Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

001-14223

Commission File Number

 

 

KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

22-3689303

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

545 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07310

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (201) 222-9400

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  x        Accelerated filer  ¨

Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)  ¨    Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

As of November 4, 2011 the number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Class A Common Stock was 98,495,950 and there were no shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Class B Common Stock.


Table of Contents

KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

FORM 10-Q QUARTERLY REPORT

For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2011

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I   FINANCIAL INFORMATION:  
Item 1.   Financial Statements (Unaudited)     3   
  Consolidated Statements of Operations     3   
  Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition     4   
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows     5   
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements     6   
Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     41   
Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk     65   
Item 4.   Controls and Procedures     68   
PART II   OTHER INFORMATION:     69   
Item 1.   Legal Proceedings     69   
Item 1A.   Risk Factors     69   
Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds     70   
Item 3.   Defaults Upon Senior Securities     71   
Item 4.   [Omitted and Reserved]  
Item 5.   Other Information     71   
Item 6.   Exhibits     71   
Signatures       72   

 

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Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements.

KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

    For the three months ended
September 30,
    For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
            2011                     2010                     2011                     2010          
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)  

Revenues

       

Commissions and fees

  $ 207,252      $ 157,121      $ 585,324      $ 494,626   

Net trading revenue

    185,981        79,847        463,578        392,775   

Interest, net

    (1,201     92        4,205        853   

Investment income and other, net

    5,410        2,449        10,093        1,768   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

    397,442        239,509        1,063,200        890,022   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses

       

Employee compensation and benefits

    157,201        115,730        446,290        412,775   

Execution and clearance fees

    63,589        44,167        175,775        134,150   

Communications and data processing

    23,137        17,180        65,552        50,309   

Payments for order flow

    22,985        6,598        66,031        28,712   

Depreciation and amortization

    13,747        11,269        40,480        30,338   

Interest

    10,822        7,501        30,242        17,112   

Occupancy and equipment rentals

    7,026        6,630        21,526        19,332   

Business development

    5,909        4,451        16,870        14,991   

Professional fees

    5,530        3,976        15,398        12,762   

Restructuring

    28,624        16,731        28,624        16,731   

Writedown of assets and lease loss accrual

    1,333        -          2,278        1,032   

Other

    13,095        5,163        30,152        14,579   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

    352,998        239,396        939,218        752,823   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

    44,444        113        123,982        137,199   

Income tax expense

    17,449        45        48,605        54,578   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

    26,995        68        75,377        82,621   

(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax

    (59     135        (378     (215
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

  $ 26,936      $ 203      $ 74,999      $ 82,406   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share from continuing operations

  $ 0.29      $ 0.00      $ 0.82      $ 0.92   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations

  $ 0.29      $ 0.00      $ 0.80      $ 0.88   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

  $ 0.29      $ 0.00      $ 0.82      $ 0.92   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

  $ 0.29      $ 0.00      $ 0.79      $ 0.88   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares used in computation of basic earnings per share

    91,564        90,405        91,877        89,809   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares used in computation of diluted earnings per share

    93,840        93,278        94,803        94,054   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(Unaudited)

 

    September 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 
    (In thousands)  

ASSETS

   

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 449,773      $ 375,569   

Financial instruments owned, at fair value, including instruments pledged of $2,225,281 at September 30, 2011 and $812,379 at December 31, 2010:

   

Equities

    1,599,516        1,299,052   

Listed equity options

    406,252        41,840   

Debt securities

    100,244        77,288   

Loan inventory

    206,830        146,472   

Other financial instruments

    25,660        38,487   

Securitized HECM loan inventory

    1,211,214        -     
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total financial instruments owned, at fair value

    3,549,716        1,603,139   

Collateralized agreements:

   

Securities borrowed

    1,474,484        1,361,010   

Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

    656,758        476,159   

Fixed assets and leasehold improvements, at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization

    115,046        117,601   

Investments

    101,359        81,331   

Goodwill

    337,843        338,743   

Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization

    96,842        109,784   

Other assets

    281,083        206,875   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

  $ 7,062,904      $ 4,670,211   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES & EQUITY

   

Liabilities

   

Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value:

   

Equities

  $ 1,392,440      $ 1,164,718   

Listed equity options

    379,308        40,564   

Debt securities

    58,011        60,679   

Other financial instruments

    36,449        45,363   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value

    1,866,208        1,311,324   

Collateralized financings:

   

Securities loaned

    684,972        527,945   

Financial instruments sold under agreements to repurchase

    596,751        485,184   

Liability to GNMA trusts, at fair value

    1,210,680        -     

Other secured financings

    72,363        35,583   

Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

    410,320        337,430   

Accrued compensation expense

    169,398        186,451   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    184,601        114,376   

Long-term debt

    420,962        311,060   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    5,616,255        3,309,353   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity

   

Knight Capital Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity

   

Class A common stock

   

Shares authorized: 500,000 at September 30, 2011 and at December 31, 2010; Shares issued: 166,407 at September 30, 2011 and 162,818 at December 31, 2010;

   

Shares outstanding: 98,761 at September 30, 2011 and 97,736 at December 31, 2010

    1,664        1,628   

Additional paid-in capital

    849,095        807,287   

Retained earnings

    1,392,461        1,317,462   

Treasury stock, at cost; 67,646 at September 30, 2011 and 65,082 shares at December 31, 2010

    (797,161     (765,875

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (31     (265
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Knight Capital Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity

    1,446,028        1,360,237   

Noncontrolling interests

    621        621   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

    1,446,649        1,360,858   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

  $ 7,062,904      $ 4,670,211   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

     For the nine months ended September 30,  
             2011                     2010          
     (In thousands)  

Cash flows from operating activities

    

Net income

   $ 74,999      $ 82,406   

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     (378     (215
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

     75,377        82,621   

Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations, net of tax to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

    

Depreciation and amortization

     40,480        30,338   

Stock-based compensation

     38,887        39,662   

Debt discount accretion and other debt related expenses

     11,534        7,919   

Restructuring charges

     11,454        -     

Writedown of assets and lease loss accrual

     2,278        1,032   

Unrealized loss on investments

     888        2,558   

Deferred rent

     245        3,381   

Operating activities from discontinued operations

     (1,195     (477

(Increase) decrease in operating assets

    

Financial instruments owned, at fair value

     (1,961,226     (406,446

Securities borrowed

     (113,474     (1,245,277

Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

     (180,600     (27,471

Other assets

     (75,168     5,369   

Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities

    

Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value

     569,534        492,265   

Securities loaned

     157,027        480,504   

Financial instruments sold under agreements to repurchase

     111,567        230,000   

Liability to GNMA trusts, at fair value

     1,210,680        -     

Other secured financings

     36,780        41,405   

Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

     72,890        249,899   

Accrued compensation expense

     (17,976     (41,410

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     71,170        11,046   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     61,152        (43,082
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

    

Distributions from investments

     4,078        41,567   

Purchases of investments

     (24,952     (11,969

Purchases of fixed assets and leasehold improvements

     (32,009     (36,807

Purchase of noncontrolling interest

     -          (1,000

Purchase of customer list

     -          (1,000

Purchase of business, net of cash acquired

     (625     (14,835
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (53,508     (24,044
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

    

Proceeds from term credit agreement

     97,838        -     

Proceeds from issuance of cash convertible notes

     -          363,808   

Repayment of credit facility

     -          (140,000

Purchase of call options

     -          (73,750

Proceeds from issuance of warrants

     -          15,000   

Stock options exercised

     758        1,304   

Income tax benefit related to stock-based compensation

     67        205   

Cost of common stock repurchased

     (32,337     (45,472
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     66,326        121,095   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     234        (204
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

     74,204        53,765   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     375,569        427,106   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 449,773      $ 480,871   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

    

Cash paid for interest

   $ 20,522      $ 16,565   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash paid for income taxes

   $ 39,859      $ 57,284   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. Organization and Description of the Business

Knight Capital Group, Inc. (collectively with its subsidiaries, “Knight” or the “Company”) 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. The Company seeks to continually apply its expertise and innovation to the market making and trading process to build lasting client relationships through consistent performance and superior client service. In the third quarter of 2011, the Company changed its three operating segments from (i) Equities, (ii) Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities and (iii) Corporate to four operating segments, (i) Market Making, (ii) Institutional Sales and Trading, (iii) Electronic Execution Services and (iv) Corporate and Other. This change was made to better reflect the current nature of the Company’s offerings and services, its distribution methods and how it manages its businesses. As of September 30, 2011, the Company’s operating segments comprised the following:

Market Making

The Market Making segment principally consists of market making in global equities and listed domestic options. Market Making primarily includes client, and to a lesser extent, non-client electronic market making activities in which the Company operates as a market maker in equity securities quoted and traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market; the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market for New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”); NYSE Amex Equities and NYSE Arca listed securities and several European exchanges. As a complement to electronic market making, the Company’s cash trading business handles specialized orders and also transacts on the OTC Bulletin Board and the Pink OTC Markets. As a market maker, the Company commits capital to provide trade executions by offering to buy securities from, or sell securities to, institutions and broker-dealers. The Company also provides trade executions as an equities Designated Market Maker (“DMM”) on the NYSE and NYSE Amex. Market Making also includes the Company’s option market making business which has expanded trading onto several electronic exchanges.

Institutional Sales and Trading

The Institutional Sales and Trading segment includes global voice equity and fixed income sales, reverse mortgage origination and securitization, capital markets and asset management activities. The primary business of the Institutional Sales and Trading segment is to execute and facilitate transactions predominantly as agent on behalf of institutional clients for equities and fixed income offerings. This is predominantly a full-service business, in which much of the interaction is based on client relationships of the Company’s sales employees. This segment also facilitates client orders through program and block trades and riskless principal trades. The Company provides capital markets activity, including equity and debt private placement, and commits its capital when needed.

The products and services of Institutional Sales and Trading include sales and trading for equities, exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), fixed income securities (including high yield and high grade corporate bonds, distressed debt, asset and mortgage-backed securities, federal agency securities, hybrid securities, syndicated bank loans and emerging markets), options and futures, soft dollar and commission recapture programs and corporate access services. The Company also publishes research reports across several sectors in the Americas, United Kingdom and emerging markets evaluating corporate risk, interest rate risk and individual issuers.

Through Urban Financial Group, Inc. (“Urban”), the Company originates direct and brokered home equity conversion mortgages (“HECMs”), commonly referred to as reverse mortgages, insured by the

 

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Table of Contents

KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”). In February 2011, Urban received Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) issuance authority for the securitization of HECMs and began issuing HECM Mortgage Backed Securities (“HMBS”) in March 2011.

Institutional Sales and Trading also includes the Company’s asset management business, Astor, which provides asset management services, primarily to retail investors, employing a portfolio management approach to investing involving modeling economic data and utilizing low cost ETFs to capitalize on cyclical changes.

Electronic Execution Services

The Electronic Execution Services segment offers access to markets and self-directed trading via the Company’s electronic agency-based platforms. In contrast to Market Making, the Company generally does not act as a principal to transactions that are executed within this segment and generally earns commissions for acting as agent between the principals to the trade.

Through its Knight Direct platform, the Company provides a comprehensive, customizable execution management system that provides clients with the ability to execute trades across asset classes through a wide array of global destinations. The business offers direct market access trading through EdgeTrade algorithms and internal crossing through the Knight Match® product.

Through its Hotspot FX platform, the Company provides electronic foreign exchange trading solutions to buy-side firms through a foreign exchange ECN that provides clients with access to live, executable prices for 60 currency pairs as well as spot gold and silver streamed by market maker banks and other clients. The Hotspot FX platform offers clients several access options including direct high-speed connectivity and a front-end application.

Through its Knight BondPoint platform, the Company provides electronic fixed income trading solutions to sell-side firms. Knight BondPoint operates a fixed income ECN that serves as an electronic inter-dealer system and allows clients to access live and executable offerings. Knight BondPoint also provides a front-end application for brokers and advisors as well as a trading application for traders.

Corporate and Other

The Corporate and Other segment invests in strategic financial services-oriented opportunities, allocates, deploys and monitors all capital, and maintains corporate overhead expenses and other expenses that are not attributable to the other segments. The Corporate and Other segment houses functions that support Knight’s other segments such as self-clearing services, including stock lending activities, and other support and overhead. Corporate and Other operating expenses consist of compensation for senior executives and other employees of the corporate holding company, stock borrow and loan interest related to the financing of our securities inventory, interest expense on long-term debt, legal and other professional fees relating to corporate matters, as well as directors’ fees and directors’ and officers’ insurance.

Discontinued Operations

Deephaven Capital Management LLC and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Deephaven”) was the former registered investment adviser to, and sponsor of, the Deephaven investment funds (the “Deephaven Funds”). During the first quarter of 2009, Deephaven completed the sale of substantially

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

all of its assets to Stark & Roth, Inc. (together with its affiliates, “Stark”) with Stark agreeing to assume certain limited liabilities of Deephaven. At that time, Deephaven was replaced by Stark as the investment manager, managing member and general partner for the Deephaven Funds and the Company exited the Deephaven business. As a result of this sale, Deephaven was classified as a discontinued operation.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of consolidation and form of presentation

The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements, prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. These unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Certain footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Interim period operating results may not be indicative of the operating results for a full year.

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior periods’ Consolidated Financial Statements in order to conform to the current period presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on previously reported Net income.

The Company consolidates all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries as well as any investment in which it is considered to be the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”). The Company performs a qualitative assessment to determine if a VIE should be consolidated. The primary attributes the Company assesses include the entity’s capital structure and power. The Company will consolidate a VIE if it has both i) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company was not considered to be a primary beneficiary of any VIE.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include money market accounts, which are payable on demand, and short-term investments with an original maturity of less than 90 days. The carrying amount of such cash equivalents approximates their fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

Market making, sales, trading and execution activities

Financial instruments owned and Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, which primarily consist of listed and OTC equity securities, are carried at fair value and are recorded on a trade date basis. Net trading revenue (trading gains, net of trading losses) and commissions (which includes commission equivalents earned on institutional client orders) and related expenses are also recorded

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

on a trade date basis. The Company’s third party clearing agreements call for payment or receipt of interest income, net of transaction-related interest charged by clearing brokers, for facilitating the settlement and financing of securities transactions. The Company also nets interest income on its securitized HECM loan inventory against interest expense on its liability to GNMA trusts. Interest income and interest expense which has been netted on the Consolidated Statements of Operations is as follows (in millions):

 

     For the three months ended September 30,     For the nine months ended September 30,  
             2011                     2010                     2011                     2010          

Interest Income

   $           12.3      $           3.9      $         28.9      $           9.2   

Interest Expense

     (13.5     (3.8     (24.7     (8.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Interest, net

   $ (1.2   $ 0.1      $ 4.2      $ 0.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

Dividend income relating to securities owned and dividend expense relating to securities sold, not yet purchased, derived from the Company’s market making activities are included as components of Net trading revenue on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Net trading revenue includes dividend income and expense as follows (in millions):

 

     For the three months ended September 30,     For the nine months ended September 30,  
             2011                     2010                     2011                     2010          

Dividend Income

   $           4.5      $           5.3      $           15.1      $           16.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividend Expense

   $ (5.2   $ (3.5   $ (15.4   $ (11.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Payments for order flow represent payments to broker-dealer clients, in the normal course of business, for directing their order flow in U.S. equities and options to the Company. Also included in Payments for order flow are fees paid to third party brokers with respect to wholesale loan production at Urban.

Fair value of financial instruments

The Company values its financial instruments using a hierarchy of fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

The fair value hierarchy can be summarized as follows:

 

   

Level 1 – Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these products does not entail a significant degree of judgment.

 

   

Level 2 – Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

 

   

Level 3 – Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

Changes in fair value are recognized in earnings each period for financial instruments that are carried at fair value. See Footnote 3 “Fair Value of Financial Instruments” for a description of valuation methodologies applied to the classes of financial instruments at fair value.

Securitization activities

During the first quarter of 2011, the Company began securitizing HECMs under its GNMA issuance authority. Securitization and transfer of financial assets are generally accounted for as sales when the Company has relinquished control over the transferred assets. When a transfer of assets does not meet the GAAP criteria for sale treatment, the assets continue to be recognized in Financial instruments owned, at fair value, and the Company recognizes a corresponding liability recorded as Liability to GNMA trusts, at fair value on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Collateralized agreements and financings

Collateralized agreements consist of securities borrowed. Collateralized financings consist of securities loaned, financial instruments sold under agreements to repurchase, liability to GNMA trusts, at fair value and other secured financings.

 

   

Securities borrowed and securities loaned transactions are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and are recorded at the amount of cash collateral advanced or received. Securities borrowed transactions facilitate the securities settlement process and require the Company to deposit cash or other collateral with the lender. Securities loaned transactions help finance the Company’s securities inventory whereby the Company lends stock to counterparties in exchange for the receipt of cash or other collateral from the borrower. In these transactions, the Company receives or lends cash or other collateral in an amount generally in excess of the market value of the applicable securities borrowed or loaned. The Company monitors the market value of securities borrowed or loaned on a daily basis, with additional collateral obtained or refunded as necessary.

 

   

Financial instruments sold under agreements to repurchase are used to finance inventories of securities and other financial instruments and are recorded at their contractual amount. The Company has entered into bilateral and tri-party repurchase agreements which bear interest at negotiated rates. The Company receives cash and makes delivery of financial instruments to a custodian who monitors the market value of these instruments on a daily basis. The market value of the instruments delivered must be equal to or in excess of the principal amount loaned under the repurchase agreements plus the agreed upon margin requirement. The custodian may request additional collateral, if appropriate.

 

   

Liability to GNMA trusts, at fair value, represents the liability associated with the Company’s securitization of HECMs where the securitization does not meet the GAAP criteria for sale treatment.

 

   

Other secured financings are additional contractual agreements used to finance financial instruments and other assets and are recorded at their contractual amount. These agreements are short-term with durations of typically less than a month and bear interest at negotiated rates. The Company receives cash and pledges financial instruments to banks as

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

 

collateral for these secured financing arrangements. The market value of the collateral delivered must be in excess of the principal amount loaned plus the agreed upon margin requirement under the secured financings. The banks may request additional collateral, if appropriate.

The Company’s collateralized agreements and financings are recorded at amounts that approximate fair value. These items are not materially sensitive to shifts in interest rates because they are short-term in nature and are fully collateralized.

Investments

Investments primarily comprise strategic investments and deferred compensation investments. Strategic investments include noncontrolling equity ownership interests and debt instruments held by the Company within its non-broker-dealer subsidiaries, primarily in financial services-related businesses. Strategic investments are accounted for under the equity method, at cost or at fair value. The equity method of accounting is used where the Company is considered to exert significant influence on the investee. Strategic investments are held at cost, less impairment if any, when the Company is not considered to exert significant influence on operating and financial policies of the investee. Deferred compensation investments primarily consist of mutual funds, which are accounted for at fair value.

Strategic investments are reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure that the carrying values of the investments have not been impaired. If the Company determines that an impairment loss on a strategic investment has occurred due to a decline in fair value or other market conditions, the investment is written down to its estimated fair value.

The Company maintains a deferred compensation plan related to certain employees and directors. This plan provides a return to the participants based upon the performance of various investments. In order to hedge its liability under this plan, the Company generally acquires the underlying investments and holds such investments until the deferred compensation liabilities are satisfied. Changes in value of such investments are recorded in Investment income and other, net, with a corresponding charge or credit to Employee compensation and benefits on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Goodwill and intangible assets

The Company tests goodwill and intangible assets with an indefinite useful life for impairment annually or when an event occurs or circumstances change that signifies the existence of an impairment. The Company amortizes other intangible assets on a straight line basis over their useful lives and tests for recoverability whenever events indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable.

Treasury stock

The Company records its purchases of treasury stock at cost as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. The Company obtains treasury stock through purchases in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. The Company may re-issue treasury stock, at average cost, for the acquisition of new businesses or, in certain instances, as inducement grants to new hires.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

Foreign currency translation and foreign currency forward contracts

The Company’s U.K. subsidiary utilizes the Pound Sterling as its functional currency while the Company’s Hong Kong subsidiary utilizes the Hong Kong dollar as its functional currency. For all other entities, the Company’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar.

Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries having non-U.S. dollar functional currencies are translated at exchange rates at the end of a period. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates during the period. Gains and losses resulting from translating foreign currency financial statements into U.S. dollars are included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Gains or losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in Investment income and other, net on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, a loss of $0.1 million was recorded in Investment income and other, net on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and losses of $1.0 million and $0.5 million were recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The Company seeks to reduce the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates on its net investment in certain non-U.S. operations through the use of foreign currency forward contracts. For foreign currency forward contracts designated as hedges, the Company assesses the risk management objectives and strategy, including identification of the hedging instrument, the hedged item and the risk exposure and how effectiveness is to be assessed prospectively and retrospectively. The ineffectiveness of the hedge is assessed based on the overall changes in the fair value of the forward contracts. For qualifying net investment hedges, the gains or losses, to the extent effective, are included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and the ineffective portion, if any, is recorded in Investment income and other, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Soft dollar expense

Under a commission management program, the Company allows institutional clients to allocate a portion of their gross commissions to pay for research and other services provided by third parties. As the Company acts as an agent in these transactions, it records such expenses on a net basis within Commissions and fees on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Depreciation, amortization and occupancy

Fixed assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of three to seven years. Leasehold improvements are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the term of the related office lease or the expected useful life of the assets. The Company capitalizes certain costs associated with the acquisition or development of internal-use software and amortizes the software over its estimated useful life of three years, commencing at the time the software is placed in service. The Company reviews fixed assets and leasehold improvements for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable.

The Company recognizes rent expense under operating leases with fixed rent escalations, lease incentives and free rent periods on a straight-line basis over the lease term beginning on the date the Company takes possession of or controls the use of the space, including during free rent periods.

 

12


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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

Lease loss accrual

The Company’s policy is to identify excess real estate capacity and where applicable, accrue for related future costs, net of estimated sub-lease income. In the event the Company is able to sublease the excess real estate after recording a lease loss, such accrual is adjusted to the extent the actual terms of sub-leased property differ from the assumptions used in the calculation of the accrual. In the event that the Company concludes that previously determined excess real estate is needed for the Company’s use, such lease loss accrual is adjusted accordingly. Any such adjustments to previous lease loss accruals are recorded in Writedown of assets and lease loss accrual on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Income taxes

The Company records deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and measures them using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when such differences are expected to reverse. The Company evaluates the recoverability of future tax deductions by assessing the adequacy of future expected taxable income from all sources, including reversal of temporary differences and forecasted operating earnings. Net deferred tax assets and liabilities are included in Other assets and Accrued expenses and other liabilities, respectively, on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Discontinued operations

Revenues and expenses associated with a separate segment or reporting unit that has been disposed of through closure or sale are included in (Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Assets and liabilities of discontinued operations are included in Other assets and Accrued expenses and other liabilities, respectively, on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Cash flows from discontinued operations are presented on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows within operating, investing and financing activities, as applicable.

Stock-based compensation

Stock-based compensation is measured based on the grant date fair value of the awards. These costs are amortized over the requisite service period, which is typically the vesting period.

Expected forfeitures are considered in determining stock-based employee compensation expense. For all periods presented, the Company recorded a benefit for expected forfeitures on all outstanding stock-based awards. The benefit recorded did not have a material impact on the results of operations in any of the periods presented.

The Company applies a non-substantive vesting period approach for stock-based awards whereby the expense is accelerated for those employees and directors that receive options and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and are eligible to retire prior to the options or RSUs vesting.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

Accounting Standards Updates

In April 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) that changes the existing rules for determining when a repurchase agreement should be accounted for as a sale of financial assets or as a secured borrowing. Under this ASU, if a transferor maintains effective control over the transferred financial assets and if there is an agreement that entitles and obligates the transferor to repurchase the financial assets before maturity, the transferor must account for the transaction as a secured borrowing. This ASU is effective prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. As the Company accounts for all of its repurchase agreements as secured borrowings based on the terms of the agreements, the adoption of this ASU is not expected to have an impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued an ASU to conform existing guidance regarding fair value measurement and related disclosures between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The ASU provides guidance on how to measure fair value and additional disclosure requirements. Additional disclosure requirements include transfers between Levels 1 and 2; and for Level 3 fair value measurements, a description of the companies’ valuation processes and additional information about unobservable inputs impacting Level 3 measurements. This ASU is effective prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, this ASU will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued an ASU related to the presentation of comprehensive income. The ASU will give companies an option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements; the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity was eliminated. This ASU is effective prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. Other than the change in presentation, the Company has determined that the adoption of this ASU will not have an impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In September 2011, the FASB issued an ASU that changed the guidance regarding the testing of goodwill for impairment. The new guidance provides a company the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If a company determines that this is the case, it is required to perform the currently prescribed two-step goodwill impairment test to identify potential goodwill impairment and measure the amount of goodwill impairment loss to be recognized for that reporting unit, if any. This ASU is effective prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, this ASU will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

3. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments recorded at fair value have been categorized based upon a fair value hierarchy, as described more fully in Footnote 2 “Significant Accounting Policies.” The following fair value hierarchy table presents information about the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in millions):

 

     Assets and Liabilities Measured at
Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
 

September 30, 2011

  Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  

Assets

       

Financial instruments owned, at fair value:

       

Equities(1)

  $ 1,599.5      $ -        $ -        $ 1,599.5   

Listed equity options

    406.3        -          -          406.3   

U.S. government obligations(2)

    44.2        -          -          44.2   

Corporate debt

    43.4        -          -          43.4   

Mortgage-backed securities

    11.5        1.2        -          12.7   

Loan inventory

    -          206.8        -          206.8   

Purchased call options

    -          19.3        -          19.3   

Foreign currency forward contracts

    -          6.4        -          6.4   

Securitized HECM loan inventory(3)

    -          1,211.2        -          1,211.2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Financial instruments owned, at fair value

    2,104.8        1,444.9        -          3,549.7   

Deferred compensation investments(4)

    -          18.0        -          18.0   

Investment in Deephaven Funds(4)

    -          1.6        -          1.6   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fair value of financial instrument assets

  $ 2,104.8      $ 1,464.6      $ -        $ 3,569.4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities

       

Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value:

       

Equities(1)

  $ 1,392.4      $ -        $ -        $ 1,392.4   

Listed equity options

    379.3        -          -          379.3   

U.S. government obligations(2)

    14.0        -          -          14.0   

Corporate debt

    44.0        -          -          44.0   

Embedded conversion derivative

    -          19.3        -          19.3   

Total return swap

    -          17.2        -          17.2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value

    1,829.8        36.4        -          1,866.2   

Liability to GNMA trusts, at fair value(3)

    -          1,210.7        -          1,210.7   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fair value of financial instrument liabilities

  $ 1,829.8      $ 1,247.1      $ -        $ 3,076.9   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Equities of $410.6 million have been netted by their respective long and short positions by CUSIP number.
(2) U.S. government obligations of $0.4 million has been netted by respective long and short positions by CUSIP number.
(3) Represents HECMs that have been securitized into HMBS where the securitization is not accounted for as a sale of the underlying HECMs. See Securitized HECM loan inventory below for full description.

 

15


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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

(4) Deferred compensation investments and investment in the Deephaven Funds are included within Investments on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Excluded from deferred compensation investments is $1.5 million of Level 2 assets which relate to discontinued operations and are included within Other assets on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Totals may not add due to rounding.

 

     Assets and Liabilities Measured at
Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
 

December 31, 2010

   Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets

           

Financial instruments owned, at fair value:

           

Equities(1)

   $ 1,299.1       $ -         $ -         $ 1,299.1   

Listed equity options

     41.8         -           -           41.8   

U.S. government obligations

     3.8         -           -           3.8   

Corporate debt(2)

     11.1         -           -           11.1   

Mortgage-backed securities

     22.8         39.6         -           62.4   

Loan inventory

     -           146.5         -           146.5   

Purchased call options

     -           33.9         -           33.9   

Foreign currency forward contracts

     -           4.6         -           4.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Financial instruments owned, at fair value

     1,378.6         224.6         -           1,603.1   

Deferred compensation investments(3)

     -           17.3         -           17.3   

Investment in Deephaven Funds(3)

     -           3.6         -           3.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fair value of financial instrument assets

   $ 1,378.6       $ 245.5       $ -         $ 1,624.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

           

Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value:

           

Equities(1)

   $ 1,164.7       $ -         $ -         $ 1,164.7   

Listed equity options

     40.6         -           -           40.6   

U.S. government obligations

     54.4         -           -           54.4   

Corporate debt(2)

     6.3         -           -           6.3   

Embedded conversion derivative

     -           33.9         -           33.9   

Total return swap

     -           11.5         -           11.5   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fair value of financial instrument liabilities

   $ 1,266.0       $ 45.4       $ -         $ 1,311.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Equities of $293.7 million have been netted by their respective long and short positions by CUSIP number.
(2) Corporate debt of $0.1 million has been netted by respective long and short positions by CUSIP number.
(3) Deferred compensation investments and investment in the Deephaven Funds are included within Investments on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Excluded from deferred compensation investments is $2.7 million of Level 2 assets which relate to discontinued operations and are included within Other assets on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Totals may not add due to rounding.

 

16


Table of Contents

KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

The Company’s equities, listed equity options, U.S. government obligations, rated corporate debt and actively traded mortgage-backed securities will generally be classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices or broker or dealer quotations with reasonable levels of price transparency.

The types of instruments that trade in markets that are not considered to be active, but are valued based on observable inputs such as quoted market prices or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency are generally classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company’s loan inventory, securitized HECM loan inventory, foreign currency forward contracts, certain mortgage-backed securities, purchased call options and embedded conversion derivative related to the Company’s long-term debt (see Footnote 8 “Long-Term Debt”), deferred compensation investments and its remaining investment in the Deephaven Funds are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Certain instruments are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because they trade infrequently and therefore have little or no price transparency. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company did not hold any financial instruments that met the definition of Level 3.

There were no transfers of financial instruments between levels of the fair value hierarchy for any periods presented.

The following is a description of the valuation basis, techniques and significant inputs used by the Company in valuing its Level 2 assets:

Loan inventory

The Company’s loan inventory primarily comprises newly-issued HECMs that it has originated or purchased and for which the Company has elected to account for at fair value. Significant inputs that are used in determining fair value include LIBOR and U.S. treasury interest rates, weighted average coupon and pricing of actively-traded HMBS and dealer quotations for HECMs.

Securitized HECM loan inventory

Securitized HECM loan inventory comprises HECMs that the Company has securitized into HMBS. The Company has recorded the securitized loans in Financial instruments owned, at fair value and a corresponding liability recorded as Liability to GNMA trusts, at fair value, on its Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition at September 30, 2011. As of September 30, 2011 all of the HMBS created by the Company have been sold to third parties. Significant inputs that are used in determining fair value include LIBOR and U.S. treasury interest rates, weighted average coupon and pricing of actively-traded HMBS and dealer quotations for HECMs.

Foreign currency forward contracts

At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company had a foreign currency forward contract with a notional value of 75.0 million British pounds, which was used to hedge the Company’s investment in its U.K. subsidiary. The fair value of the contract was determined based upon spot foreign exchange rates, LIBOR interest rates and dealer quotations.

 

17


Table of Contents

KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

Mortgage-backed securities

The Company’s mortgage-backed securities that are not actively traded are priced based upon dealer quotations, prices observed from recently executed transactions and cash flow models that incorporate LIBOR forward interest rates, weighted average coupon, weighted average loan age, loan to value and other observable inputs.

Purchased call options and embedded conversion derivative

The fair value of the purchased call options and embedded conversion derivative are determined using an option pricing model based on observable inputs such as implied volatility of the Company’s common stock, risk-free interest rate, and other factors.

Deferred compensation investments

Deferred compensation investments comprise investments in liquid mutual funds that the Company acquires to hedge certain obligations to employees and directors under certain non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements. These mutual fund investments can generally be redeemed at any time and are valued based upon quoted market prices.

Investment in the Deephaven Funds

Investment in the Deephaven Funds represents our residual investment in certain funds that were formerly managed by Deephaven. These investments are in liquidation and are valued based upon statements provided by Stark, which are based upon the fair value of the underlying investments within such funds.

 

18


Table of Contents

KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

Fair value of derivative instruments

The following tables summarize the fair value of derivative instruments in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and the effect of changes in fair value on the Consolidated Statements of Operations (in millions):

 

    

Statements of Financial

Condition Location

   Fair Value as of  

Asset Derivatives

      September 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 
        

Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments:

   Financial instruments owned, at fair value      

Purchased call options

      $ 19.3       $ 33.9   

Listed equity options(1)

        406.3         41.8   

Foreign currency forward contracts

        0.5         -     
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
      $       426.0       $       75.7   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Derivative instruments designated as hedging instruments:

   Financial instruments owned, at fair value      

Foreign currency forward contracts

      $ 5.9       $ 4.6   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liability Derivatives

                  

Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments:

   Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value      

Embedded conversion derivative

      $ 19.3       $ 33.9   

Listed equity options(1)

        379.3         40.6   

Total return swap(2)

        17.2         11.5   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
      $ 415.8       $ 86.0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) As of September 30, 2011, the Company held 1.2 million long and 1.3 million short listed equity option contracts. As of December 31, 2010, the Company held 0.2 million long and 0.3 million short listed equity option contracts. The contracts are not subject to collateral requirements and are not netted.
(2) The total return swap liability is offset by an asset which is included in Financial Instruments owned, at fair value on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Totals may not add due to rounding.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

Derivative instruments not
designated as hedging instruments:

   Financial Statements
Location
   Gain (Loss) Recognized
For  the three months ended
September 30,
 
     
              2011                     2010          
       

Purchased call options

   Investment income and
other, net
   $ 7.6      $ (21.2

Listed equity options

   Net trading revenue      (10.7     1.9   

Embedded conversion derivative

   Investment income and
other, net
     (7.6     21.2   

Total return swap(1)

   Investment income and
other, net
     1.0        -     

Foreign currency forward contracts

   Investment income and
other, net
     0.6        -     
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
      $ (9.1   $ 1.9   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
Derivative instruments designated as hedging
instruments:
                 

Foreign currency forward contracts

   Accumulated other
comprehensive loss
   $ 3.5      $ (2.3
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Derivative instruments not
designated as hedging instruments:

   Financial Statements
Location
   Gain (Loss) Recognized
For  the nine months ended
September 30,
 
     
              2011                     2010          
       

Purchased call options

   Investment income and
other, net
   $ (14.6   $ (44.0

Listed equity options

   Net trading revenue      (2.1     1.7   

Embedded conversion derivative

   Investment income and
other, net
     14.6        44.0   

Total return swap(1)

   Investment income and
other, net
     (5.7     -     

Foreign currency forward contracts

   Investment income and
other, net
     0.6        -     
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
      $ (7.2   $ 1.7   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
Derivative instruments designated as hedging
instruments:
                 

Foreign currency forward contracts

   Accumulated other
comprehensive loss
   $ (0.1   $ (2.3
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Loss on the total return swap is offset by an equal gain on the underlying position which is recorded in Investment income and other, net on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Totals may not add due to rounding.

4. Collateralized Transactions

The Company receives financial instruments as collateral in connection with securities borrowed. Such financial instruments generally consist of equity and convertible securities but may include obligations of the U.S. government, federal agencies, sovereignties and corporations. In most cases,

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

the Company is permitted to deliver or repledge these financial instruments in connection with securities lending and other secured financings and meeting settlement requirements.

As of September 30, 2011 the fair value of financial instruments received as collateral by the Company that it was permitted to deliver or repledge was $1.23 billion, of which $1.17 billion had been delivered or repledged (of which $316.1 million could be further repledged by the receiving counterparty).

As of December 31, 2010, the fair value of financial instruments received as collateral by the Company that it was permitted to deliver or repledge was $1.13 billion, of which $1.09 billion had been delivered or repledged (of which $242.3 million could be further repledged by the receiving counterparty).

The Company also pledges financial instruments that it owns to counterparties who, in turn, are permitted to deliver or repledge them. Financial instruments pledged to counterparties that have the right to deliver or repledge them were $1,531.1 million and $269.1 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, and are included in Financial instruments owned, at fair value on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

The Company enters into collateralized transactions in order to finance securities positions and loan inventory. Under these transactions, the Company pledges certain financial instruments owned to collateralize repurchase agreements and other secured financings. Financial instruments owned and pledged to counterparties that do not have the right to sell or repledge such financial instruments consisted of equity securities and loans with a fair value of $694.2 million and $543.3 million as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, and are included in Financial instruments owned, at fair value on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Repurchase agreements and other secured financings are short-term and mature within one year.

5. Receivable from and Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

Amounts receivable from and payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations consist of the following (in millions):

 

     September 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Receivable:

     

Clearing organizations and other

   $           506.1       $           373.6   

Securities failed to deliver

     150.6         102.5   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 656.8       $ 476.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Payable:

     

Clearing organizations and other

   $ 346.4       $ 296.8   

Securities failed to receive

     64.0         40.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 410.3       $ 337.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

6. Investments

Investments include strategic investments, deferred compensation investments related to employee and director deferred compensation plans and investment in Deephaven Funds. Investments consist of the following (in millions):

 

     September 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Strategic investments:

     

Investments accounted for under the equity method

   $ 79.6       $ 60.2   

Investment, at cost

     1.7         -     

Common stock of private companies representing less than 20% equity ownership held at adjusted cost

     0.3         0.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Strategic investments

     81.7         60.4   

Deferred compensation investments

     18.0         17.3   

Investment in Deephaven Funds

     1.6         3.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $           101.4       $           81.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

Included in the investments accounted for under the equity method at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 is an equity investment in Direct Edge of $48.4 million and $46.0 million, respectively. See Footnote 2 “Significant Accounting Policies” for a discussion of valuation of strategic investments.

7. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are tested for impairment annually or when an event occurs or circumstances change that signifies the existence of impairment. As part of the test for impairment, the Company considers the profitability of the respective segment or reporting unit, an assessment of the fair value of the respective segment or reporting unit as well as the overall market value of the Company compared to its net book value. In June 2011, the Company tested for the impairment of goodwill as part of its annual assessment and concluded that there was no impairment at that time. Subsequently, during the third quarter of 2011, as a result of a corporate restructuring the Company wrote off Goodwill of $1.0 million in the Corporate and Other segment. See Footnote 12 “Restructuring, Writedown of Assets and Lease Loss Accrual” for further discussion of the restructuring charge.

Amortizable intangibles are tested for recoverability whenever events indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. During the third quarter of 2011, a portion of customer relationships within the Institutional Sales and Trading segment with an unamortized cost of $1.3 million was written off relating to the corporate restructuring. See Footnote 12 “Restructuring, Writedown of Assets and Lease Loss Accrual” for further discussion of the restructuring charge. During the second quarter of 2010, the Libertas trade name with an unamortized cost of $0.3 million was written off.

No other events occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 that would indicate that the carrying amounts of the Company’s goodwill or intangible assets may not be recoverable.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

Goodwill

The following table summarizes the Company’s Goodwill as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (in millions):

 

     September 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Market Making

     

Purchase of Kellogg DMM business units

   $ 9.1       $ 9.0   

Purchase of Tradetech business

     3.0         3.0   

Purchase of Trimark business

     10.1         10.1   

Other

     2.5         2.5   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     24.7         24.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Institutional Sales and Trading

     

Purchase of Libertas business

     114.3         114.3   

Purchase of Urban business

     17.8         17.8   

Purchase of Astor business

     12.1         12.1   

Purchase of Donaldson business

     3.6         3.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     147.7         147.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Electronic Execution Services

     

Purchase of Hotspot business

     55.7         55.7   

Purchase of EdgeTrade business

     51.7         51.7   

Purchase of Direct Trading business

     43.8         43.8   

Purchase of ValuBond business

     14.2         14.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     165.4         165.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Corporate and Other

     

Other

     -           1.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     -           1.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated Total

   $           337.8       $ 338.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets primarily represent client relationships and are amortized over their remaining useful lives, the majority of which have been determined to range from two to 20 years. The weighted average remaining life of the Company’s intangible assets at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 is approximately 11 and 10 years, respectively.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

The following tables summarize the Company’s Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 by segment and type (in millions):

          September 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 

Market Making

       

Trading rights

      $ 25.8      $ 27.6   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

        25.8        27.6   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Institutional Sales and Trading

       

Customer and broker relationships

        25.7        31.7   

Trade names

        1.4        1.5   

Other

        4.3        4.9   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

        31.3        38.1   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Electronic Execution Services

       

Customer and broker relationships

        27.7        30.5   

Trade names

        6.3        6.7   

Other

        5.7        7.0   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

        39.7        44.1   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated Total

      $ 96.8      $ 109.8   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
          September 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 

Customer and broker relationships(1)

   Gross carrying amount    $           93.6      $           95.1   
  

Accumulated amortization

     (40.2     (32.8
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
   Net carrying amount      53.4        62.2   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Trade names(2)

   Gross carrying amount      9.8        9.8   
  

Accumulated amortization

     (2.1     (1.7
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
   Net carrying amount      7.7        8.1   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other(3)

   Gross carrying amount      47.3        47.1   
  

Accumulated amortization

     (11.5     (7.7
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
   Net carrying amount      35.8        39.4   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   Gross carrying amount      150.6        152.0   
  

Accumulated amortization

     (53.8     (42.2
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
   Net carrying amount    $ 96.8      $ 109.8   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Customer and broker relationships primarily relate to the Donaldson, Direct Trading, Hotspot, EdgeTrade, Libertas, Urban and Astor acquisitions. The weighted average remaining life is

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

  approximately 10 years as of September 30, 2011 and 11 years as of December 31, 2010. Lives may be reduced depending upon actual retention rates. During the third quarter of 2011, a portion of customer relationships within the Institutional Sales and Trading segment with an unamortized cost of $1.3 million was written off as part of the restructuring charge.
(2) Trade names relate to the acquisitions of Hotspot, EdgeTrade and Urban. The weighted average remaining life is approximately 13 years as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. During the second quarter of 2010, the “Libertas” trade name with an unamortized cost of $0.3 million was written off.
(3) Other includes trading rights, technology, non-compete agreements and domain name rights acquired by the Company. The weighted average remaining life is approximately 11 and eight years as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

The following table summarizes the Company’s amortization expense relating to Intangible assets (in millions):

 

     For the three months ended September 30,      For the nine months ended September 30,  
             2011                      2010                      2011                      2010          

Amortization Expense

   $           4.0       $           3.5       $           11.9       $           9.0   

As of September 30, 2011, the following table summarizes the Company’s estimated amortization expense for future periods (in millions):

 

     Amortization
expense
 

Three months ending December 31, 2011

   $ 4.0   

Year ended December 31, 2012

     15.7   

Year ended December 31, 2013

     12.9   

Year ended December 31, 2014

     10.2   

Year ended December 31, 2015

     8.1   

Thereafter through December 31, 2030

     44.3   
  

 

 

 
   $           95.1   
  

 

 

 

8. Long-Term Debt

The Company’s Long-Term Debt as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 is as follows (in millions):

 

     September 30, 2011      December 31, 2010  

Term Credit Agreement

   $           100.0       $ —     

Convertible Notes

     321.0         311.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 421.0       $           311.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

Credit Agreement

On June 29, 2011, the Company, as borrower, entered into a $100.0 million three-year Term Loan Credit Agreement (the “Term Credit Agreement”) with a consortium of banks. The Company, as guarantor, also entered into a $200.0 million one-year Revolving Credit Agreement (the “Revolving Credit Agreement” and together with the Term Credit Agreement, the “Credit Agreements”) with the same consortium of banks with Knight Execution & Clearing Services LLC (“KECS”) and Knight Capital Americas, L.P. (“KCA”), wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company, as borrowers.

Term Credit Agreement

The proceeds of the Term Credit Agreement are being used for general corporate purposes. As of September 30, 2011, the Company has borrowed all the funds under the Term Credit Agreement. Borrowings under the Term Credit Agreement bear interest at variable rates as determined at the Company’s election, at LIBOR or a base rate, in each case, plus an applicable margin of (a) for each LIBOR loan, 2.50% or 3.00% per annum or (b) for each base rate loan, 1.50% or 2.00% per annum (in each case, depending on the Company’s leverage ratio). As of September 30, 2011, the interest rate was 2.74% per annum, which is based on the one month LIBOR rate plus 2.5%. Interest is paid quarterly. The Term Credit Agreement is repayable in three installments as follows: $25.0 million on June 28, 2013, $25.0 million on December 27, 2013 and $50.0 million on June 27, 2014.

Under the Term Credit Agreement, substantially all of the Company’s material subsidiaries, other than its foreign subsidiaries, excluded regulated subsidiaries (which include registered broker-dealer subsidiaries) and subsidiaries thereof (the “Guarantors”), guarantee the repayment of loans made pursuant to the Term Credit Agreement. The Term Credit Agreement is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Guarantors unless and until the Company obtains an investment grade rating.

Revolving Credit Agreement

The Revolving Credit Agreement comprises two classes of loans: Borrowing Base A and Borrowing Base B. The proceeds of the Borrowing Base A Loans are available to KECS and KCA and may be used to meet the short-term liquidity needs of KECS and KCA arising in the ordinary course of clearing and settlement activity. The proceeds of the Borrowing Base B Loans are only available to KECS and can only be used to fund National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) margin deposits.

Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate equal to the greater of the federal funds rate or the one month LIBOR rate plus (a) for each Borrowing Base A Loan, a margin of 1.50% per annum and (b) for Borrowing Base B Loans, a margin of 2.0% per annum. Interest is payable quarterly. As of September 30, 2011, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement. Any amounts borrowed under the Revolving Credit Agreement are repayable on June 27, 2012.

The Company is charged an annual commitment fee of 0.25% on the average daily amount of the unused portion of the Revolving Credit Agreement. Depending on each borrowing base, availability under the Revolving Credit Agreement is limited to either (i) a percentage of the market value of temporary positions pledged as collateral in the case of Borrowing Base A Loans, or (ii) a percentage of the margin deposit required by the NSCC in the case of Borrowing Base B Loans.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

Among other restrictions, the Credit Agreements include customary representations, warranties, affirmative and negative covenants related to (a) liens, (b) financial covenant requirements for maintaining a consolidated leverage ratio and a liquidity ratio, as well as requirements for maintaining minimum levels of tangible net worth and regulatory capital, and (c) restrictions on investments, dispositions and other restrictions and events of default customary for financings of these types. As of September 30, 2011, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Agreements.

In connection with the Credit Agreements, the Company incurred issuance costs of $2.2 million. The issuance costs are recorded within Other assets on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and are amortized over the term of the Credit Agreements.

Cash Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes

In March 2010, the Company issued $375.0 million of Cash Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes (the “Notes”) due on March 15, 2015 in a private offering exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. At the same time, the Company entered into hedge transactions effected through the purchase of options and sale of warrants designed to limit shareholder dilution up to a price of $31.50 per share.

The Notes bear interest at a rate of 3.50% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears, on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing on September 15, 2010 and will mature on March 15, 2015, subject to earlier repurchase or conversion. In connection with the issuance of the Notes, the Company recognized an original issue discount of $73.8 million which is being accreted to interest expense over the term of the Notes, resulting in an effective annual interest rate of the Notes of approximately 7.9%. The Notes, net of original issue discount are reported as Long-term debt in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Prior to December 15, 2014, the Notes will be convertible into cash only upon specified events which are based upon the price of the Company’s common shares and of the Notes or upon the occurrence of specified corporate events. On or after December 15, 2014, the Notes will be convertible at any time, based on an initial conversion rate of 47.9185 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $20.87 or a conversion premium of approximately 32.5% over the closing sale price of $15.75 per share of the Company’s Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on March 15, 2010. The conversion rate and conversion price will be subject to adjustment in certain events, such as distributions of dividends or stock splits. Upon cash conversion, the Company will deliver an amount of cash calculated over the applicable observation period. The Company will not deliver its common stock (or any other securities) upon conversion under any circumstances. In addition, following certain corporate events that occur prior to the maturity date, the Company will pay a cash make-whole premium by increasing the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its Notes in connection with such a corporate event in certain circumstances. Subject to certain exceptions, holders may require the Company to repurchase, for cash, all or part of the Notes upon a “fundamental change” at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest.

Concurrent with the sale of the Notes, the Company paid $73.7 million to enter into privately negotiated cash convertible note hedge transactions (the “purchased call options”) with affiliates of the initial purchasers of the Notes and another financial institution (the “option counterparties”) that are

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

expected generally to reduce the Company’s exposure to potential cash payments in excess of the principal amount of the Notes that may be required to be made by the Company upon the cash conversion of the Notes under certain conditions. The purchased call options cover, subject to adjustments, approximately 18 million shares of the Company’s Class A common stock at a strike price of $20.87 and are expected to reduce the Company’s economic exposure to potential cash payments in the event that the market price per share of the Company’s Class A common stock is greater than the conversion price of the Notes. The purchased call options were recorded as an asset within Financial instruments owned, at fair value on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and are accounted for as derivative instruments under GAAP. As of September 30, 2011, the fair value of the purchased call options was $19.3 million.

In connection with the sale of the Notes, the Company also entered into separate warrant transactions with the option counterparties whereby the Company sold to the option counterparties, for $15.0 million, warrants (the “warrants”) to purchase shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, subject to adjustments, at a strike price of $31.50 per share, which represents a premium of approximately 100% over the closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock on March 15, 2010. The warrants are net share settled, meaning that the Company will issue a number of shares per warrant having a value equal to the difference between the share price at each warrant expiration date and the strike price; however, at the discretion of the Company, the Company may elect to settle the warrants in cash. If the market price per share of the Company’s Class A common stock exceeds the strike price of the warrants over the warrants’ exercise period and the Company elects net share settlement, the warrants would have a dilutive effect on the Company’s Class A common stock. The warrants may not be exercised prior to the maturity of the Notes. The warrants have been recorded as Additional paid-in capital in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. The warrants also meet the criteria of derivative instruments under GAAP; however, because the warrants are indexed to the Company’s Class A common stock and are recorded within Equity in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, the warrants are exempt from the scope and fair value provisions of GAAP related to accounting for derivative instruments.

The requirement that the Company settle conversions of the Notes entirely in cash gives rise to a bifurcatable derivative instrument under GAAP (the “embedded conversion derivative”). The initial valuation of the embedded conversion derivative was $73.8 million, and was recorded as a liability within Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. As of September 30, 2011 the fair value of the embedded conversion derivative was $19.3 million.

Both the purchased call options and the embedded conversion derivative are derivative instruments and as such are marked to fair value each reporting period with any change recognized on the Consolidated Statements of Operations as Investment income and other, net. The Company expects the gain or loss associated with changes to the valuation of the purchased call options to substantially offset the gain or loss associated with changes to the valuation of the embedded conversion derivative.

In connection with the issuance of the Notes, the Company incurred issuance costs of $8.5 million. The issuance costs are recorded within Other assets on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and are amortized over the term of the Notes.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

The Company recorded expenses with respect to the Long-Term Debt as follows (in millions):

 

    For the three months ended
September 30,
    For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
            2011                     2010                     2011                     2010          

Interest expense

  $           7.4      $           6.2      $           20.5      $           13.7   

Amortization of debt issuance cost(1)

    0.8        0.4        1.6        0.9   

Commitment fee(1)

    0.1        -          0.1        -     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 8.3      $ 6.6      $ 22.3      $ 14.6   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Included in Other expense.

Concurrent with the Notes offering, the Company repaid the amounts outstanding under the $140.0 million credit agreement originally entered into on October 9, 2007. Approximately $0.5 million of interest expense relating to such credit agreement was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

9. Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income includes net income and changes in equity except those resulting from investments by, or distributions to, stockholders. Comprehensive income is as follows (in millions):

 

    For the three months ended
September 30,
    For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
            2011                     2010                     2011                     2010          

Net Income

  $           26.9      $           0.2      $           75.0      $           82.4   

Other comprehensive income (loss):

       

Cumulative translation adjustment

    0.4        2.1        0.2        (2.7
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

  $ 27.4      $ 2.3      $ 75.2      $ 79.7   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

10. Stock-Based Compensation

The Knight Capital Group, Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (“2010 Plan”) was established to provide long-term incentive compensation to employees and directors of the Company. The 2010 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, and allows for the grant of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units (collectively, the “awards”), as defined by the 2010 Plan. In addition to overall limitations on the aggregate number of awards that may be granted, the 2010 Plan also limits the number of awards that may be granted to a single individual. The 2010 Plan replaced prior stockholder-approved equity plans for future equity grants and no additional grants will be made under those historical stock plans. However, the terms and conditions of any outstanding equity grants under the historical stock plans were not affected. As of September 30, 2011, the Company has not issued any stock appreciation rights. In addition, the Company established the Knight Capital Group, Inc. 2009 Inducement Award Plan (the “Inducement Plan”) (along with the 2010 Plan, the “Stock Plans”) which is used under limited circumstances for

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

equity grants to new hires. The Company issued 197,000 restricted shares as inducement awards pursuant to the Inducement Plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2010. These shares were issued out of treasury and vest ratably over three years. The Company did not issue any awards pursuant to the Inducement Plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Unvested awards granted before September 1, 2010 are generally canceled if employment is terminated for any reason before the end of the relevant vesting period. For annual incentive awards granted after September 1, 2010 and up to September 30, 2011, full vesting is given where an employee has been terminated without cause by the Company. For all other awards granted after September 1, 2010 and up to September 30, 2011 unvested awards are generally canceled if employment is terminated for any reason before the end of the relevant vesting period. Effective October 1, 2011, for all awards granted after such date, full vesting will be given where an employee has been terminated without cause by the Company.

Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units

Eligible employees and directors may receive restricted shares and/or restricted stock units (collectively “restricted awards”) as a portion of their total compensation. The majority of restricted awards vest ratably over three years. The Company has also issued restricted awards that vest based upon the market price of Knight’s common stock reaching a certain price for a specified period of time (“Market Shares”). There were no Market Shares granted in 2011 or 2010. The Company has the right to fully vest employees and directors in their restricted stock units upon retirement and in certain other circumstances.

The Company measures compensation cost related to restricted awards other than Market Shares based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant, which the Stock Plans define as the average of the high and low sales price on the business day prior to the grant date. The Company determines compensation cost for Market Shares based upon the fair value of such awards at date of grant and projected median vesting periods, both of which are based on statistical simulation models. The principal assumptions utilized in valuing Market Shares and determining their median vesting periods include: 1) risk-free interest rate – estimate is based on the yield of U.S. zero coupon securities with a maturity equal to the expected life of the award; 2) expected volatility – estimate is based on several factors including implied volatility of market-traded options on the Company’s common stock on the grant date and the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock; and 3) maximum life – based upon the maximum contractual life of the award.

Compensation expense relating to restricted awards, primarily recorded in Employee compensation and benefits, and the corresponding income tax benefit, which is recorded in Income tax expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations are presented in the following table (in millions):

 

     For the three months ended
September 30,
     For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Restricted award compensation expense

   $           13.5       $           11.0       $           40.9       $           37.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income tax benefit

   $ 5.3       $ 4.4       $ 16.0       $ 14.9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

30


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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

The following table summarizes restricted awards activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 (shares and units in thousands):

 

     Restricted Shares      Restricted Stock Units  
     Number of
Shares
    Weighted-
Average
Grant date
Fair Value
     Number
of Units
    Weighted-
Average
Grant date
Fair Value
 

Outstanding at January 1, 2011

     1,154.7      $ 16.60         6,329.1      $ 15.08   

Granted

     -          -           5,767.9        13.66   

Vested

     (828.2     16.76         (1,845.2     16.45   

Forfeited

     (17.4     15.69         (2,233.5     14.91   
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

Outstanding at September 30, 2011

     309.1      $ 16.21         8,018.4      $ 14.39   
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

There is $66.5 million of unamortized compensation related to unvested restricted awards outstanding at September 30, 2011. This amount is recorded in Additional paid-in capital on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. The cost of these unvested restricted awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted average life of 1.8 years.

Stock Options

The Company’s policy is to grant options for the purchase of shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price not less than market value, which the Stock Plans define as the average of the high and low sales price on the business day prior to the grant date. Options generally vest ratably over a three- or four-year period and expire on the fifth or tenth anniversary of the grant date, pursuant to the terms of the applicable option award agreement. The Company has the right to fully vest employees and directors in their stock options upon retirement and in certain other circumstances. The Company’s policy is to issue new shares upon share option exercises by its employees and directors.

The fair value of each option granted is estimated as of its respective grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Stock options granted have exercise prices equal to the market value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant as defined by the Stock Plans. The principal assumptions utilized in valuing options and the methodology for estimating such model inputs include: 1) risk-free interest rate – estimate is based on the yield of U.S. zero coupon securities with a maturity equal to the expected life of the option; 2) expected volatility – estimate is based on several factors including implied volatility of market-traded options on the Company’s common stock on the grant date and the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock; and 3) expected option life – estimate is based on internal studies of historical experience and projected exercise behavior based on different employee groups and specific option characteristics, including the effect of employee terminations. The Company did not grant any options during the nine months ended September 30, 2011. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company granted 1.2 million options to employees. Based on the results of the model, the weighted-average fair value of the stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $4.93.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

Compensation expense relating to stock options, all of which was recorded in Employee compensation and benefits, and the corresponding income tax benefit, which is recorded in Income tax expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations are as follows (in millions):

 

     For the three months ended
September 30,
     For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
             2011                      2010                      2011                      2010          

Stock option compensation expense

   $           0.3       $           0.5       $           1.0       $           2.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income tax benefit

   $ 0.1       $ 0.2       $ 0.4       $ 0.9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table summarizes stock option activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 (stock options in thousands):

 

     Number of
Stock Options
    Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
 

Outstanding at January 1, 2011

     3,739.9      $ 14.06   

Granted at market value

     -          -     

Exercised

     (71.4     10.62   

Forfeited or expired

     (780.4     16.42   
  

 

 

   

Outstanding at September 30, 2011

     2,888.0      $ 13.50   
  

 

 

   

Exercisable at September 30, 2011

     2,324.5      $ 12.92   
  

 

 

   

Available for future grants at September 30, 2011*

     9,270.4     
  

 

 

   

 

   Totals may not add due to rounding.
* Represents both options and awards available for grant

There is $1.6 million of unrecognized compensation related to unvested stock options outstanding at September 30, 2011. The cost of these unvested awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted average life of 1.3 years.

11. Income Taxes

The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return as well as combined state income tax returns in certain jurisdictions. In other jurisdictions, the Company and its subsidiaries file separate company state and local income tax returns.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

The following table reconciles the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the Company’s actual income tax rate from continuing operations:

 

    For the three months ended
September 30,
    For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
            2011                     2010                     2011                     2010          

U.S. federal statutory income tax rate

    35.0     35.0     35.0     35.0

U.S. state and local income taxes, net of U.S. federal income tax effect

    4.0     6.0     4.0     4.6

Nondeductible charges and other, net

    0.3     -0.9     0.2     0.2
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Actual income tax rate

    39.3     40.1     39.2     39.8
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

At September 30, 2011, the Company had $1.6 million of unrecognized tax benefits, all of which would affect the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized.

As of September 30, 2011, the Company is subject to U.S. Federal income tax examinations for the tax years 2006 through 2010, and to non-U.S. income tax examinations for the tax years 2007 through 2010. In addition, the Company is subject to state and local income tax examinations in various jurisdictions for the tax years 2003 through 2010. The final outcome of these examinations is not yet determinable. However, the Company anticipates that adjustments to the unrecognized tax benefits, if any, will not result in a material change to the results of operations or financial condition.

The Company’s policy for recording interest and penalties associated with audits is to record such items as a component of Income from continuing operations, before income taxes. Penalties, if any, are recorded in Other expenses and interest paid or received is recorded in Interest expense and Interest, net, on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

12. Restructuring, Writedown of Assets and Lease Loss Accrual

In August 2011, the Company undertook a corporate restructuring designed to lower operating expenses and improve financial performance. This restructuring comprised a reduction in workforce, a significant downsizing of its Hong Kong presence and discontinuing certain other initiatives. For the three months ended September 30, 2011, the Company recorded a Restructuring charge of $28.6 million which affected all segments and comprised the following:

 

   

Employee severance and other employee benefit costs of $17.7 million;

 

   

Hong Kong asset writedown, lease and contract termination costs of $2.7 million; and

 

   

Capitalized software, intangible asset and goodwill writedown of $8.3 million.

As of September 30, 2011, $6.0 million of the Restructuring charges remained unpaid and are primarily included within Accrued compensation expense on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition.

In the third quarter of 2010, the Company recorded a Restructuring charge of $16.7 million, related to a plan to reduce headcount in order to rationalize expenses. The charges, which consisted of severance and related costs, affected all operating segments.

Writedown of assets and lease loss accrual was $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and $2.3 million and $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

In the first and third quarter of 2011, the Company recorded lease loss charges of $0.9 million and $1.3 million, respectively, related to excess real estate capacity.

In the second quarter of 2010, the Company recorded a charge of $0.3 million related to the Company’s decision to discontinue the use of the Libertas trade name and a lease loss accrual of $0.7 million relating to excess real estate capacity.

13. Discontinued Operations

In the first quarter of 2009, Deephaven completed the sale of substantially all of its assets to Stark & Roth, Inc. (together with its affiliates, “Stark”) with Stark agreeing to assume certain limited liabilities of Deephaven. At that time, Deephaven was replaced by Stark as the investment manager, managing member and general partner for the Deephaven Funds and the Company exited the Deephaven business. As a result of this sale, Deephaven was classified as a discontinued operation.

(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax are presented in the following table (in millions):

 

    For the three months ended
September 30,
    For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
            2011                     2010                     2011                     2010          

Revenues

  $           (0.0   $           0.2      $           0.1      $           0.2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pre-tax (loss) income from discontinued operations

  $ (0.1   $ 0.2      $ (0.1   $ 0.0   

Income tax benefit (expense)

    0.0        (0.1     (0.3     (0.2
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax

  $ (0.1   $ 0.1      $ (0.4   $ (0.2
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

(Loss) income from discontinued operations had no effect on the basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.

Assets and liabilities related to discontinued operations which are recorded in Other assets and Accrued expenses and other liabilities, respectively, on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition are presented in the following table (in millions):

 

     September 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $           0.9       $           0.8   

Deferred compensation and other assets

     1.5         2.9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 2.4       $ 3.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

     

Accrued compensation expense

   $ 1.6       $ 2.5   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     0.3         1.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 1.8       $ 4.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

14. Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) has been calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding during each respective period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential reduction in EPS using the treasury stock method to reflect the impact of common stock equivalents if stock options were exercised and restricted awards were to vest.

The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted earnings per share computations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (in millions, except per share data):

 

     For the three months ended September 30,  
     2011      2010  
     Numerator /
net income
     Denominator /
shares
     Numerator /
net income
     Denominator /
        shares         
 

Income and shares used in basic calculations

   $           26.9         91.6       $ 0.2         90.4   

Effect of dilutive stock based awards

     -           2.3         -           2.9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income and shares used in diluted calculations

   $ 26.9         93.8       $           0.2         93.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

      $           0.29          $           0.00   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

      $ 0.29          $ 0.00   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

     For the nine months ended September 30,  
     2011      2010  
     Numerator /
net income
     Denominator /
shares
     Numerator /
net income
     Denominator /
        shares         
 

Income and shares used in basic calculations

   $           75.0         91.9       $ 82.4         89.8   

Effect of dilutive stock based awards

     -           2.9         -           4.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income and shares used in diluted calculations

   $ 75.0         94.8       $           82.4         94.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

      $           0.82          $ 0.92   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

      $ 0.79          $           0.88   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

The above calculations exclude options that could potentially dilute EPS in the future but were antidilutive for the periods presented. The number of such options excluded was approximately 1.8 million and 2.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and 2.0 million and 2.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

15. Significant Clients

The Company considers significant clients to be those clients who account for 10% or more of the total U.S. equity dollar value traded or fixed income notional value traded by the Company. No clients accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s U.S. equity dollar value traded or fixed income notional value traded during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

35


Table of Contents

KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

16. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

In the ordinary course of business, the nature of the Company’s business subjects it to claims, lawsuits, regulatory examinations and other proceedings. The Company is subject to several of these matters at the present time.

In the third quarter of 2011, the litigations involving the former Electronic Trading Group employees, as described in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, were resolved and discontinued with prejudice. Knight made a settlement payment which did not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations or Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition. For further information regarding these matters, see the Company’s initial disclosure set forth in its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 and the disclosure set forth in the section entitled “Legal Proceedings” in Part II, Item 1 herein.

The Company is also subject to claims, lawsuits, arbitrations, regulatory examinations and other proceedings where the results of these matters cannot be predicted, and the Company cannot estimate a possible range of loss for these matters at this time. The determination of the outcome and loss estimates requires significant judgment on the part of management. There can be no assurance that these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations in any future period and a material judgment could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, cash flows and results of operations. However, it is the opinion of management, after consultation with legal counsel that, based on information currently available, the ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse impact on the business, financial condition, cash flows or operating results of the Company although they might be material to the operating results for any particular period, depending, in part, upon operating results for that period.

The Company leases office space under noncancelable operating leases. Certain office leases contain fixed dollar-based escalation clauses. Rental expense from continuing operations under the office leases was $5.3 million and $4.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and is included in Occupancy and equipment rentals on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, rental expense from continuing operations under the office leases was $15.1 million and $13.5 million, respectively.

The Company leases certain computer and other equipment under noncancelable operating leases and has entered into guaranteed employment contracts with certain of its employees. As of

 

36


Table of Contents

KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

September 30, 2011, future minimum rental commitments under all noncancelable office, computer and equipment leases (“Gross Lease Obligations”), Sublease Income and guaranteed employment contracts longer than one year (“Other Obligations”) were as follows (in millions):

Lease & Contract Obligations

 

     Gross Lease
Obligations
     Sublease
Income
     Net Lease
Obligations
     Other
Obligations
 

Three months ending December 31, 2011

   $ 5.9       $ 0.3       $ 5.6       $ 8.5   

Year ending December 31, 2012

     24.1         1.4         22.7         18.7   

Year ending December 31, 2013

     22.4         1.4         21.0         -     

Year ending December 31, 2014

     21.1         1.4         19.7         -     

Year ending December 31, 2015

     20.3         1.4         18.9         -     

Thereafter through August 31, 2023

     117.1         3.0         114.1         -     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $           210.9       $           8.9       $           202.0       $           27.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

During the normal course of business, the Company collateralizes certain leases or other contractual obligations through letters of credit or segregated funds held in escrow accounts. As of September 30, 2011, the Company has provided a letter of credit for $1.0 million, collateralized by U.S. Treasury Bills, as a guarantee for one of the Company’s lease obligations. In the ordinary course of business, Knight Capital Group, Inc. also has provided, and may provide in the future, unsecured guarantees with respect to the payment obligations of certain of its subsidiaries under trading, repurchase, financing and stock loan arrangements, as well as under certain leases.

As of September 30, 2011, the Company had unfunded loan commitments of $120.5 million relating to HECMs.

During the normal course of business, the Company may enter into futures contracts. These financial instruments are subject to varying degrees of risks whereby the fair value of the securities underlying the financial instruments, may be in excess of, or less than, the contract amount. The Company is obligated to post collateral against certain futures contracts.

The following tables summarize the Company’s futures contract activity (in millions):

 

Futures Contracts

   Statements of Financial
Condition Location
   Fair Value of asset or (liability) as of  
      September 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 
       

Notional Value

   Not Applicable    $ (54.5   $ (64.6
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair Value

   Receivable from brokers,
dealers and clearing
organizations
   $ 2.2      $ (0.3
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Futures Contracts

   Statements of
Operations Location
   Gain (Loss) Recognized
For the  three months ended
September 30,
     Gain (Loss) Recognized
For the  nine months ended
September 30,
 
              2011                      2010                      2011                      2010          

Unrealized gain (loss)

   Net trading revenue    $ 2.2       $ 0.1       $ 1.9       $ (1.1
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

37


Table of Contents

KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

17. Financial Instruments with Off-Balance Sheet Risk and Concentrations of Credit Risk

As a market maker of equities and options, the majority of the Company’s securities transactions are conducted as principal or riskless principal with broker-dealers and institutional counterparties primarily located in the United States. The Company clears a portion of its securities transactions through third party clearing brokers. Foreign transactions are settled pursuant to global custody and clearing agreements with major U.S. banks. Substantially all of the Company’s credit exposures are concentrated with its clearing brokers, broker-dealer and institutional counterparties. The Company’s policy is to monitor the credit standing of counterparties with which it conducts business.

The Company self-clears substantially all of its U.S. equity securities transactions using an internally-developed platform. Self-clearing exposes the Company to operational risks, including business disruption, operational inefficiencies, liquidity, counterparty and financing risks and potentially increased expenses and lost revenue opportunities. While the clearing platform, operational processes, enhanced infrastructure, and current and future financing arrangements have been carefully designed, the Company may nevertheless encounter difficulties that may lead to operating inefficiencies, dissatisfaction amongst its client base, disruption in the infrastructure that supports the business, inadequate liquidity and/or financial loss.

In the normal course of its operations, the Company enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnifications. The Company’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Company that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Company believes the risk of loss is minimal.

Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value represent obligations to purchase such securities (or underlying securities) at a future date. The Company may incur a loss if the market value of the securities subsequently increases.

The Company currently has no loans outstanding to any former or current executive officer or director.

18. Acquisition

Urban

On July 1, 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of Urban for $28.4 million, comprising $19.4 million in cash, approximately 350,000 shares of unregistered Knight common stock valued at $5.0 million and a potential earn out based on future performance valued at $4.0 million. Urban achieved its first year performance target as of July 31, 2011 which entitled the seller to receive $1.3 million split evenly between cash and approximately 57,000 unregistered shares of Knight common stock.

 

38


Table of Contents

KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

Goodwill and intangible assets recognized upon the closing of the transaction amounted to $24.3 million. All of the goodwill from this transaction is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in millions):

 

Agreed purchase price

   $ 24.0   

Adjustment for working capital

     4.4   
  

 

 

 

Purchase of business

   $ 28.4   
  

 

 

 

Cash

   $ 4.6   

Goodwill

     17.8   

Intangible assets

     6.5   

Other assets

     6.1   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     (6.5
  

 

 

 

Purchase of business

   $           28.4   
  

 

 

 

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

19. Business Segments

The Company has four operating segments, (i) Market Making, (ii) Institutional Sales and Trading, (iii) Electronic Execution Services and (iv) Corporate and Other.

The Market Making segment principally consists of market making in global equities and listed domestic options. Market Making primarily includes client, and to a lesser extent, non-client electronic market making and cash trading activities in which the Company operates as a market maker in equity securities. Market Making also includes the Company’s option market making business which has expanded trading onto several electronic exchanges.

The Institutional Sales and Trading segment includes global voice equity and fixed income sales, reverse mortgage origination and securitization, capital markets and asset management activities. The primary business of the Institutional Sales and Trading segment is to execute and facilitate transactions predominantly as agent on behalf of institutional clients for equities and fixed income offerings. This is predominantly a full-service business, in which much of the interaction is based on client relationships of the Company’s sales employees. This segment also facilitates client orders through program and block trades and riskless principal trades. The Company provides capital markets services, including equity and debt private placement, and commits the Company’s capital when needed.

The Electronic Execution Service segment offers access to markets and self-directed trading via the Company’s electronic agency-based platforms, including Knight Direct, Hotspot FX and Knight BondPoint platforms.

The Corporate and Other segment invests in strategic financial services-oriented opportunities, allocates, deploys and monitors all capital, and maintains corporate overhead expenses and other expenses that are not attributable to the other segments. The Corporate and Other segment houses functions that support Knight’s other segments such as self-clearing services, including stock lending, and other support and overhead.

 

39


Table of Contents

KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

The Company’s revenues, income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes (“Pre-tax earnings”) and total assets by segment are summarized in the following table (in millions):

 

     Market
Making
     Institutional
Sales and
Trading
    Electronic
Execution
Services
     Corporate
and Other
    Consolidated
Total
 

For the three months ended September 30, 2011:

            

Revenues

   $     204.9       $ 145.4      $ 45.1       $ 2.0      $ 397.4   

Pre-tax earnings(1)

     69.2         (15.6     13.8         (23.0     44.4   

Total assets(3)

     2,130.0         2,655.0        271.9         2,003.5        7,060.5   

For the three months ended September 30, 2010:(5)

         

Revenues

   $ 93.4       $ 108.9      $ 31.7       $ 5.5      $ 239.5   

Pre-tax earnings(2)

     21.0         (15.9     8.3         (13.4     0.1   

Total assets(3)

     1,548.5         998.6        267.1         1,989.7        4,803.9   

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011:

         

Revenues

   $ 517.1       $ 407.7      $ 127.3       $ 11.0      $ 1,063.2   

Pre-tax earnings(1)

     171.7         (27.2     37.0         (57.5     124.0   

Total assets(3)

     2,130.0         2,655.0        271.9         2,003.5        7,060.5   

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010:(5)

         

Revenues(4)

   $ 438.1       $ 345.2      $ 101.1       $ 5.6      $ 890.0   

Pre-tax earnings(2)

     179.9         (11.8     26.7         (57.6     137.2   

Total assets(3)

     1,548.5         998.6        267.1         1,989.7        4,803.9   

 

Totals may not add due to roundings.

(1) - Included in Pre-tax earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 is a Restructuring charge of $28.6 million which includes $0.5 million for Market Making, $23.9 million for Institutional Sales and Trading, $0.4 million for Electronic Execution Services, and $3.8 million for Corporate and Other.
(2) - Included in Pre-tax earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 is a Restructuring charge of $16.7 million which includes $1.6 million for Market Making, $14.3 million for Institutional Sales and Trading, $0.1 million for Electronic Execution Services, and $0.7 million for Corporate and Other.
(3) - Total assets do not include Assets within discontinued operations of $2.4 million and $4.1 million at September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
(4) - Included in Institutional Sales and Trading revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 are fees of $2.9 million resulting from the Company acting as joint lead manager in its Note offering (see Footnote 8 “Long-Term Debt”). An offsetting elimination was included in Corporate and Other revenues to eliminate this fee for consolidation purposes.
(5) - Prior period amounts have been recast to conform with current period segment presentation. Such recast had no effect on previously reported Consolidated Revenues, Pre-Tax earnings or Total assets.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion of our results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in our Form 10-K. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth elsewhere in this document and in our Form 10-K.

Certain statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including, without limitation, those under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” herein (“MD&A”), “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in Part I, Item 3, “Legal Proceedings” in Part II and the documents incorporated by reference, may constitute forward-looking statements. 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 related to the corporate restructuring, including the ability to recognize anticipated cost savings, the possibility of unexpected costs or expenditures, and the impact of the restructuring on the Company’s businesses and results of operations; risks associated with the Company’s changes to its organizational structure and management, risks associated with changes in market structure, legislative, regulatory and financial reporting rules changes; risk related to the performance of the Company’s businesses; and the costs, integration, performance and operation of the businesses acquired or developed organically, or that may be acquired or developed organically 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 in this report. Readers should carefully review the risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company’s reports with the SEC including, without limitation, those detailed under “Certain Factors Affecting Results of Operations” within MD&A herein and under “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 discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto contained in this Form 10-Q, and in other reports or documents the Company files with, or furnishes to, the SEC from time to time.

 

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Executive Overview

We are 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. We seek to continually apply our expertise and innovation to the trade execution process to build lasting client relationships through consistent performance and superior client service. We also provide capital markets services to corporate issuers and private companies. In the third quarter of 2011, we changed our three operating segments from (i) Equities, (ii) Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities and (iii) Corporate to four operating segments, (i) Market Making, (ii) Institutional Sales and Trading, (iii) Electronic Execution Services and (iv) Corporate and Other. This change was made to better reflect the current nature of the Company’s offerings and services, its distribution methods and how we manage our businesses.

 

   

Market Making – Our Market Making segment principally consists of market making in global equities and listed domestic options. Market Making primarily includes client, and to a lesser extent, non-client electronic market making activities in which we operate as a market maker in equity securities quoted and traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market; the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market for New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”); NYSE Amex Equities, NYSE Arca listed securities and several European exchanges. As a complement to electronic market making, our cash trading business handles specialized orders and also transacts on the OTC Bulletin Board and the Pink OTC Markets. As a market maker, we commit capital to provide trade executions by offering to buy securities from, or sell securities to, institutions and broker-dealers. We provide trade executions as an equities Designated Market Maker (“DMM”) on the NYSE and NYSE Amex. Market Making also includes our option market making business which has expanded trading onto several electronic exchanges.

 

   

Institutional Sales and Trading – Our Institutional Sales and Trading segment includes global voice equity and fixed income sales, reverse mortgage origination and securitization, capital markets and asset management activities. The primary business of the Institutional Sales and Trading segment is to execute and facilitate transactions predominantly as agent on behalf of institutional clients for equities and fixed income offerings. This is predominantly a full-service business, in which much of the interaction is based on client relationships of our sales employees. This segment also facilitates client orders through program and block trades and riskless principal trades. We provide capital markets services, including equity and debt private placement, and we commit our capital when needed.

The products and services of Institutional Sales and Trading include sales and trading for equities, exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), fixed income securities (including high yield and high grade corporate bonds, distressed debt, asset and mortgage-backed securities, federal agency securities, hybrid securities syndicated bank loans and emerging markets), options and futures, soft dollar and commission recapture programs and corporate access services. We also publish research reports across several sectors in the Americas, United Kingdom and emerging markets evaluating corporate risk, interest rate risk and individual issuers.

Through Urban Financial Group, Inc. (“Urban”), we originate direct and brokered home equity conversion mortgages (“HECMs”), commonly referred to as reverse mortgages, insured by the Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”). In February 2011, Urban received Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) issuance authority for the securitization of HECMs and began issuing HECM Mortgage Backed Securities (“HMBS”) in March 2011.

Institutional Sales and Trading includes our asset management business, Astor, which provides asset management services primarily to retail investors employing a portfolio management approach to investing involving modeling economic data and utilizing low cost ETFs to capitalize on cyclical changes.

 

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Electronic Execution Services – Our Electronic Execution Services segment offers access to markets and self-directed trading via our electronic agency-based platforms. In contrast to Market Making, we generally do not act as a principal to transactions that are executed within this segment and generally earn commissions for acting as agent between the principals to the trade.

Through our Knight Direct platform, we provide a comprehensive, customizable execution management system that provides clients with the ability to execute trades across asset classes through a wide array of global destinations. The business offers direct market access trading through EdgeTrade algorithms and internal crossing through the Knight Match® product.

Through our Hotspot FX platform, we provide electronic foreign exchange trading solutions to buy-side firms through a foreign exchange ECN that provides clients with access to live, executable prices for 60 currency pairs as well as spot gold and silver streamed by market maker banks and other clients. The Hotspot FX platform offers clients several access options including direct high-speed connectivity and a front-end application.

Through our Knight BondPoint platform, we provide electronic fixed income trading solutions to sell-side firms. Knight BondPoint operates a fixed income ECN that serves as an electronic inter-dealer system and allows clients to access live and executable offerings. Knight BondPoint also provides a front-end application for brokers and advisors as well as a trading application for traders.

 

   

Corporate and Other – Our Corporate and Other segment invests in strategic financial services-oriented opportunities, allocates, deploys and monitors all capital, and maintains corporate overhead expenses and other expenses that are not attributable to the other segments. The Corporate and Other segment houses functions that support our other segments such as self-clearing services, including stock lending activities, and other support and overhead. Corporate and Other operating expenses consist of compensation for senior executives and other employees of the corporate holding company, stock borrow and loan interest related to the financing of our securities inventory, interest expense on long-term debt, legal and other professional fees relating to corporate matters, as well as directors’ fees and directors’ and officers’ insurance.

 

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The following table sets forth: (i) Revenues, (ii) Expenses and (iii) Pre-tax earnings or loss from our segments and on a consolidated basis (in millions):

 

     For the three months ended September 30,     For the nine months ended September 30,  
               2011                          2010(1)                         2011                          2010(1)            

Market Making

        

Revenues

   $           204.9      $           93.4      $           517.1      $           438.1   

Expenses(2) (3)

     135.7        72.4        345.4        258.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pre-tax earnings

     69.2        21.0        171.7        179.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Institutional Sales and Trading

        

Revenues

     145.4        108.9        407.7        345.2   

Expenses(2) (3)

     161.0        124.7        434.9        357.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pre-tax loss

     (15.6     (15.9     (27.2     (11.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Electronic Execution Services

        

Revenues

     45.1        31.7        127.3        101.1   

Expenses(2) (3)

     31.3        23.4        90.3        74.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pre-tax earnings

     13.8        8.3        37.0        26.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Corporate and Other

        

Revenues

     2.0        5.5        11.0        5.6   

Expenses(2) (3)

     25.1        18.9        68.6        63.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pre-tax loss

     (23.0     (13.4     (57.5     (57.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated

        

Revenues

     397.4        239.5        1,063.2        890.0   

Expenses(2) (3)

     353.0        239.4        939.2        752.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pre-tax earnings

   $ 44.4      $ 0.1      $ 124.0      $ 137.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

(1) - Prior period amounts have been recast to conform with current period segment presentation. Such recast had no effect on previously reported Consolidated Revenues and Pre-tax earnings.
(2) - Included in Expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 is a Restructuring charge of $28.6 million which includes $0.5 million for Market Making, $23.9 million for Institutional Sales and Trading, $0.4 million for Electronic Execution Services, and $3.8 million for Corporate and Other.
(3) - Included in Expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 is a Restructuring charge of $16.7 million which includes $1.6 million for Market Making, $14.3 million for Institutional Sales and Trading, $0.1 million for Electronic Execution Services, and $0.7 million for Corporate and Other.

Consolidated Revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased $157.9 million, or 65.9%, from the same period a year ago, while Consolidated Expenses increased $113.6 million, or 47.5%. Consolidated Pre-tax earnings for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased $44.3 million from the same period a year ago.

 

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Consolidated Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $173.2 million, or 19.5%, from the same period a year ago, while Consolidated Expenses increased $186.4 million, or 24.8%. Consolidated Pre-tax earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 decreased $13.2 million, or 9.6%, from the same period a year ago.

The changes in our Pre-tax earnings or loss by segment from the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 are summarized as follows:

 

   

Market Making – Our Pre-tax earnings from Market Making for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased by $48.1 million, or 228.8%, from the comparable period in 2010. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, our Pre-tax earnings from Market Making decreased by $8.1 million, or 4.5%, from the comparable period in 2010. The quarter over quarter increase is primarily due to the improved performance of both our client and non-client quantitative trading models, as seen with our increased average revenue capture per U.S. equity dollar value traded, as well as higher volumes and market volatility offset, in part, by higher expenses due to increased volume-based transaction and regulatory fees and expansion of our product offering including options market making. The year over year decrease is due to higher costs of our expansion efforts in Europe and our product offerings, including options market making.

 

   

Institutional Sales and Trading – Our Pre-tax loss from Institutional Sales and Trading for the three months ended September 30, 2011 decreased by $0.3 million, or 2.0%, from the comparable period in 2010. Our Pre-tax loss from Institutional Sales and Trading for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased by $15.4 million from the comparable period in 2010. The quarter over quarter improvement is primarily due to increased revenues from our Urban business, which increased its market share of both reverse mortgage origination and HMBS issuance and improved results from our Listed Derivatives group offset, in part, by higher restructuring charges. The year over year pre-tax loss increase is primarily due to a decrease in the performance from our Institutional Fixed Income business, higher restructuring charges and higher expenses due to the expansion of our product offerings, including research.

 

   

Electronic Execution Services – Our Pre-tax earnings from Electronic Execution Services for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased by $5.5 million, or 66.5%, from the comparable period in 2010. Our Pre-tax results from Electronic Execution Services for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased by $10.3 million, or 38.4%, from the comparable period in 2010. The increase is primarily due to higher volumes and increased earnings due to the scalability of our Knight Direct, Hotspot FX and Knight BondPoint platforms.

 

   

Corporate and Other – Our Pre-tax loss from our Corporate and Other segment for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased by $9.7 million, or 72.1%, from the comparable period in 2010. Our Pre-tax loss from our Corporate and Other segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased by $0.1 million from the comparable period in 2010. The additional losses are primarily due to higher interest expense related to our Long-Term Debt and stock loan activity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.

 

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Certain Factors Affecting Results of Operations

We may experience significant variation in our future results of operations. These fluctuations may result from numerous factors. These factors include, among other things, market conditions and the resulting volatility and credit and counterparty risks that may result; introductions of, or enhancements to, trade execution services by us or our competitors; the value of our securities positions and other financial instruments and our ability to manage the risks attendant thereto; the volume of our trade execution activities; the dollar value of securities and other instruments traded; the composition and profile of our order flow; our market share with institutional and broker-dealer clients; the performance and size of, and volatility in, our market making and program trading portfolios; the performance of our non-client principal trading models; movements of credit spreads; HECM origination and HMBS securitization volumes; and the overall growth of our balance sheet and capital usage; the performance of our global operations; costs associated with our global expansion and domestic growth; the effectiveness of our self-clearing platform and our ability to manage risk related thereto; the availability of credit and liquidity in the market place; our ability to manage personnel, compensation, overhead and other expenses, including our occupancy expenses under our office leases and expenses and charges relating to legal and regulatory proceedings; the strength of our client relationships; changes in payments for order flow, changes to execution quality and changes in clearing, execution and regulatory transaction costs; interest rate movements; the addition or loss of executive management, sales, trading and technology professionals; legislative, legal, regulatory and financial reporting changes; legal and regulatory matters or proceedings; geopolitical risk; the amount, timing and cost of capital expenditures, acquisitions and divestitures; the integration, performance and operation of acquired businesses; the incurrence of costs associated with acquisitions and dispositions; investor sentiment; technological changes and events; seasonality; competition; and other economic conditions.

Such factors may also have an impact on our ability to achieve our strategic objectives, including, without limitation, increases in market share, growth and profitability in our four operating segments. If demand for our services declines or our performance deteriorates significantly due to any of the above factors, and we are unable to adjust our cost structure on a timely basis, our operating results could be materially and adversely affected. As a result of the foregoing factors, period-to-period comparisons of our revenues and operating results are not necessarily meaningful and such comparisons cannot be relied upon as indicators of future performance. There also can be no assurance that we will be able to continue the rates of revenue growth that we have experienced in the past or that we will be able to improve our operating results.

Trends

Global Economic Trends

Our businesses are affected by many factors in the global financial markets and worldwide economic conditions. These factors include the growth level of gross domestic product in the U.S., Europe and Asia, and the existence of transparent, efficient and liquid equity and debt markets and the level of trading volumes and volatility in such markets.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2011, volatility levels across equity markets increased as compared to the previous quarter, while in the debt markets, credit spreads widened. Overall, there are still concerns about global stability and growth, inflation and declining asset values.

Trends Affecting Our Company

We believe that our businesses are affected by the aforementioned global economic trends as well as more specific trends. Some of the specific trends that impact our operations, financial condition and results of operations are:

 

   

Broker-dealer clients continue to focus on statistics measuring the quality of equity executions (including speed of execution and price improvement). In an effort to improve the quality of

 

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their executions as well as increase efficiencies, market makers have increased the level of automation within their operations and the extent of price improvement. The greater focus on execution quality has resulted in greater competition in the marketplace, which, along with market structure changes and market conditions, has negatively impacted the revenue capture and margin metrics of the Company and other market making firms.

 

   

Market Making, Institutional Sales and Trading and Electronic Execution Services transaction volumes executed by clients have fluctuated over the past few years due to retail and institutional investor sentiment, market conditions and a variety of other factors. Market Making, Institutional Sales and Trading and Electronic Execution Services transaction volumes may not be sustainable and are not predictable.

 

   

Over the past several years several exchanges have consolidated, and market participants have created alternative trading systems (“ATS”), ECN and other execution venues which compete within the OTC and listed trading venues. In addition, there are many new entrants into the market, including ATS, Multilateral Trading Facilities, systematic internalizers, dark liquidity pools, high frequency trading firms, and market making firms competing for retail and institutional order flow. Further, many broker-dealers are offering their own internal crossing networks. These factors continue to create further fragmentation and competition in the marketplace.

 

   

Over the past few years, market structure changes, competition, market conditions and a steady increase in electronic trading have resulted in a reduction in institutional commission rates and volumes which may continue in the future. Additionally, many institutional clients allocate commissions to broker-dealers based not only on the quality of executions, but also in exchange for research, or soft dollar and commission recapture programs.

 

   

There continues to be growth in equity electronic trading, as evidenced by increased volumes over the past few years in direct market access platforms, algorithmic and program trading, high frequency trading and ECNs and dark liquidity pools. In addition, electronic trading continues to expand to other asset classes, including options, currencies and fixed income. The expansion of electronic trading may result in the growth of innovative electronic products and competition for order flow and may reduce demand for traditional institutional voice services.

 

   

Market structure changes, competition and technology advancements have also led to a dramatic increase in electronic message traffic. These increases in message traffic place heavy strains on the technology resources, bandwidth and capacities of market participants.

 

   

There has been continued scrutiny of the capital markets industry by the regulatory and legislative authorities, both in the U.S. and abroad. New legislation or new or modified regulations and rules could occur in the future. Members of the U.S. Congress have raised various concerns about the regulatory structure of the U.S. capital markets and have asked the SEC to take a close look at the regulatory structure and make the changes necessary to insure the rule framework governing the U.S. capital markets is comprehensive and complete. The SEC has stated that it will propose and adopt rules where necessary, on a variety of marketplace trading issues – including, but not limited to: high frequency trading, indications of interest, off-exchange trading, dark liquidity pools, internalization, post-trade attribution, co-location, sponsored access, short sales, consolidated audit trails, market volatility rules – including, circuit breakers and limit-up, limit-down rules. In addition, the SEC is considering proposals relating to self-funding, and we expect increases, possibly substantial, in Section 31 fees.

 

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On July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act was enacted into law marking a significant change to the regulation of the financial services industry. This legislation affects nearly all financial institutions that operate in the U.S. While the weight of the Dodd-Frank Act falls more heavily on large, complex financial institutions, smaller institutions will also face a more complicated and expensive regulatory framework.

 

   

Reverse mortgages can be a cost-effective way to help seniors (age 62 and older) meet their financial needs in retirement, by enabling them to tap the equity in their home. Reverse mortgages are increasing in popularity with seniors who have equity in their homes and want to supplement their income and enhance their liquidity. This trend may continue as the Baby Boomer generation enters retirement age. However, there is no guarantee that this trend, current volumes, or the referenced popularity will continue.

 

   

In 2011, the two largest reverse mortgage originators exited the reverse mortgage business. Declining home values and the inability to assess borrowers’ financial health were cited as factors contributing to their respective decisions. In January 2011, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) provided loss mitigation guidance for the resolution of HECMs that are delinquent due to, among other things, unpaid property charges. HUD also discussed what steps lenders could take to get mortgagors back on track (e.g., establishing a repayment plan). HUD noted that foreclosure is and must remain a method of last resort for the resolution of unpaid property charges. It has also been reported that HUD is developing procedures that would allow lenders to assess a prospective borrower’s income and expenses, and possibly require homeowners to set aside money to pay for taxes and insurance. However, no formal guidelines have yet been published.

Income Statement Items

The following section briefly describes the key components of, and drivers to, our significant revenues and expenses.

Revenues

Our revenues consist principally of Commissions and fees and Net trading revenue from our Market Making, Institutional Sales and Trading and Electronic Execution Services segments.

Revenues on transactions for which we charge explicit commissions or commission equivalents, which include the majority of our institutional client orders, are included within Commissions and fees. Commissions and fees are primarily affected by changes in our equity, fixed income and foreign exchange transaction volumes with institutional clients, changes in commission rates, loan origination and securitization volumes, assets under management and the level of our soft dollar and commission recapture activity.

Trading profits and losses on principal transactions primarily relate to our global market making activities and are included within Net trading revenue. These revenues are primarily affected by changes in the amount and mix of equity trade and share volumes, our revenue capture, dollar value of equities traded, our ability to derive trading gains by taking proprietary positions, changes in our execution standards, development of, and enhancement to, our market making models, performance of our non-client trading models, volatility in the marketplace, our mix of sell- and buy-side clients, regulatory changes and evolving industry customs and practices.

Interest income, net is earned from our cash held at banks, cash held in trading accounts at third party clearing brokers and from collateralized financing arrangements, such as stock borrowing as well as carry interest on loans and bonds held. The Company’s third party clearing agreements call for

 

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payment or receipt of interest income, net of transaction-related interest charged by clearing brokers for facilitating the settlement and financing of securities transactions. Net interest is primarily affected by interest rates, the level of cash balances held at banks and third party clearing brokers, our level of securities positions in which we are long compared to our securities positions in which we are short, and the extent of our collateralized financing arrangements.

Investment income and other, net primarily represents returns on our strategic and deferred compensation investments, as well as revenues recognized in connection with mortgage servicing rights. Such income or loss is primarily affected by the performance and activity of our strategic investments and changes in value of certain deferred compensation investments, as well as volumes of HECM securitizations.

Expenses

Employee compensation and benefits expense, our largest expense, primarily consists of salaries and wages paid to all employees, profitability-based compensation, which includes compensation paid to sales personnel and incentive compensation paid to all other employees based on our profitability and changes in value of certain deferred compensation liabilities. Employee compensation and benefits expense fluctuates, for the most part, based on changes in our revenues and business mix, profitability and the number of employees. Compensation for employees engaged in sales activities is determined primarily based on a percentage of their gross revenues net of certain transaction-based expenses.

Execution and clearance fees primarily represent fees paid to third party clearing brokers for clearing equities and options transactions, transaction fees paid to Nasdaq and other exchanges, clearing organizations and regulatory bodies, and execution fees paid to third parties, primarily for executing trades on the NYSE and other exchanges, and for executing orders through ECNs. Execution and clearance fees primarily fluctuate based on changes in trade and share volume, execution strategies, rate of clearance fees charged by clearing brokers and rate of fees paid to ECNs, exchanges and certain regulatory bodies.

Communications and data processing expense primarily consists of costs for obtaining market data, telecommunications services and systems maintenance.

Payments for order flow primarily represent payments to broker-dealer clients, in the normal course of business, for directing to us their order flow in U.S. equities and options. Payments for order flow also include fees paid to third party brokers with respect to Urban wholesale loan production. Payments for order flow fluctuate as we modify our rates and as our percentage of clients whose policy is not to accept payments for order flow varies. Payments for order flow also fluctuate based on U.S. equity share and option volumes, Urban loan production and mix, our profitability, the mix of market orders and limit orders, and customer mix.

Depreciation and amortization expense results from the depreciation of fixed assets, which consist of computer hardware, furniture and fixtures, and the amortization of purchased software, capitalized software development costs, acquired intangible assets and leasehold improvements. We depreciate our fixed assets and amortize our purchased software, capitalized software development costs and acquired intangible assets on a straight-line basis over their expected useful lives. We amortize leasehold improvements on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the life of the improvement or the remaining term of the lease.

Interest expense consists primarily of costs associated with our long-term debt and for collateralized financing arrangements such as stock lending and sale of financial instruments under our agreements to repurchase.

 

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Occupancy and equipment rentals consist primarily of rent and utilities related to leased premises and office equipment.

Business development consists primarily of costs related to sales and marketing, advertising, conferences and relationship management.

Professional fees consist primarily of legal, accounting and consulting fees.

Restructuring charges consist of employee severance and other benefit costs, writedown of assets, inclusive of capitalized software, intangible assets and goodwill, and lease and contract terminations in connection with restructuring plans set in place in order to lower operating expenses.

Writedown of assets and lease loss accrual consist primarily of costs associated with the writedown of asset and lease losses recorded for excess office space.

Other expenses include corporate insurance, employment fees, general office expense and reserves associated with our GNMA issuances.

Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010

Revenues

Market Making

 

     For the three months ended September 30,              
             2011                      2010             Change     % of Change  

Commissions and fees (millions)

   $ 41.2       $ 28.2      $ 13.1        46.5

Net trading revenue (millions)

     161.9         66.7        95.2        142.7

Interest, net (millions)

     1.7         (1.4     3.1        N/M   

Investment income and other, net (millions)

     -           0.0        (0.0     N/M   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Revenues from Market Making (millions)

   $ 204.9       $ 93.4      $ 111.4        119.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

Average daily U.S. equity dollar value traded ($ billions)

     33.9         23.6        10.3        43.7

Average daily U.S. equity trades (thousands)

     4,768.8         3,421.7        1,347.1        39.4

Nasdaq and Listed equity shares traded (billions)

     69.7         60.2        9.4        15.6

OTC Bulletin Board and Pink Sheet shares traded (billions)

     176.8         422.6        (245.8     -58.2

Average revenue capture per U.S. equity dollar value traded (bps)

     1.28         0.92        0.35        38.4

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

         

N/M – Not meaningful

         

Total revenues from the Market Making segment, which primarily comprises Net trading revenue from our domestic businesses, increased 119.3% to $204.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, from $93.4 million for the comparable period in 2010. Revenues for the three

 

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months ended September 30, 2011 were positively impacted by improved performance of both our client and non-client quantitative trading models, as seen with an increase in our increased average revenue capture per U.S. equity dollar value traded, as well as higher volumes and market volatility.

Average revenue capture per U.S. equity dollar value traded was 1.28 basis points (“bps”) for the third quarter of 2011, up 38.4% from the third quarter of 2010. The primary drivers for the increase in revenue capture were improved performance of both our client and non-client quantitative trading models and the change in mix of our order flow offset, in part, by higher regulatory fees. Average revenue capture per U.S. equity dollar value traded is calculated as the total of net domestic trading revenues plus U.S. institutional commissions and commission equivalents (included in Commissions and fees), less certain transaction-related regulatory fees (included in Execution and clearance fees) (collectively “Domestic Equity Trading Revenues”), divided by the total dollar value of the related equity transactions. Domestic Equity Trading Revenues were $276.7 million and $139.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Domestic Equity Trading Revenues do not include revenues from our international and Knight Direct businesses but includes a small portion of revenues and volumes from our Institutional Sales and Trading segment.

Institutional Sales and Trading

 

     For the three months ended September 30,     Change     % of Change  
                 2011                              2010                   

Commissions and fees (millions)

   $           119.8      $ 96.2      $ 23.6        24.6

Net trading revenue (millions)

     24.7        13.2        11.5        87.5

Interest, net (millions)

     (6.5     (0.6     (5.9     N/M   

Investment income and other, net (millions)

     7.5        0.1        7.4        N/M   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Revenues from Institutional Sales and Trading (millions)

   $ 145.4      $           108.9      $           36.6        33.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

N/M – Not meaningful

Total revenues from the Institutional Sales and Trading segment, which primarily comprises Commissions and fees, increased 33.6% to $145.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, from $108.9 million for the comparable period in 2010. Revenues were positively impacted by higher revenues from Urban, which increased its market share of both reverse mortgage origination and HMBS issuance and from our Listed Derivatives group as a result of higher volumes.

 

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Electronic Execution Services

 

    For the three months ended September 30,              
            2011                     2010             Change     % of Change  

Commissions and fees (millions)

  $           45.6      $           32.0      $           13.6        42.4

Net trading revenue (millions)

    (0.6     (0.5     (0.2     -36.7

Interest, net (millions)

    (0.1     0.0        (0.1     N/M   

Investment income and other, net (millions)

    0.2        0.2        0.0        N/M   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Revenues from Electronic Execution Services (millions)

  $ 45.1      $ 31.7      $ 13.4        42.1
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Average daily Knight Direct equity shares (millions)

    196.7        143.4        53.2        37.1

Average daily Hotspot FX notional dollar value traded ($ billions)

    64.5        32.5        31.9        98.2

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

       

N/M – Not meaningful

       

Total revenues from the Electronic Execution Services segment, which primarily comprises Commissions and fees, increased 42.1% to $45.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, from $31.7 million for the comparable period in 2010. Revenues were positively impacted by higher Knight Direct equity shares volume and considerably higher trading volumes from our Hotspot FX business.

Corporate and Other

 

     For the three months ended September 30,                
             2011                      2010              Change      % of Change  

Total Revenues from Corporate and Other (millions)

   $           2.0       $           5.5       $           (3.4)         -62.8

Total revenues from the Corporate and Other segment, which primarily represent gains or losses on strategic investments and deferred compensation investments related to certain employees and directors, decreased 62.8% to $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, from $5.5 million for the comparable period in 2010. The primary reason for the decrease related to our deferred compensation investments related to certain employees and directors which had a net loss of $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to a net gain of $1.1 million for the comparable period in 2010.

Expenses

Employee compensation and benefits expense increased to $157.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 from $115.7 million for the comparable period in 2010. As a percentage of total revenue, Employee compensation and benefits decreased to 39.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2011, from 48.3% for the comparable period in 2010. The increase on a dollar basis and decrease as a percentage of revenues was primarily due to higher profitability from our Market Making and Electronic Execution Services segments and higher restructuring charges.

The number of full time employees increased to 1,391 at September 30, 2011, from 1,297 at September 30, 2010, primarily due to expansion of our Urban business, the acquisition of the Designated Market Maker (“DMM”) and ETF Lead Market Maker (“LMM”) business units of Kellogg and Astor.

 

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Execution and clearance fees increased 44% to $63.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, from $44.2 million for the comparable period in 2010, primarily due to increased exchange fees, higher volumes in options and non-equity products, higher foreign trading costs and higher regulatory fees offset, in part, by the benefit of self-clearing U.S. equities. As a percentage of total revenue, Execution and clearance fees decreased to 16.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2011, from 18.4% for the comparable period in 2010 primarily due to higher revenues, improved trading performances, higher volumes, which positively impacted tier-based pricing and the benefit of self-clearing U.S. equities. Execution and clearance fees fluctuate based on changes in transaction volumes, regulatory fees and operational efficiencies and scale.

Payments for order flow increased to $23.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, from $6.6 million for the comparable period in 2010. As a percentage of total revenue, Payments for order flow increased to 5.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2011, from 2.8% for the comparable period in 2010. This expense increased primarily due to the growth of our options market making business and increased fees paid to third party brokers with respect to Urban wholesale loan production. Payments for order flow fluctuate as a percentage of revenue due to changes in volume, Urban loan production, client and product mix, profitability, and competition.

Writedown of assets and lease loss accrual of $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, related to excess real estate. There were no writedown of assets and lease loss accrual for the three months ended September 30, 2010.

The restructuring charge of $28.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 is related to employee severance and other employee benefits, writedown of assets and lease and contract termination costs in connection with our plan to discontinue certain initiatives and decrease operating expenses. The restructuring charge of $16.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 is related to severance and related costs in connection with a reduction in headcount in order to rationalize expenses.

All other expenses increased by 41.1%, or $23.1 million, to $79.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 from $56.2 million for the comparable period in 2010. Interest expense increased primarily due to our increased stock lending activity and the June 2011 increase in our Long-Term Debt. Communications and data processing expense increased primarily due to higher market data and connectivity expenses as a result of our overall growth. Depreciation and amortization expense increased primarily due to fixed asset purchases for our disaster recovery site and new Greenwich office, greater capitalized software development costs and acquired intangible assets. Occupancy and equipment rentals expense increased primarily due to the costs associated with our expansion efforts. Professional fees increased due to higher consulting expenses. Other expenses increased due to reserves associated with our GNMA issuances, higher recruiting fees and other administrative expenses.

Our effective tax rate of 39.3% and 40.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, differed from the federal statutory rate of 35% primarily due to state and local income taxes and non-deductible charges.

 

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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010

Market Making

 

     For the nine months ended September 30,              
             2011                      2010             Change     % of Change  

Commissions and fees (millions)

   $ 97.5       $ 77.4      $ 20.2        26.0

Net trading revenue (millions)

     413.3         364.1        49.2        13.5

Interest, net (millions)

     6.3         (3.3     9.6        N/M   

Investment income (loss) and other, net (millions)

     0.0         (0.1     0.1        N/M   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Revenues from Market Making (millions)

   $ 517.1       $ 438.1      $ 79.0        18.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

Average daily U.S. equity dollar value traded ($ billions)

     29.9         27.2        2.7        9.9

Average daily U.S. equity trades (thousands)

     4,149.5         3,817.0        332.5        8.7

Nasdaq and Listed equity shares traded (billions)

     189.1         214.9        (25.8     -12.0

OTC Bulletin Board and Pink Sheet shares traded (billions)

     763.9         1,658.0        (894.1     -53.9

Average revenue capture per U.S. equity dollar value traded (bps)

     1.23         1.12        0.11        9.4

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

N/M – Not meaningful

Total revenues from the Market Making segment, which primarily comprises Net trading revenue from our domestic businesses, increased 18.0% to $517.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, from $438.1 million for the comparable period in 2010. Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, were positively impacted by improved performance of both our client and non-client quantitative trading models, as seen with an increase in our average revenue capture per U.S. equity dollar value traded, as well as higher volumes and market volatility.

Average revenue capture per U.S. equity dollar value traded was 1.23 bps for the nine months ended September 2011, up 9.4% from the nine months ended September 2010. The primary drivers for the increase in revenue capture were improved performance of both our client and non-client quantitative trading models and the change in mix of our order flow. Domestic Equity Trading Revenues were $692.8 million and $573.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Domestic Equity Trading Revenues do not include revenues from our international and Knight Direct businesses.

 

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Institutional Sales and Trading

 

     For the nine months ended September 30,              
               2011                          2010                Change     % of Change  

Commissions and fees (millions)

   $           358.6      $           317.3      $           41.3        13.0

Net trading revenue (millions)

     51.7        29.8        21.8        73.1

Interest, net (millions)

     (12.1     (2.2     (9.9     N/M   

Investment income and other, net (millions)

     9.5        0.3        9.3        N/M   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Revenues from Institutional Sales and Trading (millions)

   $ 407.7      $ 345.2      $ 62.5        18.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

N/M – Not meaningful

Total revenues from the Institutional Sales and Trading segment, which primarily comprises Commissions and fees, increased 18.1% to $407.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, from $345.2 million for the comparable period in 2010. Revenues were positively impacted by revenues from Urban, which increased its market share of both reverse mortgage origination and HMBS issuance, listed derivatives activities and increased contributions from capital markets.

Electronic Execution Services

 

     For the nine months ended September 30,              
                 2011                              2010                  Change     % of Change  

Commissions and fees (millions)

   $           128.4      $           101.5      $           26.9        26.5

Net trading revenue (millions)

     (1.2     (0.9     (0.3     -27.6

Interest, net (millions)

     (0.2     (0.1     (0.1     N/M   

Investment income and other, net (millions)

     0.3        0.6        (0.3     -45.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Revenues from Electronic Execution Services (millions)

   $ 127.3      $ 101.1      $ 26.3        26.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Average daily Knight Direct equity shares (millions)

     174.9        140.0        34.9        24.9

Average daily Hotspot FX notional dollar value traded ($ billions)

     60.9        35.1        25.8        73.4

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

N/M – Not meaningful

Total revenues from the Electronic Execution Services segment, which primarily comprises Commissions and fees, increased 26.0% to $127.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, from $101.1 million for the comparable period in 2010. Revenues were positively impacted by higher volumes and expanded product offerings from all of the businesses within this segment.

Corporate and Other

 

     For the nine months ended September 30,                
             2011                      2010              Change      % of Change  

Total Revenues from Corporate and Other (millions)

   $           11.0       $           5.6       $           5.4         96.3

 

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Total revenues from the Corporate and Other segment, which primarily represent gains or losses on strategic investments and deferred compensation investments related to certain employees and directors, increased 96.3% to $11.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, from $5.6 million for the comparable period in 2010. The primary drivers for the increase in revenues were lower losses from our strategic investments and higher interest income from our stock borrow activity offset, in part, by losses from our deferred compensation investments related to certain employees and directors.

Expenses

Employee compensation and benefits expense increased to $446.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from $412.8 million for the comparable period in 2010. As a percentage of total revenue, Employee compensation and benefits decreased to 42.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, from 46.4% for the comparable period in 2010. The increase on a dollar basis was primarily due to higher profitability from our Market Making segment.

Execution and clearance fees increased 31.0% to $175.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, from $134.2 million for the comparable period in 2010, primarily due to increased exchange fees, higher volume in options and non-equity products, higher foreign trading costs and higher regulatory fees offset, in part, by the benefit of self-clearing U.S. equities. As a percentage of total revenue, Execution and clearance fees increased to 16.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, from 15.1% for the comparable period in 2010. Execution and clearance fees fluctuate based on changes in transaction volumes, regulatory fees and operational efficiencies and scale.

Payments for order flow increased to $66.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, from $28.7 million for the comparable period in 2010. As a percentage of total revenue, Payments for order flow increased to 6.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, from 3.2% for the comparable period in 2010. This expense increased primarily due to the growth of our options market making business and increased fees paid to third party brokers with respect to wholesale loan production at Urban, which was acquired in July 2010. Payments for order flow fluctuate as a percentage of revenue due to changes in volume, Urban loan production, client and product mix, profitability, and competition.

Writedown of assets and lease loss accrual of $2.3 million for nine months ended September 30, 2011 relates to excess real estate capacity. Writedown of assets and lease loss accrual was $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 comprising $0.3 million for the discontinued use of the Libertas trade name and a lease loss accrual of $0.7 million relating to excess real estate capacity.

The restructuring charge of $28.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 is related to employee severance and other employee benefits, writedown of assets and lease and contract termination costs in connection with our plan to discontinue certain initiatives and decrease operating expenses. The restructuring charge of $16.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 is related to severance and related costs in connection with a reduction in headcount in order to rationalize expenses.

All other expenses increased by 38.1%, or $60.8 million, to $220.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from $159.4 million for the comparable period in 2010. Interest expense increased primarily due to our increased stock lending activity and the June 2011 increase in our Long-Term Debt. Communications and data processing expense increased primarily due to higher market

 

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data and connectivity expenses as a result of our overall growth. Depreciation and amortization expense increased primarily due to fixed asset purchases, greater capitalized software development costs and acquired intangible assets. Occupancy and equipment rentals expense increased primarily due to the costs associated with our expansion efforts. Professional fees increased due to higher consulting expenses. Other expenses increased due to reserves associated with our GNMA issuances, higher recruiting fees and other administrative expenses.

Our effective tax rate of 39.2% and 39.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, differed from the federal statutory rate of 35% primarily due to state and local income taxes and non-deductible charges.

Discontinued Operations

Deephaven Capital Management LLC and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Deephaven”) was formerly the registered investment adviser to, and sponsor of, the Deephaven Funds.

During the first quarter of 2009, Deephaven completed the sale of substantially all of its assets to Stark & Roth, Inc. (together with its affiliates, “Stark”) with Stark agreeing to assume certain limited liabilities of Deephaven. As of that date, Deephaven was replaced by Stark as the investment manager, managing member and general partner for the Deephaven Funds and we exited the Deephaven business. As a result of this sale, Deephaven was classified as a discontinued operation.

(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax, was ($0.1 million) and $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and ($0.4 million) and ($0.2 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. See Footnote 13 “Discontinued Operations,” included in Part I, Item 1 “Financial Statements” of this Form 10-Q for further information.

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

Financial Condition

We have historically maintained a highly liquid balance sheet, with a substantial portion of our total assets consisting of cash, highly liquid marketable securities and short term receivables. As of September 30, 2011, we had $7.06 billion in assets, 66.4% of which consisted of cash or assets readily convertible into cash, principally receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, financial instruments owned and securities borrowed. Receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations include interest bearing cash balances held with third party clearing brokers, including, or net of, amounts related to securities transactions that have not yet reached their contracted settlement date, which is generally within three business days of the trade date. Financial instruments owned principally consist of equity securities that trade on the NYSE, NYSE Amex Equities and NYSE Arca markets, Nasdaq and on the OTC Bulletin Board, listed U.S. options, loan inventory and securitized HECM loan inventory. Securities borrowed represent the value of cash or other collateral deposited with stock lenders to facilitate our trade settlement process.

Other assets primarily represent net deferred tax assets, deposits and other miscellaneous receivables.

Total assets increased $2.39 billion, or 51.2%, from $4.67 billion at December 31, 2010 to $7.06 billion at September 30, 2011. The majority of the increase in assets relates to the growth of our financial instruments owned. Financial instruments owned increased by $1.95 billion, or 121.4%, from $1.60 billion at December 31, 2010, to $3.55 billion at September 30, 2011, due to the securitization of $1.21 billion of fair value of Urban HECM loans into GNMA securities, where the securitization is not

 

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accounted for as a sale under current accounting standards. Also contributing to the increase in financial instruments owned are the increases in the size of the securities inventory utilized in our option market making and ETF activities resulting from expansion of our strategies and increased loan inventory. Our securities inventory fluctuates based on trading volumes, market conditions, trading strategies utilized and our pre-determined risk limits. Securities borrowed increased by $113.5 million, from $1.36 billion at December 31, 2010 to $1.47 billion at September 30, 2011. The growth of our securities borrowed is a by-product of our self-clearing activities. Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations increased by $180.6 million, from $476.2 million at December 31, 2010 to $656.8 million at September 30, 2011, due to increased deposits at third party clearing organizations as well as timing relating to trade date versus settlement date differences.

Total liabilities increased $2.31 billion, or 69.7%, from $3.31 billion at December 31, 2010 to $5.62 billion at September 30, 2011. The majority of the increase in liabilities relates to increases in Collateralized financings, Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased and Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations. Collateralized financings increased by $1.52 billion, or 144.6%, from $1.05 billion at December 31, 2010, to $2.56 billion at September 30, 2011 primarily due to the increased Liability to GNMA trusts, at fair value associated with the securitization of Urban HECM loans into GNMA securities, where such securitization is not accounted for as a sale, as well as the increased lending activity to facilitate transaction settlements relating to self-clearing and loan origination. Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased increased by $554.9 million, or 42.3%, from $1.31 billion at December 31, 2010, to $1.87 billion at September 30, 2011, primarily due to an increase in the size of the securities inventory utilized in our option market making and ETF activities and for trade execution services. Our securities inventory fluctuates based on trading volumes, market conditions, trading strategies utilized and our pre-determined risk limits and is consistent with the increase in our long securities position. Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations increased by $72.9 million, from $337.4 million at December 31, 2010 to $410.3 million at September 30, 2011, due to timing relating to trade date versus settlement date differences.

Stockholders’ equity increased by $85.8 million, from $1.36 billion at December 31, 2010 to $1.45 billion at September 30, 2011. The increase in stockholders’ equity from December 31, 2010 was primarily a result of earnings and stock-based compensation activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, offset by our stock repurchase program.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have financed our business primarily through cash generated by operations, the proceeds from our stock issuances, our long-term debt and other borrowings. At September 30, 2011, we had net current assets, which consist of net assets readily convertible into cash less current liabilities, of $893.7 million.

We have acquired several businesses over the last few years. In July 2008, we completed the acquisition of Knight’s institutional fixed income business for $75.3 million, comprising $50.3 million in cash and approximately 1.5 million shares of unregistered Knight common stock valued at $25.0 million. The terms of the transaction included a potential earn-out of up to $75.0 million of unregistered Knight common stock based on the future performance of Knight’s institutional fixed income business during the three-year period following the closing of the transaction. Knight’s institutional fixed income business achieved its first and second year performance targets which entitled the sellers to receive a total of approximately $66.6 million of the aforementioned earn-out in the form of unregistered shares of Knight common stock. Knight’s institutional fixed income business did not achieve its third year performance target. As such, no further payments will be made to the sellers. In July 2010, we completed the acquisition of Urban for $28.4 million, comprising $19.4 million in cash, approximately 350,000 shares of unregistered Knight common stock valued at $5.0 million and a potential earn-out

 

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based on future performance valued at $4.0 million. Urban achieved its first year performance target as of July 31, 2011. Therefore, the seller received $1.3 million split evenly between cash and unregistered shares of Knight common stock. In October 2010, we completed the acquisition of Astor for $18.0 million, comprising $10.8 million in cash and approximately 579,000 shares of unregistered Knight common stock valued at $7.2 million. In December 2010, we completed the acquisition of the DMM and LMM business units of Kellogg for $22.5 million in cash. We expect to fund the purchase price of any future acquisitions with our current cash position or, in some cases, through the issuance of our stock or debt.

Income from continuing operations before income taxes was $44.4 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Included in these amounts were certain non-cash expenses such as stock-based compensation, depreciation, amortization and certain non-cash writedowns. Stock-based compensation was $10.7 million and $11.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 respectively. Depreciation expense was $4.0 million and $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Amortization expense, which related to software, software development costs, intangible assets and leasehold improvements, was $9.8 million and $7.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Non-cash restructuring charge for the three months ended September 30, 2011 was $11.5 million comprising $3.1 million related to stock based compensation, $6.1 million in writedown of assets and $2.3 million in writedown of intangible assets and goodwill. There were no non-cash writedowns for the three months ended September 30, 2010.

Capital expenditures related to our continuing operations were $9.9 million and $18.9 million during the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Purchases of investments were $3.4 million and $0.3 million and distributions from investments were $0.4 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Cash payment relating to purchase of a business, net of cash acquired for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was $0.6 million and $14.8 million, respectively.

In March 2010, we issued Cash Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes (“Notes”) with a face amount of $375.0 million in a private offering. Net proceeds from the offering were $167.5 million, which included $15.0 million from the sale of warrants, less $140.5 million for the termination and required repayment of the borrowings under our previous $140.0 million credit agreement including accrued interest, $73.7 million for the purchase of call options and $8.5 million of offering expenses. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 3.5% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears, on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing on September 15, 2010 and will mature on March 15, 2015, subject to earlier repurchase or conversion. For the three months ended September 30, 2011, we recognized interest expense related to the Notes of $6.7 million. See Footnote 8 “Long-Term Debt,” included in Part I, Item 1 “Financial Statements” of this Form 10-Q for further information regarding the Notes.

In June 2011, we entered into a $100.0 million three-year Term Loan Credit Agreement (the “Term Credit Agreement”) with a consortium of banks. As of September 30, 2011, the Company has borrowed all the funds under the Term Credit Agreement and the interest rate was 2.69% per annum, which is based on the one month LIBOR rate plus 2.5%. Interest is paid quarterly. The Term Credit Agreement is repayable in three installments as follows: $25.0 million on June 28, 2013, $25.0 million on December 27, 2013 and $50.0 million on June 27, 2014. For the three months ended September 30, 2011, we recognized interest expense related to the Term Credit Agreement of $0.7 million. See Footnote 8 “Long-Term Debt,” included in Part I, Item 1 “Financial Statements” of this Form 10-Q for further information regarding the Term Credit Agreement.

In June 2011, we also entered into a $200.0 million one-year Revolving Credit Agreement (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”) with Knight Execution & Clearing Services LLC and Knight Capital Americas, L.P, as borrowers, with the same consortium of banks. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement shall bear interest at a rate equal to the greater of the federal funds rate or the one

 

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month LIBOR rate plus a margin ranging from 1.50% – 2.0% per annum. Interest is payable quarterly. As of September 30, 2011, there were no borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement. Any amounts borrowed under the Revolving Credit Agreement are repayable on June 27, 2012. We are charged an annual commitment fee of 0.25% on the average daily amount of the unused portion of the Revolving Credit Agreement. For the three months ended September 30, 2011, we recorded $0.1 million in commitment fees. See Footnote 8 “Long-Term Debt,” included in Part I, Item 1 “Financial Statements” of this Form 10-Q for further information regarding the Revolving Credit Agreement.

We have an authorized stock repurchase program of $1.00 billion. We repurchase 1.5 million shares under the stock repurchase program during the third quarter of 2011 for $17.2 million. Through September 30, 2011, we had repurchased 73.2 million shares for $834.5 million under this program. We may repurchase shares from time to time in open market transactions, accelerated stock buyback programs, tender offers, privately negotiated transactions or by other means. Repurchases may also be made under Rule 10b5-1 plans. The timing and amount of repurchase transactions will be determined by our management based on its evaluation of market conditions, share price, legal requirements and other factors. The program may be suspended, modified or discontinued at any time without prior notice. We caution that there are no assurances that any further repurchases will actually occur. We had 98.8 million shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding as of September 30, 2011.

Our U.S. registered broker-dealers are subject to regulatory requirements intended to ensure the general financial soundness and liquidity of broker-dealers and require the maintenance of minimum levels of net capital, as defined in SEC Rule 15c3-1. These regulations also prohibit a broker-dealer from repaying subordinated borrowings, paying cash dividends, making loans to its parent, affiliates or employees, or otherwise entering into transactions which would result in a reduction of its total net capital to less than 120% of its required minimum capital. Moreover, broker-dealers are required to notify the SEC and other regulators prior to repaying subordinated borrowings, paying dividends and making loans to its parent, affiliates or employees, or otherwise entering into transactions, which, if executed, would result in a reduction of 30% or more of its excess net capital (net capital less minimum requirement). The SEC has the ability to prohibit or restrict such transactions if the result is detrimental to the financial integrity of the broker-dealer. As of September 30, 2011, all of our broker-dealers were in compliance with the applicable regulatory net capital rules.

The following table sets forth the net capital levels and requirements for the following significant regulated broker-dealer subsidiaries at September 30, 2011, as reported in their respective regulatory filings (in millions):

 

Entity

   Net Capital      Net Capital
Requirement
     Excess Net
Capital
 

Knight Capital Americas, L.P.

   $           192.3       $           1.0       $           191.3   

Knight Execution & Clearing Services LLC

     110.4         2.6         107.8   

Our foreign registered broker-dealers are subject to certain financial resource requirements of either the Financial Services Authority (“FSA”) or the Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”). The following table sets forth the financial resource requirement for the following significant foreign regulated broker-dealer at September 30, 2011 (in millions):

 

Entity

   Financial
Resources
     Resource
Requirement
     Excess
Financial
Resources
 

Knight Capital Europe Limited

   $           119.2       $           36.1       $           83.1   

 

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of September 30, 2011, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in Item 303(a) (4) (ii) of SEC Regulation S-K.

Effects of Inflation

Because the majority of our assets are liquid in nature, they are not significantly affected by inflation. However, the rate of inflation may affect our expenses, such as employee compensation, office leasing costs and communications expenses, which may not be readily recoverable in the prices of the services offered by us. To the extent inflation results in rising interest rates and has other adverse effects on the securities markets, it may adversely affect our financial position and results of operations.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our Consolidated Financial Statements are based on the application of GAAP which requires us to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in our financial statements and the accompanying notes. Future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires the exercise of judgment. Actual results could differ from those estimates and any such differences may be material to our Consolidated Financial Statements. We believe that the estimates set forth below may involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity in their application than our other accounting estimates and represent the critical accounting estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. We believe our judgments related to these accounting estimates are appropriate. However, if different assumptions or conditions were to prevail, the results could be materially different from the amounts recorded.

Financial Instruments and Fair Value – We value our financial instruments using a hierarchy of fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

The fair value hierarchy can be summarized as follows:

 

   

Level 1 – Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these products does not entail a significant degree of judgment.

 

   

Level 2 – Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

 

   

Level 3 – Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

Changes in fair value are recognized in earnings each period for financial instruments that are carried at fair value.

Securitization activities – During the first quarter of 2011, we began securitizing HECMs under our GNMA issuance authority. We generally account for securitization and transfer of financial assets as sales when we have relinquished control over the transferred assets. When a transfer of assets does

 

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not meet the GAAP criteria for sale treatment, we continue to recognize the HECMs in Financial instruments owned, at fair value, and we recognize a corresponding liability recorded as Liability to GNMA trusts, at fair value on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Our financial instruments owned and financial instruments sold, not yet purchased will generally be classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices or broker or dealer quotations with reasonable levels of price transparency.

The types of instruments that trade in markets that are not considered to be active, but are valued based on observable inputs such as quoted market prices or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency are generally classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

As discussed in Footnote 8 “Long-Term Debt,” included in Part I, Item 1 “Financial Statements” of this Form 10-Q, we entered into purchased call options and recorded an embedded conversion derivative concurrent with our issuance of long-term debt. The fair value of these options and derivative are determined using an option pricing model based on observable inputs such as implied volatility of our common stock, risk-free interest rate, and other factors and, as such, are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

As of September 30, 2011, our loan inventory, foreign currency forward contracts, investment in the Deephaven Funds, deferred compensation investments and certain mortgage-backed securities are also classified within Level 2.

Certain instruments are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because they trade infrequently and therefore have little or no price transparency. For those instruments that are not traded in active markets or are subject to transfer restrictions, valuations are adjusted to reflect illiquidity and/or non-transferability, and such adjustments are generally based on available market evidence. In the absence of such evidence, management’s best estimate is used. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, we did not hold any financial instruments that met the definition of Level 3.

We have elected to account for our loan inventory associated with the Urban business at fair value, as these assets are generally not held to maturity and we believe that fair value better reflects the economics of these loan transactions.

There were no transfers of financial instruments between levels of the fair value hierarchy for any periods presented.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets – As a result of our various acquisitions, we have acquired goodwill and identifiable intangible assets. We determine the values and useful lives of intangible assets upon acquisition. Goodwill is the cost of acquired companies in excess of the fair value of net assets, including identifiable intangible assets, at the acquisition date. We test goodwill and intangible assets with an indefinite useful life for impairment at least annually or when an event occurs or circumstances change that signifies the existence of impairment.

Goodwill

Goodwill of $337.8 million at September 30, 2011 primarily relates to our Institutional Sales and Trading and Electronic Execution Services segments. Goodwill primarily represents purchases of the businesses now operating as Knight Direct, Hotspot FX, and Knight BondPoint in our Electronic Execution Services segment and Knight Fixed Income, Urban and Astor in our Institutional Sales and

 

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Trading segment. We test the goodwill in each of our operating segments for impairment at least annually by comparing the estimated fair value of each reporting unit with its estimated net book value. We derive the fair value of each of our operating segments based on valuation techniques we believe market participants would use for each segment (observable price-to-book multiples and discounted cash flow analyses) and we derive the net book value of our operating segments by estimating the amount of shareholders’ equity required to support the activities of each operating segment. As part of our test for impairment, we also consider the profitability of the applicable reporting unit as well as our overall market value, compared to our book value. We performed our annual test for impairment of goodwill in the second quarter of 2011 and determined that goodwill was not impaired at that time. During the third quarter of 2011, we wrote off Goodwill in the Corporate and Other segment of $1.0 million as part of the restructuring charge. See Footnote 12 “Restructuring, Writedown of Assets and Lease Loss Accrual,” included in Part I, Item 1 “Financial Statements” of this Form 10-Q for further information. No other events occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 that would indicate goodwill may not be recoverable.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets with definite lives are amortized over their respective lives. Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization, of $96.8 million at September 30, 2011 are primarily attributable to our Institutional Sales and Trading and Electronic Execution Services segments. Substantially all intangible assets resulted from the purchases of the businesses now operating as Knight Direct, Hotspot FX, Knight BondPoint, Knight Fixed Income and Urban. We amortize these assets, which primarily consist of customer relationships on a straight-line basis over their useful lives, the majority of which have been determined to range from two to 20 years. We test amortizable intangibles for recoverability whenever events indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. During the third quarter of 2011, a portion of customer relationships within the Institutional Sales and Trading segment with an unamortized cost of $1.3 million was written off. See Footnote 12 “Restructuring, Writedown of Assets and Lease Loss Accrual,” included in Part I, Item 1 “Financial Statements” of this Form 10-Q for further information. No other events occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 that would indicate that the carrying amounts of the Company’s goodwill or intangible assets may not be recoverable. During the second quarter of 2010, the Libertas trade name with an unamortized cost of $0.3 million was written off.

Investments – Investments primarily comprise strategic investments and deferred compensation investments. Strategic investments include noncontrolling equity ownership interests and debt instruments held by us within our non-broker-dealer subsidiaries, primarily in financial services-related businesses. Strategic investments are accounted for under the equity method, at cost or at fair value. We use the equity method of accounting where we are considered to exert significant influence on the investee. We hold strategic investments at cost, less impairment if any, when we are not considered to exert significant influence on operating and financial policies of the investee. We account for our deferred compensation investments, which primarily consist of mutual funds, at fair value.

We review investments on an ongoing basis to ensure that the carrying values of the investments have not been impaired. If we assess that an impairment loss on a strategic investment has occurred due to a decline in fair value or other market conditions, we write the investment down to its estimated impaired value.

We maintain a deferred compensation plan related to certain employees and directors. This plan provides a return to the participants based upon the performance of various investments. In order to hedge our liability under this plan, we generally acquire the underlying investments and hold such investments until the deferred compensation liabilities are satisfied. We record changes in value of such investments in Investment income and other, net, with a corresponding charge or credit to Employee compensation and benefits on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

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Market Making, Sales, Trading and Execution Activities – Financial instruments owned and Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, which primarily consist of listed and OTC equities, are carried at fair value and are recorded on a trade date basis. Net trading revenue (trading gains, net of trading losses) and commissions (which includes commission equivalents earned on institutional client orders) and related expenses are also recorded on a trade date basis. Our third party clearing agreements call for payment or receipt of interest income, net of transaction-related interest charged by clearing brokers for facilitating the settlement and financing of securities transactions.

Dividend income relating to securities owned and dividend expense relating to securities sold, not yet purchased, derived from our market making activities are included as a component of Net trading revenue on our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Lease Loss Accrual – It is our policy to identify excess real estate capacity and where applicable, accrue for related future costs, net of estimated sublease income.

Other Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions. In addition to the estimates that we make in connection with accounting for the items noted above, the use of estimates is also important in determining provisions for potential losses that may arise from litigation, regulatory proceedings and tax audits.

When determining stock-based employee compensation expense, we make certain estimates and assumptions relating to volatility and forfeiture rates. We estimate volatility based on several factors including implied volatility of market-traded options on our common stock on the grant date and the historical volatility of our common stock. We estimate forfeiture rates based on historical rates of forfeiture of employee stock awards.

A portion of our Employee compensation and benefits expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations represents discretionary bonuses, which are accrued for throughout the year and paid after the end of the year. Among many factors, discretionary bonus accruals are generally influenced by our overall performance and competitive industry compensation levels.

We estimate and accrue for potential losses that may arise out of litigation and regulatory proceedings to the extent that such losses are probable and can be estimated. Significant judgment is required in making these estimates and our final liabilities may ultimately be materially different. Our total liability accrued with respect to litigation and regulatory proceedings is determined on a case-by-case basis and represents an estimate of probable losses based on, among other factors, the progress of each case, our experience and industry experience with similar cases and the opinions and views of internal and external legal counsel. Given the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of our litigation and regulatory matters, particularly in cases or proceedings in which substantial or indeterminate damages or fines are sought, or where cases or proceedings are in the early stages, we cannot estimate losses or ranges of losses for cases or proceedings where there is only a reasonable possibility that a loss may be incurred. For more information on our legal and regulatory matters, see “Legal Proceedings” in Part I, Item 3 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, Part II, Item 1 included in this Form 10-Q, and other reports or documents the Company files with, or furnishes, to the SEC from time to time.

Accounting Standards Updates

In April 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) that changes the existing rules for determining when a repurchase agreement should be accounted for as a sale of financial assets or as a secured borrowing. Under this ASU, if a transferor maintains effective control over the transferred financial assets and if there is an agreement

 

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that entitles and obligates the transferor to repurchase the financial assets before maturity, the transferor must account for the transaction as a secured borrowing. This ASU is effective prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. As we account for all of our repurchase agreements as secured borrowings based on the terms of the agreements, the adoption of this ASU is not expected to have an impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued an ASU to conform existing guidance regarding fair value measurement and related disclosures between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The ASU provides guidance on how to measure fair value and additional disclosure requirements. Additional disclosure requirements include transfers between Levels 1 and 2; and for Level 3 fair value measurements, a description of the companies’ valuation processes and additional information about unobservable inputs impacting Level 3 measurements. This ASU is effective prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, this ASU will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued an ASU related to the presentation of comprehensive income. The ASU will give companies an option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements; the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity was eliminated. This ASU is effective prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. Other than the change in presentation, we have determined that the adoption of this ASU will not have an impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In September 2011, the FASB issued an ASU that changed the guidance regarding the testing of goodwill for impairment. The new guidance provides a company the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If a company determines that this is the case, it is required to perform the currently prescribed two-step goodwill impairment test to identify potential goodwill impairment and measure the amount of goodwill impairment loss to be recognized for that reporting unit, if any. This ASU is effective prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, this ASU will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to numerous risks in the ordinary course of our business and activities; therefore, effective risk management is critical to our financial soundness and profitability. We have a comprehensive risk management structure and processes to monitor and evaluate the principal risks we assume in conducting our business. Our risk management policies, procedures and methodologies are constantly changing and are subject to ongoing review and modification. The principal risks we face are as follows:

Market Risk

Our market making and trading activities expose our capital to significant risks. These risks include, but are not limited to, absolute and relative price movements, price volatility, interest rates, credit spreads, and changes in liquidity, over which we have virtually no control. Equity price risks result from exposure to changes in prices and volatilities of individual equities, equity baskets and equity indices. Interest rate risks result primarily from exposure and changes in the yield curve, the volatility of interest rates and credit spreads.

 

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For working capital purposes, we invest in money market funds and government securities or maintain interest-bearing balances at banks and in our trading accounts with clearing brokers, which are classified as Cash and cash equivalents and Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, respectively, on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. These financial instruments do not have maturity dates, effectively alleviating significant market risk, as the balances are short-term in nature and subject to daily repricing. Our cash and cash equivalents held in foreign currencies are subject to the exposure of foreign currency fluctuations. These balances are monitored daily and are not material to our overall cash position.

We employ proprietary position management and trading systems that provide real-time, on-line position management and inventory control. We monitor our risks by reviewing trading positions and their appropriate risk measures. We have established a system whereby transactions are monitored by senior management and an independent risk control function on a real-time basis as are individual and aggregate dollar and inventory position totals, capital allocations, and real-time profits and losses. Our management of trading positions is enhanced by our review of mark-to-market valuations and position summaries on a daily basis.

In the normal course of business, we maintain inventories of exchange-listed and OTC equity securities, and to a significantly lesser extent, listed equity options and fixed income products. The fair value of these financial instruments at September 30, 2011 and 2010 was $2.29 billion and $1.27 billion, respectively, in long positions and $1.83 billion and $1.12 billion, respectively, in short positions. The potential change in fair value, using a hypothetical 10% decline in prices, is estimated to be a loss of $46.3 million and $15.4 million as of September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, due to the offset of gains in short positions against losses in long positions.

Operational Risk

Operational risk can arise from many factors ranging from routine processing errors to potentially costly incidents arising, for example, from major systems failures. Our businesses are highly dependent on our ability to process, on a daily basis, a large number of transactions across numerous and diverse markets in several currencies. We incur operational risk across all of our business activities, including revenue generating activities as well as support functions. Legal and compliance risk is included in the scope of operational risk and is discussed below under “Legal Risk.”

Primary responsibility for the management of operational risk lies with our operating segments and supporting functions. Our operating segments maintain controls designed to manage and mitigate operational risk for existing activities. As new products and business activities are developed, we endeavor to identify operational risks and design controls to seek to mitigate the identified risks.

Disaster recovery plans are in place for critical facilities related to our primary operations and resources and redundancies are built into the systems as deemed reasonably appropriate. We have also established policies, procedures and technologies designed to protect our systems and other assets from unauthorized access.

Liquidity Risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that we would be unable to meet our financial obligations as they arise in both normal and strained funding environments. To that end, we have established a comprehensive and conservative set of policies and procedures that govern the management of liquidity risk for the Company at the Corporate level and at the subsidiary entity level.

 

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We maintain a liquidity pool consisting of primarily cash and other highly liquid instruments at the Corporate level to satisfy intraday and day-to-day funding needs, as well as potential cash needs in a strained funding environment. In addition, we maintain committed and uncommitted credit facilities with a number of financial institutions.

We regularly perform liquidity risk stress testing based on a scenario that considers both market-wide stresses and a company-specific stress. The modeled cash inflows and outflows from the stress test serve as a quantitative input to assist us in establishing the Company’s liquidity risk appetite and amount of liquid assets to be held at the Corporate level. The liquidity stress test considers cash flow risks arising from, but not limited to, a dislocation of the secured funding market, additional unexpected margin requirements, and operational events.

We maintain a contingency funding plan (“CFP”) which clearly delineates the roles, responsibilities and actions that will be utilized as the Company encounters various levels of liquidity stress with the goal of fulfilling all financial obligations as they arise while maintaining business activity. We periodically update and test the operational functionality of various aspects of the CFP to ensure it remains current with changing business activity.

Capital Risk

Government regulators, both in the U.S. and globally, as well as self-regulated organizations, have supervisory responsibility over our broker-dealer activities and require us to maintain specified minimum levels of regulatory capital in our broker-dealer subsidiaries. If not properly monitored, our regulatory capital levels could fall below the required minimum amounts set by our regulators, which could expose us to various sanctions ranging from fines and censure to imposing partial or complete restrictions on our ability to conduct business.

To mitigate this risk, we continuously evaluate the levels of regulatory capital at each of our broker-dealer subsidiaries and adjust the amounts of regulatory capital as necessary to ensure compliance with all regulatory capital requirements. We also maintain excess regulatory capital to accommodate periods of unusual or unforeseen market volatility. In addition, we monitor regulatory developments regarding capital requirements and prepare for changes in the required minimum levels of regulatory capital that may occur in the future.

Legal Risk

Legal risk includes the risk of non-compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements and standards. Legal risk also includes contractual and commercial risk such as the risk that counterparty’s performance obligations will be unenforceable. We are generally subject to extensive regulation in the different jurisdictions in which we conduct our business (see “Government Regulation and Market Structure” in Part I, Item 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010). We have established procedures based on legal and regulatory requirements that are designed to foster compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. We have also established procedures that are designed to require that our policies relating to conduct, ethics and business practices are followed.

Credit Risk

Credit risk represents the loss that we would incur if a counterparty fails to perform its contractual obligations in a timely manner. We manage credit risk with a global, independent credit risk management function that is responsible for measuring, monitoring and controlling the counterparty credit risks inherent in our business activities. To accomplish this, we have established credit policies for specific business lines.

 

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The credit risk function’s process for managing credit risk includes a qualitative and quantitative risk assessment of significant counterparties prior to engaging in business activity, as well as, on an ongoing basis. The review includes formal financial analysis and due diligence when appropriate.

The credit risk function is responsible for approving counterparties and establishing credit limits to manage credit risk exposure by counterparty and business line. The assigned limits reflect the various elements of assessed credit risk and are subsequently revised to correspond with changes in the counterparties’ credit profiles. The credit risk function communicates counterparty limits to the business areas as well as senior management, and monitors compliance with the established limits.

Where appropriate, counterparty exposure is monitored on a daily basis and the collateral, if required, is marked to market daily to accurately reflect the current exposure.

Foreign Currency Risk

Our foreign currency exposure continues to evolve as we grow internationally. Our exposure to foreign currency transaction gains and losses is the result of our foreign subsidiaries being denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily the British pound, the Euro and the Hong Kong dollar, in which our revenues and profits are denominated. A portion of these risks are hedged, but fluctuations in currency exchange rates could impact our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the design and operation of these disclosure controls and procedures were effective. There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) during the fiscal quarter covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we and certain of our past and present officers, directors and employees have been named as parties to legal actions, arbitrations, administrative claims and regulatory reviews and investigations arising in connection with the conduct of our businesses. We are subject to such matters at the present time. Although there can be no assurances, at this time the Company believes, based on information currently available, that the outcome of each of the matters will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition of the Company, although they might be material to operating results for any particular period, depending, in part, upon operating results for that period.

In the third quarter of 2011, the following developments occurred in the litigations involving the Electronic Trading Group former employees described in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011:

In August 2011, the litigations were resolved and discontinued with prejudice. The Company made a settlement payment which did not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations or Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition.

We own subsidiaries including regulated entities that are subject to extensive oversight under federal, state and applicable international laws as well as self-regulatory organization (“SRO”) rules. Changes in market structure and the need to remain competitive require constant changes to our systems and order handling procedures. We make these changes while continuously endeavoring to comply with many complex laws and rules. Compliance, surveillance and trading issues common in the securities industry are monitored by, reported to, and/or reviewed in the ordinary course of business by our primary regulators, the SEC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), FSA, SFC, FINRA, New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”), National Futures Association (“NFA”), Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”) and HUD. As a major order flow execution destination, we are named from time to time in, or are asked to respond to a number of regulatory matters brought by U.S. regulators, foreign regulators and SROs that arise from our trading activity. We are currently the subject of various regulatory reviews and investigations. In some instances, these matters may rise to a SEC, CFTC, FSA, SFC, FINRA, NYSE, MSRB, NFA, FHA, HUD, other SRO disciplinary action and/or civil or administrative action.

For further information on Legal Proceedings, see the section entitled “Legal Proceedings”, in Part I, Item 3 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, and other reports or documents we file with, or furnish, to the SEC from time to time.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.

 

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The following table contains information about our purchases of our Class A Common Stock during the third quarter of 2011 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

Period

  Total Number of
Shares Purchased
    Average
Price Paid
per Share
    Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs(1)
    Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares That
May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs
 

July 1, 2011 – July 31, 2011

       

Common stock repurchases

    -            -        $ 182,635   

Employee transactions (2)

    38          -       
 

 

 

       

Total

    38      $ 11.04        -       
 

 

 

       

August 1, 2011 – August 31, 2011

       

Common stock repurchases

    1,524          1,524      $ 165,470   

Employee transactions (2)

    98          -       
 

 

 

       

Total

    1,622      $ 11.26        1,524     
 

 

 

       

September 1, 2011 – September 30, 2011

       

Common stock repurchases

    -            -        $ 165,470   

Employee transactions (2)

    21          -       
 

 

 

       

Total

    21      $ 12.50        -       
 

 

 

       

Total

       

Common stock repurchases

    1,524          1,524     

Employee transactions (2)

    157          -       
 

 

 

       

Total

    1,680      $ 11.27        1,524     
 

 

 

       

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

(1) On April 4, 2002, the Company’s Board of Directors announced the authorization of a stock repurchase program, which allowed for the purchase of Class A Common Stock up to a total amount of $35 million. This repurchase program was increased by an aggregate of $965 million to a total of $1 billion by resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors adopted on July 16, 2002, May 12, 2003, April 20, 2004, August 8, 2004, April 19, 2005, October 18, 2005, April 18, 2006 and July 17, 2007. The Company may repurchase shares from time to time in the open market, accelerated stock buyback programs, tender offers, privately negotiated transactions or by other means. Repurchases may also be made under a Rule 10b5-1 plan. The timing and amount of repurchase transactions will be determined by the Company’s management based on its evaluation of current and future financing needs, market conditions, share price, legal requirements and other factors. The program may be suspended, modified or discontinued at any time without prior notice. The Company cautions that there are no assurances that any further repurchases will actually occur. The repurchase program has no set expiration or termination date.
(2) Represents shares of common stock withheld in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations upon vesting of restricted stock.

 

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Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

 

Item 5. Other Information

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Exhibit

    31.1*   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
    31.2*   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
    32.1*   Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
    32.2*   Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101**   The following materials from Knight Capital Group, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language); (i) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 and (iv) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

* Filed herewith.
** Pursuant to rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data Files on Exhibit 101 hereto are deemed not filed for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Jersey City, State of New Jersey, on this 9th day of November, 2011.

 

  KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
 

By: /s/ THOMAS M. JOYCE

  Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
  (Principal Executive Officer)
 

By: /s/ STEVEN BISGAY

  Chief Financial Officer
  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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