Investments

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Equity Method Investments

The carrying value of the Company’s equity method investments was $39.8 million as of June 30, 2023 and $38.4 million as of December 31, 2022, and is included in “Investments” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

The Company recognized gains of $2.4 million and $2.7 million related to its equity method investments for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company recognized gains of $4.5 million and $5.5 million related to its equity method investments for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company’s share of the net gains or losses is reflected in “Gains (losses) on equity method investments” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not record impairment charges related to existing equity method investments. The Company did not sell any equity method investments during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022.

See Note 13—“Related Party Transactions,” for information regarding related party transactions with unconsolidated entities included in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Investments Carried Under Measurement Alternative

The Company has acquired equity investments for which it did not have the ability to exert significant influence over operating and financial policies of the investees. These investments are accounted for using the measurement alternative in accordance with the guidance on recognition and measurement. The carrying value of these investments as of both June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was $0.2 million, respectively, and they are included in “Investments” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. The Company did not recognize any gains, losses, or impairments relating to investments carried under the measurement alternative for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022.

In addition, the Company owns membership shares, which are included in “Other assets” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of both June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022. These equity investments are accounted for using the measurement alternative in accordance with the guidance on recognition and measurement. The Company recognized unrealized losses of nil and $1.3 million to reflect observable transactions for these shares during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. The Company recognized $1.8 million and $1.9 million of unrealized gains to reflect observable transactions for these shares during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively. The unrealized gains (losses) are reflected in “Other income (loss)” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Investments in VIEs

Certain of the Company’s equity method investments are considered VIEs, as defined under the accounting guidance for consolidation. The Company is not considered the primary beneficiary of and therefore does not consolidate these VIEs. The Company’s involvement with such entities is in the form of direct equity interests and related agreements. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss with respect to the VIEs is its investment in such entities, as well as a credit facility and a subordinated loan.

The following table sets forth the Company’s investment in its unconsolidated VIEs and the maximum exposure to loss with respect to such entities (in thousands):


	June 30, 2023				December 31, 2022
	Investment		Maximum Exposure to Loss		Investment		Maximum Exposure to Loss
Variable interest entities¹	$	1,798	$	2,228	$	2,530	$	2,959

____________________________

1The Company has entered into a subordinated loan agreement with Aqua, whereby the Company agreed to lend the principal sum of $1.0 million. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss with respect to its unconsolidated VIEs includes the sum of its equity investments in its unconsolidated VIEs and the remaining $0.4 million of the subordinated loan to Aqua.

Consolidated VIE

The Company invested in a limited liability company that is focused on developing a proprietary trading technology. The limited liability company is a VIE and it was determined that the Company is the primary beneficiary of this VIE because the Company was the provider of the majority of this VIE’s start-up capital and has the power to direct the activities of this VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance, primarily through its voting percentage and consent rights on the activities that would most significantly influence the entity. The consolidated VIE had total assets of $9.1 million and $9.2 million as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, which primarily consisted of clearing margin. There were no material restrictions on the consolidated VIE’s assets. The consolidated VIE had total liabilities of $2.0 million and $1.4 million as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The Company’s exposure to economic loss on this VIE was $5.2 million and $5.5 million as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.