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Business Combinations
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Business Combinations [Abstract]  
Business Combinations

We regularly explore opportunities to acquire financial services companies and businesses. Generally, we do not make a public announcement about an acquisition opportunity until a definitive agreement has been signed. For information on additional contingent consideration related to acquisitions, which is considered to be a guarantee, see Note 10.

       In first quarter 2012, we completed two acquisitions with combined total assets of $881 million consisting of an asset based lending business with total assets of $874 million and a global investments business with total assets of $7 million. In April 2012, we completed one business combination with total assets of approximately $3.7 billion and announced the pending acquisition of a prime brokerage and technology provider, with assets of approximately $280 million that we expect to complete in third quarter 2012.