PRESS RELEASES

APRIL 19, 2006
Knight Capital Group Announces GAAP Earnings of $0.47 Per Diluted Share for First Quarter 2006
First quarter 2006 total revenues of $276.5 million were double the revenues generated in first quarter of 2005

Asset Management pre-tax operating earnings of $26.8 million in the first quarter of 2006 equaled the segment's pre-tax operating earnings for the full year of 2005

Global Markets' performance was solid for the third consecutive quarter, with the segment earning $56.5 million in pre-tax operating income during the first quarter after breaking even in the first quarter of last year

Board of Directors approved $150 million increase in the company's share repurchase program

JERSEY CITY, N.J., April 19, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Knight Capital Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NITE) today reported GAAP earnings of $49.1 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2006. For the first quarter of 2006, the company recorded charges of $4.7 million, net of tax, or $0.05 per diluted share, relating to the costs associated with excess real estate capacity in Jersey City, N.J. Excluding this charge, first quarter 2006 operating earnings for continuing operations were $53.8 million, or $0.52 per diluted share.

For the first quarter of 2005, the company reported GAAP earnings of $5.8 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, and pre-tax operating earnings from continuing operations of $10.3 million. Loss from discontinued operations was $266,000, net of tax.

"Continuing operations" include the company's two operating business 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, the sale of which was completed to Citigroup at the close of business on December 9, 2004.

Revenues for the first quarter of 2006 were $276.5 million, compared to $137.6 million for the first quarter of 2005.

"Knight employees' intense and concerted efforts over the last year implementing the strategic changes to our business model made our outstanding performance in the first quarter of 2006 possible," said Thomas M. Joyce, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Knight Capital Group. "Increasing automation in our broker-dealer operations since mid-2005 led directly to consistent, solid results for three consecutive quarters. However, it was in the market environment of the first quarter of 2006 where we saw the real success and potential of our efforts. By establishing greater operating efficiencies, we have addressed the issues that affect us in the down markets and are prepared to weather downturns and capitalize on the upside."

Q1 2006           Q1 2005

    Revenues ($)                               276,455,820       137,556,870
    Net income from continuing operations ($)   49,132,041         6,019,979
    Loss from discontinued operations,
     net of tax ($)                                    -            (265,927)
    Net income ($)                              49,132,041         5,754,052
    Diluted EPS ($)                                   0.47              0.05
    U.S. equity dollar value traded (in $
     millions)                                     559,672           470,676
    U.S. equity trades executed (in thousands)      61,019            52,849
    Average daily U.S. equity trades (in thousands)    984               866
    Nasdaq and Listed equity shares traded
     (in millions)                                  27,861            29,099
    OTC Bulletin Board and Pink Sheet shares
     traded (in millions)                          373,676           295,799
    Average revenue capture per U.S. equity
     dollar value traded (bps)                         2.3               1.7
    Average month-end balance of assets under
     management (in $ millions)                    2,946.2           3,478.9
    Quarterly fund return to investors*                8.5%              0.8%

    * Quarterly fund return represents the blended quarterly return across
      all assets under management in the Deephaven funds

"Knight's Global Markets businesses were very profitable across the board in the first quarter," Mr. Joyce said. "The broker-dealer business turned in its third solid quarter in a row and its best performance since decimalization. Our increasingly automated process both improved earnings and helped us maintain our industry-leading execution quality. Revenues from our institutional business are up more than 20% from the fourth quarter, due to a combination of deeper account penetration and increased market activity. Client interest is building around new offerings like technical research and direct market access, as well as in our newly acquired spot foreign exchange trading capabilities. Meanwhile, our Asset Management business segment earned as much in the first quarter of 2006 as it did in all of 2005."

Mr. Joyce continued, "Knight has delivered on our promises of a year ago. We introduced significant improvements to the broker-dealer business and grew the institutional business, where our unbundled offering resonates with clients as more market participants call for greater transparency on trade execution fees and commissions. We made prudent acquisitions to expand our offering, and we will continue to innovate as we provide our clients with more choices for market access across asset classes."

Global Markets

During the first quarter of 2006, the Global Markets business segment generated total revenues of $187.9 million, compared to $108.0 million in the first quarter of 2005. In the first quarter of 2006, the Global Markets business segment reported pre-tax operating earnings of $56.5 million, compared to a pre-tax operating loss of $700,000 in the first quarter of 2005.

Effective April 1, 2006, Knight completed its acquisition of Hotspot FX, Inc., a privately held firm, in an all-cash deal for $77.5 million. Hotspot provides institutions and dealers with spot foreign exchange execution through an advanced, fully electronic platform. The results of the Hotspot division will be included within the Global Markets business segment beginning with the second quarter of 2006.

Asset Management

During the first quarter of 2006, the Asset Management business segment, Deephaven Capital Management, generated $70.5 million in asset management fees, compared to $17.9 million in the same period a year ago. In the first quarter of 2006, the Asset Management business segment reported pre-tax operating earnings of $26.8 million, compared to pre-tax operating earnings of $5.1 million in the first quarter of 2005. Asset Management had approximately $3.0 billion under management at March 31, 2006, down from the $3.5 billion under management at March 31, 2005, but consistent with assets under management at December 31, 2005.

On February 9, 2006, the company filed an SEC Report on Form 8-K to disclose that Deephaven had submitted an offer of settlement to the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC" or "Commission"), which the staff has agreed to recommend to the Commission, to resolve a previously disclosed investigation concerning trading activity associated with certain Private Investments in Public Equities ("PIPEs"). The company has recorded total charges relating to this matter of $5.7 million pre-tax, including $2.0 million in the second quarter of 2005 and $3.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. The offer of settlement is subject to final approval by the SEC.

Corporate

In the first quarter of 2006, the Corporate segment reported pre-tax operating income of $6.7 million, compared to pre-tax operating income of $5.9 million in the first quarter of 2005. Included in the first quarter 2005 results is a pre-tax gain of $9.6 million related to the sale of a part of the company's original equity ownership in the International Securities Exchange.

The company's corporate investment in the Deephaven funds earned $19.0 million pre-tax during the first quarter of 2006, compared to a small pre-tax loss of $172,000 during the first quarter of 2005. As of March 31, 2006, the company had $209.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and a $278.0 million corporate investment in funds managed by Deephaven.

The company had $885.9 million in stockholders' equity as of March 31, 2006, equivalent to a book value of approximately $8.51 per diluted share.

During the first quarter of 2006, the company did not repurchase any additional shares under its $345 million stock repurchase program. To date, the company has repurchased 37.6 million shares for $295.9 million. At its April 18, 2006 meeting, the Board of Directors authorized a $150 million increase in the size of its repurchase program to $495 million from $345 million. The company cautions that there are no assurances that any further repurchases may actually occur.

Copies of this earnings release and other information on the company can be obtained at the company's website, http://www.knight.com. The company will conduct its first quarter 2006 earnings conference call for analysts, investors and the media at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) today, April 19, 2006. To access Knight's earnings conference call, please dial 800.500.0311 for domestic callers or 719.457.2698 for international callers. When prompted, provide the passcode, which is 1525848. 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 2006 on its website before the start of trading today.

About Knight

Knight Capital Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NITE) is a leading financial services firm that provides comprehensive trade execution solutions and asset management services. 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 for institutions and private clients. Our Global Markets business provides a broad range of customized trade execution products and services across multiple asset classes for broker-dealers, institutions and issuer companies. We continually apply knowledge and innovation to the trading and asset management processes to build lasting client partnerships through consistent performance and superior client service. More information about Knight can be found 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 pre-tax operating income (loss) amounts for certain reporting periods before charges, writedowns, lease loss accruals and discontinued operations to assist the reader in understanding the impact of these charges, writedowns and 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 CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (Unaudited)

                                         For the three months ended March 31,
                                                    2006         2005

    Revenues
      Commissions and fees                     $98,862,709  $70,116,011
      Net trading revenue                       80,039,151   37,421,828
      Asset management fees                     70,511,043   17,880,667
      Interest and dividends, net                3,313,976    2,339,800
      Investment income and other               23,728,941    9,798,564
         Total revenues                        276,455,820  137,556,870

    Transaction-based expenses
      Execution and clearance fees              28,924,406   23,546,783
      Soft dollar and commission recapture
       expense                                  17,707,700   15,484,575
      Payments for order flow and ECN rebates    9,873,398    7,404,075
         Total transaction-based expenses       56,505,504   46,435,433

         Revenues, net of transaction-based
          expenses                             219,950,316   91,121,437

    Other direct expenses
      Employee compensation and benefits        99,556,170   56,857,441
      Communications and data processing         7,638,143    7,813,959
      Professional fees                          6,383,123    3,776,416
      Depreciation and amortization              4,407,695    4,302,413
      Occupancy and equipment rentals            3,352,487    4,122,656
      Business development                       2,122,317    1,293,336
      Writedown of assets and lease loss accrual 7,997,434            -
      Other                                      6,448,370    2,653,746
         Total other direct expenses           137,905,739   80,819,967


    Income from continuing operations before
     income taxes                               82,044,577   10,301,470
    Income tax expense                          32,912,536    4,281,491

    Net income from continuing operations       49,132,041    6,019,979

    Loss from discontinued operations,
     net of tax                                        -       (265,927)
    Net income                                 $49,132,041   $5,754,052

    Basic earnings per share from
     continuing operations                           $0.49        $0.06

    Diluted earnings per share from
     continuing operations                           $0.47        $0.05

    Basic and diluted earnings per
     share from discontinued operations               $ -          $ -

    Basic earnings per share                         $0.49        $0.05

    Diluted earnings per share                       $0.47        $0.05

    Shares used in computation of
     basic earnings per share                  100,422,995  108,858,845

    Shares used in computation of
     diluted earnings per share                104,129,560  112,409,158



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

                                             March 31, 2006  December 31, 2005
    ASSETS
      Cash and cash equivalents               $209,788,170      $230,591,067
      Securities owned, held at clearing
       brokers, at market value                521,627,396       380,366,778
      Receivable from brokers and dealers      373,697,872       229,828,734
      Investment in Deephaven sponsored
       funds                                   277,997,650       281,656,753
      Fixed assets and leasehold
       improvements at cost, less
       accumulated depreciation and
       amortization                             66,790,659        67,656,533
      Strategic investments                     45,144,858        31,896,425
      Goodwill                                  49,182,880        47,682,880
      Intangible assets, less accumulated
       amortization                             29,038,309        29,773,442
      Other assets                             151,728,350       116,563,732

        Total assets                        $1,724,996,144    $1,416,016,344

    LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Liabilities
      Securities sold, not yet purchased,
       at market value                        $505,315,801      $345,457,499
      Payable to brokers and dealers           121,810,022        35,102,415
      Accrued compensation expense              98,081,170       117,763,834
      Accrued expenses and other liabilities   113,866,013        94,244,447

        Total liabilities                      839,073,006       592,568,195

    Stockholders' equity
      Class A common stock                       1,408,278         1,397,457
      Additional paid-in-capital               486,828,791       473,945,690
      Retained earnings                        702,645,732       653,513,691
      Treasury stock, at cost                 (297,194,792)     (294,652,742)
      Accumulated other comprehensive
       income, net of tax                       16,558,690        10,350,387
      Unamortized stock-based compensation     (24,323,561)      (21,106,334)

        Total stockholders' equity             885,923,138       823,448,149

        Total liabilities and stockholders'
         equity                             $1,724,996,144    $1,416,016,344



    KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
    PRE-TAX OPERATING EARNINGS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT*
    Amounts in millions
    (Unaudited)
                                                For the three months ended
                                              March 31, 2006    March 31, 2005
    Global Markets
    Revenues                                      $187.9            $108.0
    Operating Expenses                             131.4             108.7
    Pre-Tax Operating Earnings                      56.5              (0.7)

    Asset Management
    Revenues                                        70.9              18.1
    Operating Expenses                              44.1              13.0
    Pre-Tax Operating Earnings                      26.8               5.1

    Corporate
    Revenues                                        17.7              11.5
    Operating Expenses                              11.0               5.6
    Pre-Tax Operating Earnings                       6.7               5.9

    Consolidated
    Revenues                                       276.5             137.6
    Operating Expenses                             186.5             127.3
    Pre-Tax Operating Earnings                     $90.0             $10.3

    * Totals may not add due to rounding.


    KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
    RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL GAAP EXPENSES AND PRE-TAX GAAP INCOME TO
    OPERATING EXPENSES AND PRE-TAX OPERATING EARNINGS*
    Amounts in millions
    (Unaudited)


    TOTAL GAAP EXPENSES TO OPERATING EXPENSES

                                     For the three months ended March 31, 2006
                                            Global   Asset
                                           Markets Management Corporate  Total

        Transaction-based expenses          $56.5     $-       $-       $56.5
        Other direct expenses                82.9     44.1     11.0     138.0
    TOTAL GAAP EXPENSES                     139.4     44.1     11.0     194.5
     Writedown of assets and lease loss
      accrual                                (8.0)       -        -      (8.0)
    OPERATING EXPENSES                     $131.4    $44.1    $11.0    $186.5


                                     For the three months ended March 31, 2005
                                          Global     Asset
                                         Markets  Management Corporate  Total

        Transaction-based expenses          $46.4     $-       $-       $46.4
        Other direct expenses                62.3     13.0      5.6      80.9
    TOTAL GAAP EXPENSES                     108.7     13.0      5.6     127.3
     Net impact of adjustments                  -        -        -         -
    OPERATING EXPENSES                     $108.7    $13.0     $5.6    $127.3



    PRE-TAX GAAP INCOME TO PRE-TAX OPERATING EARNINGS

                                     For the three months ended March 31, 2006
                                           Global   Asset
                                          Markets Management Corporate Total

    PRE-TAX GAAP INCOME FROM CONTINUING
     OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES         $48.5    $26.8    $6.7    $82.0
    Adjustment:
      Writedown of assets and lease loss
       accrual                                8.0        -       -      8.0
    PRE-TAX OPERATING EARNINGS              $56.5    $26.8    $6.7    $90.0



                                    For the three months ended March 31, 2005
                                           Global   Asset
                                          Markets Management Corporate Total

    PRE-TAX GAAP INCOME FROM CONTINUING
     OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES         $(0.7)    $5.1    $5.9    $10.3
    Adjustments:
      Net impact of adjustments                 -        -       -        -
    PRE-TAX OPERATING EARNINGS              $(0.7)    $5.1    $5.9    $10.3


    * Totals may not add due to rounding.

SOURCE Knight Capital Group, Inc.

Margaret Wyrwas, Senior Managing Director, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, +1-201-557-6954 or mwyrwas@knight.com, or Kara Fitzsimmons, Vice President, Corporate Communications, +1-201-356-1523 or kfitzsimmons@knight.com, or Greta Morley, Vice President, Marketing Communications & Public Relations, +1-201-557-6948 or gmorley@knight.com


[ back to press releases ]

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.

CLIENT LOGIN
 Change Password

© Copyright 2012 Knight Capital Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Advertising and Marketing Collateral Disclaimer | Business Continuity Plan | Customer Privacy Notice | Operating Business Subsidiaries | Privacy | Terms of Use and Disclosures | Site Map