Interactive Brokers (IBKR) Risk Factors

The CSPs are responsible for securing the customers' Cryptocurrency Assets and protecting them from loss or theft. Access to the Cryptocurrency Assets is controllable only by the possessor of the unique private key(s) relating to the digital wallet in which such Cryptocurrency Assets are held. To the extent any of the CSPs' private keys are lost, destroyed, unable to be accessed by the CSPs, or otherwise compromised and no backup of such private key(s) is accessible, the CSPs may be unable to access the Cryptocurrency Assets held in the respective wallets. In addition, neither the CSPs nor any cryptocurrency custodian can provide absolute assurance that any or all of the CSPs' wallets will not be hacked or compromised such that the private keys are obtained by a third-party or otherwise compromised in a manner such that Cryptocurrency Assets are sent to one or more addresses that the CSPs do not control, which could result in the loss of some or all of the Cryptocurrency Assets that the CSPs hold in custody on behalf of our customers. Eligible customers of IB LLC can enroll to access a digital asset exchange and custody services provided by one or more CSPs to buy, sell and hold Cryptocurrency Assets in an account in the customer's name at the CSP. IB LLC does not provide execution, custody or safeguarding services for the customers' Cryptocurrency Assets and does not maintain (or have access to) the cryptographic key information and wallets necessary to access the Cryptocurrency Assets, nor does IB LLC have any legal title or claim to those Cryptocurrency Assets. The agreement the customer signs with IB LLC before the customer is permitted to access the CSP's services through IB LLC's platform provides that: [Customer] acknowledges and agrees that [IB LLC] is not responsible for any trading or other losses (including, without limitation, losses due to theft, fraud, cybersecurity breach, loss of control of private keys, or any other loss arising from trading or holding digital assets with [the CSP]) resulting directly or indirectly from or in connection with [Customer's] relationship with [the CSP] and/or [Customer's] trading or holding of digital assets, including activity or holdings in the [CSP] Account. Eligible customers of IBHK can enroll to trade and hold Cryptocurrency Assets through a relationship IBHK has established with a CSP, which is an SFC-licensed digital asset exchange and custodian. The Cryptocurrency Assets are sub-custodied by the CSP on an omnibus basis for the benefit of the customers of IBHK. IBHK notifies its customers that exchange and sub-custody services are provided by a CSP. IBHK does not maintain (or have access to) the cryptographic key information and wallets necessary to access the Cryptocurrency Assets, nor does IBHK have any beneficial claim to those Cryptocurrency Assets. The CSP is responsible for securing the customers' Cryptocurrency Assets and protecting them from loss or theft, and the SFC requires the CSP to maintain adequate controls and insurance against the risk of theft or loss of the customers' Cryptocurrency Assets. The agreement the customer signs with IBHK before the customer is permitted to access digital asset trading provides that: To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Rules, [IBHK] is not liable to [Customer] for loss arising from or attributable to the insolvency of any [CSP], in the event of hacking or otherwise caused by the default of the [CSP], where [IBHK] has not failed to exercise reasonable care and diligence in the selection, appointment and ongoing monitoring of the [CSP], except (i) such loss arising from the gross negligence, willful default or fraud of [IBHK], or (ii) to the extent prohibited under applicable Rules. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Terms, in the absence of either (a) a failure by [IBHK] to exercise reasonable care and diligence in the selection, appointment and ongoing monitoring of the [CSP], or (b) gross negligence, wilful default or fraud on the part of [IBHK], [IBHK] will only be obliged to return Virtual Assets held for [Customer] with the [CSP] who is insolvent, or which Virtual Assets have otherwise been subjected to loss due to an event of hacking, embezzlement, or theft at the [CSP] or which losses are otherwise caused by the default of the [CSP], solely if and to the extent that those Virtual Assets or equivalent value are recovered by [IBHK] from the [CSP]. Unless otherwise provided under applicable Rules, [Customer] hereby agree[s] not to bring any action against [IBHK] on any claim arising from a loss occurring at the [CSP], in the absence of circumstances addressed under (a) or (b) above, so long as [IBHK] makes commercially reasonable efforts to assert a claim for recovery against the [CSP]. The CSPs' failure to safeguard the Cryptocurrency Assets may result in losses to our customers which could have adverse effects on our customers' confidence in our cryptocurrency offering through CSPs and on our business.

If our systems fail to perform, we could experience unanticipated disruptions in operations, slower response times or decreased customer service and customer satisfaction. Our ability to facilitate transactions successfully and provide high quality customer service also depends on the efficient and uninterrupted operation of our computer and communications hardware and software systems. Our service has experienced periodic system interruptions, which we believe will continue to occur from time to time. Our systems and operations are also potentially vulnerable to damage or interruption from human error, cyber-attacks, natural disasters, power loss, telecommunication failures, break-ins, sabotage, computer viruses, intentional acts of vandalism and similar events. We do not have fully redundant systems, and our formal business continuity plan does not include restoration of all services. Our backup services are currently limited to U.S. and major European markets. We currently have limited separate backup facilities dedicated to our non-U.S. operations. It is our intention to provide for and progressively deploy backup facilities for our global facilities over time. In addition, we do not carry business interruption insurance to compensate for losses that could occur to the extent not required. Any system failure that causes an interruption in our service or decreases the responsiveness of our service could impair our reputation, damage our brand name and materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Designated market makers are granted certain rights and have certain obligations to "make a market" in a particular security. They agree to specific obligations to maintain a fair and orderly market. In acting as a designated market maker, we are subjected to a high degree of risk by having to support an orderly market. In this role, we may at times be required to make trades that adversely affect our profitability. In addition, we may at times be unable to trade for our own account in circumstances in which it may be to our advantage to trade, and we may be obligated to act as a principal when buyers or sellers outnumber each other. In those instances, we may take a position counter to the market, buying or selling securities to support an orderly market. Additionally, the rules of the markets which govern our activities as a designated market maker are subject to change. If these rules are made more stringent, our trading revenues and profits as a designated market maker could be adversely affected.

We are a holding company and our primary assets are our approximately 24.5% equity interest in IBG LLC and our controlling interest and related rights as the sole managing member of IBG LLC and, as such, we operate and control all of the business and affairs of IBG LLC and are able to consolidate IBG LLC's financial results into our financial statements. We have no independent means of generating revenues. IBG LLC is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, as such, is not subject to U.S. federal income tax. Instead, its taxable income is allocated on a pro rata basis to Holdings and us. Accordingly, we incur income taxes on our proportionate share of the net taxable income of IBG LLC, and also incur expenses related to our operations. We intend to cause IBG LLC to distribute cash to its members in amounts at least equal to that necessary to cover their tax liabilities, if any, with respect to the earnings of IBG LLC. To the extent we need funds to pay such taxes, or for any other purpose, and IBG LLC is unable to provide such funds, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are exposed to the risk of loss if a customer, counterparty or issuer fails to perform its obligations under contractual terms. Our counterparty risk is primarily from margin loans extended to customers, securities purchased under agreements to resell ("repos"), securities borrowing and lending arrangements, cash and/or collateral deposited with clearing houses, exchanges, banks, securities firms and other financial counterparties, all of which may result in credit exposure in the event the counterparty defaults on their obligations to us due to bankruptcy, lack of liquidity, operational failure or other reasons. Our customer margin credit exposure is to a great extent mitigated by our policy of automatically evaluating each account throughout the trading day and closing out positions automatically for accounts that are found to be under-margined. While this methodology is effective in most situations, it may not be effective in situations in which no liquid market exists for the relevant securities or commodities or in which, for any reason, automatic liquidation for certain accounts has been disabled. If no liquid market exists or automatic liquidation has been disabled, we are subject to risks inherent in extending credit, especially during periods of rapidly declining markets. Any loss or expense incurred due to defaults by our customers in failing to repay margin loans or to maintain adequate collateral for these loans would cause harm to our business, financial condition and results of operations. Repos are collateralized by securities with a market value in excess of the obligation under the contract and are cleared and marked to market through a central clearing counterparty. Securities lending agreements are collateralized by deposits of cash or securities. We attempt to minimize credit risk associated with these activities by monitoring collateral values daily and requiring additional collateral to be deposited with or returned to us as permitted under contractual provisions. Similarly, over-the-counter transactions, such as contracts for differences ("CFDs"), are marked to market daily and are conducted with counterparties that have undergone a thorough credit review. Any loss or expense incurred due to defaults by our counterparties in failing to fulfill their contractual obligations would cause harm to our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, as a clearing member of several central clearing houses, we participate in the mutualization of risk and could incur financial losses in the event of default by other clearing members. Although we regularly review our credit exposures, default risk may arise from events or circumstances that are difficult to detect or foresee.

Our market making activities are substantially dependent on the accuracy of our proprietary pricing mathematical model, which continuously evaluates and monitors the risks inherent in our portfolio, assimilates market data and reevaluates our outstanding quotes many times per second. Our model is designed to automatically rebalance our positions throughout the trading day to manage risk exposures on our positions in options, futures and the underlying securities. In the event of a flaw in our pricing model and/or a failure in the related software, our pricing model may lead to unexpected and/or unprofitable trades, which may result in material trading losses.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization recognized the outbreak of COVID-19 caused by a novel strain of the coronavirus as a pandemic. The pandemic has affected all countries in which we operate. The response of governments and societies to the COVID-19 pandemic, which included temporary closures of certain businesses; social distancing; travel restrictions, "shelter in place" and other governmental regulations; and reduced consumer spending due to job losses, significantly impacted volatility in the financial, commodities and energy markets, and general economic conditions. These measures may have negatively impacted businesses, market participants, our counterparties and customers, and the global economy and could continue to do so for a prolonged period of time. Our net interest income and profitability could be negatively affected by lower benchmark interest rates caused by central banks lowering target benchmark rates in an attempt to buffer their economies from new COVID-19 outbreaks or another public health emergency. A substantial portion of our employees were impacted by local COVID-19 restrictions. After such restrictions were lifted, we reopened our offices to all employees and adopted a hybrid work model for our offices globally. As a result, any disruption to our information technology systems, including from cyber incidents, could have a material adverse effect on our business. We have taken measures to maintain the health and safety of our employees, but widespread illness could negatively affect staffing levels within certain functions or locations. In addition, our ability to recruit, hire and onboard employees could be negatively impacted by new COVID-19 restrictions or another public health emergency. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including from subsequent outbreaks or new variants, or from another public health emergency, on our future financial results could be significant but currently cannot be quantified, as it will depend on numerous evolving factors that cannot be accurately predicted, including, but not limited to, the duration and spread of the pandemic; its impact on our customers, employees and vendors; governmental regulations in response to the pandemic; and the overall impact of the pandemic on the economy and society, among other factors. Any of these events, alone or in combination with others, could exacerbate many of the risk factors discussed or incorporated by reference herein and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.