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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements represent the consolidation of the accounts of ITG and its subsidiaries in conformity with U.S. GAAP. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Investments in unconsolidated companies (generally 20 to 50 percent ownership), in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence but neither has a controlling interest nor is the primary beneficiary, are accounted for under the equity method. Investments in entities in which the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence are accounted for under the cost method. Under certain criteria indicated in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 810, Consolidation, a partially-owned affiliate would be consolidated when it has less than a 50% ownership if the Company was the primary beneficiary of that entity. At the present time, there are no interests in variable interest entities.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Transactions in securities, commissions and fees and related expenses are recorded on a trade date basis.

Commissions and fees are derived primarily from (1) commissions charged for trade execution services, (2) income generated from net executions, whereby equity orders are filled at different prices within or at the National Best Bid and Offer and (3) commission sharing arrangements.

Recurring revenues are derived from the following primary sources: (1) connectivity fees, (2) software and analytical products and services, (3) maintenance and customer technical support for the Company's order management system and (4) investment research services.

Substantially all of the Company's recurring revenue arrangements do not require significant modification or customization of the underlying software. Accordingly, the vast majority of software revenue is recognized pursuant to the requirements of ASC 985, Software. Specifically, revenue recognition from subscriptions, maintenance, customer technical support and professional services commences when all of the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of a legally binding arrangement with a customer exists, (2) delivery has occurred, (3) the fee is deemed fixed or determinable and free of contingencies or significant uncertainties and (4) collection is probable. Where software is provided under a hosting arrangement, revenue is accounted for as a service arrangement since the customer does not have the contractual right to take possession of the software at any time during the hosting period without significant penalty (or it is not feasible for the customer to run the software on either its own hardware or third party hardware).

Subscription agreements for software products generally include provisions that, among other things, allow customers to receive unspecified future software upgrades for no additional fee, as well as the right to use the software products with maintenance for the term of the agreement, typically one to three years. Under these agreements, once all four of the above noted revenue recognition criteria are met, revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the subscription agreement. If a subscription agreement includes an acceptance provision, revenue is not recognized until the earlier of the receipt of written acceptance from the customer or, if not notified by the customer to cancel the license agreement, the expiration of the acceptance period.

Revenues for investment research and analytical products sold on a subscription basis are recognized when services are rendered provided that persuasive evidence exists, the fees are fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.

Other revenues include: (1) income from principal trading, including the net spread on foreign exchange contracts entered into to facilitate equity trades by clients in different currencies, (2) the net interest spread earned on securities borrowed and loaned matched book transactions, (3) non-recurring professional services, such as one-time implementation and customer training related activities, (4) investment and interest income, (5) interest income on securities borrowed in connection with customers' settlement activities and (6) market gains/losses resulting from temporary positions in securities assumed in the normal course of agency trading (including client errors and accommodations).

Revenues from professional services, which are sold as a multiple-element arrangement with the implementation of software, are deferred until go-live (or acceptance, if applicable) of the software and recognized in the same manner as the subscription over the remaining term of the initial contract. Professional services that are not connected with the implementation of software are recognized on a time and material basis as incurred.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Substantially all of the Company's financial instruments are carried at fair value or amounts approximating fair value. Cash and cash equivalents, securities owned and securities sold, not yet purchased and certain payables are carried at market value or estimated fair value.

Securities Transactions

Securities Transactions

Receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations include amounts receivable for fails to deliver, cash deposits for securities borrowed, amounts receivable on open transactions from clearing organizations and non-U.S. broker-dealers and commissions and fees receivable. Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations include amounts payable for fails to receive, amounts payable on open transactions to clearing organizations and non-U.S. broker-dealers, securities loaned and execution cost payables. Receivables from customers consist of customer fails to deliver, amounts receivable on open transactions from non-U.S. customers, commissions and fees earned and receivables billed for research services, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Payables to customers primarily consist of customer fails to receive and amounts payable on open transactions to non-U.S. customers. Commissions and fees and related expenses for all securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis.

Securities owned, at fair value consist of common stock and mutual funds. Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value consist of common stock. Marketable securities owned are valued using market quotes from third parties. Unrealized gains and losses are included in other revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, except for unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities which are reported in other accumulated comprehensive income unless there is an other than temporary impairment in their carrying value.

Securities Borrowed and Loaned

Securities Borrowed and Loaned

Securities borrowed and securities loaned transactions are reported as collateralized financings. Securities borrowed transactions require the Company to deposit cash, letters of credit, or other collateral with the lender. With respect to securities loaned, the Company receives collateral in the form of cash or other collateral in amounts generally in excess of the fair value of securities loaned. The Company monitors the fair value of securities borrowed and loaned on a daily basis, with additional collateral obtained or refunded as necessary. Securities borrowed and securities loaned transactions are recorded at the amount of cash collateral advanced or received, adjusted for additional collateral obtained or received.

The Company engages in securities borrowed and securities loaned transactions as part of its U.S. self-clearing process primarily to facilitate customer transactions, including shortened or extended settlement activities and for failed settlements. On these transactions, interest income for securities borrowed is recorded in other revenue while interest expense from securities loaned is recorded in transaction processing expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company also operates a matched book business where securities are borrowed from one party for the express purpose of loaning such securities to another party, generating a net interest spread. The Company records the net interest earned on these transactions in other revenue on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Client Commission Arrangements

Client Commission Arrangements

Institutional customers are permitted to allocate a portion of their gross commissions to pay for research products and other services provided by third parties and the Company's subsidiaries. The amounts allocated for those purposes are commonly referred to as client commission arrangements. The cost of independent research and directed brokerage arrangements is accounted for on an accrual basis. Commission revenue is recorded when earned on a trade date basis. Payments relating to client commission arrangements are netted against the commission revenues. Prepaid research, including balance transfer receivables due from other broker-dealers, net of allowance is included in receivables from customers and receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, while accrued research payable is classified as accounts payable and accrued expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Client commissions allocated for research and related prepaid and accrued research balances for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were as follows (dollars in millions):

	2012			2011			2010

Client commissions	$	112.1		$	130.8		$	155.8

Prepaid research, gross	$	5.1		$	3.7		$	4.6
Allowance for prepaid research		(0.4	)		(0.4	)		(0.4	)

Prepaid research, net of allowance	$	4.7		$	3.3		$	4.2

Accrued research payable	$	38.6		$	50.7		$	41.6

Capitalized Software

Capitalized Software

Software development costs are capitalized when the technological feasibility of a product has been established. Technological feasibility is established when all planning, designing, coding and testing activities that are necessary to establish that the product can be produced to meet design specifications are completed. All costs incurred to establish technological feasibility are expensed as incurred. Capitalized software costs are amortized using the straight-line method over a three-year period beginning when the product is available for general release to customers.

Research and Development

Research and Development

All research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs, which are included in other general and administrative expenses and compensation and employee benefits in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, are estimated at $44.6 million, $47.5 million and $49.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Business Combinations, Goodwill and Other Intangibles

Business Combinations, Goodwill and Other Intangibles

Assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their fair values on the date of acquisition. The cost to be allocated in a business combination includes consideration paid to the sellers, including cash and the fair values of assets distributed and the fair values of liabilities assumed. Both direct (e.g., legal and professional fees) and indirect costs of the business combination are expensed as incurred. Certain agreements to acquire entities include potential additional consideration that is payable, contingent on the acquired company maintaining or achieving specified earnings levels in future periods. For acquisitions that took place prior to January 1, 2009, the fair value of the consideration issued or issuable is recorded as an additional cost of the acquired entity when the contingency is resolved and additional consideration is distributable. For acquisitions occurring after January 1, 2009, the fair value of any contingent consideration would be recognized on the acquisition date with subsequent changes in that fair value reflected in income. The consolidated financial statements and results of operations reflect an acquired business from the date of acquisition.

An intangible asset is recognized as an asset apart from goodwill if it arises from contractual or other legal rights or if it is separable (i.e., capable of being separated or divided from the acquired entity and sold, transferred, licensed, rented, or exchanged). Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of each acquired entity over the amounts assigned to the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

The judgments that are made in determining the estimated fair value assigned to each class of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as well as asset lives, can materially impact net income in periods following a business combination. Traditional approaches used to determine fair value include the income, cost and market approaches. The income approach presumes that the value of an asset can be estimated by the net economic benefit to be received over the life of the asset, discounted to present value. The cost approach presumes that an investor would pay no more for an asset than its replacement or reproduction cost. The market approach estimates value based on what other participants in the market have paid for reasonably similar assets. Although each valuation approach is considered in valuing the assets acquired, the approach or combination of approaches ultimately selected is based on the characteristics of the asset and the availability of information.

Any goodwill is assessed no less than annually for impairment. The fair values used in the Company's impairment testing are determined by the discounted cash flow method (an income approach) and where appropriate, a combination of the discounted cash flow method and the guideline company method (a market approach). An impairment loss is indicated if the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is less than its net book value. In such a case, the impairment loss is calculated as the amount by which the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. In determining the fair value of each of the Company's reporting units, the discounted cash flow analyses employed require significant assumptions and estimates about the future operations of each reporting unit. Significant judgments inherent in these analyses include the determination of appropriate discount rates, the amount and timing of expected future cash flows and growth rates. The cash flows employed in the Company's discounted cash flow analyses were based on financial budgets and forecasts developed internally by management. The Company's discount rate assumptions are based on a determination of its required rate of return on equity capital.

Other intangibles with definite lives are amortized over their useful lives. All other intangibles are assessed at least annually for impairment. If impairment is indicated, an impairment loss is calculated as the amount by which the carrying value of an intangible asset exceeds its estimated fair value.

Premises and Equipment

Premises and Equipment

Furniture, fixtures and equipment are carried at cost and are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets (generally three to seven years). Leasehold improvements are carried at cost and are amortized using the straight-line method over the lesser of the estimated useful lives of the related assets or the non-cancelable lease term.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets to be held and used are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Determination of recoverability is generally based on an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition, as well as specific appraisal in certain instances. Measurement of an impairment loss for long-lived assets that management expects to hold and use is based on the fair value of the asset as estimated using a cash flow model. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded against deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized. Contingent income tax liabilities are recorded when the criteria for loss recognition have been met. An uncertain tax position is recognized based on the determination of whether or not a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination based upon the technical merits of the position. If this recognition threshold is met, the tax benefit is then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution.

Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities

Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities

Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are directly imposed on a revenue producing transaction between the Company and its customers, including but not limited to sales, use, value added and some excise taxes are presented in the consolidated financial statements on a net basis (excluded from revenues).

Earnings per Share

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is determined by dividing earnings by the average number of shares of common stock outstanding, while diluted earnings per share is determined by dividing earnings by the average number of shares of common stock adjusted for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents by application of the treasury stock method. Common stock equivalents are excluded from the diluted calculation if their effect is anti-dilutive.

Share-based Compensation

Share-based Compensation

Share-based compensation expense requires measurement of compensation cost for share-based awards at fair value and recognition of compensation cost over the vesting period, net of estimated forfeitures. For awards with graded vesting schedules that only have service conditions, the Company recognizes compensation cost evenly over the requisite service period for the entire award using the straight-line attribution method. For awards with service conditions as well as performance or market conditions, the Company recognizes compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award was, in-substance, multiple awards.

The fair value of stock options granted is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which considers, among other factors, the expected term of the award and the expected volatility of the Company's stock price. Although the Black-Scholes model meets the requirements of ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, the fair values generated by the model may not be indicative of the actual fair values of the underlying awards, as it does not consider other factors important to those share-based compensation awards, such as continued employment, periodic vesting requirements and limited transferability.

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used for grants in 2011 and 2010:



Dividend yield	0.0	%	0.0	%
Risk free interest rate	2.0	%	1.5	%
Expected volatility	40	%	44	%
Expected life (years)	4.76		4.00

No option awards were granted in 2012.

The risk free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The expected option life is based on historical experience of employee exercise behavior. Expected volatility is based on historical volatility, implied volatility, price observations taken at regular intervals and other factors deemed appropriate. Expected dividend is based upon the current dividend rate.

The fair value of restricted share awards is based on the fair value of the Company's common stock on the grant date.

Certain restricted stock awards granted have both service and market conditions. Awards with market conditions are valued based on (a) the grant date fair value of the award for equity-based awards or (b) the period-end fair value for liability-based awards. Fair value for market condition based awards is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model to simulate a range of possible future stock prices for the Company's common stock. Compensation costs for awards with market conditions are recognized on a graded vesting basis over the estimated service period calculated by the Monte Carlo simulation model.

Phantom stock awards are settled in cash and are therefore classified as liability awards. The fair value of the liability is remeasured at each reporting date until final settlement using the fair value of the Company's common stock on that date.

Cash flows related to income tax deductions in excess of the compensation cost recognized on share-based awards exercised during the period presented (excess tax benefit) are classified in financing cash flows in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in non-U.S. currencies are translated at rates of exchange prevailing on the date of the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, and revenues and expenses are translated at average rates of exchange during the fiscal year. Gains or losses on translation of the financial statements of a foreign operation, where the functional currency is other than the U.S. Dollar, together with the after-tax effect of exchange rate changes on intercompany transactions of a long-term investment nature, are reflected as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders' equity. Gains or losses on foreign currency transactions are included in other general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Common Stock Held in Treasury, at cost

Common Stock Held in Treasury, at Cost

The purchase of treasury stock is accounted for under the cost method with the shares of stock repurchased reflected as a reduction to stockholders' equity and included in common stock held in treasury, at cost in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. When treasury shares are reissued, they are recorded at the average cost of the treasury shares acquired. The Company held 14,677,872 and 12,679,948 shares of common stock in treasury as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2012-02, Testing Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets for Impairment, an update to existing guidance on the impairment assessment of indefinite-lived intangibles. This update simplifies the impairment assessment of indefinite-lived intangibles by allowing companies to consider qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. This option is in lieu of performing a quantitative fair value assessment. The Company elected to early adopt this update effective for the interim reporting period, which began on October 1, 2012. The adoption of this update did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-5, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220). Companies now have two choices of how to present items of net income, comprehensive income and total comprehensive income. Companies can create one continuous statement of comprehensive income or two separate consecutive statements. This standard became effective for the Company on January 1, 2012, the adoption of which changed the presentation of its comprehensive income, but did not have an impact on its results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-08, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment, in an effort to simplify goodwill impairment testing. The amendments permit companies to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test described in Topic 350. The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50%. This standard became effective for the Company on January 1, 2012, the adoption of which changed the process and procedures for the Company's goodwill impairment testing, but did not have an impact on its results of operations, financial position or cash flows.