FORM 10-K
 
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
 
Form 10-K
 
     
þ
  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the transition period from          to          
 
Commission file number: 0-49992
 
 
 
 
TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
     
Delaware   82-0543156
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
4211 South 102nd Street,
Omaha, Nebraska 68127
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(402) 331-7856
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
 
 
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
     
Title of Each Class
 
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
 
Common Stock — $0.01 par value
  The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Title of class
None
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes þ     No o
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o     No þ
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ     No o
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
             
Large accelerated filer þ
  Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes o     No þ
 
The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $3.7 billion computed by reference to the closing sale price of the stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on March 31, 2008, the last trading day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.
 
The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of November 14, 2008 was 591,748,475 shares.
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
Definitive Proxy Statement relating to the registrant’s 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed hereafter (incorporated into Part III hereof).
 


 

 
TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
INDEX
 
                 
        Page No.
 
      Business     3  
      Risk Factors     9  
      Unresolved Staff Comments     15  
      Properties     15  
      Legal Proceedings     16  
      Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders     17  
 
      Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities     17  
      Selected Financial Data     20  
      Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     21  
          Glossary of Terms     21  
          Financial Statement Overview     25  
          Acquisition of TD Waterhouse     26  
          Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates     26  
          Results of Operations     28  
          Liquidity and Capital Resources     36  
          Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements     39  
          Contractual Obligations     40  
          Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements     41  
          Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements     41  
      Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk     41  
      Financial Statements and Supplementary Data     43  
          Report of Ernst & Young LLP     43  
          Consolidated Balance Sheets     44  
          Consolidated Statements of Income     45  
          Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity     46  
          Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows     47  
          Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements     48  
      Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure     76  
      Controls and Procedures     76  
      Other Information     78  
 
      Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance     78  
      Executive Compensation     78  
      Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters     78  
      Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence     79  
      Principal Accounting Fees and Services     79  
 
      Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules     80  
        Exhibit Index     80  
        Signatures     83  


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Unless otherwise indicated, references to “we,” “us,” “Company,” or “TD AMERITRADE” mean TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation and its subsidiaries, and references to “fiscal” mean the Company’s fiscal year ended September 30 (for fiscal years 2008 and 2007) or the last Friday of September (for fiscal years prior to 2007). References to the “parent company” mean TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation.
 
PART I
 
Item 1.   Business
 
Form of Organization
 
The Company was established in 1971 as a local investment banking firm and began operations as a retail discount securities brokerage firm in 1975. The Company is a Delaware corporation.
 
Mission Statement
 
In the U.S., we want to be . . .
 
  •  The investment firm of choice for the typical family.
 
  •  One of the best-run companies.
 
Operations
 
We are a leading provider of securities brokerage services and technology-based financial services to retail investors and business partners, predominantly through the Internet, a national branch network and relationships with one of the largest groups of independent registered investment advisors (“RIAs”). Our services appeal to a broad market of independent, value-conscious retail investors, traders, financial planners and institutions. We use our efficient platform to offer brokerage services to retail investors and institutions under a simple, low-cost commission structure.
 
We have been an innovator in electronic brokerage services since entering the retail securities brokerage business in 1975. We believe that we were the first brokerage firm to offer the following products and services to retail clients: touch-tone trading; trading over the Internet; unlimited, streaming, free real-time quotes; extended trading hours; direct access; and commitment on the speed of order execution. Since initiating online trading, we have substantially increased our number of brokerage accounts, average daily trading volume and total assets in client accounts. We have also built, and continue to invest in, a proprietary trade processing platform that is both cost-efficient and highly scalable, significantly lowering our operating costs per trade. In addition, we have made significant and effective investments in building the TD AMERITRADE brand.
 
Strategy
 
We intend to capitalize on the growth and consolidation of the retail brokerage industry in the United States and leverage our low-cost infrastructure to grow our market share and profitability. Our long-term growth strategy is to increase our market share of client assets by providing superior offerings to long-term investors, RIAs, and active traders. We strive to enhance the client experience by providing sophisticated asset management products and services, enhanced technological capabilities that enable self-directed investors to trade and invest in new asset classes and a superior, proprietary, single-platform system to support RIAs. The key elements of our strategy are as follows:
 
  •  Focus on retail brokerage services.  We plan to focus on attracting active traders, long-term investors and RIAs to our retail brokerage services. This focused strategy is designed to enable us to maintain our low operating cost structure while offering our clients outstanding products and services.
 
  •  Provide a comprehensive long-term investor solution.  We continue to expand our suite of diversified investment products and services to best serve investors’ needs. We help clients make investment decisions by providing simple-to-use investment tools and objective research, guidance and education.


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  •  Maintain industry leadership and market share with active traders.  We help traders make better-informed investment decisions by offering fast access to markets, insight into market trends and innovative tools such as strategy back-testing and comprehensive options research and trading capabilities.
 
  •  Continue to be a leader in the RIA industry.  We provide RIAs with comprehensive brokerage and custody services supported by our robust integrated technology platform, customized personal service and practice management solutions.
 
  •  Leverage our infrastructure to add incremental revenue.   Through our proprietary technology, we are able to provide a very robust online experience for long-term investors and active traders. Our low-cost, scalable platform provides speed, reliability and quality trade execution services for clients. The scalable capacity of our trading system allows us to add a significant number of transactions while incurring minimal additional fixed costs.
 
  •  Continue to be a low-cost provider of quality services.  Our operating expense per trade is among the lowest of any of our publicly-traded competitors. We intend to continue to lower our operating costs per trade by creating economies of scale, utilizing our single-platform proprietary system, continuing to automate processes and locating much of our operations in low-cost geographical areas. This low fixed-cost infrastructure provides us with significant financial flexibility.
 
  •  Continue to differentiate our offerings through innovative technologies and service enhancements.  We have been an innovator in our industry over our 30-year history. We continually strive to provide our clients with the ability to customize their trading experience. We provide our clients greater choice by tailoring our features and functionality to meet their specific needs.
 
  •  Leverage the TD AMERITRADE brand.  We believe that we have a superior brand identity and that our advertising has established TD AMERITRADE as a leading brand in the retail brokerage market.
 
  •  Continue to aggressively pursue growth through acquisitions.  When evaluating potential acquisitions, we look for transactions that will give us operational leverage, technological leverage, increased market share or other strategic opportunities.
 
On February 4, 2008, we purchased a portion of Fiserv, Inc.’s (“Fiserv”) investment support services business by acquiring all of the outstanding capital stock of Fiserv Trust Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fiserv. The acquisition added approximately $25 billion in client assets to TD AMERITRADE, including $15 billion held in more than 75,000 accounts managed by approximately 500 independent RIAs and $10 billion held in more than 2,000 plans administered by 80 independent third party administrators (TPAs). This acquisition is discussed in further detail in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements: Note 2 — Business Combinations.
 
On January 24, 2006, we acquired the U.S. brokerage business of TD Waterhouse Group, Inc. (“TD Waterhouse”) from The Toronto-Dominion Bank (“TD”). The transaction combined highly complementary franchises to create a retail broker with the scale, breadth and financial strength to be a leading player in the increasingly competitive and consolidating investor services industry. The acquisition of TD Waterhouse provided us with a national network of over 100 branches, as well as relationships with one of the largest groups of independent RIAs. We also now provide our clients with a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”)-insured money market sweep alternative for their cash through an arrangement with TD Bank USA, N.A. This acquisition is discussed in further detail under the heading “Acquisition of TD Waterhouse” in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 
Client Offerings
 
We deliver products and services aimed at providing a comprehensive, personalized experience for active traders, long-term investors and independent RIAs. Our client offerings are described below:
 
  •  TD AMERITRADE® is our core offering for self-directed retail investors. We offer sophisticated tools and services, including Streamer Suite,tm TD AMERITRADE command center, SnapTicket,tm Trade Triggers,tm QuoteScope,tm Advanced Analyzer,tm Market Motion Detector, Pattern Matcher,tm StrategyDesktm and


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  WealthRuler.tm We offer Ameritrade Apextm for clients who place an average of five trades per month over a three-month period or have a $100,000 total account value. Apex clients receive free access to services that are normally available on a subscription basis and access to exclusive services and content.
 
  •  TD AMERITRADE Institutional is a leading provider of comprehensive brokerage and custody services to more than 4,000 independent RIAs and their clients. Our advanced technology platform, coupled with personal support from our dedicated service teams, allows RIAs to run their practices more effectively and efficiently while optimizing time with clients. Additionally, TD AMERITRADE Institutional provides a robust offering of products, programs and services. These services are all designed to help advisors build their businesses while helping their clients reach their financial goals.
 
  •  TD AMERITRADE Izone serves self-directed traders who are willing to forgo traditional support and service in favor of a purely electronic brokerage experience and lower commissions.
 
  •  Amerivesttm is an online advisory service that develops a portfolio of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) to help long-term investors pursue their financial goals. Our subsidiary, Amerivest Investment Management, LLC, recommends an investment portfolio based on our proprietary automated five-step process centered on an investor’s goals and risk tolerance.
 
  •  TDX Independence ETFs were launched in October 2007. Our subsidiary, Amerivest Investment Management, LLC, is a sub-advisor to XShares Advisors LLC for TDX Independence Funds, Inc. TDX Independence Funds, Inc. is an investment company that provides diversified goal-based investing options through five “lifecycle” ETFs. The target-date funds begin by focusing on asset growth through a higher weighting of stocks, shifting to capital preservation over time through historically less risky allocations, thus creating what we believe to be the first “lifecycle” ETFs. These ETFs seek to replicate certain “lifecycle” indexes created by Zacks Investment Research.
 
  •  TD AMERITRADE Corporate Services provides self-directed brokerage services to employees and executives of corporations, either directly in partnership with the employer or through joint marketing relationships with third-party administrators, such as 401(k) providers and employee benefit consultants.
 
Products and Services
 
We strive to provide the best value of retail brokerage services to our clients. The products and services available to our clients include:
 
  •  Common and preferred stock.  Clients can purchase common and preferred stocks and American Depository Receipts traded on any United States exchange or quotation system.
 
  •  Exchange-Traded Funds.  ETFs are baskets of securities (stocks or bonds) that typically track recognized indices. They are similar to mutual funds, except they trade the same way that a stock trades, on a stock exchange. We have launched an online resource dedicated to ETFs, offering tools, education and information for active and long-term investors seeking alternatives for pursuing their investment strategies.
 
  •  Option trades.  We offer a full range of option trades, including spreads, straddles and strangles. All option trades, including complex trades, are accessible on our trading platform.
 
  •  Mutual funds.  Clients can compare and select from a portfolio of over 13,000 mutual funds from leading fund families, including a broad range of no-transaction-fee (NTF) funds. Clients can also easily exchange funds within the same mutual fund family.
 
  •  Fixed income.  We offer our clients access to a variety of Treasury, corporate, government agency and municipal bonds, as well as mortgage-backed securities and certificates of deposit.
 
  •  Margin lending.  We extend credit to clients that maintain margin accounts.
 
  •  Cash management services.  Through third-party banking relationships, we offer money market deposit accounts and money market mutual funds to our clients as cash sweep alternatives. We also offer checking and ATM services through these relationships.


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We provide our clients with an array of channels to access our products and services. These include the Internet, our network of retail branches, wireless telephone or personal digital assistant, interactive voice response and registered representatives via telephone.
 
Client Service and Support
 
We strive to provide the best client service in the industry as measured by: (1) speed of response time to telephone calls, (2) turnaround time responding to client inquiries and (3) client satisfaction with the account relationship.
 
We endeavor to optimize our highly-rated client service by:
 
  •  Ensuring prompt response to client service calls through adequate staffing with properly trained and motivated personnel in our client service departments, a majority of whom hold a Series 7 license;
 
  •  Tailoring client service to the particular expectations of the clients of each of our client segments and
 
  •  Expanding our use of technology to provide automated responses to the most typical inquiries generated in the course of clients’ securities trading and related activities.
 
We provide access to client service and support through the following means:
 
  •  Web sites.  Our Web sites provide basic information on how to use our services as well as an in-depth education center that includes a guide to online investing and an encyclopedia of finance. Ted, our Virtual Investment Consultant, is a new tool on our Web sites that allows certain retail clients to interact with a virtual representative to ask questions regarding our products, tools and services.
 
  •  Branches.  We offer a nationwide network of over 100 retail branches, located primarily in large metropolitan areas.
 
  •  E-mail.  Clients are encouraged to use e-mail to contact our client service representatives. Our operating standards require a response within 24 hours of receipt of the e-mail; however, we strive to respond within four hours after receiving the original message.
 
  •  Telephone.  For clients who choose to call or whose inquiries necessitate calling one of our client service representatives, we provide a toll-free number that connects to advanced call handling systems. These systems provide automated answering and directing of calls to the proper department. Our systems also allow linkage between caller identification and the client database to give the client service representative immediate access to the client’s account data when the call is received. Client service representatives are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week (excluding market holidays).
 
Technology and Information Systems
 
Our technological capabilities and systems are central to our business and are critical to our goal of providing the best execution at the best value to our clients. Our operations require reliable, scalable systems that can handle complex financial transactions for our clients with speed and accuracy. We maintain sophisticated and proprietary technology that automates traditionally labor-intensive securities transactions. Our ability to effectively leverage and adopt new technology to improve our services is a key component of our success.
 
We continue to make investments in technology and information systems. We have spent a significant amount of resources to increase capacity and improve speed and reliability. To provide for system continuity during potential power outages, we have equipped our data centers with uninterruptible power supply units, as well as back-up generators.
 
We currently have the capacity to process approximately 800,000 trades per day and approximately 33,000 client login connections per second. During fiscal 2008, our clients averaged approximately 312,000 trades per day. Our greatest number of average client trades per day for a single month occurred in October 2008, when clients averaged approximately 411,000 trades per day. The greatest number of trades our clients have made in a single day is 648,000.


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Advertising and Marketing
 
We intend to continue to grow and increase our market share by advertising online, on television, in print and direct mail and on our own Web sites. We invest heavily in advertising programs designed to bring greater brand recognition to our services. We intend to continue to aggressively advertise our services. From time to time, we may choose to increase our advertising to target specific groups of investors or to decrease advertising in response to market conditions.
 
Advertising for retail clients is generally conducted through Web sites, financial news networks and other television and cable networks. We also place print advertisements in a broad range of business publications and use direct mail advertising. Advertising for institutional clients is significantly less than for retail clients and is generally conducted through highly-targeted media.
 
To monitor the success of our various marketing efforts, we have installed a data gathering and tracking system. This system enables us to determine the type of advertising that best appeals to our target market so that we can invest in these programs in the future. Additionally, through the use of our database tools, we are working to more efficiently determine the needs of our various client segments and tailor our services to their individual needs. We intend to utilize this system to strengthen our client relationships and support marketing campaigns to attract new clients. All of our methods and uses of client information are disclosed in our privacy statement.
 
All of our brokerage-related communications with the public are regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).
 
Clearing Operations
 
Our subsidiary, TD AMERITRADE Clearing, Inc. (“TDA Clearing”) provides clearing and execution services to our introducing broker-dealer subsidiary, TD AMERITRADE, Inc. (“TDA Inc.”). Clearing services include the confirmation, receipt, settlement, delivery and record-keeping functions involved in processing securities transactions. Our clearing broker-dealer subsidiary provides the following back office functions:
 
  •  Maintaining client accounts;
 
  •  Extending credit in a margin account to the client;
 
  •  Engaging in securities lending and borrowing transactions;
 
  •  Settling securities transactions with clearinghouses such as The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation and The Options Clearing Corporation;
 
  •  Settling commissions and transaction fees;
 
  •  Preparing client trade confirmations and statements;
 
  •  Performing designated cashiering functions, including the delivery and receipt of funds and securities to or from the client;
 
  •  Possession, control and safeguarding funds and securities in client accounts;
 
  •  Processing cash sweep transactions to and from money market deposit accounts and money market mutual funds;
 
  •  Transmitting tax accounting information to the client and to the applicable tax authority and
 
  •  Forwarding prospectuses, proxy materials and other shareholder information to clients.


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Competition
 
We believe that the principal determinants of success in the retail brokerage market are brand recognition, size of client base and client assets, client trading activity, efficiency of operations, technology infrastructure and access to financial resources. We also believe that the principal factors considered by clients in choosing a broker are price, client service, quality of trade execution, delivery platform capabilities, convenience and ease of use, breadth of services, innovation and overall value. Based on our experience, focus group research and the success we have enjoyed to date, we believe that we presently compete successfully in each of these categories.
 
The market for brokerage services, particularly electronic brokerage services, continues to evolve and is intensely competitive. We have seen intense competition during the past five years and expect this competitive environment to continue. We encounter direct competition from numerous other brokerage firms, many of which provide online brokerage services. These competitors include E*TRADE Financial Corporation, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Fidelity Investments and Scottrade, Inc. We also encounter competition from established full-commission brokerage firms such as Merrill Lynch and Smith Barney, as well as financial institutions, mutual fund sponsors and other organizations, some of which provide online brokerage services.
 
Regulation
 
The securities industry is subject to extensive regulation under federal and state law. Broker-dealers are required to register with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and to be members of FINRA. Our broker-dealer subsidiaries are subject to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) relating to broker-dealers. These regulations establish, among other things, minimum net capital requirements for our broker-dealer subsidiaries. Certain of our subsidiaries are also registered as investment advisors under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. We are also subject to regulation in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, including registration requirements.
 
In its capacity as a securities clearing firm, TDA Clearing is a member of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation and The Options Clearing Corporation, each of which is registered as a clearing agency with the SEC. As a member of these clearing agencies, TDA Clearing is required to comply with the rules of such clearing agencies, including rules relating to possession and control of client funds and securities, margin lending and execution and settlement of transactions.
 
Margin lending activities are subject to limitations imposed by regulations of the Federal Reserve System and FINRA. In general, these regulations provide that in the event of a significant decline in the value of securities collateralizing a margin account, we are required to obtain additional collateral from the borrower or liquidate security positions.
 
Intellectual Property Rights
 
Our success and ability to compete are dependent to a significant degree on our intellectual property, which includes our proprietary technology, trade secrets and client base. We rely on copyright, trade secret, trademark, domain name, patent and contract laws to protect our intellectual property and have utilized the various methods available to us, including filing registrations with the United States Patent and Trademark office and entering into written licenses and other technology agreements with third parties. The source and object code for our proprietary software is also protected using applicable methods of intellectual property protection and general protections afforded to confidential information. In addition, it is our policy to enter into confidentiality and intellectual property ownership agreements with our employees and confidentiality and noncompetition agreements with our independent contractors and business partners, and to control access to and distribution of our intellectual property.
 
Employees
 
As of September 30, 2008, we had 4,660 full-time equivalent employees. This number has increased from 3,882 full-time equivalent employees as of the end of fiscal 2007, due primarily to increased staffing associated with growth initiatives and the integration of Fiserv Trust Company. None of our employees is covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We believe that our relations with our employees are good.


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Financial Information about Segments and Geographic Areas
 
See Note 18 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for segment and geographic area financial information.
 
Internet Address
 
Additional information concerning our business can be found on our Web site at www.amtd.com. We make available free of charge on our Web site our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with or furnish it to the SEC.
 
Item 1A.   Risk Factors
 
In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the following factors which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results of operations. Although the risks described below are those that management believes are the most significant, these are not the only risks facing our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently do not deem to be material also may materially affect our business, financial condition or future results of operations.
 
Risk Factors Relating to Our Business Operations
 
Stock market volatility and other securities industry risks could adversely affect our business.
 
Substantially all of our revenues are derived from our securities brokerage business. Like other securities brokerage businesses, we are directly affected by economic and political conditions, broad trends in business and finance and changes in volume and price levels of securities transactions. Recent events in global financial markets, including failures and government bailouts of large financial services companies, have resulted in substantial market volatility and increased client trading volume. However, any sustained downturn in general economic conditions or U.S. equity markets would likely result in reduced client trading volume and net revenues. For example, events such as the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001 and the invasion of Iraq in 2003 resulted in periods of substantial market volatility and reductions in trading volume and net revenues. Severe market fluctuations or weak economic conditions could reduce our trading volume and net revenues and have a material adverse effect on our profitability.
 
We have exposure to interest rate risk.
 
As a fundamental part of our brokerage business, we invest in interest-earning assets and are obligated on interest-bearing liabilities. In addition, we earn fees on our money market deposit account (“MMDA”) sweep arrangement with TD Bank USA, which are subject to interest rate risk. Changes in interest rates could affect the interest earned on assets differently than interest paid on liabilities. A rising interest rate environment generally results in our earning a larger net interest spread. Conversely, a falling interest rate environment generally results in our earning a smaller net interest spread. If we are unable to effectively manage our interest rate risk, changes in interest rates could have a material adverse effect on our profitability.
 
We have exposure to liquidity risk.
 
Our liquidity needs to support interest-earning assets are primarily met by client cash balances or financing created from our securities lending activities. A reduction of funds available from these sources may require us to seek other potentially more expensive forms of financing, such as borrowings on our uncommitted lines of credit. Because our broker-dealer lines of credit are uncommitted, there can be no assurance that such financing would be available. Our liquidity could be constrained by an inability to access the capital markets due to a variety of unforeseen market disruptions. If we are unable to meet our funding needs on a timely basis, our business would be adversely affected.
 
Corporate cash invested in money market mutual funds is subject to liquidity risk in the event the fund sponsor is unable to honor redemption requests. For example, during fiscal 2008, we had substantial corporate cash invested


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in the Primary Fund, a money market mutual fund managed by The Reserve, an independent mutual fund company. In September 2008, the net asset value of this fund declined below $1.00 per share and the fund announced it was liquidating under the supervision of the SEC. In order to facilitate an orderly liquidation, the SEC allowed the fund to suspend redemptions until the fund could liquidate portfolio securities without further impairing the net asset value. This has created short-term liquidity challenges as we await redemptions of our money market fund positions. On October 31, 2008, The Reserve redeemed approximately 51% of the shares of the fund. However, substantial delays in remaining redemptions could adversely affect our liquidity and require us to borrow on our holding company’s revolving line of credit or seek alternative financing.
 
We are exposed to credit risk with clients and counterparties.
 
We make margin loans to clients that are collateralized by client securities and we borrow and lend securities in connection with our broker-dealer business. A significant portion of our net revenues is derived from interest on margin loans. By permitting clients to purchase securities on margin, we are subject to risks inherent in extending credit, especially during periods of rapidly declining markets in which the value of the collateral held by us could fall below the amount of a client’s indebtedness. In addition, in accordance with regulatory guidelines, we collateralize borrowings of securities by depositing cash or securities with lenders. Sharp changes in market values of substantial amounts of securities and the failure by parties to the borrowing transactions to honor their commitments could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and profitability.
 
Our clearing operations expose us to liability for errors in clearing functions.
 
Our broker-dealer subsidiary, TDA Clearing, provides clearing and execution services to our introducing broker-dealer subsidiary. Clearing and execution services include the confirmation, receipt, settlement and delivery functions involved in securities transactions. Clearing brokers also assume direct responsibility for the possession and control of client securities and other assets and the clearance of client securities transactions. However, clearing brokers also must rely on third-party clearing organizations such as The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation and The Options Clearing Corporation in settling client securities transactions. Self-clearing securities firms are subject to substantially more regulatory control and examination than introducing brokers that rely on others to perform clearing functions. Errors in performing clearing functions, including clerical and other errors related to the handling of funds and securities held by us on behalf of clients, could lead to civil penalties as well as losses and liability in related lawsuits brought by clients and others.
 
Systems failures, delays and capacity constraints could harm our business.
 
We receive and process trade orders through a variety of electronic channels, including the Internet, wireless web, personal digital assistants and our interactive voice response system. These methods of trading are heavily dependent on the integrity of the electronic systems supporting them. Our systems and operations are vulnerable to damage or interruption from human error, natural disasters, power loss, computer viruses, distributed denial of service (“DDOS”) attacks, spurious spam attacks, intentional acts of vandalism and similar events. It could take several hours or more to restore full functionality in the event of an unforeseen disaster. Extraordinary trading volumes could cause our computer systems to operate at an unacceptably low speed or even fail. Extraordinary Internet traffic caused by DDOS or spam attacks could cause our Web site to be unavailable or slow to respond. While we have made significant investments to upgrade the reliability and scalability of our systems and added hardware to address extraordinary Internet traffic, there can be no assurance that our systems will be sufficient to handle such extraordinary circumstances. We may not be able to project accurately the rate, timing or cost of any increases in our business or to expand and upgrade our systems and infrastructure to accommodate any increases in a timely manner. Systems failures and delays could occur and could cause, among other things, unanticipated disruptions in service to our clients, slower system response time resulting in transactions not being processed as quickly as our clients desire, decreased levels of client service and client satisfaction and harm to our reputation. If any of these events were to occur, we could suffer:
 
  •  a loss of clients or a reduction in the growth of our client base;
 
  •  increased operating expenses;


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  •  financial losses;
 
  •  litigation or other client claims and
 
  •  regulatory sanctions or additional regulatory burdens.
 
Our networks and client information could be vulnerable to security risks.
 
The secure transmission of confidential information over public networks is a critical element of our operations. Our networks could be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses, phishing schemes and other security problems. We, along with the financial services industry in general, have experienced losses related to clients’ login and password information being compromised while using public computers or due to vulnerabilities of clients’ private computers.
 
Persons who circumvent security measures could wrongfully use our confidential information or our clients’ confidential information or cause interruptions or malfunctions in our operations. We could be required to expend significant additional resources to protect against the threat of security breaches or to alleviate problems caused by any breaches. We may not be able to implement security measures that will protect against all security risks. Because we provide a security guarantee under which we reimburse clients for losses resulting from unauthorized activity in their accounts, significant unauthorized activity could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
 
Substantial competition could reduce our market share and harm our financial performance.
 
The market for electronic brokerage services is continually evolving and is intensely competitive. The retail brokerage industry has experienced significant consolidation, which may continue in the future, and which may increase competitive pressures in the industry. There has been substantial price competition in the industry, including various free trade offers. We expect this competitive environment to continue in the future. We face direct competition from numerous retail brokerage firms, including E*TRADE Financial Corporation, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Fidelity Investments and Scottrade, Inc. We also encounter competition from the broker-dealer affiliates of established full-commission brokerage firms as well as from financial institutions, mutual fund sponsors and other organizations, some of which provide online brokerage services. Some of our competitors have greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources, offer a wider range of services and financial products, and have greater name recognition and a more extensive client base than we do. We believe that the general financial success of companies within the retail securities industry will continue to attract new competitors to the industry, such as banks, software development companies, insurance companies, providers of online financial information and others. These companies may provide a more comprehensive suite of services than we do. Increased competition, including pricing pressure, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
 
We will need to introduce new products and services and enhance existing products and services to remain competitive.
 
Our future success depends in part on our ability to develop and enhance our products and services. In addition, the adoption of new Internet, networking or telecommunications technologies or other technological changes could require us to incur substantial expenditures to enhance or adapt our services or infrastructure. There are significant technical and financial costs and risks in the development of new or enhanced products and services, including the risk that we might be unable to effectively use new technologies, adapt our services to emerging industry standards or develop, introduce and market enhanced or new products and services. An inability to develop new products and services, or enhance existing offerings, could have a material adverse effect on our profitability.
 
Risk Factors Relating to the Regulatory Environment
 
Failure to comply with net capital requirements could adversely affect our business.
 
The SEC, FINRA and various other regulatory agencies have stringent rules with respect to the maintenance of specific levels of net capital by securities broker-dealers. Net capital is a measure, defined by the SEC, of a broker-dealer’s readily available liquid assets, reduced by its total liabilities other than approved subordinated debt. All of


11


 

our broker-dealer subsidiaries are required to comply with net capital requirements. If we fail to maintain the required net capital, the SEC could suspend or revoke our registration, or FINRA could expel us from membership, which could ultimately lead to our liquidation, or they could impose censures, fines or other sanctions. If the net capital rules are changed or expanded, or if there is an unusually large charge against net capital, then our operations that require capital could be limited. A large operating loss or charge against net capital could have a material adverse effect on our ability to maintain or expand our business.
 
Regulatory uncertainties could harm our business.
 
The securities industry is subject to extensive regulation and broker-dealers are subject to regulations covering all aspects of the securities business. The SEC, FINRA and other self-regulatory organizations and state and foreign regulators can, among other things, censure, fine, issue cease-and-desist orders to, suspend or expel a broker-dealer or any of its officers or employees. We could fail to establish and enforce procedures to comply with applicable regulations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
 
While we neither actively solicit new accounts nor have established offices outside the United States, our websites are accessible world-wide over the Internet and we currently have account holders located outside the United States. These accounts comprise approximately 1.6% of our total accounts and are spread across many jurisdictions. Adverse action by foreign regulators with respect to regulatory compliance by us in foreign jurisdictions could adversely affect our revenues from clients in such countries or regions.
 
Various regulatory and enforcement agencies have been reviewing the following areas related to the brokerage industry:
 
  •  sales practices and suitability of financial products and services;
 
  •  auction rate securities;
 
  •  money market mutual funds;
 
  •  mutual fund trading;
 
  •  client cash sweep arrangements;
 
  •  regulatory reporting obligations;
 
  •  risk management;
 
  •  valuation of financial instruments;
 
  •  best execution practices;
 
  •  client privacy;
 
  •  system security and safeguarding practices and
 
  •  advertising claims.
 
These reviews could result in enforcement actions, new regulations or clarification of existing regulations, which could adversely affect our operations.
 
In addition, we use the Internet as a major distribution channel to provide services to our clients. A number of regulatory agencies have adopted regulations regarding client privacy, system security and safeguarding practices and the use of client information by service providers. Additional laws and regulations relating to the Internet and safeguarding practices could be adopted in the future, including laws related to identity theft and regulations regarding the pricing, taxation, content and quality of products and services delivered over the Internet. Complying with these laws and regulations may be expensive and time-consuming and could limit our ability to use the Internet as a distribution channel, which would have a material adverse effect on our profitability.


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We are subject to litigation and may not always be successful in defending against such claims.
 
We are subject to claims and lawsuits in the ordinary course of business, which can result in settlements, awards and injunctions. Litigation may include client-initiated claims related to the purchase or sale of investment securities. It is inherently difficult to predict the ultimate outcome of these matters, particularly in cases in which claimants seek substantial or unspecified damages. A substantial judgment, settlement, fine or penalty could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or cash flows.
 
Risk Factors Relating to Strategic Acquisitions and the Integration of Acquired Operations
 
Acquisitions involve risks that could adversely affect our business.
 
We intend to pursue strategic acquisitions of businesses and technologies. Acquisitions may entail numerous risks, including:
 
  •  difficulties in the integration of acquired operations, services and products;
 
  •  failure to achieve expected synergies;
 
  •  diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns;
 
  •  assumption of unknown material liabilities of acquired companies;
 
  •  amortization of acquired intangible assets, which could reduce future reported earnings;
 
  •  potential loss of clients or key employees of acquired companies and
 
  •  dilution to existing stockholders.
 
As part of our growth strategy, we regularly consider, and from time to time engage in, discussions and negotiations regarding strategic transactions such as acquisitions, mergers and combinations within our industry. The purchase price for possible acquisitions could be paid in cash, through the issuance of common stock or other securities, borrowings or a combination of these methods.
 
We cannot be certain that we will be able to continue to identify, consummate and successfully integrate strategic transactions, and no assurance can be given with respect to the timing, likelihood or business effect of any possible transaction. For example, we could begin negotiations that we subsequently decide to suspend or terminate for a variety of reasons. However, opportunities may arise from time to time that we will evaluate. Any transactions that we consummate would involve risks and uncertainties to us. These risks could cause the failure of any anticipated benefits of an acquisition to be realized, which could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and profitability.
 
Risk Factors Relating to Owning Our Stock
 
The market price of our common stock could fluctuate significantly.
 
Our common stock, and the U.S. securities markets in general, experience significant price fluctuations. The market prices of securities of financial services companies, in particular, have been especially volatile. The price of our common stock has recently decreased substantially and could decrease further. In addition, because the market price of our common stock tends to fluctuate significantly, we could become the object of securities class action litigation, which could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources and could have a material adverse effect on our business and the price of our common stock.
 
We are restricted by the terms of our senior credit facilities.
 
In connection with the acquisition of TD Waterhouse, we entered into a credit agreement, as amended, on January 23, 2006 for $2.2 billion in senior credit facilities with a syndicate of lenders. These credit facilities contain various covenants and restrictions that may limit our ability to:
 
  •  incur additional indebtedness;


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  •  create liens;
 
  •  sell assets and make capital expenditures;
 
  •  pay dividends or make distributions;
 
  •  repurchase our common stock;
 
  •  make investments;
 
  •  merge or consolidate with another entity and
 
  •  conduct transactions with affiliates.
 
As a result of the covenants and restrictions contained in the credit facilities, we are limited in how we conduct our business. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to remain in compliance with these covenants or be able to obtain waivers for noncompliance in the future. A failure to comply with these covenants could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition by impairing our ability to secure and maintain financing.
 
Our corporate debt level may limit our ability to obtain additional financing.
 
As of September 30, 2008, we had approximately $1.4 billion of long-term debt. Our ability to meet our cash requirements, including our debt service obligations, is dependent upon our future performance, which will be subject to financial, business and other factors affecting our operations, many of which are or may be beyond our control. We cannot provide assurance that our business will generate sufficient cash flows from operations to fund these cash requirements, including our debt service obligations. If we are unable to meet our cash requirements from operations, we would be required to obtain alternative financing. The degree to which we may be leveraged as a result of the indebtedness we have incurred could materially and adversely affect our ability to obtain financing for working capital, acquisitions or other purposes, could make us more vulnerable to industry downturns and competitive pressures or could limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes and opportunities in our industry, which may place us at a competitive disadvantage. There can be no assurance that we would be able to obtain alternative financing, that any such financing would be on acceptable terms or that we would be permitted to do so under the terms of existing financing arrangements. In the absence of such financing, our ability to respond to changing business and economic conditions, make future acquisitions, react to adverse operating results, meet our debt service obligations, or fund required capital expenditures, could be materially and adversely affected.
 
TD and the Ricketts holders exercise significant influence over TD AMERITRADE.
 
As of September 30, 2008, TD and J. Joe Ricketts, our founder, members of his family and trusts held for their benefit (which we collectively refer to as the Ricketts holders), owned approximately 39.9% and 21.8%, respectively, of the outstanding voting securities of TD AMERITRADE. TD is permitted under the terms of a stockholders agreement to own up to 39.9% of the outstanding shares of TD AMERITRADE common stock during the three years following the January 24, 2006 closing of the TD Waterhouse acquisition, up to 45% of the outstanding shares of TD AMERITRADE common stock for the remainder of the term of the stockholders agreement (a maximum of 10 years following the closing) and an unlimited number of shares of TD AMERITRADE following the termination of the stockholders agreement. The Ricketts holders are permitted under the terms of the stockholders agreement to own up to 29% of the outstanding shares of TD AMERITRADE. As a result, TD and the Ricketts holders have the ability to significantly influence the outcome of any matter submitted for the vote of TD AMERITRADE stockholders. The stockholders agreement also provides that TD may designate five of the twelve members of the TD AMERITRADE board of directors and the Ricketts holders may designate three of the twelve members of the TD AMERITRADE board of directors, subject to adjustment based on their respective ownership positions in TD AMERITRADE. Accordingly, TD and the Ricketts holders are able to significantly influence the outcome of all matters that come before the TD AMERITRADE board. As a result of their significant share ownership in TD AMERITRADE, TD or the Ricketts holders may have the power, subject to applicable law, to significantly influence actions that might be favorable to TD or the Ricketts holders, but not necessarily favorable to other TD AMERITRADE stockholders. In addition, the ownership position and governance rights of TD and the Ricketts holders could discourage a third party from proposing a change of control or other strategic transaction concerning


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TD AMERITRADE. As a result, the common stock of TD AMERITRADE could trade at prices that do not reflect a “takeover premium” to the same extent as do the stocks of similarly situated companies that do not have a stockholder with an ownership interest as large as TD’s and the Ricketts holders’ combined ownership interest.
 
Conflicts of interest may arise between TD AMERITRADE and TD, which may be resolved in a manner that adversely affects TD AMERITRADE’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
We transact business and have extensive relationships with TD and certain of its affiliates. During fiscal 2008, revenues related to money market sweep arrangements with TD and certain of its affiliates accounted for approximately 33% of our net revenues. Conflicts of interest may arise between TD AMERITRADE and TD in areas relating to past, ongoing and future relationships, including corporate opportunities, potential acquisitions or financing transactions, sales or other dispositions by TD of its interests in TD AMERITRADE and the exercise by TD of its influence over the management and affairs of TD AMERITRADE. Some of the directors on the TD AMERITRADE board are persons who are also officers or directors of TD or its subsidiaries. Service as a director or officer of both TD AMERITRADE and TD or its other subsidiaries could create conflicts of interest if such directors or officers are faced with decisions that could have materially different implications for TD AMERITRADE and for TD. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions relating to the avoidance of direct competition between TD AMERITRADE and TD. In addition, an independent committee of our board of directors reviews and approves transactions with TD and its affiliates. TD AMERITRADE and TD have not established any other formal procedures to resolve potential or actual conflicts of interest between them. There can be no assurance that any of the foregoing potential conflicts would be resolved in a manner that does not adversely affect the business, financial condition or results of operations of TD AMERITRADE. In addition, the provisions of the stockholders agreement related to non-competition are subject to numerous exceptions and qualifications and may not prevent TD AMERITRADE and TD from competing with each other to some degree in the future.
 
The terms of the stockholders agreement, our charter documents and Delaware law could inhibit a takeover that stockholders may consider favorable.
 
Provisions in the stockholders agreement among TD and the Ricketts holders, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law will make it difficult for any party to acquire control of us in a transaction not approved by the requisite number of directors. These provisions include:
 
  •  the presence of a classified board of directors;
 
  •  the ability of the board of directors to issue and determine the terms of preferred stock;
 
  •  advance notice requirements for inclusion of stockholder proposals at stockholder meetings; and
 
  •  the anti-takeover provisions of Delaware law.
 
These provisions could delay or prevent a change of control or change in management that might provide stockholders with a premium to the market price of their common stock.
 
Item 1B.   Unresolved Staff Comments
 
None.
 
Item 2.   Properties
 
Our corporate headquarters is located in Omaha, Nebraska and occupies approximately 74,000 square feet of leased space. The lease expires in April 2019. In the Omaha metropolitan area, we also lease approximately 327,000 square feet of building space for administrative and operational facilities. The leases on these other Omaha-area locations expire on various dates from 2009 through 2019. We are currently establishing a new corporate campus comprised of six buildings in Omaha. The transition to the new campus is scheduled to take place in phases between fall 2008 and spring 2011.


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We lease approximately 185,000 and 140,000 square feet of building space for additional operations centers in Jersey City, New Jersey and Ft. Worth, Texas, respectively. The Jersey City and Ft. Worth leases expire in 2015. We lease smaller administrative and operational facilities in California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey and Texas. We also lease over 100 branch offices located in large metropolitan areas in 34 states. We believe that our facilities are suitable and adequate to meet our needs.
 
Item 3.   Legal Proceedings
 
Spam Litigation — A purported class action, captioned Elvey v. TD Ameritrade, Inc., was filed on May 31, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint alleges that there was a breach in TDA Inc.’s systems, which allowed access to e-mail addresses and other personal information of account holders, and that as a result account holders received unsolicited e-mail from spammers promoting certain stocks and have been subjected to an increased risk of identity theft. The complaint requests unspecified damages and injunctive and other equitable relief. A second lawsuit, captioned Zigler v. TD Ameritrade, Inc., was filed on September 26, 2007, in the same jurisdiction on behalf of a purported nationwide class of account holders. The factual allegations of the complaint and the relief sought are substantially the same as those in the first lawsuit. The cases were consolidated under the caption In re TD Ameritrade Accountholders Litigation. The Company hired an independent consultant to investigate whether identity theft occurred as a result of the breach. The consultant has conducted four investigations since August 2007 and reported that it found no evidence of identity theft. The parties entered into an agreement to settle the lawsuits on a class basis subject to court approval. A hearing on a motion requesting preliminary approval of the proposed settlement was held on June 12, 2008. The court denied the motion without prejudice. After additional submissions were made by the parties, the Court held a further hearing on October 7, 2008. The Court has not yet issued a ruling on the matter.
 
Auction Rate Securities Matters — Beginning in March 2008, lawsuits were filed against various financial services firms by customers related to their investments in auction rate securities (“ARS”). The plaintiffs in these lawsuits allege that the defendants made material misrepresentations and omissions in statements to customers about investments in ARS and the manner in which the ARS market functioned in violation of provisions of the federal securities laws. Two purported class action complaints have been filed alleging such conduct with respect to TDA Inc. and TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation. The putative class actions are captioned Humphrys v. TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. et al. and Silverstein v. TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. et al. The complaints seek an unspecified amount of compensatory damages, injunctive relief, interest and attorneys’ fees. Both cases are pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. A motion was filed by some plaintiffs requesting that the proceedings in the lawsuits against the various financial services firms in effect be consolidated for pretrial proceedings before one judge. The Company and parties in other cases filed oppositions to the motion. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation denied the motion in October 2008.
 
The SEC and other regulatory authorities are conducting investigations regarding the sale of ARS. TDA Inc. has received subpoenas and other requests for documents and information from the regulatory authorities. The Company is cooperating with the investigations and requests. As of September 30, 2008, the Company’s clients hold ARS with an aggregate par value of approximately $0.9 billion in TDA Inc. accounts.
 
Reserve Fund Matters — During September 2008, The Reserve, an independent mutual fund company, announced that the net asset value of two of its money market mutual funds (Primary Fund and International Liquidity Fund) declined below $1.00 per share. In addition, The Reserve announced that the net asset value of the Reserve Yield Plus Fund, which is not a money market mutual fund but seeks to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share, declined below $1.00 per share. TDA Inc.’s clients hold shares in these funds, which The Reserve announced are being liquidated. The SEC and other regulatory authorities are conducting investigations regarding TDA Inc.’s offering The Reserve funds to clients. TDA Inc. is cooperating with the investigations.
 
Other Legal and Regulatory Matters — The Company is subject to lawsuits, arbitrations, claims and other legal proceedings in connection with its business. Some of the legal actions include claims for substantial or unspecified compensatory and/or punitive damages. A substantial adverse judgment or other unfavorable resolution of these matters could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Management believes the Company has adequate legal defenses with respect to the legal proceedings to


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which it is a defendant or respondent and the outcome of these pending proceedings is not likely to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of the Company. However, the Company is unable to predict the outcome of these matters.
 
In the normal course of business, the Company discusses matters with its regulators raised during regulatory examinations or otherwise subject to their inquiry. These matters could result in censures, fines or other sanctions. Management believes the outcome of any resulting actions will not be material to the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, the Company is unable to predict the outcome of these matters.
 
Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
 
No matters were submitted to a vote of stockholders during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.
 
PART II
 
Item 5.   Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
Price Range of Common Stock
 
Our common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “AMTD”. The following table shows the high and low sales prices for the common stock for the periods indicated, as reported by the Nasdaq Global Select Market. The prices reflect inter-dealer prices and do not include retail markups, markdowns or commissions.
 
                                 
    Common Stock Price  
    For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30,  
    2008     2007  
    High     Low     High     Low  
 
First Quarter
  $ 21.13     $ 17.15     $ 19.69     $ 15.51  
Second Quarter
  $ 20.64     $ 15.06     $ 18.67     $ 14.80  
Third Quarter
  $ 19.68     $ 16.50     $ 21.31     $ 14.67  
Fourth Quarter
  $ 23.49     $ 16.00     $ 20.94     $ 13.82  
 
The closing sale price of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on November 14, 2008 was $12.31 per share. As of that date there were 731 holders of record of our common stock based on information provided by our transfer agent. The number of stockholders of record does not reflect the number of individual or institutional stockholders that beneficially own our stock because most stock is held in the name of nominees. Based on information available to us, we believe there are approximately 91,000 beneficial holders of our common stock.
 
Dividends
 
We have not declared or paid regular cash dividends on our common stock. In connection with our acquisition of TD Waterhouse in January 2006, we declared and paid a special cash dividend of $6.00 per share. We currently intend to retain all of our earnings, if any, for use in our business and do not anticipate paying any other cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Our credit agreement prohibits the payment of cash dividends to our stockholders. The payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to the provisions of the credit agreement, and will depend upon a number of factors, including future earnings, the success of our business activities, capital requirements, the general financial condition and future prospects of our business, general business conditions and such other factors as the board of directors may deem relevant.
 
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
 
Information about securities authorized for issuance under the Company’s equity compensation plans is contained in Item 12 — Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.


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Performance Graph
 
The Company performance information is not deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to the SEC’s proxy rules or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and the Company performance information shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any prior or subsequent filing by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
 
The following graph and table set forth information comparing the cumulative total return through the end of the Company’s most recent fiscal year from a $100 investment on September 26, 2003 in the Company’s common stock, a broad-based stock index and the stocks comprising an industry peer group.
 
(PERFORMANCE GRAPH)
 
                                                 
    Period Ended
Index   9/26/03   9/24/04   9/30/05   9/29/06   9/30/07   9/30/08
TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation
    100.00       97.58       179.37       206.23       199.34       182.38  
                                                 
S&P 500
    100.00       113.32       127.71       141.49       164.75       128.55  
                                                 
Peer Group
    100.00       82.41       130.64       166.96       175.74       183.78  
                                                 
 
The Peer Group is comprised of the following companies that have significant retail brokerage operations:
 
E*TRADE Financial Corporation
The Charles Schwab Corporation


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Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
 
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
                                 
                Total Number of
    Maximum Number
 
                Shares Purchased as
    of Shares that May
 
    Total Number of
    Average Price
    Part of Publicly
    Yet Be Purchased
 
Period
  Shares Purchased     Paid per Share     Announced Program     Under the Program  
 
July 1, 2008 — July 31, 2008
    220,000     $ 18.05       220,000       9,121,200  
August 1, 2008 — August 31, 2008
    105,000     $ 20.26       105,000       9,016,200  
September 1, 2008 — September 30, 2008
    150,000     $ 18.89       150,000       8,866,200  
                                 
Total — Three months ended September 30, 2008
    475,000     $ 18.80       475,000       8,866,200  
                                 
 
Our common stock repurchase program was authorized on August 2, 2006. Our board of directors originally authorized the Company to repurchase up to 12 million shares. On November 15, 2006, the board of directors added 20 million shares to the original authorization, increasing the total authorization to 32 million shares. This is the only stock repurchase program currently in effect and there were no programs that expired during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.


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Item 6.   Selected Financial Data
 
                                         
    Fiscal Year Ended(1)  
    Sept. 30,
    Sept. 30,
    Sept. 29,
    Sept. 30,
    Sept. 24,
 
    2008     2007     2006(2)     2005     2004  
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)  
 
Consolidated Statements of Income Data:
                                       
Revenues:
                                       
Transaction-based revenues:
                                       
Commissions and transaction fees
  $ 1,017,456     $ 813,786     $ 738,380     $ 533,921     $ 571,526  
Asset-based revenues:
                                       
Interest revenue
    799,189       1,013,600       1,031,971       540,348       278,550  
Brokerage interest expense
    (249,616 )     (455,467 )     (335,820 )     (141,399 )     (41,861 )
                                         
Net interest revenue
    549,573       558,133       696,151       398,949       236,689  
Money market deposit account fees
    628,716       535,381       185,014              
Investment product fees
    309,420       232,177       140,699       25,188       21,425  
                                         
Total asset-based revenues
    1,487,709       1,325,691       1,021,864       424,137       258,114  
Other revenues
    32,191       37,469       43,287       45,095       50,473  
                                         
Net revenues
    2,537,356       2,176,946       1,803,531       1,003,153       880,113  
                                         
Expenses:
                                       
Employee compensation and benefits
    503,297       429,820       350,079       180,579       154,792  
Fair value adjustments of compensation- related derivative instruments
    764       (3,193 )     (1,715 )            
Clearing and execution costs
    44,620       79,681       73,049       26,317       30,610  
Communications
    69,564       82,173       65,445       35,663       39,853  
Occupancy and equipment costs
    101,787       84,294       74,638       43,411       42,353  
Depreciation and amortization
    36,899       26,237       21,199       10,521       11,066  
Amortization of acquired intangible assets
    59,275       54,469       42,286       13,887       12,158  
Professional services
    108,271       83,995       87,521       30,630       27,381  
Interest on borrowings
    78,447       118,173       93,988       1,967       2,581  
Other
    62,934       46,809       45,383       22,689       17,798  
Advertising
    173,296       145,666       164,072       92,312       100,364  
Losses on money market funds
    35,628                          
Fair value adjustments of investment-related derivative instruments
                11,703       (8,315 )     (17,930 )
                                         
Total expenses
    1,274,782       1,148,124       1,027,648       449,661       421,026  
                                         
Income before other income and income taxes
    1,262,574       1,028,822       775,883       553,492       459,087  
Other income:
                                       
Gain on sale of investments
    928       5,881       81,422              
                                         
Pre-tax income
    1,263,502       1,034,703       857,305       553,492       459,087  
Provision for income taxes
    459,585       388,803       330,546       213,739       176,269  
                                         
Net income
  $ 803,917     $ 645,900     $ 526,759     $ 339,753     $ 282,818  
                                         
Earnings per share — basic
  $ 1.35     $ 1.08     $ 0.97     $ 0.84     $ 0.68  
Earnings per share — diluted
  $ 1.33     $ 1.06     $ 0.95     $ 0.82     $ 0.66  
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic
    593,746       598,503       544,307       404,215       417,629  
Weighted average shares outstanding — diluted
    603,133       608,263       555,465       413,167       426,972  
Dividends declared per share
  $ 0.00     $ 0.00     $ 6.00     $ 0.00     $ 0.00  
 
 
(1) Fiscal 2005 was a 53-week year. All other periods presented are 52-week years.
 
(2) The growth in our results of operations during fiscal 2006 was primarily due to our acquisition of TD Waterhouse Group, Inc. on January 24, 2006. This acquisition is discussed in further detail under the heading “Acquisition of TD Waterhouse” in Item 7.
 


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    As of  
    Sept. 30,
    Sept. 30,
    Sept. 29,
    Sept. 30,
    Sept. 24,
 
    2008     2007     2006     2005     2004  
    (In thousands)  
 
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 674,135     $ 413,787     $ 363,650     $ 171,064     $ 137,392  
Short-term investments
    369,133       76,800       65,275       229,819       17,950  
Segregated cash and investments
    260,000             1,561,910       7,595,359       7,802,575  
Receivable from clients, net
    6,933,926       7,727,969       6,970,834       3,784,688       3,100,572  
Total assets
    15,951,522       18,092,327       16,558,469       16,417,110       15,277,021  
Payable to clients
    5,070,671       5,313,576       5,412,981       10,095,837       10,322,539  
Long-term obligations
    1,444,544       1,481,948       1,710,712       45,736       37,803  
Stockholders’ equity
    2,925,038       2,154,921       1,730,234       1,518,867       1,210,908  
 
Item 7.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
This discussion contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “project,” “intend” and similar expressions. In particular, forward-looking statements contained in this discussion include our expectations regarding: the effect of client trading activity on our results of operations; the effect of changes in interest rates on our net interest spread; average commissions and transaction fees per trade; amounts of commissions and transaction fees, asset-based revenues and other revenues; amounts of total expenses; our effective income tax rate; our capital and liquidity needs and our plans to finance such needs; and the impact of recently-issued accounting pronouncements.
 
The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Important factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: general economic and political conditions; fluctuations in interest rates; stock market fluctuations and changes in client trading activity; increased competition; systems failures and capacity constraints; network security risks; our ability to service debt obligations; regulatory and legal uncertainties and the other risks and uncertainties set forth under Item 1A. — Risk Factors of this Form 10-K. The forward-looking statements contained in this report speak only as of the date on which the statements were made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
 
Glossary of Terms
 
In discussing and analyzing our business, we utilize several metrics and other terms that are defined in the following Glossary of Terms. Italics indicate other defined terms that appear elsewhere in the Glossary. The term “GAAP” refers to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
Activity rate — Average client trades per day during the period divided by the average number of total accounts during the period.
 
Asset-based revenues — Revenues consisting of (1) net interest revenue, (2) money market deposit account (“MMDA”) fees and (3) investment product fees. The primary factors driving our asset-based revenues are average balances and average rates. Average balances consist primarily of average client margin balances, average segregated cash balances, average client credit balances, average client MMDA balances, average fee-based investment balances and average securities borrowing and lending balances. Average rates consist of the average interest rates and fees earned and paid on such balances.

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Average client trades per account (annualized) — Total trades divided by the average number of total accounts during the period, annualized based on the number of trading days in the fiscal year.
 
Average client trades per day — Total trades divided by the number of trading days in the period.
 
Average commissions and transaction fees per trade — Total commissions and transaction fee revenues as reported on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income divided by total trades for the period. Commissions and transaction fee revenues primarily consist of trading commissions and revenue-sharing arrangements with market destinations (also referred to as “payment for order flow”).
 
Basis point — When referring to interest rates, one basis point represents one one-hundredth of one percent.
 
Beneficiary accounts — Brokerage accounts managed by a custodian, guardian, conservator or trustee on behalf of one or more beneficiaries. Examples include accounts maintained under the Uniform Gift to Minors Act (UGMA) or Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (UTMA), guardianship, conservatorship and trust arrangements and pension or profit plan for small business accounts.
 
Brokerage accounts — Accounts maintained by the Company on behalf of clients for securities brokerage activities. The primary types of brokerage accounts are cash accounts, margin accounts, IRA accounts and beneficiary accounts.
 
Cash accounts — Brokerage accounts that do not have margin account approval.
 
Clearing accounts — Accounts for which the Company served as the clearing broker/dealer on behalf of an unaffiliated introducing broker/dealer. The Company charged a fee to the introducing broker/dealer to process trades in clearing accounts.
 
Client assets — The total value of cash and securities in brokerage accounts.
 
Client cash and money market assets — The sum of all client cash balances, including client credit balances and client cash balances swept into money market deposit accounts or money market mutual funds.
 
Client credit balances — Client cash held in brokerage accounts, excluding balances generated by client short sales on which no interest is paid. Interest paid on client credit balances is a reduction of net interest revenue. Client credit balances are included in “payable to clients” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
Client margin balances — The total amount of cash loaned to clients in margin accounts.  Such loans are secured by client assets. Interest earned on client margin balances is a component of net interest revenue. Client margin balances are included in “receivable from clients” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
Conduit-based assets — Deposits paid on securities borrowing associated with our conduit-based securities borrowing/lending business. In our conduit business, we act as an intermediary by borrowing securities from one counterparty and lending the same securities to another counterparty. We generally earn a net interest spread equal to the excess of interest earned on securities borrowing deposits over the interest paid on securities lending deposits.
 
EBITDA and EBITDA excluding investment gains — EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) and EBITDA excluding investment gains are non-GAAP financial measures. We consider EBITDA and EBITDA excluding investment gains to be important measures of our financial performance and of our ability to generate cash flows to service debt, fund capital expenditures and fund other corporate investing and financing activities. EBITDA is used as the denominator in the consolidated leverage ratio calculation for our senior credit facilities. The consolidated leverage ratio determines the interest rate margin charged on the senior credit facilities. EBITDA eliminates the non-cash effect of tangible asset depreciation and amortization and intangible asset amortization. EBITDA excluding investment gains also eliminates the effect of non-brokerage investment-related gains and losses that are not likely to be indicative of the ongoing operations of our business. EBITDA and EBITDA excluding investment gains should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, pre-tax income, net income and cash flows from operating activities.
 
EPS excluding investment gains/losses — Earnings per share (“EPS”) excluding investment gains/losses is a non-GAAP financial measure. We define EPS excluding investment gains/losses as earnings (loss) per share, adjusted to remove the after-tax effect of non-brokerage investment-related gains and losses. We consider EPS


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excluding investment gains/losses an important measure of our financial performance. Gains/losses on non-brokerage investments and investment-related derivatives are excluded because we believe they are not likely to be indicative of the ongoing operations of our business. EPS excluding investment gains/losses should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, GAAP earnings per share.
 
EPS from ongoing operations — EPS from ongoing operations is a non-GAAP financial measure. We define EPS from ongoing operations as earnings (loss) per share, adjusted to remove any significant unusual gains or charges. We consider EPS from ongoing operations an important measure of the financial performance of our ongoing business. Unusual gains and charges are excluded because we believe they are not likely to be indicative of the ongoing operations of our business. EPS from ongoing operations should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, GAAP earnings per share.
 
Expenses excluding advertising — Expenses excluding advertising is a non-GAAP financial measure. Expenses excluding advertising consists of total expenses, adjusted to remove advertising expense. We consider expenses excluding advertising an important measure of the financial performance of our ongoing business. Advertising spending is excluded because it is largely at the discretion of the Company, varies significantly from period to period based on market conditions and generally relates to the acquisition of future revenues through new accounts rather than current revenues from existing accounts. Expenses excluding advertising should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, total expenses.
 
Fee-based investment balances — Client assets invested in money market mutual funds, other mutual funds and Company programs such as AdvisorDirect® and Amerivest,tm on which we earn fee revenues. Fee revenues earned on these balances are included in investment product fees on our Consolidated Statements of Income.
 
Funded accounts — All open client accounts with a total liquidation value greater than zero, except clearing accounts.
 
Investment product fees — Revenues earned on fee-based investment balances. Investment product fees include fees earned on money market mutual funds, other mutual funds and through Company programs such as AdvisorDirect® and Amerivesttm.
 
IRA accounts (Individual Retirement Arrangements) — A personal trust account for the exclusive benefit of a U.S. individual (or his or her beneficiaries) that provides tax advantages in accumulating funds to save for retirement or other qualified purposes. These accounts are subject to numerous restrictions on additions to and withdrawals from the account, as well as prohibitions against certain investments or transactions conducted within the account. The Company offers traditional, Roth, Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) and Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA accounts.
 
Liquid assets — Liquid assets is a non-GAAP financial measure. We define liquid assets as the sum of (a) corporate cash and cash equivalents, (b) corporate short-term investments, (c) regulatory net capital of (i) our clearing broker-dealer subsidiary in excess of 5% of aggregate debit items and (ii) our introducing broker-dealer subsidiary in excess of 120% of the minimum dollar net capital requirement and (d) following the merger of our trust company subsidiaries in August 2008, Tier 1 capital of our trust company in excess of the minimum dollar requirement. We include the excess capital of our broker-dealer and trust company subsidiaries in liquid assets, rather than simply including broker-dealer and trust cash and cash equivalents, because capital requirements may limit the amount of cash available for dividend from the broker-dealer and trust subsidiaries to the parent company. Excess capital, as defined under clauses (c) and (d) above, is generally available for dividend from the broker-dealer and trust subsidiaries to the parent company. Prior to the merger of our trust subsidiaries in August 2008, excess capital from our trust subsidiaries was excluded from liquid assets because, due to regulatory limitations, it was generally not available for corporate purposes. We consider liquid assets an important measure of our liquidity and of our ability to fund corporate investing and financing activities. Liquid assets should be considered as a supplemental measure of liquidity, rather than as a substitute for cash and cash equivalents.
 
Liquidation value — The net value of a client’s account holdings as of the close of a regular trading session. Liquidation value includes client cash and the value of long security positions, less margin balances and the cost to buy back short security positions.


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Margin accounts — Brokerage accounts in which clients may borrow from the Company to buy securities or for any other purpose, subject to regulatory and Company-imposed limitations.
 
Money market deposit account (“MMDA”) fees — Revenues resulting from the Money Market Deposit Account agreement with TD Bank USA, N.A., a subsidiary of TD, which became effective upon the closing of our acquisition of TD Waterhouse Group, Inc. (“TD Waterhouse”). Under the MMDA agreement, TD Bank USA makes available to clients of our broker-dealer subsidiaries money market deposit accounts as designated sweep vehicles. With respect to the MMDA accounts, our broker-dealer subsidiaries provide marketing and support services and act as recordkeeper for TD Bank USA and as agent for clients. In exchange for these services, TD Bank USA pays our broker-dealer subsidiaries a fee based on the yield earned on the client MMDA assets (including any gains or losses from sales of investments), less the actual interest cost paid to clients, actual interest cost incurred on borrowings, a flat fee to TD Bank USA of 25 basis points and the cost of FDIC insurance premiums.
 
Net interest margin (“NIM”) — A measure of the net yield on our average spread-based assets. Net interest margin is calculated for a given period by dividing the annualized sum of net interest revenue (excluding net interest revenue from conduit-based assets) and money market deposit account (MMDA) fees by average spread-based assets.
 
Net interest revenue — Net interest revenue is interest revenues less brokerage interest expense. Interest revenues are generated by charges to clients on margin balances maintained in margin accounts, the investment of cash from operations and segregated cash in short-term marketable securities and interest earned on securities borrowing. Brokerage interest expense consists of amounts paid or payable to clients based on credit balances maintained in brokerage accounts and interest incurred on securities lending. Brokerage interest expense does not include interest on Company non-brokerage borrowings.
 
Net new accounts or Net account growth — The number of new client accounts (funded and unfunded) opened in a specified period minus the number of client accounts closed in the same period.
 
Net new assets — Consists of total client asset inflows, less total client asset outflows, excluding activity from business combinations. Client asset inflows include interest and dividend payments and exclude changes in client assets due to market fluctuations. Net new assets are measured based on the market value of the assets as of the date of the inflows and outflows.
 
Return on client assets (ROCA) — Annualized pre-tax income divided by average client assets during the period.
 
Securities borrowing — We borrow securities temporarily from other broker-dealers in connection with our broker-dealer business. We deposit cash as collateral for the securities borrowed, and generally earn interest revenue on the cash deposited with the counterparty.
 
Securities lending — We loan securities temporarily to other broker-dealers in connection with our broker-dealer business. We receive cash as collateral for the securities loaned, and generally incur interest expense on the cash deposited with us.
 
Segregated cash — Client cash and investments segregated in compliance with Rule 15c3-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Customer Protection Rule) and other regulations. Interest earned on segregated cash is a component of net interest revenue.
 
Spread-based assets (formerly known as investable assets) — Client and brokerage-related asset balances, including client margin balances, segregated cash, money market deposit account (MMDA) balances, deposits paid on securities borrowing (excluding conduit-based assets) and other cash and interest earning investment balances. Spread-based assets is used in the calculation of our net interest margin.
 
Total accounts — All open client accounts (funded and unfunded), except clearing accounts.
 
Total trades — All client securities trades, which are executed by the Company’s broker/dealer subsidiaries on an agency basis. Total trades are a significant source of the Company’s revenues. Such trades include, but are not limited to, trades in equities, options, mutual funds and debt instruments. Trades generate revenue from


24


 

commissions, transaction fees and/or revenue-sharing arrangements with market destinations (also known as “payment for order flow”).
 
Trading days — Days in which the U.S. equity markets are open for a full trading session. Reduced exchange trading sessions are treated as half trading days.
 
Transaction-based revenues — Revenues generated from client trade execution, consisting primarily of commissions, transaction clearing fees and revenue sharing arrangements with market destinations (also known as “payment for order flow”).
 
Financial Statement Overview
 
We provide securities brokerage and clearing services to our clients through our introducing and clearing broker-dealers. Substantially all of our net revenues are derived from our brokerage activities and clearing and execution services. Our primary focus is serving retail clients and independent registered investment advisors by providing services with straightforward, affordable pricing.
 
Our largest sources of revenues are (1) asset-based revenues and (2) transaction-based revenues. The primary factors driving our asset-based revenues are average balances and average rates. Average balances consist primarily of average client margin balances, average segregated cash balances, average client credit balances, average client money market deposit account (“MMDA”) balances, average fee-based investment balances and average securities borrowing and lending balances. Average rates consist of the average interest rates and fees earned and paid on such balances. The primary factors driving our transaction-based revenues are total client trades and average commissions and transaction fees per trade. We also receive payment for order flow, which results from arrangements we have with many execution agents to receive cash payments in exchange for routing trade orders to these firms for execution. Payment for order flow revenue is included in commissions and transaction fees on our Consolidated Statements of Income.
 
Our largest operating expense generally is employee compensation and benefits. Employee compensation and benefits expense includes salaries, bonuses, stock-based compensation, group insurance, contributions to benefit programs, recruitment and other related employee costs. Fair value adjustments of compensation-related derivative instruments represent adjustments to equity swap agreements that were intended to economically offset TD Waterhouse stock-based compensation (assumed in the TD Waterhouse acquisition) that was based on the value of TD stock. During December 2007, the equity swap agreements were settled in connection with the settlement of most of the related restricted stock units. See “Acquisition of TD Waterhouse” below for a discussion of the acquisition of TD Waterhouse.
 
Clearing and execution costs include incremental third-party expenses that tend to fluctuate as a result of fluctuations in client accounts or trades. Examples of expenses included in this category are outsourced clearing services, statement and confirmation processing and postage costs and clearing expenses paid to the National Securities Clearing Corporation, option exchanges and other market centers. Communications expense includes telecommunications, other postage, news and quote costs. Occupancy and equipment costs include the costs of leasing and maintaining our office spaces and the lease expenses on computer and other equipment. Depreciation and amortization includes depreciation on property and equipment and amortization of leasehold improvements. Amortization of acquired intangible assets consists of amortization of amounts allocated to the value of intangible assets acquired in business combinations.
 
Professional services expense includes costs paid to outside firms for assistance with legal, accounting, technology, regulatory, marketing and general management issues. Interest on borrowings consists of interest expense on our long-term debt, capital leases, prepaid variable forward contracts and other borrowings. Other operating expenses include provision for bad debt losses, fraud and error losses, gains or losses on disposal of property, insurance expenses, travel expenses and other miscellaneous expenses. Advertising costs include production and placement of advertisements in various media, including online, television, print and direct mail, as well as client promotion and development costs. Advertising expenses may increase or decrease significantly from period to period.


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Losses on money market funds include: (a) corporate investment losses on money market fund holdings and (b) losses associated with our commitment to mitigate our clients’ losses, up to $55 million, on their holdings in certain money market funds in the event clients receive less than $1.00 per share upon the orderly liquidation of the funds. These losses resulted from the net asset values of the Primary Fund and the International Liquidity Fund, two money market mutual funds managed by The Reserve, declining below $1.00 per share late in fiscal 2008. See “Guarantees” under Note 17 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding these funds.
 
Fair value adjustments of investment-related derivative instruments consist of changes in the fair value of the embedded collars within our Knight Capital Group, Inc. (“Knight”) prepaid variable forward contracts. The prepaid variable forward contracts were intended to economically hedge our investment in Knight common stock. In January 2006, we liquidated our investment in Knight and the prepaid variable forward contracts.
 
On February 27, 2007, our board of directors approved changing our fiscal year-end to September 30. This change was effective for our fiscal year ended September 30, 2007. Previously, we reported on a fifty-two/fifty-three week fiscal year ending on the last Friday in September. Because the transition period was less than one month, no transition report was filed. References to “fiscal year” in this document or in the information incorporated herein by reference means the Company’s fiscal year ended September 30 (for fiscal years 2008 and 2007) or the last Friday of September (for fiscal years prior to 2007). For example, “fiscal 2006” refers to the fiscal year ended September 29, 2006. Fiscal year 2006 was a fifty-two week year.
 
Acquisition of TD Waterhouse
 
On January 24, 2006, we acquired TD Waterhouse Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, pursuant to an Agreement of Sale and Purchase dated June 22, 2005, as amended (the “Purchase Agreement”), with The Toronto-Dominion Bank (“TD”). We purchased from TD all of the capital stock of TD Waterhouse (the “Share Purchase”) in exchange for 196.3 million shares of Company common stock and $20,000 in cash. The shares of common stock issued to TD in the Share Purchase represented approximately 32.5% of the outstanding shares of the Company after giving effect to the transaction. Our consolidated financial statements include the results of operations for TD Waterhouse beginning January 25, 2006. In addition, on January 24, 2006, we completed the sale of Ameritrade Canada, Inc. to TD for $60 million in cash. The purchase price for the acquisition of TD Waterhouse and the sale price for the sale of Ameritrade Canada were subject to cash adjustments based on the closing date balance sheets of the Company, TD Waterhouse and Ameritrade Canada. On May 5, 2006, we received approximately $45.9 million from TD for the settlement of cash adjustments related to the purchase of TD Waterhouse and the sale of Ameritrade Canada.
 
Prior to the consummation of the Share Purchase, TD Waterhouse conducted a reorganization in which it transferred its Canadian retail securities brokerage business and TD Bank USA, N.A. (formerly TD Waterhouse Bank, N.A.) to TD such that, at the time of consummation of the Share Purchase, TD Waterhouse retained only its United States retail securities brokerage business. TD Waterhouse also distributed to TD excess capital of TD Waterhouse prior to the consummation of the Share Purchase. As contemplated in the Purchase Agreement, on January 24, 2006, we commenced payment of a special cash dividend of $6.00 per share in respect of the shares of our common stock outstanding prior to the consummation of the Share Purchase. The total amount of the dividend was approximately $2.4 billion.
 
At the time of the closing of the TD Waterhouse acquisition, we expected to realize approximately $678 million of annualized pre-tax synergies from the acquisition within 18 months of the closing, consisting of $300 million in revenue opportunities primarily related to our new banking relationship with TD and $378 million in cost savings related to the elimination of duplicate expenditures. We realized the revenue opportunities during fiscal 2006 and fully realized the operating cost synergies during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make judgments and estimates that may have a significant impact upon our financial results. Note 1, under Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, of this Form 10-K contains a summary of our significant


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accounting policies, many of which require the use of estimates and assumptions. We believe that the following areas are particularly subject to management’s judgments and estimates and could materially affect our results of operations and financial position.
 
Valuation of goodwill and acquired intangible assets
 
We test goodwill for impairment on at least an annual basis, or whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. In performing the impairment tests, we utilize quoted market prices of our common stock to estimate the fair value of the Company as a whole. The estimated fair value is then allocated to our reporting units, if applicable, based on operating revenues, and is compared with the carrying value of the reporting units. No impairment charges have resulted from our annual impairment tests. We review our acquired intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such asset may not be recoverable. We evaluate recoverability by comparing the undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset to the asset’s carrying amount. We also evaluate the remaining useful lives of intangible assets each reporting period to determine if events or trends warrant a revision to the remaining period of amortization. We have had no events or trends that have warranted a revision to the originally estimated useful lives.
 
Valuation of stock-based compensation
 
We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 (Revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (“No. 123R”). Under the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123R, share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period based on the number of awards for which the requisite service is expected to be rendered. We must make assumptions regarding the number of share-based awards that will be forfeited. For performance-based awards, we must also make assumptions regarding the likelihood of achieving performance goals. If actual results differ significantly from these estimates, stock-based compensation expense and our results of operations could be materially affected.
 
Estimates of effective income tax rates, deferred income taxes and related valuation allowances
 
We estimate our income tax expense based on the various jurisdictions where we conduct business. This requires us to estimate our current income tax obligations and to assess temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities. Temporary differences result in deferred income tax assets and liabilities. We must evaluate the likelihood that deferred income tax assets will be realized. To the extent we determine that realization is not “more likely than not”, we establish a valuation allowance. Establishing or increasing a valuation allowance results in a corresponding increase to income tax expense in our Consolidated Statements of Income. Conversely, to the extent circumstances indicate that a valuation allowance can be reduced or is no longer necessary, that portion of the valuation allowance is reversed, reducing income tax expense.
 
We must make significant judgments to calculate our provision for income taxes, our deferred income tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance against our deferred income tax assets. We must also exercise judgment in determining the need for, and amount of, any accruals for uncertain tax positions. Because the application of tax laws and regulations to many types of transactions is subject to varying interpretations, amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements could be significantly changed at a later date upon final determinations by taxing authorities.
 
Valuation of guarantees
 
We enter into guarantees in the ordinary course of business, primarily to meet the needs of our clients and to manage our asset-based revenues. We account for certain guarantees in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others (“FIN No. 45”). FIN No. 45 requires us to record a liability for the estimated fair value of the guarantee at its inception. If actual results differ significantly from these estimates, our results of operations could be materially affected. For further details regarding our guarantees, see the following sections under Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to


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Consolidated Financial Statements: “Guarantees” under Note 17 — Commitments and Contingencies and “Money Market Deposit Account Agreement” under Note 20 — Related Party Transactions.
 
Results of Operations
 
Conditions in the U.S. equity markets significantly impact the volume of our clients’ trading activity. There is a direct correlation between the volume of our clients’ trading activity and our results of operations. We cannot predict future trading volumes in the U.S. equity markets. If client trading activity increases, we expect that it would have a positive impact on our results of operations. If client trading activity were to decline, we expect that it would have a negative impact on our results of operations.
 
Changes in average balances, especially client margin, credit, MMDA and mutual fund balances, may significantly impact our results of operations. Changes in interest rates also impact our results of operations. We seek to mitigate interest rate risk by aligning the average duration of our interest-earning assets with that of our interest-bearing liabilities. We cannot predict the direction of interest rates or the levels of client balances. If interest rates rise, we generally expect to earn a larger net interest spread. Conversely, a falling interest rate environment generally would result in our earning a smaller net interest spread.
 
Financial Performance Metrics
 
Pre-tax income, net income, earnings per share, EBITDA and EBITDA excluding investment gains are key metrics we use in evaluating our financial performance. EBITDA and EBITDA excluding investment gains are non-GAAP financial measures.
 
We consider EBITDA and EBITDA excluding investment gains to be important measures of our financial performance and of our ability to generate cash flows to service debt, fund capital expenditures and fund other corporate investing and financing activities. EBITDA is used as the denominator in the consolidated leverage ratio calculation for our senior credit facilities. The consolidated leverage ratio determines the interest rate margin charged on the senior credit facilities. EBITDA eliminates the non-cash effect of tangible asset depreciation and amortization and intangible asset amortization. EBITDA excluding investment gains also eliminates the effect of non-brokerage investment-related gains and losses that are not likely to be indicative of the ongoing operations of our business. EBITDA and EBITDA excluding investment gains should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, pre-tax income, net income and cash flows from operating activities.
 
The following table sets forth EBITDA and EBITDA excluding investment gains in dollars and as a percentage of net revenues for the periods indicated, and provides reconciliations to pre-tax income, which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure (dollars in thousands):
 
                                                 
    Fiscal Year Ended  
    September 30, 2008     September 30, 2007     September 29, 2006  
    $     % of Rev.     $     % of Rev.     $     % of Rev.  
 
EBITDA and EBITDA Excluding Investment Gains
                                               
EBITDA excluding investment gains
  $ 1,437,195       56.6 %   $ 1,227,701       56.4 %   $ 933,356       51.8 %
Plus: Gain on sale of investments
    928       0.0 %     5,881       0.3 %     81,422       4.5 %
                                                 
EBITDA
    1,438,123       56.7 %     1,233,582       56.7 %     1,014,778       56.3 %
Less:
                                               
Depreciation and amortization
    (36,899 )     (1.5 )%     (26,237 )     (1.2 )%     (21,199 )     (1.2 )%
Amortization of acquired intangible assets
    (59,275 )     (2.3 )%     (54,469 )     (2.5 )%     (42,286 )     (2.3 )%
Interest on borrowings
    (78,447 )     (3.1 )%     (118,173 )     (5.4 )%     (93,988 )     (5.2 )%
                                                 
Pre-tax income
  $ 1,263,502       49.8 %   $ 1,034,703       47.5 %   $ 857,305       47.5 %
                                                 
 
Our pre-tax income and EBITDA excluding investment gains increased slightly for fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007, primarily due to a 17% increase in net revenues, partially offset by an 11% increase in total expenses. The increased revenues were driven primarily by increased transaction-based revenue resulting from higher client


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trading volumes and, to a lesser extent, increased asset-based revenues resulting from higher average spread-based asset and fee-based investment balances and slightly higher net interest margin. The increase in total expenses was due primarily to spending on growth initiatives and the impact of $35.6 million of unusual losses on money market funds, partially offset by lower interest on borrowings and fiscal 2008 fully reflecting the operating cost synergies resulting from the TD Waterhouse acquisition. More detailed analysis of net revenues and expenses is presented later in this discussion.
 
Operating Metrics
 
Our largest sources of revenues are (1) asset-based revenues and (2) transaction-based revenues. For fiscal 2008, asset-based revenues and transaction-based revenues accounted for 59% and 40% of our net revenues, respectively. Asset-based revenues consist of (1) net interest revenue, (2) MMDA fees and (3) investment product fees. The primary factors driving our asset-based revenues are average balances and average rates. Average balances consist primarily of average client margin balances, average segregated cash balances, average client credit balances, average client MMDA balances, average fee-based investment balances and average securities borrowing and lending balances. Average rates consist of the average interest rates and fees earned and paid on such balances. The primary factors driving our transaction-based revenues are total client trades and average commissions and transaction fees per trade. We also consider client account and client asset metrics, although we believe they are generally of less significance to our results of operations for any particular period than our metrics for asset-based and transaction-based revenues.
 
Asset-Based Revenue Metrics
 
We calculate the return on our interest-earning assets (excluding conduit-based assets) and our MMDA balances using a measure we refer to as net interest margin. Net interest margin is calculated for a given period by dividing the annualized sum of net interest revenue (excluding net interest revenue from conduit-based assets) and MMDA fees by average spread-based assets. Spread-based assets consist of client and brokerage-related asset balances, including client margin balances, segregated cash, MMDA balances, deposits paid on securities borrowing (excluding conduit-based assets) and other cash and interest-earning investment balances. The following table sets forth net interest margin and average spread-based assets (dollars in millions):
 
                                         
                      ’08 vs. ’07
    ’07 vs. ’06
 
    Fiscal Year     Increase/
    Increase/
 
    2008     2007     2006     (Decrease)     (Decrease)  
 
Average interest-earning assets (excluding conduit business)
  $ 9,835     $ 9,225     $ 14,492     $ 610     $ (5,267 )
Average money market deposit account balances
    15,640       14,898       5,734       742       9,164  
                                         
Average spread-based balance
  $ 25,475     $ 24,123     $ 20,226     $ 1,352     $ 3,897  
                                         
Net interest revenue (excluding conduit business)
  $ 538.1     $ 548.8     $ 690.0     $ (10.7 )   $ (141.2 )
Money market deposit account fee revenue
    628.7       535.4       185.0       93.3       350.4  
                                         
Spread-based revenue
  $ 1,166.8     $ 1,084.2     $ 875.0     $ 82.6     $ 209.2  
                                         
Average yield — interest-earning assets (excluding conduit business)
    5.38 %     5.85 %     4.71 %     (0.47 )%     1.14 %
Average yield — money market deposit account fees
    3.95 %     3.53 %     3.19 %     0.42 %     0.34 %
Net interest margin (NIM)
    4.50 %     4.42 %     4.28 %     0.08 %     0.14 %


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The following tables set forth key metrics that we use in analyzing net interest revenue, which, exclusive of the conduit business, is a component of net interest margin (dollars in millions):
 
                                         
    Interest Revenue (Expense)
    ’08 vs. ’07
    ’07 vs. ’06
 
    Fiscal Year     Increase/
    Increase/
 
    2008     2007     2006     (Decrease)     (Decrease)  
 
Segregated cash
  $ 0.3     $ 31.2     $ 324.9     $ (30.9 )   $ (293.7 )
Client margin balances
    527.1       615.3       500.8       (88.2 )     114.5  
Securities borrowing (excluding conduit business)
    56.0       52.9       27.0       3.1       25.9  
Other cash and interest-earning investments, net
    35.0       24.6       25.3       10.4       (0.7 )
Client credit balances
    (24.9 )     (53.9 )     (98.9 )     29.0       45.0  
Securities lending (excluding conduit business)
    (55.4 )     (121.3 )     (89.1 )     65.9       (32.2 )
                                         
Net interest revenue (excluding conduit business)
    538.1       548.8       690.0       (10.7 )     (141.2 )
Securities borrowing — conduit business
    173.3       287.5       151.9       (114.2 )     135.6  
Securities lending — conduit business
    (161.8 )     (278.2 )     (145.7 )     116.4       (132.5 )
                                         
Net interest revenue
  $ 549.6     $ 558.1     $ 696.2     $ (8.5 )   $ (138.1 )
                                         
 
                                         
    Average Balance
    ’08 vs. ’07
    ’07 vs. ’06
 
    Fiscal Year     %
    %
 
    2008     2007     2006     Change     Change  
 
Segregated cash
  $ 12     $ 597     $ 7,235       (98 )%     (92 )%
Client margin balances
    8,138       7,501       6,397       8 %     17 %
Securities borrowing (excluding conduit business)
    416       655       384       (36 )%     71 %
Other cash and interest-earning investments
    1,269       472       476       169 %     (1 )%
                                         
Interest-earning assets (excluding conduit business)
    9,835       9,225       14,492       7 %     (36 )%
Securities borrowing — conduit business
    5,446       5,344       3,051       2 %     75 %
                                         
Interest-earning assets
  $ 15,281     $ 14,569     $ 17,543       5 %     (17 )%
                                         
Client credit balances
  $ 4,261     $ 3,456     $ 9,814       23 %     (65 )%
Securities lending (excluding conduit business)
    3,200       3,097       2,680       3 %     16 %
                                         
Interest-bearing liabilities (excluding conduit business)
    7,461       6,553       12,494       14 %     (48 )%
Securities lending — conduit business
    5,446       5,344       3,051       2 %     75 %
                                         
Interest-bearing liabilities
  $ 12,907     $ 11,897     $ 15,545       8 %     (23 )%
                                         
 
                                         
                      ’08 vs. ’07
    ’07 vs. ’06
 
    Average Yield (Cost)
    Net Yield
    Net Yield
 
    Fiscal Year     Increase/
    Increase/
 
    2008     2007     2006     (Decrease)     (Decrease)  
 
Segregated cash
    2.47 %     5.14 %     4.44 %     (2.67 )%     0.70 %
Client margin balances
    6.37 %     8.07 %     7.74 %     (1.70 )%     0.33 %
Other cash and interest-earning investments, net
    2.71 %     5.15 %     5.26 %     (2.44 )%     (0.11 )%
Client credit balances
    (0.58 )%     (1.53 )%     (1.00 )%     0.95 %     (0.53 )%
Net interest revenue (excluding conduit business)
    5.38 %     5.85 %     4.71 %     (0.47 )%     1.14 %
Securities borrowing — conduit business
    3.13 %     5.29 %     4.92 %     (2.16 )%     0.37 %
Securities lending — conduit business
    (2.92 )%     (5.12 )%     (4.72 )%     2.20 %     (0.40 )%
Net interest revenue
    3.54 %     3.77 %     3.92 %     (0.23 )%     (0.15 )%


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The following tables set forth key metrics that we use in analyzing investment product fee revenues (dollars in millions):
 
                                         
                      ’08 vs. ’07
    ’07 vs. ’06
 
    Fiscal Year     Increase/
    Increase/
 
    2008     2007     2006     (Decrease)     (Decrease)  
 
Fee revenue
  $ 309.4     $ 232.2     $ 140.7     $ 77.2     $ 91.5  
Average balance
  $ 70,782     $ 49,665     $ 29,374     $ 21,117     $ 20,291  
Average yield
    0.43 %     0.46 %     0.47 %     (0.03 )%     (0.01 )%
 
Transaction-Based Revenue Metrics
 
The following table sets forth several key metrics regarding client trading activity, which we utilize in measuring and evaluating performance and the results of our operations:
 
                                         
                      ’08 vs. ’07
    ’07 vs. ’06
 
    Fiscal Year     %
    %
 
    2008     2007     2006     Change     Change  
 
Total trades (in millions)
    78.43       63.11       54.24       24 %     16 %
Average commissions and transaction fees per trade
  $ 12.97     $ 12.90     $ 13.61       1 %     (5 )%
Average client trades per day
    311,830       253,440       216,970       23 %     17 %
Average client trades per account (annualized)
    11.8       10.0       10.1       18 %     (1 )%
Activity rate
    4.7 %     4.0 %     4.0 %     18 %     0 %
Trading days
    251.5       249.0       250.0       1 %     (0 )%
 
Client Account and Client Asset Metrics
 
The following table sets forth certain metrics regarding client accounts and client assets, which we use to analyze growth and trends in our client base:
 
                         
    Fiscal Year  
    2008     2007     2006  
 
Total accounts (beginning of year)
    6,380,000       6,191,000       3,717,000  
New accounts opened
    648,000       554,000       425,000  
Accounts purchased
    102,000             2,252,000  
Accounts closed
    (235,000 )     (365,000 )     (203,000 )
                         
Total accounts (end of year)
    6,895,000       6,380,000       6,191,000  
                         
Percentage change during year
    8 %     3 %     67 %
                         
Funded accounts (beginning of year)
    4,597,000       4,363,000       2,419,000  
Funded accounts (end of year)
    4,918,000       4,597,000       4,363,000  
Percentage change during year
    7 %     5 %     80 %
                         
Client assets (beginning of year, in billions)
  $ 302.7     $ 261.7     $ 83.3  
Client assets (end of year, in billions)
  $ 278.0     $ 302.7     $ 261.7  
Percentage change during year
    (8 )%     16 %     214 %
                         
Net new assets (in billions)*
  $ 22.8     $ 12.4       N/A  
 
 
* We began disclosing net new assets effective for fiscal 2007. Net new assets excludes client assets acquired in business combinations.
 
In connection with our purchase of Fiserv Trust Company on February 4, 2008, we acquired approximately 102,000 total accounts, approximately 81,000 funded accounts and approximately $25 billion in client assets.


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Consolidated Statements of Income Data
 
The following table summarizes certain data from our Consolidated Statements of Income for analysis purposes (in millions, except percentages and interest days):
 
                                         
    Fiscal Year     ’08 vs. ’07
    ’07 vs. ’06
 
    2008     2007     2006     % Change     % Change  
 
Revenues:
                                       
Transaction-based revenues:
                                       
Commissions and transaction fees
  $ 1,017.5     $ 813.8     $ 738.4       25 %     10 %
Asset-based revenues:
                                       
Interest revenue
    799.2       1,013.6       1,032.0       (21 )%     (2 )%
Brokerage interest expense
    (249.6 )     (455.5 )     (335.8 )     (45 )%     36 %
                                         
Net interest revenue
    549.6       558.1       696.2       (2 )%     (20 )%
Money market deposit account fees
    628.7       535.4       185.0       17 %     189 %
Investment product fees
    309.4       232.2       140.7       33 %     65 %
                                         
Total asset-based revenues
    1,487.7       1,325.7       1,021.9       12 %     30 %
Other revenues
    32.2       37.5       43.3       (14 )%     (13 )%
                                         
Net revenues
    2,537.4       2,176.9       1,803.5       17 %     21 %
                                         
Expenses:
                                       
Employee compensation and benefits
    503.3       429.8       350.1       17 %     23 %
Fair value adjustments of compensation-related derivative instruments
    0.8       (3.2 )     (1.7 )     N/A       86 %
Clearing and execution costs
    44.6       79.7       73.0       (44 )%     9 %
Communications
    69.6       82.2       65.4       (15 )%     26 %
Occupancy and equipment costs
    101.8       84.3       74.6       21 %     13 %
Depreciation and amortization
    36.9       26.2       21.2       41 %     24 %
Amortization of acquired intangible assets
    59.3       54.5       42.3       9 %     29 %
Professional services
    108.3       84.0       87.5       29 %     (4 )%
Interest on borrowings
    78.4       118.2       94.0       (34 )%     26 %
Other
    62.9       46.8       45.4       34 %     3 %
Advertising
    173.3       145.7       164.1       19 %     (11 )%
Losses on money market funds
    35.6                   N/A       N/A  
Fair value adjustments of investment-related derivative instruments
                11.7       N/A       (100 )%
                                         
Total expenses
    1,274.8       1,148.1       1,027.6       11 %     12 %
                                         
Income before other income and income taxes
    1,262.6       1,028.8       775.9       23 %     33 %
Other income:
                                       
Gain on sale of investments
    0.9       5.9       81.4       (84 )%     (93 )%
                                         
Pre-tax income
    1,263.5       1,034.7       857.3       22 %     21 %
Provision for income taxes
    459.6       388.8       330.5       18 %     18 %
                                         
Net income
  $ 803.9     $ 645.9     $ 526.8       24 %     23 %
                                         
Other information:
                                       
Number of interest days in period
    366       366       364       0 %     1 %
Effective income tax rate
    36.4 %     37.6 %     38.6 %                
 
Note: Details may not sum to totals and subtotals due to rounding differences. Change percentages are based on non-rounded Consolidated Statements of Income amounts.
 
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2008 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2007
 
Net Revenues
 
Commissions and transaction fees increased 25% to $1.0 billion, primarily due increased client trading activity. Total trades increased 24%, as average client trades per day increased 23% to 311,830 for fiscal 2008 from 253,440 for fiscal 2007, and there were 2.5 more trading days during fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007. Average


32


 

client trades per account (annualized) increased to 11.8 for fiscal 2008 compared to 10.0 for fiscal 2007. Average commissions and transaction fees per trade increased slightly to $12.97 per trade for fiscal 2008 from $12.90 for fiscal 2007, primarily due to higher percentages of option and fixed income trades and higher payment for order flow revenue during fiscal 2008. This was partially offset by the closing of our three Investment Centers during December 2006. The Investment Centers sold products such as load mutual funds and fixed income products that generated higher average commissions and transaction fees per trade than our core business. We expect revenues from commissions and transaction fees to range from $0.9 billion to $1.1 billion for fiscal 2009, depending on the volume of client trading activity, average commissions and transaction fees per trade and other factors.
 
Asset-based revenues, which consist of net interest revenue, MMDA fees and investment product fees, increased 12% to $1.5 billion during fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007, as described below. We expect asset-based revenues to range between $1.4 billion and $1.6 billion for fiscal 2009. We expect increased average spread-based asset balances to be offset by a decrease in the expected yield earned on those assets due to the current lower short-term interest rate environment compared to the higher average short-term interest rates experienced during fiscal 2008.
 
Net interest revenue decreased 2% to $549.6 million, due primarily to a decrease of 170 basis points in the average yield earned on client margin balances and a $585 million decrease in average segregated cash balances for fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007. These decreases were mostly offset by a $71.2 million increase in net interest revenue from our securities borrowing/lending program, a decrease of 95 basis points in the average interest rate paid on client credit balances in fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007 and approximately $11.5 million of net interest revenue on balances resulting from the Fiserv Trust Company acquisition.
 
MMDA fees increased 17% to $628.7 million, due primarily to a 5% increase in average MMDA balances and an increase of 42 basis points in the average yield earned on the client MMDA assets during fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007.
 
Investment product fees increased 33% to $309.4 million, primarily due to a 43% increase in average fee-based investment balances in fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007. The increase was partially offset by a slightly lower average yield earned on fee-based investment balances during fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007.
 
Other revenues decreased 14% to $32.2 million, due primarily to lower fees from corporate reorganizations of issuers during fiscal 2008 and the effect of $2.3 million of net gains on investments held at our broker-dealer subsidiaries during fiscal 2007. We expect other revenues to range between $31.5 million and $35.5 million for fiscal 2009.
 
Expenses
 
Total expenses increased by 11% to $1.3 billion during fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007, as described below. We expect total expenses to range between $1.2 billion and $1.3 billion for fiscal 2009.
 
Employee compensation and benefits expense increased 17% to $503.3 million, due primarily to the increased headcount associated with our growth initiatives and higher incentive-based compensation related to actual Company and individual performance compared to fiscal 2007. Full-time equivalent employees increased to 4,660 at September 30, 2008 from 3,882 at September 30, 2007. However, the number of temporary employees decreased to 81 at September 30, 2008 from 354 at September 30, 2007.
 
Fair value adjustments of compensation-related derivative instruments represent adjustments to equity swap agreements that are intended to economically offset former TD Waterhouse employees’ stock-based compensation that is based on the value of TD stock. We assumed certain stock-based compensation arrangements in connection with our acquisition of TD Waterhouse, which we administer for the former TD Waterhouse employees. Because the swap agreements were not designated for hedge accounting, the fair value adjustments are not recorded in the same category of our Consolidated Statements of Income as the stock-based compensation expense, which is recorded in the employee compensation and benefits category. During December 2007, the equity swap agreements were settled in connection with the settlement of most of the related restricted stock units.


33


 

Clearing and execution costs decreased 44% to $44.6 million, due primarily to cost reductions associated with the completion of the conversion of legacy TD Waterhouse clients to the legacy Ameritrade clearing platform during the third quarter of fiscal 2007.
 
Communications expense decreased 15% to $69.6 million, due primarily to the elimination of duplicate telephone, quotes and market information costs resulting from the completion of the TD Waterhouse integration during fiscal 2007.
 
Occupancy and equipment costs increased 21% to $101.8 million as we continue to invest in our technology infrastructure, and due to the effect of a favorable legacy TD Waterhouse litigation settlement of $4.6 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2007.
 
Depreciation and amortization increased 41% to $36.9 million, due primarily to increased depreciation on leasehold improvements and technology infrastructure related to our growth initiatives and increased software amortization related to recently acquired functionality.
 
Amortization of acquired intangible assets increased 9% to $59.3 million due to increased amortization on client relationships related to the acquisition of Fiserv Trust Company during the second quarter of fiscal 2008.
 
Professional services increased 29% to $108.3 million, primarily due to higher usage of consulting and contract services during fiscal 2008 in connection with new product development and technology infrastructure upgrades related to our growth initiatives and due to fees incurred under the transition services agreements related to the acquisition of Fiserv Trust Company during the second quarter of fiscal 2008. This was partially offset by consulting and contract services incurred during fiscal 2007 in connection with the TD Waterhouse integration, which was completed during the third quarter of fiscal 2007.
 
Interest on borrowings decreased 34% to $78.4 million, due primarily to lower average interest rates incurred on our debt and lower average debt outstanding during fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007. The average interest rate incurred on our debt was 4.99% for fiscal 2008, compared to 6.92% for fiscal 2007. Our average debt outstanding was approximately $1.5 billion for fiscal 2008, compared to $1.6 billion for fiscal 2007.
 
Other expenses increased 34% to $62.9 million, primarily due to higher bad debt and other client-related trading losses, losses on disposal of equipment and the effect of unfavorable litigation settlements during fiscal 2008. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in client identity fraud losses during fiscal 2008.
 
Advertising expense increased 19% to $173.3 million, primarily due to increased spending during fiscal 2008 in response to competitive market share opportunities. We generally adjust our level of advertising spending in relation to stock market activity and other market conditions in an effort to maximize the number of new accounts while minimizing the advertising cost per new account.
 
Losses on money market funds during fiscal 2008 consists of $27.0 million and $8.6 million of estimated client and corporate investment losses, respectively, resulting from the net asset value of two money market mutual funds managed by The Reserve, an independent mutual fund company, declining below $1.00 per share in September 2008. The client losses result from our announced commitment of up to $55 million to mitigate client losses in these funds in the event clients receive less than $1.00 per share upon the orderly liquidation of the funds. This commitment is discussed further under Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements: “Guarantees” under Note 17 — Commitments and Contingencies.
 
Our effective income tax rate decreased to 36.4% for fiscal 2008 compared to 37.6% for fiscal 2007, due primarily to fiscal 2008 reflecting $7.2 million of favorable resolutions of state income tax matters and $11.1 million of adjustments to current and deferred income taxes resulting from a revision to estimated state income tax expense. The revision was based on our actual state income tax returns filed for calendar year 2006 and similar adjustments applied to estimated state income tax rates for calendar 2007 and future years. These items favorably impacted our earnings for fiscal 2008 by approximately $0.03 per diluted share. We expect our effective income tax rate to be approximately 38% for fiscal 2009. However, we expect that our adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN No. 48”), will result in increased volatility in our quarterly and annual effective income tax rate because FIN No. 48 requires that any change in measurement of a tax position taken in a prior tax year be recognized as a discrete event in the period in which it occurs.


34


 

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2007 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended September 29, 2006
 
Net Revenues
 
Commissions and transaction fees increased 10% to $813.8 million, primarily due to the addition of approximately 2.25 million accounts on January 24, 2006 in the TD Waterhouse acquisition, partially offset by lower commissions and transaction fees per trade. Total trades increased 16%, as average client trades per day increased 17% to 253,440 for fiscal 2007 from 216,970 for fiscal 2006. Average client trades per account (annualized) were virtually unchanged at 10.0 for fiscal 2007 compared to 10.1 for fiscal 2006. Average commissions and transaction fees per trade decreased to $12.90 per trade for fiscal 2007 from $13.61 for fiscal 2006, primarily due to our new client offerings announced in April 2006 and the closing of our Investment Centers during December 2006, partially offset by higher payment for order flow revenue per trade.
 
Net interest revenue decreased 20% to $558.1 million, due primarily to the movement of over $6 billion in legacy Ameritrade client credit balances to our MMDA sweep product in late September 2006, which resulted in a shift in revenues from net interest revenue to money market deposit account fees. This decrease was partially offset by the effect of fiscal 2006 not reflecting a full period of TD Waterhouse net interest revenue.
 
MMDA fees increased to $535.4 million for fiscal 2007 compared to $185.0 million for fiscal 2006. This was due primarily to fiscal year 2006 not reflecting a full period of TD Waterhouse MMDA fee revenue, the movement of over $6.0 billion in legacy Ameritrade client credit balances to our MMDA sweep product in late September 2006 and an increase of 34 basis points in the average yield earned on the client MMDA assets during fiscal 2007 compared to fiscal 2006.
 
Investment product fees increased 65% to $232.2 million for fiscal 2007, primarily due to the full year effect of the TD Waterhouse acquisition.
 
Other revenues decreased 13% to $37.5 million, due primarily to the effect of our elimination of account maintenance fees for all retail clients in April 2006.
 
Expenses and Other Income
 
Total expenses increased by 12% to $1.15 billion during fiscal 2007 compared to fiscal 2006, due primarily to fiscal 2006 not reflecting a full year of TD Waterhouse expenses and to approximately $27 million of expenses for growth initiatives during fiscal 2007, partially offset by the expense synergies realized from the TD Waterhouse acquisition.
 
Employee compensation and benefits expense increased 23% to $429.8 million, primarily due to the TD Waterhouse acquisition, including incentive compensation related to meeting performance targets for the integration. Full-time equivalent employees decreased to 3,882 at September 30, 2007 from 3,947 at September 29, 2006. However, the number of temporary employees increased to 354 at September 30, 2007 from 199 at September 29, 2006.
 
Fair value adjustments of compensation-related derivative instruments represent adjustments to equity swap agreements that are intended to economically offset former TD Waterhouse employees’ stock-based compensation that is based on the value of TD stock. We assumed certain stock-based compensation arrangements in connection with our acquisition of TD Waterhouse, which we administer for the former TD Waterhouse employees. Because the swap agreements were not designated for hedge accounting, the fair value adjustments are not recorded in the same category of our Consolidated Statements of Income as the stock-based compensation expense, which is recorded in the employee compensation and benefits category.
 
Clearing and execution costs increased 9% to $79.7 million, due primarily to increased expense for statement and confirmation processing and other clearing expenses associated with additional accounts and transaction processing volumes resulting from the TD Waterhouse acquisition. The increase was partially offset by cost reductions associated with the completion of the clearing conversion during the third quarter of fiscal 2007.


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Communications expense increased 26% to $82.2 million, due primarily to increased expense for telephone, quotes and market information associated with the additional accounts and transaction processing volumes resulting from the TD Waterhouse acquisition.
 
Occupancy and equipment costs increased 13% to $84.3 million, due primarily to leased facilities added in the TD Waterhouse acquisition, partially offset by the effects of a favorable legacy TD Waterhouse litigation settlement of $4.6 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2007 and a $2.3 million early lease termination fee associated with our facility in Jersey City during the first quarter of fiscal 2006.
 
Depreciation and amortization increased 24% to $26.2 million, due primarily to depreciation of assets recorded in the TD Waterhouse acquisition and increased software amortization related to recently acquired functionality.
 
Amortization of acquired intangible assets increased 29% to $54.5 million due to fiscal 2007 reflecting a full year of amortization of client relationship intangible assets recorded in the TD Waterhouse acquisition.
 
Professional services decreased 4% to $84.0 million. During fiscal 2006, we incurred client communication costs of $10.5 million associated with the TD Waterhouse acquisition and a $5.0 million reimbursement of professional services related to the TD Waterhouse acquisition pursuant to the terms of our Chairman’s employment agreement. The effect of these expenses was partially offset by fiscal 2006 not reflecting a full period of TD Waterhouse expenses.
 
Interest on borrowings increased 26% to $118.2 million, due primarily to higher average debt outstanding during fiscal 2007 compared to fiscal 2006 and slightly higher average interest rates incurred on our debt during fiscal 2007 compared to fiscal 2006. Our average debt outstanding was approximately $1.6 billion for fiscal 2007, compared to $1.4 billion for fiscal 2006. The average interest rate incurred on our debt was 6.92% for fiscal 2007, compared to 6.50% for fiscal 2006.
 
Advertising expense decreased 11% to $145.7 million, primarily due to the higher advertising costs during fiscal 2006 associated with the support of two brands after the TD Waterhouse acquisition, the promotion of the new TD AMERITRADE brand and the announcement of our new client offerings and pricing in April 2006.
 
Fair value adjustments of investment-related derivative instruments for fiscal 2006 consisted of $11.7 million of fair value adjustments on our Knight prepaid variable forward contracts. There were no such fair value adjustments for fiscal 2007 due to the liquidation of our investment in Knight and the related prepaid variable forward contracts in January 2006.
 
Gain on sale of investments was $5.9 million for fiscal 2007, compared to $81.4 million for fiscal 2006. The large gain for fiscal 2006 resulted primarily from the liquidation of our investment in Knight and related prepaid variable forward contracts in January 2006.
 
Our effective income tax rate decreased to 37.6% for fiscal 2007 compared to 38.6% for fiscal 2006, due primarily to the reversal of approximately $7.5 million of income taxes payable related to tax positions of prior years during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. In addition, the integration of TD Waterhouse resulted in a realignment of our activities from higher tax jurisdictions into lower tax jurisdictions.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
We have historically financed our liquidity and capital needs primarily through the use of funds generated from operations and from borrowings under our credit agreements. We have also issued common stock and long-term debt to finance mergers and acquisitions and for other corporate purposes. Our liquidity needs during fiscal 2008 were financed primarily from our earnings and cash on hand. We plan to finance our operational capital and liquidity needs in fiscal 2009 primarily from our earnings, cash and short-term investments on hand and borrowings on our parent company and broker-dealer credit facilities.
 
As of September 30, 2008, we had holdings with a fair value of approximately $585.5 million in the Primary Fund, a money market mutual fund managed by The Reserve, an independent mutual fund company. During September 2008, the net asset value of the Primary Fund declined below $1.00 per share and the fund announced it


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was liquidating under the supervision of the SEC. In order to facilitate an orderly liquidation, the SEC allowed the fund to suspend redemptions until the fund could liquidate portfolio securities without further impairing the net asset value. On October 31, 2008, we received $301.4 million of cash as The Reserve redeemed approximately 51% of the shares of the fund. On November 21, 2008, The Reserve announced that it expects to complete an additional redemption of approximately 27% of the shares of the fund on or about December 5, 2008. We cannot predict when The Reserve will redeem the remaining shares of the fund. Substantial delays in redemption of the remaining shares could adversely affect our liquidity and require us to utilize our revolving credit facilities or seek alternative financing.
 
Dividends from our subsidiaries are another source of liquidity for the parent company. Some of our subsidiaries are subject to requirements of the SEC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and other regulators relating to liquidity, capital standards and the use of client funds and securities, which may limit funds available for the payment of dividends to the parent company.
 
Under the SEC’s Uniform Net Capital Rule (Rule 15c3-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), our broker-dealer subsidiaries are required to maintain at all times at least the minimum level of net capital required under Rule 15c3-1. For clearing broker-dealers, this minimum net capital level is determined by a calculation described in Rule 15c3-1 that is primarily based on each broker-dealer’s “aggregate debits,” which primarily are a function of client margin balances at our broker-dealer subsidiaries. Since our aggregate debits may fluctuate significantly, our minimum net capital requirements may also fluctuate significantly from period to period. The parent company may make cash capital contributions to our broker-dealer subsidiaries, if necessary, to meet broker-dealer net capital requirements.
 
Liquid Assets
 
We consider liquid assets an important measure of our liquidity and of our ability to fund corporate investing and financing activities. Liquid assets is a non-GAAP financial measure. We define liquid assets as the sum of (a) corporate cash and cash equivalents, (b) corporate short-term investments, (c) regulatory net capital of (i) our clearing broker-dealer subsidiary in excess of 5% of aggregate debit items and (ii) our introducing broker-dealer subsidiary in excess of 120% of the minimum dollar net capital requirement and (d) following the merger of our trust company subsidiaries in August 2008, Tier 1 capital of our trust company in excess of the minimum dollar requirement. We include the excess capital of our broker-dealer and trust company subsidiaries in liquid assets, rather than simply including broker-dealer and trust cash and cash equivalents, because capital requirements may limit the amount of cash available for dividend from the broker-dealer and trust subsidiaries to the parent company. Excess capital, as defined under clauses (c) and (d) above, is generally available for dividend from the broker-dealer and trust subsidiaries to the parent company. Prior to the merger of our trust subsidiaries in August 2008, excess capital from our trust subsidiaries was excluded from liquid assets because, due to regulatory limitations, it was generally not available for corporate purposes. Liquid assets should be considered as a supplemental measure of liquidity, rather than as a substitute for cash and cash equivalents. The following table sets forth a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents, which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to liquid assets (dollars in thousands):
 
                         
    September 30,        
    2008     2007     Change  
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 674,135     $ 413,787     $ 260,348  
Less: Broker-dealer cash and cash equivalents
    (418,626 )     (183,103 )     (235,523 )
Trust company cash and cash equivalents
    (61,430 )     (2,117 )     (59,313 )
Investment advisory cash and cash equivalents
    (9,447 )     (7,592 )     (1,855 )
                         
Corporate cash and cash equivalents
    184,632       220,975       (36,343 )
Plus: Corporate short-term investments
    14,491       76,800       (62,309 )
Excess trust Tier 1 capital
    102,427             102,427  
Excess broker-dealer regulatory net capital
    486,625       314,280       172,345  
                         
Liquid assets
  $ 788,175     $ 612,055     $ 176,120  
                         


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The increase in liquid assets is summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
         
Liquid assets as of September 30, 2007
  $ 612,055  
Plus: Pre-tax income
    1,263,502  
   Excess Tier 1 capital resulting from merger of trust subsidiaries
    102,427  
   Cash provided by stock option exercises
    22,668  
   Proceeds from the sale of other investments available-for-sale
    5,226  
Less: Cash paid to acquire Fiserv Trust Company
    (274,470 )
   Income taxes paid
    (463,379 )
   Purchase of property and equipment
    (98,836 )
   Purchase of treasury stock
    (74,568 )
   Principal payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations
    (37,404 )
   Purchase of other investments available-for-sale
    (1,069 )
   Other changes in working capital and regulatory net capital
    (267,977 )
         
Liquid assets as of September 30, 2008
  $ 788,175  
         
 
Loan Facilities
 
We entered into a credit agreement on January 23, 2006 for $2.2 billion in senior credit facilities with a syndicate of lenders under an unregistered private placement. The senior credit facilities include: (a) a senior secured term loan facility in the aggregate principal amount of $250 million (the “Term A Facility”), (b) a senior secured term loan facility in the aggregate principal amount of $1.65 billion (the “Term B Facility”) and (c) a senior secured revolving credit facility in the aggregate principal amount of $300 million (the “Revolving Facility”) (together, the “Financings”). The maturity date of the Term A Facility is December 31, 2011. The maturity date of the Term B Facility is December 31, 2012. The maturity date of the Revolving Facility is December 31, 2010. The Financings are subject to certain mandatory prepayments, which include prepayments based on leverage ratios and amounts of excess cash flow and from the net cash proceeds of asset sales and debt issuances, subject to certain exceptions. Under the terms of the Financings, the Company may prepay these borrowings without penalty.
 
We used $1.6 billion of the proceeds from the Term A Facility and Term B Facility to fund a portion of the $6.00 per share special cash dividend paid in connection with the acquisition of TD Waterhouse and $300 million for working capital purposes. No initial borrowings were made on the Revolving Facility, which was established for general corporate purposes.
 
The applicable interest rate under the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility is calculated as a per annum rate equal to, at our option, (a) LIBOR plus an interest rate margin (“LIBOR loans”) or (b) (i) the greater of (x) the prime rate or (y) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% plus (ii) an interest rate margin (“Base Rate loans”). With respect to the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility, the interest rate margin for LIBOR loans is 1.50% if the consolidated leverage ratio (as defined in the Financings) of the Company is 1.75 to 1.00 or higher, 1.25% if the consolidated leverage ratio of the Company is less than 1.75 to 1.00 but greater than or equal to 1.00 to 1.00, and 1.00% if the consolidated leverage ratio of the Company is less than 1.00 to 1.00. The interest rate margin for Base Rate loans under the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility is 1.00% less than the interest rate margin for LIBOR loans. The applicable interest rate under the Term B Facility is calculated as a per annum rate equal to (a) LIBOR plus 1.50% or (b) (i) the greater of (x) the prime rate or (y) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% plus (ii) 0.50%. On September 30, 2008, the applicable interest rates on the Term A Facility and the Term B Facility were 4.70% and 5.20%, respectively, based on 30-day LIBOR. As of September 30, 2008 and 2007, we had outstanding indebtedness of approximately $0.2 billion and $1.3 billion under the Term A Facility and Term B Facility, respectively. There were no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Facility as of September 30, 2008 and 2007. The Financings also provide that we are obligated to pay letter of credit fees equal to the applicable margin in respect of LIBOR advances on each outstanding letter of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility. In addition, the Financings provide that we pay fees to the issuing bank in respect of the Letters of Credit in an amount


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agreed to by us and the issuing bank. A commitment fee at the rate of 0.375% per annum accrues on any unused amount of the Revolving Facility.
 
The obligations under the Financings are guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries, other than broker-dealer subsidiaries, with certain exceptions, and are secured by a lien on substantially all of the assets of each guarantor, including a pledge of the ownership interests in each first-tier broker-dealer subsidiary held by a guarantor and 65% of the ownership interests in each first-tier foreign subsidiary held by a guarantor, with certain exceptions.
 
The Financings contain covenants that limit or restrict the incurrence of liens, investments (including acquisitions), sales of assets, indebtedness and mergers and consolidations, subject to certain exceptions. The Financings also restrict the payment of dividends on our outstanding capital stock and repurchases or redemptions of our outstanding capital stock, subject to certain exceptions. We are also required to maintain compliance with a maximum consolidated leverage ratio covenant and a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio covenant, and our broker-dealer subsidiaries are required to maintain compliance with a minimum regulatory net capital covenant. We were in compliance with all covenants under the Financings as of September 30, 2008.
 
During fiscal 2007, we entered into two amendments to the January 23, 2006 credit agreement to allow us to repurchase additional shares of our outstanding common stock and to change our fiscal year end to September 30. We paid approximately $1.2 million of additional debt issuance costs to effect the amendments.
 
Our wholly-owned broker-dealer subsidiaries had access to secured uncommitted credit facilities with financial institutions of up to $630 million as of September 30, 2008 and 2007. The broker-dealer subsidiaries also had access to unsecured uncommitted credit facilities of up to $150 million as of September 30, 2008 and 2007. The financial institutions may make loans under line of credit arrangements or, in some cases, issue letters of credit under these facilities. The secured credit facilities require us to pledge qualified client securities to secure outstanding obligations under these facilities. Borrowings under the secured and unsecured credit facilities bear interest at a variable rate based on the federal funds rate. Covenants under the Financings limit the broker-dealer subsidiaries to an aggregate outstanding principal balance of $1.0 billion in borrowings on uncommitted lines of credit, excluding securities lending. There were no borrowings outstanding or letters of credit issued under the secured or unsecured credit facilities as of September 30, 2008 and 2007. As of September 30, 2008 and 2007, approximately $780 million was available to our broker-dealer subsidiaries pursuant to uncommitted credit facilities for either loans or, in some cases, letters of credit.
 
Stock Repurchase Program
 
On August 2, 2006, our board of directors authorized a program to repurchase up to 12 million shares of our common stock in the open market and in block trades. On November 15, 2006, the board of directors added 20 million shares to the original authorization, increasing the total authorization to 32 million shares. In fiscal 2008, we repurchased approximately 4.1 million shares under the plan at a weighted average purchase price of $18.08 per share. From the inception of the program through September 30, 2008, we have repurchased approximately 23.1 million shares at a weighted average purchase price of $17.27 per share.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
We enter into guarantees and other off-balance sheet arrangements in the ordinary course of business, primarily to meet the needs of our clients and to manage our asset-based revenues. For information on these arrangements, see the following sections under Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements: “Guarantees” under Note 17 — Commitments and Contingencies and “Money Market Deposit Account Agreement” under Note 20 — Related Party Transactions. The MMDA agreement accounts for a significant percentage of our total revenues (25% of our net revenues for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008) and enables our clients to invest in an FDIC-insured deposit product without the need for the Company to maintain a bank charter.


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Contractual Obligations
 
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2008 (dollars in thousands):
 
                                         
          Payments Due by Period (Fiscal Years):  
          Less Than
                More Than
 
          1 Year
    1-3 Years
    3-5 Years
    5 Years
 
Contractual Obligations
  Total     2009     2010-11     2012-13     After 2013  
 
Long-term debt obligations(1)
  $ 1,747,284     $ 113,182     $ 262,345     $ 1,371,757     $  
Capital lease obligations
    699       699                    
Operating lease obligations
    371,788       44,903       83,986       75,248       167,651  
Purchase obligations
    79,777       67,596       11,181       1,000        
Deferred compensation(2)
    17,682       17,682                    
Employee severance and involuntary termination costs(3)
    2,575       1,225       1,200       150        
Business combination obligations(4)
    100,000       100,000                    
Income taxes payable(5)
    242,962       242,962                    
Obligation for client losses on money market funds(6)
    26,994       26,994                    
                                         
Total
  $ 2,589,761     $ 615,243     $ 358,712     $ 1,448,155     $ 167,651  
                                         
 
 
(1) Represents scheduled principal payments, estimated interest payments and commitment fees pursuant to the Financings. The Financings are also subject to certain mandatory prepayments, which include prepayments based on amounts of excess cash flow and from the net cash proceeds of asset sales and debt issuances, subject to certain exceptions. Pursuant to the Financings, we may prepay borrowings without penalty. Because mandatory prepayments are based on future operating results and events, we cannot predict the amount or timing of such prepayments. Actual amounts of interest may vary depending on principal prepayments and changes in variable interest rates.
 
(2) Our obligation to Joseph H. Moglia, our Chairman and former CEO, for deferred compensation will become payable not sooner than the day after Mr. Moglia’s employment with the Company terminates. The obligation is presented in the fiscal 2009 column as the entire amount of the compensation has already been earned by Mr. Moglia.
 
(3) Represents exit and involuntary termination costs incurred in connection with the planned consolidation of certain facilities and functions following the TD Waterhouse acquisition.
 
(4) On May 24, 2007, we entered into a stock purchase agreement with Fiserv, Inc. (“Fiserv”) pursuant to which our wholly-owned subsidiary agreed to purchase a portion of Fiserv’s investment support services business by acquiring all of the outstanding capital stock of Fiserv Trust Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fiserv. We completed the transaction on February 4, 2008. An earn-out payment of up to $100 million in cash could be payable following the first anniversary of the acquisition based on the achievement of certain revenue targets.
 
(5) Income taxes payable as of September 30, 2008 primarily consists of liabilities for uncertain tax positions and related interest and penalties. The timing of payments, if any, on liabilities for uncertain tax positions cannot be predicted with reasonable accuracy.
 
(6) During September 2008, the net asset value of two money market mutual funds held by some of our clients, the Primary Fund and the International Liquidity Fund, declined below $1.00 per share. These funds are managed by The Reserve, an independent mutual fund company. The Reserve subsequently announced that it was suspending redemptions of these funds to effect an orderly liquidation. We announced a commitment of up to $55 million to protect our clients’ positions in these funds. In the event our clients receive less than $1.00 per share for these funds upon an orderly liquidation, we have committed up to $50 million (or $0.03 per share of the fund) for clients in the Primary Fund and up to $5 million for clients in the International Liquidity Fund to mitigate client losses. Based on information from The Reserve and other public information, we have accrued an estimated fair value of $27.0 million for this obligation as of September 30, 2008.


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Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
 
FIN No. 48 — Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN No. 48”) became effective for the Company on October 1, 2007. FIN No. 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement approach for a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return when there is uncertainty about whether that tax position will ultimately be sustained. The cumulative effect of adopting FIN No. 48 was a $4.2 million reduction to the beginning balance of retained earnings as of October 1, 2007. For additional information regarding the adoption of FIN No. 48, see Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 12 — Income Taxes.
 
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
 
SFAS No. 157 — In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. SFAS No. 157 clarifies the definition of fair value and the methods used to measure fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. Therefore, SFAS No. 157 will be effective for our fiscal year beginning October 1, 2008. Adoption of SFAS No. 157 is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
SFAS No. 141R — In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(revised 2007), Business Combinations.  SFAS No. 141R generally requires an acquirer to recognize the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, contingent purchase consideration and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at fair value on the date of acquisition. It also requires an acquirer to recognize as expense most transaction and restructuring costs as incurred, rather than include such items in the cost of the acquired entity. For the Company, SFAS No. 141R will apply prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after October 1, 2009. We will evaluate the impact of SFAS No. 141R on any potential future business combinations that may occur on or after the effective date.
 
Item 7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
Market risk generally represents the risk of loss that may result from the potential change in the value of a financial instrument as a result of fluctuations in interest rates and market prices. We have established policies, procedures and internal processes governing our management of market risks in the normal course of our business operations. We do not hold any material market risk-sensitive instruments for trading purposes.
 
Credit Risk
 
Two primary sources of credit risk inherent in our business are client margin lending and securities lending and borrowing. We manage risk on client margin lending by requiring clients to maintain margin collateral in compliance with regulatory and internal guidelines. We monitor required margin levels daily and, pursuant to such guidelines, require our clients to deposit additional collateral, or to reduce positions, when necessary. We continuously monitor client accounts to detect excessive concentration, large orders or positions, patterns of day trading and other activities that indicate increased risk to us. We manage risks associated with our securities lending and borrowing activities by requiring credit approvals for counterparties, by monitoring the market value of securities loaned and collateral values for securities borrowed on a daily basis and requiring additional cash as collateral for securities loaned or return of collateral for securities borrowed when necessary and by participating in a risk-sharing program offered through the Options Clearing Corporation.
 
Interest Rate Risk
 
As a fundamental part of our brokerage business, we invest in interest-earning assets and are obligated on interest-bearing liabilities. In addition, we earn fees on our MMDA sweep arrangement with TD Bank USA, which are subject to interest rate risk. Changes in interest rates could affect the interest earned on assets differently than interest paid on liabilities. A rising interest rate environment generally results in our earning a larger net interest spread. Conversely, a falling interest rate environment generally results in our earning a smaller net interest spread.


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Our most prevalent form of interest rate risk is referred to as “gap” risk. This risk occurs when the interest rates we earn on our assets change at a different frequency or amount than the interest rates we pay on our liabilities. We have an Asset/Liability Committee as the governance body with the responsibility of managing interest rate risk, including gap risk.
 
We use net interest simulation modeling techniques to evaluate the effect that changes in interest rates might have on pre-tax income. Our model includes all interest-sensitive assets and liabilities of the Company and interest-sensitive assets and liabilities associated with the MMDA agreement. The simulations involve assumptions that are inherently uncertain and, as a result, cannot precisely predict the impact that changes in interest rates will have on pre-tax income. Actual results may differ from simulated results due to differences in timing and frequency of rate changes, changes in market conditions and changes in management strategy that lead to changes in the mix of interest-sensitive assets and liabilities.
 
Since September 30, 2008, the Federal Open Market Committee has lowered the federal funds rate by a total of 1% (100 basis points). Based on our interest simulation model applied to our financial position as of September 30, 2008, we estimate that this decrease in short-term interest rates could result in a reduction of approximately $87 million in our annual pre-tax income.
 
In addition to the analysis above related to the actual decrease in short-term interest rates, we have performed simulations related to hypothetical additional changes in interest rates. These simulations assume that the asset and liability structure of the Consolidated Balance Sheet and the MMDA arrangement would not be changed as a result of simulated changes in interest rates. The results of the simulations based on our financial position as of September 30, 2008 indicate that a gradual 1% (100 basis points) increase in interest rates over a 12-month period would result in approximately $50 million more pre-tax income, while an additional gradual 0.5% (50 basis points) decrease in interest rates over a 12-month period would result in approximately $16 million less pre-tax income. With the target for the federal funds rate currently at 1%, we believe a hypothetical simulation of an additional gradual 0.5% decrease in interest rates over a 12-month period is more realistic than a 1% decrease because a full 1% decrease in interest rates would result in the target federal funds rate being lowered to zero.
 
Other Market Risks
 
Our revenues and financial instruments are denominated in U.S. dollars. We generally do not invest in derivative instruments, except for economic hedging purposes.


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Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2008. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation at September 30, 2008 and 2007, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2008, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated November 25, 2008, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
 
/s/  ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois
November 25, 2008


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TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of September 30, 2008 and 2007
 
                 
    2008     2007  
    (In thousands)  
 
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 674,135     $ 413,787  
Short-term investments
    369,133       76,800  
Cash and investments segregated in compliance with federal regulations
    260,000        
Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
    4,176,969       6,749,588  
Receivable from clients, net of allowance for doubtful accounts:
               
2008 — $20.3 million; 2007 — $19.1 million
    6,933,926       7,727,969  
Receivable from affiliates
    179,813       84,903  
Other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts:
               
2008 — $2.2 million; 2007 — none
    89,486       92,346  
Securities owned, at fair value
    60,645       17,358  
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization:
               
2008 — $75.4 million; 2007 — $118.3 million
    153,208       92,448  
Goodwill
    1,947,102       1,768,867  
Acquired intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization:
               
2008 — $194.0 million; 2007 — $134.8 million
    1,013,679       1,002,430  
Deferred income taxes
    17,158        
Other investments
    12,768       8,013  
Other assets
    63,500       57,818  
                 
Total assets
  $ 15,951,522     $ 18,092,327  
                 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities:
               
Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
  $ 5,754,726     $ 8,386,988  
Payable to clients
    5,070,671       5,313,576  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    571,425       427,063  
Payable to affiliates
    18,587       13,294  
Long-term debt
    1,444,000       1,478,375  
Capitalized lease obligations
    544       3,573  
Deferred income taxes
    166,531       314,537  
                 
Total liabilities
    13,026,484       15,937,406  
                 
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, 100 million shares authorized; none issued
           
Common Stock, $0.01 par value, one billion shares authorized; 631,381,860 shares issued; 2008 — 593,130,521 outstanding;
2007 — 594,688,031 outstanding
    6,314       6,314  
Additional paid-in capital
    1,613,700       1,598,451  
Retained earnings
    1,886,412       1,086,662  
Treasury stock, common, at cost: 2008 — 38,251,339 shares;
2007 — 36,693,829 shares
    (580,664 )     (537,547 )
Deferred compensation
    146       431  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    (870 )     610  
                 
Total stockholders’ equity
    2,925,038       2,154,921  
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 15,951,522     $ 18,092,327  
                 
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.


44


 

TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the Years Ended September 30, 2008, September 30, 2007 and September 29, 2006
 
                         
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)  
 
Revenues:
                       
Transaction-based revenues:
                       
Commissions and transaction fees
  $ 1,017,456     $ 813,786     $ 738,380  
Asset-based revenues:
                       
Interest revenue
    799,189       1,013,600       1,031,971  
Brokerage interest expense
    (249,616 )     (455,467 )     (335,820 )
                         
Net interest revenue
    549,573       558,133       696,151  
Money market deposit account fees
    628,716       535,381       185,014  
Investment product fees
    309,420       232,177       140,699  
                         
Total asset-based revenues
    1,487,709       1,325,691       1,021,864  
Other revenues
    32,191       37,469       43,287  
                         
Net revenues
    2,537,356       2,176,946       1,803,531  
                         
Expenses:
                       
Employee compensation and benefits
    503,297       429,820       350,079  
Fair value adjustments of compensation-related derivative instruments
    764       (3,193 )     (1,715 )
Clearing and execution costs
    44,620       79,681       73,049  
Communications
    69,564       82,173       65,445  
Occupancy and equipment costs
    101,787       84,294       74,638  
Depreciation and amortization
    36,899       26,237       21,199  
Amortization of acquired intangible assets
    59,275       54,469       42,286  
Professional services
    108,271       83,995       87,521  
Interest on borrowings
    78,447       118,173       93,988  
Other
    62,934       46,809       45,383  
Advertising
    173,296       145,666       164,072  
Losses on money market funds
    35,628              
Fair value adjustments of investment-related derivative instruments
                11,703  
                         
Total expenses
    1,274,782       1,148,124       1,027,648  
                         
Income before other income and income taxes
    1,262,574       1,028,822       775,883  
Other income:
                       
Gain on sale of investments
    928       5,881       81,422  
                         
Pre-tax income
    1,263,502       1,034,703       857,305  
Provision for income taxes
    459,585       388,803       330,546  
                         
Net income
  $ 803,917     $ 645,900     $ 526,759  
                         
Earnings per share — basic
  $ 1.35     $ 1.08     $ 0.97  
Earnings per share — diluted
  $ 1.33     $ 1.06     $ 0.95  
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic
    593,746       598,503       544,307  
Weighted average shares outstanding — diluted
    603,133       608,263       555,465  
Dividends declared per share
  $ 0.00     $ 0.00     $ 6.00  
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.


45


 

TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For the Years Ended September 30, 2008, September 30, 2007 and September 29, 2006
 
                                                                 
    Total
                                        Accumulated
 
    Common
    Total
          Additional
                      Other
 
    Shares
    Stockholders’
    Common
    Paid-In
    Retained
    Treasury
    Deferred
    Comprehensive
 
    Outstanding     Equity     Stock     Capital     Earnings     Stock     Compensation     Income (Loss)  
    (In thousands)  
 
Balance, September 30, 2005
    406,059     $ 1,518,867     $ 4,351     $ 1,184,004     $ 652,742     $ (364,794 )   $ 952     $ 41,612  
Net income
          526,759                   526,759                    
Net unrealized investment gain, net of $5.9 million tax
          9,591                                     9,591  
Reclassification adjustment for realized gain on investment securities included in net income, net of $29.8 million tax
          (47,647 )                                   (47,647 )
Amount transferred from cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments due to disposal of Ameritrade Canada, Inc. 
          (513 )                                   (513 )
Foreign currency translation
          253                                     253  
                                                                 
Total comprehensive income
            488,443                                                  
                                                                 
Acquisition of TD Waterhouse Group, Inc
    196,300       2,123,181       1,963       2,121,218                          
Dividend on common stock, $6.00 per share
          (2,442,780 )           (1,704,041 )     (738,739 )                  
Repurchases of common stock
    (3,827 )     (67,697 )                       (67,697 )            
Issuances of common stock
    3       72             29             43              
Options exercised, including tax benefit
    9,020       95,270             (24,125 )           119,395              
Deferred compensation
    71       549             196             643       (290 )      
Stock-based compensation expense
          14,329             14,329                          
                                                                 
Balance, September 29, 2006
    607,626       1,730,234       6,314       1,591,610       440,762       (312,410 )     662       3,296  
Net income
          645,900                   645,900                    
Net unrealized investment gain, net of $10,000 tax
          23                                     23  
Reclassification adjustment for realized gain on investment securities included in net income, net of $1.8 million tax
          (2,939 )                                   (2,939 )
Foreign currency translation
          230                                     230  
                                                                 
Total comprehensive income
            643,214                                                  
                                                                 
Repurchases of common stock
    (15,254 )     (258,637 )                       (258,637 )            
Issuances of common stock
    10       149             8             141              
Options exercised, including tax benefit
    2,204       20,881             (11,754 )           32,635              
Deferred compensation
    102       898             412             724       (238 )      
Stock-based compensation expense
          18,182             18,175                   7        
                                                                 
Balance, September 30, 2007
    594,688       2,154,921       6,314       1,598,451       1,086,662       (537,547 )     431       610  
Net income
          803,917                   803,917                    
Net unrealized investment loss, net of $0.6 million tax
          (1,028 )                                   (1,028 )
Reclassification adjustment for realized gain on investment securities included in net income, net of $0.2 million tax
          (340 )                                   (340 )
Foreign currency translation
          (112 )                                   (112 )
                                                                 
Total comprehensive income
            802,437                                                  
                                                                 
Cumulative effect of adopting Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48
          (4,167 )                 (4,167 )                  
Repurchases of common stock
    (4,123 )     (74,568 )                       (74,568 )            
Issuances of common stock
    3       52             13             39              
Options exercised, including tax benefit
    2,523       22,506             (8,594 )           31,100              
Deferred compensation
    40       187             167             312       (292 )      
Stock-based compensation expense
          23,670             23,663                   7        
                                                                 
Balance, September 30, 2008
    593,131     $ 2,925,038     $ 6,314     $ 1,613,700     $ 1,886,412     $ (580,664 )   $ 146     $ (870 )
                                                                 
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.


46


 

TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Years Ended September 30, 2008, September 30, 2007 and September 29, 2006
 
                         
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands)  
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
                       
Net income
  $ 803,917     $ 645,900     $ 526,759  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Depreciation and amortization
    36,899       26,237       21,199  
Amortization of acquired intangible assets
    59,275       54,469       42,286  
Deferred income taxes
    (96,238 )     20,564       45,475  
Gain on sale of investments
    (928 )     (5,881 )     (81,422 )
Gain on sale of businesses
          (2,677 )     (2,382 )
Loss (gain) on disposal of property
    5,145       657       (769 )
Losses on money market funds
    35,628              
Fair value adjustments of derivative instruments
    764       (3,193 )     9,988  
Stock-based compensation
    23,670       18,182       14,329  
Other, net
    (4 )     (2,346 )     (1,946 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                       
Cash and investments segregated in compliance with federal regulations
    (260,000 )     1,561,910       6,109,449  
Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
    2,572,619       (2,183,063 )     (997,662 )
Receivable from clients, net
    794,043       (757,135 )     685,055  
Receivable from/payable to affiliates, net
    (87,989 )     (54,014 )     31,939  
Other receivables, net
    10,920       (3,004 )     (10,481 )
Securities owned, at fair value
    (43,287 )     (10,939 )     (6,025 )
Proceeds from sale of broker-dealer investments in equity securities
          1,726        
Other assets
    (7,524 )     (126 )     27,664  
Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
    (2,632,270 )     1,364,387       526,103  
Payable to clients
    (242,905 )     (99,405 )     (6,314,596 )
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    23,681       6,507       (139,984 )
                         
Net cash provided by operating activities
    995,416       578,756       484,979  
                         
Cash flows from investing activities:
                       
Purchase of property and equipment
    (98,836 )     (59,957 )     (21,697 )
Cash and cash equivalents acquired in business combinations
    623,837             580,076  
Cash paid in business combinations
    (274,470 )     (3,307 )     (20 )
Proceeds from sale of businesses
          2,677       9,382  
Purchase of short-term investments
    (328,690 )     (507,050 )     (1,001,250 )
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments
    894,277       495,525       1,165,794  
Reclassification of money market funds to short-term investments
    (368,066 )            
Proceeds from sale of other investments available-for-sale
    5,226       10,402       11,239  
Purchase of other investments available-for-sale
    (1,069 )            
Other
    10       (16 )     18  
                         
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    452,219       (61,726 )     743,542  
                         
Cash flows from financing activities:
                       
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
                1,900,000  
Payment of debt issuance costs
          (1,245 )     (20,992 )
Principal payments on long-term debt and notes payable
    (34,375 )     (225,000 )     (496,625 )
Decrease in trust account deposits
    (1,097,808 )            
Principal payments on capital lease obligations
    (3,029 )     (3,764 )     (3,903 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    9,220       10,887       46,881  
Payment of cash dividend
                (2,442,780 )
Purchase of treasury stock
    (74,568 )     (258,637 )     (67,697 )
Excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation
    13,448       10,337       48,864  
                         
Net cash used in financing activities
    (1,187,112 )     (467,422 )     (1,036,252 )
                         
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (175 )     529       317  
                         
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    260,348       50,137       192,586  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    413,787       363,650       171,064  
                         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
  $ 674,135     $ 413,787     $ 363,650  
                         
Supplemental cash flow information:
                       
Interest paid
  $ 346,657     $ 575,925     $ 423,468  
Income taxes paid
  $ 463,379     $ 308,734     $ 241,163  
Tax benefit on exercises and distributions of stock-based compensation
  $ 13,517     $ 10,463     $ 49,256  
Noncash investing and financing activities:
                       
Issuance of capital lease obligations
  $     $     $ 5,022  
Settlement of prepaid variable forward contract liabilities in exchange for investment
  $     $     $ 72,077  
Issuance of common stock in acquisition
  $     $     $ 2,123,181  
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.


47


 

TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Years Ended September 30, 2008, September 30, 2007 and September 29, 2006
 
1.   Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Basis of Presentation — The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. On February 27, 2007, the Company’s board of directors approved changing the Company’s fiscal year-end to September 30. This change was effective for the Company’s fiscal year ended September 30, 2007. Previously, the Company reported on a fifty-two/fifty-three week fiscal year ending on the last Friday of September. Because the transition period was less than one month, no transition report was filed. Fiscal year 2006 was a fifty-two week year.
 
Nature of Operations — The Company provides securities brokerage services, including trade execution, clearing services and margin lending, through its broker-dealer subsidiaries. The Company provides trustee, custodial and other trust-related services to retirement plans and other custodial accounts through its state-chartered trust company subsidiaries. The Company also provides cash sweep products through third-party banking relationships. The Company’s broker-dealer subsidiaries are subject to regulation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and the various exchanges in which they maintain membership. Dividends from the Company’s broker-dealer and trust subsidiaries are a source of liquidity for the holding company. Requirements of the SEC and FINRA relating to liquidity, net capital standards and the use of client funds and securities may limit funds available for the payment of dividends from the broker-dealer subsidiaries to the holding company. State regulatory requirements may limit funds available for the payment of dividends from the trust subsidiaries to the holding company.
 
Capital Stock — The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of a single class of common stock and one or more series of preferred stock as may be authorized for issuance by the Company’s board of directors. Voting, dividend, conversion and liquidation rights of the preferred stock would be established by the board of directors upon issuance of such preferred stock.
 
Use of Estimates — The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Securities Transactions — Client securities transactions are recorded on a settlement-date basis with such transactions generally settling three business days after the trade date. Revenues and expenses related to securities transactions, including revenues from execution agents (also referred to as payment for order flow), are recorded on a trade-date basis. Revenues related to securities transactions are recorded net of promotional allowances. Securities owned by clients, including those that collateralize margin or similar transactions, are not reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
 
Depreciation and Amortization — Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis using estimated useful service lives of three to seven years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the economic useful life of the improvement or the term of the lease.
 
Amortization of Acquired Intangible Assets — Acquired intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, ranging from 10 to 23 years. The acquired intangible asset associated with a trademark license agreement is not subject to amortization because the term of the agreement is considered to be indefinite.
 
Long-Lived Assets and Acquired Intangible Assets — The Company reviews its long-lived assets and acquired intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such asset may not be recoverable. The Company evaluates recoverability by comparing the undiscounted cash


48


 

 
TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
flows associated with the asset to the asset’s carrying amount. Long-lived assets classified as “held for sale,” if any, are reported at the lesser of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents — The Company considers temporary, highly-liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents, except for amounts required to be segregated in compliance with federal regulations.
 
Cash and Investments Segregated in Compliance with Federal Regulations — Cash and investments segregated in compliance with federal regulations consist primarily of qualified deposits in special reserve bank accounts for the exclusive benefit of clients under Rule 15c3-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and other regulations.
 
Securities Borrowed and Securities Loaned — Securities borrowed and securities loaned transactions are recorded at the amount of cash collateral advanced or received. Securities borrowed transactions require the Company to provide the counterparty with collateral in the form of cash. The Company receives collateral in the form of cash for securities loaned transactions. For these transactions, the fees received or paid by the Company are recorded as interest revenue and brokerage interest expense, respectively, on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The related interest receivable from and the brokerage interest payable to broker-dealers are included in other receivables and in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments — The Company’s long-term debt had an estimated fair value based on quoted market prices of $1.35 billion and $1.46 billion as of September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, compared to a carrying value of $1.44 billion and $1.48 billion, respectively. The Company considers the amounts presented for other financial instruments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets to be reasonable estimates of fair value based on maturity dates, repricing characteristics and, where applicable, quoted market prices.
 
Goodwill — The Company has recorded goodwill for purchase business combinations to the extent the purchase price of each completed acquisition exceeded the fair value of the net identifiable assets of the acquired company. The Company tests goodwill for impairment on at least an annual basis. In performing the impairment tests, the Company utilizes quoted market prices of the Company’s common stock to estimate the fair value of the Company as a whole. The estimated fair value is then allocated to the Company’s reporting units, if applicable, based on operating revenues, and is compared with the carrying value of the reporting units. No impairment charges have resulted from the annual impairment tests.
 
Investments — The Company’s investments in marketable securities are carried at fair value and are designated as available-for-sale, except for securities owned by the Company’s broker-dealer subsidiaries, which are accounted for as trading investments. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investments, net of deferred income taxes, are reflected as accumulated other comprehensive income. Realized gains and losses on available-for-sale investments are determined on the specific identification method and are reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Unrealized gains and losses on securities accounted for as trading investments are reflected currently on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Investments in equity securities are accounted for under the equity method when the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence over the investee’s operating and financial policies. The cost method is used for non-marketable investments that do not meet equity method criteria. Declines in fair value of investments that are considered other than temporary are accounted for as realized losses.
 
Software Development — From the point technological feasibility has been established until beta testing is complete, software development costs are capitalized and included in property and equipment. Once the product is fully functional, such costs are amortized in accordance with the Company’s normal accounting policies. Software development costs that do not meet capitalization criteria are expensed as incurred.
 
Deferred Compensation — Company common stock held in a rabbi trust pursuant to a Company deferred compensation plan is recorded at the fair value of the stock at the time it is transferred to the rabbi trust and is


49


 

 
TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
classified as treasury stock. The corresponding deferred compensation liability is recorded as a component of stockholders’ equity.
 
Advertising — The Company expenses advertising costs the first time the advertising takes place.
 
Income Taxes — The Company files a consolidated U.S. income tax return with its subsidiaries on a calendar year basis, combined returns for state tax purposes where required and certain of its subsidiaries file separate state income tax returns where required. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the periods in which the deferred tax asset or liability is expected to be settled or realized. Uncertain tax positions are recognized to the extent they satisfy the criteria under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN No. 48”), which requires that an uncertain tax position be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. The amount of tax benefit recognized is the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement.
 
Earnings Per Share — Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock, except when such assumed exercise or conversion would have an antidilutive effect on EPS.
 
Stock-Based Compensation — Effective October 1, 2005, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (“No. 123R”) using a modified version of the prospective transition method. Under the transition method, compensation cost is recognized on or after the required effective date for the portion of outstanding awards for which the requisite service has not yet been rendered, based on the grant-date fair value of those awards calculated under SFAS No. 123 for either recognition or pro forma disclosures.
 
Foreign Currency Translation — Assets and liabilities of the Company’s Canadian subsidiary that are denominated in Canadian dollars are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate in effect at each period end. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate during the period. The functional currency of our Canadian subsidiary is the local currency; therefore, the effects of foreign currency translation adjustments arising from differences in exchange rates from period to period are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
Comprehensive Income (Loss) — Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income; unrealized gains (losses) on securities available-for-sale, net of related income taxes; and foreign currency translation adjustments. These results are incorporated into the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity.
 
Derivatives and Hedging Activities — The Company occasionally utilizes derivative instruments to manage risks, which may include market price, interest rate and foreign currency risks. The Company does not use derivative instruments for speculative or trading purposes. Derivatives are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as assets or liabilities at fair value. Derivative instruments properly designated to hedge exposure to changes in the fair value of assets or liabilities are accounted for as fair value hedges. Derivative instruments properly designated to hedge exposure to the variability of expected future cash flows or other forecasted transactions are accounted for as cash flow hedges. The Company formally documents the risk management objective and strategy for each hedge transaction. Derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets with unrealized gains and losses recorded currently on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company had no derivative instruments as of September 30, 2008.


50


 

 
TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
 
FIN No. 48 — In July 2006, the FASB issued FIN No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, which became effective for the Company on October 1, 2007. FIN No. 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement approach for a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return when there is uncertainty about whether that tax position will ultimately be sustained. The cumulative effect of adopting FIN No. 48 was a $4.2 million reduction to the beginning balance of retained earnings as of October 1, 2007. For additional information regarding the adoption of FIN No. 48, see Note 12 — Income Taxes.
 
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
 
SFAS No. 157 — In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements.  SFAS No. 157 clarifies the definition of fair value and the methods used to measure fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. Therefore, SFAS No. 157 will be effective for our fiscal year beginning October 1, 2008. Adoption of SFAS No. 157 is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
SFAS No. 141R — In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(revised 2007), Business Combinations.  SFAS No. 141R generally requires an acquirer to recognize the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, contingent purchase consideration and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at fair value on the date of acquisition. It also requires an acquirer to recognize as expense most transaction and restructuring costs as incurred, rather than include such items in the cost of the acquired entity. For the Company, SFAS No. 141R will apply prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after October 1, 2009. The Company will evaluate the impact of SFAS No. 141R on any potential future business combinations that may occur on or after the effective date.
 
2.   Business Combinations
 
On May 24, 2007, the Company and Fiserv, Inc. (“Fiserv”) entered into a stock purchase agreement pursuant to which a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company agreed to purchase a portion of Fiserv’s investment support services business by acquiring all of the outstanding capital stock of Fiserv Trust Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fiserv. Under the stock purchase agreement, the initial purchase price payable at closing was $225 million in cash plus Fiserv Trust Company’s regulatory capital, subject to pre- and post-closing adjustments. An additional earn-out payment of up to $100 million in cash could be payable following the first anniversary of the acquisition based on the achievement of revenue targets. The Company completed the transaction on February 4, 2008 for $272.6 million in cash, consisting of the $225 million initial purchase price plus $47.6 million for regulatory capital. At the closing, the Company and Fiserv entered into transition services agreements under which Fiserv agreed to service client accounts for up to six months (subject to extension) and to be compensated based on revenue earned during the term of the transition services agreements. Fiserv has agreed not to compete with the acquired business for three years, subject to certain exceptions. Each party’s indemnification obligations are generally limited to losses in excess of $3 million and less than $50 million. The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the results of operations for Fiserv Trust Company beginning February 5, 2008.
 
The preliminary purchase price for Fiserv Trust Company was comprised of the following (dollars in thousands):
 
         
Cash paid at closing
  $ 272,590  
Acquisition costs
    4,853  
Post-closing purchase price adjustments
    1,880  
         
Total preliminary purchase price
  $ 279,323  
         


51


 

 
TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The preliminary purchase price allocation for Fiserv Trust Company is summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
         
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 623,837  
Short-term investments
    498,787  
Goodwill
    175,295  
Acquired intangible assets
    70,524  
Other
    13,235  
         
Total assets acquired
    1,381,678  
         
Trust account deposits
    (1,097,808 )
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    (4,547 )
         
Total liabilities assumed
    (1,102,355 )
         
Total preliminary purchase price allocated
  $ 279,323  
         
 
Based on the results of an independent valuation, the Company allocated approximately $70.5 million of the purchase price to acquired intangible assets for the fair value of the Fiserv Trust Company client relationships, to be amortized over a 10-year period.
 
On January 24, 2006, the Company acquired TD Waterhouse Group, Inc. (“TD Waterhouse”), a Delaware corporation, pursuant to an Agreement of Sale and Purchase dated June 22, 2005, as amended (the “TDW Purchase Agreement”), with The Toronto-Dominion Bank (“TD”). The Company purchased from TD all of the capital stock of TD Waterhouse (the “Share Purchase”) in exchange for 196.3 million shares of Company common stock and $20,000 in cash. The shares of common stock issued to TD in the Share Purchase represented approximately 32.5% of the outstanding shares of the Company after giving effect to the transaction. The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the results of operations for TD Waterhouse beginning January 25, 2006. In addition, on January 24, 2006, the Company completed the sale of Ameritrade Canada, Inc. to TD for $60 million in cash. The Company agreed not to compete or own any portion of a business that competes with TD in Canada (including in the retail securities brokerage business) after the consummation of the Share Purchase. The Company also generally agreed not to operate an insured depository institution in competition with TD.
 
The purchase price for the acquisition of TD Waterhouse and the sale price for the sale of Ameritrade Canada were subject to cash adjustments based on the closing date balance sheets of the Company, TD Waterhouse and Ameritrade Canada. On May 5, 2006, the Company received approximately $45.9 million from TD for the settlement of cash adjustments related to the purchase of TD Waterhouse and the sale of Ameritrade Canada.
 
Prior to the consummation of the Share Purchase, TD Waterhouse conducted a reorganization in which it transferred its Canadian retail securities brokerage business and TD Bank USA, N.A. (formerly TD Waterhouse Bank, N.A.) to TD such that, at the time of consummation of the Share Purchase, TD Waterhouse retained only its United States retail securities brokerage business. TD Waterhouse also distributed to TD excess capital of TD Waterhouse prior to the consummation of the Share Purchase. As contemplated in the TDW Purchase Agreement, on January 24, 2006, the Company commenced payment of a special cash dividend of $6.00 per share in respect of the shares of Company common stock outstanding prior to the consummation of the Share Purchase. The total amount of the dividend was approximately $2.4 billion.
 
3.   Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets
 
The Company has recorded goodwill for purchase business combinations to the extent the purchase price of each completed acquisition exceeded the fair value of the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets of each


52


 

 
TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
acquired company. The following table summarizes changes in the carrying amount of goodwill (dollars in thousands):
 
         
Balance as of September 29, 2006
  $ 1,731,718  
Purchase accounting adjustments, net of income taxes(1)
    37,275  
Tax benefit of option exercises(2)
    (126 )
         
Balance as of September 30, 2007
    1,768,867  
Goodwill recorded in acquisition of Fiserv Trust Company
    175,295  
Purchase accounting adjustments, net of income taxes(3)
    3,009  
Tax benefit of option exercises(2)
    (69 )
         
Balance as of September 30, 2008
  $ 1,947,102  
         
 
 
(1) Purchase accounting adjustments for fiscal 2007 primarily consist of adjustments to liabilities for exit and involuntary termination costs relating to the acquisition of TD Waterhouse.
 
(2) Represents the tax benefit of exercises of replacement stock options that were issued in connection with the Datek Online Holdings Corp. (“Datek”) merger in fiscal 2002. The tax benefit of an option exercise is recorded as a reduction of goodwill to the extent the Company recorded fair value of the replacement option in the purchase accounting. To the extent any gain realized on an option exercise exceeds the fair value of the replacement option recorded in the purchase accounting, the tax benefit on the excess is recorded as additional paid-in capital.
 
(3) Purchase accounting adjustments for fiscal 2008 primarily consist of $6.2 million of net adjustments to accruals for uncertain tax positions relating to the acquisition of TD Waterhouse and the merger with Datek, partially offset by adjustments of $2.8 million (net of income taxes) decreasing exit liabilities related to the acquisition of TD Waterhouse.
 
Acquired intangible assets consist of the following (dollars in thousands):
 
                                                 
    September 30,  
    2008     2007  
    Gross
          Net
    Gross
          Net
 
    Carrying
    Accumulated
    Carrying
    Carrying
    Accumulated
    Carrying
 
    Amount     Amortization     Amount     Amount     Amortization     Amount  
 
Client relationships
  $ 1,062,046     $ (194,041 )   $ 868,005     $ 991,522     $ (134,766 )   $ 856,756  
Trademark license
    145,674             145,674       145,674             145,674  
                                                 
    $ 1,207,720     $ (194,041 )   $ 1,013,679     $ 1,137,196     $ (134,766 )   $ 1,002,430  
                                                 
 
Amortization expense on acquired intangible assets was $59.3 million, $54.5 million and $42.3 million for fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Company estimates amortization expense on acquired intangible assets outstanding as of September 30, 2008 will be approximately $61.6 million for each of the five succeeding fiscal years.


53


 

 
TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
4.   Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
The Company’s cash and cash equivalents is summarized in the following table (dollars in thousands):
 
                 
    September 30,  
    2008     2007  
 
Corporate
  $ 184,632     $ 220,975  
Broker-dealer subsidiaries
    418,626       183,103  
Trust company subsidiaries
    61,430       2,117  
Investment advisory subsidiaries
    9,447       7,592  
                 
Total
  $ 674,135     $ 413,787  
                 
 
Capital requirements may limit the amount of cash available for dividend from the broker-dealer and trust company subsidiaries to the parent company. Cash and cash equivalents of the investment advisory subsidiaries is generally not available for corporate purposes.
 
5.   Short-term Investments
 
Short-term investments consist of the following (dollars in thousands):
 
                 
    September 30,  
    2008     2007  
 
Money market mutual funds
  $ 368,066     $  
Federal National Mortgage Association discount notes
    1,067        
Auction rate securities
          76,800  
                 
Total short-term investments
  $ 369,133     $ 76,800  
                 
 
As of September 30, 2008, the Company had holdings with a fair value of approximately $585.5 million in the Primary Fund, a money market mutual fund managed by The Reserve, an independent mutual fund company. In September 2008, the net asset value of the Primary Fund declined below $1.00 per share and the fund announced it was liquidating under the supervision of the SEC. In order to facilitate an orderly liquidation, the SEC allowed the fund to suspend redemptions until the fund could liquidate portfolio securities without further impairing the net asset value. The Reserve later announced that it expected to complete a partial redemption of the Primary Fund during October 2008. As of September 30, 2008, the Company classified approximately $217.4 million of its Primary Fund holdings as cash and cash equivalents, based on its estimated share of the partial redemption. The remaining $368.1 million of the Company’s Primary Fund holdings was reclassified to short-term investments, due to uncertainty as to whether these holdings could be converted to cash within three months. On October 31, 2008, the Company received $301.4 million of cash as The Reserve redeemed approximately 51% of the shares of the fund. The Company recorded an impairment loss of $8.6 million during fiscal 2008 on its investment in the Primary Fund, which is included in losses on money market funds on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
 
Auction rate securities are long-term variable rate bonds tied to short-term interest rates that are reset through a “Dutch auction” process, which occurs every seven to 35 days. Holders of auction rate securities may liquidate their holdings to prospective buyers by participating in the auctions. Auction rate securities do not qualify as cash equivalents because they have long-term maturity dates and there is no guarantee that holders will be able to liquidate their holdings through the auction process. During fiscal 2008, the Dutch auction process failed and holders were no longer able to liquidate their holdings through the auction process. As of September 30, 2008, the Company had $10 million invested in auction rate securities, which has been reclassified to other investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets due to the failure of the auctions.


54


 

 
TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
6.   Receivable from and Payable to Brokers, Dealers and Clearing Organizations
 
Amounts receivable from and payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations consist of the following (dollars in thousands):
 
                 
    September 30,  
    2008     2007  
 
Receivable:
               
Deposits paid for securities borrowed
  $ 3,703,360     $ 6,534,760  
Broker-dealers
    33,610       32,156  
Clearing organizations
    413,158       93,630  
Securities failed to deliver
    26,841       89,042  
                 
Total
  $ 4,176,969     $ 6,749,588  
                 
Payable:
               
Deposits received for securities loaned
  $ 5,685,133     $ 8,289,353  
Broker-dealers
    8,228       26,816  
Clearing organizations
    22,418       49,667  
Securities failed to receive
    38,947       21,152  
                 
Total
  $ 5,754,726     $ 8,386,988  
                 
 
7.   Allowance for Doubtful Accounts on Receivables
 
The following table summarizes activity in the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts on client and other receivables for the fiscal years indicated (dollars in thousands):
 
                         
    2008     2007     2006  
 
Beginning balance
  $ 19,120     $ 20,290     $ 12,925  
Provision for doubtful accounts
    9,780       5,273       2,647  
Acquired in business combinations
    401             8,795  
Write-off of doubtful accounts
    (6,819 )     (6,443 )     (4,077 )
                         
Ending balance
  $ 22,482     $ 19,120     $ 20,290  
                         
 
8.   Property and Equipment
 
Property and equipment consists of the following (dollars in thousands):
 
                 
    September 30,  
    2008     2007  
 
Leasehold improvements
  $ 58,495     $ 35,348  
Software
    46,016       94,444  
Computer equipment
    88,031       48,766  
Other equipment, furniture and fixtures
    36,059       32,214  
                 
      228,601       210,772  
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (75,393 )     (118,324 )
                 
Property and equipment, net
  $ 153,208     $ 92,448  
                 


55


 

 
TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
9.   Other Investments
 
The Company’s other investments are summarized in the following table (dollars in thousands):
 
                 
    September 30,  
    2008     2007  
 
Available-for-sale investments, at fair value:
               
Marketable equity securities
  $ 2,094     $ 4,232  
Auction rate securities
    10,000        
                 
Total available-for-sale investments
    12,094       4,232  
                 
Other investments, at cost
    674       3,781  
                 
Total other investments
  $ 12,768     $ 8,013  
                 
 
Available-for-sale investments in marketable equity securities included gross unrealized losses of $1.6 million as of September 30, 2008 and gross unrealized gains of $0.5 million as of September 30, 2007, which are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
10.   Acquisition Exit Liabilities
 
The Company has recorded exit liabilities associated with acquisitions, which are included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These exit liabilities consist principally of severance pay and other termination benefits and contract termination costs. The following is a summary of the activity in the Company’s acquisition exit liabilities (dollars in thousands):
 
                                                 
    Employee
    Clearing and
          Occupancy
    Professional
       
    Compensation     Execution     Communications     and Equipment     Services     Total  
 
Balance, Sept. 30, 2005
  $ 121     $     $     $ 3,217     $     $ 3,338  
Fiscal 2006 activity:
                                               
Exit costs recorded
    59,335       10,073             46,936       1,734       118,078  
Utilized
    (32,780 )                 (26,985 )     (400 )     (60,165 )
                                                 
Balance, Sept. 29, 2006
    26,676       10,073             23,168       1,334       61,251  
Fiscal 2007 activity:
                                               
Exit costs recorded
    20,569       579       57       3,393       9,674       34,272  
Utilized
    (38,408 )     (3,851 )     (57 )     (4,121 )     (8,103 )     (54,540 )
Adjustments
    (1,447 )     (1,801 )           (1,401 )     (2,674 )     (7,323 )
                                                 
Balance, Sept. 30, 2007
    7,390       5,000             21,039       231       33,660  
Fiscal 2008 activity:
                                               
Exit costs recorded
                            649       649  
Utilized
    (4,815 )     (5,000 )           (3,912 )     (880 )     (14,607 )
Adjustments
                      (4,385 )           (4,385 )
                                                 
Balance, Sept. 30, 2008
  $ 2,575     $     $     $ 12,742     $     $ 15,317  
                                                 
 
The exit costs recorded during fiscal 2006 relate to the acquisition of TD Waterhouse described in Note 2. The exit costs recorded during fiscal 2007 relate to purchase accounting adjustments for the acquisition of TD Waterhouse. The exit costs recorded during fiscal 2008 relate to the acquisition of Fiserv Trust Company described in Note 2. Adjustments to purchase accounting estimates arising prior to January 24, 2007 (the one-year anniversary of the TD Waterhouse acquisition) are reflected in the “exit costs recorded” row as adjustments to the cost of


56


 

 
TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
acquiring TD Waterhouse, and therefore adjusted the amount of goodwill recorded. Adjustments arising on or after January 24, 2007 are reflected in the “adjustments” rows.
 
Employee compensation exit liabilities are expected to be paid over contractual periods ending in fiscal 2013. Remaining occupancy and equipment exit liabilities are expected to be utilized over the related lease periods through fiscal 2016.
 
11.   Credit Facilities
 
The Company entered into a credit agreement on January 23, 2006 for $2.2 billion in senior credit facilities with a syndicate of lenders under an unregistered private placement. The senior credit facilities include: (a) a senior secured term loan facility in the aggregate principal amount of $250 million (the “Term A Facility”), (b) a senior secured term loan facility in the aggregate principal amount of $1.65 billion (the “Term B Facility”) and (c) a senior secured revolving credit facility in the aggregate principal amount of $300 million (the “Revolving Facility”) (together, the “Financings”). The maturity date of the Term A Facility is December 31, 2011. The maturity date of the Term B Facility is December 31, 2012. The maturity date of the Revolving Facility is December 31, 2010. The Financings are subject to certain mandatory prepayments, which include prepayments based on leverage ratios and amounts of excess cash flow and from the net cash proceeds of asset sales and debt issuances, subject to certain exceptions. Under the terms of the Financings, the Company may prepay borrowings without penalty.
 
The Company used $1.6 billion of the proceeds from the Term A Facility and Term B Facility to fund a portion of the $6.00 per share special cash dividend paid in connection with the acquisition of TD Waterhouse and $300 million for working capital purposes. No initial borrowings were made on the Revolving Facility, which was established for general corporate purposes.
 
The applicable interest rate under the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility is calculated as a per annum rate equal to, at the Company’s option, (a) LIBOR plus an interest rate margin (“LIBOR loans”) or (b) (i) the greater of (x) the prime rate or (y) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% plus (ii) an interest rate margin (“Base Rate loans”). With respect to the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility the interest rate margin for LIBOR loans is 1.50% if the consolidated leverage ratio (as defined in the Financings) of the Company is 1.75 to 1.00 or higher, 1.25% if the consolidated leverage ratio of the Company is less than 1.75 to 1.00 but greater than or equal to 1.00 to 1.00, and 1.00% if the consolidated leverage ratio of the Company is less than 1.00 to 1.00. The interest rate margin for Base Rate loans under the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility is 1.00% less than the interest rate margin for LIBOR loans. The applicable interest rate under the Term B Facility is calculated as a per annum rate equal to (a) LIBOR plus 1.50% or (b) (i) the greater of (x) the prime rate or (y) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% plus (ii) 0.50%. On September 30, 2008, the applicable interest rates on the Term A Facility and the Term B Facility were 4.70% and 5.20%, respectively, based on 30-day LIBOR. As of September 30, 2008 and 2007, the Company had outstanding indebtedness of approximately $0.2 billion and $1.3 billion under the Term A Facility and Term B Facility, respectively. There were no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Facility as of September 30, 2008 and 2007. The Financings also provide that the Company is obligated to pay from time to time letter of credit fees equal to the applicable margin in respect of LIBOR advances on each outstanding letter of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility. In addition, the Financings provide that the Company pays fees to the issuing bank in respect of the Letters of Credit in an amount agreed to by the Company and the issuing bank. A commitment fee at the rate of 0.375% per annum accrues on any unused amount of the Revolving Facility.
 
The obligations under the Financings are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries, other than broker-dealer subsidiaries, with certain exceptions, and are secured by a lien on substantially all of the assets of each guarantor, including a pledge of the ownership interests in each first-tier broker-dealer subsidiary held by a guarantor and 65% of the ownership interests in each first-tier foreign subsidiary held by a guarantor, with certain exceptions.
 
The Financings contain covenants that limit or restrict the incurrence of liens, investments (including acquisitions), sales of assets, indebtedness and mergers and consolidations, subject to certain exceptions. The


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TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Financings also restrict the payment of dividends on the Company’s outstanding capital stock and repurchases or redemptions of the Company’s outstanding capital stock, subject to certain exceptions. The Company is also required to maintain compliance with a maximum consolidated leverage ratio covenant and a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio covenant, and the Company’s broker-dealer subsidiaries are required to maintain compliance with a minimum regulatory net capital covenant. The Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Financings as of September 30, 2008.
 
During fiscal 2007, the Company entered into two amendments to its January 23, 2006 credit agreement to allow the Company to repurchase additional shares of its outstanding common stock and to change its fiscal year end to September 30. The Company paid approximately $1.2 million of additional debt issuance costs to effect the amendments.
 
Fiscal year maturities on long-term debt outstanding at September 30, 2008 are as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
         
2009
  $ 37,500  
2010
    56,250  
2011
    62,500  
2012
    21,875  
2013
    1,265,875  
         
Total
  $ 1,444,000  
         
 
The Company, through its wholly-owned broker-dealer subsidiaries, had access to secured uncommitted credit facilities with financial institutions of up to $630 million as of September 30, 2008 and 2007. The broker-dealer subsidiaries also had access to unsecured uncommitted credit facilities of up to $150 million as of September 30, 2008 and 2007. The financial institutions may make loans under line of credit arrangements or, in some cases, issue letters of credit under these facilities. The secured credit facilities require the Company to pledge qualified client securities to secure outstanding obligations under these facilities. Borrowings under the secured and unsecured credit facilities bear interest at a variable rate based on the federal funds rate. Covenants under the Financings limit the broker-dealer subsidiaries to an aggregate outstanding principal balance of $1.0 billion in borrowings on uncommitted lines of credit. There were no borrowings outstanding or letters of credit issued under the secured or unsecured credit facilities as of September 30, 2008 and 2007. As of September 30, 2008 and 2007, approximately $780 million was available to the Company’s broker-dealer subsidiaries pursuant to uncommitted credit facilities for either loans or, in some cases, letters of credit.
 
12.   Income Taxes
 
Provision for income taxes is comprised of the following for fiscal years indicated (dollars in thousands):
 
                         
    2008     2007     2006  
 
Current expense:
                       
Federal
  $ 505,270     $ 324,315     $ 242,511  
State
    50,196       43,630       42,392  
Foreign
    357       294       168  
                         
      555,823       368,239       285,071  
                         
Deferred (benefit) expense:
                       
Federal
    (76,843 )     15,296       35,518  
State
    (19,395 )     5,268       9,225  
Foreign
                732  
                         
      (96,238 )     20,564       45,475  
                         
Provision for income taxes
  $ 459,585     $ 388,803     $ 330,546  
                         


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TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
A reconciliation of the federal statutory tax rate to the effective tax rate applicable to pre-tax income follows for the fiscal years indicated:
 
                         
    2008     2007     2006  
 
Federal statutory rate
    35.0 %     35.0 %     35.0 %
State taxes, net of federal tax effect
    2.6       3.2       4.0  
Adjustments to estimated state income taxes
    (0.9 )            
Reversal of accruals for contingent tax liabilities, net
    (0.2 )     (0.4 )     (0.3 )
Other
    (0.1 )     (0.2 )     (0.1 )
                         
      36.4 %     37.6 %     38.6 %
                         
 
The Company’s effective income tax rate for fiscal year 2008 was 36.4%, compared to 37.6% and 38.6% for fiscal years 2007 and 2006, respectively. The provision for income taxes for fiscal year 2008 was lower due to $7.2 million (net of the federal benefit) of favorable resolutions of state income tax matters and $11.1 million (net of the federal benefit) of adjustments to current and deferred income taxes resulting from a revision to estimated state income tax expense. The revision was based on the Company’s actual state income tax returns filed for calendar year 2006 and similar adjustments applied to estimated state income tax rates for calendar year 2007 and future years. These items favorably impacted the Company’s earnings for fiscal year 2008 by approximately $0.03 per share.
 
Deferred tax assets (liabilities) are comprised of the following (dollars in thousands):
 
                 
    September 30,  
    2008     2007  
 
Deferred tax assets:
               
Accrued liabilities
  $ 86,369     $ 36,381  
Intangible assets, state tax benefit
    28,866       6,066  
Stock-based compensation
    15,350       16,522  
Allowance for doubtful accounts
    7,327       7,075  
Unrealized investment losses
    575        
Unrealized tax gain on MMDA agreement
    90,497       6,942  
Operating loss carryforwards
    17,048       9,503  
                 
Gross deferred tax assets
    246,032       82,489  
Less: Valuation allowance
    (16,516 )     (9,453 )
                 
Net deferred tax assets
    229,516       73,036  
                 
Deferred tax liabilities:
               
Property and intangible assets
    (375,243 )     (385,328 )
Unrealized investment gains
          (200 )
Other deferred tax liabilities
    (3,646 )     (2,045 )
                 
Total deferred tax liabilities
    (378,889 )     (387,573 )
                 
Net deferred tax liabilities
  $ (149,373 )   $ (314,537 )
                 
 
Included in deferred tax assets above as of September 30, 2008 is approximately $17.2 million of deferred tax benefits relating to intangible asset amortization deductions expected to be claimed in various state taxing jurisdictions, which may not be offset by deferred tax liabilities arising from different taxing jurisdictions on


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TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
the Consolidated Balance Sheets. This amount is presented separately as an asset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
At September 30, 2008, subsidiaries of the Company have approximately $322 million of separate state operating loss carryforwards, which expire between fiscal 2013 and 2015. Because the realization of the tax benefit from state loss carryforwards is dependent on certain subsidiaries generating sufficient state taxable income in future periods, the Company has provided a valuation allowance against the computed benefit in order to reflect the tax benefit expected to be realized. The increase in the valuation allowance of approximately $7.1 million from September 30, 2007 to September 30, 2008 was due to additional net operating losses generated at the separate subsidiaries, and was charged to income tax expense.
 
Effective October 1, 2007, the Company adopted FIN No. 48. The cumulative effect of adopting FIN No. 48 was a $4.2 million reduction to the beginning balance of retained earnings as of October 1, 2007. The total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits as of October 1, 2007 was $135.1 million ($89.6 million net of the federal benefit on state matters), of which $73.3 million (net of the federal benefit on state matters) represents the amount that, if recognized, would favorably affect the effective income tax rate in any future periods.
 
A reconciliation of the activity related to unrecognized tax benefits follows (dollars in thousands):
 
         
Balance as of October 1, 2007
  $ 135,096  
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year
    103,409  
Additions for tax positions of prior years
    555  
Reductions for tax positions of prior years
    (77 )
Reductions due to settlements with taxing authorities
    (11,082 )
Reductions due to lapsed statute of limitations
    (876 )
         
Balance as of September 30, 2008
  $ 227,025  
         
 
The balance of unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2008 was $227.0 million ($176.3 million net of the federal benefit on state matters), of which $79.5 million (net of the federal benefit on state matters) represents the amount that, if recognized, would favorably affect the effective income tax rate in any future periods. The Company’s income tax returns are subject to review and examination by federal, state and local taxing authorities. The federal returns for 2005 through 2007 remain open under the statute of limitations and are subject to examination. The years open to examination by state and local government authorities vary by jurisdiction, but the statute of limitations is generally three to four years from the date the tax return is filed. It is reasonably possible that the gross unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2008 could decrease by up to $26.1 million ($18.6 net of the federal benefit on state matters) within the next twelve months as a result of settlements of certain examinations or expiration of the statute of limitations with respect to other tax filings.
 
The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters as part of the provision for income taxes on the Consolidated Statements of Income. As of October 1, 2007, accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits was $18.1 million. During fiscal 2008, the Company recorded additional interest of $2.5 million. As of September 30, 2008, accrued interest and penalties included in current income taxes payable was $20.6 million.
 
13.   Capital Requirements
 
The Company’s broker-dealer subsidiaries are subject to the SEC Uniform Net Capital Rule (Rule 15c3-1 under the Exchange Act), which requires the maintenance of minimum net capital, as defined. Net capital is calculated for each broker-dealer subsidiary individually. Excess net capital of one broker-dealer subsidiary may not be used to offset a net capital deficiency of another broker-dealer subsidiary. Net capital and the related net capital requirement may fluctuate on a daily basis.


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TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION