CBOE 3.31.2012 10Q
Table of Contents

 
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q

T QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012
OR
£ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from              to             
Commission File No.  001-34774
CBOE HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
 
20-5446972
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
 
400 South LaSalle Street 
Chicago, Illinois
 
60605
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code
(312) 786-5600

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 S   No £
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes S   No  £
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 S
 
Accelerated filer £
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer £
 
Smaller reporting company £
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes £   No  S
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:
Class
 
April 16, 2012
Unrestricted Common Stock, par value $0.01
 
  87,449,029 shares
 



Table of Contents

CBOE HOLDINGS, INC.
INDEX

 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 





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CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS
 
Throughout this document, unless otherwise specified or the context so requires:
"CBOE Holdings" refers to CBOE Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries after the completion of the restructuring transaction, which occurred on June 18, 2010.
"CBOE" or the "Exchange" refers to (1) prior to the completion of the restructuring transaction, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated, a Delaware non-stock corporation, and (2) after the completion of the restructuring transaction, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated, a Delaware stock corporation. CBOE became a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBOE Holdings, Inc. on June 18, 2010.
"C2" refers to C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated, which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBOE Holdings, Inc. on June 18, 2010.
"CFE" refers to CBOE Futures Exchange, LLC, which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBOE Holdings, Inc. on June 18, 2010.
"CFTC" refers to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
"Member" or "Members" refers to, prior to the completion of the restructuring transaction, any person or organization (or any designee of any organization) that held a membership in the CBOE.
"Our exchanges" refers to CBOE, C2 and CFE.
The "restructuring transaction" refers to the transaction on June 18, 2010, in which CBOE converted from a Delaware non-stock corporation owned by its Members to a Delaware stock corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBOE Holdings, a Delaware stock corporation.
"SEC" refers to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
"SPX" refers to our a.m. settled S&P 500 exchange traded option.
"We," "us," "our" or "the Company" refers to (1) prior to the completion of the restructuring transaction, CBOE, and, as the context may require, CBOE Holdings, and (2) after the completion of the restructuring transaction, CBOE Holdings and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
"VIX" refers to the CBOE VIX methodology.
References to "options" or "options contracts" in the text of this document refer to exchange-traded options and references to "futures" refer to futures contracts or options on futures.



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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may," "might," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue," and the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. All statements that reflect our expectations, assumptions or projections about the future other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." These forward-looking statements, which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from that expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In particular, you should consider the risks and uncertainties described under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our other filings with the SEC.
 
While we believe we have identified material risks, these risks and uncertainties are not exhaustive. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include:
the loss of our exclusive licenses to list certain index options;
decreases in the amount of trading volumes or a shift in the mix of products traded on our exchanges;
compliance with legal and regulatory obligations;
increasing competition by foreign and domestic entities, including increased competition from new entrants into our markets and consolidation of existing entities;
increasing price competition;
our ability to maintain access fee revenues;
economic, political and market conditions;
our ability to operate our business without violating the intellectual property rights of others and the costs associated with protecting our intellectual property rights;
our ability to accommodate increases in trading volume and order transaction traffic without failure or degradation of performance of our systems;
our ability to protect our systems and communication networks from security risks, including cyber attacks;
our ability to attract and retain skilled management and other personnel;
our ability to maintain our growth effectively;
our dependence on third party service providers; and
the ability of our compliance and risk management methods to effectively monitor and manage our risks.

For a detailed discussion of these and other factors that might affect our performance, see Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our other filings with the SEC. We caution you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this filing.


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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

CBOE Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
2012
 
2011
 
 
 
(unaudited)
 
Operating Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
Transaction fees
 
$
84,835

 
$
89,939

 
Access fees
 
15,980

 
17,605

 
Exchange services and other fees
 
7,449

 
4,690

 
Market data fees
 
6,373

 
5,102

 
Regulatory fees
 
4,696

 
4,958

 
Other revenue
 
2,059

 
1,748

 
Total Operating Revenues
 
121,392

 
124,042

 
Operating Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
Employee costs
 
25,290

 
25,736

 
Depreciation and amortization
 
8,320

 
8,696

 
Data processing
 
4,899

 
4,428

 
Outside services
 
7,170

 
6,579

 
Royalty fees
 
11,191

 
11,146

 
Trading volume incentives
 
2,649

 
5,759

 
Travel and promotional expenses
 
2,167

 
1,685

 
Facilities costs
 
1,303

 
1,492

 
Other expenses
 
988

 
986

 
Total Operating Expenses
 
63,977

 
66,507

 
Operating Income
 
57,415

 
57,535

 
Other Income/(Expense):
 
 
 
 
 
Investment income
 
23

 
42

 
Net loss from investment in affiliates
 
(476
)
 
(460
)
 
Interest and other borrowing costs
 

 
(225
)
 
Total Other Income/(Expense)
 
(453
)
 
(643
)
 
Income Before Income Taxes
 
56,962

 
56,892

 
Income tax provision
 
23,545

 
24,021

 
Net Income
 
33,417

 
32,871

 
Net income allocated to participating securities
 
(554
)
 
(782
)
 
Net Income Allocated to Common Stockholders
 
$
32,863

 
$
32,089

 
Net Income Per Share Allocated to Common Stockholders (Note 4):
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.37

 
$
0.36

 
Diluted
 
0.37

 
0.36

 
Weighted average shares used in computing income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
88,146

 
90,085

 
Diluted
 
88,146

 
90,085

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

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CBOE Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011



 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)
2012
 
2011
 
(unaudited)
Net Income
$
33,417

 
$
32,871

 
 
 
 
Comprehensive Income (Loss) - net of tax:
 
 
 
Post retirement benefit obligation
(37
)
 
34

 
 
 
 
Comprehensive Income
33,380

 
32,905

Comprehensive Income allocated to participating securities
(554
)
 
(782
)
Comprehensive Income allocated to common stockholders
$
32,826

 
$
32,123


See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements




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CBOE Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except share amounts)
 
March 31,
2012
 
December 31,
2011
 
 
(unaudited)
 
 
Assets
 
 

 
 

Current Assets:
 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
148,629

 
$
134,936

Restricted cash
 
240

 

Accounts receivable—net allowances of $316 and $304
 
48,438

 
37,578

Marketing fee receivable
 
9,421

 
5,195

Income taxes receivable
 
361

 
6,756

Other prepaid expenses
 
6,844

 
4,152

Other current assets
 
941

 
1,065

Total Current Assets
 
214,874

 
189,682

Investments in Affiliates
 
14,222

 
14,305

Land
 
4,914

 
4,914

Property and Equipment:
 
 
 
 

Construction in progress
 
3,579

 
1,264

Building
 
60,917

 
60,917

Furniture and equipment
 
254,209

 
252,905

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
 
(242,078
)
 
(238,288
)
Total Property and Equipment—Net
 
76,627

 
76,798

Other Assets:
 
 

 
 

Software development work in progress
 
8,691

 
6,168

Data processing software and other assets (less accumulated amortization of $124,537 and $121,173)
 
34,113

 
36,001

Total Other Assets—Net
 
42,804

 
42,169

Total
 
$
353,441

 
$
327,868

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
 
 

 
 

Current Liabilities:
 
 

 
 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
$
35,305

 
$
46,071

Marketing fee payable
 
10,007

 
5,765

Deferred revenue
 
20,405

 
351

Post-retirement medical benefits
 
77

 
100

Income taxes payable
 
16,845

 

Total Current Liabilities
 
82,639

 
52,287

Long-term Liabilities:
 
 

 
 

Post-retirement medical benefits
 
1,839

 
1,781

Income taxes payable
 
13,574

 
12,185

Other long-term liabilities
 
3,881

 
3,906

Deferred income taxes
 
20,306

 
21,439

Total Long-term Liabilities
 
39,600

 
39,311

Commitments and Contingencies
 


 


Total Liabilities
 
122,239

 
91,598

Stockholders’ Equity:
 
 

 
 

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: 20,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011
 

 

Unrestricted common stock, $0.01 par value: 325,000,000 shares authorized; 90,781,335 issued and 87,619,957 outstanding at March 31, 2012; 90,781,222 issued and 88,768,885 outstanding at December 31, 2011
 
908

 
908

Additional paid-in-capital
 
58,408

 
55,469

Retained earnings
 
254,793

 
232,121

Treasury stock at cost – 3,161,378 shares at March 31, 2012 and 2,012,337 shares at December 31, 2011
 
(81,971
)
 
(51,329
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(936
)
 
(899
)
Total Stockholders’ Equity
 
231,202

 
236,270

Total
 
$
353,441

 
$
327,868

 See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

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CBOE Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity
(Unaudited)

(in thousands)
 
Preferred
Stock
 
Unrestricted
Common
Stock
 
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Treasury
Stock
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
Balance—January 1, 2012
 
$

 
$
908

 
$
55,469

 
$
232,121

 
$
(51,329
)
 
$
(899
)
 
$
236,270

Cash dividends on common stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(10,745
)
 
 
 
 
 
(10,745
)
Stock based compensation
 
 
 
 
 
2,939

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2,939

Issuance of vested restricted stock granted to employees
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Purchase of unrestricted common stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(30,642
)
 
 
 
(30,642
)
Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
33,417

 
 
 
 
 
33,417

Post-retirement benefit obligation adjustment—net of tax expense of $6
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(37
)
 
(37
)
Balance—March 31, 2012
 
$

 
$
908

 
$
58,408

 
$
254,793

 
$
(81,971
)
 
$
(936
)
 
$
231,202

 
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements
 
 


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CBOE Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011
 
 
Three Months Ended
(in thousands)
 
March 31, 2012
 
March 31, 2011
 
 
(unaudited)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
33,417

 
$
32,871

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
8,320

 
8,696

Other amortization
 
22

 
22

Provision for deferred income taxes
 
(1,152
)
 
2,385

Stock-based compensation
 
2,939

 
3,413

Loss on disposition of property
 

 
160

Loss on investment of affiliate
 
476

 

Impairment of investment in affiliate
 

 
460

Change in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Restricted cash
 
(240
)
 

Accounts receivable
 
(10,860
)
 
(9,269
)
Marketing fee receivable
 
(4,226
)
 
(733
)
Income taxes receivable
 
6,395

 
5,537

Prepaid expenses
 
(2,692
)
 
(2,422
)
Other current assets
 
124

 
(165
)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
(11,680
)
 
(7,737
)
Marketing fee payable
 
4,241

 
752

Deferred revenue and other long-term liabilities
 
20,029

 
28,298

Post-retirement benefit obligations
 
(4
)
 
(1
)
Income taxes payable
 
18,234

 
15,957

Net Cash Flows provided by Operating Activities
 
63,343

 
78,224

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
 
 
 
 
Capital and other assets expenditures
 
(7,869
)
 
(7,134
)
Investment in affiliates
 
(394
)
 

Other
 

 
38

Net Cash Flows used in Investing Activities
 
(8,263
)
 
(7,096
)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
 
 
 
 
Payment of quarterly dividends
 
(10,745
)
 
(9,228
)
Purchase of unrestricted stock from employees
 
(1
)
 

Purchase of unrestricted common stock
 
(30,641
)
 

Net Cash Flows used in Financing Activities
 
(41,387
)
 
(9,228
)
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
13,693

 
61,900

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period
 
134,936

 
53,789

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period
 
$
148,629

 
$
115,689

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
 
 
 
 
Cash paid for income taxes
 
$
67

 
$
142

Non-cash activities:
 
 
 
 
Unpaid liability to acquire equipment and software
 
2,453

 
2,747

Unpaid liability for investment in IPXI Holdings, Inc.
 
 
 
 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

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CBOE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011
(unaudited)

NOTE 1 —DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

CBOE Holdings is the holding company of registered securities exchanges, subject to oversight by the SEC, and of a designated contract market subject to the oversight of the CFTC.
 
The primary business of the Company is the operation of markets for the trading of listed options contracts on three broad product categories: 1) the stocks of individual corporations (equity options), 2) various market indexes (index options) and 3) other exchange-traded products such as exchange-traded funds (ETF options) and exchange-traded notes (ETN options). We also offer futures and options on futures products through a futures market. The Company owns and operates three stand-alone exchanges, but reports the results of its operations in one reporting segment. CBOE is our largest exchange by volume and offers trading for listed options through a single system that integrates electronic trading and traditional open outcry trading on our trading floor in Chicago. This integration of electronic trading and traditional open outcry trading into a single market is known as our Hybrid trading model. C2 our all-electronic exchange also offers trading for listed options, but with a different market model and fee schedule than CBOE. Finally, CFE, our all-electronic futures exchange, offers futures and options on futures on the CBOE Volatility Index (the VIX Index), as well as on other products. All of our exchanges operate on our proprietary technology platform known as CBOEdirect.

NOTE 2 — BASIS OF PRESENTATION

These interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of operating revenues and expenses. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to matters that require a significant level of judgment or are otherwise subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. These estimates are based on management’s knowledge and judgments, historical experience and observance of trends in particular matters. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows at the dates and for the periods presented have been included. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the full year.

NOTE 3 — SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

On August 2, 2011, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had approved a share repurchase program that authorizes the Company to purchase up to $100.0 million of its unrestricted common stock. The program permits the Company to purchase shares through a variety of methods, including in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, in accordance with applicable securities laws. It does not obligate the Company to make any repurchases at any specific time or situation.

For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company purchased 1,149,000 shares of unrestricted common stock at an average cost per share of $26.67 totaling $30.6 million in purchases under the program.

Since the program began in August 2011 through March 31, 2012, the Company has purchased 2,985,000 shares of unrestricted common stock at an average cost per share of $26.01 totaling $77.6 million in purchases under the program.

NOTE 4 — NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE
The unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, whether paid or unpaid, are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of net income per common share

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pursuant to the two-class method. Our restricted stock awards granted to officers, directors and employees on June 15, 2010 qualify as participating securities.
The Company computes net income per common share using the two-class method, which is an allocation formula that determines the net income for common shares and participating securities. Under the authoritative guidance, the presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share is required for each class of common stock and not for participating securities. As such, the Company presents basic and diluted net income per share for its one class of common stock.
 The computation of basic net income allocated to common stockholders is calculated by reducing net income for the period by dividends paid or declared and undistributed net income for the period that are allocated to the participating securities to arrive at net income allocated to common stockholders. Net income allocated to common stockholders is divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period to determine basic net income per common share.

The dilutive effect of participating securities is calculated using the more dilutive of the treasury stock or the two-class method. Diluted net income per common share is calculated by dividing net income allocated to common stockholders by the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus all additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the potentially dilutive common shares had been issued.
 
The following table reconciles net income allocated to common stockholders and the number of shares used to calculate the basic and diluted net income per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:

 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
2012
 
2011
 
Basic EPS Numerator:
 
 
 
 
 
Net Income
 
$
33,417

 
$
32,871

 
Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities
 
(554
)
 
(782
)
 
Net Income allocated to common stockholders
 
$
32,863

 
$
32,089

 
Basic EPS Denominator:
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding
 
88,146

 
90,085

 
Basic net income per common share
 
$
0.37

 
$
0.36

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted EPS Numerator:
 
 
 
 
 
Net Income
 
$
33,417

 
$
32,871

 
Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities
 
(554
)
 
(782
)
 
Net Income allocated to common stockholders
 
$
32,863

 
$
32,089

 
Diluted EPS Denominator:
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding
 
88,146

 
90,085

 
Dilutive common shares issued under restricted stock program
 

 

 
Diluted net income per common share
 
$
0.37

 
$
0.36

 

NOTE 5 — STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock-based compensation is based on the fair value of the award on the date of grant, which is recognized over the related service period, net of estimated forfeitures. The service period is the period over which the related service is performed, which is generally the same as the vesting period.
 
For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company recognized $2.9 million and $3.4 million of stock-based compensation expense, which includes accelerated stock-based compensation expense of $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively. For both periods the accelerated amounts resulted from departures of members of the board of directors. In 2012, two members of the board of directors will depart the board after the annual meeting in June 2012, however, the Company expects to replace these board members. In 2011, three members of the board of directors left the board based on a determination by the board of directors to decrease its size by three directors. Stock-based compensation expense is included in employee costs in the condensed consolidated statements of income.
 

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As of March 31, 2012, the Company had unrecognized stock-based compensation of $25.7 million related to outstanding restricted stock.  The remaining unrecognized stock-based compensation is expected to be recognized over the next 26.5 months. The Company is projecting a forfeiture rate of 5%.

The activity in the Company’s restricted stock for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was as follows:

 
 
 
Number of Shares
of Restricted
Stock
 
Weighted Average
Grant-Date Fair
Value
 
Unvested restricted stock at January 1, 2012
 
1,252,239

 
$
29.00

 
Granted
 

 

 
Vested
 
(113
)
 
29.00

 
Forfeited
 
(40,609
)
 
29.00

 
Unvested restricted stock at March 31, 2012
 
1,211,517

 
$
29.00




NOTE 6 — INVESTMENT IN AFFILIATES

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the investment in affiliates was composed of the following (in thousands):

 
 
 
March 31,
2012
 
December 31,
2011
 
Investment in OCC
 
$
333

 
$
333

 
Investment in Signal Trading Systems, LLC
 
11,389

 
11,472

 
Investment in IPXI Holdings, LLC
 
2,500

 
2,500

 
Investment in Affiliates
 
$
14,222

 
$
14,305

 
NOTE 7 — ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, accounts payable and accrued expenses consisted of the following (in thousands):

 
 
 
March 31,
2012
 
December 31,
2011
 
Compensation and benefit-related liabilities
 
$
6,779

 
$
18,349

 
Royalties
 
10,762

 
10,795

 
Facilities
 
1,510

 
2,229

 
Legal
 
1,528

 
962

 
Accounts payable
 
2,615

 
1,877

 
Purchase of unrestricted common stock (1)
 
1,802

 
2,018

 
Linkage
 
2,179

 
1,653

 
Other
 
8,130

 
8,188

 
Total
 
$
35,305

 
$
46,071


(1) Reflects shares purchased at the end of the period that are not settled until three days after the trade occurs.


NOTE 8 — MARKETING FEE

CBOE facilitates the collection and payment of marketing fees assessed on certain trades taking place at CBOE. Funds resulting from the marketing fees are made available to Designated Primary Market Makers and Preferred Market Makers as an economic inducement to route orders to CBOE. Pursuant to ASC 605-45, Revenue Recognition—Principal Agent

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Considerations, the Company reflects the assessments and payments on a net basis, with no impact on revenues or expenses.

As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, amounts assessed by the Company on behalf of others included in current assets totaled $9.4 million and $5.2 million, respectively, and payments due to others included in current liabilities totaled $10.0 million and $5.8 million, respectively.


NOTE 9 — DEFERRED REVENUE

The following table summarizes the activity in deferred revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2012 (in thousands):

 
 
Balance at 
December 31, 
2011
 
Cash 
Additions
 
Revenue 
Recognition
 
Balance at 
March 31, 2012
Other – net
 
$
351

 
$
1,494

 
$
(771
)
 
$
1,074

Liquidity provider sliding scale (1)
 

 
25,775

 
(6,444
)
 
19,331

Total deferred revenue
 
$
351

 
$
27,269

 
$
(7,215
)
 
$
20,405

(1)  Liquidity providers who prepay transaction fees, at a minimum, for the first two levels of the liquidity provider sliding scale are eligible to participate in reduced fees assessed to contract volume above 800,000 per month. The prepayment of 2012 transaction fees totaled $25.8 million. This amount is amortized and recorded as transaction fees over the respective year.

NOTE 10 — EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Employees are eligible to participate in the Chicago Board Options Exchange SMART Plan (“SMART Plan”). The SMART Plan is a defined contribution plan, which is qualified under Internal Revenue Code Section 401(k). The Company contributed $1.0 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Eligible employees may participate in the Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan (“SERP”), Executive Retirement Plan (“ERP”) and Deferred Compensation Plan. The SERP, ERP and Deferred Compensation Plan are defined contribution plans that are nonqualified by Internal Revenue Code regulations. The Company contributed $0.4 million and $0.3 million to the above plans for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The Company has a postretirement medical plan for certain current and former members of senior management. The Company recorded immaterial postretirement benefits expense for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

NOTE 11 — INCOME TAXES

For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded income tax provisions of $23.5 million and $24.0 million, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was 41.3% and 42.2%, respectively. The lower effective rate reflects the impact of a reduction in the statutory apportionment rates assigned to the Company by the State of Illinois. In December 2011, the State of Illinois enacted a tax bill which resulted in a reduction to our statutory apportionment rates. The statutory apportionments affect all non-physical floor receipts attributed to matching, execution and clearing transactions.

As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had $12.7 million and $11.4 million, respectively, of uncertain tax positions excluding interest and penalties, which, if recognized in the future, would affect the annual effective income tax rate. Reductions to uncertain tax positions primarily from the lapse of the applicable statutes of limitations during the next twelve months are estimated to be approximately $1.5 million, not including any potential new additions.

Estimated interest costs and penalties, which are classified as part of the provision for income taxes in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income, were $0.2 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Accrued interest and penalties were $0.9 million and $0.8 million as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

The Company is subject to U.S. federal tax, Illinois, New Jersey and New York state taxes and Washington D.C. taxes, as well as other local jurisdictions. The Company’s tax returns have been examined by the Internal Revenue Service through

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2009 and the Illinois Department of Revenue through 2008. For New Jersey and Washington D.C., the open years are 2008 and forward. The Company is currently under audit by the Internal Revenue Service for 2010 and by the State of New York for the 2007-2009 tax years.

NOTE 12 — FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid upon transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and in the principal or most advantageous market for that asset or liability. The fair value should be calculated based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, not on assumptions specific to the entity. In addition, the fair value of liabilities should include consideration of non-performance risk, including the Company’s own credit risk.
 
The Company applied Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure (formerly, FASB Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements), which provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities by defining fair value and establishing the framework for measuring fair value. ASC 820 applies to financial and nonfinancial instruments that are measured and reported on a fair value basis. The three-level hierarchy of fair value measurements is based on whether the inputs to those measurements are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s market assumptions. The fair-value hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available and consists of the following levels:
 
Level 1—Unadjusted inputs based on quoted markets for identical assets or liabilities.
 
Level 2—Observable inputs, either direct or indirect, not including Level 1, corroborated by market data or based upon quoted prices in non-active markets.

Level 3—Unobservable inputs that reflect management’s best assumptions of what market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability.
 
The Company has included a tabular disclosure for financial assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The Company holds no financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
(amounts in thousands)
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Assets at fair value:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Money market funds
 
$
144,000

 
$

 
$

 
$
144,000

Total assets at fair value at March 31, 2012
 
$
144,000

 
$

 
$

 
$
144,000

 
(amounts in thousands)
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Assets at fair value:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Money market funds
 
$
126,000

 
$

 
$

 
$
126,000

Total assets at fair value at December 31, 2011
 
$
126,000

 
$

 
$

 
$
126,000


In March 2011, the Company revalued its investment in NSX Holdings, Inc. as a result of an other-than-temporary impairment. The investment is classified as level 3 as the fair value was based on both observable and unobservable inputs, resulting in a full impairment totaling $0.5 million, which represented the carrying value of the investment.

In December 2011, the Company, through DerivaTech Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary, acquired a 6.25% interest in IPXI Holdings, LLC ("IPXI") for $2.5 million. The Company contributed cash of $1.3 million and has accrued a liability of 1.2 million, which based on the achievement of certain deliverables, will become due in June 2012 and will increase the Company's share of IPXI to 10.0%. The investment, measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis, is classified as level 3 as the fair value was based on both observable and unobservable inputs.






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NOTE 13 — LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Other than as described below, there have been no material updates to the Legal Proceedings as set forth in Item 1A. of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as updated by subsequent filings by the Company with the SEC. 

ISE

On July 8, 2010, the Circuit Court of Cook County permanently restrained and enjoined International Securities Exchange, LLC (“ISE”) from listing or providing an exchange market for the trading of SPX options in an action filed by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ("McGraw-Hill") and CME Group Index Services, LLC (substituted for Dow Jones & Co.) against ISE. This ruling is under appeal. On March 23, 2012, CBOE, with McGraw-Hill and its S&P Indices business ("S&P"), filed a motion in Illinois state court to enforce the injunction against ISE and prevent ISE from listing options that it purports to base on the ISE Max SPY index. The motion argues that this new product actually constitute options on the S&P 500 Index, in violation of the injunction.

Patent Litigation

On May 7, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (the “Federal Circuit”) issued a decision on the appeal by ISE of the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois's (the “District Court”) ruling granting summary judgment to CBOE based on non-infringement of ISE's U.S. Patent No. 6,618,707.  In its decision, the Federal Circuit affirmed-in-part and vacated-in-part the ruling of the District Court and remanded the case to the District Court for further proceedings based on the Federal Circuit's construction of terms found in the asserted patent claims.

Other

The staff of the SEC is investigating CBOE's compliance with its obligations as a self-regulatory organization under the federal securities laws.  We continue to cooperate with the investigation and CBOE is conducting its own review of its compliance.  While we do not know the outcome of the SEC's investigation, should it determine to act, the SEC could, among other things, censure CBOE, impose monetary or other penalties and require CBOE to change its compliance programs and procedures.
NOTE 14 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On April 25, 2012, the Company announced that its board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per share. The dividend is payable June 22, 2012 to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 1, 2012.

On May 7, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (the “Federal Circuit”) issued a decision on the appeal by ISE of the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois's (the “District Court”) ruling granting summary judgment to CBOE based on non-infringement of ISE's U.S. Patent No. 6,618,707.  In its decision, the Federal Circuit affirmed-in-part and vacated-in-part the ruling of the District Court and remanded the case to the District Court for further proceedings based on the Federal Circuit's construction of terms found in the asserted patent claims.

 

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CBOE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto, included in Item 1 in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the audited consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and as contained in that report, the information under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” This discussion contains forward-looking information.  Please see “Forward-Looking Statements” and Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2011

Overview

The following summarizes changes in financial performance for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.

 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Inc./(Dec.)
 
Percent
Change
 
 
(in millions, except per share amounts)
 
 
Total operating revenues
 
$
121.4

 
$
124.0

 
$
(2.6
)
 
(2.1
)%
Total operating expenses
 
64.0

 
66.5

 
(2.5
)
 
(3.8
)%
Operating income
 
57.4

 
57.5

 
(0.1
)
 
(0.2
)%
Total other income/(expense)
 
(0.5
)
 
(0.6
)
 
0.1

 
(16.7
)%
Income before income taxes
 
56.9

 
56.9

 

 
 %
Income tax provision
 
23.5

 
24.0

 
(0.5
)
 
(2.1
)%
Net income
 
$
33.4

 
$
32.9

 
$
0.5

 
1.5
 %
Net income allocated to common stockholders
 
$
32.9

 
$
32.1

 
$
0.8

 
2.5
 %
Operating income percentage
 
47.3
%
 
46.4
%
 
 
 
 
Net income percentage
 
27.5
%
 
26.5
%
 
 
 
 
Diluted net income per share allocated to common stockholders
 
$
0.37

 
$
0.36

 
 
 
 

The Company’s market share of total exchange traded options contracts was 28.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared with 27.2% for the same period in 2011.

Total operating revenues decreased due to lower transaction fees and access fees, partially offset by higher exchange services and other fees and market data fees.

Total operating expenses declined primarily due to lower employee costs, depreciation and amortization and trading volume incentives, partially offset by increases in data processing, outside services and travel and promotional expenses.

Significant events in the three months ended March 31, 2012
    
On January 3, 2012, the Company implemented several changes to our fee schedule to promote trading in various products. Adjustments were made to liquidity provider sliding scales, effectively decreasing per contract fees on multiply-listed option products and increasing per contract fees on proprietary products. For Clearing Trading Permit Holders that are proprietary firms, a single, fixed transaction fee for non-paired orders in products other than our proprietary option products was established. And, in an effort to increase our market share, we implemented a volume incentive program ("VIP") to reward firms who execute qualifying electronic, public customer, multiply-listed volume at CBOE in excess of certain thresholds, with

16

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a graduated schedule for higher tiers.

In addition to transaction fee changes, we also adjusted our access fees and our exchange services and other fees for Trading Permit Holders that utilize our telecommunications networks and communications services, including co-location in our data center.

Operating Revenues

Total operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2012 were $121.4 million, a decrease of $2.6 million, or 2.1%, compared with the same period in 2011. The following summarizes changes in total operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.

 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Inc./(Dec.)
 
Percent
Change
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
 
 
 
 
Transaction fees
 
$
84.8

 
$
89.9

 
$
(5.1
)
 
(5.7
)%
Access fees
 
16.0

 
17.6

 
(1.6
)
 
(9.1
)%
Exchange services and other fees
 
7.4

 
4.7

 
2.7

 
57.4
 %
Market data fees
 
6.4

 
5.1

 
1.3

 
25.5
 %
Regulatory fees
 
4.7

 
5.0

 
(0.3
)
 
(6.0
)%
Other revenue
 
2.1

 
1.7

 
0.4

 
23.5
 %
Total operating revenues
 
$
121.4

 
$
124.0

 
$
(2.6
)
 
(2.1
)%

Transaction Fees

Transaction fees decreased 5.7% to $84.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared with $89.9 million for the same period in 2011. This decrease was largely due to a decline of 3.9% in total trading volume coupled with a reduction of 1.8% in average transaction fee per contract. Transaction fees accounted for 69.9% and 72.5% of total operating revenues for the first three months of 2012 and 2011, respectively.
 
Although our share of total exchange traded options contracts increased from 27.2% to 28.1% from the prior year period, overall trading volume decreased. Trading volume is impacted by many factors. These factors include: political and world events, market volatility, regulatory actions or considerations, availability of capital, competition, number of trading days in the period and seasonality.
 
Average transaction fee per contract, discussed in detail below, is impacted by our fee structure which includes volume based incentive programs, mix of products traded and the percentage of trading volume executed by customers as compared to professionals, market-makers, clearing trading permit holders and broker-dealers. The implementation of fee changes, which may increase or decrease our average transaction fee per contract, is primarily to ensure that we are competitive in the options marketplace and to ultimately improve and continue to drive order flow to our exchanges. We cannot predict the trading patterns of exchange participants, which may be based on factors not in our control, but we can continue to price our products at levels that are competitive in our markets.

The following summarizes transactions fees by product for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Inc./(Dec.)
 
Percent
Change
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
 
 
 
 
Equities
 
$
15.9

 
$
25.8

 
$
(9.9
)
 
(38.4
)%
Indexes
 
47.9

 
43.9

 
4.0

 
9.1
 %
Exchange-traded funds
 
14.0

 
16.2

 
(2.2
)
 
(13.6
)%
Total options transaction fees
 
77.8

 
85.9

 
(8.1
)
 
(9.4
)%
Futures
 
7.0

 
4.0

 
3.0

 
75.0
 %
Total transaction fees
 
$
84.8

 
$
89.9

 
$
(5.1
)
 
(5.7
)%

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Trading Volume

Our average daily trading volume for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was 4.88 million contracts, down 3.9% compared with 5.08 million for the same period in 2011. The Company continued to experience significant growth in futures primarily driven by futures contracts on the VIX Index. Total trading days for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were sixty-two.

The following summarizes changes in total trading volume and average daily trading volume ("ADV") by product for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.

 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Volume
Percent Change
 
ADV 
Percent Change
 
 
Volume
 
ADV
 
Volume
 
ADV
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equities
 
143.9

 
2.32

 
161.4
 
2.61

 
(10.9
)%
 
(10.9
)%
Indexes
 
72.8

 
1.17

 
72.7
 
1.17

 
0.1
 %
 
0.1
 %
Exchange-traded funds
 
81.9

 
1.32

 
78.3
 
1.26

 
4.6
 %
 
4.6
 %
Total options contracts
 
298.6

 
4.81

 
312.4
 
5.04

 
(4.4
)%
 
(4.6
)%
Futures contracts
 
4.1

 
0.07

 
2.6
 
0.04

 
56.6
 %
 
56.6
 %
Total contracts
 
302.7

 
4.88

 
315.0
 
5.08

 
(3.9
)%
 
(3.9
)%

The following provides the percentage of volume by product category for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Percent
Change
Equities
 
47.5
%
 
51.3
%
 
(7.4
)%
Indexes
 
24.0
%
 
23.1
%
 
3.9
 %
Exchange-traded funds
 
27.1
%
 
24.8
%
 
9.3
 %
Futures
 
1.4
%
 
0.8
%
 
75.0
 %
Total
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 



Average transaction fee per contract

The average transaction fee per contract was $0.280 for the three months ended March 31, 2012, a decrease of 1.8% compared with $0.285 for the same period in 2011. Average transaction fee per contract represents transaction fees divided by total contracts. The following summarizes average transaction fee per contract by product for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.

 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Percent
Change
Equities
 
$
0.110

 
$
0.160

 
(31.3
)%
Indexes
 
0.658

 
0.604

 
8.9
 %
Exchange-traded funds
 
0.171

 
0.207

 
(17.4
)%
Total options average transaction fee per contract
 
0.261

 
0.275

 
(5.1
)%
Futures
 
1.697

 
1.507

 
12.6
 %
Total average transaction fee per contract
 
$
0.280

 
$
0.285

 
(1.8
)%

    

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There were a number of factors that contributed to the decrease in total average transaction fee per contract for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, including our rate structure, the product mix and the volume mix.
Rate structure - Our rate structure includes sliding scales, volume discounts and limits on fees as part of our effort to increase liquidity and market share in both multiply-listed options products and, to a lesser extent, on our proprietary products. In general, the transaction fee changes implemented January 3, 2012, including the VIP, decreased the rate per contract on multiply-listed options products (equities and exchange-traded funds) and increased the rate per contract on indexes and futures. We expect this trend to continue in 2012.

Product mix- Index options and futures generate our highest average fee per contract. Holding all other factors constant, revenue increases if a higher percentage of trades executed are index options and/or futures and decreases if the percentage of equities and exchange-traded funds increases. The increase in the percentage of trades executed in index options and options on futures in the current year quarter compared to the year ago quarter had a positive impact on average transaction fee per contract.

Volume mix - Public customer contracts in multiply-listed option classes generally trade at CBOE at no fee per contract. Accordingly, revenue per contract decreases when a higher percentage of our executed options contracts are public customer contracts. The percentage of public customer contracts in equities in the three months ended March 31, 2012 was 45.5% compared to 42.6% in the prior year period.

At March 31, 2012, there were approximately one hundred clearing firms, two of which cleared a combined 46% of our billings collected through the OCC for the three months ended March 31, 2012. The next largest clearing firm accounted for approximately 5% of our billings collected through the OCC. No one customer affiliated with either of the top two clearing firms represented more than 18% of the billings collected for the three months ended March 31, 2012 or 2011. Should a clearing firm withdraw, we believe the affiliated customer portion of that firm’s trading activity would likely transfer to another clearing firm.
 
The two largest clearing firms mentioned above clear the majority of the market-maker sides of transactions at CBOE, C2 and at all of the U.S. options exchanges. If either of these firms were to withdraw from the business of market-maker clearing, and market-makers were unable to make new clearing arrangements, this could create significant disruption to the U.S. options markets, including ours.

Access Fees

Access fees for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were $16.0 million and $17.6 million, respectively, representing 13.2% and 14.2% of total operating revenues, respectively. The decrease in access fees was primarily due to fee adjustments for market-maker trading permits, which lowered the fee for both monthly trading permits and pricing under the market-maker trading permit sliding scale. Market-makers that commit to a minimum number of trading permits for the calendar year, qualify for a discounted monthly rate.

The demand for trading permits could be impacted by seasonality and market fluctuations that affect trading volume.

Exchange Services and Other Fees

Exchange services and other fees for the three months ended March 31, 2012 increased 57.4% to $7.4 million from $4.7 million for the same period in 2011. The increase was primarily due to pricing increases for services such as connectivity to CBOEdirect through network access ports and client application services.

Market Data Fees

Market data fees increased 25.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2012 to $6.4 million from $5.1 million for the same period in 2011. Market data fees represent income derived from the Options Price Reporting Authority ("OPRA") as well as the Company’s market data services. OPRA and Company market data services for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, were $4.3 million and $2.1 million and $3.6 million and $1.5 million, respectively. OPRA income is allocated through OPRA based on each exchange's share of total options transactions cleared. The Company’s share of OPRA income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 increased to 27.3% from 23.9% for the same period in 2011. The increase in the

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Company's share of total options transactions resulted primarily from volume driven by the fee changes implemented in 2012.

Regulatory Fees

Regulatory fees decreased 6.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2012 to $4.7 million from $5.0 million for the same period in 2011. The Company's regulatory fees are primarily based on the number of customer contracts traded throughout the listed United States options industry. The decrease in regulatory fees was primarily due to lower overall trading volume as compared to the same period in 2011.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses decreased $2.5 million, or 3.8%, to $64.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $66.5 million for the same period in 2011. This decrease was primarily due to decreases in employee costs, depreciation and amortization and trading volume incentives, partially offset by increases in data processing, outside services and travel and promotional expenses. As a percentage of operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, operating expenses were 52.7% and 53.6%, respectively.

The following summarizes changes in operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.

 
 
2012
 
2011
 
Inc./(Dec.)
 
Percent
Change
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
 
 
 
 
Employee costs
 
$
25.3

 
$
25.7

 
$
(0.4
)
 
(1.6
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
8.3

 
8.7

 
(0.4
)
 
(4.6
)%
Data processing
 
4.9

 
4.4

 
0.5

 
11.4
 %
Outside services
 
7.2

 
6.6

 
0.6

 
9.1
 %
Royalty fees
 
11.2

 
11.1

 
0.1

 
0.9
 %
Trading volume incentives
 
2.6

 
5.8

 
(3.2
)
 
(55.2
)%
Travel and promotional expenses
 
2.2

 
1.7

 
0.5

 
29.4
 %
Facilities costs
 
1.3

 
1.5

 
(0.2
)
 
(13.3
)%
Other expenses
 
1.0

 
1.0

 

 
 %
Total operating expenses
 
$
64.0

 
$
66.5

 
$
(2.5
)
 
(3.8
)%

Employee Costs

For the three months ended March 31, 2012, employee costs were $25.3 million, or 20.8% of total operating revenues, compared with $25.7 million, or 20.7% of total operating revenues, for the same period in 2011. This represented a decrease of $0.4 million, or 1.6%. The decrease was primarily attributed to lower annual incentive compensation of $0.9 million and stock-based compensation expense of $0.5 million, partially offset by higher severance expense of $1.1 million.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization decreased by $0.4 million to $8.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared with $8.7 million for the same period in 2011. Depreciation and amortization charges represented 6.9% and 7.0% of total operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Data Processing

Data processing expenses totaled $4.9 million and $4.4 million, representing 4.0% and 3.6% of total operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The increase in data processing expenses is primarily due to an increase in hardware and software maintenance relating to the migration of trading operations to Secaucus, New Jersey.

Outside Services

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Expenses related to outside services increased to $7.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $6.6 million in the prior-year period and represented 5.9% and 5.3% of total operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The $0.6 million increase primarily resulted from higher consulting fees for contract programmers partially offset by lower legal expenses.

Royalty Fees

Royalty fees for the three months ended March 31, 2012 were $11.2 million compared with $11.1 million for the same period in 2011, an increase of $0.1 million. This increase is a direct result of the higher trading volume in CBOE’s licensed index products. Royalty fees represented 9.2% and 9.0% of total operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Trading Volume Incentives

Trading volume incentives decreased by $3.2 million to $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to $5.8 million for the same period in 2011. The decrease was primarily due to a modification in the criteria for contracts qualifying for certain quantity-based fee waivers and an adjustment to the fees paid by the Company for transactions linked to away exchanges.

Travel and Promotional Expenses

Travel and promotional expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were $2.2 million and $1.7 million, respectively. The increase was primarily due to increased advertising expenses.

Operating Income

As a result of the items above, operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $57.4 million compared to $57.5 million for the same period in 2011, a slight decrease of $0.1 million.

Income before Income Taxes

Income before income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was $56.9 million.

Income Tax Provision

For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the income tax provision was $23.5 million compared to $24.0 million for the same period in 2011. The effective tax rate was 41.3% and 42.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The lower effective rate reflects the impact of a reduction in the statutory apportionment rates assigned to the Company by the State of Illinois. In December 2011, the State of Illinois enacted a tax bill which reduced our statutory apportionment rates. The statutory apportionments affect all non-physical floor receipts attributed to matching, execution and clearing transactions.

Net Income

As a result of the items above, net income allocated to common stockholders for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $32.9 million compared to $32.1 million for the same period in 2011, an increase of $0.8 million. Basic and diluted net income per share allocated to common stockholders were $0.37 and $0.36 for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As of March 31, 2012, total assets were $353.4 million, an increase of $25.5 million compared with $327.9 million at December 31, 2011. This increase was primarily due to positive cash flow generated from operations. The following highlights the key factors that contributed to the change in total assets:

Cash and cash equivalents increased by $13.7 million to $148.6 million at March 31, 2012 from $134.9 million at December 31, 2011, reflecting an increase in funds available due to positive cash generated from operations and the January 2012 prepayment of liquidity provider transaction fees. Our cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2012 were primarily composed of investments in institutional prime money market funds.

Accounts receivable increased by $10.8 million to $48.4 million at March 31, 2012 from $37.6 million at December 31, 2011, primarily due to higher trading volume in March 2012 compared to December 2011.

At March 31, 2012, total liabilities were $122.2 million, an increase of $30.6 million from the December 31, 2011 balance of $91.6 million. This increase was primarily due to increases in deferred revenue and other long-term liabilities of $20.1 million, current and long-term income taxes payable of $16.8 million and $1.4 million, respectively, partially offset by a decrease of $10.8 million in accounts payable and accrued expenses.

Historically, we have financed our operations, capital expenditures and other cash needs through cash generated from operations. Cash requirements principally consist of funding operating expenses, capital expenditures and includes actual and anticipated quarterly dividend payments and common stock repurchases under the announced program. We expect to use cash on hand at March 31, 2012 and funds generated from operations to continue to meet our 2012 cash requirements.
 
Cash Flows

Operating Activities

Net cash flows provided by operating activities was $63.3 million and $78.2 million for the first three months of 2012 and 2011, respectively. The decrease in net cash flows provided by operating activities was primarily due to a decrease in deferred revenue and other liabilities resulting from the removal of certain index products and reduction in volume thresholds in the liquidity provider sliding scale and a decrease in deferred income taxes. Net cash flows provided by operating activities was $29.9 million higher than net income for the three months ended March 31, 2012. The net increase was mainly a result of higher deferred revenue and other long-term liabilities of $20.0 million primarily due to the prepayment of transaction fees that are amortized over the year, and non-cash expenses of $8.3 million and $2.9 million for depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation, respectively. These amounts were partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $11.7 million and an increase in accounts receivable of $10.9 million.

Investing Activities

Net cash flows used in investing activities were $8.3 million and $7.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Expenditures for capital and other assets totaled $7.9 million and $7.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, primarily representing purchases of systems hardware and software.

Financing Activities

Net cash flows used in financing activities totaled $41.4 million and $9.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. For the period ended March 31, 2012, net cash flows used in financing activities consisted of $10.7 million for the payment of quarterly dividends and $30.6 million in unrestricted common stock purchases under the Company's share repurchase program.

Dividends
The Company’s expectation is to continue to pay dividends, with any such dividend based on prior year’s net income adjusted for unusual items. The decision to pay a dividend, however, remains within the discretion of our Board of Directors and may be affected by various factors, including our earnings, financial condition, capital requirements, level of indebtedness and other considerations our Board of Directors deems relevant. Future credit facilities, other future debt obligations and

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statutory provisions may limit, or in some cases prohibit, our ability to pay dividends.
Share Repurchase Program

On August 2, 2011, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had approved a share repurchase program that authorizes the Company to purchase up to $100.0 million of its unrestricted common stock. The program permits the Company to purchase shares through a variety of methods, including in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, in accordance with applicable securities laws. It does not obligate the Company to make any repurchases at any specific time or situation.

For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company purchased 1,149,000 shares of unrestricted common stock at an average cost per share of $26.67 totaling $30.6 million in purchases under the program.

Since the program began in August 2011 through March 31, 2012, the Company has purchased 2,985,000 shares of unrestricted common stock at an average cost per share of $26.01 totaling $77.6 million in purchases under the program.

Commercial Commitments and Contractual Obligations

The Company leases office space in downtown Chicago, Illinois for its Regulatory Services Division, in a suburb of Chicago for its disaster recovery center, in New York for certain marketing activities and in Secaucus, New Jersey for C2, with lease terms remaining from 5 months to 65 months as of March 31, 2012. In addition, we have contractual obligations related to certain advertising programs and licensing agreements with various licensors. The licensing agreements contain annual minimum fee requirements, which total $11.7 million for the next five years and $1.3 million for the five years thereafter. Total rent expense related to the lease obligations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were $0.8 million. The Company does not expect the upgrade of our trading platform nor the move of trading operations to Secaucus, New Jersey to result in any material commercial commitments or contractual obligations.

Future minimum payments under these non-cancelable lease and advertising agreements were as follows at March 31, 2012 (in thousands):

 
 
Total
 
Less than
1 year
 
1-3 years
 
3-5 years
Operating leases
 
$
4,294

 
$
2,475

 
$
1,557

 
$
262

Contractual obligations
 
1,452

 
1,452

 

 

Total
 
$
5,746

 
$
3,927

 
$
1,557

 
$
262



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Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We are subject to certain market risks, including changes in interest rates and inflation. There have been no material changes in our market risk from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures

In accordance with Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), the Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures for the three months ended March 31, 2012. Based upon their evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the three months ended March 31, 2012 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms, and to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in internal control over financial reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION


Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

Other than as described below, there have been no material updates to the Legal Proceedings as set forth in Item 1A. of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as updated by subsequent filings by the Company with the SEC. 

ISE

On July 8, 2010, the Circuit Court of Cook County permanently restrained and enjoined International Securities Exchange, LLC (“ISE”) from listing or providing an exchange market for the trading of SPX options in an action filed by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ("McGraw-Hill") and CME Group Index Services, LLC (substituted for Dow Jones & Co.) against ISE. This ruling is under appeal. On March 23, 2012, CBOE, with McGraw-Hill and its S&P Indices business ("S&P"), filed a motion in Illinois state court to enforce the injunction against ISE and prevent ISE from listing options that it purports to base on the ISE Max SPY index. The motion argues that this new product actually constitute options on the S&P 500 Index, in violation of the injunction.

Patent Litigation

On May 7, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (the “Federal Circuit”) issued a decision on the appeal by ISE of the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois's (the “District Court”) ruling granting summary judgment to CBOE based on non-infringement of ISE's U.S. Patent No. 6,618,707.  In its decision, the Federal Circuit affirmed-in-part and vacated-in-part the ruling of the District Court and remanded the case to the District Court for further proceedings based on the Federal Circuit's construction of terms found in the asserted patent claims.

Other

The staff of the SEC is investigating CBOE's compliance with its obligations as a self-regulatory organization under the federal securities laws.  We continue to cooperate with the investigation and CBOE is conducting its own review of its compliance.  While we do not know the outcome of the SEC's investigation, should it determine to act, the SEC could, among other things, censure CBOE, impose monetary or other penalties and require CBOE to change its compliance programs and procedures.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material updates to the Risk Factors as set forth in Item 1A. of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2012.

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

(c) The table below shows the purchases of equity securities by the Company in the three months ended March 31, 2012, reflecting the purchase of unrestricted common stock under the Company's share repurchase program:
Period
 
Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
 
Average
Price Paid
per Share
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
 
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be
Purchased Under the Plans
or Programs (1)
January 1, 2012 – January 31, 2012
 
517,000

 
$
25.52

 
517,000

 
$
39,814,238

February 1, 2012 – February 29, 2012
 
199,000

 
26.53

 
199,000

 
34,534,768

March 1, 2012 – March 31, 2012
 
433,000

 
28.11

 
433,000

 
22,363,138

Totals
 
1,149,000

 
$
26.67

 
1,149,000

 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
On August 2, 2011, the Company announced that its board of directors had adopted a share repurchase plan.  Under this plan, the Company is authorized to repurchase up to $100 million in its unrestricted common stock, including on

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the open market and in privately negotiated transactions. There can be no assurance as to the number of additional shares the Company will repurchase. The timing and extent to which the Company repurchases its shares will depend upon, among other things, market conditions, share price, liquidity targets, regulatory requirements and other factors. Share repurchases may be commenced or suspended at any time or from time to time without prior notice, and the share repurchase plan does not currently have an expiration date.



Purchases of equity shares by the Company in the three months ended March 31, 2012 consisting of shares surrendered to satisfy employee tax obligations upon the vesting of restricted stock totaled 42 shares at an average price of $25.63. These shares are not part of the publicly announced program.

Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.


Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures

None.

Item 5.  Other Information

None.

Item 6.  Exhibits

The exhibits to this Report are listed in the Exhibit Index included elsewhere herein.


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 
 
CBOE HOLDINGS, INC.
 
 
Registrant
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ William J. Brodsky
 
 
 
William J. Brodsky
 
 
 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Date:
May 8, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Alan J. Dean
 
 
 
Alan J. Dean
 
 
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Date:
May 8, 2012
 
 


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CBOE Holdings, Inc.
Form 10-Q
Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.
 
Description
31.1
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 (Filed herewith).
 
 
 
31.2
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 (Filed herewith).
 
 
 
32.1
 
Certificate of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (Filed herewith).
 
 
 
32.2
 
Certificate of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (Filed herewith).
 
 
 
101.INS*
 
XBRL Instance Document (Filed herewith)
 
 
 
101.SCH*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (Filed herewith).
 
 
 
101.CAL*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (Filed herewith).
 
 
 
101.DEF*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase (Filed herewith).
 
 
 
101.LAB*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document (Filed herewith).
 
 
 
101.PRE*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (Filed herewith).
 
 
 
 
 
*Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data files on Exhibit 101 hereto are deemed not
 
 
filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of
 
 
1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of
 
 
1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.


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