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Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Contingencies
Contingencies
Legal and Regulatory Matters:
In the ordinary course of business, we and our subsidiaries are involved in disputes, litigation, and governmental or regulatory inquiries and investigations, both pending and threatened. These matters, if resolved adversely against us or settled, may result in monetary damages, fines and penalties or require changes in our business practices. The resolution or settlement of these matters is inherently difficult to predict. Based on our assessment of these pending matters, we do not believe that the amount of any judgment, settlement or other action arising from any pending matter is likely to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition.  However, an adverse outcome in certain of the matters described below could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations for the period in which such matter is resolved, or an accrual is determined to be required on our consolidated financial condition, or on our reputation.
We evaluate our needs for accruals of loss contingencies related to legal proceedings on a case-by-case basis. When we have a liability that we deem probable and that we deem can be reasonably estimated as of the date of our consolidated financial statements, we accrue for our estimate of the loss. We also consider a loss probable and establish an accrual when we make, or intend to make, an offer of settlement. Once established, an accrual is subject to subsequent adjustment as a result of additional information. The resolution of proceedings and the reasonably estimable loss (or range thereof) are inherently difficult to predict, especially in the early stages of proceedings. Even if a loss is probable, due to many complex factors, such as speed of discovery and the timing of court decisions or rulings, a loss or range of loss might not be reasonably estimated until the later stages of the proceeding.
As of March 31, 2015, our aggregate accruals for legal loss contingencies and regulatory matters totaled approximately $358 million. To the extent that we have established accruals in our consolidated statement of condition for probable loss contingencies, such accruals may not be sufficient to cover our ultimate financial exposure associated with any settlements or judgments. We may be subject to proceedings in the future that, if adversely resolved, would have a material adverse effect on our businesses or on our future consolidated financial statements. Except where otherwise noted below, we have not established accruals with respect to the claims discussed and do not believe that potential exposure is probable and can be reasonably estimated.
The following discussion provides information with respect to significant legal and regulatory matters.
Securities Finance
Two related participants in our agency securities lending program have brought suit against us challenging actions taken by us in response to their withdrawal from the program. We believe that certain withdrawals by these participants were inconsistent with the redemption policy applicable to the agency lending collateral pools and, consequently, redeemed their remaining interests through an in-kind distribution that reflected the assets these participants would have received had they acted in accordance with the collateral pools' redemption policy. In taking these actions, we believe that we acted in the best interests of all participants in the collateral pools. The two participants have asserted damages of $125 million, an amount that plaintiffs attribute to alleged deficiencies in the methodology that State Street used to construct the in-kind distribution and alleged errors in the pricing of the securities that plaintiffs received on or about August 2009. While management does not believe that such difference is an appropriate measure of damages, we have been informed that the participants liquidated these securities in June 2013, and we estimate the loss on those sales to be approximately $11 million. Discovery with respect to this matter is expected to be completed in 2015. As of March 31, 2015, we had $10 million accrued in connection with this matter.
Foreign Exchange
We offer our custody clients and their investment managers the option to route foreign exchange transactions to our foreign exchange desk through our asset servicing operation. We record as revenue an amount approximately equal to the difference between the rates we set for those trades and indicative interbank market rates at the time of settlement of the trade.
As discussed more fully below, claims have been asserted on behalf of certain current and former custody clients, and future claims may be asserted, alleging that our indirect foreign exchange rates (including the differences between those rates and indicative interbank market rates at the time we executed the trades) were not adequately disclosed or were otherwise improper, and seeking to recover, among other things, the full amount of the revenue we obtained from our indirect foreign exchange trading with them.
In October 2009, the Attorney General of the State of California commenced an action under the California False Claims Act and California Business and Professional Code related to services State Street provides to California state pension plans. The California Attorney General asserts that the pricing of certain foreign exchange trades for these pension plans was governed by the custody contracts for these plans and that our pricing was not consistent with the terms of those contracts and related disclosures to the plans, and that, as a result, State Street made false claims and engaged in unfair competition. The Attorney General asserts actual damages of approximately $100 million for periods from 2001 to 2009 and seeks additional penalties, including treble damages. This action is in the discovery phase.
We provide custody services to and engage in principal foreign exchange trading with government pension plans in other jurisdictions. Since the commencement of the litigation in California, attorneys general and other government authorities from a number of jurisdictions, as well as U.S. Attorney's offices, the U.S. Department of Labor and the SEC, have requested information or issued subpoenas in connection with inquiries into the pricing of our indirect foreign exchange trading. We continue to respond to such inquiries and subpoenas.
We engage in indirect foreign exchange trading with a broad range of custody clients in the U.S. and internationally. We have responded and are responding to information requests from a number of clients concerning our indirect foreign exchange rates. In February 2011, a putative class action was filed in federal court in Boston seeking unspecified damages, including treble damages, on behalf of all custodial clients that executed certain foreign exchange transactions with State Street from 1998 to 2009. The putative class action alleges, among other things, that the rates at which State Street executed foreign currency trades constituted an unfair and deceptive practice under Massachusetts law and a breach of the duty of loyalty.
Two other putative class actions are currently pending in federal court in Boston alleging various violations of ERISA on behalf of all ERISA plans custodied with us that executed indirect foreign exchange trades with State Street from 1998 onward. The complaints allege that State Street caused class members to pay unfair and unreasonable rates on indirect foreign exchange trades with State Street. The complaints seek unspecified damages, disgorgement of profits, and other equitable relief. Other claims may be asserted in the future, including in response to developments in the actions discussed above or governmental proceedings.
We expect that plaintiffs will seek to recover their share of all or a portion of the revenue that we have recorded from indirect foreign exchange trades. We cannot predict whether a court, in the event of an adverse resolution, would consider our revenue to be the appropriate measure of damages.
The following table summarizes our estimated total revenue worldwide from indirect foreign exchange trading for the periods indicated:
(In millions)
 
Revenue from indirect foreign exchange trading
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2008
 
$
462

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2009
 
369

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2010
 
336

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2011
 
331

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2012
 
248

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2013
 
285

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2014
 
246

Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
68


We believe that the amount of our revenue from such trading has been of a similar or lesser order of magnitude for many years prior to 2008. Our revenue calculations related to indirect foreign exchange trading reflect a judgment concerning the relationship between the rates we charge for indirect foreign exchange execution and indicative interbank market rates near in time to execution. Our revenue from foreign exchange trading generally depends on the difference between the rates we set for those indirect trades and indicative interbank market rates at the time of settlement of the trade.
As of March 31, 2015, we have accrued a total of $335 million associated with indirect foreign exchange client activities, including $150 million recorded in the first quarter of 2015. This accrual reflects the current status of continued negotiations in connection with our intention to seek to resolve the outstanding claims asserted in the United States against us by federal governmental entities and civil litigants with regard to our indirect foreign exchange client activities. In the course of our negotiations seeking to resolve the outstanding asserted claims, we have received demands for settlement that aggregate up to $925 million. There can be no assurance that we will reach settlements in these matters, and the cost of any settlements or other resolutions of these matters could materially exceed our accrual and the amounts currently demanded of us for settlement. Our current efforts, even if successful, may not address all of our potential legal exposure arising out of our indirect foreign exchange client activities, and other claims, which may be material, could be asserted against us. An adverse outcome with respect to one or more claims relating to our indirect foreign exchange client activities could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, on our consolidated results of operations for the period in which the adverse outcome occurs (or an accrual is determined to be required), or on our consolidated financial condition.
Transition Management
In January 2014, we entered into a settlement with the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, or FCA, pursuant to which we paid a fine of £22.9 million (approximately $37.8 million), as a result of our having charged six clients of our U.K. transition management business during 2010 and 2011 amounts in excess of the contractual terms. The SEC and the U.S. Attorney are conducting separate investigations into this matter. As of March 31, 2015, we had remaining accruals of approximately $2.7 million for indemnification costs associated with this matter.
Investment Servicing
State Street has been named as a defendant in related complaints by investment management clients of TAG Virgin Islands, Inc., or TAG, who hold or held custodial accounts with State Street. The complaints collectively have alleged various claims in connection with certain assets managed by TAG. As of March 31, 2015, one action remains pending. As of March 31, 2015, we had $4.3 million accrued with respect to these matters.
Income Taxes:
In determining our provision for income taxes, we make certain judgments and interpretations with respect to tax laws in jurisdictions in which we have business operations. Because of the complex nature of these laws, in the normal course of our business, we are subject to challenges from U.S. and non-U.S. income tax authorities regarding the amount of income taxes due. These challenges may result in adjustments to the timing or amount of taxable income or deductions or the allocation of taxable income among tax jurisdictions. We recognize a tax benefit when it is more likely than not that our position will result in a tax deduction or credit. Unrecognized tax benefits totaled approximately $163 million as of both March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
We are presently under audit by a number of tax authorities. The earliest tax year open to examination in jurisdictions where we have material operations is 2009. The Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, completed their audit field procedures for the current audit related to our U.S. income tax returns for the tax years 2010 and 2011.