JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Knight Capital Group, Inc. (NYSE Euronext: KCG) today announced that is has formed an alliance with Milan, Italy-based La Compagnia Finanziaria Spa to provide capital markets services for Italian companies and clients.

The agreement combines Knight's institutional trading and distribution capabilities with La Compagnia Finanziaria's expertise in Italian corporate finance. The two firms will offer a new source of financing solutions for mid- and large-sized Italian companies, allowing them to raise longer-term funding from non-Italian institutional investors.

"Knight's capital markets alliance with La Compagnia Finanziaria combines the unique and complementary capabilities of our two firms for the benefit of each other's clients," said Mark Aitken, Managing Director and Head of Capital Markets at Knight Capital in London. "La Compagnia Finanziaria will be able to provide its Italian clients with access to the international capital markets, while Knight looks forward to offering its institutional clients investment opportunities in first-class Italian companies – many of which are being affected by the continuing credit crunch in the banking sector."

"By joining La Compagnia Finanziaria's independent investment banking advice and knowledge of the national market with Knight's distribution prowess, this alliance allows each of us to focus on what we do best to serve Italian companies," said Stefano L.di Tommaso, Managing Director and Head of Corporate Finance at La Compagnia Finanziaria. "Italian banks are increasingly less able to provide funding and there is a need for innovative financing solutions and international capital. We think the alliance with Knight will deliver the best combination of professionalism and dedication to meet the needs of medium- and long-term financing in Italy."

About Knight

Knight Capital Group (NYSE Euronext: KCG) is a global financial services firm that provides access to the capital markets across multiple asset classes to a broad network of clients, including broker-dealers, institutions and corporations. Knight is headquartered in Jersey City, N.J. with a global presence across the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific regions. For further information about Knight, please visit www.knight.com.

SOURCE Knight Capital Group, Inc.

Kara Fitzsimmons, Managing Director, Media Relations, +1-201-356-1523, kfitzsimmons@knight.com, Jonathan Mairs, Director, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, +1-201-356-1529, jmairs@knight.com