Tradeweb Markets Inc.
For the period ended Mar 31, 2025. Filed Apr 30, 2025.
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Mar 31, 2025 · Filed Apr 30, 2025
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
| Page | ||
|---|---|---|
| Note 1 | Organization | 16 |
| Note 2 | Significant Accounting Policies | 19 |
| Note 3 | Restricted Cash | 25 |
| Note 4 | Acquisitions | 25 |
| Note 5 | Revenue | 26 |
| Note 6 | Income Taxes | 28 |
| Note 7 | Tax Receivable Agreement | 29 |
| Note 8 | Non-Controlling Interests | 29 |
| Note 9 | Stockholders’ Equity and Stock-Based Compensation Plans | 30 |
| Note 10 | Related Party Transactions | 32 |
| Note 11 | Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Other Assets | 33 |
| Note 12 | Credit Risk | 37 |
| Note 13 | Commitments and Contingencies | 38 |
| Note 14 | Earnings Per Share | 39 |
| Note 15 | Regulatory Capital Requirements | 40 |
| Note 16 | Business Segment and Geographic Information | 41 |
| Note 17 | Subsequent Events | 42 |
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
- Organization
Tradeweb Markets Inc. (the “Corporation”) was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on November 7, 2018 to carry on the business of Tradeweb Markets LLC (“TWM LLC”) following the completion of a series of reorganization transactions on April 4, 2019 (the “Reorganization Transactions”), in connection with Tradeweb Markets Inc.’s initial public offering (the “IPO”), which closed on April 8, 2019. Following the Reorganization Transactions, Refinitiv (as defined below) owned an indirect majority ownership interest in the Company (as defined below).
On January 29, 2021, London Stock Exchange Group plc (“LSEG”) completed its acquisition of the Refinitiv business from a consortium, including certain investment funds affiliated with The Blackstone Group Inc. (f/k/a The Blackstone Group L.P.) (“Blackstone”) as well as Thomson Reuters Corporation (“TR”), in an all share transaction (the “LSEG Transaction”).
In connection with the LSEG Transaction, the Corporation became a consolidating subsidiary of LSEG. Prior to the LSEG Transaction, the Corporation was a consolidating subsidiary of BCP York Holdings (“BCP”), a company owned by certain investment funds affiliated with Blackstone, through BCP’s previous majority ownership interest in Refinitiv. As used herein, “Refinitiv,” prior to the LSEG Transaction, means Refinitiv Holdings Limited, and unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, and subsequent to the LSEG Transaction, refers to Refinitiv Parent Limited, and unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, all of its subsidiaries. Refinitiv owns substantially all of the former financial and risk business of Thomson Reuters (as defined below), including, prior to and following the completion of the Reorganization Transactions, an indirect majority ownership interest in the Company. The Refinitiv business was rebranded by LSEG as LSEG Data & Analytics during the fourth quarter of 2023.
The Corporation is a holding company whose principal asset is LLC Interests (as defined below) of TWM LLC. As the sole manager of TWM LLC, the Corporation operates and controls all of the business and affairs of TWM LLC and, through TWM LLC and its subsidiaries, conducts the Corporation’s business. As a result of this control, and because the Corporation has a substantial financial interest in TWM LLC, the Corporation consolidates the financial results of TWM LLC and reports a non-controlling interest in the Corporation’s condensed consolidated financial statements. As of both March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, Tradeweb Markets Inc. owned 90.2% of TWM LLC and the non-controlling interest holders owned the remaining 9.8% of TWM LLC. References to LLC Interests held by Tradeweb Markets Inc. and comparable terminology refer to LLC Interests held by Tradeweb Markets Inc. directly as well as indirectly through direct, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Tradeweb Markets Inc. (which are holding companies with no independent operations).
Unless the context otherwise requires, references to the “Company” refer to Tradeweb Markets Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, including TWM LLC, following the completion of the Reorganization Transactions, and TWM LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries prior to the completion of the Reorganization Transactions.
A majority interest of Refinitiv (formerly the Thomson Reuters Financial & Risk Business) was acquired by BCP on October 1, 2018 (the “Refinitiv Transaction”) from TR. The Refinitiv Transaction resulted in a new basis of accounting for certain of the Company’s assets and liabilities beginning on October 1, 2018. See Note 2 – Significant Accounting Policies for a description of pushdown accounting applied as a result of the Refinitiv Transaction.
In connection with the Reorganization Transactions, TWM LLC’s limited liability company agreement (the “TWM LLC Agreement”) was amended and restated to, among other things, (i) provide for a new single class of common membership interests in TWM LLC (the “LLC Interests”), (ii) exchange all of the then existing membership interests in TWM LLC for LLC Interests and (iii) appoint the Corporation as the sole manager of TWM LLC. LLC Interests, other than those held by the Corporation, are redeemable or exchangeable in accordance with the TWM LLC Agreement for shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Corporation (the “Class A common stock”) or Class B common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Corporation (the “Class B common stock”), as the case may be, on aone-for-one basis.
As used herein, references to “Continuing LLC Owners” refer collectively to (i) those owners of TWM LLC prior to the Reorganization Transactions (the “Original LLC Owners”), including an indirect subsidiary of Refinitiv, certain investment and commercial banks (collectively, the “Bank Stockholders”), and members of management, that continued to own LLC Interests after the completion of the IPO and Reorganization Transactions and that received shares of Class C common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Corporation (the “Class C common stock”), shares of Class D common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Corporation (the “Class D common stock”) or a combination of both, as the case may be, in connection with the completion of the Reorganization Transactions, (ii) any subsequent transferee of any Original LLC Owner that has executed a joinder agreement to the TWM LLC Agreement and (iii) solely with respect to the Tax Receivable Agreement (as defined in Note 7 – Tax Receivable Agreement), (x) those Original LLC Owners, including certain of the Bank Stockholders, that disposed of all of their LLC Interests for cash in connection with the IPO and (y) any party that has executed a joinder agreement to the Tax Receivable Agreement in accordance with the Tax Receivable Agreement.
The Company is a leader in building and operating electronic marketplaces for a global network of clients across the institutional, wholesale, retail and corporates client sectors. The Company’s principal subsidiaries include:
Tradeweb LLC (“TWL”), a registered broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), a member of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”), a registered independent introducing broker with the Commodities Future Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and a member of the National Futures Association (“NFA”).
Dealerweb LLC (“DW”) (formerly known as Hilliard Farber & Co., Inc. and Dealerweb Inc.), a registered broker-dealer under the Exchange Act and a member of FINRA and MSRB. DW is also registered as an introducing broker with the CFTC and a member of the NFA. Effective on January 2, 2025, Dealerweb Inc. merged with and into Dealerweb LLC, with Dealerweb LLC being the surviving entity.
Tradeweb Direct LLC (“TWD”) (formerly known as BondDesk Trading LLC), a registered broker-dealer under the Exchange Act and a member of FINRA and MSRB.
Institutional Cash Distributors, LLC (“ICDLC”), acquired on August 1, 2024, a registered broker-dealer under the Exchange Act and a member of FINRA.
Tradeweb Europe Limited (“TEL”), a MiFID Investment Firm regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) in the UK and certain other global regulators and that maintains branches in Asia.
TW SEF LLC (“TW SEF”), a Swap Execution Facility (“SEF”) regulated by the CFTC and certain other global regulators and a registered security-based swap execution facility (“SBSEF”) under the Exchange Act.
DW SEF LLC (“DW SEF”), a SEF regulated by the CFTC and certain other global regulators.
Tradeweb Japan K.K. (“TWJ”), a security house regulated by the Japanese Financial Services Agency (“JFSA”) and the Japan Securities Dealers Association (“JSDA”).
Tradeweb EU B.V. (“TWEU”), a MiFID Investment Firm regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (“AFM”), the De Nederlandsche Bank (“DNB”) and certain other global regulators and that maintains a branch in France.
Tradeweb Execution Services Limited (“TESL”), an Investment Firm (“BIPRU Firm”) regulated by the FCA in the UK with an exemption from the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (“ASIC”) from having to hold an Australian financial services license.
Tradeweb Information Technology Services (Shanghai) Co., Ltd is a wholly-owned foreign enterprise (WOFE) in China. Its business scope includes information, data and technology related services including development, sales, import and export and consulting. The Tradeweb offshore electronic trading platform is recognized by the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”) for the provision of Bond Connect, CIBM Direct RFQ and Swap Connect.
Tradeweb Execution Services B.V. (“TESBV”), a MiFID Investment Firm authorized and regulated by the AFM, with permission to trade on a matched principal basis.
Tradeweb Australia Pty Ltd (formerly Yieldbroker Pty Limited) (“YB” or “Yieldbroker”), acquired in August 2023, a Tier 1 Australian Markets Licensee in Australia, regulated by ASIC, that also maintains a branch in Singapore that is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”) as a Regulated Market Operator.
Tradeweb (DIFC) Limited (“TDIFC”), an Authorized Firm regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”) with a license for “arranging deals in investments” for users to access the Company’s various trading venues that are also separately recognized by the DFSA.
TW Technology and Trading Private Limited (“TTTL”), a private limited company incorporated in Mumbai, India, which is pending regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank of India as an Electronic Trading Platform for the trading of Indian Government Bonds and other local securities.
Tradeweb Brasil Ltda (“TWB”), a limited liability company incorporated in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Institutional Cash Distributors Limited (“ICDLT”), acquired on August 1, 2024, a firm engaged in the provision of intermediary services authorized and regulated by the FCA in the UK.
ICD Europa - Empresa de Investimento, S.A. (“ICDEU”), acquired on August 1, 2024, an investment firm regulated by the Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários (“CMVM”) in Portugal.
In August 2024, the Company acquired Institutional Cash Distributors (“ICD”) by purchasing all of the outstanding equity interests of each of ICD Intermediate Holdco 1, LLC, SCIC - ICD Blocker 1, Inc. and Parthenon Investors V ICD Blocker, Inc. (the “ICD Acquisition”). ICD is an institutional investment technology provider for corporate treasury organizations trading short-term investments. ICD’s flagship products include ICD Portal and ICD Portfolio Analytics. The portal is a one-stop shop to research, trade, analyze and report on investments across more than 40 available investment providers primarily offering money market funds and access to other short term products including deposits, fixed term funds and separately managed accounts (“SMAs”) (collectively referred to herein as “money market funds”). Portfolio Analytics is an AI-driven cloud solution for aggregating positions across a corporate treasury’s entire portfolio for analysis and reporting. With the 2024 acquisition of ICD and its proprietary technology, the Company added “corporates” as a client channel, serving corporate treasury professionals, complementing the Company’s previously existing focus on institutional, wholesale and retail clients. See Note 4 – Acquisitions for additional details on this acquisition.
In January 2024, the Company acquired R8FIN Holdings LP (together with its subsidiaries, “r8fin”) (the “r8fin Acquisition”). r8fin provides a suite of algorithmic-based tools as well as a thin-client execution management system (“EMS”) trading application to facilitate futures and cash trades. The solutions complement Tradeweb’s existing Dealerweb Active Streams, Dealerweb Central Limit Order Book (“CLOB”), Tradeweb Request-for-Quote (“RFQ”) and Tradeweb Automated Intelligent Execution (“AiEX”) offerings. See Note 4 – Acquisitions for additional details on this acquisition.
In August 2023, the Company acquired Yieldbroker, a leading Australian trading platform for Australian and New Zealand government bonds and interest rate derivatives, covering the institutional and wholesale client sector (the “Yieldbroker Acquisition”). This acquisition combined Australia and New Zealand’s highly attractive, fast-growing markets with Tradeweb’s international reach and scale.
In June 2021, the Company acquired Nasdaq’s U.S. fixed income electronic trading platform, formerly known as eSpeed (the “NFI Acquisition”), which is a fully executable central limit order book (“CLOB”) for electronic trading in on-the-run (“OTR”) U.S. government bonds.
As of March 31, 2025:
The public investors collectively owned 116,439,381 shares of Class A common stock, representing 10.1% of the combined voting power of Tradeweb Markets Inc.’s issued and outstanding common stock and indirectly, through Tradeweb Markets Inc., owned 49.2% of the economic interest in TWM LLC;
Refinitiv collectively owned 96,933,192 shares of Class B common stock,18,000,000 shares of Class C common stock and 4,988,329 shares of Class D common stock, representing 89.8% of the combined voting power of Tradeweb Markets Inc.’s issued and outstanding common stock and directly and indirectly, through Tradeweb Markets Inc., owned 50.7% of the economic interest in TWM LLC; and
Other stockholders that continued to own LLC Interests also collectively owned 78,209 shares of Class D common stock, representing less than 0.1% of the combined voting power of Tradeweb Markets Inc.’s issued and outstanding common stock. Collectively, these stockholders directly owned less than 0.1% of the economic interest in TWM LLC.
In addition, the Company’s basic and diluted earnings per share calculations for the three months ended March 31, 2025 were impacted by 185,309 of weighted average shares resulting from unvested or unsettled vested stock awards that were considered participating securities for purposes of calculating earnings per share in accordance with the two-class method. The Company’s diluted earnings per share calculation for the three months ended March 31, 2025 also includes 1,807,922 of weighted average shares resulting from the dilutive effect of its equity incentive plans. See Note 14 – Earnings Per Share for additional details.
- Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies:
Basis of Presentation
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. As discussed in Note 1 – Organization, as a result of the Reorganization Transactions, Tradeweb Markets Inc. consolidates TWM LLC and its subsidiaries and TWM LLC is considered to be the predecessor to Tradeweb Markets Inc. for financial reporting purposes. Tradeweb Markets Inc. had no business transactions or activities and no substantial assets or liabilities prior to the Reorganization Transactions. The condensed consolidated financial statements represent the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and report a non-controlling interest related to the LLC Interests held by Continuing LLC Owners.
These condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. The consolidated financial information as of December 31, 2024 has been derived from audited financial statements not included herein. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) with respect to interim financial reporting and Form 10-Q. In accordance with such rules and regulations, certain disclosures that are normally included in annual financial statements have been omitted. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and the difference may be material to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Business Combinations
Business combinations are accounted for under the purchase method of accounting pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, Business Combinations(“ASC 805”). The total cost of an acquisition is allocated to the underlying net assets based on their respective estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. The fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is determined based on assumptions that reasonable market participants would use in the principal (or most advantageous) market for the asset or liability. Determining the fair value of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed is judgmental in nature and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions, including assumptions with respect to future cash flows, discount rates, growth rates, customer attrition rates and asset lives.
Transaction costs incurred to effect a business combination are expensed as incurred and areincluded as a component of professional fees or general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of income.
Pushdown Accounting
In connection with the Refinitiv Transaction, a majority interest of Refinitiv was acquired by BCP on October 1, 2018 from TR. The Refinitiv Transaction was accounted for by Refinitiv in accordance with the acquisition method of accounting pursuant to ASC 805, and pushdown accounting was applied to Refinitiv to record the fair value of the assets and liabilities of Refinitiv as of October 1, 2018, the date of the Refinitiv Transaction. The Company, as a consolidating subsidiary of Refinitiv, also accounted for the Refinitiv Transaction using pushdown accounting which resulted in a new fair value basis of accounting for certain of the Company’s assets and liabilities beginning on October 1, 2018. Under the pushdown accounting applied, the excess of the fair value of the Company above the fair value accounting basis of the net assets and liabilities of the Company as of October 1, 2018 was recorded as goodwill. The fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed was determined based on assumptions that reasonable market participants would use in the principal (or most advantageous) market for the asset or liability. The adjusted valuations primarily affected the values of the Company’s long-lived and indefinite-lived intangible assets, including software development costs.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consists of cash and highly liquid investments with remaining maturities at the time of purchase of three months or less.
Allowance for Credit Losses
The Company continually monitors collections and payments from its clients and maintains an allowance for credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is based on an estimate of the amount of potential credit losses in existing accounts receivable, as determined from a review of aging schedules, past due balances, historical collection experience and other specific account data. Careful analysis of the financial condition of the Company’s counterparties is also performed.
Additions to the allowance for credit losses are charged to credit loss expense, which is included in general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of income. Aged balances that are determined to be uncollectible are written off against the allowance for credit losses. An allowance for credit losses is also recognized for any credit impairment for available-for-sale debt securities. See Note 12 – Credit Risk for additional information.
Receivable from and Payable to Brokers and Dealers and Clearing Organizations
Receivable from and payable to brokers and dealers and clearing organizations consists of proceeds from transactions executed on the Company’s wholesale platform which failed to settle due to the inability of a transaction party to deliver or receive the transacted security. These securities transactions are generally collateralized by those securities. Until the failed transaction settles, a receivable from (and a matching payable to) brokers and dealers and clearing organizations is recognized for the proceeds from the unsettled transaction.
Deposits with Clearing Organizations
Deposits with clearing organizations are comprised of cash deposits.
Furniture, Equipment, Purchased Software and Leasehold Improvements
Furniture, equipment, purchased software and leasehold improvements are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation for furniture, equipment and purchased software is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, ranging from three toseven years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the estimated useful lives of the leasehold improvements or the remaining term of the lease for office space.
Furniture, equipment, purchased software and leasehold improvements are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances suggest that an asset’s carrying value may not be fully recoverable.
As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, accumulated depreciation related to furniture, equipment, purchased software and leasehold improvements totaled $95.9 million and $92.0 million, respectively. Depreciation expense for furniture, equipment, purchased software and leasehold improvements was $6.1 million and $5.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Software Development Costs
The Company capitalizes costs associated with the development of internal use software at the point at which the conceptual formulation, design and testing of possible software project alternatives have been completed. The Company capitalizes employee compensation and related benefits and third party consulting costs incurred during the application development stage which directly contribute to such development. Such costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over three years. Software development costs acquired as part of the ICD Acquisition are amortized over eight years, software development costs acquired as part of the r8fin Acquisition are amortized over seven years and software development costs acquired as part of the Yieldbroker Acquisition and NFI Acquisition were both amortized overone year. Costs capitalized as part of the Refinitiv Transaction pushdown accounting allocation are amortized over nine years. The Company reviews the amounts capitalized for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be fully recoverable, or that their useful lives are shorter than originally expected. Non-capitalized software costs and routine maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.
As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, accumulated amortization related to software development costs totaled $317.3 million and $295.3 million, respectively. Amortization expense for software development costs was $22.0 million and $15.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Goodwill
Goodwill includes the excess of the fair value of the Company above the fair value accounting basis of the net assets and liabilities of the Company as previously applied under pushdown accounting in connection with the Refinitiv Transaction. Goodwill also includes the cost of acquired companies in excess of the fair value of identifiable net assets at the acquisition date, including the ICD Acquisition, the r8fin Acquisition, the Yieldbroker Acquisition and the NFI Acquisition, which were all accounted for as business combinations. Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested for impairment annually on October 1st and between annual tests, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be fully recoverable. Goodwill is tested at the reporting unit level, which is defined as an operating segment or one level below the operating segment. The Company consists ofone reporting unit for goodwill impairment testing purposes. An impairment loss is recognized if the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is less than its net book value. Such loss is calculated as the difference between the estimated fair value of goodwill and its carrying value.
Goodwill was last tested for impairment on October 1, 2024 andno impairment of goodwill was identified.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets with a finite life are amortized over the estimated lives, ranging from four tofifteen years. These intangible assets subject to amortization are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances suggest that an asset’s or asset group’s carrying value may not be fully recoverable. Intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are tested for impairment at least annually. An impairment loss is recognized if the sum of the estimated discounted cash flows relating to the asset or asset group is less than the corresponding book value.
As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, accumulated amortization related to intangible assets totaled $701.4 million and $666.8 million, respectively. Amortization expense for definite-lived intangible assets was $34.6 million and $28.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Investments in Available-for-Sale Debt Securities
Investments in available-for-sale debt securities are carried at fair value with unrealized gains or losses excluded from earnings and reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition until realized. On a quarterly basis, the Company assesses whether an impairment loss on its available-for-sale debt securities has occurred due to declines in fair value or other market conditions. When the amortized cost basis of an available-for-sale debt security exceeds its fair value, the security is deemed to be impaired. The portion of an impairment related to credit losses is determined by comparing the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security with the amortized cost basis of the security and is recorded as a charge in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The remainder of an impairment is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss if the Company does not intend to sell the security and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the security prior to recovery. Investments in available-for-sale debt securities are included as a component of other assets on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.
Equity Investments Without Readily Determinable Fair Values
Equity investments without a readily determinable fair value are measured at cost, less impairment, plus or minus observable price changes (in orderly transactions) of an identical or similar investment of the same issuer. If the Company determines that the equity investment is impaired on the basis of a qualitative assessment, the Company will recognize an impairment loss equal to the amount by which the investment’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value. Equity investments are included as a component of other assets on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.
Investments in Digital Assets - Canton Coins
The Company performs services as a Super Validator and Validator on the Global Synchronizer, the Canton Network’s decentralized interoperability infrastructure. The Canton Network is a public-permissioned blockchain network designed with privacy and controls to facilitate the exchange of regulated financial assets. The Canton Network’s Global Synchronizer includes a utility token, which is a digital asset called the Canton Coin that is used to pay traffic fees for using the Global Synchronizer. As a Super Validator and Validator on the network, the Company verifies network transactions and contributes to the consensus mechanism of the network. For these validation services, the Company earns Canton Coins and then generally holds the Canton Coins on its balance sheet for investment purposes and my use Canton Coins to pay fees associated with its own Canton Network activity. The cost basis of the Canton Coins received is initially recorded at fair value on the date of receipt as a component of other assetson the consolidated statements of financial condition and other revenue on the consolidated statements of income. The Canton Coins are then remeasured to fair market value at the end of each reporting period through an adjustment to unrealized gain/(loss), included as a component of other income (loss), net on theconsolidated statements of income. The Company employs the first-in-first-out (“FIFO”) method on a per wallet basis to determine the cost basis of its Canton Coins for the computation of gains and losses on its disposal or sale. Realized gain (loss) on the disposal or sale of Canton Coins are included as a component of other income (loss), net in the consolidated statements of operations.
Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase
From time to time, the Company sells securities under agreements to repurchase in order to facilitate the clearance of securities. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase are treated as collateralized financings and are presented in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition at the amounts of cash received. Receivables and payables arising from these agreements are not offset in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.
Leases
At lease commencement, a right-of-use asset and a lease liability are recognized for all leases with an initial term in excess of 12 months based on the initial present value of the fixed lease payments over the lease term. The lease right-of-use asset also reflects the present value of any initial direct costs, prepaid lease payments and lease incentives. The Company’s leases do not provide a readily determinable implicit discount rate. Therefore, management estimates the Company’s incremental borrowing rate used to discount the lease payments based on the information available at lease commencement. The Company includes the term covered by an option to extend a lease when the option is reasonably certain to be exercised. The Company has elected not to separate non-lease components from lease components for all leases. Significant assumptions and judgments in calculating the lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities include the determination of the applicable borrowing rate for each lease. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and included as a component of occupancy expense in the condensed consolidated statements of income.
The Company’s classification of revenues in the condensed consolidated statements of income represents revenues from contracts with customers disaggregated by type of revenue. See Note 5 – Revenue for additional details regarding revenue types and the Company’s policies regarding revenue recognition.
Translation of Foreign Currency and Foreign Exchange Derivative Contracts
Revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies are recorded in the appropriate functional currency for the legal entity at the rate of exchange prevailing at the transaction date. Monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in non-functional currencies are then remeasured at the end of each reporting period at the exchange rate prevailing at the end of the reporting period. Foreign currency remeasurement gains or losses on monetary assets and liabilities in nonfunctional currencies are recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of income within general and administrative expenses. The realized and unrealized gains/losses totaled a $0.9 million gain and a $1.2 million loss during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Since the condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, the Company also translates all non-U.S. dollar functional currency revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars. All non-U.S. dollar functional currency revenue and expense amounts are translated into U.S. dollars monthly at the average exchange rate for the month. All non-U.S. dollar functional currency assets and liabilities are translated at the rate prevailing at the end of the reporting period. Gains or losses on translation in the financial statements, when the functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar, are included as a component of other comprehensive income.
The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts to mitigate its U.S. dollar and British pound sterling versus euro exposure, generally with a duration of less than 12 months. The Company’s foreign exchange derivative contracts are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. Changes in the fair value during the period of foreign currency forward contracts, which were entered into for foreign exchange risk management purposes relating to operating activities, are recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of income within general and administrative expenses and related cash flows are included in cash flows from operating activities. The Company does not use derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Realized and unrealized gains/losses on foreign currency forward contracts during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 totaled a $6.3 million loss and a $4.4 million gain, respectively. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the counterparty on each of the foreign exchange derivative contracts was an affiliate of LSEG and therefore the corresponding assets or liabilities on such contracts were included in receivable and due from affiliates or payable and due to affiliates, respectively, on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. See Note 11 – Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Other Assets for additional details on the Company’s derivative instruments.
Income Tax
The Corporation is subject to U.S. federal, state and local income taxes with respect to its taxable income, including its allocable share of any taxable income of TWM LLC, and is taxed at prevailing corporate tax rates. TWM LLC is a multiple member limited liability company taxed as a partnership and accordingly any taxable income generated by TWM LLC is passed through to and included in the taxable income of its members, including the Corporation. Income taxes also include unincorporated business taxes on income earned or losses incurred for conducting business in certain state and local jurisdictions, income taxes on income earned or losses incurred in foreign jurisdictions on certain operations and federal and state income taxes on income earned or losses incurred, both current and deferred, on subsidiaries that are taxed as corporations for U.S. tax purposes.
The Company records deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. The Company measures deferred taxes using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when such temporary differences are expected to reverse. The Company evaluates the need for valuation allowances based on the weight of positive and negative evidence. The Company records valuation allowances wherever management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will not be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the foreseeable future.
The Company records uncertain tax positions on the basis of a two-step process whereby (i) the Company determines whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (ii) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the Company recognizes the amount of tax benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to income taxes within the provision for income taxes in the condensed consolidated statements of income. Accrued interest and penalties are included within accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.
The Company has elected to treat taxes due on future U.S. inclusions in taxable income under the global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) provision of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 as a current period expense when incurred.
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”) was signed into law. The IRA established a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax (“CAMT”) effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, and imposed a 1% excise tax on the repurchase after December 31, 2022 of stock by publicly traded U.S. corporations. The 1% excise tax did not have an impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2025 or 2024. The Company is subject to the current 15% CAMT, however, it did not have an impact on the Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2025 or 2024.
On October 8, 2021, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development announced an accord endorsing and providing an implementation plan focused on global profit allocation, and implementing a global minimum tax rate of at least 15% for large multinational corporations on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis, known as the “Two Pillar Plan.” On December 15, 2022, the European Council formally adopted a European Union directive on the implementation of the plan which became effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2024. The Company falls under the provisions of the Two Pillar Plan and related tax impacts per local country adoption as it is a consolidating subsidiary of LSEG. The Two Pillar Plan did not have an impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2025 or 2024.
Stock-Based Compensation
The stock-based payments received by the employees of the Company are accounted for as equity awards. The Company measures and recognizes the cost of employee services received in exchange for awards of equity instruments based on their estimated fair values measured as of the grant date. These costs are recognized as an expense over the requisite service period, with an offsetting increase to additional paid-in capital. The grant-date fair value of stock-based awards that do not require future service (i.e., vested awards) are expensed immediately. Forfeitures of stock-based compensation awards are recognized as they occur.
For grants made during the post-IPO period, the fair value of the equity instruments is determined based on the price of the Class A common stock on the grant date.
Prior to the IPO, the Company awarded options to management and other employees (collectively, the “Special Option Award”) under the Amended and Restated Tradeweb Markets Inc. Option Plan (the “Option Plan”). The significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value as of grant date of the options awarded prior to the IPO did not reflect changes that would have occurred to these assumptions as a result of the IPO. The non-cash stock-based compensation expense associated with the Special Option Award began being expensed in the second quarter of 2019 and ended during the first quarter of 2024.
The Company uses the Black-Scholes pricing model to value some of its option awards. Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of the option awards requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected life of the option awards and the stock price volatility.
For performance-based restricted stock units that vest based on market conditions, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation based on the estimated grant date fair value of the awards computed with the assistance of a valuation specialist using a Monte Carlo simulation on a binomial model. The significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the performance-based restricted stock units that vest based on market conditions are years of maturity, annualized volatility and the risk-free interest rate. The maturity period represents the period of time that the award granted was modeled into the future, the risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of measurement corresponding with the maturity period of the award and the expected volatility is based upon historical volatility of the Company’s Class A common stock.
Earnings Per Share
Basic and diluted earnings per share are computed in accordance with the two-class method as unvested or unsettled vested stock awards issued to certain retired or terminated employees are entitled to non-forfeitable dividend equivalent rights and are considered participating securities prior to being issued and outstanding shares of common stock. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that treats a participating security as having rights to earnings that otherwise would have been available to common shareholders. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing the net income attributable to the Company’s outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock by the weighted-average number of the Company’s shares outstanding during the period. For purposes of computing diluted earnings per share, the weighted-average number of the Company’s shares reflects the dilutive effect that could occur if all potentially dilutive securities were converted into or exchanged or exercised for the Company’s Class A or Class B common stock.
The dilutive effect of stock options and other stock-based payment awards is calculated using the treasury stock method, which assumes the proceeds from the exercise of these instruments are used to purchase common shares at the average market price for the period. The dilutive effect of LLC Interests held by non-controlling interests is evaluated under the if-converted method, where the securities are assumed to be converted at the beginning of the period, and the resulting common shares are included in the denominator of the diluted earnings per share calculation for the entire period presented. Performance-based awards are considered contingently issuable shares and their dilutive effect is included in the denominator of the diluted earnings per share calculation for the entire period, if those shares would be issuable as of the end of the reporting period, assuming the end of the reporting period was also the end of the contingency period.
Shares of Class C and Class D common stock do not have economic rights in Tradeweb Markets Inc. and, therefore, are not included in the calculation of basic earnings per share.
Fair Value Measurement
Fair value represents the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (the exit price). Financial instruments that the Company owns (long positions) are marked to bid prices, and instruments that the Company has sold, but not yet purchased (short positions) are marked to offer prices. Fair value measurements do not include transaction costs.
The fair value hierarchy under ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement(“ASC 820”), prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under ASC 820 are described below.
Basis of Fair Value Measurement
An asset or liability’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not considered to be active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly;
Level 3: Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (“ASU 2024-03”). ASU 2024-03 requires the disaggregation of certain costs and expenses in the notes to the financial statements to provide enhanced transparency into the expense captions presented on the face of the income statement. ASU 2024-03 is effective for the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2027 and for interim periods beginning in 2028. The guidance may be applied on a prospective or retrospective basis and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2024-03 on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures(“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 requires disaggregated information about a reporting entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 is effective for the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. The guidance may be applied on a prospective or retrospective basis and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2023-09 on its consolidated financial statements.
- Restricted Cash
Cash has been segregated in a special reserve bank account for the benefit of brokers and dealers under SEC Rule 15c3-3. The Company computes the proprietary accounts of broker-dealers (“PAB”) reserve, which requires the Company to maintain minimum segregated cash in the amount of excess total credits per the reserve computation. As of both March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, cash in the amount of $1.0 million, has been segregated in the PAB reserve account, exceeding the requirements pursuant to SEC Rule 15c3-3.
- Acquisitions
r8fin
On January 19, 2024, the Company completed its acquisition of r8fin in exchange for total purchase consideration of $125.9 million, consisting of $89.2 million in cash paid at closing (net of cash acquired) and the issuance of 374,601 shares of Class A common stock of the Corporation valued as of the acquisition date at $36.7 million. r8fin provides a suite of algorithmic-based tools as well as a thin-client EMS trading application to facilitate futures and cash trades.
The r8fin Acquisition was not material to the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements and therefore pro forma and current period results of this acquisition have not been presented.
ICD
On August 1, 2024, the Company completed its acquisition of ICD in exchange for total purchase consideration of $774.2 million.
In connection with the acquisition closing, the Corporation was required to issue and sell $4.5 million of shares of its Class A common stock in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, to an equityholder of the ICD seller, who was also an employee of ICD and is currently an employee of the Company. These shares of Class A common stock were issued and sold as restricted stock (“RSAs”), subject to vesting and forfeiture terms, pursuant to the Tradeweb Markets Inc. 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan. The 41,705 RSAs issued at closing, had a fair market value of $4.7 million as of the acquisition date, and will cliff vest at the end of atwo-year service period. Of the $4.7 million in RSAs issued, $3.3 million was allocated to consideration transferred for the business combination, relating to the pre-combination service period completed before the acquisition date, and $1.3 million will be amortized into stock-based compensation expense over thetwo-year service period required subsequent to the acquisition date.
Cash paid at closing, net of $23.3 million in cash acquired and net of $4.5 million in proceeds from the sale of RSAs, totaled $773.8 million. Of this amount, $770.9 million was determined to be the net cash consideration transferred for the business combination, $1.4 million was recorded as compensation expense during the quarter ended September 30, 2024, related to the acceleration of vesting on the acquisition date of previously unvested stock awards issued by the ICD seller, and $1.4 million was recorded as a prepaid asset, to be recognized as compensation expense over atwo-year required service period, relating to sale proceeds held in escrow for certain key executives, who are required to remain employed by the Company during that service period in order to receive the escrow portion of their sale proceeds.
ICD is an institutional investment technology provider for corporate treasury organizations trading short-term investments and with the 2024 acquisition of ICD and its proprietary technology, the Company added “corporates” as a client channel, serving corporate treasury professionals, complementing the Company’s previously existing focus on institutional, wholesale and retail clients.
ICD revenues of $24.7 million and operating income of $0.9 million, including $11.2 million of depreciation and amortization expense, were included in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2025.
Supplemental Pro Forma Information (Unaudited)
The financial information in the table below summarizes the combined results of operations of Tradeweb Markets Inc. and ICD, on a pro forma basis, as though the companies had been combined as of January 1, 2023. The unaudited supplemental pro forma information is presented for informational purposes only and is not indicative of the actual results of operations that would have been achieved if the ICD Acquisition had taken place on January 1, 2023 or of future results. Such unaudited pro forma financial information is based on the historical financial statements of Tradeweb Markets Inc. and ICD. The unaudited pro forma financial information is based on estimates and assumptions that have been made solely for the purpose of developing such unaudited pro forma financial information, including, without limitation, purchase accounting adjustments, acquisition related transaction costs, the removal of historical ICD interest expense and intangible asset amortization and the addition of intangible asset amortization and incremental stock-based compensation expense related to this acquisition, together with their consequential tax effects. The pro forma adjustments are based upon currently available information and certain assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable under the circumstances. The unaudited pro forma financial information does not reflect any anticipated synergies or operating cost reductions that may be achieved from integrating ICD into the rest of the Company.
The unaudited supplemental pro forma financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2024 are as follows:
| Three Months Ended | |
|---|---|
| March 31, 2024 | |
| (dollars in thousands) | |
| Revenue | $432,919 |
| Operating income | $167,358 |
| Net income attributable to Tradeweb Markets Inc. | $125,442 |
- Revenue
The Company enters into contracts with its clients to provide a stand-ready connection to its electronic marketplaces, which facilitates the execution of trades by its clients. The access to the Company’s electronic marketplaces includes market data, continuous pricing data refreshes and the processing and reporting of trades thereon, which are highly interrelated services. The stand-ready connection to the electronic marketplaces is considered a single performance obligation satisfied over time as the client simultaneously receives and consumes the benefit from the Company’s performance as access is provided. This performance obligation constitutes a series of services that are substantially the same in nature and are provided over time using the same measure of progress.
For its services, the Company may earn subscription fees for granting access to its electronic marketplaces. Subscription fees, which are generally fixed fees, are recognized as revenue on a monthly basis, in the period that access is provided. The frequency of subscription fee billings varies from monthly to annually, depending on contract terms.
The Company also earns transaction fees and/or commissions from transactions executed on the Company’s electronic marketplaces, including the basis point commissions earned on the monthly average daily balance (“ADB”) of money market fund investments made through its ICD Portal, and commission revenue from its electronic and voice brokerage services on a riskless principal basis. Riskless principal revenues are derived on matched principal transactions where revenues are earned on the spread between the buy and sell price of the transacted product.
Transaction fees and commissions are generated both on a variable and fixed price basis and vary by geographic region, product type and trade size. Fixed monthly transaction fees and commissions, or monthly transaction fees and commission minimums, are earned on a monthly basis in the period the stand-ready trading services are provided and are generally billed monthly. For variable transaction fees and commissions, the Company charges its clients amounts calculated based on the mix of products traded and the volume of transactions executed. Variable transaction fee and commission revenue associated with a particular trade is recognized and recorded on a trade-date basis when the individual trade occurs and is generally billed when the trade settles or is billed monthly. Variable commission revenue based upon a clients’ ADB invested in money market funds during a calendar month is recorded monthly and the rates billed may vary by money market fund and by the total level of funds invested. Variable discounts or rebates on transaction fees and commissions are earned and applied monthly or quarterly, resolved within the same reporting period and are recorded as a reduction to revenue in the period the relevant trades occur.
The Company also earns fees from an affiliate of LSEG relating to the sale of market data to LSEG, which distributes that data. Included in these fees, which are billed quarterly, are real-time market data fees which are recognized monthly on a straight-line basis, as LSEG receives and consumes the benefit evenly over the contract period, as the data is provided. Also included in these fees are fees for historical data sets, which are recognized when the historical data set is provided to LSEG.
Significant judgments used in accounting for the Company’s market data agreement with LSEG include the following determinations:
The provision of real-time market data feeds and historical data sets are distinct performance obligations.
The performance obligations under this contract are recognized over time from the initial delivery of the data feeds until the end of the contract term or at a point in time upon delivery of each historical data set.
The transaction prices for the performance obligations were determined by using an adjusted market assessment analysis. Inputs in this analysis included publicly available price lists for data sets provided by other companies, planned internal pricing strategies and other market data points and adjustments obtained through consultations with market data industry experts regarding estimating a standalone selling price for each performance obligation.
Some revenues earned by the Company have fixed fee components, such as monthly minimums or fixed monthly fees, and variable components, such as transaction-based fees and commissions. The breakdown of revenues between fixed and variable revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 is as follows:
| Three Months Ended · Three Months Ended | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2025 · March 31, 2024 | ||||
| (dollars in thousands) | (dollars in thousands) | |||
| Variable | Fixed | Variable | Fixed | |
| Revenues | ||||
| Transaction fees and commissions | $378,757 | $42,587 | $298,262 | $37,189 |
| Subscription fees | 460 | 55,317 | 470 | 49,211 |
| LSEG market data fees | — | 28,925 | — | 20,500 |
| Other | 792 | 2,839 | 362 | 2,745 |
| Total revenue | $380,009 | $129,668 | $299,094 | $109,645 |
Deferred Revenue
Fees received by the Company which are not yet earned are included in deferred revenue on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition until the revenue recognition criteria have been met. The revenue recognized and the remaining deferred revenue balances are shown below:
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| (dollars in thousands) | |
| Deferred revenue balance - December 31, 2024 | $30,800 |
| New billings | 66,479 |
| Revenue recognized | (50,382) |
| Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes | 83 |
| Deferred revenue balance - March 31, 2025 | $46,980 |
During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company recognized into revenue $15.2 million in deferred revenue that was deferred as of December 31, 2024. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company recognized into revenue $15.8 million in deferred revenue that was deferred as of December 31, 2023.
- Income Taxes
The Corporation is subject to U.S. federal, state and local income taxes with respect to its taxable income, including its allocable share of any taxable income of TWM LLC, and is taxed at prevailing corporate tax rates. The Company’s actual effective tax rate will be impacted by the Corporation’s ownership share of TWM LLC, which will continue to increase as Continuing LLC Owners that continue to hold LLC Interests redeem or exchange their LLC Interests for shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock, as applicable, or the Corporation purchases LLC Interests from such Continuing LLC Owners. The Company’s consolidated effective tax rate will also vary from period to period depending on changes in the mix of earnings, tax legislation and tax rates in various jurisdictions. The Company’s provision for income taxes includes U.S., federal, state, local and foreign taxes.
The Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was approximately 24.0% and 23.3%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2025 differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21.0% primarily due to state, local and foreign taxes and the disallowance of compensation expense tax deductions, partially offset by the effect of non-controlling interests and the Foreign-Derived Intangible Income (“FDII”) deduction. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2024 differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21.0% primarily due to state, local and foreign taxes and the disallowance of compensation expense tax deductions, partially offset by the effect of non-controlling interests.
The Company has obtained, and expects to obtain, an increase in its share of the tax basis of the assets of TWM LLC when LLC Interests are redeemed or exchanged by Continuing LLC Owners and in connection with certain other qualifying transactions. This increase in tax basis has had, and may in the future have, the effect of reducing the amounts that the Corporation would otherwise pay in the future to various tax authorities. Pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement, the Corporation is required to make cash payments to the Continuing LLC Owners equal to 50% of the amount of U.S. federal, state and local income or franchise tax savings, if any, that the Corporation actually realizes (or in some circumstances are deemed to realize) as a result of certain future tax benefits to which the Corporation may become entitled. The Corporation expects to benefit from the remaining 50% of tax benefits, if any, that the Corporation may actually realize. See Note 7 – Tax Receivable Agreement for further details. The tax benefit has been recognized in deferred tax assets on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.
- Tax Receivable Agreement
In connection with the Reorganization Transactions, the Corporation entered into a tax receivable agreement (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”) with TWM LLC and the Continuing LLC Owners, which provides for the payment by the Corporation to a Continuing LLC Owner of 50% of the amount of U.S. federal, state and local income or franchise tax savings, if any, that the Corporation actually realizes (or in some circumstances is deemed to realize) as a result of (i) increases in the tax basis of TWM LLC’s assets resulting from (a) the purchase of LLC Interests from such Continuing LLC Owner, including with the net proceeds from the IPO and any subsequent offerings or (b) redemptions or exchanges by such Continuing LLC Owner of LLC Interests for shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock or for cash, as applicable, and (ii) certain other tax benefits related to the Corporation making payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement are due within 150 days after the filing of the tax return based on the actual tax savings realized by the Corporation, and estimated payments may be made in advance. The first payment of the Tax Receivable Agreement was made in January 2021. Substantially all payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement are payable over fifteen years following the purchase of LLC Interests from Continuing LLC Owners or redemption or exchanges by Continuing LLC Owners of LLC Interests.
The Corporation accounts for the income tax effects resulting from taxable redemptions or exchanges of LLC Interests by Continuing LLC Owners for shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock or cash, as the case may be, and purchases by the Corporation of LLC Interests from Continuing LLC Owners by recognizing an increase in deferred tax assets, based on enacted tax rates at the date of each redemption, exchange, or purchase, as the case may be. Further, the Corporation evaluates the likelihood that it will realize the benefit represented by the deferred tax asset, and, to the extent that the Corporation estimates that it is more likely than not that it will not realize the benefit, it reduces the carrying amount of the deferred tax asset with a valuation allowance.
The impact of any changes in the total projected obligations recorded under the Tax Receivable Agreement as a result of actual changes in the mix of the Company’s earnings, tax legislation and tax rates in various jurisdictions, or other factors that may impact the Corporation’s actual tax savings realized, are reflected in income before taxes on the condensed consolidated statements of income in the period in which the change occurs. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the tax receivable agreement liability on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition totaled $369.8 million and $372.8 million, respectively. During each of the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, no tax receivable agreement liability adjustment was recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of income.
- Non-Controlling Interests
In connection with the Reorganization Transactions, Tradeweb Markets Inc. became the sole manager of TWM LLC and, as a result of this control, and because Tradeweb Markets Inc. has a substantial financial interest in TWM LLC, consolidates the financial results of TWM LLC into its condensed consolidated financial statements. The non-controlling interests balance reported on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition represents the economic interests of TWM LLC held by Continuing LLC Owners. Income or loss is attributed to the non-controlling interests based on the relative ownership percentages of LLC Interests held during the period by Tradeweb Markets Inc. and the Continuing LLC Owners.
The following table summarizes the ownership interest in Tradeweb Markets LLC:
| March 31, 2025 | March 31, 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LLCInterests | Ownership% | LLCInterests | Ownership% | |
| Number of LLC Interests held by Tradeweb Markets Inc. | 213,330,868 | 90.2% | 213,098,420 | 90.2% |
| Number of LLC Interests held by non-controlling interests | 23,066,538 | 9.8% | 23,077,973 | 9.8% |
| Total LLC Interests outstanding | 236,397,406 | 100.0% | 236,176,393 | 100.0% |
LLC Interests held by the Continuing LLC Owners are redeemable in accordance with the TWM LLC Agreement, at the election of such holders, for shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock, as applicable, on aone-for-one basis or, at the Company’s option, a cash payment in accordance with the terms of the TWM LLC Agreement.
The following table summarizes the impact on Tradeweb Market Inc.’s equity due to changes in the Corporation’s ownership interest in TWM LLC:
| Net Income Attributable to Tradeweb Markets Inc. and Transfers (to) from the Non-Controlling Interests | Three Months Ended | |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| (dollars in thousands) | ||
| Net income attributable to Tradeweb Markets Inc. | $148,382 | $126,142 |
| Transfers (to) from non-controlling interests: | ||
| Increase/(decrease) in Tradeweb Markets Inc.’s additional paid-in capital as a result of ownership changes in TWM LLC | 3,795 | 1,333 |
| Net transfers (to) from non-controlling interests | 3,795 | 1,333 |
| Change from net income attributable to Tradeweb Markets Inc. and transfers (to) from non-controlling interests | $152,177 | $127,475 |
- Stockholders’ Equity and Stock-Based Compensation Plans
The rights and privileges of the Company’s stockholders’ equity and LLC Interests are described in the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and there have been no changes to those rights and privileges during the three months ended March 31, 2025.
Common Stock
The following table details the movement in the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock during the period:
| Class A | Class B | Class C | Class D | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at December 31, 2024 | 115,977,551 | 96,933,192 | 18,000,000 | 5,073,538 | 235,984,281 |
| Activities related to exchanges of LLC Interests | 7,000 | — | — | (7,000) | — |
| Issuance of common stock from equity incentive plans | 454,830 | — | — | — | 454,830 |
| Balance at March 31, 2025 | 116,439,381 | 96,933,192 | 18,000,000 | 5,066,538 | 236,439,111 |
| Class A | Class B | Class C | Class D | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | 115,090,787 | 96,933,192 | 18,000,000 | 5,077,973 | 235,101,952 |
| Issuance of common stock from equity incentive plans | 699,840 | — | — | — | 699,840 |
| Issuance of common stock for business acquisition (1) | 374,601 | — | — | — | 374,601 |
| Balance at March 31, 2024 | 116,165,228 | 96,933,192 | 18,000,000 | 5,077,973 | 236,176,393 |
(1)On January 19, 2024, the Corporation issued 374,601 unregistered shares of Class A common stock as partial consideration for the r8fin Acquisition (the “r8fin Acquisition Shares”), in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The r8fin Acquisition Shares are considered issued and outstanding subsequent to their January 19, 2024 issuance, but remain subject to a lock-up that restricts the sale, transfer or disposal of these shares for the two year period following the January 19, 2024 acquisition date of the r8fin Acquisition.
Stock-Based Compensation Plans
Under the Tradeweb Markets Inc. 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, the Company is authorized to issue up to 8,841,864 new shares of Class A common stock to employees, officers and non-employee directors. Under this plan, the Company may grant awards in respect of shares of Class A common stock, including restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and RSAs with only time-based vesting conditions, performance-based restricted stock units with both time and performance-based vesting conditions, stock options and dividend equivalent rights. The Company refers to performance-based restricted stock units that vest based on the financial performance of the Company as “PRSUs” and performance-based restricted stock units that vest based on market conditions, such as total shareholder return, as “PSUs”. RSUs, PRSUs and PSUs each represent promises to issue actual shares of Class A common stock at the end of a vesting period. RSAs are issued shares of restricted Class A common stock that are released to an employee at the end of a vesting period. Stock options have a maximum contractual term of 10 years.
During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company granted 358,995 RSUs,147,733 PRSUs and 65,532 PSUs at a weighted-average grant-date fair value of $135.02, $135.80 and $216.02, respectively.
RSU awards granted to employees will generally vest one-third each year over athree-year period, RSU awards granted to non-employee directors will generally vest afterone year and RSAs vest at the end of atwo-year period.
PRSUs generally cliff vest on January 1 of the third calendar year from the calendar year of the date of grant and the number of shares a participant will receive upon vesting is determined by a performance modifier, which is adjusted as a result of the financial performance of the Company. For PRSU awards granted during 2025 and 2024, the financial performance of the Company will be determined based on the compound annual growth rate over athree-year performance period beginning on January 1 in the year of grant. For PRSU awards granted during 2023, the financial performance of the Company was determined based on the financial performance of the Company in the grant year, and any earned awards that remain outstanding are subject to time-based vesting conditions. For PRSU awards granted during 2023, 2024 and 2025, the performance modifier can vary between 0% (minimum) and 250% (maximum) of the target (100%) award amount.
PSUs cliff vest on January 1 of the third calendar year from the calendar year of the date of grant and the number of shares a participant will receive upon vesting is determined by a performance modifier, which is adjusted as a result of the Company’s total shareholder return over athree-year performance period. The performance modifier for PSUs can vary between 0% (minimum) and 250% (maximum) of the target (100%) award amount. The grant date fair value of PSUs granted in March 2025 and 2024 was estimated using the Monte Carlo simulation model and the significant valuation assumptions used in those models were as follows:
| March 17, 2025 PSU Grant | March 15, 2024 PSU Grant | |
|---|---|---|
| Maturity (years) | 2.8 | 2.8 |
| Annualized Volatility | 25.04% | 26.63% |
| Risk-Free Interest Rate | 3.95% | 4.44% |
A summary of the Company’s total stock-based compensation expense is presented below:
| Three Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|
| March 31, | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| (dollars in thousands) | ||
| Total stock-based compensation expense | $22,187 | $16,402 |
The stock-based compensation expense above excludes $0.5 million and $0.6 million of stock-based compensation expense capitalized to software development costs during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Share Repurchase Program
On December 5, 2022, the Company announced that its board of directors authorized a new share repurchase program (the “2022 Share Repurchase Program”), after completing in October 2022, the $150.0 million of total repurchases of the Company’s Class A common stock authorized under its previous share repurchase program. The 2022 Share Repurchase Program was authorized to continue to offset annual dilution from stock-based compensation plans, as well as to opportunistically repurchase the Company’s Class A common stock. The 2022 Share Repurchase Program authorizes the purchase of up to $300.0 million of the Company’s Class A common stock at the Company’s discretion and has no termination date. The 2022 Share Repurchase Program can be effected through regular open-market purchases (which may include repurchase plans designed to comply with Rule 10b-18 or Rule 10b5-1), through privately negotiated transactions or through accelerated share repurchases, each in accordance with applicable securities laws and other restrictions. The amounts, timing and manner of the repurchases will be subject to general market conditions, the prevailing price and trading volumes of the Company’s Class A common stock and other factors. The 2022 Share Repurchase Program does not require the Company to acquire a specific number of shares and may be suspended, amended or discontinued at any time. There wereno share repurchases during either the three months ended March 31, 2025 or 2024. As of March 31, 2025, a total of $179.9 million remained available for repurchase pursuant to the 2022 Share Repurchase Program.
For shares repurchased pursuant to the 2022 Share Repurchase Program, the excess of the repurchase price paid over the par value of the Class A common stock is recorded as a reduction to retained earnings.
Other Share Repurchases
During the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company withheld 346,219 and 452,821 shares, respectively, of Class A common stock from employee stock option, PRSU and RSU awards, at an average price per share of $137.46 and $96.80, respectively, and an aggregate value of $47.6 million and $43.8 million, respectively, based on the price of the Class A common stock on the date the relevant withholding occurred. These shares are withheld in order for the Company to cover the employee payroll tax withholding obligations upon the exercise of stock options and settlement of RSUs and PRSUs and such shares were not withheld in connection with the share repurchase programs discussed above.
- Related Party Transactions
The Company enters into transactions with its affiliates from time to time which are considered to be related party transactions.
As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the following balances with such affiliates were included in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition in the following line items:
| March 31, | December 31, | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| (dollars in thousands) | ||
| Accounts receivable | $10 | $786 |
| Receivable and due from affiliates | 1,100 | 8,094 |
| Other assets | 565 | 7 |
| Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities | 1,870 | 1,469 |
| Deferred revenue | 6,440 | 6,459 |
| Payable and due to affiliates | 574 | 763 |
The following balances with such affiliates were included in the condensed consolidated statements of income in the following line items:
| Three Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|
| March 31, | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| (dollars in thousands) | ||
| Revenue: | ||
| Subscription fees | $326 | $304 |
| LSEG market data fees (1) | 28,925 | 20,500 |
| Other fees | 147 | 205 |
| Expenses: (2) | ||
| Technology and communications | 2,140 | 1,572 |
| General and administrative | 2 | 3 |
| Professional fees | 76 | 26 |
| Occupancy | 23 | 13 |
(1)The Company maintains a market data license agreement with an affiliate of LSEG. Under the agreement, the Company delivers to LSEG certain market data feeds which LSEG distributes to its customers. The Company earns license fees and royalties for these feeds.
(2)The Company maintains agreements with LSEG to provide the Company with certain market data, office space, finance, human resources and other administrative services.
- Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Other Assets
Financial Instruments and Other Assets Measured at Fair Value
The Company’s financial instruments and other assets measured at fair value on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 have been categorized based upon the fair value hierarchy as follows:
| Quoted Prices inactive Marketsfor IdenticalAssets(Level 1) | SignificantObservableInputs(Level 2) | SignificantUnobservableInputs(Level 3) | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||
| Assets | ||||
| Cash equivalents – Money market funds and other highly liquid investments | $1,084,885 | $— | $— | $1,084,885 |
| Other assets – Digital Assets – Canton Coins | — | — | 5,375 | 5,375 |
| Other assets – Investment in available for sale debt securities | — | — | 13,627 | 13,627 |
| Total assets measured at fair value | $1,084,885 | $— | $19,002 | $1,103,887 |
| Liabilities | ||||
| Payable and due to affiliates – Foreign exchange derivative contracts | $— | $570 | $— | $570 |
| Total liabilities measured at fair value | $— | $570 | $— | $570 |
| Assets | ||||
| Cash equivalents – Money market funds and other highly liquid investments | $1,117,133 | $— | $— | $1,117,133 |
| Receivable and due from affiliates – Foreign exchange derivative contracts | — | 7,844 | — | 7,844 |
| Other assets – Digital Assets – Canton Coins | — | — | 852 | 852 |
| Other assets – Investment in available for sale debt securities | — | — | 10,354 | 10,354 |
| Total assets measured at fair value | $1,117,133 | $7,844 | $11,206 | $1,136,183 |
Cash Equivalents
The Company’s cash equivalents are classified within level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices in active markets.
Investments in Available-for-Sale Debt Securities
In April 2024, the Company made an investment in a convertible note with a principal amount and original amortized cost basisof $10.0 million. The note accrues interest at a rate of 5% per annum, compounded annually, and matures on the earliest to occur of January 19, 2027, an event of default or a change in control as each term is defined in the convertible note. The note and accrued interest will convert to equity securities of the issuer on January 19, 2027, if not previously repaid or converted upon certain defined financing events. The convertible note is accounted for as an available-for-sale debt security and the convertible note and accrued interest is included within other assets on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition at a fair value of $13.6 million and $10.4 million as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. The convertible note, including accrued interest, had an amortized cost basis of $10.5 million and $10.4 millionas of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. There wereno credit losses recorded on the convertible note during the three months ended March 31, 2025. During thethree months ended March 31, 2025, there was a $3.2 million unrealized gain recorded as a component of other comprehensive income related to an increase in fair value of the convertible note during the period. The convertible note is classified within level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because the valuation requires assumptions that are both significant and unobservable. The primary methods used to estimate the fair value of the convertible note were a discounted cash flow analysis and a probability-weighted expected return model which incorporated the credit risk of the issuer and scenarios in which the note would convert into equity, the estimated equity value of the issuer and the conversion terms outlined in the convertible note agreement. Significant unobservable inputs included a discount rate of 15%. Significant increases or decreases in the discount rate would have resulted in a significantly lower or higher fair value measurement.
Digital Assets - Canton Coins
The Canton Network is a public-permissioned blockchain network designed with privacy and controls to facilitate the exchange of regulated financial assets. The Canton Network’s Global Synchronizer includes a utility token, which is a digital asset called the Canton Coin that is used to pay traffic fees for using the Global Synchronizer, the Canton Network’s decentralized interoperability infrastructure. Beginning in the third quarter of 2024, the Company earned and continues to earn Canton Coins for its function as a Super Validator and Validator on the Global Synchronizer, and then generally holds the Canton Coins on its balance sheet for investment purposes and may use Canton Coins to pay fees associated with its own Canton Network activity. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company recognized $0.3 million in other revenue relating to Canton Coins received in exchange for providing services as a Super Validator and Validator. As of March 31, 2025, Canton Coins may only be transferred to other approved participants on the Canton Network and there is no public market for Canton Coins.
The following table presents the Company’s Canton Coin holdings as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024:
| March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity of Coins | Cost Basis | Fair Value | Quantity of Coins | Cost Basis | Fair Value | |
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||
| Canton Coins | 1.5 billion | $969 | $5,375 | 1.2 billion | $666 | $852 |
The Company’s Canton Coin holdings are classified within level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because the valuation requires assumptions that are both significant and unobservable. The Company utilized the assistance of a third-party valuation specialist to determine the fair value of its Canton Coins. Because of the lack of a public market, the fair value was determined using a combination of a development cost approach and a market approach. The Company’s valuation of its Canton Coins is highly subjective. As the Company held 1.5 billion and 1.2 billion Canton Coins as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively, a significant increase or decrease in either the estimated development costs ormarket price, the weighting of the development cost versus the market approaches, or the discount for lack of marketability applied could have resulted in a significant change to the fair value measurement.
Level 3 Roll Forward
The table below presents a summary of the changes in fair value for level 3 assets during thethree months ended March 31, 2025:
| Investment in Available for Sale Debt Securities | Digital Assets | Total Level 3 Assets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (dollars in thousands) | |||
| Balance - December 31, 2024 | $10,354 | $852 | $11,206 |
| Additions | 123 | 302 | 425 |
| Dispositions | — | — | — |
| Total realized and unrealized gains included in other income (loss), net | — | 4,221 | 4,221 |
| Total realized and unrealized gains included in other comprehensive income (loss) | 3,150 | — | 3,150 |
| Balance - March 31, 2025 | $13,627 | $5,375 | $19,002 |
During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company recognized unrealized gains relating to level 3 assets held at March 31, 2025 totaling $4.2 million, included as a component of other income (loss), net on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income and $3.2 million included as a component of other comprehensive income on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. There were no unrealized or realized gains (losses) relating to level 3 assets recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
There were no material realized gains or realized losses recorded on the disposition of digital assets during the three months ended March 31, 2025.
Foreign Exchange Derivative Contracts
The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts to mitigate its U.S. dollar and British pound sterling versus euro exposure, generally with a duration of less than 12 months. The valuations for the Company’s foreign currency forward contracts are primarily based on the difference between the exchange rate associated with the contract and the exchange rate at the current period end for the tenor of the contract. Foreign currency forward contracts are categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the counterparty on each of these foreign exchange derivative contracts was an affiliate of LSEG and therefore the corresponding assets or liabilities on such contracts were included inreceivable and due from affiliates or payable and due to affiliates, respectively, on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.
The following table summarizes the aggregate U.S. dollar equivalent notional amount of the Company’sforeign exchange derivative contracts not designated as hedges for accounting purposes:
| March 31, | December 31, | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| (dollars in thousands) | ||
| Foreign currency forward contracts – Gross notional amount | $283,976 | $238,182 |
The Company’sforeign exchange derivative contracts are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes and changes in the fair value of these contracts during the period are recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of income. The total realized and unrealized gains (losses) onforeign exchange derivative contracts recorded within the condensed consolidated statements of income are as follows:
| Three Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|
| March 31, | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| (dollars in thousands) | ||
| Foreign currency forward contracts not designated in accounting hedge relationship – General and administrative (expenses)/income | $(6,320) | $4,351 |
Financial Instruments Not Measured at Fair Value
The Company’s financial instruments not measured at fair value on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 have been categorized based upon the fair value hierarchy as follows:
| Carrying Value | Quoted Prices inactive Marketsfor IdenticalAssets(Level 1) | SignificantObservableInputs(Level 2) | SignificantUnobservableInputs(Level 3) | Total Fair Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As of March 31, 2025 · (dollars in thousands) | |||||
| Assets | |||||
| Cash and restricted cash | $222,570 | $222,570 | $— | $— | $222,570 |
| Receivable from brokers and dealers and clearing organizations | 135,760 | — | 135,760 | — | 135,760 |
| Deposits with clearing organizations | 102,048 | 102,048 | — | — | 102,048 |
| Accounts receivable | 271,505 | — | 271,505 | — | 271,505 |
| Other assets – Memberships in clearing organizations | 3,126 | — | — | 3,126 | 3,126 |
| Total | $735,009 | $324,618 | $407,265 | $3,126 | $735,009 |
| Liabilities | |||||
| Payable to brokers and dealers and clearing organizations | $104,799 | $— | $104,799 | $— | $104,799 |
| Total | $104,799 | $— | $104,799 | $— | $104,799 |
| Assets | |||||
| Cash and restricted cash | $224,169 | $224,169 | $— | $— | $224,169 |
| Receivable from brokers and dealers and clearing organizations | 67,805 | — | 67,805 | — | 67,805 |
| Deposits with clearing organizations | 54,702 | 54,702 | — | — | 54,702 |
| Accounts receivable | 222,268 | — | 222,268 | — | 222,268 |
| Other assets – Memberships in clearing organizations | 2,918 | — | — | 2,918 | 2,918 |
| Total | $571,862 | $278,871 | $290,073 | $2,918 | $571,862 |
| Liabilities | |||||
| Payable to brokers and dealers and clearing organizations | $67,816 | $— | $67,816 | $— | $67,816 |
| Total | $67,816 | $— | $67,816 | $— | $67,816 |
The carrying value of financial instruments not measured at fair value classified within level 1 or level 2 of the fair value hierarchy approximates fair value because of the relatively short term nature of the underlying assets or liabilities. The memberships in clearing organizations, which are included in other assets on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition, are classified within level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because the valuation requires assumptions that are both significant and unobservable.
Financial Instruments Without Readily Determinable Fair Values
Included in other assets on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition are minority equity investments in various companies without readily determinable fair values of $17.8 million as of both March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024. These equity investments are subject to general contractual sale restrictions that prohibit the transfer or sale of the investment without prior consent of the investee.
- Credit Risk
Cash and cash equivalents includes cash and highly liquid investments held by a limited number of global financial institutions, including cash amounts in excess of federally insured limits. To mitigate this concentration of credit risk, the Company invests through high-credit-quality financial institutions, monitors the concentration of credit exposure of investments with any single obligor and diversifies as determined appropriate.
In the normal course of business the Company, as agent, executes transactions with, and on behalf of, other brokers and dealers. If the agency transactions do not settle because of failure to perform by either counterparty, the Company will recognize a receivable from (and a matching payable to) brokers and dealers and clearing organizations for the proceeds from the unsettled transaction, until the failed transaction settles. The Company may be obligated to discharge the obligation of the non-performing party and, as a result, may incur a loss if the market value of the security is different from the contract amount of the transaction. However, from time to time, the Company enters into repurchase and/or reverse repurchase agreements to facilitate the clearance of securities relating to fails to deliver or receive. The Company seeks to manage credit exposure related to these agreements to repurchase (or reverse repurchase), including the risk related to a decline in market value of collateral (pledged or received), by entering into agreements to repurchase with overnight or short-term maturity dates and only entering into repurchase transactions with netting members of the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (“FICC”). The FICC operates a continuous net settlement system, whereby as trades are submitted and compared, the FICC becomes the counterparty.
The Company self-clears U.S. Treasury trades executed by non-FICC members on the Company’s wholesale trading platform. The number of self-cleared trades that settle over the fed wire, instead of FICC clearing, may impact the number of U.S. Treasury failed settlement transactions. As of March 31, 2025, the Company recorded a $135.8 million receivable and a $104.8 million payable from/to brokers and dealers and clearing organizations related to failed settlement transactions and the Company self-funded the remaining $31.0 million difference between the fail to deliver and fail to receive. All of the above failed settlement transactions outstanding as of March 31, 2025 were fully settled during April 2025.
Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Company, as an introducing broker, executes transactions on behalf of or with clients of the Company, which are cleared by a clearing broker. As between the Company and the clearing broker, the Company is responsible for losses that may result from the clearing broker’s rejection, reversal or cancellation of a transaction. If there are temporary errors or delays in the processing or settlement of transactions, the clearing broker may require, usually with two business days notice, that the Company provide cash deposits until the errors are resolved.
A substantial number of the Company’s transactions are collateralized and executed with, and on behalf of, a limited number of broker-dealers. The Company’s exposure to credit risk associated with the nonperformance of these clients in fulfilling their contractual obligations pursuant to securities transactions can be directly impacted by volatile trading markets which may impair the clients’ ability to satisfy their obligations to the Company.
The Company does not expect nonperformance by counterparties in the above situations. However, the Company’s policy is to monitor its market exposure and counterparty risk. In addition, the Company has a policy of reviewing, as considered necessary, the credit standing of each counterparty with which it conducts business.
Allowance for Credit Losses
The Company may be exposed to credit risk regarding its receivables, which are primarily receivables from financial institutions, including investment managers and broker-dealers. The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses based upon an estimate of the amount of potential credit losses in existing accounts receivable, as determined from a review of aging schedules, past due balances, historical collection experience and other specific account data. Careful analysis of the financial condition of the Company’s counterparties is also performed.
Account balances are pooled based on the following risk characteristics:
Geographic location
Transaction fee type (billing type)
Legal entity
An allowance for credit losses is also recognized for any credit impairment for available-for-sale debt securities.
Write-Offs
Once determined uncollectible, aged balances are written off against the allowance for credit losses. This determination is based on careful analysis of individual receivables and aging schedules, which are disaggregated based on the risk characteristics described above. Based on current policy, this generally occurs when the receivable is 360 days past due.
As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company maintained an allowance for credit losses with regard to its receivables of $0.3 million and $0.4 million, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, recoveries resulted in a reversal of credit loss expense totaling $166,000 and for the three months ended March 31, 2024, credit loss expense was $8,000.
- Commitments and Contingencies
From time to time, the Company is subject to various claims, lawsuits and other legal proceedings, including reviews, investigations and proceedings by governmental and self-regulatory agencies regarding its business. While the ultimate resolution of these matters cannot presently be determined, the Company does not believe that, taking into account any applicable insurance coverage, any of the pending legal proceedings, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition or results of operations.
In the normal course of business, the Company enters into agreements with its clients which provide the clients with indemnification rights, including in the event that the electronic marketplaces of the Company infringe upon the intellectual property or other proprietary right of a third party. The Company’s exposure under these agreements is unknown as this would involve estimating future claims against the Company which have not yet occurred. However, based on its experience, the Company expects the risk of a material loss to be remote.
The Company was dismissed from a class action relating to an interest rate swaps matter in 2017, but that matter continues against the remaining defendant financial institutions with respect to the case brought by certain swap execution facilities.
The Company records its best estimate of a loss, including estimated defense costs, when the loss is considered probable and the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. Based on its experience, the Company believes that the amount of damages claimed in a legal proceeding is not a meaningful indicator of the potential liability. At this time, the Company cannot reasonably predict the timing or outcomes of, or estimate the amount of loss, or range of loss, if any, related to its pending legal proceedings, and therefore does not have any contingency reserves established for any of these matters.
Revolving Credit Facility
On November 21, 2023, the Company entered into afive year, $500.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility (the “2023 Revolving Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of banks, which replaced its $500.0 million secured credit facility entered into on April 8, 2019.
The 2023 Revolving Credit Facility provides borrowing capacity to be used to fund ongoing working capital needs, letters of credit and for general corporate purposes, including potential future acquisitions and expansions. Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, the Company is able to increase the 2023 Revolving Credit Facility by $250.0 million with the consent of the lenders participating in the increase. Borrowings under the 2023 Revolving Credit Facility may be, at the option of the Company, in US Dollars, Euros or Sterling. The 2023 Revolving Credit Facility also provides for the issuance of up to $5.0 million of letters of credit as well as borrowings on same-day notice, referred to as swingline loans, in an amount of up to $50.0 million. The 2023 Revolving Credit Facility will mature on November 21, 2028.
Borrowings under the 2023 Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a rate equal to, at the Company’s option, either (a) a base rate equal to the greatest of (i) the administrative agent’s prime rate, (ii) the federal funds effective rate plus ½ of 1.00% and (iii) one month Term SOFR plus 1.00% plus a credit adjustment spread of 0.10%, in each case plus a margin based on the Company’s consolidated net leverage ratio ranging from 0.25% to 0.75%, or (b) a rate equal to (i) in the case of borrowings in US Dollars, Term SOFR plus a credit adjustment spread of 0.10%, subject to a 0.00% floor, (ii) in the case of borrowings in Sterling, SONIA subject to a 0.00% floor, and (iii) in the case of borrowings in Euros, EURIBOR, subject to a 0.00% floor, in each case plus a margin based on the Company’s consolidated net leverage ratio ranging from 1.25% to 1.75%. The agreement that governs the 2023 Revolving Credit Facility also includes a commitment fee of 0.25% for available but unborrowed amounts and other administrative fees that are payable quarterly. Financial covenant requirements include maintaining minimum ratios related to interest coverage and leverage.
As of March 31, 2025, there wereno letters of credit issued andno borrowings outstanding under the 2023 Revolving Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2024, there were $0.5 million in letters of credit issued andno borrowings outstanding under the 2023 Revolving Credit Facility.
Leases
The Company has operating leases for corporate offices and data centers with initial lease terms ranging fromone to 10 years. The following table presents the future minimum lease payments and the maturity of lease liabilities as of March 31, 2025:
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| (dollars in thousands) | |
| Reminder of 2025 | 9,266 |
| 2026 | 9,697 |
| 2027 | 9,085 |
| 2028 | 3,663 |
| 2029 | 3,356 |
| Thereafter | 221 |
| Total future lease payments | 35,288 |
| Less imputed interest | (3,017) |
| Lease liability | $32,271 |
The lease payments above exclude $159.2 million of future minimum lease payments for a lease signed but not yet commenced as of March 31, 2025. This lease, for the Company’s New York City headquarters, is expected to commence in mid-2025 and has an expected initial lease term of approximately 16 years.
- Earnings Per Share
The following table summarizes the calculations of basic and diluted earnings per share of Class A and Class B common stock for Tradeweb Markets Inc.:
| Three Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|
| March 31, | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) | ||
| Numerator: | ||
| Net income attributable to Tradeweb Markets Inc. | $148,382 | $126,142 |
| Less: Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities (1) | (129) | (95) |
| Net income attributable to outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock - Basic and Diluted | $148,253 | $126,047 |
| Denominator: | ||
| Weighted average shares of Class A and Class B common stock outstanding - Basic | 213,087,496 | 212,709,872 |
| Dilutive effect of PRSUs | 434,441 | 500,978 |
| Dilutive effect of options | 289,873 | 599,574 |
| Dilutive effect of RSUs and RSAs | 553,747 | 444,066 |
| Dilutive effect of PSUs | 529,861 | 406,363 |
| Weighted average shares of Class A and Class B common stock outstanding - Diluted | 214,895,418 | 214,660,853 |
| Earnings per share - Basic | $0.70 | $0.59 |
| Earnings per share - Diluted | $0.69 | $0.59 |
(1)During the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, there was a total of 185,309 and 159,957, respectively, weighted average unvested or unsettled vested stock awards that were considered a participating security for purposes of calculating earnings per share in accordance with the two-class method.
LLC Interests held by Continuing LLC Owners are redeemable in accordance with the TWM LLC Agreement, at the election of such holders, for shares of Class A or Class B common stock, as applicable, of Tradeweb Markets Inc. The potential dilutive effect of LLC Interests held by Continuing LLC Owners are evaluated under the if-converted method. The potential dilutive effect of PRSUs, shares underlying options, RSUs, RSAs and PSUs are evaluated under the treasury stock method.
The following table summarizes the PRSUs, shares underlying options, RSUs, RSAs, PSUs and weighted-average LLC Interests held by Continuing LLC Owners that were anti-dilutive for the periods indicated. As a result, these shares, which were outstanding, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the periods indicated:
| Three Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|
| March 31, | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Anti-dilutive Shares: | ||
| PRSUs | — | — |
| Options | — | — |
| RSUs and RSAs | 240,797 | 426,980 |
| PSUs | — | — |
| LLC Interests | 23,070,027 | 23,077,973 |
Shares of Class C and Class D common stock do not have economic rights in Tradeweb Markets Inc. and, therefore, are not included in the calculation of basic earnings per share and are not participating securities for purposes of the computation of diluted earnings per share.
- Regulatory Capital Requirements
TWL, DW, TWD and ICDLC are subject to the Uniform Net Capital Rule 15c3-1 under the Exchange Act. TEL, TESL and ICDLT are subject to certain financial resource requirements with the FCA in the UK, TWJ is subject to certain financial resource requirements with the FCA in Japan, TWEU and TESBV are subject to certain financial resource requirements with the AFM in the Netherlands, ICDEU is subject to certain financial resource requirements with the CMVM in Portugal, YB is subject to certain financial resource requirements with ASIC in Australia and TDIFC is subject to certain financial resource requirements with DFSA in the Dubai International Financial Centre. At March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the regulatory capital requirements and regulatory capital for these entities are as follows:
| March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulatory Capital | Regulatory Capital Requirement | Excess Regulatory Capital | Regulatory Capital | Regulatory Capital Requirement | Excess Regulatory Capital | |
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||
| TWL | $59,460 | $3,280 | $56,180 | $63,532 | $3,646 | $59,886 |
| DW | 212,023 | 3,205 | 208,818 | 204,134 | 4,359 | 199,775 |
| TWD | 48,279 | 1,585 | 46,694 | 52,808 | 1,208 | 51,600 |
| TEL | 90,696 | 33,465 | 57,231 | 56,152 | 32,499 | 23,653 |
| TWJ | 11,572 | 2,543 | 9,029 | 3,589 | 2,841 | 748 |
| TWEU | 8,393 | 7,109 | 1,284 | 8,073 | 6,838 | 1,235 |
| TESL | 5,926 | 970 | 4,956 | 5,755 | 942 | 4,813 |
| TESBV | 3,278 | 1,432 | 1,846 | 1,591 | 1,377 | 214 |
| YB | 5,374 | 200 | 5,174 | 11,677 | — | 11,677 |
| TDIFC | 250 | 30 | 220 | 250 | 30 | 220 |
| ICDLC | 12,889 | 625 | 12,264 | 20,845 | 594 | 20,251 |
| ICDLT | 8,059 | 3,086 | 4,973 | 6,504 | 2,997 | 3,507 |
| ICDEU | 513 | 156 | 357 | 523 | 150 | 373 |
As SEFs, TW SEF and DW SEF are required to maintain adequate financial resources and liquid financial assets in accordance with CFTC regulations. The required and maintained financial resources and liquid financial assets at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 are as follows:
| March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Resources | Required Financial Resources | Excess Financial Resources | Financial Resources | Required Financial Resources | Excess Financial Resources | |
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||
| TW SEF | $67,554 | $17,500 | $50,054 | $50,974 | $16,500 | $34,474 |
| DW SEF | 13,883 | 9,096 | 4,787 | 14,083 | 9,062 | 5,021 |
| March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid Financial Assets | Required Liquid Financial Assets | Excess Liquid Financial Assets | Liquid Financial Assets | Required Liquid Financial Assets | Excess Liquid Financial Assets | |
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||
| TW SEF | $21,728 | $4,375 | $17,353 | $28,163 | $4,125 | $24,038 |
| DW SEF | 7,971 | 2,274 | 5,697 | 9,956 | 2,266 | 7,690 |
- Business Segment and Geographic Information
The Company operates electronic marketplaces for the trading of products across the rates, credit, equities and money markets asset classes and provides related pre-trade and post-trade services. Through its electronic marketplaces, the Company facilitates trading by clients across the institutional, wholesale, retail and corporates client sectors and builds comprehensive market data sets that it is able to separately sell to clients, primarily LSEG, as incremental market data revenue. Because of the highly integrated nature of these marketplaces and services and the global financial markets in which the Company competes, the Chief Operating Decision Maker (the “CODM”) reviews financial information on a global consolidated basis for purposes of making operating decisions, allocating resources and evaluating financial performance. As such, the Company has determined it operates asone operating segment andone reportable segment.
Consolidated net income is the measure of segment profit most consistent with U.S. GAAP that is regularly reviewed by the CODM to allocate resources and assess performance. Significant expense categories included in consolidated net income that are regularly provided to the CODM include employee compensation and benefits, technology and communications, general and administrative, professional fees and occupancy, each as presented on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income.
Information regarding revenue from external clients by client sector, significant segment expenses and consolidated net income is as follows:
| Three Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|
| March 31, | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| (dollars in thousands) | ||
| Revenues | ||
| Institutional | $308,071 | $247,337 |
| Wholesale | 102,287 | 97,211 |
| Retail | 35,895 | 35,169 |
| Corporates | 24,717 | — |
| Market Data | 38,707 | 29,022 |
| Total revenue | 509,677 | 408,739 |
| Less: | ||
| Employee compensation and benefits | 176,877 | 143,087 |
| Technology and communications | 28,728 | 21,310 |
| General and administrative | 19,740 | 10,854 |
| Professional fees | 12,458 | 11,800 |
| Occupancy | 5,074 | 4,673 |
| Other segment items (1) | 98,495 | 73,633 |
| Net income | $168,305 | $143,382 |
(1)Other segment items include depreciation and amortization, the tax receivable agreement liability adjustment, interest income, interest expense, other (income) loss, net and provision for income taxes, each as presented on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income.
The Company operates in the U.S. and internationally, primarily in the Europe, Asia and Australia regions. Variable revenues are generally attributed to geographic area based on the jurisdiction where the underlying transactions take place. The attribution of fixed revenues may vary by revenue and contract type. Given the global nature of the financial markets in which we operate and our clients’ worldwide businesses and contracts, the results by geographic region and allocation of revenues to individual countries are not necessarily meaningful in understanding the Company’s business.
The measure of segment assets is reported on the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition as total consolidated assets. Total expenditures for additions to long-lived assets are as reported on the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows. Long-lived assets are attributed to the geographic area based on the location of the particular subsidiary.
The following table provides revenue by geographic area:
| Three Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|
| March 31, | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| (dollars in thousands) | ||
| Revenues | ||
| U.S. | $297,881 | $254,098 |
| International | 211,796 | 154,641 |
| Total revenue | $509,677 | $408,739 |
The following table provides information on the attribution of long-lived assets by geographic area:
| March 31, | December 31, | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| (dollars in thousands) | ||
| Long-lived assets | ||
| U.S. | $4,731,389 | $4,777,770 |
| International | 27,036 | 29,478 |
| Total | $4,758,425 | $4,807,248 |
- Subsequent Events
On April 30, 2025, the board of directors of Tradeweb Markets Inc. declared a cash dividend of $0.12 per share of Class A common stock and Class B common stock for the second quarter of 2025. This dividend will be payable on June 16, 2025 to stockholders of record as of June 2, 2025.
On April 30, 2025, Tradeweb Markets Inc., as the sole manager, approved a distribution by TWM LLC to its equityholders, including Tradeweb Markets Inc., in an aggregate amount of $52.4 million, as adjusted by required state and local tax withholdings that will be determined prior to the record date of June 2, 2025, payable on June 12, 2025.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.