Fixed Assets, Net

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Fixed Assets, NetFixed assets, net consisted of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Computer and communications equipment	$	92,987	$	92,577
Software, including software development costs	284,287		265,082
Leasehold improvements and other fixed assets	102,007		121,024
	479,281		478,683
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(279,932)		(262,659)
Fixed assets, net¹	$	199,349	$	216,024

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1Excludes Fixed assets, net of $9.2 million classified as Assets held for sale.

Depreciation expense was $6.0 million and $6.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Depreciation expense was $18.9 million and $18.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Depreciation is included as part of “Occupancy and equipment” in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The Company has $6.3 million and $5.9 million of asset retirement obligations related to certain of its leasehold improvements as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The associated asset retirement cost is capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. The liability is discounted and accretion expense is recognized using the credit adjusted risk-free interest rate in effect when the liability was initially recognized.

For the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, software development costs totaling $7.8 million and $12.8 million, respectively, were capitalized. Amortization of software development costs totaled $9.3 million and $8.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, software development costs totaling $31.7 million and $41.1 million, respectively, were capitalized. Amortization of software development costs totaled $26.0 million and $24.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Amortization of software development costs is included as part of “Occupancy and equipment” in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Impairment charges of $0.6 million and $0.4 million were recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, related to the evaluation of capitalized software projects for future benefit and for fixed assets no longer in service. Impairment charges of $3.7 million and $5.4 million were recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, related to the evaluation of capitalized software projects for future benefit and for fixed assets no longer in service. Impairment charges related to capitalized software and fixed assets are reflected in “Occupancy and equipment” in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.