UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

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



For the quarterly period ended March  31, 2016



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: 000-32651

 

Nasdaq, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 



+1 212 401 8700

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)



No changes

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 





Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐ 



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically 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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 



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



Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 





 

 

 

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Nasdaq, Inc.

Form 10-Q

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2016 

INDEX

 































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About This Form 10-Q

Throughout this Form 10-Q, unless otherwise specified:

•“Nasdaq,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Nasdaq, Inc.

•“The NASDAQ Stock Market” and “NASDAQ” refer to the registered national securities exchange operated by The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC.

•“Nasdaq Nordic” refers to collectively, Nasdaq Clearing AB, Nasdaq Stockholm AB, Nasdaq Copenhagen A/S, Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd, and Nasdaq Iceland hf.  

•“Nasdaq Baltic” refers to collectively, Nasdaq Tallinn AS, Nasdaq Riga, AS, and AB Nasdaq Vilnius. 

•“Nasdaq Clearing” refers to the clearing operations conducted by Nasdaq  Clearing AB.  

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The following is a non-exclusive list of registered trademarks, registered service marks, or trademarks or service marks of Nasdaq or its subsidiaries, in the United States and/or other countries or jurisdictions:

@TRADE®, AT-TRADE®, BWISE®, BWISE BUSINESS IN CONTROL®, CANADIAN DIVIDEND ACHIEVERS®, CCBN®, CONDICO®, DATAXPRESS®, D.A.L.I®, DATAXPRESS®, DEFENSE OF INTERNATIONAL MARKETS AND EXCHANGES SYMPOSIUM®, DIMES®, DIRECTORS DESK®, DIRECTORSDESK®, DIVIDEND ACHIEVERS®, DORSEY WRIGHT®, DREAM IT. DO IT.®, DWA®, DWA MATRIX®, DX®, E MARKET®, EQQQ, E (design), E-SPEED®, E SPEED (device), ESPEED EXCHANGE®, E-SPEED FILING®, ESPEED®, ESPEED ELITE®, EVI®, EXIGO, FINQLOUD®, FINQLOUD REGULATORY RECORDS RETENTION® FIRST NORTH®, FONDSBØRSEN®, FTEN®, GENIUM®, GIDS®, GLOBE NEWSWIRE®, GX®, IGNITE YOUR AMBITION®, INET®, INVESTOR WORLD, IPOWORLD, ISSUERWORLD®, ITCH®, KFX®, KFXAKTIEINDEX®, KLEOS®, LIQUIDITYXPRESS®, MARKET INTELLIGENCE DESK®, MARKET LINQUIDITY,MARKET MECHANICS®, MARKETSITE®, MARKETWIRED®, MICROMARKET®, MY CCBN®, MYMEDIAINFO®, NASDAQ®, NASDAQ - FINANCIAL®, NASDAQ - FINANCIAL INDEX®, NASDAQ BIOTECHNOLOGY INDEX®, NASDAQ CANADA®, NASDAQ CANADA COMPOSITE INDEX®, NASDAQ CANADA INDEX®, NASDAQ CAPITAL MARKET®, NASDAQ COMPOSITE®, NASDAQ COMPOSITE INDEX®, NASDAQ COMPUTER INDEX®, NASDAQ DIVIDEND ACHIEVERS®, NASDAQ DUBAI®, NASDAQ DUBAI®, NASDAQ EUROPE®, NASDAQ EUROPE COMPOSITE INDEX®, NASDAQ FINANCIAL-100 INDEX®, NASDAQ GLOBAL MARKET®, NASDAQ GLOBAL SELECT MARKET®, NASDAQ INDUSTRIAL INDEX®, NASDAQ INTERACT®, NASDAQ INTERNET INDEX®, NASDAQ IQ FUND®, NASDAQ JAPAN®, NASDAQ MARKET ANALYTIX®, NASDAQ MARKET CENTER®, NASDAQ MARKET FORCES®, NASDAQ MARKET VELOCITY®, NASDAQ MARKETSITE®, NASDAQ MAX®, NASDAQ MAX MARKET ANALYTIX®, NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET®, NASDAQ OMX®, NASDAQ OMX ADVANTAGE®, NASDAQ OMX ALPHA INDEXES®, NASDAQ OMX BX®, NASDAQ OMX FUTURES EXCHANGE®, NASDAQ OMX GREEN ECONOMY INDEX®, NASDAQ OMX GROUP®, NASDAQ OMX NORDIC®, NASDAQ PRIVATE MARKET®, NASDAQ Q-50 INDEX®, NASDAQ TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDEX®, NASDAQ TOTALVIEW®, NASDAQ TRADER®, NASDAQ TRANSPORTATION INDEX®, NASDAQ US ALL MARKET®, NASDAQ VOLATILITY GUARD®, NASDAQ WORKSTATION®, NASDAQ WORKSTATION II®, NASDAQ WORLD®, NASDAQ-100®, NASDAQ-100 EUROPEANFUND®, NASDAQ-100 EUROPEAN TRACKER®, NASDAQ-100 EUROPEAN TRACKER FUND®, NASDAQ-100 INDEX®, NASDAQ-100 INDEX EUROPEAN TRACKER FUND®, NASDAQ-100 INDEX TRACKING STOCK®, NDX®, NFX WORLD CURRENCY FUTURES®, NFX XL®, NLX®, NOIS®, NORDIX®, OMX COPENHAGEN 20®, OMX HELSINKI 25®, OMX STIBOR FUTURE®, OMX STOCKHOLM 30®, OMXH25®, OMXS30®, OMXS3FUT®, OMX TECHNOLOGY®, ON THE WIRE®, OTW® , OVERUNDER®, PHILADELPHIA STOCK EXCHANGE®, PHLX®, PHLX XL®, PIXL®, PORTAL ALLIANCE®, PRF®, PRIVATE COMPANY MARKET®, Q THE NEXT GREAT THING®, QQQ®, QTARGET®, QVIEW®, R3®, RE-THINK®, RISKWAY®, RISKWRAPPER®, RISKXPOSURE®, RX®, S.A.X.E.S®, SDW®, SECONDMARKET®, SECONDMARKET ECOSYSTEM®, SIDECAR®, SIGNALXPRESS®, SIGNALXPRESS SX®, SMARTS®, SMARTSONLINE®, STINA®, STRUCTURED LIQUIDITY PROGRAM®, SX®, THE NASDAQ STOCK MARKET®, THE STOCK MARKET FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS®, TOTAL EQUITY SOLUTION®, TRADE REPORTING DATA STORAGE®, TRADEGUARD®, TRADEXAMINER®, TRDS®, TX®, ULL®, ULTRA LOW LATENCY®, ULTRAFEED®, UNITED CURRENCY OPTIONS MARKET®, VX PROXY®, WIZER®, XDE®, XO DORSEY WRIGHT & ASSOCIATES®, ÖVERUNDER®

To the extent a name, logo or design does not appear on the above list, such lack of appearance does not constitute a waiver of any intellectual property rights that Nasdaq has established in its product or service names or logos, or in product configurations or designs, all of which rights are expressly reserved.

FINRA® and TRADE REPORTING FACILITY® are registered trademarks of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA.

All other trademarks and service marks used herein are the property of their respective owners.  

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This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes market share and industry data that we obtained from industry publications and surveys, reports of governmental agencies and internal company surveys. Industry publications and surveys generally state that the information they contain has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but we cannot assure you that this information is accurate or complete. We have not independently verified any of the data from third-party sources nor have we ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon therein. Statements as to our market position are based on the most currently available market data. For market comparison purposes, The NASDAQ Stock Market data in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for initial public offerings, or IPOs, is based on data generated internally by us, which includes best efforts underwritings; therefore, the data may not be comparable to other publicly-available IPO data. Data in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for new listings of equity securities on The NASDAQ Stock Market is based on data generated internally by us, which includes best efforts underwritings, issuers that switched from other listing venues, closed-end funds and exchange traded products, or ETPs. Data in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for IPOs and new listings of equity securities on the Nasdaq Nordic and Nasdaq Baltic exchanges also is based on data generated internally by us. IPOs and new listings data is presented as of period end. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding industry data presented herein, our estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors. We refer you to the “Risk Factors” section in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March  31, 2016, and the “Risk Factors” section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 that was filed with the  U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on February 26, 2016.







































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          Forward-Looking Statements

The SEC encourages companies to disclose forward-looking information so that investors can better understand a company’s future prospects and make informed investment decisions. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains these types of statements. Words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes” and words or terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future expectations as to industry and regulatory developments or business initiatives and strategies, future operating results or financial performance identify forward-looking statements. These include, among others, statements relating to:

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:

Most of these factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond our control. You should consider the uncertainty and any risk related to forward-looking statements that we make. These risk factors are discussed under the caption “Part II. Item 1A. Risk Factors,” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, and more fully described in the “Risk Factors” section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 that was filed with the SEC on February 26, 2016. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. You should carefully read this entire Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including “Part 1. Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and the condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes. Except as required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements or report the occurrence of unanticipated events. For any forward-looking statements contained in any document, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

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PART 1—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

Nasdaq, Inc.



Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in millions, except share and par value amounts)





See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Nasdaq, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income 

(Unaudited)

(in millions, except per share amounts)

 



See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Nasdaq, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(Unaudited)

(in millions)



 



See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Nasdaq, Inc.



Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

(in millions)

 

   See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Nasdaq, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

1. Organization and Nature of Operations 

Nasdaq, Inc. is a leading provider of trading, clearing, exchange technology, regulatory, securities listing, information and public company services across six continents. Our global offerings are diverse and include trading and clearing across multiple asset classes, access services, data products, financial indexes, capital formation solutions, corporate solutions and market technology products and services. Our technology powers markets across the globe, supporting equity derivatives trading, clearing and settlement, cash equity trading, fixed income trading and many other functions.

We manage, operate and provide our products and services in four business segments: Market Services, Listing Services, Information Services and Technology Solutions.

Market Services

Our Market Services segment includes our equity derivative trading and clearing, cash equity trading, fixed income, currency and commodities trading and clearing, or FICC, and access and broker services businesses. We operate multiple exchanges and other marketplace facilities across several asset classes, including derivatives, commodities, cash equity, debt, structured products and ETPs. In addition, in some countries where we operate exchanges, we also provide broker services, clearing, settlement and central depository services. Our transaction-based platforms provide market participants with the ability to access, process, display and integrate orders and quotes. The platforms allow the routing and execution of buy and sell orders as well as the reporting of transactions, providing fee-based revenues.

In the U.S., we operate three options exchanges, as well as three cash equity exchanges. The NASDAQ Stock Market, the largest of our cash equities exchanges, is the largest single venue of liquidity for trading U.S.-listed cash equities. We also operate a leading electronic platform for trading of U.S. Treasuries and Nasdaq Futures, Inc., or NFX, a U.S. based energy derivatives market which offers cash settled energy derivatives based on key energy benchmarks including oil, natural gas and U.S. power.

Through our acquisition of Chi-X Canada ATS Limited, or Chi-X Canada, in February 2016, we also operate two Canadian markets for the trading of Canadian-listed securities.

In Europe, we operate exchanges in Stockholm (Sweden), Copenhagen (Denmark), Helsinki (Finland), and Iceland, as well as the clearing operations of Nasdaq Clearing. We also operate exchanges in Tallinn (Estonia), Riga (Latvia) and Vilnius (Lithuania) as Nasdaq Baltic. Collectively, Nasdaq Nordic and Nasdaq Baltic offer trading in cash equities and depository receipts, warrants, convertibles, rights, fund units and exchange traded funds as well as trading and clearing of derivatives and clearing of resale and repurchase agreements. Through Nasdaq First North, our Nordic and Baltic operations also offer alternative marketplaces for smaller companies.

In addition, Nasdaq Commodities operates a power derivatives exchange regulated in Norway and a European carbon exchange. In the U.K., we operate Nasdaq NLX, a London-based multilateral trading venue that offers a range of both short-term interest rate and long-term interest rate euro- and sterling-based listed derivative products.

Through our Access and Broker Services business, we provide market participants with a wide variety of alternatives for connecting to and accessing our markets via a number of different protocols used for quoting, order entry, trade reporting, DROP functionality and connectivity to various data feeds. We also provide co-location services to market participants, whereby firms may lease cabinet space and power to house their own equipment and servers within our data center. Our broker services operations offer technology and customized securities administration solutions to financial participants in the Nordic market.

Listing Services

Our Listing Services segment includes our U.S. and European Listing Services businesses. We operate a variety of listing platforms around the world to provide multiple global capital raising solutions for private and public companies. Our main listing markets are The NASDAQ Stock Market and the Nasdaq Nordic and Nasdaq Baltic exchanges. Our Listing Segment also includes The NASDAQ Private Market, LLC, or NPM, and SecondMarket Solutions, Inc., or SecondMarket, which are marketplaces for private growth companies. 

As of March 31, 2016, The NASDAQ Stock Market was home to 2,852 listed companies with a combined market capitalization of approximately $8.0 trillion, and in Europe, the Nasdaq Nordic and Nasdaq Baltic exchanges, together with Nasdaq First North, were home to 847 listed companies with a combined market capitalization of approximately $1.3 trillion.  

Information Services

Our Information Services segment includes our Data Products and our Index Licensing and Services businesses. Our Data Products business sells and distributes historical and real-time quote and trade information to market participants and data distributors.

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Our data products enhance transparency of the market activity within the exchanges that we operate and provide critical information to professional and non-professional investors globally.

Our Index Licensing and Services business develops and licenses Nasdaq branded indexes, associated derivatives, and financial products and also provides custom calculation services for third-party clients. As of March 31, 2016, we had 226 ETPs licensed to Nasdaq’s indexes and had over $105 billion of assets under management in licensed ETPs tracking Nasdaq indexes.

Technology Solutions

Our Technology Solutions segment includes our Corporate Solutions and Market Technology businesses.

Our Corporate Solutions business serves corporate clients, including companies listed on our exchanges. We help organizations manage the two-way flow of information with their key constituents, including their board members and investors, and with clients and the public through our suite of advanced technology, analytics, and consultative services. Our Corporate Solutions business primarily offers products to serve the following key areas: investor relations, public relations, multimedia solutions, and governance. We currently have over 17,000 Corporate Solutions clients.

Our Market Technology business is a leading global technology solutions provider and partner to exchanges, clearing organizations, central securities depositories, regulators, banks, brokers and corporate businesses. Our Market Technology business is the sales channel for our complete global offering to other marketplaces.

Market Technology provides technology solutions for trading, clearing, settlement, surveillance and information dissemination to markets with wide-ranging requirements, from the leading markets in the U.S., Europe and Asia to emerging markets in the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Our marketplace solutions can handle a wide array of assets including cash equities, equity derivatives, currencies, various interest-bearing securities, commodities, and energy products, and are currently powering more than 70 marketplaces in 50 countries. Market Technology also provides market surveillance services to broker-dealer firms worldwide, as well as enterprise governance, risk management and compliance software solutions.

2. Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Nasdaq, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and other entities in which Nasdaq has a controlling financial interest. When we do not have a controlling interest in an entity but exercise significant influence over the entity’s operating and financial policies, such investment is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. We recognize our share of earnings or losses of an equity method investee based on our ownership percentage. As permitted under U.S. GAAP, for certain equity method investments for which financial information is not sufficiently timely for us to apply the equity method of accounting currently, we record our share of the earnings or losses of the investee from the most recently available financial statements on a lag. See “Equity Method Investments,” of Note 6, “Investments,” for further discussion of our equity method investments.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. These adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

As permitted under U.S. GAAP, certain footnotes or other financial information can be condensed or omitted in the interim condensed consolidated financial statements. The information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in Nasdaq’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and the disclosure of contingent amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

We have evaluated subsequent events through the issuance date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. See Note 17, “Subsequent Event,” for further discussion.

Tax Matters

We use the asset and liability method to determine income taxes on all transactions recorded in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities (i.e., temporary differences) and are measured at the enacted rates that will be in effect when these differences are realized. If necessary, a valuation allowance is established to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.

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In order to recognize and measure our unrecognized tax benefits, management determines whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. Once it is determined that a position meets the recognition thresholds, the position is measured to determine the amount of benefit to be recognized in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters are recognized in income tax expense.

Nasdaq’s income tax provision was $63 million in the first quarter of 2016 compared with $5 million in the first quarter of 2015. The overall effective tax rate was 32.3% in the first quarter of 2016 compared with 35.7% in the first quarter of 2015. The lower effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2016 when compared with the same period in 2015 is primarily due to adjustments to deferred tax assets and liabilities associated with changes in statutory tax rates which resulted in a decrease to the tax provision. In addition, in the first quarter of 2015, we recorded adjustments related to prior year tax return liabilities which resulted in an increase to the tax provision. The effective tax rate may vary from period to period depending on, among other factors, the geographic and business mix of earnings and losses. These same and other factors, including history of pre-tax earnings and losses, are taken into account in assessing the ability to realize deferred tax assets.

Nasdaq and its eligible subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return and applicable state and local income tax returns and non-U.S. income tax returns. Federal income tax returns for the years 2011 through 2013 are currently under audit by the Internal Revenue Service and we are subject to examination for the year 2014. Several state tax returns are currently under examination by the respective tax authorities for the years 2005 through 2013 and we are subject to examination for the year 2014. Non-U.S. tax returns are subject to examination by the respective tax authorities for the years 2008 through 2014. We anticipate that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits at March 31, 2016 will significantly decrease in the next twelve months as we expect to settle certain tax audits. We anticipate that such adjustments will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations. 

 In the fourth quarter of 2010, we received an appeal from the Finnish Tax Authority challenging certain interest expense deductions claimed by Nasdaq in Finland for the year 2008. The appeal also demanded certain penalties be paid with regard to the company’s tax return filing position. In October 2012, the Finnish Appeals Board disagreed with the company’s tax return filing position for years 2009 through 2011, even though the tax return position with respect to this deduction was previously reviewed and approved by the Finnish Tax Authority. In June 2014, the Finnish Administrative Court also disagreed with the company’s tax return filing position for these years. We have appealed this ruling to the Finnish Supreme Administrative Court and expect to receive a favorable decision. Through March 31, 2016, we have recorded tax benefits of $30 million associated with this filing position. We have paid $41 million to the Finnish tax authorities, which includes $11 million in interest and penalties. We expect the Finnish Supreme Administrative Court to agree with our position, which would result in an expected refund to Nasdaq of $38 million, which reflects the impact of foreign currency translation. If the Finnish Supreme Administrative Court disagrees with our position, we would record tax expense of $38 million, or $0.23 per diluted share.

From 2009 through 2012, we recorded tax benefits associated with certain interest expense incurred in Sweden. Our position is supported by a 2011 ruling we received from the Swedish Supreme Administrative Court. However, under new legislation effective January 1, 2013, limitations are imposed on certain forms of interest expense. Because this legislation is unclear with regard to our ability to continue to claim such interest deductions, Nasdaq filed an application for an advance tax ruling with the Swedish Tax Council for Advance Tax Rulings. In June 2014, we received an unfavorable ruling from the Swedish Tax Council for Advance Tax Rulings. We appealed this ruling to the Swedish Supreme Administrative Court; however the Swedish Supreme Administrative Court denied our request for a ruling based on procedural requirements. In the third quarter of 2015, we received a notice from the Swedish Tax Agency that interest deductions for the year 2013 have been disallowed. We will appeal to the Swedish Lower Administrative Court. We continue to expect a favorable decision. Since January 1, 2013, we have recorded tax benefits of $46 million associated with this matter. We continue to pay all assessments from the Swedish Tax Agency while this matter is pending. If the Swedish Courts agree with our position we will receive a refund of all paid assessments; if the Swedish Courts disagree with our position, we will record tax expense of $34 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, which reflects the impact of foreign currency translation. We expect to record recurring quarterly tax benefits of $1 million to $2 million with respect to this matter for the foreseeable future.

Other Tax Matter

In December 2012, the Swedish Tax Agency approved our 2010 amended value added tax, or VAT, tax return and we received a cash refund for the amount claimed. In 2013, we filed amended VAT tax returns for 2011 and 2012, utilizing the same approach which was approved for the 2010 filing. We also utilized this approach in our 2013 and 2014 filings. However, even though the VAT return position was previously reviewed and approved by the Swedish Tax Agency, the Swedish Tax Agency challenged our approach. The revised position of the Swedish Tax Agency was upheld by the Lower Administrative Court during the first quarter of 2015. As a result, in the first quarter of 2015, we reversed the previously recorded benefit of $12 million, based on the court decision. The decision of the Lower Administrative Court was upheld by the Court of Appeals in April 2016. We are evaluating whether we will appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

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Income Taxes

In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes,” which eliminates the current requirement to present deferred tax liabilities and assets as current and non-current in a classified balance sheet. Instead, Nasdaq is required to classify all deferred tax liabilities and assets as non-current. In the first quarter of 2016, we elected to early adopt this guidance retrospectively for all periods presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The adoption of this guidance resulted in the reclassification of current deferred tax assets of $24 million to non-current deferred tax assets and current deferred tax liabilities of $24 million to non-current deferred tax liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2015. This new standard is a change in balance sheet presentation only.

Business Combinations

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, “Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments,” which eliminates the requirement that an acquirer in a business combination account for measurement-period adjustments retrospectively. This guidance requires the acquirer to recognize adjustments to provisional amounts identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. In addition, the amendments in this guidance require an entity to present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. We adopted this new standard on January 1, 2016, which had no impact on our consolidated financial statements. We will apply the new guidance to future adjustments to provisional amounts, if any.

Recently Announced Accounting Pronouncements

Compensation – Stock Compensation

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” which involves several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. This new guidance will require all income tax effects of awards to be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled, as opposed to additional paid-in-capital where it is currently recorded.  This guidance will impact the calculation of our total diluted share count for the earnings per share calculation, as calculated under the treasury stock method. It also will allow an employer to repurchase more of an employee’s shares than it can today for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting. All tax-related cash flows resulting from share-based payments are to be reported as operating activities on the statement of cash flows. In regards to forfeitures, Nasdaq can make a policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest or account for forfeitures as they occur. This new standard is effective for us on January 1, 2017, with early adoption permitted. We are currently assessing the impact that this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases.” Under this new guidance, at the commencement date, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. This guidance is not applicable for leases with a term of 12 months or less. Lessor accounting is largely unchanged. The new standard is effective for us on January 1, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently assessing the impact that this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.

Financial Instruments

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” This new standard requires that most equity investments be measured at fair value, with subsequent changes in fair value recognized in net income. Under this new guidance, Nasdaq will no longer be able to recognize unrealized holding gains and losses on equity securities classified today as available-for-sale in accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity. This new standard does not change the guidance for classifying and measuring investments in debt securities and loans. This new guidance also impacts financial liabilities accounted for under the fair value option and affects the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial assets and liabilities. This new standard is effective for us on January 1, 2018. Early adoption is not permitted. We do not anticipate a material impact on our consolidated financial statements at the time of adoption of this new standard.

Revenue From Contracts With Customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” which supersedes the revenue recognition guidance in Accounting Standards Codification, “Revenue Recognition.” The new revenue recognition standard sets forth a five-step revenue recognition model to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The standard also requires more detailed disclosures.

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The standard provides alternative methods of initial adoption. On July 9, 2015, the FASB approved the deferral of the effective date of the new revenue recognition standard by one year. As a result, this new standard will now be effective for us on January 1, 2018. Early adoption as of the original effective date is permitted. We are currently assessing the impact that this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.  

3. Restructuring Charges

2015 Restructuring Plan

During the first quarter of 2015, we performed a comprehensive review of our processes, businesses and systems in a company-wide effort to improve performance, cut costs, and reduce spending. In the first quarter of 2016, as part of our 2015 restructuring plan,  we recognized net restructuring charges totaling $9 million. We currently estimate that we will recognize additional restructuring charges of $15 million through June 2016 and total net pre-tax charges of $196 million for the period March 2015 through June 2016. Through this initiative, we expect to generate pre-tax savings in 2016 of $25 million.  Our 2015 restructuring plan will be completed in June 2016. Restructuring charges are recorded on restructuring plans that have been committed to by management and are, in part, based upon management's best estimates of future events. Changes to the estimates may require future adjustments to the restructuring reserve. 

The following table presents a summary of the 2015 restructuring plan charges in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income: 

Rebranding of Trade Name

In connection with our global rebranding initiative, we decided to change our company name from The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. to Nasdaq, Inc., which became effective in the third quarter of 2015. In connection with this action, we decided to discontinue the use of the OMX trade name and recorded a pre-tax, non-cash impairment charge of $119 million in March 2015 because we no longer attribute any material value to the trade name. The impairment charge did not impact the company's consolidated cash flows, liquidity, or capital resources. 

Severance

Severance, other termination benefits and other associated costs of $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and $18 million for the three months ended March  31, 2015, related to workforce reductions of 13 positions across our organization for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 199 positions for the three months ended March 31, 2015.  In addition to reducing our workforce, we have relocated certain functions to lower cost locations and expect to continue hiring in these lower cost locations to support the business.

Facilities-related

The facilities-related costs of $3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 primarily pertained to the consolidation of leased facilities.

Asset Impairments

Asset impairment charges of $3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and $9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 primarily related to fixed assets and capitalized software that were retired during the respective period.

Restructuring Reserve

The following table presents the changes in the restructuring reserve during the three months ended March 31, 2016:





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As of March 31, 2016, the majority of the restructuring reserve is included in other current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and will be paid during the remainder of 2016. 

4. Acquisitions

2016 Acquisitions

We completed the following acquisitions in the first quarter of 2016. Financial results of each transaction are included in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income from the date of each acquisition.





The amounts in the table above represent the preliminary allocation of the purchase price and are subject to revision during the remainder of the measurement period, a period not to exceed 12 months from the acquisition date. Adjustments to the provisional values during the measurement period will be recorded in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. Changes to amounts recorded as assets and liabilities may result in a corresponding adjustment to goodwill.

Acquisition of Chi-X Canada

In February 2016, we acquired Chi-X Canada for $116 million ($115 million in cash paid plus $1 million in working capital adjustments). With this acquisition, Nasdaq offers two Canadian markets for the trading of Canadian-listed securities. This acquisition will expand Nasdaq’s cash equity trading business in North America.  We acquired net assets, at fair value, totaling $6 million and recorded a deferred tax liability of $20 million related to differences in the U.S. GAAP and tax basis of our investment in Chi-X Canada, resulting in total net liabilities acquired of $14 million. Chi-X Canada is part of our Market Services segment and our Data Products business within our Information Services segment.

Nasdaq used cash on hand and borrowed $55 million under the revolving credit commitment of our 2014 Credit Facility, as defined in Note 8, “Debt Obligations,” to fund this acquisition. 

Intangible Assets

The following table presents the details of the Chi-X Canada acquired intangible asset. This asset is amortized using the straight-line method.



Customer Relationships

Customer relationships represent the non-contractual and contractual relationships that Chi-X Canada has with its customers and represented the key intangible asset in this transaction. Customer relationships were valued individually for each of Chi-X Canada’s businesses using the income approach, specifically an excess earnings method. The excess earnings method examines the economic returns contributed by the identified tangible and intangible assets of a company, and then isolates the excess return that is attributable to the intangible asset being valued.

A discount rate of 10.3% was utilized, which reflects the amount of risk associated with the hypothetical cash flows for the customer relationships relative to the overall business. In developing a discount rate for the customer relationships, we estimated a weighted average cost of capital for the overall business and we employed this rate when discounting the cash flows. The resulting discounted cash flows were then tax-effected at a rate of 40.0%, and a discounted tax amortization benefit was added to the fair value of the assets under the assumption that the customer relationships would be amortized for tax purposes over a period of 15 years.

Based on the historical behavior of the customers and a parallel analysis of the customers using the excess earnings method, we estimated the remaining useful life for the acquired customer relationships to be 17 years.

Acquisition of Marketwired

In February 2016, we acquired Marketwired for $111 million ($109 million in cash paid plus $2 million in working capital adjustments). Marketwired is a newswire operator and press release distributor. This acquisition expands Nasdaq’s position as a leading global corporate solutions provider. We acquired net liabilities, at fair value, totaling $1 million and recorded a deferred tax

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liability of $10 million related to differences in the U.S. GAAP and tax basis of our investment in Marketwired, resulting in total net liabilities acquired of $11 million. Marketwired is part of our Corporate Solutions business within our Technology Solutions segment.

Nasdaq used cash on hand and borrowed $110 million under the revolving credit commitment of our 2014 Credit Facility to fund this acquisition. 

Intangible Assets

The following table presents the details of the Marketwired acquired intangible assets. These assets are amortized using the straight-line method.



Customer Relationships

Customer relationships represent the non-contractual and contractual relationships that Marketwired has with its customers and represented the key intangible asset in this transaction. The Marketwired customer relationships were valued using the income approach, specifically an excess earnings method. The excess earnings method examines the economic returns contributed by the identified tangible and intangible assets of a company, and then isolates the excess return that is attributable to the intangible asset being valued. 

A discount rate of 16.4% was utilized, which reflects the amount of risk associated with the hypothetical cash flows for the customer relationships relative to the overall business. In developing a discount rate for the customer relationships, we estimated a weighted average cost of capital for the overall business and we employed this rate when discounting the cash flows. The resulting discounted cash flows were then tax-effected at a rate of 40.0%, and a discounted tax amortization benefit was added to the fair value of the assets under the assumption that the customer relationships would be amortized for tax purposes over a period of 15 years.

Based on the historical behavior of the customers and a parallel analysis of the customers using the excess earnings method, we estimated the remaining useful life for the acquired customer relationships to be 6 years.

March 31, 2016 Pending Acquisitions

International Securities Exchange

In March 2016, we entered into an agreement with Deutsche Börse AG and Eurex Frankfurt AG to acquire U.S. Exchange Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, or ISE, an operator of three electronic options exchanges, for $1.1 billion. We expect this acquisition to allow us to improve efficiencies for clients, broaden our technology offering, and provide the capability within the equity options industry to further innovate. Upon closing, ISE will be integrated into our Market Services segment. This pending transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2016.

Boardvantage, Inc.

In March 2016, we also entered into an agreement to acquire Boardvantage, Inc., a leading board portal solution provider which also specializes in leadership collaboration and meeting productivity. This acquisition closed on May 2, 2016, for approximately $200 million, net of acquired cash. Boardvantage is part of our Corporate Solutions business within our Technology Solutions segment and is expected to strengthen Nasdaq’s position as a leading global corporate solutions provider.

2015 Acquisitions

We completed the following acquisitions in 2015. Financial results are included in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income from the date of each acquisition.





The amounts in the table above represent the preliminary allocation of the purchase price and were subject to revision during the measurement period, a period not to exceed 12 months from the acquisition date. We finalized the allocation of the purchase price for the above acquisition in January 2016. There were no adjustments to the provisional values during the 12 month measurement period.

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Acquisition of Dorsey, Wright & Associates, LLC

On January 30, 2015, we completed the acquisition of Dorsey, Wright & Associates, LLC, or DWA, for $226 million  ($225 million cash paid plus $1 million in working capital adjustments). DWA is a market leader in data analytics, passive indexing and smart beta strategies. We acquired net assets, at fair value, totaling $8 million and recorded a deferred tax liability of $34 million related to differences in the U.S. GAAP and tax basis of our investment in DWA, resulting in total net liabilities acquired of $26 million. DWA is part of our Data Products and Index Licensing and Services businesses within our Information Services segment.

Nasdaq used cash on hand and borrowed $100 million under the revolving credit commitment of our 2014 Credit Facility to fund this acquisition. 

Intangible Assets

The following table presents the details of the DWA acquired intangible assets. All acquired intangible assets with finite lives are amortized using the straight-line method.



Trade Name

The DWA trade name is recognized in the industry and carries a reputation for quality. As such, DWA’s reputation and positive recognition embodied in the trade name is a valuable asset to Nasdaq. The trade name was considered the primary asset acquired in this transaction. In valuing the acquired trade name, we used the income approach, specifically the excess earnings method. The excess earnings method examines the economic returns contributed by the identified tangible and intangible assets of a company, and then isolates the excess return that is attributable to the intangible asset being valued.

A discount rate of 17.0% was utilized, which reflects the amount of risk associated with the hypothetical cash flows generated by the DWA trade name in the future. In developing a discount rate for the trade name, we estimated a weighted average cost of capital for the overall business and we employed this rate when discounting the cash flows. The resulting discounted cash flows were then tax-effected at a rate of 36.5%, and a discounted tax amortization benefit was added to the fair value of the asset under the assumption that the trade name would be amortized for tax purposes over a period of 15 years.

We estimated the useful life of the trade name to be indefinite. The useful life was based on several factors including the number of years the name has been in service, its popularity within the industry, and our intention to continue its use in the branding of products.

Customer Relationships

Customer relationships represent the non-contractual and contractual relationships that DWA has with its customers. The DWA customer relationships were valued individually for each of DWA’s businesses using the income approach, specifically the with-and-without method. The with-and-without method is commonly used when the cash flows of a business can be estimated with and without the asset in place. The premise associated with this valuation technique is that the value of an asset is represented by the differences in the subject business’ cash flows under scenarios where (a) the asset is present and is used in operations (with); and (b) the asset is absent and not used in operations (without). Cash flow differentials are then discounted to present value to arrive at an estimate of fair value for the asset.

We estimated that without current customer relationships, it would take approximately 3-6 years, depending on the business, for the customer base to grow to 100% of current projected revenues. We also made estimates related to compensation levels and other expenses such as sales and marketing that would be incurred as the business was ramped up through the year in which the customer base would be expected to reach the level that currently exists.

A discount rate of 17.5% was utilized, which reflects the amount of risk associated with the hypothetical cash flows generated by the customer relationships in the future. The resulting discounted cash flows were then tax-effected at a rate of 36.5%, and a discounted tax amortization benefit was added to the fair value of the asset under the assumption that the customer relationships would be amortized for tax purposes over a period of 15 years.

Based on the historical behavior of the customers and a parallel analysis of the customers using the excess earnings method, we estimated the remaining useful life for the acquired customer relationships to be 15 years.

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Technology

The fair value of the acquired DWA developed technology was valued using the income approach, specifically the relief from royalty method, or RFRM. The RFRM is used to estimate the cost savings that accrue to the owner of an intangible asset who would otherwise have to pay royalties or license fees on revenues earned through the use of the asset. The royalty rate is applied to the projected revenue over the expected remaining life of the intangible asset to estimate royalty savings. The net after-tax royalty savings are calculated for each year in the remaining economic life of the intangible asset and discounted to present value.

To determine the royalty rate we searched for and identified market transactions and royalty rates for comparable technology. In addition, we performed a profit split analysis that produced a range of royalty rates that were then compared for reasonableness to the royalty rates identified in the market transactions and royalty rates for comparable technology. Profit split theory states that a reasonable market participant would be willing and able to make revenue-based royalty payments of 25.0% to 30.0% of their operating profit to receive the rights to certain licensable intellectual property necessary for conducting business. Conversely, the owner of such intellectual property would save that amount or be relieved from making those royalty payments. We estimated supportable royalty rates for the technology and selected a pre-tax royalty rate of 15.0%.  

A discount rate of 17.0% was utilized, which reflects the estimated weighted average cost of capital for the overall business and we employed this rate when discounting the cash flows. The resulting discounted cash flows were then tax-effected at a rate of 36.5%, and a discounted tax amortization benefit was added to the fair value of the asset under the assumption that the technology would be amortized for tax purposes over a period of 15 years.

We have estimated the remaining useful life for the acquired developed technology to be 5 years.

Acquisition of Full Ownership of The NASDAQ Private Market, LLC and Acquisition of SecondMarket

In October 2015, we acquired full ownership of NPM following the acquisition of the minority stake that was previously held by a third party. In addition, through NPM, we acquired SecondMarket, a recognized innovator in facilitating liquidity for private company securities. The additional ownership interest in NPM and the acquisition of SecondMarket were purchased for an immaterial amount. NPM and SecondMarket are part of our Listing Services segment.

Pro Forma Results and Acquisition-related Costs

Pro forma financial results for the acquisitions completed in 2016 and 2015 have not been presented since the acquisitions, both individually and in the aggregate for each year, were not material to our financial results.



Acquisition-related costs for the transactions described above were expensed as incurred and are included in merger and strategic initiatives expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. 



5. Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets



Goodwill

The following table presents the changes in goodwill by business segment during the three months ended March 31, 2016:  

 





The goodwill acquired for Market Services and Information Services shown above relates to our acquisition of Chi-X Canada and the goodwill acquired for Technology Solutions shown above relates to our acquisition of Marketwired. See “2016 Acquisitions,” of Note 4, “Acquisitions,” for further discussion.

As of March 31, 2016, the amount of goodwill that is expected to be deductible for tax purposes in future periods is $932 million, of which $539 million is related to our acquisition of certain assets and assumption of certain liabilities of the eSpeed business, or eSpeed, $252 million is related to our acquisition of the Investor Relations, Public Relations and Multimedia Solutions businesses of Thomson Reuters, and $141 million is related to  other acquisitions. 

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the value assigned to the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of a business acquired. Goodwill is allocated to our reporting units based on the assignment of the fair values of each reporting unit of the acquired company. We test goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level annually, or in interim periods if certain events occur indicating that the carrying amount may be impaired, such as changes in the business climate, poor indicators of operating

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performance or the sale or disposition of a significant portion of a reporting unit. There was no impairment of goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015; however, events such as economic weakness or unexpected significant declines in operating results of a reporting unit may result in goodwill impairment charges in the future. 

Acquired Intangible Assets

The following table presents details of our total acquired intangible assets, both finite- and indefinite-lived:



 



Amortization expense for purchased finite-lived intangible assets was $17 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and $15 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

The estimated future amortization expense (excluding the impact of foreign currency translation adjustments of $74 million as of March 31, 2016) of acquired finite-lived intangible assets as of March 31, 2016 is as follows:

 



(1)        Represents the estimated amortization to be recognized for the remaining nine months of 2016.

6. Investments

Trading Securities

Trading securities, which are included in financial investments, at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, were $249 million as of March 31, 2016 and $189 million as of December 31, 2015. These securities are primarily comprised of highly rated European government debt securities, of which $175 million as of March 31, 2016 and $166 million as of December 31, 2015, are assets utilized to meet regulatory capital requirements primarily for our clearing operations at Nasdaq Clearing.  

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Available-for-Sale Investment Securities

Available-for-sale investment securities, which are included in financial investments, at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, were $10 million as of March 31, 2016 and $12 million as of December 31, 2015. These securities are primarily comprised of short-term commercial paper. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the cumulative unrealized gains and losses on these securities were immaterial.

Equity Method Investments

The carrying amounts of our equity method investments totaled $70 million as of March 31, 2016 and $72 million as of December 31, 2015 and are included in other non-current assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, our equity method investments primarily included equity interests in The Options Clearing Corporation, or OCC, EuroCCP N.V. and The Order Machine, or TOM.

Net income recognized from our equity interest in the earnings and losses of these equity method investments was $2  million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and $14  million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The decrease in the first quarter compared with the same periods in 2015 is primarily due to income recognized from our equity method investment in OCC in 2015. We were not able to determine what our share of OCC’s income was for the year ended December 31, 2014 until the first quarter of 2015, when OCC’s financial statements were made available to us. As a result, we recorded other income of $13 million in March 2015 relating to our share of OCC’s income for the year ended December 31, 2014. This income is included in net income from unconsolidated investees in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2015. 

Capital Contribution to OCC 

In March 2015, in connection with being designated systemically important by the Financial Stability Oversight Council, OCC implemented a capital plan under which the options exchanges that are OCC’s stockholders made new capital contributions to OCC, committed to make further capital contributions in the future under certain specified circumstances, and received certain commitments from OCC with respect to future dividend payments and related matters. Under the OCC capital plan, OCC's existing exchange stockholders, including Nasdaq, each contributed a pro-rata share of $150 million in new equity capital. Nasdaq’s capital contribution was $30 million. OCC’s exchange stockholders also committed to provide, as may become necessary from time to time, additional replenishment capital on a pro-rata basis if certain capital thresholds are triggered. For its part, OCC adopted specific policies with respect to fees, customer refunds and stockholder dividends, which envision an annual dividend payment to its stockholders equal to the portion of OCC’s after-tax income that exceeds OCC’s capital requirements after payment of refunds to OCC’s clearing members (with such customer refunds generally to constitute 50% of the portion of OCC’s pre-tax income that exceeds OCC’s capital requirements). After the SEC staff approved the OCC capital plan and the stockholders made their capital contributions, the plan’s further effectiveness was suspended under the applicable SEC rules because certain parties petitioned the full Commission to reconsider the capital plan’s approval. This stay was lifted by the SEC in September 2015, allowing OCC to implement the plan and in February 2016, the SEC issued an order approving the OCC capital plan as previously implemented and dismissed the petitions challenging that plan. The petitioners appealed the SEC's order to the Federal Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.  The petitioners also filed for a stay of the SEC's order, which would have blocked OCC from paying a dividend under the OCC capital plan.  The Court of Appeals denied the requested stay, permitting OCC to pay a dividend which Nasdaq received in February 2016.

Cost Method Investments

The carrying amount of our cost method investments totaled $145 million as of March 31, 2016 and $132 million as of December 31, 2015 and is included in other non-current assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, our cost method investments primarily represent our 5% ownership interest in Borsa Istanbul and our 5% ownership interest in LCH.Clearnet Group Limited, or LCH.

The Borsa Istanbul shares, which were issued to us in the first quarter of 2014, are part of the consideration to be received under a market technology agreement. This investment has a cost basis of $75 million which is guaranteed to us via a put option negotiated as part of the market technology agreement.

7. Deferred Revenue

Deferred revenue represents consideration received that is yet to be recognized as revenue. The changes in our deferred revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 are reflected in the following table.





At March 31, 2016, we estimate that our deferred revenue, which is primarily listing services and technology solutions revenues, will be recognized in the following years:





8. Debt Obligations

The following table presents the changes in the carrying amount of our debt obligations during the three months ended March 31, 2016:  

 



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Senior Unsecured Notes

5.55% Senior Unsecured Notes

In January 2010, Nasdaq issued $600 million aggregate principal amount of 5.55% senior notes due January 15, 2020, or the 2020 Notes, at a discount. As a result of the discount, the proceeds received from the issuance were less than the aggregate principal amount. As of March 31, 2016, the balance of $597 million reflects the aggregate principal amount, less the unamortized debt discount and the unamortized debt issuance costs. The unamortized debt discount and the unamortized debt issuance costs are being accreted through interest expense over the life of the 2020 Notes.  

The 2020 Notes pay interest semiannually at a rate of 5.55% per annum until January 15, 2020. The 2020 Notes are general unsecured obligations of ours and rank equally with all of our existing and future unsubordinated obligations. The 2020 Notes are not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. The 2020 Notes were issued under indentures that, among other things, limit our ability to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets, create liens, and enter into sale and leaseback transactions.

5.25% Senior Unsecured Notes

In December 2010, Nasdaq issued $370 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% senior unsecured notes due January 16, 2018, or the 2018 Notes, at a discount. As a result of the discount, the proceeds received from the issuance were less than the aggregate principal amount. As of March 31, 2016, the balance of $368 million reflects the aggregate principal amount, less the unamortized debt discount and the unamortized debt issuance costs. The unamortized debt discount and the unamortized debt issuance costs are being accreted through interest expense over the life of the 2018 Notes.

The 2018 Notes pay interest semiannually at a rate of 5.25% per annum until January 16, 2018 and such rate may vary with Nasdaq’s debt rating up to a rate not to exceed 7.25%. The 2018 Notes are general unsecured obligations of ours and rank equally with all of our existing and future unsubordinated obligations. They are not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. The 2018 Notes were issued under indentures that among other things, limit our ability to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets, create liens, and enter into sale and leaseback transactions. In addition, upon a change of control triggering event (as defined in the indenture), the terms require us to repurchase all or part of each holder’s notes for cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount purchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

3.875% Senior Unsecured Notes

In June 2013, Nasdaq issued €600 million aggregate principal amount of 3.875% senior unsecured notes due June 7, 2021, or the 2021 Notes, at a discount. As a result of the discount, the proceeds received from the issuance were less than the aggregate principal amount. As of March 31, 2016, the balance of $678 million reflects the aggregate principal amount translated into U.S. dollars, less the unamortized debt discount and the unamortized debt issuance costs. The unamortized debt discount and the unamortized debt issuance costs are being accreted through interest expense over the life of the 2021 Notes.

The 2021 Notes pay interest annually at a rate of 3.875% per annum until June 7, 2021 and such rate may vary with Nasdaq’s debt rating up to a rate not to exceed 5.875%. The 2021 Notes are general unsecured obligations of ours and rank equally with all of our existing and future unsubordinated obligations. They are not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. The 2021 Notes were issued under indentures that among other things, limit our ability to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets, create liens, and enter into sale and leaseback transactions. In addition, upon a change of control triggering event (as defined in the indenture), the terms require us to repurchase all or part of each holder’s notes for cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount purchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

The 2021 Notes have been designated as a hedge of our net investment in certain foreign subsidiaries to mitigate the foreign exchange risk associated with certain investments in these subsidiaries. The increase in the carrying amount of $32 million noted in the “Payments, Accretion and Other” column in the table above reflects the translation of the 2021 Notes into U.S. dollars and is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss within stockholders’ equity in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of  March 31, 2016. 

4.25% Senior Unsecured Notes

In May 2014, Nasdaq issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of 4.25% senior unsecured notes due June 1, 2024, or the 2024 Notes, at a discount. As a result of the discount, the proceeds received from the issuance were less than the aggregate principal amount. As of March 31, 2016, the balance of $495 million reflects the aggregate principal amount, less the unamortized debt discount and the unamortized debt issuance costs. The unamortized debt discount and the unamortized debt issuance costs are being accreted through interest expense over the life of the 2024 Notes.

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The 2024 Notes pay interest semiannually at a rate of 4.25% per annum until June 1, 2024 and such rate may vary with Nasdaq’s debt rating up to a rate not to exceed 6.25%. The 2024 Notes are general unsecured obligations of ours and rank equally with all of our existing and future unsubordinated obligations. They are not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. The 2024 Notes were issued under indentures that among other things, limit our ability to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets, create liens, and enter into sale and leaseback transactions. In addition, upon a change of control triggering event (as defined in the indenture), the terms require us to repurchase all or part of each holder’s notes for cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount purchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

Credit Facilities

2016 Credit Facility

In March 2016,  Nasdaq entered into a credit agreement which provides for a $400 million senior unsecured term loan facility which matures on November 25, 2019, or the 2016 Credit Facility. In March 2016, loans in an aggregate principal amount of $400 million were drawn under the 2016 Credit Facility and the net proceeds of $399 million were used to partially repay amounts outstanding under the revolving credit commitment of the 2014 Credit Facility, as discussed and defined below. As of March 31, 2016, the balance of $399 million reflects the aggregate principal amount, less the unamortized debt issuance costs. The unamortized debt issuance costs are being accreted through interest expense over the life of the 2016 Credit Facility. 

Loans under the 2016 Credit Facility pay interest monthly at a variable interest rate based on either the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, or the base rate (or other applicable rate with respect to non-dollar borrowings), plus an applicable margin that varies with Nasdaq’s debt rating.  Under the 2016 Credit Facility, we are required to make quarterly principal payments beginning in March 2018 equal to 2.50% of the aggregate original principal amounts borrowed with the remaining amounts due at maturity.    

The credit agreement contains financial and operating covenants. Financial covenants include a minimum interest expense coverage ratio and a maximum leverage ratio. Operating covenants include, among other things, limitations on Nasdaq’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, grant liens on assets, enter into affiliate transactions, disposition of assets by Nasdaq and pay dividends.

Nasdaq is permitted to repay borrowings under the 2016 Credit Facility at any time in whole or in part, without penalty. We are also required to repay loans outstanding under the 2016 Credit Facility with net cash proceeds from sales of property and assets of Nasdaq and its subsidiaries (excluding inventory sales and other sales in the ordinary course of business) and casualty and condemnation proceeds, in each case subject to specified exceptions and thresholds.

2014 Credit Facility

In November 2014, Nasdaq entered into a $750 million senior unsecured five-year credit facility which matures on November 25, 2019, or the 2014 Credit Facility. The 2014 Credit Facility consists of a $750 million revolving credit commitment (with sublimits for non-dollar borrowings, swingline borrowings and letters of credit). During the first quarter of 2016, we borrowed $165 million under the revolving credit commitment of the 2014 Credit Facility to partially fund our acquisitions of Chi-X Canada and Marketwired.  See “2016 Acquisitions,” of Note 4, “Acquisitions,” for further discussion of the Chi-X Canada and Marketwired acquisitions. During the first quarter of 2016, we also borrowed $160 million for general corporate purposes. In March 2016, we used the net proceeds from our 2016 Credit Facility and cash on hand to repay $555 million under the revolving credit commitment of the 2014 Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2016, the balance of $28 million reflects the outstanding amount under the 2014 Credit Facility, less the unamortized debt issuance costs. The unamortized debt issuance costs are being accreted through interest expense over the life of the 2014 Credit Facility.

The loans under the 2014 Credit Facility have a variable interest rate based on either the LIBOR or the base rate (as defined in the credit agreement) (or other applicable rate with respect to non-dollar borrowings), plus an applicable margin that varies with Nasdaq’s debt rating.

The 2014 Credit Facility contains financial and operating covenants. Financial covenants include an interest expense coverage ratio and a maximum leverage ratio. Operating covenants include limitations on Nasdaq’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, grant liens on assets, enter into affiliate transactions and pay dividends. Our 2014 Credit Facility allows us to pay cash dividends on our common stock. The 2014 Credit Facility also contains customary affirmative covenants, including access to financial statements, notice of defaults and certain other material events, maintenance of business and insurance, and events of default, including cross-defaults to our material indebtedness.  

Nasdaq is permitted to repay borrowings under the 2014 Credit Facility at any time in whole or in part, without penalty. We are also required to repay loans outstanding under the 2014 Credit Facility with net cash proceeds from sales of property and assets of Nasdaq and its subsidiaries (excluding inventory sales and other sales in the ordinary course of business) and casualty and condemnation proceeds, in each case subject to specified exceptions and thresholds.

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Other Credit Facilities

In addition to the revolving credit commitment under our 2014 Credit Facility discussed above, we have credit facilities related to our Nasdaq Clearing operations in order to provide further liquidity. Credit facilities, which are available in multiple currencies, primarily Swedish Krona, totaled $209 million at March 31, 2016 and $202 million at December 31, 2015 in available liquidity, none of which was utilized.

Debt Covenants

At March 31, 2016, we were in compliance with the covenants of all of our debt obligations.

9. Employee Benefits

U.S. Defined-Benefit Pension and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans

We maintain non-contributory, defined-benefit pension plans, non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plans, or SERPs, for certain senior executives and post-retirement benefit plans for eligible employees in the U.S., collectively referred to as the Nasdaq Benefit Plans.

Our pension plans and SERPs are frozen. Future service and salary for all participants do not count toward an accrual of benefits under the pension plans and SERPs. As such, net periodic benefit cost was immaterial for both the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. 

Non-U.S. Benefit Plans

Most employees outside the U.S. are covered by local retirement plans or by applicable social laws. Benefits under social laws are generally expensed in the periods in which the costs are incurred. These costs are included in compensation and benefits expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and were  $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and $5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

U.S. Defined Contribution Savings Plan

We sponsor a voluntary defined contribution savings plan for U.S. employees. Employees are immediately eligible to make contributions to the plan and are also eligible for an employer contribution match at an amount equal to 100.0% of the first 6.0% of eligible employee contributions. Savings plan expense is included in compensation and benefits expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and was $3 million for both three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.    

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

We have an employee stock purchase plan, or ESPP, under which approximately 2.6 million shares of our common stock have been reserved for future issuance as of March 31, 2016.  

Our ESPP allows eligible U.S. and non-U.S. employees to purchase a limited number of shares of our common stock at six-month intervals, called offering periods, at 85.0% of the lower of the fair market value on the first or the last day of each offering period. The 15.0% discount given to our employees is included in compensation and benefits expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and was $1 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015.  

10. Share-Based Compensation

We have a share-based compensation program that provides our board of directors broad discretion in creating employee equity incentives. Share-based awards, or equity awards, granted under this program include stock options, restricted stock (consisting of restricted stock units), and performance share units, or PSUs. Grants of equity awards are designed to reward employees for their long-term contributions and provide incentives for them to remain with us. For accounting purposes, we consider PSUs to be a form of restricted stock.  

Restricted stock is generally time-based and vests over two to five-year periods beginning on the date of the grant. Stock options are also generally time-based and expire ten years from the grant date. Stock option and restricted stock awards granted prior to 2014 generally included performance-based accelerated vesting features based on achievement of specific levels of corporate performance. If Nasdaq exceeded the applicable performance parameters, the grants vest on the third anniversary of the grant date, if Nasdaq met the applicable performance parameters, the grants vest on the fourth anniversary of the grant date, and if Nasdaq did not meet the applicable performance parameters, the grants vest on the fifth anniversary of the grant date. Beginning in 2014, restricted stock awards granted vest 25% on the second anniversary of the grant date, 25% on the third anniversary of the grant date, and 50% on the fourth anniversary of the grant date. The grant date fair value of restricted stock awards is based on the closing price at the date of grant less the present value of future cash dividends.

PSUs are based on performance measures that impact the amount of shares that each recipient will receive upon vesting. PSUs are granted at the fair market value of our stock on the grant date and compensation cost is recognized over the performance period.

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For each grant of PSUs, an employee may receive from 0% to 150% of the target amount granted, depending on the achievement of performance measures. We report the target number of PSUs granted, unless we have determined that it is more likely than not, based on the actual achievement of performance measures, that an employee will receive a different amount of shares underlying the PSUs, in which case we report the amount of shares the employee is likely to receive.  

We also have a performance-based long-term incentive program for our chief executive officer, presidents, executive vice presidents and senior vice presidents that focuses on total shareholder return, or TSR. This program represents 100% of our chief executive officer’s, presidents’ and executive vice presidents’ long-term stock-based compensation and 50% of our senior vice presidents’ long-term stock-based compensation. Under the program, each individual receives PSUs with a three-year cumulative performance period that vest at the end of the performance period. Performance will be determined by comparing Nasdaq’s TSR to two peer groups, each weighted 50%. The first peer group consists of exchange companies, and the second peer group consists of all companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. Nasdaq’s relative performance ranking against each of these groups will determine the final number of shares delivered to each individual under the program. The payout under this program will be between 0% and 200% of the number of PSUs granted and will be determined by Nasdaq’s overall performance against both peer groups. However, if Nasdaq’s TSR is negative for the three-year performance period, regardless of TSR ranking, the payout will not exceed 100% of the number of PSUs granted. We estimate the fair value of PSU’s granted under the TSR program using the Monte Carlo simulation model, as these awards contain a market condition. The following weighted-average assumptions were used to determine the weighted-average fair values of the PSU awards granted under the TSR program during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:





 



In addition, the annual dividend assumption utilized in the Monte Carlo simulation model is based on Nasdaq’s dividend yield at the date of the grant.

Summary of 2016 Equity Awards 

In March 2016, we granted restricted stock to most active employees. During the first three months of 2016, certain officers received grants of 498,048 PSUs. Of these PSUs granted, 344,031 units are subject to the performance measures and vesting schedules of the TSR program as discussed above, and the remaining 154,017 units are subject to a one-year performance period and generally vest ratably on an annual basis from December 31, 2017 through December 31, 2019. See “Summary of Restricted Stock and PSU Activity” below for further discussion.

During 2015, certain grants of PSUs with a one-year performance period exceeded the applicable performance parameters. As a result, an additional 87,582 units were considered granted in the first quarter of 2016.

Certain grants of PSUs that were issued in 2013 under the TSR program with a three-year performance period exceeded the applicable performance parameters. As a result, an additional 406,075 units were considered granted in the first quarter of 2016.

See “Summary of Restricted Stock and PSU Activity” below for further discussion.

Common Shares Available Under Our Equity Plan

As of March 31, 2016, we had approximately 6.0 million shares of common stock authorized for future issuance under Nasdaq’s Equity Incentive Plan.

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Summary of Share-Based Compensation Expense

The following table shows the total share-based compensation expense resulting from equity awards and the 15.0% discount for the ESPP for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income:



Summary of Restricted Stock and PSU Activity

The following table summarizes our restricted stock and PSU activity for the three months ended March 31, 2016:  







At March 31, 2016,  $136 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock and PSUs is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years.

Summary of Stock Option Activity

The following table summarizes our stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2016:





We received net cash proceeds of $2 million from the exercise of 86,811 stock options during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and received net cash proceeds of $6 million from the exercise of 232,459 stock options during the three months ended March 31, 2015. We present excess tax benefits from the exercise of stock options, if any, as financing cash flows. 

The aggregate intrinsic value in the above table represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (i.e., the difference between our closing stock price on March 31, 2016 of $66.38 and the exercise price, times the number of shares) based on stock options with an exercise price less than Nasdaq’s closing price of $66.38 as of  March 31, 2016, which would have been received by the option holders had the option holders exercised their stock options on that date. This amount can change based on the fair market value of our common stock. The total number of in-the-money stock options exercisable as of March 31, 2016 was 2.5 million. As of March 31, 2015,  3.1 million outstanding stock options were exercisable and the weighted-average exercise price was $27.69.  



The total pre-tax intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and $5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

11. Nasdaq Stockholders’ Equity

Common Stock

At March 31, 2016,  300,000,000 shares of our common stock were authorized, 167,955,072 shares were issued and 164,502,699 shares were outstanding. The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share, except that our certificate of incorporation limits the ability of any person to vote in excess of 5.0% of the then-outstanding shares of Nasdaq common stock.

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Common Stock in Treasury, at Cost

We account for the purchase of treasury stock under the cost method with the shares of stock repurchased reflected as a reduction to Nasdaq stockholders’ equity and included in common stock in treasury, at cost in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Most shares repurchased under our share repurchase program are retired and cancelled, and the remaining shares are available for general corporate purposes. When treasury shares are reissued, they are recorded at the average cost of the treasury shares acquired. We held 3,452,373 shares of common stock in treasury as of March 31, 2016 and 2,917,464 shares as of December 31, 2015. 

Share Repurchase Program

In the fourth quarter of 2014, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $500 million of our outstanding common stock and in the first quarter of 2016, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of an additional $370 million of our outstanding common stock under our share repurchase program.

These purchases may be made from time to time at prevailing market prices in open market purchases, privately-negotiated transactions, block purchase techniques or otherwise, as determined by our management. The purchases are funded from existing cash balances. The share repurchase program may be suspended, modified or discontinued at any time.

During the first three months of 2016, we repurchased 490,032 shares of our common stock at an average price of $59.37, for an aggregate purchase price of $29 million. As discussed above in “Common Stock in Treasury, at Cost,” most shares repurchased under the share repurchase program are retired and cancelled, and the remaining shares are available for general corporate purposes. As of March 31, 2016, the remaining amount authorized for share repurchases under the program was $500 million.

Other Repurchases of Common Stock

During the three months ended March 31, 2016,  we repurchased 534,909 shares of our common stock in settlement of employee tax withholding obligations due upon the vesting of restricted stock.

Preferred Stock

Our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of 30,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, issuable from time to time in one or more series. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, no shares of preferred stock were issued or outstanding.

Cash Dividends on Common Stock

During the three months ended March 31, 2016, our board of directors declared the following cash dividends:



 

 

The dividend declared in March 2016 of $0.32 per share on our outstanding common stock reflects a 28% increase from our prior quarterly cash dividend of $0.25. Future declarations of quarterly dividends and the establishment of future record and payment dates are subject to approval by the board of directors. 



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12. Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:



 

 

Stock options to purchase 2,539,676 shares of common stock and 5,594,549 shares of restricted stock and PSUs were outstanding at March 31, 2016. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, we included all of the outstanding stock options and 4,533,893 shares of restricted stock and PSUs in the computation of diluted earnings per share, on a weighted-average basis, as their inclusion was dilutive. The remaining shares of restricted stock and PSUs are antidilutive, and as such, they were properly excluded.

Stock options to purchase 3,084,323 shares of common stock and 5,917,005 shares of restricted stock and PSUs were outstanding at March 31, 2015. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, we included all of the outstanding stock options and 4,573,314 shares of restricted stock and PSUs in the computation of diluted earnings per share, on a weighted-average basis, as their inclusion was dilutive. The remaining stock options and shares of restricted stock and PSUs are antidilutive, and as such, they were properly excluded.

13. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of our financial instruments are measured based on a three-level hierarchy: 

This hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available.

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The following table presents for each of the above hierarchy levels, our financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.  



 



There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

Financial Instruments Not Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

Some of our financial instruments are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis but are recorded at amounts that approximate fair value due to their liquid or short-term nature. Such financial assets and financial liabilities include: cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, receivables, net, certain other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses, Section 31 fees payable to SEC, accrued personnel costs, and certain other current liabilities.  

In addition, our investments in OCC, EuroCCP N.V. and TOM are accounted for under the equity method of accounting and our investments in Borsa Istanbul and LCH are carried at cost. See “Equity Method Investments,” and “Cost Method Investments,” of Note 6, “Investments,” for further discussion.

We also consider our debt obligations to be financial instruments. The fair value of our debt, utilizing discounted cash flow analyses for our floating rate debt and prevailing market rates for our fixed rate debt, was $2.8 billion at March 31, 2016 and $2.5 billion at December 31, 2015. The discounted cash flow analyses are based on borrowing rates currently available to us for debt with similar terms and maturities. Our fixed rate and our floating rate debt is categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. For further discussion of our debt obligations, see Note 8, “Debt Obligations.”



14. Clearing Operations

Nasdaq Clearing

Nasdaq Clearing is authorized and supervised under the European Market Infrastructure Regulation as a multi-asset clearinghouse by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority, or SFSA, and is authorized to conduct clearing operations in Norway by the Norwegian Ministry of Finance. The clearinghouse acts as the central counterparty, or CCP, for exchange and over-the-counter, or OTC, trades in equity derivatives, fixed income derivatives, resale and repurchase contracts, power derivatives, emission allowance derivatives, freight and fuel oil derivatives, iron ore derivatives and seafood derivatives.  

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Through our clearing operations in the financial markets, which include the resale and repurchase market, the commodities markets, and the seafood market, Nasdaq Clearing is the legal counterparty for, and guarantees the fulfillment of, each contract cleared. These contracts are not used by Nasdaq Clearing for the purpose of trading on its own behalf. As the legal counterparty of each transaction, Nasdaq Clearing bears the counterparty risk between the purchaser and seller in the contract. In its guarantor role, Nasdaq Clearing has precisely equal and offsetting claims to and from clearing members on opposite sides of each contract,  standing as the CCP on every contract cleared. In accordance with the rules and regulations of Nasdaq Clearing, clearing members’ open positions are aggregated to create a single portfolio for which default fund and margin collateral requirements are calculated. See “Default Fund Contributions and Margin Deposits” below for further discussion of Nasdaq Clearing’s default fund and margin requirements.

Nasdaq Clearing maintains four member sponsored default funds: one related to financial markets, one related to commodities markets, one related to the seafood market, and a mutualized fund. Under this structure, Nasdaq Clearing and its clearing members must contribute to the total regulatory capital related to the clearing operations of Nasdaq Clearing. This structure applies an initial separation of default fund contributions for the financial, commodities and seafood markets in order to create a buffer for each market’s counterparty risks. Simultaneously, a mutualized default fund provides capital efficiencies to Nasdaq Clearing’s members with regard to total regulatory capital required. See “Default Fund Contributions” below for further discussion of Nasdaq Clearing’s default fund. Power of assessment and a liability waterfall also have been implemented. See “Power of Assessment” and “Liability Waterfall” below for further discussion. These requirements ensure the alignment of risk between Nasdaq Clearing and its clearing members.

Default Fund Contributions and Margin Deposits

As of March 31, 2016, clearing member default fund contributions and margin deposits were as follows:





Default Fund Contributions

Contributions made to the default funds are proportional to the exposures of each clearing member. When a clearing member is active in more than one market, contributions must be made to all markets’ default funds in which the member is active. Clearing members’ eligible contributions may include cash and non-cash contributions. Cash contributions received are held in cash or invested by Nasdaq Clearing, in accordance with its investment policy, either in highly rated government debt securities, time deposits or reverse repurchase agreements with highly rated government debt securities as collateral. Nasdaq Clearing maintains and manages all cash deposits related to margin collateral. All risks and rewards of collateral ownership, including interest, belong to Nasdaq Clearing. Clearing members’ cash contributions are included in default funds and margin deposits in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as both a current asset and a current liability. Non-cash contributions include highly rated government debt securities that must meet specific criteria approved by Nasdaq Clearing. Non-cash contributions are pledged assets that are not recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as Nasdaq Clearing does not take legal ownership of these assets and the risks and rewards remain with the clearing members. These balances may fluctuate over time due to changes in the amount of deposits required and whether members choose to provide cash or non-cash contributions. Assets pledged are held at a nominee account in Nasdaq Clearing’s name for the benefit of the clearing members and are immediately accessible by Nasdaq Clearing in the event of a default. In addition to clearing members’ required contributions to the default funds, Nasdaq Clearing is also required to contribute capital to the default funds and overall regulatory capital as specified under its clearinghouse rules. As of March 31, 2016,  Nasdaq Clearing committed capital totaling $132 million to the member sponsored default funds and overall regulatory capital, in the form of government debt securities, which are recorded as financial investments, at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The combined regulatory capital of the clearing members and Nasdaq Clearing will serve to secure the obligations of a clearing member and may be used to cover losses sustained by a clearing member in the event of a default. 

Margin Deposits

Nasdaq Clearing requires all clearing members to provide collateral, which may consist of cash and non-cash contributions, to guarantee performance on the clearing members’ open positions, or initial margin. In addition, clearing members must also provide collateral to cover the daily margin call if needed. See “Default Fund Contributions” above for further discussion of cash and non-cash contributions.

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 Nasdaq Clearing maintains and manages all cash deposits related to margin collateral. All risks and rewards of collateral ownership, including interest, belong to Nasdaq Clearing. These cash deposits are recorded in default funds and margin deposits in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as both a current asset and current liability. Pledged margin collateral is not recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as all risks and rewards of collateral ownership, including interest, belong to the counterparty. Assets pledged are held at a nominee account in Nasdaq Clearing’s name for the benefit of the clearing members and are immediately accessible by Nasdaq Clearing in the event of a default.  

Nasdaq Clearing marks to market all outstanding contracts and requires payment from clearing members whose positions have lost value. The mark-to-market process helps identify any clearing members that may not be able to satisfy their financial obligations in a timely manner allowing Nasdaq Clearing the ability to mitigate the risk of a clearing member defaulting due to exceptionally large losses. In the event of a default, Nasdaq Clearing can access the defaulting member’s margin deposits to cover the defaulting member’s losses.

Regulatory Capital and Risk Management Calculations

Nasdaq Clearing manages risk through a comprehensive counterparty risk management framework, which is comprised of policies, procedures, standards and financial resources. The level of regulatory capital is determined in accordance with Nasdaq Clearing’s regulatory capital policy, as approved by the SFSA. Regulatory capital calculations are continuously updated through a proprietary capital-at-risk calculation model that establishes the appropriate level of capital.

As mentioned above, Nasdaq Clearing is the legal counterparty for each contract traded and thereby guarantees the fulfillment of each contract. Nasdaq Clearing accounts for this guarantee as a performance guarantee. We determine the fair value of the performance guarantee by considering daily settlement of contracts and other margining and default fund requirements, the risk management program, historical evidence of default payments, and the estimated probability of potential default payouts. The calculation is determined using proprietary risk management software that simulates gains and losses based on historical market prices, extreme but plausible market scenarios, volatility and other factors present at that point in time for those particular unsettled contracts. Based on this analysis, the estimated liability was nominal and no liability was recorded as of March 31, 2016. 

The market value of derivative contracts outstanding prior to netting was as follows:



 



The total number of derivative contracts cleared through Nasdaq Clearing for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:



 



The outstanding contract value of resale and repurchase agreements was $6.4 billion as of March 31, 2016 and $3.6 billion as of March 31, 2015. The total number of resale and repurchase contracts cleared was 1,820,753 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and was 1,582,082 for the three months ended March 31, 2015.  

Power of Assessment

To further strengthen the contingent financial resources of the clearinghouse, Nasdaq Clearing has power of assessment that provides the ability to collect additional funds from its clearing members to cover a defaulting member’s remaining obligations up to

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the limits established under the terms of the clearinghouse rules. The power of assessment corresponds to 100.0% of the clearing member’s aggregate contribution to the financial, commodities, and seafood markets’ default funds.

Liability Waterfall

The liability waterfall is the priority order in which the capital resources would be utilized in the event of a default where the defaulting clearing member’s collateral would not be sufficient to cover the cost to settle its portfolio. If a default occurs and the defaulting clearing member’s collateral, including cash deposits and pledged assets, is depleted, then capital is utilized in the following amount and order:  

If additional funds are needed after utilization of the mutualized default fund, then Nasdaq Clearing will utilize its power of assessment and additional capital contributions will be required by non-defaulting members up to the limits established under the terms of the clearinghouse rules.  

15. Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees

Guarantees Issued and Credit Facilities Available

In addition to the default fund contributions and margin collateral pledged by clearing members discussed in Note 14, “Clearing Operations,” we have obtained financial guarantees and credit facilities which are guaranteed by us through counter indemnities, to provide further liquidity related to our clearing businesses. Financial guarantees issued to us totaled $15 million at March 31, 2016 and $13 million at December 31, 2015.  As discussed in “Other Credit Facilities,” of Note 8, “Debt Obligations,”  at  March 31, 2016, credit facilities, which are available in multiple currencies, primarily Swedish Krona, totaled $209 million in available liquidity, none of which was utilized. At December 31, 2015, credit facilities, which are available in multiple currencies, primarily Swedish Krona, totaled $202 million in available liquidity, none of which was utilized.

Execution Access, LLC is an introducing broker which operates the eSpeed trading platform for U.S. Treasury securities. Execution Access has a clearing arrangement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. As of March 31, 2016, we have contributed $19 million of clearing deposits to Cantor Fitzgerald in connection with this clearing arrangement. These deposits are recorded in other current assets in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Some of the trading activity in Execution Access is cleared by Cantor Fitzgerald through the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation. Execution Access assumes the counterparty risk of clients that do not clear through the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation. Counterparty risk of clients exists for Execution Access between the trade date and the settlement date of the individual transactions, which is one business day. All of Execution Access’ obligations under the clearing arrangement with Cantor Fitzgerald are guaranteed by Nasdaq. Counterparties that do not clear through the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation are subject to a credit due diligence process and may be required to post collateral, provide principal letters, or provide other forms of credit enhancement to Execution Access for the purpose of mitigating counterparty risk.  

We believe that the potential for us to be required to make payments under these arrangements is mitigated through the pledged collateral and our risk management policies. Accordingly, no contingent liability is recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for these arrangements.

Lease Commitments

We lease some of our office space and equipment under non-cancelable operating leases with third parties and sublease office space to third parties. Some of our lease agreements contain renewal options and escalation clauses based on increases in property taxes and building operating costs.

Other Guarantees

We have provided other guarantees of $10 million as of March 31, 2016 and $11 million at December 31, 2015. These guarantees are primarily related to obligations for our rental and leasing contracts as well as performance guarantees on certain market technology contracts related to the delivery of software technology and support services. We have received financial guarantees from various financial institutions to support the above guarantees.

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We have provided a guarantee related to lease obligations for The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center Inc., or the Entrepreneurial Center. The Entrepreneurial Center is a not-for-profit organization designed to convene, connect and engage aspiring and current entrepreneurs. This entity is not included in the condensed consolidated financial statements of Nasdaq.

We believe that the potential for us to be required to make payments under these arrangements is unlikely. Accordingly, no contingent liability is recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for the above guarantees.

Non-Cash Contingent Consideration  

As part of the eSpeed purchase price consideration, we have agreed to future annual issuances of 992,247 shares of Nasdaq common stock which approximated certain tax benefits associated with the transaction. Such contingent future issuances of Nasdaq common stock will be paid ratably through 2027 if Nasdaq’s total gross revenues equal or exceed $25 million in each such year. The contingent future issuances of Nasdaq common stock are subject to anti-dilution protections and acceleration upon certain events.

Other Transactions

2016 Pending Acquisitions

For further discussion of our pending acquisitions, see “2016 Pending Acquisitions,” of Note 4, “Acquisitions.” 

Escrow Agreements

In connection with prior acquisitions, we entered into escrow agreements to secure the payment of post-closing adjustments and to ensure other closing conditions. At March 31, 2016, these escrow agreements provide for future payment of $23 million and are included in other current and non-current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Routing Brokerage Activities

One of our broker-dealer subsidiaries, Nasdaq Execution Services, LLC provides a guarantee to securities clearinghouses and exchanges under its standard membership agreements, which require members to guarantee the performance of other members. If a member becomes unable to satisfy its obligations to a clearinghouse or exchange, other members would be required to meet its shortfalls. To mitigate these performance risks, the exchanges and clearinghouses often require members to post collateral, as well as meet certain minimum financial standards. Nasdaq Execution Services’ maximum potential liability under these arrangements cannot be quantified. However, we believe that the potential for Nasdaq Execution Services to be required to make payments under these arrangements is unlikely. Accordingly, no contingent liability is recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for these arrangements.

Litigation

As previously disclosed, we were named as a defendant in a putative class action, Rabin v. NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC, et al., No. 15-551 (E.D. Pa.), filed in 2015 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. On April 21, 2016, the court entered an order granting our motion to dismiss the complaint. The period during which an appeal of the decision may be filed has not yet expired.

We also are named as one of many defendants in City of Providence v. BATS Global Markets, Inc., et al., 14 Civ. 2811 (S.D.N.Y.), which was filed on April 18, 2014 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The district court appointed lead counsel, who filed an amended complaint on September 2, 2014. The amended complaint names as defendants seven national exchanges, as well as Barclays PLC, which operated a private alternative trading system. On behalf of a putative class of securities traders, the plaintiffs allege that the defendants engaged in a scheme to manipulate the markets through high-frequency trading; the amended complaint asserts claims against us under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and Rule 10b-5, as well as under Section 6(b) of the Exchange Act. We filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on November 3, 2014. In response, the plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint on November 24, 2014, which names the same defendants and alleges essentially the same violations. We then filed a motion to dismiss the second amended complaint on January 23, 2015. The court heard oral argument on the motion on June 18, 2015. On August 26, 2015, the district court entered an order dismissing the second amended complaint in its entirety with prejudice, concluding that most of the plaintiffs’ theories were foreclosed by absolute immunity and in any event that the plaintiffs failed to state any claim. The plaintiffs have appealed the judgment of dismissal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Given the preliminary nature of the proceedings, and particularly the fact that the complaints have been dismissed, we are unable to estimate what, if any, liability may result from this litigation. However, we believe (as the district court concluded) that the claims are without merit and intend to litigate the appeal vigorously.

In addition, we are named as one of many exchange defendants in Lanier v. BATS Exchange Inc., et al., 14 Civ. 3745 (S.D.N.Y.), Lanier v. BATS Exchange Inc., et al., 14 Civ. 3865 (S.D.N.Y.), and Lanier v. Bats Exchange Inc., 14 Civ. 3866 (S.D.N.Y.), which were filed between May 23, 2014 and May 30, 2014 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The plaintiff is the same in each of these cases, and the three complaints contain substantially similar allegations. On behalf of a putative class of subscribers for market data provided by national exchanges, the plaintiff alleges that the exchanges

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provided data more quickly to certain market participants than to others, supposedly in breach of the exchanges’ plans for dissemination of market data and subscriber agreements executed under those plans. The complaint asserts contractual theories under state law based on these alleged breaches. On September 29, 2014, we filed a motion to dismiss the complaints. The court heard oral argument on the motion on January 16, 2015. On April 28, 2015, the district court entered an order dismissing the complaints in their entirety with prejudice, concluding that they are foreclosed by the Exchange Act and in any event do not state a claim under the contracts. The plaintiff has appealed the judgment of dismissal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The Second Circuit heard oral argument on March 3, 2016. Given the preliminary nature of the proceedings, and particularly the fact that the complaints have been dismissed, we are unable to estimate what, if any, liability may result from this litigation. However, we believe (as the district court concluded) that the claims are without merit and intend to litigate the appeal vigorously.

Except as disclosed above and in prior reports filed under the Exchange Act, we are not currently a party to any litigation or proceeding that we believe could have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, or operating results. However, from time to time, we have been threatened with, or named as a defendant in, lawsuits or involved in regulatory proceedings.

Tax Audits

We are engaged in ongoing discussions and audits with taxing authorities on various tax matters, the resolutions of which are uncertain. Currently, there are matters that may lead to assessments, some of which may not be resolved for several years. Based on currently available information, we believe we have adequately provided for any assessments that could result from those proceedings where it is more likely than not that we will be assessed. We review our positions on these matters as they progress.



16. Business Segments

We manage, operate and provide our products and services in four business segments: Market Services, Listing Services, Information Services and Technology Solutions. See Note 1, “Organization and Nature of Operations,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our reportable segments.

Our management allocates resources, assesses performance and manages these businesses as four separate segments. We evaluate the performance of our segments based on several factors, of which the primary financial measure is operating income. Results of individual businesses are presented based on our management accounting practices and structure. Certain amounts are allocated to corporate items in our management reports based on the decision that those activities should not be used to evaluate the segment’s operating performance. Since management does not consider intangible asset amortization expense for the purpose of evaluating the performance of the business or its managers or when making decisions to allocate resources, such expenses are shown in corporate items in our management reports. See below for further discussion.  

The following table presents certain information regarding our operating segments for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.  



 

 



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For further discussion of our segments’ results, see “Part I. Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial     Condition and Results of Operations—Segment Operating Results.”



17. Subsequent Event

On May 2, 2016, we acquired Boardvantage, a leading board portal solution provider which also specializes in leadership collaboration and meeting productivity, for approximately $200 million, net of acquired cash. Boardvantage is part of our Corporate Solutions business within our Technology Solutions segment.

                                                                                                                    

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

The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of Nasdaq should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Form 10-Q.

Business Overview

We are a leading provider of trading, clearing, exchange technology, regulatory, securities listing, information and public company services across six continents. Our global offerings are diverse and include trading and clearing across multiple asset classes, access services, data products, financial indexes, capital formation solutions, corporate solutions and market technology products and services. Our technology powers markets across the globe, supporting equity derivatives trading, clearing and settlement, cash equity trading, fixed income trading and many other functions. 

Business Segments

We manage, operate and provide our products and services in four business segments: Market Services, Listing Services, Information Services and Technology Solutions. See Note 1, “Organization and Nature of Operations,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our reportable segments and Note 16, “Business Segments,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion of how management allocates resources, assesses performance and manages these businesses as four separate segments.

Business Environment

We serve listed companies, market participants and investors by providing derivative, commodities, cash equity, and fixed income markets, thereby facilitating economic growth and corporate entrepreneurship. We provide market technology to exchanges, clearing organizations and central securities depositories around the world. We also offer companies and other organizations access to innovative products, software solutions and services that increase transparency, mitigate risk, improve board efficiency and facilitate better corporate governance. In broad terms, our business performance is impacted by a number of drivers including macroeconomic events affecting the risk and return of financial assets, investor sentiment, government and private sector demands for capital, the regulatory environment for capital markets, and changing technology, particularly in the financial services industry. Our future revenues and net income will continue to be influenced by a number of domestic and international economic trends including:

Currently our business drivers are defined by investors’ and companies’ increasingly cautious outlook about the pace of future global economic growth. The current consensus forecasts for gross domestic product growth in 2016 are 2.0% for the United States and 1.5% for the Euro Zone. Forecasts for both regions have been experiencing downward revisions over the last year as the outlook for growth deteriorates. While we expect continued modest annual growth in many of our non-transactional businesses, we recognize that there are a number of significant structural and political issues continuing to impact the global economy. Consequently, sustained instability could return at any time, resulting in an increased level of market volatility, oscillating trading volumes, and a more cautious outlook by the clients of our non-transactional businesses. Market volatility surged during the third quarter of 2015 and remained at relatively elevated levels for the first few months of 2016. As a result of this higher average market volatility, our U.S. and European cash equity trading businesses and our European equity derivative business experienced increases in trading volume. However, our U.S. equity options business experienced a decrease in daily matched volume as market share losses more than offset

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higher industry volume. Volatility and market uncertainty in the first quarter of 2016 led to the worst quarter for the number of IPO listings since 2009. Additional impacts on our business drivers included the international enactment and implementation of new legislative and regulatory initiatives, the evolution of market participants’ trading behavior, and the continued rapid progression and deployment of new technology in the financial services industry. The business environment that influenced our financial performance for the first quarter of 2016 may be characterized as follows:



 

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Financial Summary

The following table summarizes our financial performance for the three months ended March 31, 2016 when compared with the same period in 2015. The comparability of our results of operations between reported periods is impacted by the acquisitions of Chi-X Canada and Marketwired in  February 2016. See “Acquisition of Chi-X Canada,”  and “Acquisition of Marketwired,” of Note 4, “Acquisitions,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion. 



 



# Denotes  a variance greater than 100.0%.

In countries with currencies other than the U.S. dollar, revenues and expenses are translated using monthly average exchange rates. The following discussion of results of operations isolates the impact of year-over-year foreign currency fluctuations to better measure the comparability of operating results between periods. Operating results excluding the impact of foreign currency fluctuations are calculated by translating the current period’s results by the prior period’s exchange rates.

Impacts on our revenues less transaction-based expenses and operating income associated with fluctuations in foreign currency are discussed in more detail under “Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.”

The following summarizes significant changes in our financial performance for the three months ended March 31, 2016 when compared with the same period in 2015: 

These current and prior year items are discussed in more detail below.







 



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Nasdaq’s Operating Results

Key Drivers

The following table includes key drivers for our Market Services, Listing Services, Information Services and Technology Solutions segments. In evaluating the performance of our business, our senior management closely watches these key drivers.







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Segment Operating Results

The following table shows our revenues by segment, transaction-based expenses for our Market Services segment and total revenues less transaction-based expenses:  





 

Of our first quarter 2016 total revenues less transaction-based expenses of $534 million, 37.6% was from our Market Services segment, 12.4% was from our Listing Services segment, 24.9% was from our Information Services segment and 25.1% was from our Technology Solutions segment. Of our first quarter 2015 total revenues less transaction-based expenses of $507 million, 37.1% was from our Market Services segment, 12.6% was from our Listing Services segment, 24.7% was from our Information Services segment and 25.6% was from our Technology Solutions segment.























 

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MARKET SERVICES

The following table shows total revenues, transaction-based expenses, and total revenues less transaction-based expenses from our Market Services segment:





 

#     Denotes a variance equal to 100.0%.



Market services revenues less transaction-based expenses increased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to an increase in cash equity trading revenues less transaction-based expenses and an increase in access and broker services revenues, partially offset by a decrease in FICC revenues less transaction-based expenses. Market services revenues included an unfavorable impact from foreign exchange of $1 million in the first quarter of 2016.  

Equity Derivative Trading and Clearing Revenues

Equity derivative trading and clearing revenues decreased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to a decline in overall market share at our three U.S. options exchanges and a decrease in average gross capture, partially offset by an increase in U.S. industry trading volumes. 

Equity derivative trading and clearing revenues less transaction-based expenses increased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to higher U.S. industry trading volumes and higher U.S. average net capture, partially offset by a decline in overall market share at our three U.S. options exchanges.

Section 31 fees are recorded as equity derivative trading and clearing revenues with a corresponding amount recorded as transaction-based expenses.  In the U.S., we are assessed these fees from the SEC and pass them through to our customers in the form of incremental fees.  Pass-through fees can increase or decrease due to rate changes by the SEC, our percentage of the overall industry volumes processed on our systems, and differences in actual dollar value of shares traded. Since the amount recorded in revenues is equal to the amount recorded as transaction-based expenses, there is no impact on our revenues less transaction-based expenses. Section 31 fees were $5 million in the first quarter of 2016 and $6 million in the first quarter of 2015.  The decrease was primarily due to lower average SEC fee rates and lower dollar value traded. 

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Transaction rebates, in which we credit a portion of the per share execution charge to the market participant, decreased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to a decrease in overall rebate capture and a decline in overall market share at our three U.S. options exchanges, partially offset by an increase in U.S. industry trading volumes.

Brokerage, clearance and exchange fees decreased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to lower Section 31 pass-through fees and a decline in volume routed.



Cash Equity Trading Revenues

Cash equity trading revenues increased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015  primarily due to higher U.S. and European industry trading volumes and the inclusion of revenues associated with our acquisition of Chi-X Canada in February 2016, partially offset by a decrease in our overall U.S. and European matched market share and an unfavorable impact from foreign exchange of $1 million.

Cash equity trading revenues less transaction-based expenses increased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015  primarily due to higher U.S. and European industry trading volumes, higher U.S. average net capture, and the inclusion of revenues associated with our acquisition of Chi-X Canada in February 2016, partially offset by a decrease in our overall U.S. and European matched market share and an unfavorable impact from foreign exchange of $1 million.

Similar to equity derivative trading and clearing, in the U.S. we record Section 31 fees as cash equity trading revenues with a corresponding amount recorded as transaction-based expenses. We are assessed these fees from the SEC and pass them through to our customers in the form of incremental fees. Since the amount recorded in revenues is equal to the amount recorded as transaction-based expenses, there is no impact on our revenues less transaction-based expenses. Section 31 fees were $75 million in the first quarter of 2016 and $77 million in the first quarter of 2015. The decrease in the first quarter of 2016 was primarily due to lower average SEC fee rates, partially offset by higher dollar value traded on Nasdaq’s trading systems. 

For NASDAQ and Nasdaq PSX, we credit a portion of the per share execution charge to the market participant that provides the liquidity and for Nasdaq BX, we credit a portion of the per share execution charge to the market participant that removes the liquidity. These transaction rebates increased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to an increase in U.S. industry trading volumes, partially offset by a decline in rebate capture and a  decrease in our overall U.S. matched market share.  

Brokerage, clearance and exchange fees decreased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to a decrease in Section 31 pass-through fees.

FICC Revenues

FICC revenues less transaction-based expenses decreased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to the impact of NFX trading incentives and volume declines in U.S. fixed income products. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in European fixed income and commodities revenues.  

Access and Broker Services Revenues

Access and Broker Services revenues increased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to an increase in customer demand for network connectivity.

LISTING SERVICES

The following table shows revenues from our Listing Services segment:



 



Listing Services revenues increased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to an increase in U.S. and European listed companies. The number of NASDAQ listed companies was 2,852 as of March 31, 2016 compared with 2,779 as of March 31, 2015, and in Europe, the Nasdaq Nordic and Nasdaq Baltic exchanges, together with Nasdaq First North, were home to 847 listed companies as of March 31, 2016 compared with 804 as of March 31, 2015.



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INFORMATION SERVICES

The following table shows revenues from our Information Services segment:







Information Services

Information Services revenues increased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 due to an increase in both data products revenues and index licensing and services revenues, partially offset by an unfavorable impact from foreign exchange of $1 million.  

Data Products Revenues

Data products revenues increased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to higher customer demand for U.S. proprietary data products and the inclusion of revenues associated with the acquisitions of Chi-X Canada in February 2016 and DWA in January 2015, partially offset by an unfavorable impact from foreign exchange of $1 million.

 

Index Licensing and Services Revenues

Index licensing and services revenues increased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to the inclusion of revenues associated with the acquisition of DWA in January 2015 and growth in DWA revenues since the closing of the acquisition. 

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

The following table shows revenues from our Technology Solutions segment:

 





Technology Solutions

Technology solutions revenues increased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015  due to increases in both corporate solutions and  market technology revenues.   

Corporate Solutions Revenues

Corporate solutions revenues increased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to the inclusion of revenues associated with the acquisition of Marketwired and growth in Directors Desk revenues, partially offset by lower multimedia related revenues and an unfavorable impact from foreign exchange of $1 million. 

Market Technology Revenues

Market technology revenues increased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to an increase in software as a service revenues mainly reflecting higher surveillance revenues. 

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Total Order Value

As of March 31, 2016, total order value, which represents the total contract value of orders signed that are yet to be recognized as revenues, was $783 million.  Total order value as of March 31, 2015 was $728 million. Market technology deferred revenue, included in total technology solutions deferred revenue of $209 million, represents consideration received that is yet to be recognized as revenue for these signed orders. See Note 7, “Deferred Revenue,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion. The recognition and timing of these revenues depends on many factors, including those that are not within our control. As such, the following table of market technology revenues to be recognized in the future represents our best estimate:



 



(1)   Represents revenues that are anticipated to be recognized over the remaining nine months of 2016.  



Expenses

Operating Expenses

The following table shows our operating expenses:



 

 

#Denotes a variance equal to 100.0%.

Total operating expenses decreased $165 million in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015. The decrease reflects an operational decrease of $161 million and a favorable impact from foreign exchange of $4 million. The operational decrease  was primarily due to lower restructuring charges, lower general, administrative and other expense and a decrease in computer operations and data communications expense, partially offset by higher merger and strategic initiatives expense, higher compensation and benefits expense, and an increase in depreciation and amortization expense.

 Compensation and benefits expense increased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015  primarily due to overall higher compensation costs resulting from our acquisitions of Chi-X Canada and Marketwired in February 2016. Partially offsetting these increases was a favorable impact from foreign exchange of $2 million. Headcount, including staff employed at consolidated entities where we have a controlling financial interest, increased to 4,167 employees at March 31, 2016 from 3,730 employees at March 31, 2015. 

Depreciation and amortization expense increased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 mainly due to additional amortization expense associated with software assets placed in service and acquired intangible assets, primarily related to our acquisitions of Chi-X Canada and Marketwired, partially offset by a favorable impact from foreign exchange of $1 million.

Professional and contract services expense increased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to higher consulting expenses, partially offset by a  favorable impact from foreign exchange of $1 million.  

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Computer operations and data communications expense decreased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to a decrease in VAT, reflecting a charge for the reversal of previously recorded VAT receivables no longer deemed collectible of $12 million in the first quarter of 2015, partially offset by higher maintenance costs. 

Occupancy expense decreased slightly in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 reflecting lower facility and rent costs as a result of our restructuring activities.

Merger and strategic initiatives expense was $9 million in the first quarter of 2016 and primarily related to our announced acquisitions of Chi-X Canada, Marketwired,  Boardvantage, and ISE. 

General, administrative and other expense decreased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to a reserve of $31 million for litigation arising from the Facebook IPO recorded in March 2015. 

Restructuring charges were $9 million in the first quarter of 2016 and $150 million in the same period of 2015. See Note 3, “Restructuring Charges,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for a discussion of our restructuring charges recorded during the first quarters of 2016 and 2015. 

Non-operating Income and Expenses

The following table shows our non-operating income and expenses:



 



#Denotes a variance equal to 100.0%.



Total non-operating expenses increased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to a decrease in net income from unconsolidated investees. 

Interest Expense

Interest expense for the first quarter of 2016 and 2015 was $28 million and was comprised of $27 million of interest expense and $1 million of non-cash debt issuance amortization expense.

See Note 8, “Debt Obligations,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our debt obligations.

Net Income from Unconsolidated Investees

Net income from unconsolidated investees decreased in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015 primarily due to lower income recognized from our equity method investment in OCC. We were not able to determine what our share of OCC’s income was for the year ended December 31, 2014 until the first quarter of 2015, when financial statements were made available to us. As a result, we recorded other income of $13 million in the first quarter of 2015 relating to our share of OCC’s income for the year ended December 31, 2014. 

See “Equity Method Investments,” of Note 6, “Investments,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our investment in OCC. 

Tax Matters

Nasdaq’s income tax provision was $63 million in the first quarter of 2016 compared with $5 million in the first quarter of 2015. The overall effective tax rate was 32.3% in the first quarter of 2016 compared with 35.7% in the first quarter of 2015. For further discussion of our tax matters, see “Tax Matters,” of Note 2, “Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation.”

The effective tax rate may vary from period to period depending on, among other factors, the geographic and business mix of earnings and losses. These same and other factors, including history of pre-tax earnings and losses, are taken into account in assessing the ability to realize deferred tax assets.

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In order to recognize and measure our unrecognized tax benefits, management determines whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. Once it is determined that a position meets the recognition thresholds, the position is measured to determine the amount of benefit to be recognized in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters are recognized in income tax expense.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to disclosing results determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we also have provided non-GAAP net income attributable to Nasdaq and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share. Management uses this non-GAAP information internally, along with U.S. GAAP information, in evaluating our performance and in making financial and operational decisions.  

We believe our presentation of these measures provides investors with greater transparency and supplemental data relating to our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we believe the presentation of these measures is useful to investors for period-to-period comparison of results as the items described below do not reflect operating performance. These measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, U.S. GAAP, and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. Investors should not rely on any single financial measure when evaluating our business. We recommend investors review the U.S. GAAP financial measures included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including our condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto. When viewed in conjunction with our U.S. GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliation, we believe these non-GAAP measures provide greater transparency and a more complete understanding of factors affecting our business than U.S. GAAP measures alone. Our management uses these measures to evaluate operating performance, and management decisions during the reporting period are made by excluding certain items that we believe have less significance on, or do not impact, the day-to-day performance of our business. In addition, since management does not consider intangible asset amortization expense for the purpose of evaluating the performance of the business or its managers or when making decisions to allocate resources, such expenses have been shown as a non-GAAP adjustment.

We understand that analysts and investors regularly rely on non-GAAP financial measures, such as non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, to assess operating performance. We use non-GAAP net income attributable to Nasdaq and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share because they more clearly highlight trends in our business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on U.S. GAAP financial measures, since these measures eliminate from our results specific financial items that have less bearing on our operating performance. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Nasdaq for the periods presented below is calculated by adjusting net income attributable to Nasdaq for charges or gains related to acquisition and divestiture transactions, integration activities related to acquisitions, amortization expense of acquired intangible assets, other significant infrequent charges or gains and their related income tax effects that are not related to our core business. We do not believe these items are representative of our future operating performance since these charges were not consistent with our core operating performance.  

Non-GAAP adjustments for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 primarily related to the following:

(i) amortization expense of acquired intangible assets of $17 million, (ii) restructuring charges of $9 million (see Note 3, “Restructuring Charges,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion),  (iii) merger and strategic initiatives costs of $9 million primarily related to our announced acquisitions of Chi-X Canada, Marketwired,  Boardvantage,  and ISE, and (iv) adjustment to the income tax provision of $14 million to reflect these non-GAAP adjustments.

Non-GAAP adjustments for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 primarily related to the following:

(i) amortization expense of acquired intangible assets of $15 million, (ii) restructuring charges of $150 million (see Note 3, “Restructuring Charges,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion), (iii) loss reserve of $31 million, (iv) reversal of previously recorded VAT receivables no longer deemed collectible of $12 million, (v) other income from OCC equity investment of $13 million. See “Equity Method Investments,” of Note 6, “Investments,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion,  and (vi)  adjustment to the income tax provision of $66 million to reflect these non-GAAP adjustments. 



























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The following table represents reconciliations between U.S. GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share and non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share:



 





Liquidity and Capital Resources

Historically, we have funded our operating activities and met our commitments through cash generated by operations, augmented by the periodic issuance of our common stock and debt. See Note 8, “Debt Obligations,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our debt obligations.  Currently, our cost and availability of funding remain healthy. 

As part of the acquisition of eSpeed, Nasdaq has contingent future obligations to issue 992,247 shares of Nasdaq common stock annually which approximated certain tax benefits associated with the transaction of $484 million. Such contingent future issuances of Nasdaq common stock will be paid ratably through 2027 if Nasdaq’s total gross revenues equal or exceed $25 million in each such year. The contingent future issuances of Nasdaq common stock are subject to anti-dilution protections and acceleration upon certain events.

In March 2016,  Nasdaq entered into the 2016 Credit Facility which provides for a $400 million senior unsecured term loan facility. In March 2016, loans in an aggregate principal amount of $400 million were drawn under the 2016 Credit Facility and the net proceeds of $399 million were used to partially repay amounts outstanding under the revolving credit commitment of the 2014 Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2016, the balance of $399 million reflects the aggregate principal amount, less the unamortized debt issuance costs.  See “2016 Credit Facility,” of Note 8, “Debt Obligations,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

Our 2014 Credit Facility consists of a $750 million revolving credit commitment (with sublimits for non-dollar borrowings, swingline borrowings and letters of credit). As of March 31, 2016, availability under the revolving credit commitment was $720 million. See “2014 Credit Facility,” of Note 8, “Debt Obligations,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion. 

In the near term, we expect that our operations and availability under our revolving credit commitment will provide sufficient cash to fund our operating expenses, capital expenditures, debt repayments, any share repurchases, and any dividends.

Various assets and liabilities, including cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accounts payable and accrued expenses, can fluctuate from month to month. Working capital (calculated as current assets less current liabilities) was $293 million at March 31, 2016, compared with $340 million at December 31, 2015, a decrease of $47 million. Current asset balance changes increased working capital by $1,462 million, with increases in default funds and margin deposits, financial investments, at fair value, receivables, net, cash and cash equivalents, and other current assets, partially offset by a decrease in restricted cash. Current liability balance changes decreased working capital by $1,509 million, due to increases in default funds and margin deposits, deferred revenue, other current

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liabilities, and accounts payable and accrued expenses, partially offset by decreases in accrued personnel costs and Section 31 fees payable to the SEC.

Principal factors that could affect the availability of our internally-generated funds include:

•deterioration of our revenues in any of our business segments; 

•changes in our working capital requirements; and

•an increase in our expenses.

Principal factors that could affect our ability to obtain cash from external sources include:

•operating covenants contained in our credit facilities that limit our total borrowing capacity;

•increases in interest rates under our credit facilities;  

•credit rating downgrades, which could limit our access to additional debt;

•a decrease in the market price of our common stock; and

•volatility in the public debt and equity markets.

The following sections discuss the effects of changes in our financial assets, debt obligations, clearing and broker-dealer net capital requirements, and cash flows on our liquidity and capital resources.

Financial Assets

The following table summarizes our financial assets:

 







Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in banks and all non-restricted highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less at the time of purchase. The balance retained in cash and cash equivalents is a function of anticipated or possible short-term cash needs, prevailing interest rates, our investment policy, and alternative investment choices. As of March 31, 2016, our cash and cash equivalents of $331 million were primarily invested in bank deposits, money market funds and commercial paper. In the long-term, we may use both internally generated funds and external sources to satisfy our debt obligations and other long-term liabilities. Cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2016 increased $30 million from December 31, 2015 primarily due to net cash provided by operating and financing activities, partially offset by net cash used in investing activities. See “Cash Flow Analysis” below for further discussion.

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, current restricted cash included cash held for regulatory purposes and other requirements and is not available for general use. Current restricted cash was $21 million as of March 31, 2016 and $56 million as of December 31, 2015, a decrease of $35 million. The decrease is primarily due to lower restricted cash held at SecondMarket. Current restricted cash is classified as restricted cash in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Repatriation of Cash

Our cash and cash equivalents held outside of the U.S. in various foreign subsidiaries totaled $119 million as of March 31, 2016 and $105 million as of December 31, 2015. The remaining balance held in the U.S. totaled $212 million as of March 31, 2016 and $196 million as of December 31, 2015. 

Unremitted earnings of subsidiaries outside of the U.S. are used to finance our international operations and are generally considered to be indefinitely reinvested. It is not our current intent to change this position. However, the majority of cash held outside the U.S. is available for repatriation, but under current law, could subject us to additional U.S. income taxes, less applicable foreign tax credits.

Share Repurchase Program

See “Share Repurchase Program,” of Note 11, “Nasdaq Stockholders’ Equity,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our share repurchase program.

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Cash Dividends on Common Stock 

In March 2016, we paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share on our outstanding common stock. In March 2016, we also declared a dividend of $0.32 per share on our outstanding common stock, which will be payable in June 2016, and reflects a 28% increase from our prior quarterly cash dividend of $0.25. See “Cash Dividends on Common Stock,” of Note 11, “Nasdaq Stockholders’ Equity,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the dividends.

Financial Investments, at Fair Value

Our financial investments, at fair value totaled $259 million as of March 31, 2016 and $201 million as of December 31, 2015 and are primarily comprised of trading securities, mainly highly rated European government debt securities. Of these securities, $175 million as of  March 31, 2016 and $166 million as of December 31, 2015 are assets utilized to meet regulatory capital requirements primarily for clearing operations at Nasdaq Clearing. See Note 6, “Investments,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our trading investment securities.  

Debt Obligations

The following table summarizes our debt obligations by contractual maturity:

 





In addition to the $750 million revolving credit commitment and $400 million term loan facility, we also have other credit facilities related to our Nasdaq Clearing operations in order to provide further liquidity. At March 31, 2016, credit facilities, which are available in multiple currencies, primarily Swedish Krona, totaled $209 million in available liquidity, none of which was utilized. At December 31, 2015, credit facilities, which are available in multiple currencies, primarily Swedish Krona, totaled  $202 million in available liquidity, none of which was utilized.

At March 31, 2016, we were in compliance with the covenants of all of our debt obligations.

See Note 8, “Debt Obligations,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our debt obligations.

Clearing and Broker-Dealer Net Capital Requirements

Clearing Operations Regulatory Capital Requirements

We are required to maintain minimum levels of regulatory capital for the clearing operations of Nasdaq Clearing. The level of regulatory capital required to be maintained is dependent upon many factors, including market conditions and creditworthiness of the counterparty. At March 31, 2016, our required regulatory capital consisted of $175 million of highly rated European government debt securities that are included in financial investments, at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. 

Broker-Dealer Net Capital Requirements

Our operating broker-dealer subsidiaries, Nasdaq Execution Services, Execution Access, NPM Securities, LLC and SMTX, LLC are subject to regulatory requirements intended to ensure their general financial soundness and liquidity. These requirements obligate these subsidiaries to comply with minimum net capital requirements. The following table summarizes the capital requirements for our broker-dealer subsidiaries as of March 31, 2016:



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Other Capital Requirements

Nasdaq Execution Services

Nasdaq Execution Services also is required to maintain a $2 million minimum level of net capital under our clearing arrangement with OCC.

Chi-X Canada

As a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, or IIROC, Chi-X Canada is subject to IIROC regulatory requirements which are intended to ensure its general financial soundness and liquidity. Under IIROC rules, Chi-X Canada is required to comply with minimum net capital requirements. At March 31, 2016, Chi-X Canada was required to maintain minimum net capital of $0.3 million and had total net capital of approximately $4.5 million, or $4.2 million in excess of the minimum amount required. 

Cash Flow Analysis

The following tables summarize the changes in cash flows:

 

 

#Denotes a variance greater than 100.0%.

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

The following items impacted our net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2016:  

Partially offset by a:

The following items impacted our net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2015:

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Partially offset by a:



Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2016 primarily consisted of our acquisitions of Chi-X Canada and Marketwired in February 2016 of $213 million, our purchases of trading and available-for-sale investment securities of $149 million and purchases of property and equipment of $23 million, partially offset by proceeds from sales and redemptions of trading securities of $94 million and proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale investment securities of $7 million.

Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2015 primarily consisted of our acquisition of DWA in January 2015 of $226 million, our purchases of trading and available-for-sale investment securities of $72 million, a capital contribution of $30 million in connection with our equity method investment in OCC, and purchases of property and equipment of $24 million, partially offset by proceeds from sales and redemptions of trading securities of $29 million and proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale investment securities of $3 million.

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2016 primarily consisted of $555 million of cash used in connection with the repayment of the revolving credit commitment under our 2014 Credit Facility, $41 million related to cash dividends paid on our common stock, and $29  million related to the repurchase our common stock, partially offset by net proceeds of $399 million from our 2016 Credit Facility and proceeds from the utilization of our 2014 Credit Facility of $325 million to partially fund our acquisitions of Chi-X Canada and Marketwired and other general corporate purposes.    

Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2015 primarily consisted of $100 million from the partial utilization of the revolving credit commitment under our 2014 Credit Facility to partially fund our acquisition of DWA, partially offset by $30 million related to the repurchase of our common stock, $25 million related to cash dividends paid on our common stock, and $25 million of cash used in connection with the repayment of the revolving credit commitment under our 2014 Credit Facility.

For further discussion of our Chi-X Canada, Marketwired, and DWA acquisitions, see “Acquisition of Chi-X Canada,” “Acquisition of Marketwired,” and “Acquisition of Dorsey, Wright & Associates, LLC,” of Note 4, “Acquisitions,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements. For further discussion of our debt obligations, see Note 8, “Debt Obligations,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements. For further discussion of our share repurchase program and cash dividends paid on our common stock, see “Share Repurchase Program,” and “Cash Dividends on Common Stock,” of Note 11, “Nasdaq Stockholders’ Equity,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Contractual Obligations and Contingent Commitments

Nasdaq has contractual obligations to make future payments under debt obligations by contract maturity, minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases, net and other obligations. The following table shows these contractual obligations as of March 31, 2016:  

 

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 For discussion of off-balance sheet arrangements see:



Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 

Market risk represents the potential for losses that may result from changes in the market value of a financial instrument due to changes in market conditions. As a result of our operating, investing and financing activities, we are exposed to market risks such as interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange rate risk. We are also exposed to credit risk as a result of our normal business activities.

We have implemented policies and procedures to measure, manage, monitor and report risk exposures, which are reviewed regularly by management and the board of directors. We identify risk exposures and monitor and manage such risks on a daily basis.

We perform sensitivity analyses to determine the effects of market risk exposures. We may use derivative instruments solely to hedge financial risks related to our financial positions or risks that are incurred during the normal course of business. We do not use derivative instruments for speculative purposes.

Interest Rate Risk

We are subject to the risk of fluctuating interest rates in the normal course of business. Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our financial investments and debt obligations which are discussed below.

Financial Investments  

As of March 31, 2016,  our investment portfolio was primarily comprised of trading securities, mainly highly rated European government debt securities, which pay a fixed rate of interest. These securities are subject to interest rate risk and will decrease in value if market interest rates increase. If market interest rates were to increase immediately and uniformly by 100 basis points from levels as of March 31, 2016, the fair value of this portfolio would have declined by $6 million. 

Debt Obligations

As of March 31, 2016,  substantially all of our debt obligations are fixed-rate obligations. While changes in interest rates will have no impact on the interest we pay on fixed-rate obligations, we are exposed to changes in interest rates as a result of borrowings under our 2016 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility, as the interest rates on these facilities have variable interest rates. As of March 31, 2016,  the principal amount outstanding under the 2016 Credit Facility was $400 million and the 2014 Credit Facility was 

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$30 million. A hypothetical 100 basis points increase in interest rates on the 2016 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility would increase interest expense by approximately $4 million based on borrowings as of March 31, 2016.  

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

As a leading global exchange group, we are subject to foreign currency transaction risk.  For the three months ended March 31, 2016, approximately 24.7% of our revenues less transaction rebates, brokerage, clearance and exchange fees and 11.1% of our operating income were derived in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily the Euro and Swedish Krona.

Our primary exposure to foreign currency denominated revenues less transaction-based expenses and operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is presented in the following table:  



 

#Represents multiple foreign currency rates.

N/ANot applicable.

Our investments in foreign subsidiaries are exposed to volatility in currency exchange rates through translation of the foreign subsidiaries’ net assets or equity to U.S. dollars. Substantially all of our foreign subsidiaries operate in functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may create volatility in our results of operations as we are required to translate the balance sheets and operational results of these foreign currency denominated subsidiaries into U.S. dollars for consolidated reporting. The translation of foreign subsidiaries’ non-U.S. dollar balance sheets into U.S. dollars for consolidated reporting results in a cumulative translation adjustment which is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss within stockholders’ equity in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Our primary exposure to net assets in foreign currencies as of March 31, 2016 is presented in the following table:

 



(1)Includes goodwill of $2,693 million and intangible assets, net of $667 million.

Credit Risk 

Credit risk is the potential loss due to the default or deterioration in credit quality of customers or counterparties. We are exposed to credit risk from third parties, including customers, counterparties and clearing agents. These parties may default on their obligations to us due to bankruptcy, lack of liquidity, operational failure or other reasons. We limit our exposure to credit risk by rigorously evaluating the counterparties with which we make investments and execute agreements. The financial investment portfolio objective is to invest in securities to preserve principal while maximizing yields, without significantly increasing risk. Credit risk associated with investments is minimized substantially by ensuring that these financial assets are placed with governments which have investment grade ratings, well-capitalized financial institutions and other creditworthy counterparties.  

Our subsidiary Nasdaq Execution Services may be exposed to credit risk, due to the default of trading counterparties, in connection with the routing services it provides for our trading customers. System trades in cash equities routed to other market centers for members of our cash equity exchanges are routed by Nasdaq Execution Services for clearing to the National Securities Clearing Corporation, or NSCC. In this function, Nasdaq Execution Services is to be neutral by the end of the trading day, but may be

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exposed to intraday risk if a trade extends beyond the trading day and into the next day, thereby leaving Nasdaq Execution Services susceptible to counterparty risk in the period between accepting the trade and routing it to the clearinghouse. In this interim period, Nasdaq Execution Services is not novating like a clearing broker but instead is subject to the short-term risk of counterparty failure before the clearinghouse enters the transaction. Once the clearinghouse officially accepts the trade for novation, Nasdaq Execution Services is legally removed from trade execution risk. However, Nasdaq has membership obligations to NSCC independent of Nasdaq Execution Services’ arrangements.

Pursuant to the rules of the NSCC and Nasdaq Execution Services’ clearing agreement, Nasdaq Execution Services is liable for any losses incurred due to a counterparty or a clearing agent’s failure to satisfy its contractual obligations, either by making payment or delivering securities. Adverse movements in the prices of securities that are subject to these transactions can increase our credit risk. However, we believe that the risk of material loss is limited, as Nasdaq Execution Services’ customers are not permitted to trade on margin and NSCC rules limit counterparty risk on self-cleared transactions by establishing credit limits and capital deposit requirements for all brokers that clear with NSCC. Historically, Nasdaq Execution Services has never incurred a liability due to a customer’s failure to satisfy its contractual obligations as counterparty to a system trade. Credit difficulties or insolvency, or the perceived possibility of credit difficulties or insolvency, of one or more larger or visible market participants could also result in market-wide credit difficulties or other market disruptions.  

Execution Access is an introducing broker which operates the eSpeed trading platform for U.S. Treasury securities. Execution Access has a clearing arrangement with Cantor Fitzgerald. As of March 31, 2016, we have contributed $19 million of clearing deposits to Cantor Fitzgerald in connection with this clearing arrangement. These deposits are recorded in other current assets in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Some of the trading activity in Execution Access is cleared by Cantor Fitzgerald through the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation. Execution Access assumes the counterparty risk of clients that do not clear through the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation. Counterparty risk of clients exists for Execution Access between the trade date and settlement date of the individual transactions, which is one business day. All of Execution Access’ obligations under the clearing arrangement with Cantor Fitzgerald are guaranteed by Nasdaq. Counterparties that do not clear through the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation are subject to a credit due diligence process and may be required to post collateral, provide principal letters, or provide other forms of credit enhancement to Execution Access for the purpose of mitigating counterparty risk.  

We are exposed to credit risk through our clearing operations with Nasdaq Clearing. See Note 14, “Clearing Operations,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

We also have credit risk related to transaction and subscription-based revenues that are billed to customers on a monthly or quarterly basis, in arrears. Our potential exposure to credit losses on these transactions is represented by the receivable balances in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. On an ongoing basis, we review and evaluate changes in the status of our counterparties’ creditworthiness.

Credit losses such as those described above could adversely affect our condensed consolidated financial position and results of operations.

Item 4.Controls and Procedures.

(a) Disclosure controls and procedures. Nasdaq’s management, with the participation of Nasdaq’s Chief Executive Officer, and Interim Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, has evaluated the effectiveness of Nasdaq’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, Nasdaq’s Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, have concluded that, as of the end of such period, Nasdaq’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.  

(b) Internal control over financial reporting. There have been no changes in Nasdaq’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and Rule 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2016 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Nasdaq’s internal controls over financial reporting.  

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.Legal Proceedings.

See “Litigation,” of Note 15, “Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

Item 1A.   Risk Factors.  

In addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 as filed with the SEC on February 26, 2016. These risks could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of

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operations. The risks and uncertainties in our Form 10-K and Form 10-Q are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business.

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

Share Repurchase Program

See “Share Repurchase Program,” of Note 11, “Nasdaq Stockholders’ Equity,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our share repurchase program.

Employee Transactions

During the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2016, we purchased shares from employees in connection with the settlement of employee tax withholding obligations arising from the vesting of restricted stock.  



The table below represents repurchases made by or on behalf of us or any “affiliated purchaser” of our common stock during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2016. 



Item 3.Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

Item 5.Other Information.

Not applicable.

Item 6.Exhibits.

The exhibits required by this item are listed on the Exhibit Index.

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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.









 



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Exhibit Index

 

 

*Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.



**The following materials from Nasdaq, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2016 are formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015;   (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015;  (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015; (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015; and (v) notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. 

















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