PRESS RELEASES

JANUARY 20, 2005
Knight Trading Group Announces GAAP Earnings From Continuing Operations of $0.20 Per Diluted Share for Fourth Quarter 2004

Fourth quarter 2004 earnings from continuing operations in Knight's two business segments driven by higher returns from Asset Management, complemented by a return to profitability in Equity Markets amidst higher fourth quarter trading volume

Including discontinued operations, GAAP earnings were $0.94 per diluted share for fourth quarter 2004, with $0.70 per diluted share related to the sale of the Derivative Markets business to Citigroup and $0.04 per diluted share related to the segment's earnings from operations

For year-over-year comparison, Knight reported GAAP earnings from continuing operations of $0.22 per diluted share for fourth quarter 2003, in addition to a loss of $0.14 per diluted share from discontinued operations

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Jan. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Knight Trading Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NITE) today reported GAAP earnings of $108.5 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, which includes earnings from discontinued operations of $86.0 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2004. The company had GAAP net income from continuing operations of $22.6 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2004.

"Continuing operations" includes the company's Equity Markets and Asset Management business segments, and "discontinued operations" includes the former Derivative Markets business segment. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the results of this business segment as well as the gain on the sale of this business segment have been included within discontinued operations for all periods presented.

As previously announced on December 10, 2004, the company completed the sale of its Derivative Markets business to Citigroup for approximately $237 million in cash as of the close of business on December 9, 2004. The final purchase price is subject to adjustment based on the final determination of the book value of the Derivative Markets business at the time the deal closed. The results of the Derivative Markets business and the gain on the sale resulted in earnings of $86.0 million net of taxes, or $0.74 per diluted share, during the fourth quarter of 2004.

For the fourth quarter of 2003, the company reported GAAP earnings of $10.0 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, which included a loss from discontinued operations of $16.4 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, representing the results of the Derivative Markets business segment. The company had GAAP net income from continuing operations of $26.3 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2003.

Revenues from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2004 were $185.6 million, compared to $170.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2003.

"After a flat summer, market conditions improved in the last months of the year and helped Knight enjoy a healthy fourth quarter," said Thomas M. Joyce, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Knight Trading Group. "While both of our business segments responded positively to the market rebound, the performance of our Asset Management segment, Deephaven, was exceptional. Equity Markets benefited from significant increases in both daily dollar volumes and trade volumes, although revenue capture remained at third quarter levels in the midst of a very competitive environment."

                                                 Q4 2004           Q4 2003

    Revenues ($)                               185,577,606       170,659,337
    Net income from continuing operations ($)   22,595,492        26,330,605
    Income (loss) from discontinued
     operations, net of tax ($)                 85,954,320       (16,363,700)
    Net income ($)                             108,549,812         9,966,905
    Net operating income from continuing
     operations per diluted share ($)                 0.20              0.22
    Diluted EPS from continuing
     operations ($)                                   0.20              0.22
    Diluted EPS from discontinued
     operations ($)                                   0.74             (0.14)
    Diluted EPS ($)                                   0.94              0.08
    U.S. equity dollar value traded
    (in $ millions)                                476,142           478,722
    U.S. equity trades executed (in thousands)      55,681            52,226
    Average daily U.S. equity trades
     (in thousands)                                    870               816
    Nasdaq and Listed equity shares
     traded (in millions)                           32,834            37,989
    OTC Bulletin Board and Pink Sheet
     shares traded (in millions)                   358,910           135,201
    Average month-end balance of assets
     under management ($ millions)                 3,584.7           1,547.9
    Quarterly fund return to investors*               4.8%              5.0%


                                                    2004              2003

    Revenues ($)                               625,750,354       545,908,762
    Net (loss) income from continuing
     operations ($)                             (9,511,769)       51,541,322
    Income (loss) from discontinued
     operations, net of tax ($)                100,903,791       (13,016,202)
    Net income ($)                              91,392,022        38,525,120
    Net operating income from continuing
     operations per diluted share ($)                 0.42              0.52
    Diluted EPS from continuing operations ($)       (0.08)             0.44
    Diluted EPS from discontinued operations ($)      0.86             (0.11)
    Diluted EPS ($)                                   0.78              0.33
    U.S. equity dollar value traded
     (in $ millions)                             1,730,658         1,560,007
    U.S. equity trades executed (in thousands)     205,903           181,341
    Average daily U.S. equity trades
     (in thousands)                                    817               720
    Nasdaq and Listed equity shares
     traded (in millions)                          125,243           138,082
    OTC Bulletin Board and Pink Sheet
     shares traded (in millions)                 1,349,856           305,303
    Average month-end balance of assets
     under management ($ millions)                 2,963.5           1,359.4
    Annual fund return to investors*                  6.5%             13.9%

     * Return represents the average return across all assets under management
       in the Deephaven Funds

Continuing Operations

Equity Markets

During the fourth quarter of 2004, the Equity Markets business segment, which consists of both domestic and international equity market-making and institutional sales operations, generated total revenues of $127.3 million compared to $140.9 million during the fourth quarter of 2003. In the fourth quarter, the Equity Markets business segment reported an operating gain of approximately $4.5 million net of taxes, which represents operating gains of approximately $5.8 million from domestic equity markets and a loss of $1.3 million from our London operations.

"I believe Knight's client efforts continue to drive the success of our Equity Markets business," Mr. Joyce said. "Our penetration of the institutional market continues, and we are building a reputation for providing superior service, especially among those smaller firms who may be overlooked by our competitors. We understand that it's not solely trade execution that generates repeat business from institutions. That's why we continue to emphasize one-on-one relationships with our clients. Meanwhile, high-quality, customizable executions continue to be the reason our broker-dealer clients return to trade with Knight."

Included within the results of our Equity Markets business segment is an approximate $4 million reserve, net of taxes, or $6.5 million pre-tax, representing the amount the company believes it is owed by a counterparty in a trading dispute. The reserve reduced net trading revenues by $6.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2004. The company believes it has a meritorious claim against the counterparty in this matter and is pursuing remedies to recover the funds.

The results of our Equity Markets business segment for the fourth quarter of 2004 also included a benefit of approximately $2 million, net of taxes, or $3.4 million pre-tax, for refunds received related to certain execution and clearance fees. These refunds reduced execution and clearance fees during the fourth quarter by $3.4 million. Additionally, during the fourth quarter of 2004 the company changed the classification of certain transaction-related regulatory fee expenses from offsetting net trading revenues to being recorded as an expense within execution and clearance fees. These regulatory fee expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 were $3.6 million and $7.2 million, respectively. For the years ending December 31, 2004 and 2003, these regulatory fee expenses were $18.3 million and $23.0 million, respectively.

Asset Management

During the fourth quarter of 2004, the Asset Management business segment, Deephaven, generated $48.8 million in asset management fees, compared to $20.9 million in the same period a year ago. Asset Management had approximately $3.6 billion under management at December 31, 2004, compared to $1.6 billion at December 31, 2003.

"Deephaven produced impressive results this quarter as both a business segment and a corporate investment, contributing a total of $0.16 to Knight's earnings per diluted share," Mr. Joyce said. "We have always been confident that we have the right people in place to make our Asset Management business a success. Deephaven's results reflect the strong operating leverage and earnings power of more than $3 billion of assets under management. Furthermore, Deephaven remains a prudent place to keep a portion of our cash while we seek strategic investments."

During the fourth quarter of 2004, there was a net inflow of approximately $84 million in assets under management. The company's investment in the Deephaven funds returned $9.0 million pre-tax during the fourth quarter of 2004, up from pre-tax earnings of $8.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2003. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2004, the company had $215.3 million invested in the Deephaven funds.

On January 1, 2005, Knight invested an additional $100 million in the Deephaven funds, bringing the total corporate investment to $315 million.

Discontinued Operations

Derivative Markets

For the fourth quarter and full year of 2004, the results of the Derivative Markets business segment were presented net of taxes within discontinued operations. The business segment results principally consist of the gain on the sale of the Derivative Markets business as well as the earnings of its options market-making and option specialist operations through the period ended December 9, 2004, the date of the sale.

The gain on the sale of the Derivative Markets business, net of transaction costs and taxes, was approximately $80.9 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2004. Additionally, in the fourth quarter, through the date of the sale, the Derivative Markets business segment reported a gain from its operations, net of taxes, of approximately $5.0 million, or $0.04 per diluted share. In total, during the fourth quarter, the company had net income from discontinued operations of $86.0 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, from its Derivative Markets business segment.

Liquidity and Stock Repurchase Plan

The company had $854.5 million in stockholders' equity as of December 31, 2004, equivalent to a book value of $7.26 per diluted share. As of December 31, 2004, the company had $445.5 million in cash and cash equivalents within its continuing operations and a $215.3 million investment in funds managed by Deephaven, its Asset Management business segment.

In December 2004, the company paid approximately $79 million relating to its settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and NASD. The settlement, as previously announced on December 16, 2004, involved the company's over-the-counter trading subsidiary Knight Securities, L.P., renamed Knight Equity Markets, L.P. The company took a pre-tax charge of approximately $79 million in the second quarter of 2004 relating to the settlement.

During the fourth quarter of 2004, the company repurchased 2.7 million shares for approximately $30 million under the company's $250 million stock repurchase program. To date, the company has repurchased 21.7 million shares for $151 million. The company cautions that there are no assurances that any further repurchases may actually occur.

On December 15, 2004, Thomas M. Joyce, Chief Executive Officer and President of Knight Trading Group, was elected Chairman of the Board of the company. As a result of an amendment to the company's by-laws and his election as Chairman of the Board, Mr. Joyce voluntarily relinquished his title as President of the company, effective immediately. The company has no plans to fill this position at this time.

Copies of this earnings release and other information on the company can be obtained via the Internet at the company's Web site. The company will conduct its fourth quarter 2004 earnings conference call for analysts, investors and the media at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) today, January 20, 2005. The conference call will be Webcast live at 9:00 a.m. (EST) for all investors and interested parties on Knight's Web site. In addition, the company will release its monthly volume statistics for December 2004 before the start of trading today on Knight's Web site.

About Knight Trading Group

Knight is focused on meeting the needs of institutional and broker-dealer clients by providing comprehensive trade execution services in equities. A leading trade execution specialist, Knight offers capital commitment and access to a deep pool of liquidity across the depth and breadth of the equity market. Knight also operates an asset management business for institutions and high net worth individuals. To be a valued partner, Knight strives to provide superior client service and will continue to tailor its offering to meet the needs of its clients. More information about Knight can be obtained at http://www.knight.com.

Presentation of Information in this Press Release

In an effort to provide investors with additional information regarding the Company's results as determined by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company also discloses certain non-GAAP information which management believes provides useful information to investors. Within this press release, the Company has disclosed its net income (loss) amounts for certain reporting periods before charges, writedowns and results of discontinued operations to assist the reader in understanding the impact of these charges, writedowns and results of discontinued operations on the Company's financial results, thereby facilitating more useful period-to-period comparisons of the Company's businesses.

Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. 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. 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; however, readers should carefully review reports or documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties detailed under the headings "Certain Factors Affecting Results of Operations" and "Risks Affecting our Business" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.


    KNIGHT TRADING GROUP, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS*
    (Unaudited)
                         For the three months ended     For the year ended
                                December 31,                December 31,
                             2004         2003          2004          2003
    REVENUES
    Net trading revenue  $53,123,498  $82,824,257  $250,992,997  $290,937,517
    Commissions and fees  72,206,052   54,826,980   276,010,852   163,147,122
    Asset management
     fees                 48,814,379   20,917,161    77,658,193    57,903,057
    Interest and
     dividends, net        1,818,167    1,112,771     4,647,059     3,657,050
    Investment income
     and other             9,615,510   10,978,168    16,441,253    30,264,016
      Total revenues     185,577,606  170,659,337   625,750,354   545,908,762

    EXPENSES
    Employee
     compensation and
     benefits             76,086,322   56,362,839   244,549,546   206,860,453
    Execution and
     clearance fees       23,300,602   31,980,992   111,787,940   102,658,908
    Soft dollar and
     commission
     recapture expense    15,795,557    6,246,856    60,117,556     9,985,651
    Payments for order
     flow                  9,215,539   10,175,253    36,632,317    32,178,913
    Communications and
     data processing       7,312,818    6,655,025    28,896,451    27,991,441
    Depreciation and
     amortization          3,325,185    4,180,787    14,045,623    19,201,293
    Occupancy and
     equipment rentals     3,781,636    4,169,113    16,599,072    16,892,380
    Professional fees      3,353,340    1,980,290    14,914,772    10,993,116
    Business
     development           2,347,014    2,189,880     8,268,973     7,159,726
    Writedown of assets
     and lease loss
     accrual                 312,192     (204,898)    3,810,453    16,507,981
    Regulatory charges
     and related
     matters                 141,732        --       79,341,732         --
    Other                  2,725,922    4,117,985     6,844,290    11,151,856
    Total expenses       147,697,859  127,854,122   625,808,725   461,581,718

    Income (loss) from
     continuing
     operations before
     income taxes         37,879,747   42,805,215       (58,371)   84,327,044
    Income tax expense    15,284,255   16,474,610     9,453,398    32,785,722

    Net income (loss)
     from continuing
     operations           22,595,492   26,330,605    (9,511,769)   51,541,322
    Income (loss) from
     discontinued
     operations, net of
     tax                  85,954,320  (16,363,700)  100,903,791   (13,016,202)
    Net income          $108,549,812   $9,966,905   $91,392,022   $38,525,120

    Basic earnings per
     share from
     continuing
     operations                $0.20        $0.23        $(0.08)        $0.46
    Diluted earnings
     per share from
     continuing
     operations                $0.20        $0.22        $(0.08)        $0.44
    Basic earnings per
     share from
     discontinued
     operations                $0.77       $(0.15)        $0.90        $(0.12)
    Diluted earnings
     per share from
     discontinued
     operations                $0.74       $(0.14)        $0.86        $(0.11)
    Basic earnings per
     share                     $0.98        $0.09         $0.81         $0.34
    Diluted earnings
     per share                 $0.94        $0.08         $0.78         $0.33

    Shares used in
     computation of
     basic earnings per
     share               111,252,398  112,377,676   112,423,158   112,023,419
    Shares used in
     computation of
     diluted earnings
     per share           115,578,444  120,780,923   117,636,085   117,749,743

     * Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the
       current period presentation.


    KNIGHT TRADING GROUP, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
    (Unaudited)

                                               December 31,      December 31,
                                                  2004              2003
    ASSETS
      Cash and cash equivalents               $445,539,282      $249,997,693
      Securities owned, held at clearing
       brokers, at market value                254,473,209       201,238,570
      Receivable from brokers and dealers      244,881,065       205,019,632
      Receivable from discontinued operations       --            43,529,819
      Investment in Deephaven sponsored funds  215,329,959       197,605,068
      Fixed assets and leasehold
       improvements at cost, less
       accumulated depreciation and
       amortization                             54,024,186        28,741,113
      Strategic investments                     29,266,796        20,496,876
      Goodwill                                  19,182,248        16,665,074
      Intangible assets, less
       accumulated amortization                 11,546,528        11,952,000
      Assets within discontinued operations         --         2,938,222,972
      Other assets                             117,305,578        87,879,509

        Total assets                        $1,391,548,851    $4,001,348,326

    LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Liabilities
      Securities sold, not yet purchased,
       at market value                        $221,420,569      $173,118,793
      Payable to brokers and dealers            88,480,788        26,813,012
      Accrued compensation expense             123,664,383        94,224,406
      Liabilities within
       discontinued operations                      --         2,851,696,563
      Accrued expenses and other liabilities   103,485,220        65,363,774

        Total liabilities                      537,050,960     3,211,216,548

    Stockholders' equity
      Class A common shares                      1,339,655         1,281,871
      Additional paid-in-capital               427,451,712       370,897,405
      Retained earnings                        590,448,783       499,056,756
      Treasury stock, at cost                 (147,636,413)      (68,795,258)
      Unamortized stock-based compensation     (17,105,846)      (12,308,996)

        Total stockholders' equity             854,497,891       790,131,778

    Total liabilities and
     stockholders' equity                   $1,391,548,851    $4,001,348,326


    KNIGHT TRADING GROUP, INC.
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP DISCLOSURES*
    Amounts in millions, except per share data
    (Unaudited)
                                           For the three months ended
                                                December 31, 2004
                                    Equity     Asset     Discontinued
                                    Markets  Management   Operations    Total
    GAAP NET INCOME                  $4.2      $18.3         $86.0     $108.5
    Adjustments, net of tax:
      Writedown of assets
       and lease loss accrual         0.2         --            --        0.2
      Regulatory charges
       and related matters            0.1         --            --        0.1
      (Income) from discontinued
       operations                      --         --         (86.0)     (86.0)
      Net impact of adjustments       0.3         --         (86.0)     (85.7)
    NET OPERATING INCOME
     FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS      $4.5      $18.3           $--      $22.9

    GAAP NET INCOME
     PER DILUTED SHARE              $0.04      $0.16         $0.74      $0.94
    Adjustments, net of tax:
      Writedown of assets
       and lease loss accrual          --         --            --         --
      Regulatory charges
       and related matters             --         --            --         --
      (Income) from discontinued
       operations                      --         --         (0.74)     (0.74)
      Net impact of adjustments        --         --         (0.74)     (0.74)
    NET OPERATING INCOME FROM
     CONTINUING OPERATIONS
     PER DILUTED SHARE              $0.04      $0.16           $--      $0.20


                                           For the three months ended
                                               December 31, 2003
                                    Equity     Asset     Discontinued
                                    Markets  Management   Operations    Total

    GAAP NET INCOME (LOSS)          $13.6      $12.7        $(16.4)     $10.0
    Adjustments, net of tax:
      Writedown of assets
       and lease loss accrual        (0.1)        --            --       (0.1)
      Loss from discontinued
       operations                      --         --          16.4       16.4
      Net impact of adjustments      (0.1)        --          16.4       16.2
    NET OPERATING INCOME FROM
     CONTINUING OPERATIONS          $13.5      $12.7           $--      $26.2

    GAAP NET INCOME (LOSS)
     PER DILUTED SHARE              $0.11      $0.11        $(0.14)     $0.08
    Adjustments, net of tax:
      Writedown of assets
       and lease loss accrual          --         --            --         --
      Loss from discontinued
       operations                      --         --          0.14       0.14
      Net impact of adjustments        --         --          0.14       0.14
    NET OPERATING INCOME FROM
     CONTINUING OPERATIONS
     PER DILUTED SHARE              $0.11      $0.11           $--      $0.22

     * Totals may not add due to rounding.


    KNIGHT TRADING GROUP, INC.
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP DISCLOSURES*
    Amounts in millions, except per share data
    (Unaudited)

                                 For the year ended December 31, 2004
                                    Equity     Asset     Discontinued
                                    Markets  Management   Operations    Total

    GAAP NET(LOSS) INCOME          $(33.4)     $23.9        $100.9      $91.4
    Adjustments, net of tax:
      Writedown of assets
       and lease loss accrual         2.2         --            --        2.2
      Regulatory charges
       and related matters           56.5         --            --       56.5
      (Income) from discontinued
       operations                      --         --        (100.9)    (100.9)
      Net impact of adjustments      58.7         --        (100.9)     (42.2)
    NET OPERATING INCOME
     FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS     $25.3      $23.9           $--      $49.2

    GAAP NET (LOSS) INCOME
     PER DILUTED SHARE             $(0.28)     $0.20         $0.86      $0.78
    Adjustments, net of tax:
      Writedown of assets
       and lease loss accrual        0.02         --            --       0.02
      Regulatory charges
       and related matters           0.48         --            --       0.48
      (Income) from discontinued
       operations                      --         --         (0.86)     (0.86)
      Net impact of adjustments      0.50         --         (0.86)     (0.36)
    NET OPERATING INCOME FROM
     CONTINUING OPERATIONS
     PER DILUTED SHARE              $0.22      $0.20           $--      $0.42



                                   For the year ended December 31, 2003
                                    Equity     Asset     Discontinued
                                    Markets  Management   Operations    Total

    GAAP NET INCOME (LOSS)          $20.1      $31.5        $(13.0)     $38.5
    Adjustments, net of tax:
      Writedown of assets
       and lease loss accrual         9.7         --            --        9.7
      Loss from discontinued
       operations                      --         --          13.0       13.0
      Net impact of adjustments       9.7         --          13.0       22.7
    NET OPERATING INCOME FROM
     CONTINUING OPERATIONS          $29.8      $31.5           $--      $61.3

    GAAP NET INCOME (LOSS)
     PER DILUTED SHARE              $0.17      $0.27        $(0.11)     $0.33
    Adjustments, net of tax:
      Writedown of assets
       and lease loss accrual        0.08         --            --       0.08
      Loss from discontinued
       operations                      --         --          0.11       0.11
      Net impact of adjustments      0.08         --          0.11       0.19
    NET OPERATING INCOME FROM
     CONTINUING OPERATIONS
     PER DILUTED SHARE              $0.25      $0.27           $--      $0.52

     *  Totals may not add due to rounding.

SOURCE Knight Trading Group, Inc.

Margaret Wyrwas, Senior Managing Director, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, +1-201-557-6954, or mwyrwas@knighttrading.com, or Kara Fitzsimmons, Vice President, Corporate Communications, +1-201-356-1523, or kfitzsimmons@knighttrading.com, or Greta Morley, Assistant Vice President, Marketing Communications & Public Relations, +1-201-557-6948, or gmorley@knighttrading.com, or Molly McDowell, Analyst, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, +1-201-356-1723, or mmcdowell@knighttrading.com, all of Knight Trading Group /

http://www.prnewswire.com


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The matters described within the Investor Relations section of the Knight Capital Group (the "Company") Web site contain forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results, performance or other expectations and from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods. These factors include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to implement its growth strategies, economic, political and market conditions and fluctuations, government and industry regulation, interest rate risk, intellectual property rights, and other factors detailed in the Company's registration statement and periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange.

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