JERSEY CITY, N.J. , April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Knight Capital Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NITE) today reported earnings of $32.5 million , or $0.35 per diluted share, and pre-tax income of $55.8 million , which included a minority interest expense of $1.5 million for the first quarter of 2008.
For the first quarter of 2007, the company reported earnings from continuing operations of $33.2 million , or $0.32 per diluted share, and pre-tax income of $54.7 million . Including a loss from discontinued operations of $1.3 million , net of tax, or $0.01 per diluted share, earnings were $31.9 million , or $0.31 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2007. The loss was due to a regulatory charge related to Knight Financial Products LLC, the options market-making business Knight sold to Citigroup in 2004.
Revenues for the first quarter of 2008 were $224.9 million , compared to $241.7 million for the first quarter of 2007.
'In the first quarter of 2008, Knight achieved strong results despite the
difficult events testing the liquidity of the global capital markets,' said
Q1 2008 Q1 2007
Revenues ($) (in thousands) 224,851 241,651
Net income ($) (in thousands) 32,503 31,852
Diluted EPS ($) 0.35 0.31
U.S. equity dollar value traded (in $
millions) 1,024,112 562,500
U.S. equity trades executed (in thousands) 107,096 66,892
Average daily U.S. equity trades (in
thousands) 1,756 1,097
Nasdaq and Listed equity shares traded
(in millions) 33,657 23,761
OTC Bulletin Board and Pink Sheet shares
traded (in millions) 165,127 218,826
Average revenue capture per U.S. equity
dollar value traded (bps) 1.5 2.0
Average month-end balance of assets under
management (in $ millions) 3,577.6 4,071.5
Quarterly fund return to investors* -8.0% 4.9%
* Quarterly fund return represents the blended quarterly return across
all assets under management in the Deephaven funds.
Global Markets
During the first quarter of 2008, Global Markets generated total revenues of $218.8 million , compared to $172.6 million in the first quarter of 2007. In the first quarter of 2008, Global Markets reported pre-tax earnings of $78.9 million , compared to pre-tax earnings of $36.1 million in the first quarter of 2007.
'Global Markets had another terrific quarter in terms of both revenues and pre-tax earnings, aided by high volatility,' said Mr. Joyce. 'An increase in net trading revenues, bolstered by further growth in Listed volumes and a record quarter from our London -based team, helped drive strong results. The acquisition and integration of EdgeTrade plus the re-launch of Knight BondPoint, our fixed income trading solution, represented important additions to Global Markets' electronic market access and trade execution services.'
Asset Management
During the first quarter of 2008, the Asset Management segment, Deephaven Capital Management, generated $15.2 million in asset management fees, compared to $60.7 million in the same period a year ago. In the first quarter of 2008, Deephaven reported a pre-tax loss of $4.1 million , compared to pre-tax earnings of $18.9 million in the first quarter of 2007. The first quarter 2008 pre-tax loss included a $1.5 million minority interest expense relating to the first quarter's accrual for the one-year minimum distribution to the Deephaven managers pursuant to the Limited Liability Agreement for Deephaven Capital Management LLC, which Knight filed with its Form 8-K on February 8, 2008 .
'Deephaven experienced one of the more difficult quarters in its fourteen- year history,' said Mr. Joyce. 'Blended fund performance was down. Substantive macro-economic changes and a reduction in event-driven activity, among other factors, led to the closing of the Event Fund. Among the positives, the firm's senior managers acquired a 49 percent stake in Deephaven. Additionally, the European Event Fund and International Volatility Strategies Fund performed above average within their peer groups.'
Deephaven had approximately $3.5 billion under management at April 1, 2008 , down from the $3.9 billion under management at April 1, 2007 . The reduction in assets under management is primarily due to the closing of the Event Fund which was announced in a Form 8-K filing on January 31, 2008 .
Corporate
In the first quarter of 2008, the Corporate segment reported a pre-tax loss of $19.0 million , compared to a pre-tax loss of $0.3 million in the first quarter of 2007.
The company's corporate investment in the Deephaven funds incurred a $7.0 million pre-tax loss during the first quarter of 2008, down from $8.0 million pre-tax earnings during the first quarter of 2007. As of March 31, 2008 , the company had $222.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and a $73.8 million corporate investment in funds managed by Deephaven.
'In the first quarter of 2008, we extended the revenue momentum generated in the previous year,' said Mr. Joyce. 'By providing access to actionable market intelligence and high-quality trade executions, Global Markets is benefiting from a growing client base, strong volumes and increased operational leverage. These achievements will serve us well over the next several months as market volumes fluctuate and volatility remains unpredictable. At the same time, we're making progress in expanding our international presence in both Global Markets and Asset Management.'
The company had $934.2 million in stockholders' equity as of March 31, 2008 , equivalent to a book value of $10.11 per diluted share. The company had a book value of $9.28 per diluted share as of March 31, 2007 .
During the first quarter of 2008, the company repurchased 1.4 million shares for approximately $22.8 million under the company's $1.0 billion stock repurchase program. To date, the company has repurchased 60.6 million shares for $649 million . The company has approximately $351 million available to repurchase shares under the program. The company cautions that there are no assurances that any further repurchases may actually occur.
Copies of this earnings release and other company information can be obtained on Knight's website, http://www.knight.com. The company will conduct its first quarter of 2008 earnings conference call for analysts, investors and the media at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) today, April 16, 2008 . To access Knight's earnings conference call, please dial 877.397.0300 for domestic callers or 719.325.4896 for international callers. When prompted, provide the passcode, which is 3744100. The conference call will be webcast live at 9:00 a.m. EDT for all investors and interested parties on Knight's website. In addition, the company will release its monthly volume statistics for March 2008 on its website before the start of trading today at http://www.knight.com/ourliquidity/volumestatistics.asp.
About Knight
Knight Capital Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NITE) is a leading financial services firm that provides electronic and voice access to the capital markets across multiple asset classes for buy-side, sell-side and corporate clients, and asset management for institutions and private clients. Our Global Markets business provides market access and trade execution services in nearly every U.S. equity security and a large number of international securities, futures, options, foreign exchange and fixed income. We offer high-quality trade executions through natural liquidity, capital facilitation and trading technology, with comprehensive products and services that support alpha creation and capital formation. Our Asset Management business, Deephaven Capital Management, is a global multi-strategy alternative investment manager focused on delivering attractive risk-adjusted returns with low correlation to the broader markets. More information about Knight can be found at www.knight.com.
Certain statements contained herein, and the documents incorporated by reference, may constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. Accordingly, readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict including, without limitation, risks associated with the costs, integration, performance and operation of businesses recently acquired, or that may be acquired in the future, by the Company. Since such statements involve risks and uncertainties, the actual results and performance of the Company may turn out to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Unless otherwise required by law, the Company also disclaims any obligation to update its view of any such risks or uncertainties or to announce publicly the result of any revisions to the forward-looking statements made herein. Readers should carefully review the risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including, without limitation, those detailed under the headings 'Certain Factors Affecting Results of Operations' and 'Risk Factors' in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year- ended December 31, 2007 , and in other reports or documents the Company files with, or furnishes to, from time to time the SEC. This information should also be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2007 , and in other reports or documents the Company files with, or furnishes to, from time to time the SEC.
KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
For the three months ended March 31,
2008 2007
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Revenues
Commissions and fees $110,992 $103,859
Net trading revenue 101,517 61,637
Asset management fees 15,186 60,714
Interest, net 2,757 4,818
Investment income and other, net (5,601) 10,623
Total revenues 224,851 241,651
Transaction-based expenses
Execution and clearance fees 23,031 27,410
Soft dollar and commission recapture
expense 18,876 14,537
Payments for order flow and ECN rebates 8,926 12,599
Total transaction-based expenses 50,833 54,546
Revenues, net of transaction-based
expenses 174,018 187,105
Other direct expenses
Employee compensation and benefits 86,434 102,233
Communications and data processing 10,128 8,699
Depreciation and amortization 5,746 5,402
Professional fees 5,086 5,489
Occupancy and equipment rentals 4,012 3,455
Business development 3,915 3,779
Other 1,420 3,333
Total other direct expenses 116,741 132,390
Income from continuing operations before
income taxes and minority interest 57,277 54,715
Income tax expense 23,320 21,530
Income from continuing operations before
minority interest 33,957 33,185
Minority interest expense 1,454 -
Income from continuing operations 32,503 33,185
Loss from discontinued operations, net
of tax - (1,333)
Net income $32,503 $31,852
Basic earnings per share from
continuing operations $0.36 $0.33
Diluted earnings per share from
continuing operations $0.35 $0.32
Basic and diluted earnings per share
from discontinued operations $- $(0.01)
Basic earnings per share $0.36 $0.32
Diluted earnings per share $0.35 $0.31
Shares used in computation of basic
earnings per share 89,810 100,906
Shares used in computation of diluted
earnings per share 92,445 104,335
'Continuing operations' include the company's two operating segments,
Global Markets and Asset Management. Continuing operations also include a
Corporate segment, encompassing corporate investments and overhead
expenses. Amounts reported as 'discontinued operations' include the
company's former Derivative Markets business segment, which included the
subsidiary Knight Financial Products LLC, the sale of which was completed
to Citigroup at the close of business on December 9, 2004.
KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(Unaudited)
March 31, December 31,
2008 2007
(In thousands)
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $222,331 $222,435
Securities owned, held at clearing
brokers, at market value 451,313 412,565
Receivable from brokers and dealers 322,378 382,544
Asset management fees receivable 5,830 27,588
Investment in Deephaven sponsored
funds 73,755 83,732
Fixed assets and leasehold
improvements, at cost, less
accumulated depreciation and
amortization 64,643 62,073
Strategic investments 83,047 73,704
Goodwill 184,218 132,832
Intangible assets, less accumulated
amortization 73,367 57,845
Deferred compensation investments 102,112 85,504
Other assets 136,698 214,991
Total assets $1,719,692 $1,755,813
LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Liabilities
Securities sold, not yet purchased,
at market value $364,736 $335,280
Payable to brokers and dealers 91,724 117,001
Accrued compensation expense 140,705 228,275
Accrued expenses and other
liabilities 115,854 119,879
Long term debt 70,000 70,000
Total liabilities 783,019 870,435
Minority interest 2,454 -
Stockholders' equity
Class A common stock 1,529 1,509
Additional paid-in-capital 607,557 587,025
Retained earnings 966,602 934,099
Treasury stock, at cost (641,469) (637,255)
Total stockholders' equity 934,219 885,378
Total liabilities and stockholders'
equity $1,719,692 $1,755,813
KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
PRE-TAX EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING
OPERATIONS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT*
Amounts in millions
(Unaudited)
For the three months ended
March 31, 2008 March 31, 2007
Global Markets
Revenues $218.8 $172.6
Expenses 139.9 136.5
Pre-tax earnings 78.9 36.1
Asset Management
Revenues 15.2 61.2
Expenses 17.9 42.3
Pre-tax earnings (2.7) 18.9
Minority interest expense 1.5 -
Pre-tax earnings after minority
interest expense (4.1) 18.9
Corporate
Revenues (9.2) 7.8
Expenses 9.8 8.2
Pre-tax earnings (19.0) (0.3)
Consolidated
Revenues 224.9 241.7
Expenses 167.6 186.9
Pre-tax earnings 57.3 54.7
Minority interest expense 1.5 -
Pre-tax earnings after minority
interest expense $55.8 $54.7
* Totals may not add due to rounding.
SOURCE Knight Capital Group, Inc.
