Accounting principles

The Company’s accounting policies and accompanying consolidated financial statements conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (US GAAP).

These financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting.

Basis of presentation and principles of consolidation

The Company’s consolidated financial statements present the consolidated accounts of FRHC, Freedom RU, Freedom KZ, FFIN Bank, Freedom CY, Freedom UA, Freedom UZ, Freedom GE, FFIN and the financial results of LLC First Stock Store (“Freedom 24”) up to the date of its disposal on September 30, 2018. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

As further discussed in Note 27 – Acquisitions and Disposal of Subsidiary, the acquisitions of Asyl and Nettrader were each considered transactions between entities under common control, therefore the accompanying financial information has been recast to include these acquisitions for all periods presented. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial statements include historical cost-basis accounts of the assets of: (i) Asyl prior to April 12, 2018, the date of completion of the Asyl acquisition and merger, and (ii) Nettrader prior to May 28, 2018, the date of completion of the Nettrader acquisition and merger.

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management believes that the estimates utilized in preparing its financial statements are reasonable and prudent. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue and expense recognition

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC Topic 606”), establishes principles for reporting information about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from the entity’s contracts to provide goods or services to customers. The core principle requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services promised to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that it expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for those goods or services recognized as performance obligations are satisfied. A significant portion of the Company’s revenue-generating transactions are not subject to ASC Topic 606, including revenue generated from financial instruments, such as loans and investment securities, as these activities are subject to other US GAAP guidance discussed elsewhere within these disclosures. Descriptions of the Company’s revenue-generating activities that are within the scope of ASC Topic 606, which are presented in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Statements of Other Comprehensive Income as components of non-interest income are as follows:

The Company adopted the new guidance on April 1, 2018. Under Topic 606, the Company is required to recognize incentive fees when they are probable and there is not a significant chance of reversal in the future. For the brokerage commission, banking service commission and investment banking services commission contracts in place at the time of adoption, this change in policy did not result in any actual change in revenue that had already been recognized and therefore there was no transition adjustment necessary. 

The Company recognizes revenue when five basic criteria have been met:

Derivative financial instruments

In the normal course of business, the Company invests in various derivative financial contracts including futures. Derivatives are initially recognized at fair value at the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured to their fair value at each reporting date. The fair values are estimated based on quoted market prices or pricing models that take into account the current market and contractual prices of the underlying instruments and other factors. Derivatives are carried as assets when their fair value is positive and as liabilities when it is negative. Derivatives are included in assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company purchases foreign currency futures contracts from financial institutions to minimize the risk caused by foreign currency fluctuation on its foreign currency receivables and payables and also purchases foreign currency futures contracts for speculative purposes. Futures are traded on the KASE and represent commitments to purchase or sell a particular foreign currency at a future date and at a specific price.

All gains and losses on foreign currency contracts were realized during the year ended March 31, 2019, and are included in net gain on derivatives in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Statements of Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss).

Functional currency

Management has adopted ASC 830, Foreign Currency Translation Matters as it pertains to its foreign currency translation. The Company’s functional currencies are the Russian ruble, European euro, Ukrainian hryvnia, Uzbekistani som and Kazakhstani tenge, and its reporting currency is the US dollar. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into US dollars using the exchange rate prevailing at the balance sheet date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at rates of exchange in effect at the date of the transaction. Average monthly rates are used to translate revenues and expenses. Gains and losses arising on translation or settlement of foreign currency denominated transactions or balances are included in revenue.

The functional currencies of our operating subsidiaries are the Russian ruble, European euro, Ukrainian hryvnia, Uzbekistani som and the Kazakhstani tenge. For financial reporting purposes, those currencies are translated into United States dollars as the reporting currency. Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet dates. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average rate of exchange prevailing during the reporting period. Translation adjustments arising from the use of different exchange rates from period to period are included as a component of stockholders’ equity as “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” reserve.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are generally comprised of certain highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase. Cash and cash equivalents include reverse repurchase agreements which are recorded at the amounts at which the securities were acquired or sold plus accrued interest.

Securities reverse repurchase and repurchase agreements

A reverse repurchase agreement is a transaction in which the Company purchases financial instruments from a seller, typically in exchange for cash, and simultaneously enters into an agreement to resell the same or substantially the same financial instruments to the seller for an amount equal to the cash or other consideration exchanged plus interest at a future date. Securities purchased under reverse repurchase agreements are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and are recorded at the contractual amount for which the securities will be resold, including accrued interest. Financial instruments purchased under reverse repurchase agreements are recorded in the financial statements as cash placed on deposit collateralized by securities and classified as cash and cash equivalents in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

A repurchase agreement is a transaction in which the Company sells financial instruments to another party, typically in exchange for cash, and simultaneously enters into an agreement to reacquire the same or substantially the same financial instruments from the buyer for an amount equal to the cash or other consideration exchanged plus interest at a future date. These agreements are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions. The Company retains the financial instruments sold under repurchase agreements and classifies them as trading securities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The consideration received under repurchase agreements is classified as securities repurchase agreement obligations in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company enters into reverse repurchase agreements, repurchase agreements, securities borrowed and securities loaned transactions to, among other things, acquire securities to leverage and grow its proprietary trading portfolio, cover short positions and settle other securities obligations, to accommodate customers’ needs and to finance its inventory positions. The Company enters into these transactions in accordance with normal market practice. Under standard terms for repurchase transactions, the recipient of collateral has the right to sell or repledge the collateral, subject to returning equivalent securities on settlement of the transaction.

Available-for-sale securities

Financial assets categorized as available-for-sale (“AFS”) are non-derivatives that are either designated as available-for-sale or not classified as (a) loans and receivables, (b) held to maturity investments or (c) trading securities.

Listed shares and listed redeemable notes held by the Company that are traded in an active market are classified as AFS and are stated at fair value. The Company has investments in unlisted shares that are not traded in an active market but that are also classified as investments AFS and stated at fair value (because Company management considers that fair value can be reliably measured). Gains and losses arising from changes in fair value are recognized in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), with the exception of other-than-temporary impairment losses, interest calculated using the effective interest method, dividend income and foreign exchange gains and losses are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Statements of other Comprehensive Income/(Loss). Where the investment is disposed of or is determined to be impaired, the cumulative gain or loss previously accumulated in the investments revaluation reserve is reclassified to profit or loss.

Trading securities

Financial assets are classified as trading securities if the financial asset has been acquired principally for the purpose of selling it in the near term.

Trading securities are stated at fair value, with any gains or losses arising on remeasurement recognized in revenue. Changes in fair value are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Statements of Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) and included in net gain/(loss) on trading securities. Interest earned and dividend income are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Statements of Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) and included in interest income, according to the terms of the contract and when the right to receive the payment has been established.

Investments in nonconsolidated managed funds are accounted for at fair value based on the net asset value of the funds provided by the fund managers with gains or losses included in net gain on trading securities in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Statements of Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss).

Debt securities issued

Debt securities issued are initially recognized at the fair value of the consideration received, less directly attributable transaction costs. Subsequently, amounts due are stated at amortized cost and any difference between net proceeds and the redemption value is recognized over the period of the borrowings using the effective interest method. If the Company purchases its own debt it is removed from the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the difference between the carrying amount of the liability and the consideration paid is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Statements of Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss).

Brokerage and other receivables

Brokerage and other receivables comprise commissions and receivables related to the securities brokerage and banking activity of the Company. At initial recognition, brokerage and other receivables are recognized at fair value. Subsequently, brokerage and other receivables are carried at cost net of any allowance for impairment losses.

Derecognition of financial assets

A financial asset (or, where applicable a part of a financial asset or a part of a group of similar financial assets) is derecognized where all of the following conditions are met:

Where the Company has not met the asset derecognition conditions above, it continues to recognize the asset to the extent of its continuing involvement.

Impairment of long lived assets

In accordance with the accounting guidance for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, the Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets to be held and used when events and circumstances warrant such a review. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the fair value from such asset is less than its carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset. Fair value is determined primarily using the anticipated cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved. Losses on long-lived assets to be disposed of are determined in a similar manner, except that fair values are reduced for the cost of disposal. As of March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018, the Company had not recorded any charges for impairment of long-lived assets.

Impairment of goodwill

As of March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018, goodwill recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets totaled $2,936 and $3,288, respectively. The Company performs an impairment review at least annually unless indicators of impairment exist in interim periods. The impairment test for goodwill uses a two-step approach. Step one compares the estimated fair value of a reporting unit with goodwill to its carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value, step two must be performed. Step two compares the carrying value of the reporting unit to the fair value of all of the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit as if the reporting unit was acquired in a business combination. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit's goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of its goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess. In its annual goodwill impairment test, the Company estimated the fair value of the reporting unit based on the income approach (also known as the discounted cash flow method) and determined the fair value of the Company’s goodwill exceeded the carrying amount of the Company’s goodwill. The goodwill value as March 31, 2019 decreased compared to March 31, 2018 due to foreign exchange currency translation.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the year ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:

Income taxes

The Company recognizes deferred tax liabilities and assets based on the difference between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using the enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The measurement of deferred tax assets is reduced, if necessary, by the amount of any tax benefits that, based on available evidence, are not expected to be realized.

Current income tax expenses are provided for in accordance with the laws of the relevant taxing authorities. As part of the process of preparing financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates. The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for tax consequences in future years based on differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements at each year-end and tax loss carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates applicable for the differences that are expected to affect taxable income.

The Company will include interest and penalties arising from the underpayment of income taxes in the provision for income taxes. As of March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018, the Company had no accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. bill commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Reform Act”) was enacted, which significantly changes U.S. tax law by, among other things, lowering corporate income tax rates, implementing a territorial tax system and imposing a repatriation tax on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. The Tax Reform Act permanently reduces the U.S. corporate income tax rate from a maximum of 35% to a flat 21% rate, effective January 1, 2018. The Tax Reform Act also provided for a one-time deemed repatriation of post-1986 undistributed foreign subsidiary earnings and profits (“E&P”) through the year ended December 31, 2017. The Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income ("GILTI") provisions of the Tax Reform Act require the Company to include in its U.S. income tax return foreign subsidiary earnings in excess of an allowable return on the foreign subsidiary’s tangible assets. The Company may be subject to incremental U.S. tax on GILTI income beginning in 2018, depending upon expense allocations and the applicable U.S. foreign tax credit rules.  The  Company has presented the deferred tax impacts of GILTI tax in its consolidated financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2019.

Financial instruments  

Financial instruments are carried at fair value as described below.

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value measurement is based on the presumption that the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability takes place either in the principal market for the asset or liability, or in the absence of a principal market, in the most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value is the current bid price for financial assets, current ask price for financial liabilities and the average of current bid and ask prices when the Company is both in short and long positions for the financial instrument. A financial instrument is regarded as quoted in an active market if quoted prices are readily and regularly available from an exchange or other institution and those prices represent actual and regularly occurring market transactions on an arm’s length basis.

Leases

Rent payable under operating leases is charged to expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the relevant lease.

Fixed assets

Fixed assets are carried at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Maintenance, repairs, and minor renewals are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range between three and seven years.

Advertising expense

For the years ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had expenses related to advertising in the amount of $4,500 and $1,384, respectively. All costs associated with advertising are expensed in the period incurred.

Recent accounting pronouncements

In May 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-06, Codification Improvements to Topic 942, Financial Services - Depository and Lending. The FASB issued this Update to supersede outdated guidance related to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s Banking Circular 202, Accounting for Net Deferred Tax Charges (Circular 202). The Board has an ongoing project on its agenda about Codification improvements to clarify the FASB Accounting Standards Codification or to correct unintended application of guidance. Those Codification improvement items generally are not expected to have a significant effect on current accounting practice or to create a significant administrative cost for most entities. The amendments in this Update are of a similar nature, and, therefore, the Board is addressing the improvements through the Codification improvements project. The Board decided to issue a separate Update to increase stakeholders’ awareness of the improvements to Topic 942, Financial Services—Depository and Lending. The amendments in this Update remove outdated guidance related to Circular 202 and should have no effect on reporting entities.

ASU 2016-02, “Leases,” ASU 2018-01, “Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842,” ASU 2018-10, “Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases” and ASU 2018-11, “Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements”: In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 which requires entities to include substantially all leases on the balance sheet by requiring the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for all leases. Entities may elect to exclude from the balance sheet those leases with a maximum possible term of less than 12 months. For lessees, a lease is classified as finance or operating, and the asset and liability are initially measured at the present value of the lease payments. For lessors, accounting for leases is largely unchanged from previous provisions of U.S. GAAP, other than certain changes to align lessor accounting to specific changes made to lessee accounting and ASC 606. ASU 2016-02 also requires new qualitative and quantitative disclosures for both lessees and lessors. In July 2018 the FASB adopted ASU 2018-10 which makes technical corrections and clarifications to the accounting guidance in Topic 842.

For public entities, ASU 2016-02, 2018-01, 2018-10, 2018-11, 2018-20 and 2019-01 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods therein, with early adoption permitted. ASU 2016-02 requires lessees and lessors to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. ASU 2018-11 provides entities an optional transition method to apply the new guidance as of the adoption date, rather than as of the earliest period presented. In transition, entities may elect certain practical expedients when applying ASU 2016-02. These include a package of practical expedients that must be applied in its entirety to all leases commencing before the effective date, unless the lease is modified, to not reassess (a) the existence of a lease, (b) lease classification or (c) determination of initial direct costs, which effectively allows entities to carryforward accounting conclusions under previous U.S. GAAP. ASU 2016-02 also includes a practical expedient to use hindsight in making judgments when determining the lease term and any long-lived asset impairment. ASU 2018-01 allows entities to elect a practical expedient that would exclude application of ASU 2016-02 to land easements that existed prior to its adoption, if they were not accounted for as leases under previous U.S. GAAP. ASU 2018-11 provides a lessor practical expedient for separating lease and non-lease components. The Company plans to apply the practical expedients permitted within the guidance, which allows the Company to carryforward its historical lease classification, and to apply the transition option which does not require application of the guidance to comparative periods in the year of adoption. ASU 2018-20 affect the amendments in Update 2016-02, which are not yet effective but can be early adopted. ASU 2019-01 brings attention to issues related to Update 2016-02: (a) determining the fair value of the underlying asset by lessors that are not manufacturers or dealers; (b) Presentation on the statement of cash flows—sales-type and direct financing leases; (c) Transition disclosures related to Topic 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections. The adoption of this ASU will result in the recognition of significant right-of-use assets and lease liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The preparation for adoption is ongoing, including the assessment of other potential impacts of this ASU, which includes analysis of potential transitional adjustments to Stockholders’ equity and impact of adoption on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. In March 2014, the Board issued a proposed FASB Concepts Statement, Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting—Chapter 8: Notes to Financial Statements, which the Board finalized on August 28, 2018. The disclosure framework project’s objective and primary focus are to improve the effectiveness of disclosures in the notes to financial statements by facilitating clear communication of the information required by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The amendments in this Update modify the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, based on the concepts in the Concepts Statement, including the consideration of costs and benefits. The amendments in this Update apply to all entities that are required, under existing GAAP, to make disclosures about recurring or nonrecurring fair value measurements. The amendments in this Update are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-19 Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses. On June 16, 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which introduced an expected credit loss methodology for the impairment of financial assets measured at amortized cost basis. That methodology replaces the probable, incurred loss model for those assets. Through that Update, the Board added Topic 326 and made several consequential amendments to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. The amendment clarifies that receivables arising from operating leases are not within the scope of Subtopic 326-20. Instead, impairment of receivables arising from operating leases should be accounted for in accordance with Topic 842, Leases. For public business entities that are U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filers, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The effective date and transition requirements for the amendments in this Update are the same as the effective dates and transition requirements in Update 2016-13, as amended by this Update. The Company does not expect material impact from new guidance on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-19 Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses. On June 16, 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which introduced an expected credit loss methodology for the impairment of financial assets measured at amortized cost basis. That methodology replaces the probable, incurred loss model for those assets. Through that Update, the Board added Topic 326 and made several consequential amendments to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. The amendment clarifies that receivables arising from operating leases are not within the scope of Subtopic 326-20. Instead, impairment of receivables arising from operating leases should be accounted for in accordance with Topic 842, Leases. For public business entities that are U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filers, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The effective date and transition requirements for the amendments in this Update are the same as the effective dates and transition requirements in Update 2016-13, as amended by this Update. The Company does not expect material impact from new guidance on its condensed consolidated financial statements.