.

Level 2—Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are less active, that is, markets in which there are few transactions for the asset or liability that are observable for substantially the full term. Included in Level 2 are those financial instruments for which fair values are estimated using models or other valuation methodologies. These models are primarily industry-standard models that consider various observable inputs, including time value, yield curve, volatility factors, observable current market and contractual prices for the underlying financial instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures. Financial instruments in this category include fixed income instruments including floating rate notes, federal agency securities, corporate debt, certificates of deposit, resale and repurchase agreements and securities borrowed; as well as over the counter forwards, swaps, and options.

Level 3—Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity). Level 3 is comprised of financial instruments whose fair value is estimated based on internally developed models or methodologies utilizing significant inputs that are not readily observable from objective sources. Financial instruments that fall within Level 3 are shares held due to the demutualization of exchanges.

The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). A market is active if there are sufficient transactions on an ongoing basis to provide current pricing information for the asset or liability, pricing information is released publicly and price quotations do not vary substantially either over short periods of time or among market makers. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity.

In determining the appropriate fair value hierarchy levels, the Company performs a detailed analysis of its assets and liabilities. At each reporting period, all assets and liabilities for which the fair value measurement is based on significant unobservable inputs are classified as Level 3.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

The following tables summarize the Company’s financial assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2009 and March 31, 2009 by level within the fair value hierarchy:

 

    December 31, 2009
    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Impact of Netting
and Collateral (1)
    Total

Assets

         

Securities owned

         

U.S. government securities and federal agency obligations

  $ 3,565,509   $ 2,254,060   $ —     $ —        $ 5,819,569

Corporate debt securities and certificates of deposit

    —       141,581     —       —          141,581

Foreign government bonds

    1,214,473     —       —       —          1,214,473

Equities

    453,648     —       —       —          453,648

Shares held due to demutualization of exchanges

    —       —       20,364     —          20,364

Other

    832     13,159     —       —          13,991
                               

Total securities owned (4)

  $ 5,234,462   $ 2,408,800   $ 20,364   $ —        $ 7,663,626
                               

Derivative Assets

         

Futures transactions

  $ 3,389,122   $ —     $ —     $ (2,208,391   $ 1,180,731

Foreign currency and other OTC derivative transactions

    72,238     1,305,481     —       (1,313,291     64,428
                               

Total derivative assets (2)

    3,461,360     1,305,481     —       (3,521,682     1,245,159

Securities borrowed (5) (6)

    —       2,151,699     —       —          2,151,699

Securities purchased under agreements to resell (5)

    —       40,562,419     —       (22,549,169     18,013,250
                               

Total assets at fair value

  $ 8,695,822   $ 46,428,399   $ 20,364   $ (26,070,851   $ 29,073,734
                               

Liabilities

         

Securities sold, not yet purchased

         

U.S. government securities and federal agency obligations

  $ 1,555,818   $ 2,256,615   $ —     $ —        $ 3,812,433

Corporate debt securities

    —       124,711     —       —          124,711

Foreign government bonds

    992,203     —       —       —          992,203

Equities

    125,055     —       —       —          125,055

Other

    1,306     255     —       —          1,561
                               

Total securities sold, not yet purchased

  $ 2,674,382   $ 2,381,581   $ —     $ —        $ 5,055,963
                               

Derivative liabilities

         

Futures transactions

  $ 3,410,020   $ —     $ —     $ 397,750      $ 3,807,770

Foreign currency and other OTC derivative transactions

    73,486     1,326,201     —       (742,087     657,600
                               

Total derivative liabilities (3)

    3,483,506     1,326,201     —       (344,337     4,465,370

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (5)

    —       33,217,231     —       (22,549,169     10,668,062
                               

Total liabilities at fair value

  $ 6,157,888   $ 36,925,013   $ —     $ (22,893,506   $ 20,189,395
                               

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

 

(1) Represents cash collateral and the impact of netting across the levels of the fair value hierarchy. Netting among positions classified within the same level is included in that level.
(2) Reflects derivative assets within Receivables from customers and Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations. Excludes $4,552,064, within Receivables from customers and Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations which are accounted for at other than fair value. Excludes $4,004 which is recorded in Securities owned.
(3) Reflects derivative liabilities within Payables to customers and Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations. Excludes $12,148,944 within Payables to customers and Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations which are accounted for at other than fair value. Excludes $1,561 which is recorded in Securities sold, not yet purchased.
(4) Includes $1,284,033 of Securities owned which are held in segregation. These securities have been classified within Restricted cash and segregated securities.
(5) Excludes Securities borrowed, Securities purchased under agreements to resell and Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, which are held at contract value. Includes $942,279 of Securities purchased under agreements to resell which are held in segregation. These securities have been classified within Restricted cash and segregated securities.
(6) Includes $2,947 of interest receivable which is recorded in Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

     March 31, 2009
     Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Impact of Netting
and Collateral (1)
    Total

Assets

             

Securities owned

             

U.S. government securities and federal agency obligations

   $ 2,131,812    $ 4,033,860    $ —      $ —        $ 6,165,672

Corporate debt securities and CDs

     —        224,958      —        —          224,958

Foreign government bonds

     7,953      —        —        —          7,953

Equities

     153,538      —        —        —          153,538

Shares held due to demutualization of exchanges

     —        —        14,367      —          14,367

Other

     3,743      5,918      —        —          9,661
                                   

Total securities owned (4)

   $ 2,297,046    $ 4,264,736    $ 14,367    $ —        $ 6,576,149
                                   

Derivative Assets

             

Futures transactions

   $ 3,888,513    $ —      $ —      $ (2,475,932   $ 1,412,581

Foreign currency and other OTC derivative transactions

     112,274      3,818,546      —        (3,828,839     101,981
                                   

Total derivative assets (2)

     4,000,787      3,818,546      —        (6,304,771     1,514,562
                                   

Total assets at fair value

   $ 6,297,833    $ 8,083,282    $ 14,367    $ (6,304,771   $ 8,090,711
                                   

Liabilities

             

Securities sold, not yet purchased

             

U.S. government securities and federal agency obligations

   $ 1,535,795    $ 1,221,577    $ —      $ —        $ 2,757,372

Equities

     124,209      —        —        —          124,209

Other

     2,276      734      —        —          3,010
                                   

Total securities sold, not yet purchased

   $ 1,662,280    $ 1,222,311    $ —      $ —        $ 2,884,591
                                   

Derivative liabilities

             

Futures transactions

   $ 3,913,972    $ —      $ —      $ (525,921   $ 3,388,051

Foreign currency and other OTC derivative transactions

     132,067      3,900,869      —        (3,388,355     644,581
                                   

Total derivative liabilities (3)

     4,046,039      3,900,869      —        (3,914,276     4,032,632
                                   

Total liabilities at fair value

   $ 5,708,319    $ 5,123,180    $ —      $ (3,914,276   $ 6,917,223
                                   

 

(1) Represents cash collateral and the impact of netting across the levels of the fair value hierarchy. Netting among positions classified within the same level is included in that level.
(2) Reflects derivative assets within Receivables from customers and Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations. Excludes $1,374,311 within Receivables from customers and Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations which are accounted for at other than fair value. Excludes $4,964 which is recorded in Securities owned.
(3) Reflects derivative liabilities within Payables to customers and Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations. Excludes $8,811,137 within Payables to customers and Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations which are accounted for at other than fair value. Excludes $3,009 which is recorded in Securities sold, not yet purchased.
(4) Includes $2,970,240 of Securities owned which are held in segregation. These securities have been classified within Restricted cash and segregated securities in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

Changes in unrealized gains and losses relating to assets or liabilities still held at the end of the period are reported in Principal transactions revenues in the consolidated statements of operations. The risks or volatility associated with the transactions that make up this amount are often offset or reduced by certain hedging strategies associated with products within a higher Level (either Level 1 or 2). The Company generally maintains a matched book, which means positions with one counterparty are generally offset with opposite transactions with other counterparties. These hedging transactions and the associated underlying financial instruments are often classified in different levels in the fair value hierarchy.

The table below provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for the major classes of assets and liabilities measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). The table reflects gains and losses during the period for all financial assets and liabilities categorized as Level 3 as of December 31, 2009 and 2008. The net unrealized gain reflected in Level 3 assets should be considered in the context of the factors discussed below.

 

   

A derivative contract with Level 1 and/or Level 2 inputs is classified as a Level 3 financial instrument in its entirety if it has at least one significant Level 3 input.

 

   

If there is one significant Level 3 input, the entire gain or loss from adjusting only observable inputs (i.e., Level 1 and Level 2) is still classified as Level 3.

 

   

Gains or losses that have been reported in Level 3 resulting from changes in Level 1 or Level 2 inputs are frequently offset by gains or losses attributable to instruments classified in Level 1 or Level 2 or by cash instruments reported in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

     Three months ended
December 31,
    Nine months ended
December 31,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Beginning balance

   $ 25,279      $ 18,300      $ 14,367      $ (42,543

Total realized and unrealized (losses)/gains

     (4,936     (947     6,074        (2,899

Purchases, sales and settlements, net

     —          (60     59        66,332   

Transfers in and (out) of Level 3

     —          —          (170     (3,597

Foreign currency translation

     21        —          34        —     
                                

Balance, end of period

   $ 20,364      $ 17,293      $ 20,364      $ 17,293   
                                

The balance at December 31, 2009 is comprised of shares held due to the demutualization of exchanges. Total realized and unrealized gains or losses represent the total gains and losses recorded for the Level 3 assets and liabilities and are reported in Principal transactions on the consolidated statements of operations. Changes in the fair value hierarchy for a specific financial asset or financial liability may result in transfers in the hierarchy level.

The fair value of long-term borrowings at December 31 and March 31, 2009 was $518,600 and $824,400, respectively. The fair value of long-term debt was determined by reference to the December 31 and March 31, 2009 market values of comparably rated debt instruments.

Derivative Activity

The Company provides trade execution and clearing services for exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivative products. In connection with these trading activities, the Company may use derivative instruments to facilitate client transactions on a matched-principal basis. The Company may enter into derivative transactions generally in response to, or in anticipation of, client demand, primarily to facilitate the execution of existing

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

client orders or in the expectation that future client orders will become available to fill the other side of the transaction. The Company may enter into derivative or other financial instruments to offset the exposure from client transactions. The Company may also use derivative instruments to hedge its own corporate exposure to changes in foreign currency and interest rate risks and to manage its liquid corporate assets. In accordance with the accounting standard for derivatives and hedging, the Company currently does not apply hedge accounting to its derivative activities.

The Company recognizes all of its derivative contracts as either assets or liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value, which is reflected net of cash paid or received pursuant to credit support arrangements with counterparties and reported on a net-by-counterparty basis under legally enforceable netting agreements. These derivative assets and liabilities are included in Receivables from and Payables to customers, Receivables from and Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, Securities owned and Securities sold, not yet purchased. Changes in the fair value of all derivative instruments are recognized in Principal transactions in the consolidated statements of operations.

The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s derivative contracts by major type on a gross basis as of December 31 and March 31, 2009:

 

    December 31, 2009   March 31, 2009
    Derivative
Assets (1)
  Derivative
Liabilities (2)
  Number of
Contracts (3)
  Derivative
Assets (1)
  Derivative
Liabilities (2)
  Number of
Contracts (3)
    (in thousands, except number of contracts)

Derivative contracts

           

Interest rate

  $ 2,686     2,825   15,837   $ 552   $ 783   405,875

Foreign exchange rate

    450,692     445,527   4,704,255     470,797     500,923   2,751,635

Equity

    88,992     99,598   882,065,755     41,188     94,978   416,101,028

Commodity

    4,228,475     4,263,318   703,839     7,311,760     7,353,233   822,458
                           

Total fair value of derivative contracts

  $ 4,770,845   $ 4,811,268     $ 7,824,297   $ 7,949,917  
           

Impact of netting and collateral

    3,521,682     344,337       6,304,771     3,914,276  
           
                           

Total fair value

  $ 1,249,163   $ 4,466,931     $ 1,519,526   $ 4,035,641  
                           

 

(1) Reflects derivative assets within Securities owned, Receivables from customers and Receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations. Excludes non-derivatives included in Securities owned and Receivables from customers and Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations.
(2) Reflects derivative liabilities within Securities sold, not yet purchased, Payables to customers and Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations. Excludes non-derivative Securities sold, not yet purchased, Payables to customers and Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations which are accounted for at other than fair value.
(3) Contract equivalent is determined using industry standards and equivalent contracts in the futures market. OTC contract equivalents are determined by dividing OTC notionals by associated contract notionals. For minor currencies for which no futures contracts are traded, contract equivalents are determined to be equal to the USD notional divided by $1,000, which is consistent with other minor currency futures contracts.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

In the three and nine months ended December 31, 2009, the Company executed and/ or cleared 422,292,170 and 1,244,766,996 of exchange traded futures and options contracts, where the unrealized gain or loss is settled daily and there is no receivable or payable associated with the contract. These contracts are primarily cleared through commodity clearing corporations.

The table below summarizes the gains or losses relating to the Company’s trading activities reported in Principal transactions in the consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2009.

 

Type of Instrument

   Three months ended
December 31,
2009
   Nine months ended
December 31,
2009

Fixed income/ Interest rate

   $ 1,829    $ 20,169

Foreign exchange

     13,886      45,687

Equity

     57,093      60,127

Commodity

     14,727      42,571

Other

     2,016      6,890
             

Total

   $ 89,551    $ 175,444
             

Certain of the Company’s derivative trading agreements contain provisions requiring the Company to post collateral according to the Company’s long-term credit ratings. These terms are pursuant to bilateral agreements with certain counterparties and could require immediate payment or ongoing overnight collateralization on derivative instruments in net liability positions. As of December 31, 2009, the aggregate fair value of derivative agreements with credit-risk-related contingent features that were in a net liability position was $32,534, for which the Company has posted collateral of $23,365 in the normal course of business. If the Company’s long term credit rating had a one-notch or two-notch reduction as of December 31, 2009, the amount of additional collateral that could be called by counterparties for these derivative agreements would be approximately $9,159.

Note 18: Subsequent Events

The Company has performed an evaluation of subsequent events through February 5, 2010, which is the date the financial statements were issued.

Domicile Change to Delaware

Effective January 4, 2010, MF Global Ltd. (“MFG Bermuda”) changed its jurisdiction of incorporation from Bermuda to the State of Delaware. MF Global Ltd. discontinued its existence as a Bermuda exempted company as provided under Section 132G of The Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda and, pursuant to Section 388 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), continued its existence under the DGCL as a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and known as MF Global Holdings Ltd. (“MFG Delaware”) This transaction is referred to herein as the “Domestication”.

The Domestication was effected in the manner described in the section of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-162892), dated November 30, 2009 (the “Registration Statement”), entitled “The Domestication”. The business, assets and liabilities of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as well as its principal locations and fiscal year, were the same immediately after the Domestication as they were

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

immediately prior to the Domestication. In addition, the directors and executive officers of the Company immediately after the Domestication were the same individuals who were directors and executive officers, respectively, of MFG Bermuda immediately prior to the Domestication. The Company’s common stock continues to be listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “MF”. Upon effectiveness of the Domestication, the Company’s CUSIP number relating to its common stock changed to 55277J 108.

As a result of the Domestication, holders of common shares of MFG Bermuda became holders of shares of common stock of MFG Delaware. Similarly, pursuant to the Domestication, holders of MFG Bermuda’s 6% Cumulative Convertible Preference Shares, Series A (the “Series A Preference Shares”) and holders of MFG Bermuda’s 9.75% Non-Cumulative Convertible Preference Shares, Series B (the “Series B Preference Shares”) became holders of shares of MFG Delaware’s 6% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) and MFG Delaware’s 9.75% Non-Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), as applicable. In the Domestication, each of MF Bermuda’s outstanding common and preference shares (Series A and B) were automatically converted by operation of law, on a one-for-one basis, into shares of MFG Delaware’s common or preferred stock (Series A or B), as applicable. Consequently, each holder of an MFG Bermuda common or preference share immediately prior to the Domestication held, immediately thereafter, a share of MFG Delaware’s common or preferred stock, as applicable, in each case representing the same proportional equity interest in MFG Delaware as that shareholder held in MFG Bermuda and representing the corresponding class and series of shares. The number of shares of MFG Delaware’s common stock and preferred stock outstanding immediately after the Domestication was the same as the number of common shares and preference shares of MFG Bermuda outstanding immediately prior to the Domestication. Pursuant to a Rights Agreement dated as of July 9, 2007, as amended (the “Rights Plan”), between MFG Bermuda and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent, each share of MFG Delaware’s common stock evidences one common stock purchase right just as each common share of MFG Bermuda evidenced one common share purchase right under the Rights Plan immediately prior to the Domestication.

The rights of holders of the Company’s common stock are now governed by its Delaware certificate of incorporation, its Delaware by-laws and the DGCL, each of which is described in MFG Bermuda’s final prospectus dated December 1, 2009 relating to the Domestication, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) on December 1, 2009 (the “Final Prospectus”). The Final Prospectus is part of the Registration Statement.

The Series A Preferred Stock and the Series B Preferred Stock have each been issued under a Certificate of Designations, dated January 4, 2010, each of which is part of the MFG Delaware certificate of incorporation, a copy of which was filed by MFG Delaware with the Commission on January 5, 2010 as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K. Upon effectiveness of the Domestication, the Company’s CUSIP number relating to its Series A Preferred Stock and its Series B Preferred Stock changed to 55277J 207 and 55277J 306, respectively.

Grant of Restricted Stock Units

On January 28, 2010, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved grants to employees representing approximately $3,195 worth of restricted stock units which ratably vest over three years. See Note 9 for further information regarding the nature of the grants made.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

Declaration of Preferred Stock dividends

On January 29, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on the Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock in an aggregate amount of $4,022 and $3,656, respectively. These dividends have a record date of February 5, 2010 and payment date of February 16, 2010.

New Director Appointments

On January 29, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors appointed David P. Bolger and David Gelber as members of its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Mr. Bolger and Mr. Gelber each will hold office until the Company’s next annual shareholders’ meeting and until his successor is elected and qualified. The Board determined that each is “independent” under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. The Board has also appointed Mr. Gelber chairman of the Board’s Compensation Committee, and he replaces Lawrence Schloss, who resigned from the Board effective as of January 29, 2010. Mr. Gelber will also serve on the Board’s Audit Committee. Mr. Bolger will serve on the Board’s Audit Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report contains forward-looking statements that are based on our present beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us. You can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “targets”, “goal”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue”, or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and other factors include those set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 and our quarterly report for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2009. New factors emerge or develop from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all factors that may affect our business or prospects. Further, we are unable to assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement or risk factor.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Forward-looking statements in this report include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

   

expectations regarding the business environment in which we operate and the trends in our industry such as changes in trading volume and interest rates;

 

   

our liquidity requirements and our ability to obtain access to necessary liquidity;

 

   

our ability to continue to provide value-added brokerage services;

 

   

our ability to capitalize on market convergence;

 

   

our ability to continue to diversify our service offerings;

 

   

our ability to pursue opportunities for enhanced operating margins;

 

   

our ability to expand our business in existing and new geographic regions;

 

   

our ability to continue to expand our business through acquisitions;

 

   

our ability to become a primary dealer;

 

   

the effects of pricing and other competitive pressures on our business as well as our perceptions regarding our business’ competitive position;

 

   

our accuracy regarding our expectations of our revenues and various costs;

 

   

exposure to client and counterparty default risks as well as the effectiveness of our risk-management;

 

   

our ability to retain our management team and other key employees;

 

   

fluctuations in interest rates and currency exchange rates and their possible effects on our business;

 

   

the likelihood of success in, and the impact of, litigation involving our business;

 

   

the impact of any changes in domestic and foreign regulations or government policy, including any changes or reviews of previously issued regulations and policies;

 

   

changes in exchange membership requirements;

 

   

our ability to increase the percentage of our revenues from the Asia/Pacific region;

 

   

changes in our tax rate;

 

   

our ability to maintain trading volumes and market share;

 

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our ability to maintain our credit ratings;

 

   

our ability to maintain our existing technology systems and to keep pace with rapid technological developments; and

 

   

our ability to retain existing clients and attract new ones.

We caution that you should not place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and except as required by law, we have no duty to, and do not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements in this report after the date of this report. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time and it is impossible for us to predict those events or how they may affect us.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to help you understand MF Global Holdings Ltd. and its consolidated subsidiaries. Our MD&A should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes, included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. On January 4, 2010, we changed our jurisdiction of incorporation from Bermuda to the State of Delaware; a change which we refer to as the “Domestication”. As a result of the Domestication, we have continued our existence as a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware under the name of MF Global Holdings Ltd. Accordingly, any references to the “Company”, “MF Global Holdings Ltd.”, “we”, “our” “us” and similar terms mean, as of any time prior to the Domestication, MF Global Ltd. and, as of any time after the Domestication, MF Global Holdings Ltd.

Business Overview

We are a leading intermediary offering customized solutions in the global cash and derivatives markets. We provide execution and clearing services for exchange-traded and over-the-counter, or OTC, derivative products, as well as for certain products in the cash market. We provide our clients with access to many of the largest and fastest growing markets and products throughout the world. Our clients include institutions, hedge funds and other asset managers, as well as professional traders and private clients. We act as an intermediary principally for five types of products: fixed income, commodities, foreign exchange, equities and interest rate products, and support a retail products group. We have offices in Chicago, Dubai, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, New York, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo, and Toronto among others. Our business model is global and product-driven, which allows us to centrally manage our resources while offering clients an expansive array of products across a broad range of markets and geographies. We operate and manage our business as a single operating segment. We do not manage our business by services or product lines, market types, geographic regions, client segments or any other exclusive category.

We derive revenues from four main sources: commissions from agency execution; commissions from clearing services; markups from principal transactions, primarily consisting of client trades executed on a matched-principal basis; and net interest income on (i) cash balances in our clients’ accounts, most of which are maintained by our clearing clients to meet margin requirements as well as (ii) interest related to our fixed income and principal transactions activities.

The total volume of exchange-traded futures and options we executed and/or cleared increased 5.6% from 402.5 million contracts in the three months ended December 31, 2008 to 425.0 million contracts in the three months ended December 31, 2009 due to increases in contract yields on a year-over-year basis. However, as a result of global market conditions and consistent with decreased trading activity on major exchanges, the total volume of exchange-traded futures and options we executed and/or cleared decreased 13.5% from 1,446.5 million contracts in the nine months ended December 31, 2008 to 1,250.5 million contracts in the nine months ended December 31, 2009. This decline is in contrast to overall growth in our transaction volumes that we had experienced in prior years related to increased volatility in many of the markets in which we operate. For a discussion of the manner in which we calculate our volumes, see “—Factors Affecting our Results—Trading Volumes and Volatility”. Furthermore, in light of the efforts of the US government and the US Federal Reserve to stimulate the national economy, interest rates have decreased dramatically over the past year, which contributed to the decrease in our interest income from $154.4 million and $772.5 million in the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008 to $122.0 million and $335.1 million in the three and nine months ended December 31, 2009, respectively.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

In July 2007, we completed an initial public offering of our shares of common stock, after certain reorganization, separation and recapitalization transactions conducted with Man Group, plc, (“Man Group”, and such transactions collectively, including the initial public offering the “IPO”).

Significant Business Developments

Two-Year Term Facility

On July 18, 2008, we entered into a credit agreement with several banks that provided for a two-year, $300.0 million unsecured term loan facility (the “Two-Year Term Facility”), which enabled us to prepay loans under our previously outstanding bridge facility that were otherwise due and payable on December 12, 2008. On April 16, 2009, we paid the outstanding balance of $240.0 million on the Two-Year Term Facility ahead of its maturity date of July 16, 2010 thus terminating all remaining obligations under the Two-Year Term Facility. In connection with the early repayment of the Two-Year Term Facility, we recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $9.7 million related to the accelerated amortization of debt issuance costs. See Note 8 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements for further details.

Liquidity Facility

In the year ended March 31, 2008, we entered into a $1,500.0 million five-year unsecured committed revolving credit facility (the “liquidity facility”) with a syndicate of banks. On December 16, 2009, we repaid $200.0 million of the outstanding balance on our liquidity facility with excess and available cash. As of December 31, 2009, $442.5 million was outstanding under the liquidity facility with the remainder available to us as a committed facility. We intend to keep $300.0 million of the amount outstanding at December 31, 2009 under the liquidity facility as long term debt and as part of our capital structure, unless we replace some or all of these borrowings with other long-term debt. See Note 8 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements for further details.

Factors Affecting Our Results

Our business environment directly affects our results of operations. Our results of operations have been and will continue to be affected by many factors, including economic, political and market conditions, broad trends in the brokerage and finance industry, changes in the level of trading activity in the broader marketplace, price levels and price volatility in the derivatives, interest rate, equity, foreign exchange and commodity markets, legislative and regulatory changes and competition, among other factors. Specifically, our business has been impacted by turmoil in global markets during fiscal 2009 and the first nine months of fiscal 2010. Financial markets have experienced elevated levels of volatility due to concerns about the outlook for global growth and inflation. In addition, the global equity markets have experienced significant declines in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 compared to appreciation in the second and third quarter of fiscal 2010, mortgage and corporate credit spreads have widened in the first half of fiscal 2010 and narrowed subsequently, and during our first quarter of fiscal 2010, the U.S. dollar appreciated against the Euro and British pound offset by depreciation of the British Pound and Euro against the U.S. dollar during the second and third quarter. Furthermore, short-term interest rates have declined over the past fiscal year, and as a result of this decline, our net interest income has been negatively affected over the same period. All of these factors have contributed to our results for the periods presented. Our revenues are substantially dependent on the volume of client transactions we execute and clear, the volatility in the principal markets in which we operate, as well as prevailing interest rates, each of which are described below.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Trading Volumes and Volatility

Our trading volumes are particularly dependent on our clients’ demands for exchange-traded and OTC derivative products, which relate to interest rates, equities, foreign exchange and commodities. Demand for these products is driven by a number of factors, including the degree of volatility of the market prices of the underlying assets—that is, the extent to which and how rapidly those prices change during a given period. Higher price volatility increases the need for some clients to manage price risk and creates opportunities for speculative trading for others. While higher price volatility does not necessarily lead to increases in trading volumes, changes in the absolute price levels of financial assets or commodities can have a significant impact on trading volumes. The total volume of exchange-traded futures and options transactions we executed and/or cleared increased 5.6% from 402.5 million contracts in the three months ended December 31, 2008 to 425.0 million contracts in the three months ended December 31, 2009 and decreased 13.5% from 1,446.5 million contracts in the nine months ended December 31, 2008 to 1,250.5 million contracts in the nine months ended December 31, 2009. In recent periods of high volatility, we experienced a decrease in professional trader volumes as these customers tend to reduce trading during periods of significant volatility; as volatility decreased somewhat during the first nine months of fiscal 2010, professional trader volume has slowly begun to recover. In addition, during times of significant economic and political disruptions, clients may seek to manage their exposure to, or speculate on, market volatility. However, as was seen during fiscal 2009, extreme volatility and widespread uncertainty can impact a client’s ability to take on or maintain positions, which has the effect of decreasing volumes.

All volume statistics presented herein for fiscal 2010 and 2009 include exchange-traded futures and options contract volumes as derived from our reporting systems, excluding intercompany volumes. We are continuing to enhance our reporting systems in order to improve the analysis of operating data generated by our business.

Interest

Our net interest income, calculated as interest income less interest expense, is directly affected by the spread between short-term interest rates we pay our clients on their account balances and the short-term interest rates we earn from cash balances we hold as well as the duration of our portfolio investments made with client balances. Client balances can be impacted by a variety of exogenous factors, including changes in margin requirements at exchanges, market volatility, declining asset values, such as has been experienced in the energy markets, as well as changes in the composition of margin. Clients, for example, may elect to deposit securities, rather than cash, as margin, which will result in a reduction in our client balances because the securities deposited as margin are not carried on our balance sheet. As a result of these exogenous factors, client balances fluctuate, often significantly, from day to day and may not be indicative of future business.

Our net interest income is also directly affected by principal transactions, such as fixed income, securities lending and interest rate collateralized transactions. While spreads on these transactions have remained within a relatively constant range over time, they can widen or narrow when interest rate trends change, as was seen in the narrowing of spreads experienced during the first nine months of fiscal 2010 as compared to the end of fiscal 2009. Accordingly, we carefully monitor and seek to economically hedge our risk exposure as appropriate. In addition, a smaller portion of our interest income relates to client balances on which we do not pay interest and thus is directly affected by the absolute level of short-term interest rates. As a result, our net interest income is impacted by the level and volatility of interest rates, as well as the duration of our portfolio investments made with client balances. Any fair value adjustments to the investments in which client balances are invested are not included in interest but presented in Principal transactions, although they form part of the return on client balances. Interest income and expense also includes dividends received and paid on long and short equity instruments, and stock borrowing or lending positions we use as financing transactions, for stock used to

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

economically hedge issued total return equity swaps or equity futures contracts. Included within interest income is the interest we earn on our excess cash. Our interest on borrowings is also affected by changes in interest rates, which could increase or decrease the interest expense on our variable rate debt. Accordingly, the historically low short-term interest rates have negatively affected our net interest income and we cannot offer any assurance that interest rates will increase in the future.

Results of Operations

Basis of Presentation

Management believes that our unaudited consolidated financial statements include normally recurring adjustments and accruals necessary for a fair presentation of the unaudited consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, cash flows, changes in equity and comprehensive income for the periods presented. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.

We operate and manage our business on an integrated basis as a single operating segment. We derive our revenues principally from execution and clearing services we provide to our clients, including interest income related to providing these services. While we provide these services to a diverse client base across multiple products, markets and geographic regions, we do not manage our business, allocate resources or review our operating results based on the type of client, product or trading market or the geographic region in which these services are provided. For information related to our geographic regions, see Note 14 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

On April 1, 2009, we adopted two new accounting standards each of which is effective for our fiscal year ending March 31, 2010 and interim periods within such fiscal year. These standards require retrospective application and resulted in an adjustment to prior period financial statements. The first standard discusses accounting for noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements and resulted in a $12.8 million increase to total equity for the year ended March 31, 2009 upon adoption. The second standard discusses accounting for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion including partial cash settlement and resulted in a $0.3 and $0.5 million decrease to Net income attributable to MF Global Holdings Ltd. for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008, respectively, $1.0 million decrease to total assets, $7.0 million decrease to total liabilities and a $6.0 million increase to total equity for the year ended March 31, 2009 upon adoption. See Note 2 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements for further information.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Nine Months ended December 31, 2009 Compared to the Nine Months ended December 31, 2008

 

    Nine months ended December 31,  

(Amounts in millions except share data)

  2009     2008     % Change  

Revenues

     

Execution only commissions

  $ 240.8      $ 306.0      (21.3

Cleared commissions

    797.6        1,023.4      (22.1

Principal transactions

    175.4        242.3      (27.6

Interest income

    335.1        772.5      (56.6

Other

    31.7        99.9      (68.3
                     

Total revenues

    1,580.7        2,444.2      (35.3

Interest and transaction-based expenses:

     

Interest expense

    178.7        467.0      (61.7

Execution and clearing fees

    445.4        615.7      (27.7

Sales commissions

    182.1        191.9      (5.1
                     

Total interest and transaction-based expenses

    806.1        1,274.6      (36.8

Revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses

    774.6        1,169.6      (33.8
                     

Expenses

     

Employee compensation and benefits (excluding non-recurring IPO awards)

    488.7        642.5      (23.9

Employee compensation related to non-recurring IPO awards

    25.1        39.7      (36.8

Communications and technology

    87.2        92.1      (5.3

Occupancy and equipment costs

    29.4        33.6      (12.5

Depreciation and amortization

    41.3        42.3      (2.4

Professional fees

    56.1        69.0      (18.7

General and other

    81.4        77.0      5.7   

IPO-related costs

    0.9        17.1      (94.7

Impairment of goodwill

    2.3        —        100.0   
                     

Total other expenses

    812.4        1,013.3      (19.8

Gains on exchange seats and shares

    12.9        14.2      (9.2

Loss on extinguishment of debt

    9.7        —        100.0   

Interest on borrowings

    30.4        54.9      (44.6
                     

(Loss)/income before provision for income taxes

    (65.0     115.6      (156.2

(Benefit)/provision for income taxes

    (17.2     36.3      147.4   

Equity in income/(loss) of unconsolidated companies (net of tax)

    1.3        (15.4   108.4   
                     

Net (loss)/income

    (46.6     63.9      (172.9

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest (net of tax)

    1.5        1.3      15.4   
                     

Net (loss)/income attributable to MF Global Holdings Ltd.

    (48.1     62.5      (177.0
                     

(Loss)/ earnings per share:

     

Basic

  $ (0.58   $ 0.37     

Diluted

  $ (0.58   $ 0.37     

Weighted average number of common stock outstanding:

     

Basic

    123,149,652        120,782,144     

Diluted

    123,149,652        120,782,144     

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Three Months ended December 31, 2009 Compared to the Three Months ended December 31, 2008

 

     Three months ended December 31,  

(Amounts in millions except share data)

   2009     2008     % Change  

Revenues

      

Execution only commissions

   $ 81.9      $ 80.0      2.4   

Cleared commissions

     275.3        278.6      (1.2

Principal transactions

     89.6        109.9      (18.5

Interest income

     122.0        154.4      (21.0

Other

     8.7        73.9      (88.2
                      

Total revenues

     577.5        696.9      (17.1

Interest and transaction-based expenses:

      

Interest expense

     107.5        56.5      90.3   

Execution and clearing fees

     157.0        162.0      (3.1

Sales commissions

     62.0        56.4      9.9   
                      

Total interest and transaction-based expenses

     326.5        274.8      18.8   

Revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses

     251.0        422.0      (40.5
                      

Expenses

      

Employee compensation and benefits (excluding non-recurring IPO awards)

     151.6        217.3      (30.2

Employee compensation related to non-recurring IPO awards

     7.1        4.7      51.1   

Communications and technology

     31.4        28.2      11.3   

Occupancy and equipment costs

     9.9        12.1      (18.2

Depreciation and amortization

     13.5        14.1      (4.3

Professional fees

     18.7        19.0      (1.6

General and other

     21.7        29.7      (26.9

IPO-related costs

     —          6.4      (100.0

Impairment of goodwill

     1.2        —        100.0   
                      

Total other expenses

     255.0        331.4      (23.1

Gains/(losses) on exchange seats and shares

     1.7        (0.9   288.9   

Interest on borrowings

     9.9        18.7      (47.1
                      

(Loss)/income before provision for income taxes

     (12.2     71.0      (117.2

Provision for income taxes

     2.2        18.3      (88.0

Equity in income/(loss) of unconsolidated companies (net of tax)

     0.3        (13.8   102.2   
                      

Net (loss)/income

     (14.1     38.8      (136.3

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest (net of tax)

     0.5        0.1      400.0   
                      

Net (loss)/income attributable to MF Global Holdings Ltd.

   $ (14.6   $ 38.7      (137.7
                      

(Loss)/ earnings per share:

      

Basic

   $ (0.18   $ 0.23     

Diluted

   $ (0.18   $ 0.23     

Weighted average number of common stock outstanding:

      

Basic

     123,272,712        121,790,111     

Diluted

     123,272,712        121,790,111     

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Overview Year to Date Results

Revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, decreased $395.0 million, or 33.8%, to $774.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $1,169.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to a 13.5% decrease in our total volumes of executed and/or cleared exchange-traded futures and options transactions from 1,446.5 million contracts for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 to 1,250.5 million contracts for the nine months ended December 31, 2009. The decrease of 196.0 million contracts in our total volumes of executed and/or cleared exchange-traded futures and options transactions was spread across many of our primary products, markets and geographic regions. The decrease in revenues, net of interest and transaction based expenses, was also due in part to lower net interest generated from client funds due to declining interest rates, the narrowing of short-term credit spreads in fixed income and reduced volatility and bid-ask spreads in the commodities and foreign exchange markets. See “—Supplementary Data” for further details. In addition, the nine months ended December 31, 2008 included a $62.1 million insurance reimbursement related to the PAAF litigation settlement (as defined below). In the absence of this settlement, revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses would have decreased $332.9 million or 30.1%.

Our other expenses, which refer to our expenses other than interest and transaction-based expenses, decreased $200.9 million, or 19.8%, to $812.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $1,013.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction of $153.8 million in employee compensation and benefits (excluding non-recurring IPO awards) which correlates with decreased net revenues, a reduction of $16.2 million related to lower IPO-related costs, a reduction of $14.6 million in stock-based compensation expense on our equity awards issued in connection with the completion of our IPO, a reduction of $12.9 million in professional fees comprised of audit fees, legal fees and other consulting fees, a reduction of $4.9 million in communications and technology costs and a reduction of $4.2 million in occupancy and equipment costs. These reductions for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 were partially offset by an increase in general and other expenses of $4.4 million driven by $16.4 million in foreign exchange translation losses arising during the nine months ended December 31, 2009. In contrast, we recorded foreign exchange translation gains of $10.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008.

Loss before provision for income taxes was $65.0 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 compared to income of $115.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. This loss was primarily due to decreased revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, the $9.7 million loss on extinguishment of debt that we incurred in relation to the repayment of the Two-Year Term Facility and a decrease of $1.3 million in gains on exchange seats and shares. The loss was partially offset by the decrease in other expenses mentioned above and a decrease of $24.5 million in interest on borrowings.

We recorded a net loss of $48.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 compared to net income of $62.5 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. Net loss is impacted by the items discussed above, plus a decreased effective tax rate resulting in reduced tax benefits associated with operating results. Additionally, the effective tax rate was impacted by declining profits generated in lower-tax jurisdictions, as well as the effects of non-deductible expenses and a lower vesting date fair value on equity compensation awards granted at the IPO.

Overview Quarterly Results

Revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, decreased $171.0 million, or 40.5%, to $251.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from $422.0 million for the three months ended

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

December 31, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to the narrowing of short-term credit spreads in fixed income, as well as reduced volatility and bid-ask spreads in the commodities and foreign exchange markets. See “—Supplementary Data” for further details. This decrease was offset by a 5.6% increase in our total volumes of executed and/or cleared exchange-traded futures and options transactions from 402.5 million contracts for the three months ended December 31, 2008 to 425.0 million contracts for the three months ended December 31, 2009. The increase of 22.5 million contracts in our total volumes of executed and/or cleared exchange-traded futures and options transactions was spread across many of our primary products, markets and geographic regions. In addition, the three months ended December 31, 2008 included a $62.1 million insurance reimbursement related to the PAAF litigation settlement. In the absence of this settlement, revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses decreased $108.9 million or 30.3%.

Our other expenses, which refer to our expenses other than interest and transaction-based expenses, decreased $76.4 million, or 23.1%, to $255.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from $331.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction of $65.7 million in employee compensation and benefits (excluding non-recurring IPO awards) which correlates with decreased net revenues, a reduction of $6.4 million in IPO-related costs and a reduction of $8.0 million in general and other expenses. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $2.4 million in stock-based compensation expense on our equity awards issued in connection with our IPO and an increase of $3.2 million in communications and technology costs.

Loss before provision for income taxes was $12.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 compared to income of $71.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. This loss was primarily due to decreased revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, partially offset by the decrease in other expenses mentioned above, an increase of $2.6 million in gains on exchange seats and shares and a decrease of $8.8 million in interest on borrowings.

We recorded a net loss of $14.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 compared to net income of $38.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. Net loss is impacted by the items discussed above, plus a change in effective tax rate resulting in reduced tax benefits associated with operating results. Additionally, the effective tax rate was impacted by declining profits being generated in lower-tax jurisdictions, as well as the effects of non-deductible expenses and a lower vesting date fair value on equity compensation awards granted at IPO.

Revenues

Execution-only Commissions

Year to Date Results

Execution-only commissions decreased $65.2 million, or 21.3%, to $240.8 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $306.0 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. This decrease was partly due to a 16.6% decrease in our volume of execution-only exchange-traded futures and options transactions from 423.7 million contracts for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 to 353.4 million contracts for the nine months ended December 31, 2009. Exchange-traded volumes continue to be negatively impacted by the depressed economic climate, as some institutional customers have reduced their risk appetite, as well as downward pricing pressure and increased activity through electronic trading as clients shift from floor-based to screen-based execution. Our overall commissions also decreased as we experienced reduced trading activity from middle-market and smaller clients, whose commission rates tend to be more profitable.

 

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Quarterly Results

Execution-only commissions increased $1.9 million, or 2.4%, to $81.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from $80.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. We experienced this increase despite the 12.9% decrease in our volume of execution-only exchange-traded futures and options transactions from 125.1 million contracts for the three months ended December 31, 2008 to 108.9 million contracts for the three months ended December 31, 2009, due to increases in contract yields, and therefore our commissions, on a year-over-year basis. Volumes and commissions continue to be negatively impacted by market turmoil, downward pricing pressure and increased activity through electronic trading as clients shift from floor based to screen based execution.

Cleared Commissions

Year to Date Results

Cleared commissions decreased $225.8 million, or 22.1%, to $797.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $1,023.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease of 12.3% in our volume of cleared exchange-traded futures and options transactions from 1,022.8 million contracts for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 to 897.1 million contracts for the nine months ended December 31, 2009. We experienced a decrease in execution and clearing volumes across almost all products, markets and regions as a result of market dislocation.

Quarterly Results

Cleared commissions decreased $3.3 million, or 1.2%, to $275.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from $278.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. Although there was a decrease in cleared commission, there was an increase of 14.0% in our volume of cleared exchange-traded futures and options transactions from 277.4 million contracts for the three months ended December 31, 2008 to 316.1 million contracts for the three months ended December 31, 2009. Although we experienced an increase in clearing volumes across almost all products, markets and regions, such increases were primarily in certain high volume, low margin customer business, thus accounting for our decreased clearing commissions.

Principal Transactions

Year to Date Results

Principal transactions decreased $66.9 million, or 27.6%, to $175.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $242.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. Principal transactions do not reflect the net interest income earned from principal transactions and related financing transactions, which is included in interest income and expense. Net interest income earned from these principal transactions and related financing transactions was $50.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 compared to $112.8 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. When factoring in net interest income from principal transactions and related financing transactions, which is how management views the business, principal transactions revenues decreased $129.4 million, or 36.4%, to $225.7 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $355.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in principal transactions was attributable to reduced matched principal brokerage in foreign exchange and commodities markets which decreased from $169.4 million to $107.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 and 2009, respectively, as well as a reduction in fixed income from narrowing short-term credit spreads, which decreased from gains of $25.1 million to losses of $2.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 and 2009, respectively. See “—Supplementary Data” for further quarterly information on principal transactions revenues.

 

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Quarterly Results

Principal transactions decreased $20.3 million, or 18.5%, to $89.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from $109.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. Principal transactions do not reflect the net interest income earned from principal transactions and related financing transactions, which is included in interest income and expense. Net interest income earned from these principal transactions and related financing transactions was $51.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008 compared to interest expense of $28.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009. When factoring in net interest income from principal transactions and related financing transactions, which is how management views the business, principal transactions revenues decreased $100.1 million, or 62.1%, to $61.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from $161.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in principal transactions was attributable to reduced matched principal brokerage in foreign exchange and commodities markets which decreased from $59.6 million to $33.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2009, respectively, as well as a reduction in fixed income from narrowing short-term credit spreads, which decreased from gains of $22.6 million to losses of $10.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2009, respectively. See “—Supplementary Data” for further quarterly information on principal transactions revenues.

Interest Income, Net

Year to Date Results

Interest income, net, decreased $149.1 million, or 48.8%, to $156.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $305.5 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. This decrease was primarily due to declining interest rates and a decrease in net interest generated from principal transactions and related financing transactions as described further below. The average federal funds rate in the United States decreased from 1.3% during the nine months ended December 31, 2008 to 0.2% during the nine months ended December 31, 2009. Net interest from client funds and excess cash decreased $86.5 million from $192.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 to $106.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 due to (i) reduced rates earned on excess cash during the nine months ended December 31, 2009, (ii) narrower spreads earned on client funds as we reduced the duration of our investment portfolio of client balances from last year to ensure we had significant liquidity in the current volatile environment to meet client needs and (iii) clients withdrawing some of their excess cash since last year, consistent with the trend in the market, to increase their own liquidity during these volatile times. The decline in interest income, net, was also driven by a 55.4% decrease in net interest generated from principal transactions and related financing transactions from $112.8 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 to $50.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009. This decrease was due to the narrower spreads earned by our fixed income products during the nine months ended December 31, 2009, consisting of both repurchase and reverse repurchase transactions, stock borrowing and lending activities and dividends paid on short equity positions we held as hedges to equity futures contracts purchased from customers through a central clearing counterparty. See “—Supplementary Data” for further information on the components of net interest income.

Quarterly Results

Interest income, net, decreased $83.4 million, or 85.2%, to $14.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from $97.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. This decrease was primarily due to declining interest rates and a decrease in net interest generated from principal transactions and related financing transactions as described further below. The average federal funds rate in the United States

 

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decreased from 0.4% during the three months ended December 31, 2008 to 0.1% during the three months ended December 31, 2009. Net interest from client funds and excess cash decreased 7.7% from $46.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008 to $42.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 due to (i) reduced rates earned on excess cash during the three months ended December 31, 2009 and (ii) narrower spreads earned on client funds as we reduced the duration of our investment portfolio of client balances from last year to ensure we had significant liquidity in the current volatile environment to meet client needs. The decline in interest income, net, was also driven by a 155.3% decrease in net interest generated from principal transactions and related financing transactions from interest income of $51.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008 to interest expense of $28.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009. This decrease was due to the narrowing spreads earned on our fixed income products, consisting of both repurchase and reverse repurchase transactions, stock borrowing and lending activities and dividends paid on short equity positions we held as hedges to equity futures contracts purchased from customers through a central clearing counterparty. See “—Supplementary Data” for further information on the components of net interest income.

Other Revenues

Year to Date Results

Other revenues decreased $68.2 million, or 68.3%, to $31.7 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $99.9 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. This decrease was primarily due to the $62.1 million one-time PAAF litigation settlement reimbursement received during the nine months ended December 31, 2008. In the absence of this settlement, other revenues decreased $6.1 million, or 16.1% reflecting a reduction in recharges to clients for local taxes in certain European markets and decreased ancillary third-party fees received from clients and other counterparties for the use of various trading systems, data and other back-office and support services, all of which were affected by declining trading volumes. These decreases were partially offset by a $3.2 million settlement we received in the nine months ended December 31, 2009, in relation to litigation regarding our prior acquisition of Refco assets.

Quarterly Results

Other revenues decreased $65.2 million, or 88.2%, to $8.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 compared to $73.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. This decrease was primarily due to the $62.1 million one-time PAAF litigation settlement reimbursement received during the three months ended December 31, 2008. In the absence of this settlement, other revenues decreased $3.1 million, or 26.3%, reflecting decreased ancillary third-party fees received from clients and other counterparties for the use of various trading systems, data and other back-office and support services.

Transaction-based Expenses

Execution and Clearing Fees

Year to Date Results

Execution and clearing fees decreased $170.3 million, or 27.7%, to $445.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $615.7 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. This decrease was primarily due to a 13.5% decrease in our volume of executed and/or cleared exchange-traded futures and options transactions from 1,446.5 million contracts for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 to 1,250.5 million contracts for the nine months ended December 31, 2009. During the nine months ended December 31, 2009, we experienced decreased transaction volumes, spread across many of our primary markets, products and geographic

 

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regions. Our execution and clearing fees are not fixed, but instead are calculated on a per-contract basis, and vary based on the market on which transactions are executed and cleared. Not all transactions that generate execution-only revenue generate corresponding execution or clearing fees, while some matched principal transactions do. Included within execution and clearing fees are losses due to transactional errors, which increased from 0.6% of revenues, net of interest and transaction based expenses, for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 to 0.8% of revenues, net of interest and transaction based expenses, for the nine months ended December 31, 2009.

Quarterly Results

Execution and clearing fees decreased $5.0 million, or 3.1%, to $157.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from $162.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. Although there was a decrease in execution and clearing fees, we experienced a 5.6% increase in our volume of executed and/or cleared exchange-traded futures and options transactions from 402.5 million contracts for the three months ended December 31, 2008 to 425.0 million contracts for the three months ended December 31, 2009, which is spread across many of our primary markets, products and geographic regions. Our execution and clearing fees are not fixed, but instead are calculated on a per-contract basis, and vary based on the market on which transactions are executed and cleared. Not all transactions that generate execution-only revenue generate corresponding execution or clearing fees, while some matched principal transactions do. Included within execution and clearing fees are losses due to transactional errors, which increased from 0.2% of revenues, net of interest and transaction based expenses, for the three months ended December 31, 2008 to 0.4% of revenues, net of interest and transaction based expenses, for the three months ended December 31, 2009.

Sales Commissions

Year to Date Results

Sales commissions decreased $9.8 million, or 5.1%, to $182.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $191.9 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. This decrease was primarily due to declining trading volume as a result of lack of client confidence in the markets, unstable market conditions and investors not trading with the same frequency during the nine months ended December 31, 2009 as compared to the same period last year. Depending on the specific arrangements with introducing brokers, decreased volumes from retail clients transacting through introducing brokers usually result in a proportionate decrease in commissions paid to brokers. However, a large part of our business is not generated by introducing brokers and therefore not all changes to volumes result in a proportionate change to sales commissions.

Quarterly Results

Sales commissions increased $5.6 million, or 9.9%, to $62.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from $56.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. This was primarily due to increased trading activity during the three months ended December 31, 2009 as compared to the same period last year. Depending on the specific arrangements with introducing brokers, increased volumes from retail clients transacting through introducing brokers usually result in a proportionate increase in commissions paid to brokers. However, a large part of our business is not generated by introducing brokers and therefore not all changes to volumes result in a proportionate change to sales commissions.

 

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Other Expenses

Employee Compensation and Benefits (Excluding Non-Recurring IPO Awards)

Year to Date Results

These expenses refer to all employee compensation, including stock based compensation expense for equity instruments, but excludes restricted stock and restricted stock units issued in connection with the IPO. Employee compensation and benefits (excluding IPO awards) decreased $153.8 million, or 23.9%, to $488.7 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $642.5 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. This decrease was primarily due to (i) reduced variable compensation paid to employees based on lower net revenues, volume and profit contributions, (ii) a reduction in termination expenses from $28.2 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 to $4.7 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009, and (iii) reduced discretionary bonus expense of $6.4 million. Related to the latter, we have elected to expand our use of stock-based awards as payment for employees’ incentive compensation, thereby further aligning employees with the interests of shareholders. Accordingly, during the three months ended December 31, 2009, management decided to increase the percentage of compensation paid in three-year vesting stock awards, and reduced discretionary bonus expense by $6.4 million.

This overall 23.9% decrease was partially offset by increases in payroll expenses due to increased headcount. Fixed producer and professional compensation as a percentage of total employee compensation and benefits (excluding IPO awards) was 56.6% in the nine months ended December 31, 2009 compared to 41.2% in the nine months ended December 31, 2008. Excluding termination costs, the ratio of fixed producer and professional compensation as a percentage of total employee compensation and benefits (excluding IPO awards) was 57.1% in the nine months ended December 31, 2009 compared to 43.1% in the nine months ended December 31, 2008. Employee compensation and benefits (excluding IPO awards), as a percentage of revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, increased to 63.1% in the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from 54.9% in the nine months ended December 31, 2008. Excluding termination costs, employee compensation and benefits (excluding IPO awards), as a percentage of revenues, net of interest and transaction based expenses increased to 62.5% in the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from 52.5% in the nine months ended December 31, 2008.

In December 2009, the U.K. government introduced legislation which would impose a 50% charge on certain discretionary bonus payments in excess of £25,000, made between December 9, 2009 and April 5, 2010 to U.K. employees within the financial services industry. This legislation has not yet been voted on by Parliament or received Royal Assent, as required under U.K. law, in order to be effective. Additionally, since introducing this legislation, the U.K. authorities have made several efforts to clarify the scope of the law, but the final version cannot be predicted at this time. Given that this law is not yet considered enacted, no accrual has been made with respect to this item in our financial statements as of December 31, 2009. In addition, we continue to monitor the guidance from, and to work with, the U.K. authorities to analyze the potential application of this proposed law to bonuses paid to our U.K. employees. At this time, we are still evaluating the impact the proposed laws, if enacted and applicable to us, will have on our financial results.

Quarterly Results

These expenses refer to all employee compensation, including stock based compensation expense for equity instruments, but excludes restricted stock and restricted stock units issued in connection with the IPO. Employee compensation and benefits (excluding IPO awards) decreased $65.7 million, or 30.2%, to $151.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from $217.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008.

 

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This decrease was primarily due to (i) reduced variable compensation paid to employees based on lower net revenues, volume and profit contributions, (ii) a reduction in termination expenses from $11.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008 to $1.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009, and (iii) reduced discretionary bonus expense of $6.4 million. Related to the latter, we have elected to expand our use of stock-based awards as payment for employees’ incentive compensation, thereby further aligning employees with the interests of shareholders. Accordingly, during the three months ended December 31, 2009, management decided to increase the percentage of compensation paid in three-year vesting stock awards, and reduced discretionary bonus expense by $6.4 million.

This overall 30.2% decrease is partially offset by increases in payroll expenses due to increased headcount. Fixed producer and professional compensation as a percentage of total employee compensation and benefits (excluding IPO awards) was 54.4% in the three months ended December 31, 2009 compared to 33.3% in the three months ended December 31, 2008. Excluding termination costs, the ratio of fixed producer and professional compensation as a percentage of total employee compensation and benefits (excluding IPO awards) was 54.8% in the three months ended December 31, 2009 compared to 35.2% in the three months ended December 31, 2008. Employee compensation and benefits (excluding IPO awards), as a percentage of revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, increased to 60.4% in the three months ended December 31, 2009 from 51.5% in the three months ended December 31, 2008. Excluding termination costs, employee compensation and benefits (excluding IPO awards), as a percentage of revenues, net of interest and transaction based expenses increased to 59.9% in the three months ended December 31, 2009 from 48.7% in the three months ended December 31, 2008.

Employee Compensation and Benefits Related to Non-Recurring IPO Awards

Year to Date Results

These expenses refer to stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock and restricted stock units issued in connection with the IPO. These expenses are considered non-recurring and directly attributable to the IPO. Employee compensation and benefits related to non-recurring IPO awards decreased $14.6 million, or 36.8%, to $25.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $39.7 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. This decrease is primarily attributable to the accelerated vesting of certain awards in prior periods as well as the impact in this period of reduced expense from forfeitures during the prior fiscal year.

Quarterly Results

Employee compensation and benefits related to non-recurring IPO awards increased $2.4 million, or 51.1%, to $7.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from $4.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. These expenses are considered non-recurring and directly attributable to the IPO. This increase is primarily attributable to the modification and revaluation of the former CEO’s awards causing a large reduction in expense during the three months ended December 31, 2008.

Communications and Technology

Year to Date Results

Communications and technology expenses decreased $4.9 million, or 5.3%, to $87.2 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $92.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. This decrease was due to reduced software licensing and maintenance costs, a reduction in outsourced computer services and decreased telecommunication expenses resulting from the consolidation of the CBOT and CME exchange floors which now require less equipment. In addition, we experienced reduced market data research

 

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and communications expenses, reflecting fewer client trades during the nine months ended December 31, 2009 as compared to the same period last year. This caption also includes software licenses and costs related to our trading systems. Communications and technology, as a percentage of revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, increased to 11.3% for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from 7.9% for the nine months ended December 31, 2008.

Quarterly Results

Communications and technology expenses increased $3.2 million, or 11.3%, to $31.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from $28.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. This increase was due to increased software licensing costs, application hosting, maintenance and telecommunication expenses resulting from improvements to our infrastructure. In addition, we experienced higher market data research and communications expenses, reflecting more client trades during the three months ended December 31, 2009 as compared to the same period last year. This caption also includes software licenses and costs related to our trading systems. Communications and technology, as a percentage of revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, increased to 12.5% for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from 6.7% for the three months ended December 31, 2008.

Occupancy and Equipment Costs

Year to Date Results

Occupancy and equipment costs decreased $4.2 million, or 12.5%, to $29.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $33.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008, primarily due to higher costs incurred during the nine months ended December 31, 2008 as a result of relocating to new leased premises in London. This decrease was offset by increased costs due to the leasing of additional office space in Chicago. Occupancy and equipment costs, as a percentage of revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, increased to 3.8% for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 compared to 2.9% for the nine months ended December 31, 2008.

Quarterly Results

Occupancy and equipment costs decreased $2.2 million, or 18.2%, to $9.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from $12.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008, primarily due to higher costs incurred during the three months ended December 31, 2008 as a result of relocating to new leased premises in London. This decrease was offset by increased costs due to the leasing of additional office space in Chicago. Occupancy and equipment costs, as a percentage of revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, increased to 3.9% for the three months ended December 31, 2009 compared to 2.9% for the three months ended December 31, 2008.

Depreciation and Amortization

Year to Date Results

Depreciation and amortization decreased $1.0 million, or 2.4%, to $41.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $42.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008, primarily due to reduced amortization expense on intangible assets as a result of certain intangible asset impairments related to customer relationships and trade names of $5.2 million recognized in fiscal 2009. Depreciation and amortization, as a percentage of revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, increased to 5.3% for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from 3.6% for the nine months ended December 31, 2008.

 

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Quarterly Results

Depreciation and amortization decreased $0.6 million, or 4.3%, to $13.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from $14.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. Depreciation and amortization, as a percentage of revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, increased to 5.4% for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from 3.3% for the three months ended December 31, 2008.

Professional Fees

Year to Date Results

Professional fees decreased $12.9 million, or 18.7%, to $56.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $69.0 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 due to $7.0 million of legal and consulting fees that are included in the nine months ended December 31, 2008 which were incurred in relation to a one-time broker-related loss in fiscal 2008. In addition, we reduced professional fees through enhanced internal accounting, legal and regulatory processes and by internalizing certain functions which are now reflected in increased headcount. Professional fees, as a percentage of revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, increased to 7.2% for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 compared to 5.9% for the nine months ended December 31, 2008.

Quarterly Results

Professional fees slightly decreased $0.3 million, or 1.6%, to $18.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from $19.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. We reduced professional fees through enhanced internal accounting, legal and regulatory processes and by internalizing certain functions which are now reflected in increased headcount. Professional fees, as a percentage of revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, increased to 7.5% for the three months ended December 31, 2009 compared to 4.5% for the three months ended December 31, 2008.

General and Other

Year to Date Results

General and other expenses increased $4.4 million, or 5.7%, to $81.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $77.0 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. This increase was due primarily to a $26.5 million change in foreign currency translation expenses, as reflected in a move from gains of $10.1 million during the nine months ended December 31, 2008 to losses of $16.4 million during the nine months ended December 31, 2009. The foreign currency translation loss during the nine months ended December 31, 2009 included (i) a $4.1 million currency translation loss related to the Parabola litigation, which was recorded in May 2009, but applied retrospectively to March 31, 2009, due to accounting requirements and (ii) a $16.4 million currency translation loss driven by adverse movements of the British Pound and Euro to U.S. Dollar exchange rate. There were also higher legal settlement expenses of $4.8 million for various cases. This increase in foreign currency and legal settlement expenses was partially offset by lower travel and entertainment costs of $3.0 million, decreased non-trading related expenses of $3.2 million, lower insurance premiums of $0.6 million, lower advertising costs of $0.5 million as well as lower bad debt expense, which decreased from $16.5 million of expense for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 to a credit of $1.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009. This decrease in bad debt expense was primarily due to the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the resulting bad debt provision established during the nine months ended December 31, 2008 and subsequent reversal of part of such bad debt provision during the nine months ended December 31, 2009. The

 

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total bad debts provision released represented 0.1% of revenues, net of interest and transaction based expenses for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 compared to an expense of 1.4% for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. General and other expenses, as a percentage of revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, increased to 10.5% for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from 6.6% for the nine months ended December 31, 2008.

Quarterly Results

General and other expenses decreased $8.0 million, or 26.9%, to $21.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from $29.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. This was due primarily to lower bad debt expense of $8.7 million, which decreased from $8.2 million of expense for the three months ended December 31, 2008 to a credit of $0.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 related to several different customers. The bad debts provision released represented 0.2% of revenues, net of interest and transaction based expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2009 compared to an expense of 1.9% for the three months ended December 31, 2008. In addition, there were lower travel and entertainment costs of $0.6 million. These decreases in expenses were offset by a $0.8 million increase in insurance premiums and a $0.4 million increase in other legal settlement expenses for various cases. General and other expenses, as a percentage of revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, increased to 8.6% for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from 7.0% for the nine months ended December 31, 2008.

IPO-related Costs

Year to Date Results

We incurred costs of $0.9 million and $17.1 million, or approximately 0.1% and 1.5% of our revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, in connection with the IPO, which we refer to as IPO-related costs. These costs consist primarily of legal, accounting and consulting fees. The current year costs are primarily related to continuing compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We expect these costs will continue to decline in future periods.

Quarterly Results

We did not incur any costs during the three months ended December 31, 2009 compared to $6.4 million, or approximately 1.5% of our revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2008, in connection with the IPO, which we refer to as IPO-related costs. These costs consist primarily of legal, accounting and consulting fees.

Impairment of Goodwill

Year to Date and Quarterly Results

We recorded impairment charges of $1.2 million and $2.3 million in the three and nine months ended December 31, 2009, respectively based on our impairment testing of goodwill during those periods. Our assessment of our goodwill identified triggering events that required an impairment analysis to be performed. As a result of our analysis, we determined all of our goodwill was impaired. There was no such impairment charge recorded in the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Gains on Exchange Seats and Shares

Year to Date and Quarterly Results

Gains on exchange seats and shares were $1.7 million and $12.9 million for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2009, respectively, as compared to losses of $0.9 million and gains of $14.2 million for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008, respectively. The amount of unrealized gains recorded is based on the fair market value movements of the remaining excess seats and shares we own. Absent future demutualizations or changes in trading requirements, we do not expect to recognize material gains on exchange seats and shares in future periods.

Loss on Extinguishment of Debt

Year to Date Results

Loss on extinguishment of debt was a result of the early repayment of the Two-Year Term Facility in April 2009. In repaying the Two-Year Term Facility prior to its scheduled maturity, we incurred a loss on the early extinguishment of debt of $9.7 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. The loss has been disclosed separately within our unaudited consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended December 31, 2009.

Interest on Borrowings

Year to Date Results

Interest on borrowings decreased $24.5 million, or 44.6%, to $30.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from $54.9 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. This decrease was primarily due to lower levels of outstanding debt and a decrease in interest rates, particularly the LIBOR rate. Interest on borrowings, as a percentage of revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, decreased to 3.9% for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 from 4.7% for the nine months ended December 31, 2008.

Quarterly Results

Interest on borrowings decreased $8.8 million, or 47.1%, to $9.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from $18.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. This decrease was primarily due to lower levels of outstanding debt and a decrease in interest rates, particularly the LIBOR rate. Interest on borrowings, as a percentage of revenues, net of interest and transaction-based expenses, decreased to 3.9% for the three months ended December 31, 2009 from 4.4% for the three months ended December 31, 2008.

Provision for Income Taxes

Year to Date Results

Income taxes decreased $53.5 million from a tax provision of $36.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 to tax benefits of $17.2 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009. Our effective income tax rate was 26.4% for the nine months ended December 31, 2009, down from 31.2% for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. The change in the effective tax rate primarily relates to a decrease in the annual effective tax rate for the full year, an increase in our operating results being earned in higher-tax jurisdictions, the tax effect of non-deductible items and a lower vesting date fair value on equity compensation awards granted at the IPO. Our effective tax rate on ordinary operations (excluding discrete items) was approximately 38.0% for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 compared to 31.8% for the nine months ended December 31, 2008.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Quarterly Results

Income taxes decreased $16.1 million from $18.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008 to $2.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009. Our effective income tax rate was (18.4%) for the three months ended December 31, 2009, as compared to 25.8% for the three months ended December 31, 2008. The change in the effective tax rate primarily relates to a decrease in the estimated annual effective tax rate for the full fiscal year. Additionally, the effective tax rate was impacted by the declining percentage of operating results being generated in lower-tax jurisdictions, as well as a lower vesting date fair value on equity compensation awards granted at the IPO and the effects of non-deductible items. Our effective tax rate on ordinary operations (excluding discrete items) was approximately 38.0% for the three months ended December 31, 2009 compared to 31.8% for the three months ended December 31, 2008.

Supplementary Data

Principal transactions do not reflect the net interest income earned from principal transactions and related financing transactions, which is included in interest income and expense, although management views the business including such amounts.

The table below calculates total principal transactions revenue, including the net interest generated from financing transactions related to principal transactions:

 

     For the three months ended  
     June 30,
2008
   Sept 30,
2008
   Dec 31,
2008
   Mar 31,
2009
   June 30,
2009
   Sept 30,
2009
   Dec 31,
2009
 

Principal transactions

   $ 63.2    $ 69.2    $ 109.9    $ 45.3    $ 45.7    $ 40.2    $ 89.6   

Net interest generated from principal transactions and related financing transactions

     36.5      24.9      51.4      37.4      42.8      35.9      (28.4
                                                  

Total principal transactions revenue

   $ 99.7    $ 94.1    $ 161.3    $ 82.7    $ 88.5    $ 76.1    $ 61.2   
                                                  

The table below provides an analysis of the components of net interest income:

 

     For the three months ended  
     June 30,
2008
   Sept 30,
2008
   Dec 31,
2008
   Mar 31,
2009
   June 30,
2009
   Sept 30,
2009
   Dec 31,
2009
 

Net interest generated from client payables and excess cash

   $ 70.5    $ 75.6    $ 46.5    $ 34.3    $ 33.3    $ 29.9    $ 42.9   

Net interest generated from principal transactions and related financing transactions

     36.5      24.9      51.4      37.4      42.8      35.9      (28.4
                                                  

Total net interest income

   $ 107.0    $ 100.5    $ 97.9    $ 71.7    $ 76.1    $ 65.8    $ 14.5   
                                                  

The table below calculates net revenues from client funds and excess cash:

 

     For the three months ended
     June 30,
2008
    Sept 30,
2008
   Dec 31,
2008
   Mar 31,
2009
    June 30,
2009
   Sept 30,
2009
   Dec 31,
2009

Net interest generated from client payables and excess cash

   $ 70.5      $ 75.6    $ 46.5    $ 34.3      $ 33.3    $ 29.9    $ 42.9

Principal transactions revenues from investment of client payables

     (0.9     2.1      31.1      (7.8     0.2      2.7      1.3
                                                  

Total net revenues from client payables and excess cash

   $ 69.6      $ 77.7    $ 77.6    $ 26.5      $ 33.5    $ 32.6    $ 44.2
                                                  

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have multiple sources of liquidity. We expect our primary liquidity needs over the next 12 months to be for working capital, debt service obligations and preferred dividend obligations. We believe we will have sufficient liquidity to meet these obligations given our expected cash flows from operations and our available sources of liquidity. Our available sources of liquidity as of December 31, 2009 included: (i) our committed $1,500.0 million five-year unsecured revolving liquidity facility with various banks, which terminates in June 2012, under which we currently have $442.5 million outstanding and $1,057.5 million that is undrawn at December 31, 2009; (ii) available excess cash in our regulated subsidiaries, the withdrawal of which is subject to regulatory approval; and (iii) available excess cash held in the bank accounts of non-regulated subsidiaries. In October 2008, Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., one of the participating banks under our liquidity facility, with a total commitment amounting to $75.0 million, filed for bankruptcy and, accordingly, we believe Lehman Commercial Paper Inc. will not fund the balance of its loan commitment, which is $60.0 million. In addition, we have customer collateral, which is not included on our balance sheet and non-segregated customer payables, that can be re-hypothecated by us, and which we consider an additional layer of liquidity. We also rely on uncommitted lines of credit from multiple sources to fund our day-to-day clearing operations. Further, on September 25, 2009, we filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell securities, including common or preferred stock, debt securities, and warrants to purchase common or preferred stock or debt securities, in one or more offerings. Any sale of such securities would be dependent upon market conditions around the time of sale and there can be no assurance that we will sell any such securities. As noted in the registration statement, unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, we intend to use the net proceeds from any sales of securities for general corporate purposes.

On April 16, 2009, we repaid the remaining outstanding balance of $240.0 million on the Two-Year Term Facility ahead of its maturity of July 2010 thus terminating all remaining obligations under the Two-Year Term Facility. On December 16, 2009, we repaid $200.0 million of the outstanding balance on our liquidity facility with excess and available cash. See Note 8 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements for further information.

Working Capital Needs

Our cash flows are complex, interrelated and highly dependent upon our operating performance, levels of client activity and financing activities. We view our total working capital exclusive of non-earning assets and inclusive of our long-term borrowings. Our working capital decreased from March 31, 2009 to December 31, 2009 primarily due to the early repayment of the Two-Year Term Facility and partial repayment of outstanding balances under the liquidity facility.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

As of December 31 and March 31, 2009, total working capital was calculated as follows:

 

     December 31,
2009
   March 31,
2009
     (Dollars in millions)

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 55,983.0    $ 38,835.6

Less Non-earning assets:

     

Receivables—Other

     32.9      36.9

Memberships in exchanges, at cost

     6.5      6.4

Furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements, net

     70.7      62.7

Intangible assets, net

     131.8      151.7

Other assets

     208.5      191.4
             

Subtotal non-earning assets

     450.4      449.0
             

Less Total liabilities:

     54,534.5      37,387.9

Add Borrowings

     650.6      1,086.8
             

TOTAL WORKING CAPITAL

   $ 1,648.7    $ 2,085.5
             

Our primary requirement for working capital relates to funds we are required to maintain at exchanges and clearing organizations to support our clients’ trading activities. We require that our clients deposit collateral with us in support of their trading activities, which we in turn deposit with exchanges or clearing organizations to satisfy our obligations. These required deposits account for the majority of our working capital requirements and thus our primary use of working capital is funded directly or indirectly by our clients. As discussed in Note 12 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements, we are subject to the requirements of the regulatory bodies and exchanges of which we or our subsidiaries are a member or with which we conduct business. The regulatory bodies and exchanges each have defined capital requirements we must meet on a daily basis. For the purposes of prudential supervision, we as a consolidated group are not subject to consolidated regulatory capital requirements under the European Union’s Capital Requirements Directive. We were in compliance with all of capital requirements applicable to us at December 31, 2009 and March 31, 2009.

We have satisfied our primary requirements for working capital in the past from internally generated cash flow and available funds. We believe that our current working capital is more than sufficient for our present requirements. In OTC or non-exchange traded transactions, the amount of collateral we post is based upon our credit rating. Pursuant to our trading agreements with certain liquidity providers, if our credit rating falls, the amount of collateral we are required to post may increase. Some of the factors that could lead to a downgrade in our credit rating have been described in reports issued by certain of the rating agencies, and these factors include, but are not limited to, our profitability each quarter as compared against rating agency expectations, our ability to maintain a conservative liquidity profile, our ability to maintain the value of our franchise, deterioration in our trading volumes or operating cash flows, and a decline in maintenance margin funds or excess capital levels at our regulated subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the self-funding nature of our operations, we may sometimes be required to fund timing differences arising from counterparty defaults on large transactions due to futures, foreign exchange or securities failures or clients going to delivery without proper instructions or the delayed receipt of client funds. Historically, these timing differences have been funded either with internally generated cash flow or, if needed, with short-term borrowings.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

As discussed above, we rely on uncommitted lines of credit from multiple sources to fund day-to-day clearing operations. If these lines of credit are not available to us, we may have to reduce our clearing business, which may negatively impact our revenues.

As a matter of policy, we maintain excess capital to provide liquidity during periods of unusual market volatility, which has been sufficient historically to absorb the impact of volatile market events. Similarly, for our brokerage activities in the OTC markets, involving transactions we broker as principal rather than as agent, we have adopted a futures-style margin methodology to protect us against price movements. A futures-style margin methodology allows us to reduce the amount of capital required to conduct this type of business because we are able to post client deposits, rather than our own funds, with clearing organizations or other counterparties, if required. In determining our required capital levels, we also consider the potential for counterparty default on a large transaction, which would require liquidity to cover such default, or a settlement failure due to mismatched settlement instructions. In many cases, other stock or securities can be pledged as collateral for secured lending to guard against such failure. As a result, we are able to execute a substantial volume of transactions without the need for large amounts of working capital.

Funding for purposes other than working capital requirements, including the financing of acquisitions, has been provided either through internally generated cash flow or through specific long-term financing arrangements.

Credit Facilities and Sources of Liquidity

As described above, we have a $1,500.0 million five-year unsecured committed liquidity facility. As of December 31, 2009, we had $442.5 million in outstanding borrowings. We intend to keep $300.0 million of the amount outstanding at December 31, 2009 under the liquidity facility as long term debt and as part of our capital structure, unless we replace some or all of these borrowings with other long-term debt. The remaining $1,057.5 million is available to us as a committed facility. In addition to this $300.0 million, we have a further $142.5 million outstanding under the liquidity facility.

The liquidity facility expires on June 15, 2012. Borrowings under this liquidity facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal to either, at our option, (1) a designated fluctuating base rate or (2) a designated fluctuating alternative base rate equal to seven-day or one-, two-, three-or six-month LIBOR plus a margin of 0.40% per annum, at our current senior unsecured non-credit enhanced credit rating from Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s. We pay a facility fee of 10 basis points per annum. Effective June 13, 2008, in connection with the obtaining the consent of the syndicate of lenders in our liquidity facility to allow us to enter into the Two-Year Term Facility and a drawdown on the liquidity facility, which we used to repay borrowings under our bridge loan, we increased the interest rate margin by 1.10% per annum only on the first $500.0 million outstanding under the liquidity facility. On January 16, 2009, the agreed interest rate increased to 1.50% per annum on the outstanding balance under the liquidity facility due to a change in our credit ratings. In the event our credit ratings are further downgraded beyond a certain level, the rate on the first $500.0 million outstanding under the liquidity facility will increase to 1.85% and the rate on other outstanding amounts will increase to 0.525%. On December 16, 2009, we paid $200.0 million of the outstanding balance of our liquidity facility with excess and available cash. The liquidity facility contains financial and other covenants. In general terms, and subject to certain exceptions, we have agreed to maintain a consolidated tangible net worth of not less than $620.0 million (plus 50% of the proceeds of certain equity offerings and 25% of our consolidated positive net income for each completed fiscal year), and we have agreed not to incur indebtedness through our subsidiaries, incur liens on our assets, merge or consolidate with (or dispose of substantially all of our assets to) any person, engage in material new businesses,

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

engage in transactions with affiliates except on arm’s-length terms or fail to satisfy any regulatory net capital or financial resources requirement or comply with applicable laws or regulations. If we fail to pay any amount when due under the facility or to comply with its other requirements, if we fail to pay any amount when due on other material debt (defined as $50.0 million or more in principal) or other material debt is accelerated in whole or in part by the lenders, or upon certain events of liquidation or bankruptcy, an event of default will occur under the liquidity facility. Upon an event of default, all outstanding borrowings, together with all accrued interest, fees and other obligations, under the liquidity facility will become due and we will not be permitted to make any further borrowings under the liquidity facility. At December 31, 2009, we were not in default of our covenants under the liquidity facility. As previously disclosed, in connection with our Domestication, we obtained an amendment to our liquidity facility to allow us to change our jurisdiction of incorporation by means of a discontinuance from Bermuda and a domestication to Delaware.

We also have other credit agreements with financial institutions in the form of trading relationships, which facilitate execution, settlement, and clearing flow on a day-to-day basis for our clients, as well as provide evidence, as required, of liquidity to the exchanges on which we conduct business. As of December 31, 2009, we had $9.0 million of issued letters of credit outstanding.

As of December 31, 2009, due primarily to the repayment of a portion of our liquidity facility, the full prepayment of our Two-Year Term Facility and, in part, due to an increase in our non-earning assets, our long-term capital decreased to $1,578.9 million from $2,019.6 million, as of March 31, 2009. Management views long-term capital as all sources of debt and equity from our consolidated balance sheet which includes excess capital. The decrease is primarily attributable to the repayment of a portion of our liquidity facility and the repayment of the Two-Year Term Facility during our third fiscal quarter and first fiscal quarter, respectively. Our available liquidity and long-term capital decreased by $240.0 million from $3,672.6 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 to $3,432.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2009. An analysis of our liquidity position is as follows:

 

Client Assets

  December 31,
2009
    March 31,
2009
 
    (Dollars in millions)  

Non-Segregated Payables to customers

  $ 953.8      $ 921.5   

Non-Segregated Collateral

    385.3        515.0   
               
    1,339.1        1,436.5   

Undrawn Liquidity Sources

   

Liquidity Facility—Undrawn Portion (1)

    1,057.5        857.5   
               
    1,057.5        857.5   

Long-Term Capital

   

Equity

    1,224.3        1,223.6   

Preferred Stock (Notional Value)

    300.0        300.0   

Liquidity Facility

    300.0        500.0   

Two-Year Term Facility

    —          240.0   

Convertible Notes (Par Value)

    205.0        205.0   

Less: Non-Earning Assets (2)

    (450.4     (449.0
               
    1,578.9        2,019.6   

Less: Required Capital

    (542.9     (641.0
               

Excess Capital

    1,036.0        1,378.6   

Total Available Liquidity and Long-Term Capital (3)

    3,432.6        3,672.6   

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

 

(1) In October 2008, Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., one of the participating banks with a total commitment amounting to $75.0 million under our $1,500.0 million five-year unsecured revolving liquidity facility filed for bankruptcy and, accordingly, we believe Lehman Commercial Paper Inc. will not fund the balance of its loan commitment, which is $60.0 million.
(2) Non-earning assets consists of other receivables, memberships in exchanges, furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements, goodwill, intangible assets and other assets.
(3) These amounts represent the sum of our available liquidity sources and committed and uncommitted long-term capital.

Analysis of Cash Flows

We prepare our consolidated statement of cash flows in accordance with U.S. GAAP. This may not reflect our daily cash flows or impact of our clients’ transactions on our working capital position. The following tables present, for the periods indicated, the major components of net increases/ (decreases) in cash and cash equivalents:

 

      Nine months ended
December 31,
 
   2009     2008  
     (Dollars in millions)  

Cash flows from:

    

Operating activities

   $ 596.0      $ 207.1   

Investing activities

     (25.8     (7.9

Financing activities

     (461.1     (443.8

Effect of exchange rate changes

     6.1        (16.8
                

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

   $ 115.2      $ (261.4
                

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $596.0 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2009, compared to $207.1 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2008. Net cash from operating activities primarily consists of net income adjusted for certain non-cash items, including depreciation and amortization, gains on sale of exchange seats and shares, stock-based compensation expense and deferred income taxes, as well as the effects of changes in working capital. Additionally, during the nine months ended December 31, 2009, we recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $9.7 million related to the early repayment of the Two-Year Term Facility. We also recorded impairment charges of $2.3 million related to goodwill. Working capital results in the most significant fluctuations to cash flows from operating activities, primarily reflecting (1) the levels of our collateralized financing arrangements, including repurchase and resale agreements, securities borrowing/lending transactions, securities owned and securities sold, not yet purchased, (2) the levels of our restricted cash and (3) payables to customers due to margin and contractual commitments. Collateralized financing arrangements often result in significant fluctuations in cash flows, as cash is often received or used as collateral in these arrangements and therefore, the level of activity in these transactions at period-end directly impacts our cash flows from operating activities, without a specific correlation to our revenues or net income. Therefore, if cash provided under collateralized financing arrangements increased from one period to the next, this will be reflected as a cash outflow from operating activities. In the nine months ended December 31, 2009, and 2008, these arrangements resulted in net cash provided of $6,046.0 million and net cash used of $3,365.9 million, respectively. These net positions were offset by changes in securities owned and securities sold, not yet

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

purchased in the nine months ended December 31, 2009, and 2008, resulting in net cash used of $6,300.4 million and net cash provided of $4,325.4 million, respectively. Overall, in the nine months ended December 31, 2009, the movements in these collateralized financing arrangements drove the increase in cash flows from operating activities. Furthermore, our levels of restricted cash also impact our operating cash flows, which for the nine months ended December 31, 2009 resulted in net cash provided of $114.1 million compared to $3,038.8 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008.

Our client activities generate or use operating cash flows, which we finance through yield enhancement activities discussed below. There has been a change in our balance sheet from March 31, 2009 to December 31, 2009, and we analyze the changes to our client activities and how we have financed this as follows:

 

      12/31/2009     3/31/2009     Change        
     (Dollars in billions)  

Drivers of Liquidity—Client Activity

        

Receivables—Customers, net of allowances

   $ 0.4      $ 0.4      $ —       

Payables—Customers

     (12.2     (11.9     0.3     

Receivables—Brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations

     5.4        2.4        (3.0  

Payables—Brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations

     (4.4     (1.1     3.3     
                    

Net sources/(uses)

           0.6   
              

Yield Enhancement Activities

        

Cash and cash equivalents

     0.8        0.7        (0.1  

Restricted cash and segregated securities

     9.6        9.7        0.1     

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     19.0        12.9        (6.1  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     (31.3     (14.4     16.9     
              

Net

         10.8     

Securities borrowed

     8.2        8.6        0.4     

Securities loaned

     (0.7     (6.1     (5.4  
              

Net

         (5.0  

Securities owned, at fair value

     12.1        3.6        (8.5  

Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value

     (5.0     (2.9     2.1     
              

Net

         (6.4  
              

Net funding sources/(uses)

           (0.6
              

Net cash inflow/(outflow)

         $ (0.0
              

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $25.8 million during the nine months ended December 31, 2009, compared to $7.9 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. In general, our investing activities primarily relate to acquisitions and proceeds received from the sales of exchange seats and shares, offset by the purchases of exchange memberships and furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements. In the nine months ended December 31, 2009, we used cash of $24.1 million to purchase furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements and $2.3 million as contingent consideration for historical acquisitions. In the nine months ended December 31, 2008, we received cash of $21.0 million from the sale of exchange seats and shares, which was more than offset by $5.8 million used as additional contingent consideration for the acquisition historical acquisitions, as well as $21.8 million to purchase furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities was $461.1 million during the nine months ended December 31, 2009, as compared to $443.8 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. For the nine months ended December 31, 2009, these financing activities mainly related to (i) the repayment of a portion of the liquidity facility of $200.0 million, (ii) the early repayment of the outstanding balance under the Two-Year Term Facility of $240.0 million and (iii) the payment of preferred dividends of $23.0 million. This was slightly offset by an increase of $2.7 million in other short-term borrowings. For the nine months ended December 31, 2008, our financing activities primarily related to changes in our capital structure. These activities included drawing down $350.0 million from the liquidity facility for purposes of paying down a portion of the $1,400.0 million bridge facility taken out in connection with the IPO. In addition, during that period, we issued $210.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 9.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2038 (“Convertible Notes”) and $150.0 million in aggregate liquidation preference of 9.75% Non-Cumulative Convertible Preference Shares, Series B, which, in each case, generated proceeds of $128.9 million, net of issuance of costs and which was partially offset by a repayment of other short-term borrowings of $35.8 million and the payment of preferred dividends of $10.9 million.

Dividend Policy

We currently do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain all our future earnings, if any, to fund the development and growth of our business. Any future determination whether or not to pay dividends on our common stock will be made, subject to applicable law, by our board of directors and will depend upon our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements, regulatory and contractual restrictions, our business and investment strategy and other factors that our board of directors deems relevant.

Replacement Capital Covenant

On July 18, 2008, in connection with the issuance of the Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), we entered into a replacement capital covenant, whereby we agreed for the benefit of certain of our debtholders identified therein, including initially the holders of our Convertible Notes, that we would not redeem or repurchase the Series A Preferred Stock on or before July 18, 2018 except out of the proceeds from the issuance of certain qualified equity and/or equity-related securities and pursuant to the other terms and conditions set forth in the replacement capital covenant. As of the date of this report, our only debt that receives the benefit of our obligations under the replacement capital covenant is our Convertible Notes. This description of the replacement capital covenant is a summary and does not purport to be a complete description of all the terms and it is qualified in its entirety by reference to the replacement capital covenant, which was filed on July 18, 2008 with our Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 1.1.

Contractual Obligations

The following table provides a summary our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2009:

 

     PAYMENTS DUE BY PERIOD (in thousands)
     Total    Less than
1 year
   1-3 years    4-5 years    More than
5 years

Operating Lease Obligations (1)

   $ 210,377    $ 32,391    $ 47,261    $ 34,516    $ 96,209

Liquidity Facility (2) 

     304,680      —        304,680      —        —  

Convertible Notes (3)

     726,000      —        55,000      37,000      634,000

FIN 48 liabilities

     16,802      1,926      14,226      —        650
                                  
   $ 1,257,859    $ 34,317    $ 421,167    $ 71,516    $ 730,859
                                  

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

 

(1) We have operating lease arrangements with unaffiliated parties for the use of certain office facilities, equipment, and computer hardware. Under certain circumstances, payments may be escalated.
(2) We have a revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $1,500.0 million. Included in the revolving credit facility is our interest obligation calculated using seven-day LIBOR of 0.21375% at December 31, 2009 plus a margin of 0.40% per annum. On December 16, 2009, we repaid $200.0 million of the outstanding balance with excess and available cash. See Note 8 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements for further details.
(3) We have 9.00% Convertible Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $205.0 million, due 2038. Included in the Convertible Notes is our interest obligation calculated using 9.00% per annum. See Note 8 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements for further details.

On July 18, 2008, we entered into a credit agreement with several banks that provided for a two-year, $300.0 million unsecured term loan facility (the “Two-Year Term Facility”). On April 16, 2009, we paid the remaining outstanding balance of $240.0 million on the Two-Year Term Facility ahead of its maturity date of July 16, 2010 thus terminating all remaining obligations under the Two-Year Term Facility. See Note 8 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements for further details.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Risk

We are a member of various exchanges and clearing organizations. Under standard membership agreements, members are required to guarantee the performance of other members and, accordingly, if another member becomes unable to satisfy its obligations to the exchange, all other members would be required to meet the shortfall. Our liability under these arrangements is not quantifiable and could exceed the cash and securities we have posted as collateral. However, management believes that the potential for us to be required to make payments under these arrangements is remote. Accordingly, no contingent liability is carried in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets for these arrangements.

Our client financing and securities settlement activities require us to pledge client securities as collateral in support of various secured financing sources, such as securities loaned. In the event the counterparty is unable to meet its contractual obligation to return client securities pledged as collateral, we may be exposed to the risk of acquiring securities at prevailing market prices in order to satisfy our client obligations. We control this risk by monitoring the market value of securities pledged on a daily basis and by requiring adjustments of collateral levels in the event of excess market exposure. In addition, we establish counterparty limits for such activities and monitor compliance on a daily basis.

In the normal course of business, our client activities involve the execution, settlement and financing of various client transactions. These activities may expose us to off-balance sheet risk in the event our client or the other broker is unable to fulfill its contracted obligations and we have to purchase or sell the financial instrument underlying the contract at a loss. The risk of default depends on the creditworthiness of the counterparty or issuer of the instrument. It is our policy to review, as necessary, the credit standing of each counterparty with which we conduct business. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources—Credit Facilities and Sources of Liquidity” above for discussions of letters of credit issued to our clients.

Other Recent Developments

In June 2009 we advanced our strategy of diversifying our product offerings by launching our Alternative Investment Strategies (AIS) group. The AIS group will provide qualified retail and institutional investors with access to the managed futures sector through a direct asset placement program of managed accounts. In addition to the direct asset placement program, the AIS group intends to enter the fund management business by launching a managed futures fund, which we expect will diversify our revenue sources with revenue that is less dependent on market conditions.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Financial instruments are recorded in the financial statements on a trade-date basis and they include related accrued interest or dividends. These instruments include cash and derivative products that primarily represent our investment, trading and customer facilitation activities.

We follow the fair value accounting standard which defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, or an “exit” price. Consistent with market convention, we mark our financial instruments based on product class which is generally bid or mid price. Fair value measurements are not adjusted for transaction costs.

Credit risk is a component of fair value and represents the loss we would incur if a counterparty or an issuer of securities or other instruments we hold fails to perform under its contractual obligations to us, or upon a deterioration in the credit quality of third parties whose securities or other instruments, including OTC derivatives, we hold. To reduce our credit exposures in our operating activities, we generally enter into agreements with our counterparties that permit us to offset receivables and payables with such counterparties and obtain margin and/or collateral from the counterparty on an upfront and ongoing basis. We monitor and manage our credit exposures daily, as discussed in Item 3, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk. We have considered the impact of counterparty credit risk in the valuation of our assets and our own credit spreads when measuring the fair value of liabilities, including derivatives.

Securities owned, Securities sold, not yet purchased, certain Securities purchased under agreements to resell, certain Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, certain Securities borrowed and derivative transactions are carried at fair value and are classified and disclosed in the following categories:

Level 1—Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities. Level 1 consists of financial instruments whose fair values are estimated using quoted market prices. Included in Level 1 are exchange-traded equities and U.S. government securities as well as futures and options traded on exchanges.

Level 2—Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are less active, that is, markets in which there are few transactions for the asset or liability that are observable for substantially the full term. Included in Level 2 are those financial instruments for which fair values are estimated using models or other valuation methodologies. These models are primarily industry-standard models that consider various observable inputs, including time value, yield curve, volatility factors, observable current market and contractual prices for the underlying financial instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures. Financial instruments in this category include fixed income instruments including floating rate notes, federal agency securities, corporate debt, certificates of deposit, resale and repurchase agreements and securities borrowed; as well as over the counter forwards, swaps, and options.

Level 3—Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity). Level 3 is comprised of financial instruments whose fair value is estimated based on internally developed models or methodologies utilizing significant inputs that are not readily observable from objective sources. Financial instruments that fall within Level 3 are shares held due to the demutualization of exchanges.

The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). A market is active if there are sufficient transactions on an ongoing basis to provide current pricing information for

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

the asset or liability, pricing information is released publicly and price quotations do not vary substantially either over time or among market makers. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity.

Changes in unrealized gains and losses relating to assets or liabilities still held at the end of the period are reported in Principal transactions revenues in the consolidated statements of operations. The risks or volatility associated with the transactions that make up this amount are often offset or reduced by certain hedging strategies associated with products within a higher Level (either Level 1 or 2). We generally maintain a matched book, which means positions with one counterparty are generally offset with opposite transactions with other dealers or counterparties. These hedging transactions and the associated underlying financial instruments are often classified in different levels in the fair value hierarchy.

In determining the appropriate fair value hierarchy levels, we perform a detailed analysis of the assets and liabilities. At each reporting period, all assets and liabilities for which the fair value measurement is based on significant unobservable inputs are classified as Level 3. Refer to Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements, Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Activity, for the analysis prepared as of December 31, 2009.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our unaudited consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our unaudited consolidated financial statements and on the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base our estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. We consider these accounting estimates to be critical because changes in underlying assumptions or estimates could have the potential to materially impact our financial statements. We believe that certain of these policies are critical because they are important to the presentation of our financial condition and results. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions, particularly as they relate to accounting policies that we believe are most important to the presentation of our financial condition and results of operations. We regard an accounting estimate or assumption to be most important to the presentation of our financial condition and results of operations where the nature of the estimate or assumption is material due to the level of subjectivity and judgment necessary to account for highly uncertain matters or the susceptibility of such matters to change; and the impact of the estimate or assumption on our financial condition or operating performance is material.

Our critical accounting policies and estimates are summarized in Item 7 of our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASU No. 2010-06”). The guidance in ASU No. 2010-06 provides amendments to Subtopic 820-10 that requires a reporting entity to disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers. In addition, with regards to Level 3 assets, ASU No. 2010-6 now requires that a reporting entity should present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

gross basis in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). ASU No. 2010-6 also clarified the following matters with respect to Subtopic 820-10: A reporting entity should provide fair value measurement disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities; class is often a subset of assets or liabilities within a line item in the balance sheet; a reporting entity needs to use judgment in determining the appropriate classes of assets and liabilities; a reporting entity should provide disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements; and those disclosures are required for fair value measurements that fall in either Level 2 or Level 3. We will adopt the new disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosures in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. We will adopt the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll-forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements in the first quarter of fiscal 2012.

In September 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-12, Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent) (“ASU No. 2009-12”). The guidance in ASU No. 2009-12 amends certain sections in ASC 820 which discusses accounting for fair value measurements and disclosures. The amendments permit, as a practical expedient, a reporting entity to measure the fair value of an investment that is within the scope of the amendments on the basis of the net asset value per share of the investment (or its equivalent) if the net asset value is calculated in a manner consistent with U.S. GAAP for investment companies as of the reporting entity’s measurement date. The amendments also require disclosures by major category of investment to be determined on the basis of the nature and risks of the investment. We adopted ASU No. 2009-12 in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 with no material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-5, Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value (“ASU No. 2009-5”). ASU No. 2009-5 provides amendments to ASC 820, for the fair value measurement of liabilities. It requires a reporting entity to measure the fair value of a liability using certain valuation techniques when a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability is not available. A reporting entity is not required to include a separate input or adjustment relating to the existence of a restriction that prevents the transfer of a liability when fair valuing that liability. The amendments in ASU No. 2009-5 also clarify the hierarchy of the fair value measurements to be used for a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability at the measurement date as well as for the quoted price for the identical liability when traded as an asset in an active market when no adjustments to the quoted price of the asset are required. We adopted ASU No. 2009-5 in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 and there was no material impact on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

In June 2009, the FASB issued Statements of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles—a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162, which was superseded by ASC 105. In September 2009, the FASB also issued ASU No. 2009-01, Topic 105—Generally Accepted Accounting Principles—amendments based on—Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 168—The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“ASU No. 2009-01”). ASC 105 and ASU No. 2009-01 established the FASB Accounting Standards Codification as the single source of authoritative U.S. GAAP recognized by the FASB to be applied by non-governmental entities. Rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. On the effective date, the Codification superseded all then-existing, non-SEC accounting and reporting standards. All other non-grandfathered, non-SEC accounting literature not included in ASC 105 and ASU No. 2009-01 became non-authoritative. ASC 105 and ASU No. 2009-01 are effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. We adopted ASC 105 and ASU No. 2009-01 in the second quarter of fiscal 2010 and made reference to accounting and reporting standards on our consolidated financial statements in accordance with ASC 105 and ASU No. 2009-01 upon adoption.

 

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MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R) which was codified and superseded by ASU 2009-17 (“ASU No. 2009-17”) in December 2009. ASU No. 2009-17 requires an enterprise to determine the primary beneficiary (or “consolidator”) of a variable-interest entity (“VIE”) based on whether the entity (1) has the power to direct matters that most significantly impact the activities of the VIE, and (2) has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. ASU No. 2009-17 changes the consideration of kick-out rights in determining if an entity is a VIE which may cause certain additional entities to now be considered VIEs. On January 27, 2010, the FASB agreed to finalize ASU Amendments to Statement 167 for Certain Investment Funds to indefinitely defer consolidation requirements for a reporting enterprise’s interest in certain entities and for certain money market mutual funds under ASU No. 2009-17. The ASU will also amend guidance that addresses whether fee arrangements represent a variable interest for all decision-makers and service-providers. The ASU will be effective for us in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. We do not expect a material impact on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 166, Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140 which was codified and superseded by ASU No. 2009-16 (“ASU No. 2009-16”) in December 2009. ASU No. 2009-16 aims to improve the visibility of off-balance sheet vehicles currently exempt from consolidation and addresses practical issues involving the accounting for transfers of financial assets as sales or secured borrowings. ASU No. 2009-16 also introduces the concept of a “participating interest,” which will limit the circumstances where the transfer of a portion of a financial asset will qualify as a sale, assuming all other derecognition criteria are met. Furthermore, it clarifies and amends the derecognition criteria for determining whether a transfer qualifies for sale accounting. ASU No. 2009-16 is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first annual reporting period beginning after November 15, 2009. We will adopt ASU No. 2009-16 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011 and are currently evaluating the impact it will have on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

In June 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. EITF 03-6-1, Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities, which was superseded by ASC 260-10-45 (“ASC 260-10-45”). The guidance in ASC 260-10-45 applies to the calculation of earnings per share for share-based payment awards with rights to dividends or dividend equivalents. It clarifies that unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. ASC 260-10-45 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. We adopted ASC 260-10-45 in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 with no material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position No. APB 14-1, Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement), which was superseded by ASC 470-20. ASC 470-20 specifies that issuers of convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion should separately account for the liability and equity components in a manner that will reflect the entity’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate when interest cost is recognized in subsequent periods. We adopted ASC 470-20 in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. See Note 1 for further details on the impact of adoption.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—An Amendment of ARB No. 51, which was superseded by certain sections in ASC 810. ASC 810 establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. We adopted the guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. See Note 1 for further details on the impact of adoption.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to numerous risks in the ordinary course of our business and effective risk management is critical to the success of our business. We have a comprehensive risk management structure and processes to monitor, evaluate and manage the principal risks we assume in conducting our business. The principal risks we face include:

 

   

market risk;

 

   

credit risk;

 

   

regulatory capital risk;

 

   

liquidity risk; and

 

   

operational risk.

Market Risk

Market risk is defined as the risk of loss that arises from fluctuations in values of, or income from, assets and liabilities as a result of movements in market rates or prices. We are exposed to a degree of market risk inherent in conducting our business and managing the assets and liabilities of our global operations including, interest rate and foreign exchange risk and, to a lesser extent, equity and commodity risk.

Interest rate risk arises from the possibility that changes in interest rates will affect the value of financial instruments that we hold. We are exposed to interest rate risk on various forms of debt that we owe, client cash and margin balances and positions we carry in fixed income securities, equity securities, options and futures. To manage the assets and liabilities of our company and related interest obligations we invest in various financial instruments in accordance with our internal risk policy.

Any changes in interest rates can adversely change our interest income relative to our interest expenses. Where we invest in financial instruments, the interest rate risk is closely managed, and we may seek to mitigate the associated interest rate risk by using a combination of cash instruments and listed and OTC derivatives to hedge our exposure.

Foreign exchange risk arises from the possibility that fluctuations in foreign exchange rates will impact the value of financial instruments and the value of our assets located outside of the United States. We are exposed to movements in foreign exchange rates since we must keep part of our assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies to meet operational, expense, regulatory and other obligations of our non-U.S. operations.

Our revenues and expenses are denominated primarily in U.S. dollars, British pounds and Euros. The largest percentage of our revenues is denominated in U.S. dollars while a large portion of our non-U.S. dollar expenses is denominated in British pounds. As a result, our earnings can be affected by changes in the U.S. dollar/British pound and U.S. dollar/Euro exchange rates and to a lesser extent to other currencies including those of the Asia Pacific region. We may seek to mitigate our exposures to foreign currency exchange rates through hedging transactions.

The table below shows the approximate increase in our other expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2009 due to instantaneous adverse movements in currency exchange rates of 10% on our major currency exposures against the U.S. dollar:

 

     Adverse exchange
rate movement
against the U.S.
dollar
    Approximate
increase in General
and Other expenses
(in millions)

British pound

   10   $ 4.5

Australian dollar

   10   $ 0.7

Singapore dollar

   10   $ 0.6

Euro

   10   $ 0.4

 

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Further, although we generally execute transactions on a matched principal basis, the market risk exposure reflected in the value-at-risk measure noted below includes the risk associated with limited interest rate, foreign exchange, equity and commodity positions taken for our own account to support and facilitate client orders as well as limited relative value positions taken by the business.

Value-At-Risk

Value-at-risk is an estimate of the potential loss in value of our principal positions due to adverse market movements over a defined time horizon within a specified confidence level.

As of December 31, 2009, our end-of-day historical simulation value-at-risk for our financial instrument positions, estimated at a 95% confidence level over a one-day time horizon, was $4.2 million. This calculation excludes exchange shares, U.S. treasury securities deposited at commodity clearing organizations, our held-to-maturity portfolio and investments of segregated client funds.

The modelling of the risk characteristics of our principal positions involves a number of assumptions and approximations. While management believes that these assumptions and approximations are reasonable, there is no standard methodology for estimating value-at-risk, and different assumptions and/or approximations could produce materially different estimates of value-at-risk.

We use the historical simulation approach to estimate our value-at-risk, which involves constructing a distribution of hypothetical daily changes in the value of our positions based on market risk factors embedded in the current portfolio and historical observations of daily changes in these factors. Our method uses historical data in simulating potential changes in market risk factors.

It is implicit in a historical simulation value-at-risk methodology that positions will have offsetting risk characteristics, referred to as a diversification benefit. We measure the diversification benefit within our portfolio by historically simulating how the positions in our current portfolio would have behaved in relation to each other based on historical market conditions (as opposed to using a static estimate of a diversification benefit, which remains relatively constant from period to period). Thus, from time to time there will be changes in our historical simulation value-at-risk due to changes in the diversification benefit across our portfolio of financial instruments.

Value-at-risk measures have inherent limitations including:

 

   

historical market conditions and historical changes in market risk factors may not be accurate predictors of future market conditions or future market risk factors;

 

   

value-at-risk measurements are based on current positions, while future risk depends on future positions;

 

   

value-at-risk measurements are based on a one day measurement period and do not fully capture the market risk of positions that cannot be liquidated or hedged within one day; and

 

   

value-at-risk is not intended to capture worst case scenario losses and we could incur losses greater than the value-at-risk amounts reported.

 

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The table below presents the quarterly average, minimum and maximum trading value-at-risk.

 

     December 31, 2009  

Risk Categories (1) 

   Average     Minimum     Maximum  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Energy

   $ 75      $ 6      $ 118   

Equities

     137        126        146   

Foreign Exchange

     226        128        316   

Interest Rate

     4,193        3,386        4,847   

Metals

     337        184        625   

Agricultural products

     388        358        425   

Diversification effect (2)

     (1,082     (669     (1,412
                        

Total

   $ 4,274      $ 3,519      $ 5,065   
                        

 

(1) Engaging in matched-principal transactions and other transactions exposes us to market risk. We take positions for our own account primarily to facilitate the execution of existing client orders or in anticipation that future client orders will become available to fill the other side of the transaction. In the future, we may increase our principal trading activities and, as a result, our exposure to market risk, as reflected in our trading value-at-risk, could increase.
(2) The difference between total value-at-risk and the sum of the value-at-risk for the six risk categories. This arises because the market risk categories are not perfectly correlated.

Credit Risk

Credit risk is the possibility that we may suffer a loss from the failure of clients or counterparties to meet their financial obligations at all or in a timely manner. Our business, acting as both an agent and principal in providing execution and clearing services for listed and OTC transactions, exposes us to credit risk. Sources of our exposure to credit risk are described under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, and includes exposure to:

 

   

Counterparties with whom we place both our own funds or securities and those of our clients;

 

   

Issuers of the securities that we hold for our own account, either directly or indirectly;

 

   

Client and counterparty losses arising from adverse market moves that they are unable or unwilling to meet;

 

   

Clients and counterparties to whom we extend financing lines;

 

   

Clients and counterparties through clearing and settlement operations;

 

   

Clients who owe us commissions; and

 

   

Credit concentration risks.

In addition to the exposures described above and as discussed in the risk factors section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, we are also exposed to risks arising from doing business in international markets that may increase our counterparty and customer risk. For example, local laws could be unfavorable to our business or favor our customers, competitors and counterparties in an unanticipated manner; local laws or potentially unstable or adverse political climates may increase the difficulty in enforcing the contractual obligations of our clients; and the regulatory requirements in some of the markets in which we operate may not be clearly defined and subject to unexpected changes, which could hinder or prevent us from seeking recourse in the event of counterparty or client default.

Our exposure to the credit risks associated with our clients’ trading and other activities is measured on an individual counterparty basis, as well as by groups of counterparties that share similar attributes. Our credit exposures arise both in relation to contractual positions that are essentially fixed in amount, such as bank

 

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deposits, and also in relation to derivative contracts whose values change as market prices change. For such derivative contracts, the credit risk does not depend solely on the current value of the contract, but also on the potential value of the exposure (net of any margin held as collateral).

Our default risks include both pre-settlement and settlement risk. Pre-settlement risk is the possibility that, should a counterparty default on its obligations under a cash or derivative contract, we could incur a loss when we cover the resulting open position because the market price has moved against us. Settlement risk is the possibility that we may pay or release assets to a counterparty and fail to receive the settlement in turn.

Our sources of credit risk are managed and controlled as follows:

We have an independent global credit function that performs credit reviews of our counterparties and clients. The credit process includes undertaking due diligence, financial analysis, reviewing past and intended trading activities, as well as internally rating our clients. The credit review process also includes assigning counterparty or client level trading and position limits, issuer limits, country limits and other types of credit limits to control and limit our credit exposure to individual counterparties as well as to credit concentrations. The limits that are assigned are reflective of the various elements of the assessed credit risk and are revised given changes in the credit profile of the counterparty.

For margined transactions, a large portion of our clearing business, our clients are required to maintain margin accounts with collateral to support their open trading positions. Most clients are required to cover initial and variation margin requirements within 24 hours. Our principal credit risk arises when we must pay the required margin to exchanges as a clearing member before we receive margin from clients during this period. Although we initially establish each client’s margin requirement at the level set by the respective exchanges, we have the ability to increase the requirements to levels we believe are sufficient to cover their open positions. However, where a client’s trading activity or adverse market changes may cause that client’s margin collateral to be inadequate to support their trading obligations, we are exposed to a potential credit loss. To assess the adequacy of margins in changing market environments we conduct a variety of stress tests and, if required, intra-day margin calls are made on clients that reflect market movements affecting client positions. We also generally reserve the right to liquidate any client position immediately in the event of a failure to meet a margin call.

When we act as clearing broker we are responsible to our client for the performance of the other party. The risk that our client’s counterparty may fail to perform as expected is mitigated when we clear through an exchange or clearinghouse because the exchange or clearinghouse becomes the other party to our transaction. However, if a clearing member defaults on its obligations to an exchange or clearinghouse in an amount larger than its margin and clearing fund deposits, the shortfall is absorbed pro rata from the deposits of other clearing members. Therefore, if we are a member of a clearinghouse or exchange, we could incur losses resulting from the defaults of other market participants. Although we set limits to control these exposures at the exchange and clearinghouse, the risk is inherent in our business and is largely controlled and influenced by the regulatory bodies that impose rules on the exchanges and clearinghouses.

In line with market practices, we may grant secured (collateralized) and unsecured financing to some of our clients subject to various regulatory and internal requirements to enable them to post initial and variation margin as well as to provide financing in re-purchase agreement transactions. Generally, the financing lines we provide to clients and counterparties are uncommitted lines which we can rescind at any time and are granted based on the supporting information such as client financials, ratings, and credit due diligence.

Many of our exposures with clients and counterparties are subject to netting agreements which reduce the net exposure to us.

For execution-only clients, our principal credit risk arises from the potential failure of our clients to pay commissions (“commission risk”). We are also exposed to the risk that a clearing broker may refuse to accept a client’s trade, which would require us to assume the positions and the resulting market risk. In such cases, the positions are reconciled with the broker or liquidated.

 

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In addition to the credit review process, we employ a number of stress-testing and other techniques to closely monitor the market environment and our client’s risk of default based upon the exposure created by their open positions. These techniques may include:

 

   

establishing risk parameters based on analysis of historical prices and product price volatility;

 

   

intra-day and end-of-day risk limit, position and trade monitoring to identify any accounts trading beyond pre-set limits and parameters;

 

   

market risk analysis and evaluation of adequacy of margin requirements for traded products; and

 

   

intra-day stress analysis for material market moves or accounts with material position taking.

Regulatory Capital Risk

We are required by various domestic and foreign governmental bodies and self-regulatory organizations responsible for overseeing our business activities to maintain specified minimum levels of regulatory capital in some of our operating subsidiaries. If not properly monitored and adjusted, our regulatory capital levels could fall below the required minimum amounts set by our regulators, which could expose us to various sanctions ranging from fines and censure to imposing partial or complete restrictions on our ability to conduct business.

To mitigate this risk, we continuously evaluate the levels of regulatory capital at each of our operating subsidiaries and adjust the amounts of regulatory capital as necessary to ensure compliance with all regulatory capital requirements. Regulatory authorities may increase or decrease these requirements from time to time. We also maintain excess regulatory capital to accommodate periods of unusual or unforeseen market volatility, and we intend to continue to follow this policy. In addition, we monitor regulatory developments regarding capital requirements and prepare for increases in the required minimum levels of regulatory capital that may occur from time to time in the future. For example, we are currently awaiting confirmation from the FSA on the level of future European capital requirements, which are being changed as a consequence of the rule changes arising from the implementation of the European Union’s Capital Requirements Directive on January 1, 2008. For the purposes of prudential supervision, we as a consolidated group are not subject to consolidated regulatory capital requirements under the European Union’s Capital Requirements Directive.

Liquidity Risk

In normal conditions, our core business, providing execution and clearing brokerage services, does not generally present a substantial cash liquidity risk—that is, the risk that in the normal course of business we are unable to generate cash resources to meet our payment obligations as they arise. However, we may be exposed to cash liquidity risk under adverse market conditions or unexpected events.

Under adverse market conditions, our cash liquidity risk related to our exchange clearing activity may be heightened to the extent that we are required to satisfy obligations relating to open client positions that exceed the amount of collateral available in their margin accounts. We seek to mitigate this possibility by observing all relevant exchange margin requirements, and maintaining our own, in many cases more stringent, margin requirements, which are intended to ensure that clients will be able to cover their positions in most reasonably foreseeable economic environments.

To manage our liquidity risk we have established a liquidity policy that seeks to ensure that we maintain access to sufficient, readily available liquid assets and committed liquidity facilities. These are available to both our unregulated and regulated subsidiaries to ensure that we can meet our financial obligations as they become due under both normal and adverse market conditions. We also evaluate the impact of adverse market conditions on our liquidity risk and adjust our liquid assets appropriately.

Our policy requires that we have sufficient liquidity to satisfy all of our expected cash needs for at least one year without access to the capital markets. In June 2007, we entered into a $1,500.0 million five-year revolving

 

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unsecured credit facility with a syndicate of banks ($1,057.5 million of which is undrawn at December 31, 2009). In October 2008, Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., one of the participating banks of the aforementioned credit facility, with a total commitment amounting to $75.0 million, filed for bankruptcy and, accordingly, we believe Lehman Commercial Paper Inc. will not fund the balance of its remaining loan commitment, which is $60.0 million. We also have other uncommitted credit agreements with financial institutions in the form of trading relationships to support the business in respect of settlement and intra-day requirements and provide evidence of liquidity to the exchange on which we conduct business. We anticipate accessing these facilities and credit lines from time to time.

Operational Risk

Operational risk is defined as the risk of loss or other adverse consequences arising from inadequate or failed internal processes, people and systems or from external events. Consistent with our competitors, our operations are exposed to a broad number of these types of risks which could have a significant impact on our business. To mitigate loss, we have established an independent operational risk department designed to ensure application of a globally consistent operational risk management framework. We are also implementing firm-wide policies, standards and processes for risk identification, assessment, mitigation and reporting in order to create a more transparent and accountable operational risk environment.

Operational risk is inherent in each of our company’s businesses, support and control activities; therefore, the primary day-to-day responsibility for managing operational risk rests with these areas. Each area has established processes, systems and controls to manage operational risk and reports on losses, control and performance metrics and issues. These reports are summarized for senior management and governance committees. Additionally, we consider the inherent operational risk in new products, systems and business activities as they are developed or modified.

As a diversified financial services firm, we also rely on an extensive technology platform that includes the utilization of vendor services and software as well as internally developed applications. We mitigate our technology exposures through the implementation of standard controls, contractual agreements and performance monitoring. More broadly, we have an on-going business continuity management program designed to enable the organization to recover and restore business activities in the event of a disaster or other business disruption.

As deemed prudent, we seek to mitigate the financial effect of certain operational risk events through insurance coverage and may hold economic capital to absorb potential losses.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of and for the period covered by this report. In addition, no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Set forth below are the potentially material litigations and regulatory proceedings to which we are a party or in which we are involved.

Unauthorized Trading Incident of February 26/27, 2008

One of our brokers, Evan Dooley, trading for his own account out of a Memphis, Tennessee branch office through one of our front end order entry systems, Order Express, put on a significant wheat futures position during the late evening of February 26, 2008 and early morning of February 27, 2008. The positions were liquidated at a loss of $141.0 million on February 27, 2008. The trades were unauthorized and because the broker had no apparent means of paying for the trades, we, as a clearing member of the exchange, were required to pay the $141.0 million shortfall (the “Dooley Trading Incident”). The exchange and regulators were immediately notified, the broker was promptly terminated, and a public announcement of the loss was made by us the next day. As a result of the Dooley Trading Incident:

 

   

Class Action Suits. We, Man Group, certain of our current and former officers and directors, and certain underwriters for the IPO have been named as defendants in five actions filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. These actions, which purport to be brought as class actions on behalf of purchasers of MF Global stock between the date of the IPO and February 28, 2008, seek to hold defendants liable under §§ 11, 12 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 for alleged misrepresentations and omissions related to our risk management and monitoring practices and procedures. The five purported shareholder class actions have been consolidated for all purposes into a single action. We made a motion to dismiss which has been granted, with plaintiff having a right to replead and/or appeal the dismissal. Plaintiffs made a motion to replead by filing an amended complaint, which was denied. Plaintiffs have appealed. Because the motion to dismiss was made before discovery, the litigation is in its early stages, and in the event plaintiffs successfully appeal we believe we have meritorious defenses. Therefore, no provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this matter.

 

   

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Chicago Examination. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago, Illinois is examining Mr. Dooley and the unauthorized trades. We have been cooperating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which has informed us that we are not a target of their investigation, and that Mr. Dooley is a target.

 

   

Commodity Futures Trading Commission Proceeding. Immediately after the Dooley Trading Incident, the CFTC, in coordination with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”), began an investigation relating to the circumstances of the Dooley Trading Incident. During the course of that investigation, we established an accrual of $10.0 million to cover possible civil monetary penalties in any potential CFTC action relating to the Dooley Trading Incident and the two other matters referred to below under the captions “CFTC Potential Action” and “CFTC Natural Gas Price Information Investigation” (collectively, the “CFTC Proceedings”). The three separate matters comprising the CFTC Proceedings (together with a fourth non-material matter) were settled in a single comprehensive Order (the “CFTC Settlement”). Under the CFTC Settlement, we, without admitting or denying any of the allegations made by the CFTC against us, accepted charges of lack of supervision in each of the matters, agreed to pay an aggregate civil monetary penalty of $10.0 million and agreed to a cease and desist order. In addition, we agreed to specific undertakings related to our supervisory procedures and practices, as well as to engage an independent outside firm (Promontory Financial Group) to review and assess the implementation of the undertakings and certain recommendations previously made by Promontory Financial Group to, and accepted by, us.

 

   

CME Proceedings. At the same time as the CFTC Settlement, without admitting or denying the allegations made by the CME relating to the Dooley Trading Incident, we settled a CME

 

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Administrative Proceeding by paying a fine of $0.5 million and agreeing to certain undertakings essentially coextensive with the CFTC undertakings referred to in the CFTC Settlement. We had previously established an accrual of $0.5 million to cover any potential fines in the CME proceeding.

 

   

Retention of Consultants. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, composed of certain independent Board members, hired two consultants to help advise them and, through them, us, on matters relating to the Dooley Trading Incident. FTI Consultants advised on technology-related matters and Promontory Financial Group advised on policies and procedures in the risk aspects of our business.

 

   

Insurance Claim. We filed a claim under our Fidelity Bond Insurance (the “Bond”), which provides coverage for wrongful or fraudulent acts of employees, seeking indemnification for this loss. After months of investigation, our Bond insurers have denied payment of this claim based on certain definitions and exclusions to coverage in the Bond. They have also initiated an action against us in the Supreme Court of the State of New York seeking a declaration that there is no coverage for this loss under the Bond. We believe the insurers’ position to be in error and have filed a counterclaim in order to seek to enforce our right to payment in court.

CFTC Potential Action

In May 2007, our U.S. operating subsidiary, MF Global Inc., formerly known as Man Financial Inc, and two of our individual employees received what is commonly referred to as a “Wells notice” from the staff of the Division of Enforcement of the CFTC. The notice relates to two trades that we executed in 2004 for a customer and reported to NYMEX. This matter was settled under the terms of the CFTC Settlement referred to above under “Unauthorized Trading Incident of February 26/27, 2008—Commodity Futures Trading Commission Proceeding”.

CFTC Natural Gas Price Information Investigation

We have been cooperating in an investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York, which has brought an indictment in a related matter, and by a New York County Grand Jury. The CFTC and the SEC have also been involved in the investigation and each has brought cases in related matters. The investigation centers around trading by a market making energy trader at Bank of Montreal (BMO) who allegedly mismarked his book. One of our brokers did business with the BMO trader and used bid and offer prices for forward OTC trades the BMO trader sent to him as a basis for prices which our broker disseminated to our customers, including BMO, as price indications that reflected a consensus. We have been told that neither we nor our broker are targets of the Grand Jury investigation. This matter was settled under the terms of the CFTC Settlement referred to above under “Unauthorized Trading Incident of February 26/27, 2008—Commodity Futures Trading Commission Proceeding”.

Bank of Montreal (“BMO”) On August 28, 2009, BMO instituted suit against us and our former broker, Joseph Saab (as well as a firm named Optionable, Inc. and five of its principals or employees), in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. In its complaint, BMO asserts various claims against all defendants for their alleged misrepresentation of price quotes to BMO’s Market Risk Department (“MRD”) as independent quotes when defendants knew, or should have known, that David Lee, BMO’s trader, created the quotes which, in circular fashion, were passed on to BMO through our broker, thereby enabling Lee substantially to overvalue his book at BMO. BMO further alleges that we and Saab knew that Lee was fraudulently misrepresenting prices in his options natural gas book and aided and abetted his ability to do so by our actions in sending price indications to the MRD of BMO, and substantially assisted Lee’s breach of his fiduciary duties to BMO as its employee. The facts underlying this action also relate to the CFTC natural gas price information investigation described above in “CFTC Natural Gas Price Information Investigation.” The Complaint seeks to hold all defendants jointly and severally liable and, although it does not specify an exact damage claim, it claims CAD 680.0 million (approximately $649.4 million) as a pre-tax loss for BMO in its natural gas trading, and claims that it would not have paid brokerage commissions to us (and Optionable, Inc.), would not have continued

 

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Lee and his supervisor as employees at substantial salaries and bonuses, and would not have incurred substantial legal costs and expenses to deal with the Lee mispricing. We made a motion to dismiss the complaint which is pending before the court. This litigation is in its very earliest stages. No provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this matter.

Parabola/Tangent

In December 2006, Parabola/Tangent filed a claim in the Commercial Court in London against us and one of our brokers alleging alternatively fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation and breach of fiduciary duty in connection with execution-only accounts that were active in our London office between July 2001 and February 2002. The claimants sought £3.2 million (approximately $5.3 million) in damages and speculative claims, including claims for lost profits, of up to an additional £28.0 million (approximately $46.1 million). A trial began in March 2009. In May 2009 a judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiff and against us in the amount of £19.29 million plus interest and costs. We have appealed this judgment. An expense of $8.0 million was recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2009 in connection with this litigation, based on the judgment rendered, after adjusting for insurance proceeds of $23.5 million.

Eagletech Communications Inc., et al. v. Citigroup, Inc. et al.

Our U.S. operating subsidiary, MF Global Inc., formerly known as Man Financial Inc, was named as a co-defendant in an action filed in Florida State Court by Eagletech Communications Inc. (“Eagletech”) and three of its alleged shareholders against 21 defendants, including banks, broker-dealers and clearing brokers, as well as “100 John Doe defendants or their nominee entities”. The complaint alleges that the defendants engaged in a criminal conspiracy designed to manipulate the publicly traded share price of Eagletech stock. Plaintiffs seek unspecified compensatory and special damages, alleging that “Man Group PLC d/b/a Man Financial Inc” participated in the conspiracy by acting as a clearing broker for a broker-dealer that traded in Eagletech stock. The complaint asserts claims under RICO, the Florida Securities and Investor Protection Act, the Florida Civil Remedies for Criminal Practices Act and a related negligence claim. On May 9, 2007, defendants filed a notice removing the State Court action to Federal Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1441(a). On October 2, 2007, Plaintiffs filed a first amended complaint in the Federal Court action asserting additional claims against Man Financial Inc under Florida common law, including civil conspiracy, conversion and trespass to chattels. On February 26, 2008, the financial institution defendants, including MF Global Inc., filed a motion to dismiss seeking dismissal of all claims asserted in the amended complaint on the ground that the claims are barred by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (“PSLRA”) and preempted by the federal securities laws. On June 27, 2008, the Court partially granted the motion, holding that the federal RICO claims are barred by the PSLRA and dismissing the RICO claims with prejudice. The Court declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims and remanded those claims to the Florida State Court. On July 25, 2008, plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal of the Court’s June 27, 2008 decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit but subsequently withdrew its appeal. We are unsure of whether plaintiffs will pursue the State Court action. Since the case is in its earliest stages, it is difficult to determine exposure, if any. We intend to vigorously defend this matter. No provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this litigation.

Amacker v. Renaissance Asset Management Fund et. al.

In December 2007, we, along with four other futures commission merchants (“FCMs”), were named as defendants in an action filed in the United States District Court in Corpus Christi, Texas by 47 individuals who were investors in a commodity pool (RAM I LLC) operated by Renaissance Asset Management LLC. The complaint alleges that we and the other defendants violated the Commodity Exchange Act and alleges claims of negligence, common law fraud, violation of a Texas statute relating to securities fraud and breach of fiduciary duty for allegedly failing to conduct due diligence on the commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor, having accepted executed trades directed by the commodity trading advisor, which was engaged in a fraudulent scheme with respect to the commodity pool, and having permitted the improper allocation of trades

 

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among accounts. The plaintiffs claim damages of $32.0 million, plus exemplary damages, from all defendants. All of the FCM defendants moved to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Following an initial pre-trial conference, the court granted plaintiffs leave to file an amended complaint. On May 9, 2008, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint in which plaintiffs abandoned all claims except a claim alleging that the FCM defendants aided and abetted violations of the Commodity Exchange Act. Plaintiffs now seek $17.0 million in claimed damages plus exemplary damages from all defendants. We filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint which was granted by the court and appealed by the plaintiffs. The case is at its earliest stages so it is not possible to determine our exposure, if any. In any event, we intend to vigorously defend this matter. No provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this litigation.

Leaderguard Matter

Proceedings had been instituted against our U.K. subsidiary by the liquidator of Leaderguard Spot Forex Limited (“LSF”), a Mauritius based investment firm that became insolvent in March 2005. Our U.K. subsidiary (originally through GNI Limited and then Man Financial Limited) provided foreign exchange broking services to two companies in the Leaderguard group between 2001 and 2005. The claim alleged, inter alia, that we were complicit in assisting the directors of various Leaderguard group companies to breach fiduciary duties owed by such directors to their companies and that we knowingly benefited from assets received in breach of such fiduciary duties. The claim further alleged we are liable to account for funds lost through transactions executed by such directors with our U.K. company which are alleged to amount to $18.0 million. The Leaderguard liquidator dismissed the action on July 17, 2009. No provision for losses was recorded in connection with this matter.

Class Action Suit

We and certain of our executive officers and directors had been named as defendants in an action filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. This action, which purported to be brought as a class action on behalf of purchasers of MF Global stock between March 17, 2008 and June 20, 2008, sought to hold defendants liable under §§ 10 and 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for alleged misrepresentations and omissions related to our financial results and projections and capital structure. We filed a motion to dismiss which the court granted, with prejudice.

Voiran Trading Limited

On December 29, 2008, we received a letter before action from solicitors on behalf of Voiran Trading Limited (“Voiran”) which has now brought an LME arbitration proceeding. The letter and arbitration proceeding alleges that our U.K. affiliate was grossly negligent in advice it gave to Voiran between April 2005 and April 2006 in relation to certain copper futures contracts and claims $37.6 million in damages. This litigation is in its very earliest stages. No provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this matter.

Sentinel Bankruptcy

The Liquidation Trustee (“Trustee”) for Sentinel Management Group, Inc. (“Sentinel”) sued MF Global Inc. in June 2009 on the theory that our withdrawal of $50.2 million within 90 days of the filing of Sentinel’s bankruptcy petition on August 17, 2007 is a voidable preference under Section 547 of the Bankruptcy Code and, therefore, recoverable by the Trustee, along with interest and costs. We believe there are substantial defenses available to us and we intend to resist the Trustee’s attempt to recover those funds from us. In addition, to the extent the Trustee recovered any funds from us, we would be able to assert an offsetting claim in that amount against the assets available in Sentinel’s bankruptcy case. The matter is in its early stages and litigation has just commenced. No provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this claim.

 

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Agape World

In May 2009, investors in a venture set up by Nicholas Cosmo sued Bank of America and us, among others, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, alleging that we, among others, aided and abetted Cosmo and related entities in a Ponzi scheme in which investors lost $400.0 million. We have made a motion to dismiss which has been granted with prejudice. The litigation is in its earliest stages. We believe we have meritorious defenses and intend to vigorously defend this matter. No provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this matter.

Phidippides Capital Management/Mark Trimble

In the late spring of 2009, we were sued in Oklahoma State Court by customers who were substantial investors with Mark Trimble and/or Phidippides Capital Management. Trimble and Phidippides may have been engaged in a Ponzi scheme. Plaintiffs allege that we “materially aided and abetted” Trimble’s and Phidippides’ violations of the anti-fraud provisions of the Oklahoma securities laws and they are seeking damages “in excess of” $0.01 million each. We made a motion to dismiss which was granted by the court. Plaintiffs have appealed. We believe we have meritorious defenses and intend to vigorously defend this matter. No provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this matter.

Man Group Receivable

In late April 2009, we formally requested that Man Group (our largest shareholder at the time and former parent company) make a payment of $29.8 million that Man Group owes to us in connection with the recapitalization of our balance sheet at the time of the IPO in fiscal 2008. Man Group has demanded arbitration and we have agreed to an arbitration by the London Court of International Arbitration. As a result of this unresolved claim, at March 31, 2009, we recorded a receivable of $29.8 million in equity. If we prevail in our claim, we would expect to restore our equity by the amount we receive from Man Group (if any) and, if we are not successful, we would expect to write off the receivable to additional paid in capital and not to increase our equity. The reduction in equity does not affect amounts reported in our earnings, our income statement or our cash position for any prior period and we do not expect the resolution of the claim, whether favorable to us or not, to affect our earnings or our income statement for the current or any future period, although any amounts we recover would increase our cash position. This matter is in its very earliest stages and we intend to pursue this claim vigorously.

Morgan Fuel/Bottini Brothers

MF Global Inc. (“MFG”) and MF Global Market Services LLC (“Market Services”) are currently involved in litigation with a former customer of Market Services, Morgan Fuel & Heating Co., Inc. (“Morgan Fuel”) and its principals, Anthony Bottini, Jr., Brian Bottini and Mark Bottini (the “Bottinis”). The litigations arise out of trading losses incurred by Morgan Fuel in over-the-counter derivative swap transactions, which were unconditionally guaranteed by the Bottini principals.

 

   

MF Global Market Services LLC v. Anthony Bottini, Jr., Brian Bottini and Mark Bottini, FINRA No. 08-03673. On October 6, 2008, Market Services commenced an arbitration against the Bottinis before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) to recover $8.3 million, which is the amount of the debt owed to Market Services by Morgan Fuel after the liquidation of the swap transactions. Each of the Bottinis executed a guaranty in favor of Market Services personally and unconditionally guaranteeing payment of the obligations of Morgan Fuel upon written demand by Market Services. Market Services asserted a claim of breach of contract based upon the Bottinis’ failure to honor the guarantees.

 

   

Morgan Fuel v. MFG and Market Services, FINRA No. 08-03879. On October 21, 2008, Morgan Fuel commenced a separate arbitration proceeding before FINRA against MFG and Market Services. Morgan Fuel claims that MFG and Market Services caused Morgan Fuel to incur approximately $14.2

 

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million in trading losses. Morgan Fuel seeks recovery of $5.9 million in margin payments that it allegedly made to Market Services and a declaration that it has no responsibility to pay Market Services for the remaining $8.3 million in trading losses. Morgan Fuel contends that MFG and Market Services should not have allowed Morgan Fuel to enter into, or maintain, the swap transactions. The Supreme Court of New York for the County of New York has temporarily stayed the arbitration commenced by Morgan Fuel on the ground that there is no agreement to arbitrate. The motion for a permanent stay was denied and we have appealed that decision.

 

   

The Bottinis asserted a third-party claim against Morgan Fuel, which in turn asserted a fourth-party claim against MFG, Market Services and Steven Bellino (a former MFG employee) in the arbitration proceeding commenced by Market Services. A motion to stay the fourth-party claim was also denied by the court and we have appealed that decision as well.

It is difficult at this stage to determine exposure, if any. In any event, we intend to vigorously defend this matter. No provision for losses has been recorded in connection with this matter.

Other

In addition to the matters discussed above, from time to time we are party to litigation and regulatory proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of our business. Aside from those matters discussed above, we do not believe that we are party to any pending or threatened litigation or regulatory proceedings that, individually or in the aggregate, would in the opinion of management have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

For a discussion of our potential risks and uncertainties, see the information in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, and the information in Part II, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2009, both filed with the SEC, and which are accessible on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented by the risk factor set forth in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None.

 

Item 5. Other Information

None.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  3.1    Certificate of Incorporation of MF Global Holdings Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12G3, filed on January 5, 2010 (File. No. 000-53867)).
  3.2    By-Laws of MF Global Holdings Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12G3, filed on January 5, 2010 (File. No. 000-53867)).
  4.1    Form of Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12G3, filed on January 5, 2010 (File. No. 000-53867)).
  4.2    Form of Rights Agreement between MF Global Ltd. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of MF Global Ltd’s Registration Statement on Form F-1, filed on July 6, 2007, relating to MF Global Ltd’s initial public offering of its common shares, as amended (File No. 333-143395)).
  4.3    Amendment No. 1 to the Rights Agreement between MF Global Ltd. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent, dated as of May 20, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, filed on June 13, 2008 (File No. 001-33590)).
  4.4    Amendment No. 2 to the Rights Agreement between MF Global Ltd. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent, dated as of January 4, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K12G3, filed on January 5, 2010 (File. No. 000-53867)).
  4.5    Amendment No. 1 to the MF Global Ltd. Amended and Restated 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan, effective as of January 4, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 of the Company’s Post-effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-144697) filed on January 25, 2010).
  4.6    Amendment No. 1 to the MF Global Ltd. Employee Stock Purchase Plan, effective as of January 4, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 of the Company’s Post-effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed on January 25, 2010 (File No. 333-144697)).
10.1    Amended and restated employment agreement between MF Global Ltd. and James Rowsell, dated September 22, 2009.
10.2    Transfer Agreement, dated as of February 3, 2010, between MF Global Holdings Ltd., JCF MFG Holdco LLC and J.C. Flowers II L.P.
31.1    Certification of Bernard W. Dan, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification of J. Randy MacDonald, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1    Certification of Bernard W. Dan, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
32.2    Certification of J. Randy MacDonald, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of 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.

 

MF GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD

By:

 

/S/    BERNARD W. DAN        

Name:   Bernard W. Dan
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

By:

 

/S/    J. RANDY MACDONALD        

Name:   J. Randy MacDonald
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

Date: February 5, 2010

 

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