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Organization and Basis of Presentation
12 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Organization and Basis of Presentation Organization and Basis of Presentation
Organization
Jefferies Group LLC is the largest independent U.S.-headquartered global full service, integrated investment banking and securities firm. The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements represent the accounts of Jefferies Group LLC and all our subsidiaries (together “we” or “us”). The subsidiaries of Jefferies Group LLC include Jefferies LLC, Jefferies International Limited, Jefferies Hong Kong Limited, Jefferies Financial Services, Inc., Jefferies Funding LLC, Jefferies Leveraged Credit Products, LLC and all other entities in which we have a controlling financial interest or are the primary beneficiary.
Jefferies Group LLC is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of publicly traded Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (“Jefferies”). Jefferies does not guarantee any of our outstanding debt securities. Jefferies Group LLC is a Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) reporting company, filing annual, quarterly and periodic financial reports. Richard Handler, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, is the Chief Executive Officer of Jefferies, as well as a Director of Jefferies. Brian P. Friedman, our Chairman of the Executive Committee, is Jefferies’ President and a Director of Jefferies.
On October 1, 2018, Jefferies transferred its 50% interest in Berkadia Commercial Mortgage Holding LLC (“Berkadia”) and investments in certain separately managed accounts and funds to us. On November 1, 2018, we purchased Leucadia Investment Management Limited, an investment advisory company, from Leucadia Asset Management Holding LLC, a subsidiary of Jefferies. Refer to Note 20, Related Party Transactions, for further information.
We operate in two reportable business segments: (1) Investment Banking and Capital Markets and (2) Asset Management. For further information on our reportable business segments, refer to Note 19, Segment Reporting.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for financial information.
We have made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period to prepare these consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The most important of these estimates and assumptions relate to fair value measurements, compensation and benefits, goodwill and intangible assets, the ability to realize certain deferred tax assets and the recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions. Although these and other estimates and assumptions are based on the best available information, actual results could be materially different from these estimates.
During the third quarter of 2019, we reclassified the presentation of certain other fees, primarily related to prime brokerage services offered to clients. These fees were previously presented as Other revenues in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings and are now presented within Commissions and other fees. Previously reported results are presented on a comparable basis. This change had the impact of increasing Commissions and other fees and reducing Other revenues by $28.3 million and $23.8 million for the years ended November 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. There is no impact on Total revenues as a result of this change in presentation.
Consolidation
Our policy is to consolidate all entities that we control by ownership of a majority of the outstanding voting stock. In addition, we consolidate entities that meet the definition of a variable interest entity (“VIE”) for which we are the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is the party who has the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and who has an obligation to absorb losses of the entity or a right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the entity. For consolidated entities that are less than wholly owned, the third party’s holding of equity interest is presented as Noncontrolling interests in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity. The portion of net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interests is presented as Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
In situations in which we have significant influence, but not control, of an entity that does not qualify as a VIE, we apply either the equity method of accounting or fair value accounting pursuant to the fair value option election under U.S. GAAP, with our portion of net earnings or gains and losses recorded in Other revenues or Principal transactions revenues, respectively. We also have formed nonconsolidated investment vehicles with third-party investors that are typically organized as partnerships or limited liability companies and are carried at fair value. We act as general partner or managing member for these investment vehicles and have generally provided the third-party investors with termination or “kick-out” rights.
Intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.