# CITIC SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL USA, LLC X-17A-5 (2023-03-30) — Broker-dealer annual report

- Company: CITIC SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL USA, LLC
- Form: X-17A-5
- Filed: 2023-03-30
- Period: 2022-12-31
- Accession: 0001522643-23-000004
- CIK: 1522643
- File #: 8-68887
- Type: Broker-dealer
- Material weakness: No
- Auditor: PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- Auditor location: New York, NY
- Contact: William C Holub
- Phone: 212.549.5062
- Email: william.holub@clsa.com
- Website: clsa.com
- Signed by: William C Holub (Chief Financial Officer)

Original filing: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1522643/000152264323000004/2022_PUBLIC_REPORT2.pdf

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**(a wholly-owned subsidiary of CLSA Americas Holdings, Inc.)**

**Statement of Financial Condition Pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Rule 17a-5 December 31, 2022 (With Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm's Report Thereon)** 

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| UNITED STATES<br>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<br>Washington, D.C. 20549<br>ANNUAL REPORTS<br>FORM X-17A-5<br>PART II<br>FACING PAGE |                                                            |            | OMB APPROVAL<br>OMB Number: 3235-0123<br>Expires: Oct. 31, 2023<br>Estimated average burden<br>hours per response: 12<br>SEC FILE NUMBER<br>8-68887 |                                            |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| Information Required Pursuant to Rules 17a-5, 17a-12, and 18a-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934                                 |                                                            |            |                                                                                                                                                     | 12/31/22                                   |
| FILING FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING                                                                                                           | 01/01/22<br>MM/DD/YY                                       | AND ENDING |                                                                                                                                                     | MM/DD/YY                                   |
|                                                                                                                                           | A. REGISTRANT IDENTIFICATION                               |            |                                                                                                                                                     |                                            |
| NAME OF FIRM: __                                                                                                                          | CITIC Securities International USA, LLC                    |            |                                                                                                                                                     |                                            |
| TYPE OF REGISTRANT (check all applicable boxes):<br>& Broker-dealer<br>□ Check here if respondent is also an OTC derivatives dealer       | പ Security-based swap dealer                               |            |                                                                                                                                                     |                                            |
| ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS: (Do not use a P.O. box no.)                                                                       |                                                            |            |                                                                                                                                                     |                                            |
| 1155 Avenue of the Americas, 17th Floor                                                                                                   |                                                            |            |                                                                                                                                                     |                                            |
|                                                                                                                                           | (No. and Street)                                           |            |                                                                                                                                                     |                                            |
| New York                                                                                                                                  | NY                                                         |            | 10036                                                                                                                                               |                                            |
| (City)                                                                                                                                    | (State)                                                    |            | (Zip Code)                                                                                                                                          |                                            |
| PERSON TO CONTACT WITH REGARD TO THIS FILING                                                                                              |                                                            |            |                                                                                                                                                     |                                            |
| William Holub                                                                                                                             | (212) 549-5062                                             |            | william.holub@clsa.com                                                                                                                              |                                            |
| (Name)                                                                                                                                    | (Area Code - Telephone Number)                             |            | (Email Address)                                                                                                                                     |                                            |
|                                                                                                                                           | B. ACCOUNTANT IDENTIFICATION                               |            |                                                                                                                                                     |                                            |
| INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT whose reports are contained in this filing*<br>PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP                                   |                                                            |            |                                                                                                                                                     |                                            |
|                                                                                                                                           | (Name - if individual, state last, first, and middle name) |            |                                                                                                                                                     |                                            |
| 300 Madison Avenue                                                                                                                        | New York                                                   |            | NY                                                                                                                                                  | 10017                                      |
| (Address)                                                                                                                                 | (City)                                                     |            | (State)                                                                                                                                             | (Zip Code)                                 |
| (Date of Registration with PCAOB)(if applicable)                                                                                          | FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY                                      |            |                                                                                                                                                     | (PCAOB Registration Number, if applicable) |
| * Claims for exemption from the requirement that the annual reports of an independent public                                              |                                                            |            |                                                                                                                                                     |                                            |

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(a wholly-owned subsidiary of CLSA Americas Holdings, Inc.)

#### December 31, 2022

#### **Table of Contents**

|                                                         | Page |
|---------------------------------------------------------|------|
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 1    |
| Financial Statements                                    |      |
| Statement of Financial Condition                        | 2    |
| Notes to Statement of Financial Condition               | 3–11 |

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![](_page_4_Picture_0.jpeg)

#### **Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm**

To the Board of Managers and Shareholder of CITIC Securities International USA, LLC

#### *Opinion on the Financial Statement – Statement of Financial Condition*

We have audited the accompanying statement of financial condition of CITIC Securities International USA, LLC (the "Company") as of December 31, 2022, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statement"). In our opinion, the financial statement presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

#### *Basis for Opinion*

The financial statement is the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statement based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit of this financial statement in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statement, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statement. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

March 29, 2023

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2017.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP*, 300 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10017-6204 T: (646) 471 3000, www.pwc.com/us* 

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(a wholly-owned subsidiary of CLSA Americas Holdings, Inc.)

#### **Statement of Financial Condition**

December 31, 2022

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

#### **ASSETS**

| Cash and cash equivalents                                        | \$<br>1,909  |
|------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|
| Receivables:                                                     |              |
| Clearing firm                                                    | 730          |
| Customers                                                        | 101          |
| Securities owned, at fair value                                  | 30,256       |
| Furniture and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of \$13 | 13           |
| Right-of-use asset, net of accumulated depreciation of \$15      | 266          |
| Deferred tax assets                                              | 2,643        |
| Other assets                                                     | 8            |
| Total assets                                                     | \$<br>35,926 |
|                                                                  |              |

#### **LIABILITIES AND MEMBER'S EQUITY**

| Payables to affiliates                 | \$<br>112   |
|----------------------------------------|-------------|
| Accrued compensation and benefits      | 18          |
| Lease liabilities                      | 296         |
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 770         |
| Total liabilities                      | \$<br>1,196 |
| Commitments and contingencies, Note 12 |             |

| Member's equity                       | 34,730       |
|---------------------------------------|--------------|
| Total liabilities and member's equity | \$<br>35,926 |

The Accompanying notes are an integral part of the Statement of Financial Condition

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#### **Notes to Statement of Financial Condition**

December 31, 2022

(U.S. dollars in thousands unless otherwise noted)

#### **(1) Business Description and Organization**

CITIC Securities International USA, LLC (the "Company") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CLSA Americas Holdings, Inc. (the "Parent"), which is wholly-owned by CLSA BV ("CLSA"), which is wholly-owned by CITIC Securities International Company Limited ("CITIC"). The Company is a single member Limited Liability Company ("LLC") with the Parent, a Delaware corporation, as the sole member. The Company is a regulated member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA"). The Company provides brokerage services in U.S. Treasuries to institutional investors.

#### **(2) Significant Accounting Policies**

# *(a) Basis of Presentation*

 The Statement of Financial Condition has been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

#### *(b) Use of Estimates*

 The preparation of the Statement of Financial Condition requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Statement of Financial Condition. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

#### *(c) Cash and Cash Equivalents*

 Cash and cash equivalents include cash maintained at one major global bank. Given this concentration, the Company is exposed to certain credit risk. Due to the short-term nature of these instruments, the recorded value has been determined to approximate fair value.

#### *(d) Loss Contingencies*

With respect to all significant matters, the Company considers the likelihood of a negative outcome. If the Company determines the likelihood of a negative outcome is probable, and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, the Company records an estimated loss for the expected outcome of the matter. If the likelihood of a negative outcome is at least reasonably possible, and no accrual for an estimated loss has been made or an exposure to loss exists in excess of the amount accrued, the Company discloses that fact together with the estimate of the possible loss or range of loss, or a statement that such an estimate cannot be made.

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#### **Notes to Statement of Financial Condition**

December 31, 2022

#### (U.S. dollars in thousands unless otherwise noted)

### *(e) Income Taxes*

 The Company is a Limited Liability Company which is a disregarded entity for U.S. tax purposes. The Company's income or loss is included in the Parent's U.S. corporate income tax returns with the Parent taxed as a C corporation. The Company applies a modified benefit-for-loss method. This means income taxes are generally calculated as if the Company files on a separate return basis, but the net operating loss or other tax attributes of the Company are characterized as realized or realizable when such attributes are realized or realizable by the consolidated tax group, even if the Company would not otherwise have realized the attributes on a stand-alone basis. The amount of the current tax expense/(benefit) is recorded as a (payable)/receivable from the Parent. During 2022 the Company did not change its tax allocation policy.

Deferred income taxes are recorded for the effects of temporary differences between the reported amounts in the Statement of Financial Condition and the tax basis of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future based on tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company assesses its ability to realize deferred tax assets primarily based on the Parent's future earnings potential and the reversal of taxable temporary differences when recognizing deferred assets. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

 The Company follows accounting principles related to the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. In this regard, the Company is required to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation process, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax expense to be recognized is measured as the amount of expense that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement, which could result in the Company recording a tax liability.

See *Note 5*, Income Taxes, for additional detail.

### *(f) Securities Owned, at fair value*

Trading investments are stated at fair value.

See *Note 3*, Fair Value, for additional detail.

### *(g)Employee Benefit Plan*

The Company's contributions to the defined contribution plan are predetermined by the terms of the plan, which outline the amount to be contributed for each employee for each year.

See *Note 7*, Employee Benefit Plans, for additional detail.

### *(h)Deferred Compensation*

The Company amortizes all deferred compensation on a straight-line method over the life of the award.

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#### **Notes to Statement of Financial Condition**

December 31, 2022

(U.S. dollars in thousands unless otherwise noted)

# *(i) Receivables from Clearing Firm*

Securities transactions are cleared through the Company's clearing firm on a fully-disclosed basis. Receivables from clearing firm include prior months' commissions earned on these transactions less costs charged by the clearing firm to settle these transactions. Receivables from clearing firm also include cash or deficit cash balances in the Company's proprietary accounts at the clearing firm, and a \$500 cash clearing deposit.

# *(j) Furniture and Equipment*

The Company's policy is to capitalize furniture, equipment and software with a cost greater than \$2. The Company depreciates its capitalized assets over the estimated useful life, which typically ranges from 3 to 5 years.

# *(k)Right-of-use Assets*

The Company's policy is to capitalize operating leases with a duration longer than 12 months. The Company amortizes its right-of-use assets over the life of the lease.

### *(l) Evaluation of Credit Losses*

 The Company accounts for estimated credit losses on financial assets measured at an amortized cost basis and certain off-balance sheet credit exposures in accordance with FASB ASC 326-20, *Financial Instruments – Credit Losses*. FASB ASC 326-20 requires the Company to estimate expected credit losses over the life of its financial assets and certain off-balance sheet exposures as of the reporting date based on relevant information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts.

The Company records the estimate of expected credit losses as an allowance for credit losses.

#### *Receivables from clearing firm.*

The Company's receivables from clearing firm primarily includes cash and clearing deposits. The Company's trades are cleared through a clearing organization and settled daily between the clearing organization and the Clearing Firm. Because of this daily settlement of trades and periodic settlement of cash, the amount of unsettled credit exposures is limited to the amount owed the Company for a very short period of time.

The Company reviews the credit quality of its counterparty on a regular basis. The Company has a multi-year relationship with the Clearing Firm with no history of credit losses. The Company's estimate of credit losses considers this history, current conditions, and a reasonable and supportable forecast over the life of the receivable.

The Company has not had any historical losses related to these receivables. Estimated credit losses for these receivables were not material as of December 31, 2022.

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#### **Notes to Statement of Financial Condition**

December 31, 2022

#### (U.S. dollars in thousands unless otherwise noted)

#### **(3) Fair Value**

FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 820 defines fair value as 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 measure date. Various valuation inputs are used to determine the fair value of assets or liabilities. Such inputs are defined broadly as follows:

- x Level 1 Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reported date.
- x Level 2 Quoted prices in markets that are not active or other pricing inputs that are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reported date.
- x Level 3 Prices or valuation techniques that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable as of the reported date. These financial instruments do not have two-way markets and are measured using management's best estimate of fair value, where the inputs into the determination of fair value require significant management judgment or estimation.

The Company's policy is to recognize transfers between levels at year-end. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company did not have any such transfers.

The table below presents the carrying value of the Company's financial instruments at fair value. The table excludes the values of non-financial assets and liabilities.

|                                     | Fair Value |          |         | Carrying |  |
|-------------------------------------|------------|----------|---------|----------|--|
|                                     | Level 1    | Level 2  | Level 3 | Value    |  |
| Securities owned, at fair value     | \$<br>-    | \$30,256 | \$<br>- | \$30,256 |  |
| Total assets measured at fair value | \$<br>-    | \$30,256 | \$<br>- | \$30,256 |  |

Following is a description of the fair value methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy:

Securities owned, at fair value: The Company holds U.S. treasury securities, which are deposited with the Company's clearing firm. These securities are valued based on quoted yields in secondary markets and are thus included in Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy.

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(a wholly-owned subsidiary of CLSA Americas Holdings, Inc.)

#### **Notes to Statement of Financial Condition**

December 31, 2022

(U.S. dollars in thousands unless otherwise noted)

#### **Estimated Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities Not Measured at Fair Value**

The Company estimates that the fair value of its remaining financial assets and liabilities as recognized on the Statement of Financial Condition approximates their carrying value because they have limited counterparty credit risk and are short-term replaceable on demand or bear interest at market rates.

|                           | Fair Value |          |         |         | Carrying |
|---------------------------|------------|----------|---------|---------|----------|
|                           | Level 1    |          | Level 2 | Level 3 | Value    |
| Cash and cash equivalents | \$         | 1,909    | -       | -       | \$1,909  |
| Receivables-Clearing Firm |            | 500      | \$230   | -       | 730      |
| Receivables-Customers     |            | -        | 101     | -       | 101      |
| Total assets              | \$         | 2,409    | \$331   | -       | \$2,740  |
|                           |            | Carrying |         |         |          |
|                           |            | Level 1  | Level 2 | Level 3 | Value    |
| Payables-Affiliates       |            | -        | \$112   | -       | \$112    |
| Total liabilities         |            | -        | \$112   | -       | \$112    |

#### **(4) Right-of-use Asset and Lease Liabilities**

Upon adoption of ASU 2016-02, the Company applied a modified retrospective transition and as such recognized lease liabilities in relation to leases which had previously been classified as 'operating leases' under generally accepted account principles of the United States of America. These liabilities were measured at the present value of the remaining lease payments, discounted using the Company's borrowing rates.

The weighted average maturity of the lease liability is 10 years.

The weighted average borrowing rate applied to the lease liabilities was 3.99%.

Maturities of lease liabilities under non-cancellable operating leases as of December 31, 2022 are as follows:

|                                   | Payments  |  |  |
|-----------------------------------|-----------|--|--|
| Year                              | Due       |  |  |
| 2023                              | \$<br>41  |  |  |
| 2024                              | 33        |  |  |
| 2025                              | 33        |  |  |
| 2026                              | 33        |  |  |
| 2027 and after                    | 214       |  |  |
| Total undiscounted lease payments | 354       |  |  |
| Less: Imputed interest            | (58)      |  |  |
| Total lease liabilities           | \$<br>296 |  |  |

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(a wholly-owned subsidiary of CLSA Americas Holdings, Inc.)

#### **Notes to Statement of Financial Condition**

December 31, 2022

#### (U.S. dollars in thousands unless otherwise noted)

#### **(5) Income Taxes**

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Deferred tax assets are associated with bonuses that are not currently deductible for tax purposes, depreciation not currently deductible for tax purposes, accrued expenses, deferred rent and net operating loss carryforward. The tax effect of significant items comprising the net deferred tax asset is as follows:

| Net deferred tax asset         | \$<br>2,643 |
|--------------------------------|-------------|
| Net operating loss carryfoward | 2,442       |
| Right-of-use asset             | (60)        |
| Deferred rent                  | 67          |
| Accrued expenses               | 149         |
| Compensation and other items   | \$<br>45    |
| Deferred tax asset:            |             |

The Company regularly evaluates the need for deferred tax asset valuation allowances based on a more likely than not standard as defined by generally accepted accounting principles. The ability to realize deferred tax assets depends on the ability to generate sufficient taxable income within the carryback or carryforward periods provided for in the tax law for each applicable tax jurisdiction. The Company considers the following possible sources of taxable income when assessing the realization of deferred tax assets:

- future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences;
- future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards;
- tax planning strategies.

The assessment regarding whether a valuation allowance is required or should be adjusted also considers all available positive and negative evidence factors, including but not limited to:

- nature, frequency and severity of recent losses;
- duration of statutory carryforward periods;
- historical experience with tax attributes expiring unused; and
- near- and medium-term financial outlook.

The evaluation of deferred tax assets requires judgment in assessing the likely future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Statement of financial condition or tax returns and future profitability. The Company's accounting for deferred taxes represents management's best estimate of those future events. Changes in the current estimates, due to unanticipated events or otherwise, could have a material effect on the Company's financial condition.

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(a wholly-owned subsidiary of CLSA Americas Holdings, Inc.)

#### **Notes to Statement of Financial Condition**

December 31, 2022

(U.S. dollars in thousands unless otherwise noted)

The Company considers objectively verifiable evidence that its current earnings model is capable of generating future taxable income sufficient to utilize the net operating loss carryforwards as of December 31, 2022.

Other positive evidence considered in connection with the Company's decision to not establish a valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets include the historic ability to utilize deferred tax assets before they expire, as well as its detailed forecasts projecting the realization of the deferred tax assets before expiration.

Upon considering all of the available positive and negative evidence, and the extent to which that evidence was objectively verifiable, the Company determined that the positive evidence outweighs the negative evidence and the deferred tax assets are more likely than not realizable.

The principal reasons for the difference between the effective tax rates and the 2022 Federal corporate statutory tax rate of 21% are non-deductibility of travel and entertainment expenses and state taxes.

The Company's Parent is subject to taxation in the United States and various state and local jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2022, the Parent's tax returns for 2019 to 2021 are subject to examination by Federal, state and local tax authorities. As of December 31, 2022, the Company has no amount of unrecognized tax benefits. For the year ended December 31, 2022 the Company has not recognized any amounts associated with unrecognized tax benefits.

As of December 31, 2022 the Company has a Federal net operating loss carryforward of \$9,470 which begin to expire in 2035.

As of December 31, 2022 the Company has State and Local net operating loss carryforwards of \$2,846 which begin to expire in 2026.

#### **(6) Related Party Transactions**

All transactions with related parties are settled in the normal course of business.

Expenses are allocated to the Company by CLSA Americas, LLC ("CLSAA"), an affiliated broker-dealer under common control of the Parent, in accordance with Service Level Agreements. The services provided to the Company primarily relate to middle and back office services. The related payable of \$33 is included in Payables to affiliates.

Certain expenses of the Company incurred in the normal course of business are paid by CLSAA, CLSA Limited and the Parent. The related payable of \$14 is included in Payables to affiliates.

The Company had a \$200,000 uncommitted revolving credit facility (the "Finance Credit Facility") with CLSA Finance, an affiliate, with no established maturity date. The Finance Credit Facility was available for the Company's business purposes, and the Company can draw under the Finance Credit Facility.

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#### **Notes to Statement of Financial Condition**

December 31, 2022

(U.S. dollars in thousands unless otherwise noted)

The Finance Credit Facility includes customary events of default (with customary grace periods, as applicable), including provisions under which, upon the occurrence of an event of default, all outstanding loans accelerated and/or lender's commitments may be terminated. Also, under such provisions, upon the occurrence of certain insolvency- or bankruptcy-related events of default, all amounts payable under the Finance Credit Facility would automatically become immediately due and payable, and the lender's commitments would automatically terminate. Amounts under the Credit Facility may be borrowed, repaid and re-borrowed by the Company from time to time.

Voluntary prepayments by the Company are permitted at any time without fee. Borrowings under the Finance Credit Facility bear interest at a prevailing market rate to be agreed between the parties from time to time.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company did not draw upon the Finance Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2022, there was no amount outstanding under the Finance Credit Facility.

The Company's application of the modified benefit-for-loss method resulted in net cash payments to the Parent of \$20. Cash payments to the Parent primarily relate to the estimated net operating loss utilization of affiliates during the year. The related payable of \$59 as of December 31, 2022 is included in Payable to Affiliates.

The Company has sub-lease agreements with CLSAA to rent a portion of CLSAA's office space. Such sub-lease rental payments that were charged against lease liabilities were \$50. The related payable of \$5 is included in Payables to affiliates.

#### **(7) Employee Benefit Plans**

The Company sponsors a defined contribution plan. The 401(k) savings plan allows participants to make before-tax contributions from 1% to 75% of their compensation, subject to the maximum allowable contribution as established by the Internal Revenue Code. The Company makes matching contributions, which will not exceed more than a total of 6% of the employee's eligible compensation. Participants are immediately vested in their contributions, earnings thereon, and employer match in the plan.

There was no associated liability.

#### **(8) Regulatory Requirements**

As a broker-dealer, the Company is subject to the Uniform Net Capital Rule 15c3-1 of the SEC Exchange Act. The Company computes its net capital under the alternative method permitted by the rule, which requires that minimum net capital, as defined, exceed \$250. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company had net capital of \$31,915, which was \$31,665 in excess of the minimum net capital requirement of \$250. Advances, dividend payments, and other equity withdrawals are restricted by the regulations of the SEC, and FINRA.

The Company claims exemption from Rule 15c3-3 under paragraph (k)(2)(ii) as all domestic transactions are cleared through another U.S. broker-dealer on a fully disclosed basis.

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#### **Notes to Statement of Financial Condition**

December 31, 2022

(U.S. dollars in thousands unless otherwise noted)

#### **(9) Risk Management**

#### *(a) Customer Activities*

 In the normal course of business, the Company's brokerage activities involve the execution of various customer securities trades, which may expose the Company to off-balance sheet risk by requiring the Company to purchase or sell securities at prevailing market prices in the event the customer is unable to fulfill its contractual obligations.

The Company's customer securities activities are transacted on a DVP/RVP basis.

In accordance with industry practice, the Company records customer transactions on a trade date basis. The Company is exposed to risk of loss on these transactions in the event of the customer's or broker's inability to meet the terms of their contracts, in which case the Company may have to purchase or sell financial instruments at prevailing market prices. The risks assumed by the Company in connection with these transactions are not currently expected to have a material adverse effect upon the Company's financial condition.

#### *(b) Other Counterparties*

The Company is engaged in various brokerage activities on behalf of clients. In the event counterparties do not fulfill their obligations, the Company may be exposed to risk. The risk of default depends on the creditworthiness of the counterparty of the instrument.

#### *(c) Market Risk*

Market risk is defined as the exposure to adverse changes in the market value of a security due to the change in the values of various risk factors. The four standard market risk categories are equity, interest rate, currency and commodity.

The Company does not engage in proprietary trading activities.

In addition, such transactions are monitored through a variety of risk measures and techniques, by establishing intra-day limits and by monitoring exposures and limits on a daily basis.

#### **(10) Commitments and Contingencies**

The Company has entered into a sub-lease with CLSAA for office space, as described in *Note 6*, Related Party Transactions. Such lease has been recorded on the books as a Right-of-use asset, as described in *Note 4*, Right-of-use Asset and Lease Liabilities.

#### **(11) Subsequent Events**

We evaluated subsequent events through March 29, 2023, the date the Statement of financial condition was available to be issued.

On February 24, 2023 the ownership of Parent was transferred from CLSA to CITIC.

No subsequent events were identified that require recognition or disclosure in the Statement of financial condition.


Source: SEC EDGAR via Adviser Search (https://search.stillhousedata.com). Agents: see https://search.stillhousedata.com/llms.txt.
