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Organization and Basis of Presentation
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Organization and Basis of Presentation  
Organization and Basis of Presentation

 

(1)   Organization and Basis of Presentation

 

        Investment Technology Group, Inc. was formed as a Delaware corporation on July 22, 1983. Its principal subsidiaries include: (1) ITG Inc., AlterNet Securities, Inc. ("AlterNet") and ITG Derivatives LLC ("ITG Derivatives"), institutional broker-dealers in the United States ("U.S."), (2) ITG Canada Corp., an institutional broker-dealer in Canada, (3) Investment Technology Group Limited, an institutional broker-dealer in Europe, (4) ITG Australia Limited, an institutional broker-dealer in Australia, (5) ITG Hong Kong Limited, an institutional broker-dealer in Hong Kong, (6) ITG Software Solutions, Inc., our intangible property, software development and maintenance subsidiary in the U.S., and (7) ITG Solutions Network, Inc., a holding company for ITG Analytics, Inc., a provider of pre- and post-trade analysis, fair value and trade optimization services, ITG Investment Research, Inc., a provider of independent data-driven investment research, and ITG Platforms Inc., a provider of trade order and execution management technology and network connectivity services for the financial community.

 

        ITG is an independent execution and research broker that partners with global portfolio managers and traders to provide unique data-driven insights throughout the investment process. From investment decision through to settlement, ITG helps clients understand market trends, improve performance, mitigate risk and navigate increasingly complex markets. A leader in electronic trading since launching the POSIT crossing network in 1987, ITG takes a consultative approach in delivering the highest quality institutional liquidity, execution services, analytical tools and proprietary research. The firm is headquartered in New York with offices in North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region.

 

        The Company's business is organized into four reportable operating segments (see Note 22, Segment Reporting, to the consolidated financial statements):

 

U.S. Operations

Canadian Operations

European Operations

Asia Pacific Operations

 

        The four operating segments offer a wide range of solutions for asset managers and broker-dealers in the areas of electronic brokerage; research, sales and trading; platforms; and analytics. These offerings include trade execution services and solutions for portfolio management, as well as investment research, pre-trade analytics and post-trade analytics and processing.

 

        The consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("U.S. GAAP"). All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for the fair presentation of results.

 

        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.

 

        The Company has changed its accounting for receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, receivables from customers, payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations and payables to customers which resulted in revisions to the prior year balances to conform to the current period accounting to reflect the Company's agent capacity for executing transactions on behalf of clients in the Europe and Asia-Pacific regions. As a result, prior year receivables and payables related to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations and customer balances were reduced by $670 million respectively.