Freedom Holding Corp. Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

FEE AND COMMISSION INCOME

FEE AND COMMISSION INCOME

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Fee and commission income is recognized when, or as, the Group satisfies its performance obligations by transferring the promised services to the customers. A service is transferred to a customer when, or as, the customer obtains control of that service. A performance obligation may be satisfied at a point in time or over time. Revenue from a performance obligation satisfied at a point in time is recognized at the point in time that the Group determines the customer obtains control over the promised service. Revenue from a performance obligation satisfied over time is recognized by measuring the Group’s progress in satisfying the performance obligation in a manner that depicts the transfer of the services to the customer. The amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration the Group expects to receive in exchange for those promised services (i.e., the “transaction price”). In determining the transaction price, the Group considers multiple factors, including the effects of variable consideration, if any.

The Company’s revenues from contracts with customers are recognized when the performance obligations are satisfied at an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange for such services. The majority of the Group’s performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time and are typically collected from customers by debiting their brokerage account with the Group.

Brokerage Services

Commissions from brokerage services — The Group earns commission revenue by executing, settling and clearing transactions with clients primarily in exchange-traded and over-the-counter corporate equity and debt securities, money market instruments and exchange-traded options and futures contracts. Trade execution and clearing services, when provided together, represent a single performance obligation, as the services are not separately identifiable in the context of the contract. Commission revenue associated with combined trade execution and clearing services, as well as trade execution services on a standalone basis, are recognized at a point in time on trade date when the performance obligation is satisfied.

Commission revenue is generally paid on settlement date, which is generally two business days after trade date for equity securities and corporate bond transactions and one day for government securities, options and commodities transactions. The Group records a receivable on the trade date and receives a payment on the settlement date.

Bank Services

The Group earns revenue from two primary streams related to commissions from bank services:

•The Group earns bank commissions by executing client order for money transfer, purchase and sale of foreign currency, and other bank services. A substantial portion of the Group's revenue is derived from commissions from private clients through accounts with transaction-based pricing. Commission revenue is collected and recognized by the Company at a point in time at the execution of the order.

•Interchange — The Group acts as an agent between customers and international payment systems, such as VISA and MasterCard. When using third-party payment platforms or networks, the Group is an agent for the payment processing services to retail customers and. therefore, revenue is recognized on a net basis, as the Group is not primarily responsible for fulfilling the payment processing on third parties' payment platforms/networks and has no discretion in establishing the selling price of the payment processing service to the retail customer on third party payment platforms/networks. Fees from customers using third-party payment platform are earned for processing debit card transactions.

Payment Processing

The Group earns revenue from two primary streams related to payment processing:

•Commissions from payment processing services, which include activities such as authorization, clearing, and settlement of electronic payments. The Company recognizes revenue at the time when the payment card transaction is completed. These services are typically provided under a commission rate from amounts of transactions. Fees are typically billed and paid monthly.

•Provision of IT infrastructure to merchants to facilitate payments. The Company recognizes revenue at the time when the performance obligation is satisfied – as soon as payments are facilitated. These services are typically provided under a commission rate from amounts of facilitated payments. Fees are typically billed and paid monthly.

Underwriting and market-making services

The Group earns underwriting revenues by providing capital raising solutions for corporate clients through initial public offerings, follow-on offerings, equity-linked offerings, private investments in public entities, and private placements. Underwriting revenues are recognized at a point in time on placement date, as the client obtains the control and benefit of the capital markets offering at that point. These fees are generally received within 90 days after the placement date. Transaction-related expenses, primarily consisting of legal, travel and other costs directly associated with the transaction, are included in underwriting revenues. These costs are deferred and recognized in the same period as the related investment banking transaction revenue. However, if the transaction is abandoned and does not close, the accounting treatment for the transaction-related costs may differ. In such cases, the accounting principles typically require the immediate recognition of the transaction-related expenses as an expense in the period in which the decision to abandon the transaction is made. This ensures that the costs associated with the abandoned transaction are recognized and reflected accurately in the financial statements of the entity.

Receivables and Contract Balances

Receivables arise when the Group has an unconditional right to receive payment under a contract with a customer and are derecognized when the cash is received. Margin lending, brokerage and other receivables are disclosed in Note 7 in the notes to consolidated financial statements.

Contract assets arise when the revenue associated with the contract is recognized before the Group’s unconditional right to receive payment under a contract with a customer (i.e., unbilled receivable) and are derecognized when either it becomes a receivable or the cash is received. As of March 31, 2024, March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022 contract asset balances were not material.

Contract liabilities arise when customers remit contractual cash payments in advance of the Group satisfying its performance obligations under the contract and are derecognized when the revenue associated with the contract is recognized either when a milestone is met triggering the contractual right to bill the customer or when the performance obligation is satisfied. As of March 31, 2024, March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022 contract liability balances were not material.

During the year ended March 31, 2024, March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022 fee and commission income was comprised of:


	Year ended March 31, 2024
	Brokerage		Banking		Insurance		Other		Total

Brokerage services	$	333,383	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	333,383
Commission income from payment processing	—		—		—		41,659		41,659
Bank services	—		25,180		—		—		25,180
Underwriting and market-making services	18,801		—		—		—		18,801
Other fee and commission income	297		1,056		296		19,661		21,310
Total fee and commission income	$	352,481	$	26,236	$	296	$	61,320	$	440,333


	Year ended March 31, 2023
	Brokerage		Banking		Insurance		Other		Total

Brokerage services	$	286,732	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	286,732
Bank services	—		17,964		—		—		17,964
Underwriting and market-making services	11,948		—		—		—		11,948
Commission income from payment processing	—		—		—		6,385		6,385
Other fee and commission income	390		244		128		3,424		4,186
Total fee and commission income	$	299,070	$	18,208	$	128	$	9,809	$	327,215


	Year ended March 31, 2022
	Brokerage		Banking		Insurance		Other		Total

Brokerage services	$	318,698	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	318,698
Bank services	—		6,727		—		—		6,727
Underwriting and market-making services	5,963		—		—		—		5,963
Other fee and commission income	2,391		273		83		1,076		3,823
Total fee and commission income	$	327,052	$	7,000	$	83	$	1,076	$	335,211