TD Ameritrade 2018 Annual Report

TD AMERITRADE HOLDING CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued) 85 defend against this litigation. The Company is unable to predict the outcome or the timing of the ultimate resolution of this litigation, or the potential losses, if any, that may result. Other Legal and Regulatory Matters — The Company is subject to a number of other lawsuits, arbitrations, claims and other legal proceedings in connectionwith its business. Some of these legal actions include claims for substantial or unspecified compensatory and/or punitive damages. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Company discusses matters with its regulators raised during regulatory examinations or otherwise subject to their inquiry. These matters could result in censures, fines, penalties or other sanctions. ASC 450, Loss Contingencies , governs the recognition and disclosure of loss contingencies, including potential losses from legal and regulatory matters. ASC 450 categorizes loss contingencies using three terms based on the likelihood of occurrence of events that result in a loss: "probable" means that "the future event or events are likely to occur;" "remote" means that "the chance of the future event or events occurring is slight;" and "reasonably possible" means that "the chance of the future event or events occurring is more than remote but less than likely." Under ASC 450, the Company accrues for losses that are considered both probable and reasonably estimable. The Company may incur losses in addition to the amounts accrued where the losses are greater than estimated by management, or for matters for which an unfavorable outcome is considered reasonably possible, but not probable. The Company estimates that the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses in excess of amounts accrued is from $0 to $175 million as of September 30, 2018. This estimated aggregate range of reasonably possible losses is based upon currently available information for those legal and regulatory matters in which the Company is involved, taking into account the Company's best estimate of reasonably possible losses for those matters as to which an estimate can be made. For certain matters, the Company does not believe an estimate can currently be made, as some matters are in preliminary stages and some matters have no specific amounts claimed. The Company's estimate involves significant judgment, given the varying stages of the proceedings and the inherent uncertainty of predicting outcomes. The estimated range will change from time to time as the underlying matters, stages of proceedings and available information change. Actual losses may vary significantly from the current estimated range. The Company believes, based on its current knowledge and after consultation with counsel, that the ultimate disposition of these legal and regulatory matters, individually or in the aggregate, is not likely to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or cash flows of the Company. However, in light of the uncertainties involved in such matters, the Company is unable to predict the outcome or the timing of the ultimate resolution of these matters, or the potential losses, fines, penalties or equitable relief, if any, that may result, and it is possible that the ultimate resolution of one or more of these matters may be material to the Company's results of operations for a particular reporting period. Income Taxes The Company's federal and state income tax returns are subject to examination by taxing authorities. Because the application of tax laws and regulations to many types of transactions is subject to varying interpretations, amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements could be significantly changed at a later date upon final determinations by taxing authorities. General Contingencies In the ordinary course of business, there are various contingencies that are not reflected in the consolidated financial statements. These include the Company's broker-dealer and FCM/FDM subsidiaries' client activities involving the execution, settlement and financing of various client securities, options, futures and foreign exchange transactions. These activities may expose the Company to credit risk in the event the clients are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations. The Company extends margin credit and leverage to its clients. In margin transactions, the Company extends credit to the client, subject to various regulatory and internal margin requirements, collateralized by cash and securities in the client's account. In connection with these activities, the Company also routes client orders for execution and clears client transactions involving the sale of securities not yet purchased ("short sales"). Such margin-related