JERSEY CITY, N.J., Oct. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Knight Capital Group, Inc. (NYSE Euronext: KCG) today reported consolidated earnings of $26.9 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2011, which included a pre-tax restructuring charge for severance, write-down of assets and related costs of $28.6 million, equivalent to $0.19 per diluted share.

For the third quarter of 2010, the company reported consolidated earnings of $0.2 million, or $0.00 per diluted share, which included a pre-tax restructuring charge for severance and related costs of $16.7 million, equivalent to $0.11 per diluted share.

Revenues from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2011 were $397.4 million, compared to $239.5 million from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2010.

"In the third quarter of 2011, Knight generated strong financial results as market conditions played into our core strengths," said Thomas M. Joyce, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Knight Capital Group. "Consolidated revenues and pre-tax earnings were significantly higher than the same period a year ago due to contributions from market making and electronic execution services. During the third quarter, Knight recorded a restructuring charge as a result of measures to cut back in underperforming areas and discontinue certain initiatives. In addition, we created new financial reporting segments to better reflect how we manage the business and provide a greater level of detail on performance for our shareholders."

In the third quarter of 2011, the company changed its reporting segments from Equities, FICC and Corporate to Market Making, Institutional Sales and Trading, Electronic Execution Services, and Corporate and Other.

"Continuing operations" includes the company's Market Making, Institutional Sales and Trading, Electronic Execution Services and Corporate and Other segments. Market Making consists of all global market making which includes Knight Link and the company's activities as a Designated Market Maker at the NYSE. Institutional Sales and Trading includes full-service institutional research, sales and trading as well as equity and debt capital markets, reverse mortgage origination and asset management. Electronic Execution Services includes Knight Direct, Hotspot FX and Knight BondPoint. Corporate and Other includes strategic investments primarily in financial services-related ventures, clearing and settlement activity, corporate overhead expenses and all other expenses that are not attributable to the other reporting segments.

Market Making

During the third quarter of 2011, the Market Making segment generated total revenues of $204.9 million and pre-tax income of $69.2 million, which included a restructuring charge of $547,000. In the third quarter of 2010, Market Making reported total revenues of $93.4 million and pre-tax income of $21.0 million,which included a restructuring charge of $1.6 million. Market Making had pre-tax margins of 34 percent in the third quarter of 2011 compared to pre-tax margins of 23 percent in the third quarter of 2010.

"In Market Making, Knight grew revenues 119 percent and pre-tax earnings 229 percent year over year," said Mr. Joyce. "During the third quarter, we witnessed a rise in retail trading activity coupled with heightened volatility in August and September. Knight maintained industry-leading market share of retail U.S. equity volume which drove a 44 percent increase in Knight's average daily dollar value traded. We continued to make progress by adding clients and growing trading volumes in European equities and U.S. options."

Institutional Sales and Trading

During the third quarter of 2011, the Institutional Sales and Trading segment generated total revenues of $145.4 million and pre-tax loss of $15.6 million, which included a restructuring charge of $23.9 million. In the third quarter of 2010, Institutional Sales and Trading reported total revenues of $108.9 million and pre-tax loss of $15.9 million, which included a restructuring charge of $14.3 million.

"In Institutional Sales and Trading, Knight worked to reposition resources given secular trends in institutional trading activity," said Mr. Joyce. "Revenues rose 34 percent year over year as institutions aggressively adjusted holdings in response to economic events. Primary contributors included U.S. Listed Derivatives, European Institutional Fixed Income and Urban, which increased its market share of both reverse mortgage origination and HMBS issuance. Nevertheless, we incurred a pre-tax loss due to the restructuring charges announced on August 4, 2011."

Electronic Execution Services

During the third quarter of 2011, the Electronic Execution Services segment generated total revenues of $45.1 million and pre-tax income of $13.8 million, which included a restructuring charge of $392,000. In the third quarter of 2010, Electronic Execution Services reported total revenues of $31.7 million and pre-tax income of $8.3 million, which included a restructuring charge of $70,000. Electronic Execution Services had pre-tax margins of 31 percent in the third quarter of 2011 compared to pre-tax margins of 26 percent in the third quarter of 2010.

"In Electronic Execution Services, Knight increased revenues 42 percent and pre-tax earnings 66 percent compared to the third quarter of 2010," said Mr. Joyce. "Our products are designed to provide clients with direct market access, speed and trading efficiencies. Knight Direct, Hotspot FX and Knight BondPoint are robust and scalable with solid margins and attractive growth prospects."

Corporate and Other

During the third quarter of 2011, the Corporate and Other segment reported a pre-tax loss of $23.0 million, which included a restructuring charge of $3.8 million. In the third quarter of 2010, the Corporate segment reported a pre-tax loss of $13.4 million, which included a restructuring charge of $716,000.

"During the third quarter of 2011, Knight performed well given the relatively good market conditions," said Mr. Joyce. "Clearly there is more work to be done. Moving forward we will concentrate activity on developing sophisticated trading technologies that enhance trading on behalf of clients and contribute to the overall efficiency of the markets. We will continue to align resources to fortify our strategic position."

Headcount at September 30, 2011 was 1,391 full-time employees, as compared to 1,465 full-time employees at June 30, 2011 and 1,297 full-time employees at September 30, 2010.

As of September 30, 2011, the company had $449.8 million in cash and cash equivalents. The company had $1.4 billion in stockholders' equity as of September 30, 2011, equivalent to a book value of $15.41 per diluted share. The company had a book value of $14.43 per diluted share as of September 30, 2010.

During the third quarter of 2011, the company repurchased 1.5 million shares for $17.2 million under the company's existing stock repurchase program. To date, the company has repurchased 73.2 million shares for $834.5 million. The company has approximately $165.5 million of availability 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 third quarter 2011 earnings conference call for analysts, investors and the media at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) today, October 19, 2011. To access Knight's earnings conference call, please dial 800-274-0873 for domestic callers or 719-325-2443 for international callers. When prompted, please enter passcode 5074195. A replay of the third quarter 2011 earnings conference call will be available by dialing 888-203-1112 for domestic callers or 719-457-0820 for international callers. When prompted, please enter passcode 5074195. The conference call will be webcast live at 9:00 a.m. ET for all investors and interested parties on Knight's website. In addition, the company will release its monthly volume statistics for September 2011 on its website at http://www.knight.com/ourfirm/volumestats.asp before the start of trading today.

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 buy- and sell-side firms and corporations. Knight is headquartered in Jersey City, N.J. with a global presence across the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For further information about Knight, please visit http://www.knight.com/.

Certain statements contained herein 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 changes in market structure, legislative or regulatory rule changes and the costs, the integration, performance and operation of businesses recently acquired or developed organically, or that may be acquired or developed organically in the future. 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, 2010, and in other reports or documents the Company files with, or furnishes to, the SEC from time to time. 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, 2010, and in other reports or documents the Company files with, or furnishes to, the SEC from time to time.

SOURCE Knight Capital Group, Inc.