Document
false0001156375 0001156375 2020-02-12 2020-02-12


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 
_________________________________________________________
FORM 8-K
 
_________________________________________________________
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) February 12, 2020
 
 _________________________________________________________
CME GROUP INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) 
_________________________________________________________ 
Delaware
 
001-31553
 
36-4459170
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
 
(Commission
File No.)
 
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
20 South Wacker Drive
Chicago
Illinois
 
60606
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
 
 
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (312930-1000
N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) 
______________________________________________________
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading symbol
Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock
CME
Nasdaq
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405) of this chapter or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.





Item 2.02.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
The information set forth under “Item 2.02. Results Of Operations and Financial Condition,” including the Exhibit attached hereto, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Attached and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 99.1 is a copy of a press release of CME Group Inc. dated February 12, 2020, reporting CME Group Inc.’s financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2019.
To supplement CME Group’s financial statements on a GAAP basis, the attached press release includes financial measures that are not in accordance with GAAP, consisting of non-GAAP net income and earnings per share. Management believes that the presentation of non-GAAP net income and earnings per share provide important supplemental information to management and investors about financial and business trends relating to CME Group Inc.’s financial condition and results of operations. Management believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provide a better measure of comparability with the Company’s prior financial reports. Management acknowledges that non-GAAP adjustments may include recurring items. These non-GAAP measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation G, CME Group Inc. has included a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in the press release.
 
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 
 
 
Exhibit
Number
  
Description
 
 
99.1

  
104

 
The cover page from CME Group Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL.







SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CME Group Inc.
 
 
Registrant
 
 
 
Date: February 12, 2020
 
By:
 
/s/ Kathleen M. Cronin
 
 
Name:
 
Kathleen M. Cronin
 
 
Title:
 
Senior Managing Director, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary












































Exhibit






Exhibit 99.1
 
https://cdn.kscope.io/bd2e059225ab4909eb4072ab2adc7b4b-cmegpressrelease.jpg
 
 
Media contact
Investor contact
 
Anita Liskey, 312.466.4613
John Peschier, 312.930.8491
 
Chris Grams, 312.930.3435
CME-G
 
news@cmegroup.com
 
 
www.cmegroup.mediaroom.com
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CME Group Inc. Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2019 Financial Results
CHICAGO, February 12, 2020 - CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CME) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2019.
The company reported revenue of $1.1 billion and operating income of $573 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. Net income was $469 million and diluted earnings per share were $1.31. On an adjusted basis, net income was $544 million and diluted earnings per share were $1.52. Financial results presented on an adjusted basis for the fourth quarter of 2019 and 2018 exclude certain items, which are detailed in the reconciliation of non-GAAP results.1 
Total revenue for full-year 2019 was $4.9 billion and operating income was $2.6 billion. Net income was $2.1 billion and diluted earnings per share were $5.91. On an adjusted basis, net income was $2.4 billion, and diluted earnings per share were $6.80.
"During 2019, we delivered significant client value and efficiencies through the continued, successful integration of the NEX business and the introduction of innovative new products,” said CME Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Terry Duffy. “At the same time, international clients turned to our markets to manage risk in record numbers, driven by double-digit increases in Asia and Latin America. Year to date, trading volume has increased, especially in commodities, which points to the diversity of our product offering amid rising volatility and uncertainty. Looking ahead, we remain focused on a number of integration milestones, including the launch of BrokerTec fixed income markets alongside our benchmark futures and options on CME Globex in 2020."

Fourth-quarter 2019 average daily volume (ADV) was 16.9 million contracts, down 19% compared with the strong fourth-quarter 2018. Non-U.S. ADV for full-year 2019 reached a record 4.9 million contracts, up 10% compared with full-year 2018, including 7% growth in Europe, 20% growth in Asia and 47% growth in Latin America.

1. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial results mentioned to the respective GAAP figures can be found within the Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Measures chart at the end of the financial statements and earnings presentation materials.

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Page 2

Clearing and transaction fees revenue for fourth-quarter 2019 totaled $901 million. The total average rate per contract was $0.717, up 3% compared with third-quarter 2019. Market data revenue totaled $130 million for fourth-quarter 2019.
As of December 31, 2019, the company had approximately $1.7 billion in cash (including $100 million deposited with Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (FICC) and included in other current assets) and $3.7 billion of debt. The company declared dividends during 2019 of
$2 billion, including the annual variable dividend of $894 million. The company has returned approximately $13.2 billion to shareholders in the form of dividends since the implementation of the variable dividend policy in early 2012.

CME Group will hold a Q&A conference call to discuss fourth-quarter 2019 results at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time today. A live audio webcast of the Q&A call will be available on the Investor Relations section of CME Group’s website at www.cmegroup.com. An archived recording will be available for up to two months after the call.

As the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, CME Group (www.cmegroup.com) enables clients to trade futures, options, cash and OTC markets, optimize portfolios, and analyze data - empowering market participants worldwide to efficiently manage risk and capture opportunities. CME Group exchanges offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes based on interest ratesequity indexesforeign exchangeenergyagricultural products and metals.  The company offers futures and options on futures trading through the CME Globex® platform, fixed income trading via BrokerTec and foreign exchange trading on the EBS platform. In addition, it operates one of the world's leading central counterparty clearing providers, CME Clearing. With a range of pre- and post-trade products and services underpinning the entire lifecycle of a trade, CME Group also offers optimization and reconciliation services through TriOptima, and trade processing services through Traiana.

CME Group, the Globe logo, CME, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Globex, and, E-mini are trademarks of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.  CBOT and Chicago Board of Trade are trademarks of Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.  NYMEX, New York Mercantile Exchange and ClearPort are trademarks of New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc.  COMEX is a trademark of Commodity Exchange, Inc. BrokerTec, EBS, TriOptima, and Traiana are trademarks of BrokerTec Europe LTD, EBS Group LTD, TriOptima AB, and Traiana, Inc., respectively. Dow Jones, Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and S&P are service and/or trademarks of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and S&P/Dow Jones Indices LLC, as the case may be, and have been licensed for use by Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.










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Page 3


Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. We want to caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the factors that might affect our performance are increasing competition by foreign and domestic entities, including increased competition from new entrants into our markets and consolidation of existing entities; our ability to keep pace with rapid technological developments, including our ability to complete the development, implementation and maintenance of the enhanced functionality required by our customers while maintaining reliability and ensuring that such technology is not vulnerable to security risks; our ability to continue introducing competitive new products and services on a timely, cost-effective basis, including through our electronic trading capabilities, and our ability to maintain the competitiveness of our existing products and services, including our ability to provide effective services to the swaps market; our ability to adjust our fixed costs and expenses if our revenues decline; our ability to maintain existing customers at substantially similar trading levels, develop strategic relationships and attract new customers; our ability to expand and globally offer our products and services; changes in regulations, including the impact of any changes in laws or government policy with respect to our products or services or our industry, such as any changes to regulations and policies that require increased financial and operational resources from us or our customers; the costs associated with protecting our intellectual property rights and our ability to operate our business without violating the intellectual property rights of others; decreases in revenue from our market data as a result of decreased demand or changes to regulations in various jurisdictions; changes in our rate per contract due to shifts in the mix of the products traded, the trading venue and the mix of customers (whether the customer receives member or non-member fees or participates in one of our various incentive programs) and the impact of our tiered pricing structure; the ability of our credit and liquidity risk management practices to adequately protect us from the credit risks of clearing members and other counterparties, and to satisfy the margin and liquidity requirements associated with the BrokerTec matched principal business; the ability of our compliance and risk management methods to effectively monitor and manage our risks, including our ability to prevent errors and misconduct and protect our infrastructure against security breaches and misappropriation of our intellectual property assets; our dependence on third-party providers and exposure to risk through third-parties, including risks related to the performance, reliability and security of technology used by our third-party providers; volatility in commodity, equity and fixed income prices, and price volatility of financial benchmarks and instruments such as interest rates, credit spreads, equity indices, fixed income instruments and foreign exchange rates; economic, social, political and market conditions, including the volatility of the capital and credit markets and the impact of economic conditions on the trading activity of our current and potential customers; our ability to accommodate increases in contract volume and order transaction traffic and to implement enhancements without failure or degradation of the performance of our trading and clearing systems; our ability to execute our growth strategy and maintain our growth effectively; our ability to manage the risks, control the costs and achieve the synergies associated with our strategy for acquisitions, investments and alliances, including those associated with the acquisition of NEX; our ability to continue to generate funds and/or manage our indebtedness to allow us to continue to invest in our business; industry and customer consolidation; decreases in trading and clearing activity; the imposition of a transaction tax or user fee on futures and options on futures transactions and/or repeal of the 60/40 tax treatment of such transactions; our ability to maintain our reputation; and the unfavorable resolution of material legal proceedings.  For a detailed discussion of these and other factors that might affect our performance, see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent periodic reports filed on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.
 



# # #










CME Group Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in millions)
 
 
 
December 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Current Assets:
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1,551.4

 
$
1,374.5

Marketable securities
 
83.2

 
72.9

Accounts receivable, net of allowance
 
491.8

 
553.3

Other current assets (includes $4.3 and $1.5 in restricted cash)
 
364.4

 
430.5

Performance bonds and guaranty fund contributions
 
37,077.0

 
39,455.5

Total current assets
 
39,567.8

 
41,886.7

Property, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization
 
544.0

 
448.7

Intangible assets—trading products
 
17,175.3

 
17,175.3

Intangible assets—other, net
 
5,117.7

 
5,500.1

Goodwill
 
10,742.5

 
10,805.3

Other assets (includes $0.9 and $1.2 in restricted cash)
 
2,068.0

 
1,659.6

Total Assets
 
$
75,215.3

 
$
77,475.7

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Current Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
 
$
61.9

 
$
116.0

Short-term debt
 

 
574.2

Other current liabilities
 
1,384.8

 
1,126.9

Performance bonds and guaranty fund contributions
 
37,075.8

 
39,455.5

Total current liabilities
 
38,522.5

 
41,272.6

Long-term debt
 
3,743.2

 
3,826.8

Deferred income tax liabilities, net
 
5,635.2

 
5,665.9

Other liabilities
 
1,155.1

 
745.1

Total Liabilities
 
49,056.0

 
51,510.4

CME Group Shareholders’ Equity
 
26,128.9

 
25,918.5

Non-controlling interests
 
30.4

 
46.8

Total Equity
 
26,159.3

 
25,965.3

Total Liabilities and Equity
 
$
75,215.3

 
$
77,475.7





















CME Group Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts; shares in thousands)
 
 
Quarter Ended
December 31,
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Clearing and transaction fees
 
$
901.0

 
$
1,034.8

 
$
3,946.1

 
$
3,667.0

Market data and information services
 
130.3

 
130.2

 
518.5

 
449.6

Other
 
107.1

 
71.6

 
403.4

 
192.8

Total Revenues
 
1,138.4

 
1,236.6

 
4,868.0

 
4,309.4

Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
 
217.6

 
223.8

 
898.7

 
672.2

Technology
 
53.1

 
41.8

 
201.5

 
117.2

Professional fees and outside services
 
49.8

 
60.3

 
174.1

 
166.1

Amortization of purchased intangibles
 
78.1

 
59.0

 
314.7

 
130.0

Depreciation and amortization
 
38.0

 
32.9

 
158.6

 
118.7

Licensing and other fee agreements
 
41.3

 
47.8

 
172.2

 
170.6

Other
 
87.5

 
121.1

 
360.4

 
327.0

Total Expenses
 
565.4

 
586.7

 
2,280.2

 
1,701.8

Operating Income
 
573.0

 
649.9

 
2,587.8

 
2,607.6

Non-Operating Income (Expense)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment income
 
147.6

 
185.3

 
637.9

 
745.1

Interest and other borrowing costs
 
(42.0
)
 
(49.5
)
 
(178.0
)
 
(157.7
)
Equity in net earnings (losses) of unconsolidated subsidiaries
 
44.5

 
39.2

 
176.8

 
152.8

Other non-operating income (expense)
 
(99.0
)
 
(154.4
)
 
(534.9
)
 
(570.0
)
Total Non-Operating Income (Expense)
 
51.1

 
20.6

 
101.8

 
170.2

Income before Income Taxes
 
624.1

 
670.5

 
2,689.6

 
2,777.8

Income tax provision
 
155.1

 
283.5

 
573.8

 
814.1

Net Income
 
469.0

 
387.0

 
2,115.8

 
1,963.7

Less: net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests
 
0.5

 
(1.5
)
 
0.7

 
(1.5
)
Net Income Attributable to CME Group
 
$
469.5

 
$
385.5

 
$
2,116.5

 
$
1,962.2

Earnings per Common Share Attributable to CME Group:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
1.31

 
$
1.10

 
$
5.93

 
$
5.73

Diluted
 
1.31

 
1.09

 
5.91

 
5.71

Weighted Average Number of Common Shares:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
357,456

 
350,921

 
357,155

 
342,344

Diluted
 
358,354

 
352,132

 
358,239

 
343,737













CME Group Inc. and Subsidiaries
Quarterly Operating Statistics
 
 
 
4Q 2018
 
1Q 2019
 
2Q 2019
 
3Q 2019
 
4Q 2019
Trading Days
 
64

 
61

 
63

 
64

 
64

Quarterly Average Daily Volume (ADV)(1) 
CME Group ADV (in thousands)
 
Product Line
 
4Q 2018
 
1Q 2019
 
2Q 2019
 
3Q 2019
 
4Q 2019
Interest rates
 
10,919

 
10,313

 
11,593

 
10,868

 
8,638

Equity indexes
 
4,510

 
3,161

 
3,480

 
3,931

 
3,252

Foreign exchange
 
942

 
885

 
874

 
850

 
839

Energy
 
2,665

 
2,331

 
2,498

 
2,456

 
2,213

Agricultural commodities
 
1,248

 
1,381

 
1,839

 
1,320

 
1,278

Metals
 
547

 
561

 
633

 
821

 
652

Total
 
20,831

 
18,633

 
20,918

 
20,247

 
16,872

Venue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CME Globex
 
19,024

 
16,576

 
18,505

 
18,282

 
15,356

Open outcry
 
1,128

 
1,284

 
1,501

 
1,177

 
867

Privately negotiated
 
680

 
773

 
912

 
788

 
650

Total
 
20,831

 
18,633

 
20,918

 
20,247

 
16,872

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. ADV includes futures and options on futures only.
Quarterly Average Rate Per Contract (RPC)
CME Group RPC
 
Product Line
 
4Q 2018
 
1Q 2019
 
2Q 2019
 
3Q 2019
 
4Q 2019
Interest rates
 
$
0.475

 
$
0.481

 
$
0.476

 
$
0.500

 
$
0.507

Equity indexes
 
0.715

 
0.757

 
0.676

 
0.612

 
0.654

Foreign exchange
 
0.720

 
0.763

 
0.713

 
0.720

 
0.732

Energy
 
1.150

 
1.159

 
1.139

 
1.137

 
1.133

Agricultural commodities
 
1.261

 
1.246

 
1.222

 
1.234

 
1.242

Metals
 
1.428

 
1.488

 
1.455

 
1.414

 
1.344

Average RPC
 
$
0.697

 
$
0.713

 
$
0.693

 
$
0.693

 
$
0.717









 








CME Group Inc. and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Measures
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts; shares in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quarter Ended
December 31,
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Net Income Attributable to CME Group
 
$
469.5

 
$
385.5

 
$
2,116.5

 
$
1,962.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restructuring and severance
 
6.4

 
2.5

 
20.8

 
4.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of purchased intangibles
 
78.1

 
59.0

 
314.7

 
130.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Litigation matters
 

 

 

 
10.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquisition-related costs(1)
 
8.6

 
88.7

 
31.3

 
109.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange transaction (gains) losses(2)
 
5.5

 
9.1

 
7.2

 
73.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acceleration of contractual commitments
 

 
(2.3
)
 
(1.3
)
 
(1.6
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized and realized (gains) losses on investments
 
(18.3
)
 
(11.6
)
 
1.8

 
(97.5
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss on real estate sublease and related costs
 
0.5

 

 
5.9

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Gains) Losses on derivatives
 
(0.2
)
 
10.9

 
17.7

 
62.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized and unrealized (gains) losses on assets(3)
 
2.9

 
3.5

 
81.7

 
14.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt costs related to acquisition
 

 
5.1

 

 
21.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax effect related to above
 
(6.4
)
 
(26.2
)
 
(99.7
)
 
(58.8
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other income tax items
 
(2.2
)
 
100.3

 
(62.2
)
 
113.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted Net Income Attributable to CME Group
 
$
544.4

 
$
624.5

 
$
2,434.4

 
$
2,344.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GAAP Earnings per Common Share Attributable to CME Group:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Basic
 
$
1.31

 
$
1.10

 
$
5.93

 
$
5.73

     Diluted
 
1.31

 
1.09

 
5.91

 
5.71

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted Earnings per Common Share Attributable to CME Group:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Basic
 
$
1.52

 
$
1.78

 
$
6.82

 
$
6.85

     Diluted
 
1.52

 
1.77

 
6.80

 
6.82

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Basic
 
357,456

 
350,921

 
357,155

 
342,344

     Diluted
 
358,354

 
352,132

 
358,239

 
343,737

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. Acquisition-related costs primarily include professional fees related to the NEX transaction.
2. Results include foreign exchange transaction net gains and losses principally related to cash held in British pounds within entities whose functional currency is the U.S. dollar.
3. Results include net gains and losses on intangible assets, fixed assets and assets held for sale.