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 MARCH 31, 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 May 5, 2011 the number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Class A Common Stock was 100,363,431 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 March 31, 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      35   

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     51   

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

     52   

PART II

   OTHER INFORMATION:   

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

     54   

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

     54   

Item 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     55   

Item 3.

  

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

     55   

Item 4.

  

[Omitted and Reserved]

  

Item 5.

  

Other Information

     56   

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

     56   

Signatures

     57   

 

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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 March 31,
 
     2011     2010  
     (In thousands, except
per share amounts)
 

Revenues

    

Commissions and fees

   $ 182,525      $ 159,513   

Net trading revenue

     151,788        124,964   

Interest, net

     3,101        624   

Investment income (loss) and other, net

     2,360        (862
                

Total revenues

     339,774        284,239   
                

Expenses

    

Employee compensation and benefits

     148,963        138,350   

Execution and clearance fees

     53,449        42,462   

Communications and data processing

     20,723        16,058   

Payments for order flow

     20,709        11,025   

Depreciation and amortization

     13,209        9,235   

Interest

     9,880        2,474   

Occupancy and equipment rentals

     7,354        6,341   

Professional fees

     4,354        4,753   

Business development

     3,711        4,228   

Lease loss accrual

     945        -     

Other

     6,394        3,355   
                

Total expenses

     289,691        238,281   
                

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     50,083        45,958   

Income tax expense

     19,451        17,840   
                

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

     30,632        28,118   

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     (141     (306
                

Net income

   $ 30,491      $ 27,812   
                
    

Basic earnings per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.33      $ 0.31   
                

Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.33      $ 0.30   
                

Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.33      $ 0.31   
                

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.33      $ 0.30   
                

Shares used in computation of basic earnings per share

     91,897        89,463   
                

Shares used in computation of diluted earnings per share

     93,668        93,478   
                

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

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(Unaudited)

 

     March 31,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 
     (In thousands)  

ASSETS

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 354,909      $ 375,569   

Financial instruments owned, at fair value, including securities pledged of $1,048,708 at March 31, 2011 and $812,379 at December 31, 2010

     2,226,905        1,603,139   

Collateralized agreements:

    

Securities borrowed

     1,565,865        1,361,010   

Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

     776,242        476,159   

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

     120,691        117,601   

Investments

     95,993        81,331   

Goodwill

     338,843        338,743   

Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization

     105,734        109,784   

Other assets

     197,267        206,875   
                

Total assets

   $     5,782,449      $     4,670,211   
                

LIABILITIES & EQUITY

    

Liabilities

    

Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value

   $ 1,667,869      $ 1,311,324   

Collateralized financings:

    

Securities loaned

     528,370        527,945   

Financial instruments sold under agreements to repurchase

     729,951        485,184   

Other secured financings

     24,145        35,583   

Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

     762,783        337,430   

Accrued compensation expense

     94,440        186,451   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     263,266        114,376   

Long-term debt

     314,213        311,060   
                

Total liabilities

     4,385,037        3,309,353   
                

Equity

    

Knight Capital Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity

    

Class A common stock

    

Shares authorized: 500,000 at March 31, 2011 and at December 31, 2010; Shares issued: 166,161 at March 31, 2011 and 162,818 at December 31, 2010;

    

Shares outstanding: 100,196 at March 31, 2011 and 97,736 at December 31, 2010

     1,662        1,628   

Additional paid-in capital

     825,919        807,287   

Retained earnings

     1,347,953        1,317,462   

Treasury stock, at cost; 65,965 at March 31, 2011 and 65,082 shares at December 31, 2010

     (778,183     (765,875

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (560     (265
                

Total Knight Capital Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity

     1,396,791        1,360,237   

Noncontrolling interests

     621        621   
                

Total equity

     1,397,412        1,360,858   
                

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 5,782,449      $ 4,670,211   
                

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

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

    For the three months
ended March 31,
 
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  

Cash flows from operating activities

   

Net income

  $ 30,491      $ 27,812   

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

    (141     (306
               

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

    30,632        28,118   

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

   

Stock-based compensation

    15,259        14,133   

Depreciation and amortization

    13,209        9,235   

Debt discount accretion and other debt related expenses

    3,578        851   

Lease loss accrual

    945        -     

Deferred rent

    33        754   

Unrealized (gain) loss on investments

    (2,053     596   

Operating activities from discontinued operations

    (182     162   

(Increase) decrease in operating assets

   

Financial instruments owned, at fair value

    (631,859     (57,707

Securities borrowed

    (204,855     (549,383

Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

    (300,084     8,181   

Other assets

    9,002        26,470   

Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities

   

Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value

    364,638        257,874   

Securities loaned

    425        139,982   

Financial instruments sold under agreements to repurchase

    244,767        -     

Other secured financings

    (11,438     -     

Payable to brokers and dealers

    425,353        133,838   

Accrued compensation expense

    (88,985     (125,685

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    148,035        33,847   
               

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

    16,420        (78,734
               

Cash flows from investing activities

   

Distributions from investments

    2,140        34,815   

Purchases of investments

    (14,706     (1,695

Purchases of fixed assets and leasehold improvements

    (12,349     (9,434

Purchase of noncontrolling interest

    -          (1,000

Investing activities from discontinued operations

    -          (1,000
               

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

    (24,915     21,686   
               

Cash flows from financing activities

   

Repayment of credit facility

    -          (140,000

Proceeds from issuance of cash convertible notes

    -          363,808   

Purchase of call options

    -          (73,750

Proceeds from issuance of warrants

    -          15,000   

Stock options exercised

    380        433   

Income tax benefit related to stock-based compensation

    58        102   

Cost of common stock repurchased

    (12,308     (18,152
               

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

    (11,870     147,441   
               

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

    (295     (4,338
               

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

    (20,660     86,055   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

    375,569        427,106   
               

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

  $ 354,909      $ 513,161   
               

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

   

Cash paid for interest

  $ 8,880      $ 2,474   
               

Cash paid for income taxes

  $ 1,116      $ 15,656   
               

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

 

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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. The Company has three operating segments, (i) Equities, (ii) Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities (“FICC”) and (iii) Corporate. As of March 31, 2011, the Company’s operating segments comprised the following:

Equities

The Equities segment includes global market-making and institutional sales and trading in equities, exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), options and futures. In the course of market-making and trading, the Company provides capital facilitation and a range of complementary services, including research and commission management to a wide range of clients. The Equities segment also provides equity capital market and asset management services.

Global market-making includes the Company’s 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: the OTC Bulletin Board: and the Pink OTC Markets. In this role, the Company provides trade executions by offering to buy securities from, or sell securities to, institutions and broker-dealers. Effective January 2011, the Company provides trade executions as an equities Designated Market Maker (“DMM”) and ETF Lead Market Maker (“LMM”) on the NYSE, NYSE Amex and NYSE Arca. Global market-making also includes the Company’s option market-making business which has expanded trading onto several electronic exchanges.

Equities sales and trading includes services provided by the Company’s global sales and trading team, and electronic trading products and services. These products and services include global equities, ETFs, options and futures trade execution solutions, block trading, program trading, special situations/risk arbitrage, research, soft dollar and commission recapture programs, corporate access services, direct market access through Knight Direct®, EdgeTrade algorithms and internal crossing through the Knight Match® product.

The Company’s asset management business, Astor, 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.

The Company currently self-clears substantially all of its domestic equities business using a proprietary platform.

FICC

The FICC segment includes research, sales and trading in global fixed income, as well as electronic trading in fixed income and foreign exchange. The FICC segment also provides debt capital markets services.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

The FICC segment provides buy-side firms with research, sales and trading across a broad range of 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. FICC, through its Knight Fixed Income business, publishes reports across several sectors in the Americas, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and emerging markets evaluating corporate risk, interest rate risk and individual issuers.

FICC, through the Urban business, also originates 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.

Through the 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.

Through the 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 over 50 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.

Corporate

The Corporate segment invests in strategic financial services-oriented opportunities, allocates, deploys and monitors all capital, and maintains all corporate overhead expenses and all other expenses that are not attributable to the Equities and FICC segments. Corporate overhead expenses consist of compensation for senior executives and other employees of the corporate holding company, 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 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.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

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 March 31, 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.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

Market-making, trading and sales 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 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. 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 March 31,  
         2011             2010      

Interest Income

   $ 6.6      $ 2.4   

Interest Expense

     (3.5     (1.8
                

Interest, net

   $       3.1      $       0.6   
                

 

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 a component 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 March 31,  
         2011             2010      

Dividend Income

   $ 4.6      $ 6.5   
                

Dividend Expense

   $     (4.8   $     (5.0
                

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 Urban wholesale loan production.

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.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

   

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. See Footnote 3 “Fair Value of Financial Instruments” for a description of valuation methodologies applied to the classes of financial instruments at fair value.

Collateralized agreements and financings

Collateralized agreements consist of securities borrowed. Collateralized financings consist of securities loaned, financial instruments sold under agreements to repurchase, 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 a counterparty 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.

 

   

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 or other assets to banks as 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.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

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 has several deferred compensation plans related to certain employees and directors. These plans provide a return to the participants based upon the performance of various investments. In order to hedge its liability under these plans, 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 (loss) and other, net, with a corresponding charge or credit to Employee compensation and benefits on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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 of a sale, the HECMs continue to be recognized in Financial instruments owned at fair value, and the Company recognizes a corresponding liability in Accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. The Company has elected to record such liability at fair value.

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 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, related to 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 (loss) and other, net on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, a loss of $0.1 million and $0.4 million, respectively, was recorded in Investment income (loss) and other, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations, and a loss of $0.3 million and $4.3 million, respectively, was recorded as other comprehensive loss.

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 (loss) 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 life 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 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.

 

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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 determining the accrual, the Company’s policy is to accrue future costs related to excess capacity using a discounted cash flow analysis.

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 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 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.

 

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
 

March 31, 2011

   Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets

           

Financial instruments owned, at fair value:

           

Equities (1)

   $ 1,658.4       $     -         $     -         $ 1,658.4   

U.S. government obligations

     3.1         -           -           3.1   

Corporate debt

     38.3         -           -           38.3   

Mortgage-backed securities

     -           48.4         -           48.4   

Listed equity options

     122.8         -           -           122.8   

Loan inventory

     -           201.4         -           201.4   

Securitized loan inventory (2)

     -           128.4         -           128.4   

Purchased call options

     -           25.8         -           25.8   

Foreign currency forward contracts

     -           0.3         -           0.3   
                                   

Total Financial instruments owned, at fair value

     1,822.6         404.3         -           2,226.9   

Deferred compensation investments (3)

     -           18.8         -           18.8   

Investment in Deephaven Funds (3)

     -           2.7         -           2.7   
                                   

Total fair value of financial instrument assets

   $ 1,822.6       $ 425.8       $ -         $ 2,248.4   
                                   

Liabilities

           

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

           

Equities (1)

   $ 1,401.8       $ -         $ -         $ 1,401.8   

U.S. government obligations

     34.5         -           -           34.5   

Listed equity options

     118.2         -           -           118.2   

Corporate debt

     75.1         -           -           75.1   

Embedded conversion derivative

     -           25.8         -           25.8   

Total return swap

     -           12.4         -           12.4   
                                   

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

     1,629.7         38.2         -           1,667.9   

Liability to the GNMA trust (2)

     -           128.4         -           128.4   
                                   

Total fair value of financial instrument liabilities

   $ 1,629.7       $ 166.6       $ -         $ 1,796.3   
                                   

 

(1) Equities of $475.5 million have been netted by their respective long and short positions by CUSIP number.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

(2) Represents HECMs that have been securitized into HMBS where the securitization is not accounted for as a sale of the underlying HECMs. The liability to the GNMA trust is recorded in Accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. See Securitized loan inventory below for full description.
(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 $2.5 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   

U.S. government obligations

     3.8         -           -           3.8   

Corporate debt

     11.1         -           -           11.1   

Mortgage-backed securities

     22.8         39.6         -           62.4   

Listed equity options

     41.8         -           -           41.8   

Loans 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(2)

     -           17.3         -           17.3   

Investment in Deephaven Funds(2)

     -           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   

U.S. government obligations

     54.4         -           -           54.4   

Listed equity options

     40.6         -           -           40.6   

Corporate debt

     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) 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.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

The Company’s equities, U.S. government obligations, rated corporate debt, listed equity options 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 March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company’s loan inventory, securitized loan inventory, foreign currency forward contracts, certain mortgage-backed securities, purchased call options and embedded conversion derivative related to its 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 March 31, 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.

Securitized loan inventory

Securitized loan inventory comprises HECMs that the Company has securitized into HMBS. The Company has recorded the securitized loans, and an offsetting liability to the GNMA trust, in Financial instruments owned, at fair value and Accrued expenses and other liabilities, respectively on its Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition at March 31, 2011. As of March 31, 2011 all of the HMBS created by the Company has 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.

Foreign currency forward contracts

At March 31, 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.

 

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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 of its 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.

 

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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):

 

Asset Derivatives

   Statements of Financial
Condition Location
     Fair Value as of  
      March 31,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments:

    
 
Financial instruments owned,
at fair value
  
  
     

Purchased call options

      $ 25.8       $ 33.9   

Listed equity options (1)

        122.8         41.8   
                    
      $     148.6       $     75.7   
                    

Derivative instruments designated as hedging instruments:

    
 
Financial instruments owned,
at fair value
  
  
     

Foreign currency forward contracts

      $ 0.3       $ 4.6   
                    

Liability Derivatives

                    

Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments:

    
 
 
Financial instruments sold,
not yet purchased, at fair
value
  
  
  
     

Embedded conversion derivative

      $ 25.8       $ 33.9   

Listed equity options(1)

        118.2         40.6   

Total return swap(2)

        12.4         11.5   
                    
      $ 156.4       $ 86.0   
                    

 

(1) As of March 31, 2011, the Company held 0.7 million long and 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 equal 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
March 31,
 
              2011                     2010          

Purchased call options

   Investment income (loss) and other, net    $ (8.1   $ 5.2   

Listed equity options

   Net trading revenue      0.0        (0.2

Embedded conversion derivative

   Investment income (loss) and other, net      8.1        (5.2

Total return swap(1)

   Investment income (loss) and other, net      (0.9     -     
                   
      $ (0.9   $ (0.2
                   

Derivative instruments designated as hedging instruments:

       

Foreign currency forward contracts

  

Accumulated other

comprehensive loss

   $ (3.6   $ -     
                   

 

(1) Loss on the total return swap is offset by an equal gain on the underlying position which is recorded in Investment income (loss) 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, 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 March 31, 2011 the fair value of financial instruments received as collateral by the Company that it was permitted to deliver or repledge was $1.32 billion, of which $1.25 billion had been delivered or repledged (of which $266.6 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 assets 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 $231.6 million and $269.1 million at March 31, 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

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

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 $817.1 million and $543.3 million as of March 31, 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):

 

     March 31,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Receivable:

     

Clearing organizations and other

   $ 529.5       $ 373.6   

Securities failed to deliver

     246.7         102.5   
                 
   $ 776.2       $ 476.2   
                 

Payable:

     

Clearing organizations and other

   $         657.4       $ 296.8   

Securities failed to receive

     105.4         40.6   
                 
   $ 762.8       $         337.4   
                 

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

 

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):

 

      March 31,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Strategic investments:

     

Investments accounted for under the equity method

   $ 74.2       $ 60.2   

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

     0.3         0.3   
                 

Total Strategic investments

     74.5         60.4   

Deferred compensation investments

     18.8         17.3   

Investment in Deephaven Funds

     2.7         3.6   
                 

Total Investments

   $           96.0       $           81.3   
                 

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

Included in the investments accounted for under the equity method at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 is an equity investment in Direct Edge of $47.4 million and $46.0 million, respectively. See Footnote 2 “Significant Accounting Policies” for a discussion of valuation of strategic investments.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

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 2010, the Company tested for the impairment of goodwill and concluded that there was no impairment.

Amortizable intangibles are tested for recoverability whenever events indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. No events occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2011 or March 31, 2010 that would indicate that the carrying amounts of the Company’s goodwill or intangible assets may not be recoverable.

The following table summarizes the Company’s Goodwill and Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization, as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (in millions):

 

Goodwill

   March 31,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Equities

     

Purchase of Trimark business

   $ 10.1       $ 10.1   

Purchase of Tradetech business

     3.0         3.0   

Purchase of Donaldson business

     3.6         3.6   

Purchase of remaining shares in Knight Roundtable Europe

     2.5         2.5   

Purchase of Direct Trading business

     43.8         43.8   

Purchase of EdgeTrade business

     51.7         51.7   

Purchase of Astor business

     12.1         12.1   

Purchase of Kellogg DMM & LMM business units

     9.1         9.0   
                 

Total

     135.8         135.7   
                 

FICC

     

Purchase of Hotspot business

     55.7         55.7   

Purchase of ValuBond business

     14.2         14.2   

Purchase of Libertas business

     114.3         114.3   

Purchase of Urban business

     17.8         17.8   
                 

Total

     202.0         202.0   
                 

Corporate

     

Other

     1.0         1.0   
                 

Total

     1.0         1.0   
                 

Consolidated Total

   $                   338.8       $         338.7   
                 

Intangible assets primarily represent client relationships and are amortized over their remaining useful lives, the majority of which have been determined to range from four to 24 years. The weighted average remaining life of the Company’s intangible assets at March 31, 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 table summarizes the Company’s amortization expense (in millions):

 

     For the three months ended March 31,  
             2011                      2010          

Amortization Expense

   $           4.0       $           2.6   

As of March 31, 2011, the following table summarizes the Company’s estimated amortization expense for future periods (in millions):

 

     Amortization
expense
 

Nine months ending December 31, 2011

   $           11.7   

Year ended December 31, 2012

     15.3   

Year ended December 31, 2013

     12.7   

Year ended December 31, 2014

     10.4   

Year ended December 31, 2015

     8.2   

Thereafter through December 31, 2030

     44.9   
        
   $ 103.3   
        

Total Intangible assets decreased by $4.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2011 primarily due to amortization expense.

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

 

Intangible Assets

   March 31,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Equities

     

Customer and broker relationships

   $ 20.4       $ 21.4   

Trade names

     3.4         3.5   

Other

     18.2         18.7   
                 

Total

     42.0         43.6   
                 

FICC

     

Customer and broker relationships

     39.2         40.8   

Trade names

     4.6         4.7   

Other

     5.8         6.3   
                 

Total

     49.6         51.7   
                 

Corporate

     

Other

     14.1         14.5   
                 

Total

     14.1         14.5   
                 

Consolidated Total

   $             105.7       $           109.8   
                 

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

           March 31,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 

Customer and broker relationships(1)

  Gross carrying amount    $ 95.1      $ 95.1   
 

Accumulated amortization

     (35.4     (32.8
                  
  Net carrying amount      59.7        62.2   
                  

Trade names(2)

  Gross carrying amount      9.8        9.8   
 

Accumulated amortization

     (1.8     (1.7
                  
  Net carrying amount      8.0        8.1   
                  

Other(3)

  Gross carrying amount      47.0        47.1   
 

Accumulated amortization

     (8.9     (7.7
                  
  Net carrying amount      38.1        39.4   
                  

Total

  Gross carrying amount      151.9        152.0   
 

Accumulated amortization

     (46.1     (42.2
                  
 

Net carrying amount

   $             105.7      $           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 approximately 11 years as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010. Lives may be reduced depending upon actual retention rates.
(2) Trade names relate to the acquisitions of Hotspot, EdgeTrade and Urban. The weighted average remaining life is approximately 13 years as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
(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 March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

Totals may not add due to rounding.

 

8. Long-Term Debt

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 will be 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. As of March 31, 2011 the net balance was $314.2 million.

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

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

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 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 March 31, 2011, the fair value of the purchased call options was $25.8 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.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

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 March 31, 2011 the fair value of the embedded conversion derivative was $25.8 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 (loss) 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 in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and are amortized over the term of the Notes.

The Company recorded expenses with respect to the Notes as follows (in millions):

 

     For the three months ended March 31,  
             2011                      2010          

Interest expense

   $ 6.4       $ 1.1   

Amortization of debt issuance cost(1)

     0.4         0.1   
                 

Total

   $           6.8       $           1.2   
                 

 

(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 the credit agreement was recorded for the three months ended March 31, 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 March 31,  
             2011                     2010          

Net Income

   $ 30.5      $ 27.8   

Other comprehensive loss:

    

Cumulative translation adjustment

     (0.3     (4.3
                

Comprehensive income

   $           30.2      $           23.5   
                

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

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 March 31, 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 equity grants to new hires.

Unvested awards granted before September 1, 2010 are canceled if employment is terminated before the end of the relevant vesting period. For annual incentive awards granted after September 1, 2010, full vesting is given where an employee has been terminated without cause by the Company. For all other awards granted after September 1, 2010 unvested awards are generally canceled if employment is terminated before the end of the relevant vesting period.

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. During 2009, the Company established the Inducement Plan, and issued 197,000 restricted shares as inducement awards pursuant to this plan during the three months ended March 31, 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 three months ended March 31, 2011. 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.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

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 March 31,  
             2011                      2010          

Stock award compensation expense

   $ 14.7       $ 11.8   
                 

Income tax benefit

   $           5.9       $           4.7   
                 

The following table summarizes restricted awards activity during the three months ended March 31, 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

     -          -           4,903.0        13.91   

Vested

     (563.0     16.61         (1,471.4     16.96   

Forfeited

     (14.5     15.74         (1,582.3     15.01   
                     

Outstanding at March 31, 2011

     577.2      $   16.61         8,178.4      $   14.65   
                     

There is $87.8 million of unamortized compensation related to unvested restricted awards outstanding at March 31, 2011. The cost of these unvested restricted awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted average life of 2.2 years.

Stock Options

The Company’s policy is to grant options for the purchase of shares of Class A Common Stock at 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

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

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 issue any options during the three months ended March 31, 2011. During the three months ended March 31, 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 three months ended March 31, 2010 was $4.93.

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 March 31,  
             2011                      2010          

Stock option compensation expense

   $ 0.6       $ 1.1   
                 

Income tax benefit

   $           0.2       $           0.5   
                 

The following table summarizes stock option activity during the three months ended March 31, 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

     (36.7     10.30   

Forfeited or expired

     (527.4     16.95   
          

Outstanding at March 31, 2011

     3,175.8      $ 13.62   
          

Exercisable at March 31, 2011

     2,457.0      $ 12.95   
          

Available for future grants at March 31, 2011*

     9,013.8     
          

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

* Represents both options and awards available for grant

There is $2.8 million of unrecognized compensation related to unvested stock options outstanding at March 31, 2011. The cost of these unvested awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted average life of 1.8 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 March 31,  
             2011                     2010          

U.S. federal statutory income tax rate

     35.0     35.0

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

     3.8     4.2

Nondeductible charges and other, net

     0.0     -0.4
                

Actual income tax rate

             38.8             38.8
                

At March 31, 2011, the Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits.

As of March 31, 2011, the Company is subject to U.S. Federal income tax examinations for the tax years 2006 through 2009, and to non-U.S. income tax examinations for the tax years 2007 through 2009. In addition, the Company is subject to state and local income tax examinations in various jurisdictions for the tax years 2003 through 2009. 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. 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.

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

 

     For the three months ended March 31,  
             2011                     2010          

Revenues

   $ 0.1      $ 0.1   
                

Pre-tax gain (loss) from discontinued operations

   $ 0.1      $ (0.2

Income tax expense

     (0.2     (0.1
                

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

   $         (0.1   $         (0.3
                

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

Loss from discontinued operations had no effect on the basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

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):

 

     March 31,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1.1       $ 0.8   

Deferred compensation and other assets

     2.5         2.9   
                 

Total assets

   $ 3.6       $ 3.7   
                 

Liabilities:

     

Accrued compensation expense

   $ 2.4       $ 2.5   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     1.5         1.6   
                 

Total liabilities

   $               3.9       $               4.1   
                 

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

 

13. 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 ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 (in millions, except per share data):

 

     For the three months ended March 31,  
     2011      2010  
     Numerator /
net income
     Denominator /
shares
     Numerator /
net income
     Denominator /
shares
 

Income and shares used in basic calculations

   $ 30.5         91.9       $ 27.8         89.5   

Effect of dilutive stock based awards

     -           1.8         -           4.0   
                                   

Income and shares used in diluted calculations

   $         30.5         93.7       $         27.8         93.5   
                                   

Basic earnings per share

      $         0.33          $         0.31   
                       

Diluted earnings per share

      $ 0.33          $ 0.30   
                       

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 2.2 million and 2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

14. 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 months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

15. 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. The results of these matters cannot be predicted, and the Company cannot estimate a possible range of loss for these matters at this time. 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 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 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 $5.0 million and $4.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and is included in Occupancy and equipment rentals on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company recorded a lease loss accrual of $0.9 million related to excess office space in New York City.

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 March 31, 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
 

Nine months ending December 31, 2011

   $ 17.0       $ 0.9       $ 16.0       $ 62.5   

Year ending December 31, 2012

     23.6         1.4         22.3         19.5   

Year ending December 31, 2013

     22.0         1.4         20.7         -     

Year ending December 31, 2014

     21.0         1.4         19.6         -     

Year ending December 31, 2015

     20.2         1.4         18.8         -     

Thereafter through August 31, 2023

     117.1         3.0         114.1         -     
                                   
   $       220.9       $     9.5       $       211.4       $       82.0   
                                   

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

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 March 31, 2011, the Company has provided a letter of credit for $2.0 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.

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  
      March 31,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 

Notional Value

   Not Applicable    $ 43.9      $ 64.6   
                   

Fair Value

   Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations    $ (0.9   $ (0.3
                   

 

    

Statements of

Operations Location

   Gain (Loss) Recognized
For the three months ended March 31,
 

Futures Contracts

              2011                     2010          

Unrealized loss

   Net trading revenue    $ (0.9   $ (0.8
                   

 

16. 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 all 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.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

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.

 

17. Business Segments

The Company has three operating segments within its continuing operations: Equities, FICC and Corporate.

The Equities segment includes global market-making and institutional sales and trading in equities, ETFs, options and futures. In the course of market-making and trading, Equities provides capital facilitation as well as a range of complementary services including research and commission management. The Equities segment also provides equity capital markets and asset management services. The FICC segment includes research, sales and trading in global fixed income, as well as electronic trading in fixed income and foreign exchange. FICC, through its Knight Fixed Income business, publishes reports across several sectors in the Americas, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and emerging markets evaluating corporate risk, interest rate risk and individual issuers. FICC also provides debt capital markets services and originates home equity conversion mortgages (“HECMs”), commonly referred to as reverse mortgages, and securitizes HECMs into GNMA securities. The Corporate segment invests in strategic financial services-oriented opportunities, allocates, deploys and monitors all capital, and maintains all corporate overhead expenses and all other expenses that are not attributable to the Equities and FICC segments. 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):

 

     Equities      FICC      Corporate     Consolidated
Total
 

For the three months ended March 31, 2011:

          

Revenues

   $ 266.0       $ 71.2       $ 2.5      $ 339.8   

Pre-tax earnings

     64.6         2.3         (16.8     50.1   

Total assets(1)

     4,464.1         922.6         392.2        5,778.9   

For the three months ended March 31, 2010:

          

Revenues(2)

   $ 219.4       $ 67.8       $ (2.9   $ 284.2   

Pre-tax earnings

     56.6         8.1         (18.7     46.0   

Total assets(1)

         3,030.9             310.8             363.9            3,705.6   

 

Totals may not add due to roundings.

(1) Total assets do not include Assets within discontinued operations of $3.6 million and $12.6 million at March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

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KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued

(Unaudited)

 

(2) Included in FICC revenues for the three months ended March 31, 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 revenues to eliminate this fee for consolidation purposes.

 

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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 associated with changes in market structure, legislative or regulatory rule changes, risk related to the performance of the Company’s Electronic Trading Group, and the costs, integration, performance and operation of the businesses recently acquired or developed organically, or that may be acquired 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.

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. We have three operating segments within continuing operations, (i) Equities, (ii) Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities (“FICC”) and (iii) Corporate.

 

   

Equities – Our Equities segment includes global market-making and institutional sales and trading in equities, exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), options and futures. In the course of market-making and trading, we provide capital facilitation and a range of complementary services, including research and commission management. Within our Equities segment, we also provide equity capital markets and asset management services.

 

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FICC – Our FICC segment includes research, sales and trading in global fixed income, as well as electronic trading in fixed income and foreign exchange. FICC, through its Knight Fixed Income business, publishes reports across several sectors in the Americas, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and emerging markets evaluating corporate risk, interest rate risk and individual issuers. FICC also provides debt capital markets services and originates and securitizes HECMs into GNMA securities.

 

   

Corporate – Our Corporate segment invests in strategic financial services-oriented opportunities, allocates, deploys and monitors all capital, and maintains all corporate overhead expenses and all other expenses that are not attributable to the Equities and FICC segments. Corporate overhead expenses consist of compensation for senior executives and other employees of the corporate holding company, interest on our long-term debt, legal and other professional expenses related to corporate matters, directors’ fees, investor and public relations expenses, and directors’ and officers’ insurance.

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

 

     For the three months
ended March 31,
 
   2011     2010  

Equities

    

Revenues

   $         266.0      $         219.4   

Expenses

     201.4        162.8   
                

Pre-tax earnings

     64.6        56.6   
                

FICC

    

Revenues

     71.2        67.8   

Expenses

     68.9        59.7   
                

Pre-tax earnings

     2.3        8.1   
                

Corporate

    

Revenues

     2.5        (2.9

Expenses

     19.3        15.8   
                

Pre-tax (loss)

     (16.8     (18.7
                

Consolidated

    

Revenues

     339.8        284.2   

Expenses

     289.7        238.3   
                

Pre-tax earnings

   $ 50.1      $ 46.0   
                

 

* Totals may not add due to rounding.

Consolidated Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $55.5 million, or 19.5%, from the same period a year ago, while Consolidated Expenses increased $51.4 million, or 21.6%. Consolidated Pre-tax earnings from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $4.1 million from the same period a year ago.

 

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The changes in our Pre-tax earnings (loss) from continuing operations by segment from the three months ended March 31, 2010 to the three months ended March 31, 2011 are summarized as follows:

 

   

Equities – Our Pre-tax earnings from Equities for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased by $8.1 million, or 14.3%, from the comparable period in 2010. The increase is primarily due to improved performance in our global market-making activities, increased equity volumes and higher average revenue capture per U.S. equity dollar value traded offset, in part, by higher expenses due to: increased volume-based transaction and regulatory fees, additional compensation costs associated with overall growth and additional investments in businesses and infrastructure, both domestically and internationally.

 

   

FICC – Our Pre-tax results from FICC for the three months ended March 31, 2011 decreased by $5.8 million from the comparable period in 2010. The decrease is primarily due to a slowdown in volumes in our institutional fixed income business and higher compensation costs associated with employee retention offset, in part, by higher volumes and earnings from our Hotspot FX and Knight BondPoint businesses, as well as earnings from our Urban business, which we acquired in July 2010.

 

   

Corporate – Our Pre-tax loss from our Corporate segment for the three months ended March 31, 2011 decreased by $1.9 million from the comparable period in 2010, primarily due to gains from our strategic investments, lower compensation, reduced professional fees and the elimination of $2.9 million of revenue within FICC related to the Cash Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes (“Notes”) offering in March 2010 offset, in part, by higher interest expense related to our Notes.

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; 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; 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, electronic and voice trading and technology professionals; legislative, legal and regulatory 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 our market share, growth and profitability in our Equities and FICC segments. If demand for our services declines due to any of the above factors, and we are unable to

 

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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 March 31, 2011, volatility levels across equity markets remained relatively stable. Overall, there are still concerns about the outlook for global 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 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 metrics of the Company and other market-making firms.

 

   

Equity and FICC transaction volumes executed by broker-dealers have fluctuated over the past few years due to retail and institutional investor sentiment, market conditions and a variety of other factors, resulting in a shift of product mix. Equities and FICC transaction volumes may not be sustainable and are not predictable.

 

   

In recent years several exchanges have entered into joint ventures with broker-dealers to create their own alternative trading systems (“ATS”) and electronic communication networks (“ECN”) and 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.

 

   

Market structure changes, competition and market conditions have triggered an industry shift toward market makers charging explicit commissions or commission equivalents to institutional clients for executions in OTC securities. For the majority of our institutional client orders, we charge explicit fees in the form of commissions or commission equivalents. Institutional commission rates have fallen in the past few years due to competitive forces and increased electronic trading, and may continue to fall in the future.

 

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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.

 

   

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.

 

   

Many institutional clients allocate commissions to broker-dealers based on the quality of executions, as well as in exchange for research, or soft dollar and commission recapture programs.

 

   

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 carefully review, and propose rules where necessary, on a variety of marketplace trading issues – including, but not limited to: high frequency trading, indications of interest, various forms of off-exchange trading, dark liquidity pools, internalization, post-trade attribution, co-location, and sponsored access. In addition, the SEC has proposed rules dealing with flash orders, ATS thresholds, and other market-related rules (some of which have been finalized).

 

   

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 will affect nearly all financial institutions that operate in the U.S. As a result, financial institutions must now begin to deal with the historic shift in U.S. banking, securities, derivatives, executive compensation, consumer protection and corporate governance that will grow out of the general framework established by the Dodd-Frank Act. 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.

 

   

The macro-economic environment and market conditions have had an adverse impact on the profitability of the institutional customer base, resulting in volatile earnings and decreased volumes.

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 Equities and FICC segments.

 

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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 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 market-making activities and are included within Net trading revenue. These revenues are primarily affected by changes in the amount and mix of U.S. 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 principal trading models that interact with street flow, 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, and cash held in trading accounts at third party clearing brokers and from collateralized financing arrangements, such as stock borrowing. 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. 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 (loss) and other, net primarily represents returns on our strategic and deferred compensation investments. 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.

Expenses

Employee compensation and benefits expense, our largest expense, primarily consists of salaries and wages paid to all employees and profitability-based compensation, which includes compensation paid to sales personnel, incentive compensation paid to all other employees based on our profitability and changes in value of certain deferred compensation investments. 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 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 equity trade and share volume, changes in 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.

 

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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, 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 Notes, our former credit facility and for collateralized financing arrangements such as stock lending and sale of financial instruments under our agreements to repurchase.

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

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

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

Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

Continuing Operations

Revenues

Equities

 

     For the three months
ended March 31,
             
           2011                     2010                 Change     % of Change  

Commissions and fees (millions)

   $ 118.2      $ 94.8      $ 23.5        24.8

Net trading revenue (millions)

     149.2        124.5        24.7        19.8

Interest, net (millions)

     (1.6     0.2        (1.7     N/M   

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

     0.2        (0.1     0.2        N/M   
                          

Total Revenues from Equities (millions)

   $ 266.0      $ 219.4      $ 46.7        21.3
                          

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

     28.9        26.6        2.3        8.5

Average daily U.S. equity trades (thousands)

     3,900.4        3,696.3        204.1        5.5

Nasdaq and listed equity shares traded (billions)

     63.9        71.7        (7.8     -10.8

OTC Bulletin Board and Pink Sheet shares traded (billions)

     323.9        553.3        (229.4     -41.5

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

     1.23        1.11        0.13        11.3

Average daily Knight Direct equity shares (millions)

     165.3        111.2        54.1        48.6

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

N/M – Not meaningful

 

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Total revenues from the Equities segment, which primarily comprises Commissions and fees and Net trading revenue from our domestic businesses, increased 21.3% to $266.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, from $219.4 million for the comparable period in 2010. Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2011, were positively impacted by improved performance from our global market-making activities, increased equity trade and dollar volumes, higher average revenue capture per U.S. equity dollar value traded, growth of recently launched products, such as listed derivatives and options market-making, as well as our international expansion efforts.

Average revenue capture per U.S. equity dollar value traded was 1.23 basis points (“bps”) for the first quarter of 2011, up 11.3% from the first quarter of 2010. The primary drivers for the increase in revenue capture were improved trading strategy performance and the change in profile and mix of our order flow, offset by heightened competition, ongoing investments in price improvement and execution quality. 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 $220.9 million and $179.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Domestic Equity Trading Revenues do not include revenues from our international and Knight Direct businesses.

FICC

 

     For the three months
ended March 31,
             
     2011      2010     Change     % of Change  

Commissions and fees (millions)

   $         64.1       $         67.4      $ (3.4     -5.0

Net trading revenue (millions)

     2.6         0.4        2.1        N/M   

Interest, net (millions)

     4.0         (0.2     4.3        N/M   

Investment income and other, net (millions)

     0.5         0.2        0.4        N/M   
                           

Total Revenues from FICC (millions)

   $ 71.2       $ 67.8      $         3.4        5.0
                           

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

     55.1         32.6        22.5        69.0

 

Totals may not add due to rounding.

N/M – Not meaningful

Total revenues from the FICC segment, which primarily comprises Commissions and fees, increased 5.0% to $71.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, from $67.8 million for the comparable period in 2010. Revenues were positively impacted by higher volumes from our Hotspot FX and Knight BondPoint businesses and revenues from our Urban business, which we acquired in July 2010 offset, in part, by a $2.9 million intercompany fee relating to the placement of the Notes offering during the first quarter of 2010. Excluding the intercompany fee received from our Notes offering, total revenues increased 9.8% from $64.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Corporate

 

     For the three months ended March 31,                
                 2011                               2010                           Change                  % of Change      

Total Revenues from
Corporate (millions)

   $         2.5       $         (2.9)       $         5.5         N/M   

 

N/M – Not meaningful

 

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Total revenues from the Corporate segment, which primarily represent gains or losses on strategic investments and deferred compensation investments related to certain employees and directors, increased to net positive revenues of $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, from net negative revenues of $2.9 million for the comparable period in 2010. During the first quarter of 2010, Corporate paid a $2.9 million fee to the FICC segment with respect to the offering of our Notes, which was eliminated in consolidation. Our strategic investments had a net gain of $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 as compared to a net loss of $1.4 million for the comparable period in 2010.

Expenses

Employee compensation and benefits expense increased to $149.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $138.4 million for the comparable period in 2010. As a percentage of total revenue, Employee compensation and benefits decreased to 43.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2011, from 48.7% for the comparable period in 2010. The increase on a dollar basis was primarily due to improved results from our Equities segment and increased headcount.

The number of full time employees increased to 1,387 at March 31, 2011, from 1,150 at March 31, 2010, primarily due to the acquisitions of Urban, the Designated Market Maker (“DMM”) and ETF Lead Market Maker (“LMM”) business units of Kellogg and Astor: staff additions relating to our move to self clearing: the growth and expansion in our international business and expanded domestic product offerings. Employee compensation and benefits expense fluctuates, for the most part, based on changes in our business mix, revenues, profitability and the number of employees.

Execution and clearance fees increased 25.9% to $53.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, from $42.5 million for the comparable period in 2010, primarily due to greater trade volumes and higher regulatory fees. As a percentage of total revenue, Execution and clearance fees increased to 15.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2011, from 14.9% 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 $20.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, from $11.0 million for the comparable period in 2010. As a percentage of total revenue, Payments for order flow increased to 6.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2011, from 3.9% 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.

Lease loss accrual of $0.9 million for three months ended March 31, 2011 relates to excess real estate capacity in New York City.

All other expenses increased by 41.3%, or $19.2 million, to $65.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $46.4 million for the comparable period in 2010. Interest expense increased primarily due to our Notes offering and our increased stock lending activity. 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, 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, which have fluctuated based on the activity relating to our various legal proceedings, decreased due to lower legal and consulting expenses. Other expenses increased due to higher recruiting fees and other administrative expenses.

 

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Our effective tax rate from continuing operations of 38.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 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 from discontinued operations, net of tax, was $0.1 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. See Footnote 12 “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 March 31, 2011, we had $5.78 billion in assets, 79.0% 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. Securities borrowed represents the value of cash or other collateral deposited with stock lenders to facilitate the trade settlement process.

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

Total assets increased $1.11 billion, or 23.8%, from $4.67 billion at December 31, 2010 to $5.78 billion at March 31, 2011. The majority of the increase in assets relates to the growth of our trading book and stock borrow and loan activity relating to self-clearing. Financial instruments owned increased by $623.8 million, or 38.9%, from $1.60 billion at December 31, 2010, to $2.23 billion at March 31, 2011, due to increases in the size of the securities inventory utilized in our equity and option market-making resulting from expansion of our strategies, increased loan inventory and, to a lesser extent, listed derivative activity. Our securities inventory fluctuates based on trading volumes, market conditions, trading strategies utilized and our pre-determined risk limits. Securities borrowed increased by $204.9 million, from $1.36 billion at December 31, 2010 to $1.57 billion at March 31, 2011. The growth of our securities borrowed is a by-product of our self-clearing initiative. Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations increased by $300.1 million, from $476.2 million at December 31, 2010 to $776.2 million at March 31, 2011, due to increased deposits at clearing organizations as well as timing relating to trade date versus settlement date differences.

 

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Total liabilities increased $1.08 billion, or 32.5%, from $3.31 billion at December 31, 2010 to $4.39 billion at March 31, 2011. The majority of the increase in liabilities relates to increases in Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, Collateralized financings and Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations. Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased increased by $356.5 million, or 27.2%, from $1.31 billion at December 31, 2010, to $1.67 billion at March 31, 2011, primarily due to an increase in the size of the securities inventory utilized in our equity and option market-making 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. Collateralized financings increased by $233.8 million, or 22.3%, from $1.05 billion at December 31, 2010, to $1.28 billion at March 31, 2011 primarily due to increased lending activity to facilitate transaction settlements relating to self-clearing. Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations increased by $425.4 million, from $337.4 million at December 31, 2010 to $762.8 million at March 31, 2011, due to timing relating to trade date versus settlement date differences.

Stockholders’ equity, excluding Noncontrolling interests, increased by $36.6 million, from $1.36 billion at December 31, 2010 to $1.40 billion at March 31, 2011. The increase in stockholders’ equity from December 31, 2010 was primarily a result of earnings and stock-based compensation activity during the three months ended March 31, 2011.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have financed our business primarily through cash generated by operations, the proceeds from our stock issuances and our Notes offering of $375.0 million. We may seek to enter into new secured term loan facilities and/or revolving credit facilities for general corporate purposes. At March 31, 2011, we had net current assets, which consist of net assets readily convertible into cash less current liabilities, of $497.2 million.

We have acquired several businesses over the last few years. In July 2008, we completed the acquisition of Knight Fixed Income’s 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 Fixed Income during the three-year period following the closing of the transaction. Knight Fixed Income 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. 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 based on future performance valued at $4.0 million. 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 $50.1 million and $46.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 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 $15.3 million and $14.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 respectively. Depreciation expense was $3.8 million and $2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Amortization expense, which related to software, software development costs, intangible assets and leasehold improvements,

 

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was $9.4 million and $6.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, non-cash writedowns from lease loss accruals was $0.9 million, which relates to our excess real estate capacity in New York City. There were no non-cash writedowns for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Capital expenditures related to our continuing operations were $12.3 million and $9.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Purchases of investments were $14.7 million and $1.7 million and distributions from investments were $2.1 million and $34.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Payments relating to acquisitions of businesses, trading rights and other items, net of cash received, were $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. There were no payments relating to acquisitions of businesses, trading rights and other items for the three months ended March 31, 2011.

In March 2010, we issued 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 March 31, 2011 and 2010, we recognized interest expense related to the Notes of $6.4 million and $1.1 million, respectively. See Footnote 8 “Long-Term Debt,” included in Part I, Item 1 “Financial Statements” of this Form 10-Q for further information.

We have an authorized stock repurchase program of $1 billion. We did not repurchase any shares under the stock repurchase program during the first quarter of 2011. Through March 31, 2011, we had repurchased 71.7 million shares for $817.4 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 100.2 million shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding as of March 31, 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 March 31, 2011, all of our broker-dealers were in compliance with the applicable regulatory net capital rules.

 

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The following table sets forth the net capital levels and requirements for the following significant regulated broker-dealer subsidiaries at March 31, 2011, as reported in their respective regulatory filings (in millions):

 

Entity

   Net Capital      Net Capital
Requirement
     Excess Net
Capital
 

Knight Execution & Clearing Services LLC

   $         122.9       $         1.4       $         121.5   

Knight Capital Americas, L.P.

     103.8         1.0         102.8   

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 March 31, 2011 (in millions):

 

Entity

   Financial
Resources
     Resource
Requirement
     Excess Financial
Resources
 

Knight Capital Europe Limited

   $         126.4       $         44.3       $         82.1   

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of March 31, 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.

 

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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.

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 March 31, 2011, our loans 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 March 31, 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

 

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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 $338.8 million at March 31, 2011 primarily relates to our Equities and FICC segments. Goodwill primarily represents purchases of the businesses now operating as Knight Direct in our Equities segment and Hotspot FX, Knight BondPoint, Knight Fixed Income and Urban in our FICC segment. We test the goodwill in each of our operating segments for impairment at least annually by comparing the estimated fair value of each segment 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 the overall market value of the Company, compared to the Company’s book value. We performed our annual test for impairment of goodwill in the second quarter of 2010 and determined that goodwill was not impaired at that time. We believe there was no impairment of our goodwill at March 31, 2011.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets with definite lives are amortized over their respective lives. Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization, of $105.7 million at March 31, 2011 are primarily attributable to our Equities and FICC 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 four to 24 years. We performed our annual test for impairment of intangible assets with definitive lives in the second quarter of 2010. We test amortizable intangibles for recoverability whenever events indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. During the second quarter of 2010, we discontinued the use of the Libertas trade name. No other events occurred in 2010 or for the three months ended March 31, 2011 that would indicate that the carrying amounts of our amortizable intangible assets may not be recoverable, and we do not believe that our intangible assets were impaired at March 31, 2011.

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 not meet the GAAP criteria of a sale, we continue to recognize the HECMs in Financial instruments owned at fair value, and we recognize a corresponding liability to the GNMA trust in Accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. We have elected to record such liability at fair value.

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 used the equity method of accounting where we are considered to exert significant influence on the

 

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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 have several deferred compensation plans related to certain employees and directors. These plans provide a return to the participants based upon the performance of various investments. In order to hedge our liability under these plans, 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 (loss) and other, net, with a corresponding charge or credit to Employee compensation and benefits on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Market-Making, Trading and Sales 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. In determining the accrual, our policy is to accrue future costs related to excess capacity using a discounted cash flow analysis.

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

 

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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.

 

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 and changes in liquidity, over which we have virtually no control.

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 or present a material 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 March 31, 2011 and 2010 was $1.87 billion and $980.8 million, respectively, in long positions and $1.63 billion and $897.1 million, respectively, in short positions. The potential change in fair value, using a hypothetical 10% decline in prices, is estimated to be a loss of $23.8 million and $8.4 million as of March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, due to the offset of gains in short positions against losses in long positions.

 

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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. 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.

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 seek to reduce credit risk by obtaining collateral from counterparties. In the case of a failure to receive securities we may purchase the underlying securities in the market and seek reimbursement for losses, if applicable, from the defaulting counterparty.

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.

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).

 

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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. Certain of these legal actions include claims for substantial compensatory and/or punitive damages or claims for indeterminate amounts of damages. In view of the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of such matters, particularly in cases in which claimants seek substantial or indeterminate damages, we cannot predict the eventual loss, or range of loss, or the range of potential recovery, related to such matters. We are contesting liability and/or the amount of damages in each pending matter. Although there can be no assurances, at this time we believe, 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.

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, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”), National Futures Association (“NFA”), Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“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 first 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
 

January 1, 2011 – January 31,
2011

       

Common stock repurchases

    -            -        $       182,635   

Employee transactions(2)

    847          -       
             

Total

    847      $ 13.94        -       
             

February 1, 2011 – February 28,
2011

       

Common stock repurchases

    -            -        $ 182,635   

Employee transactions(2)

    28          -       
             

Total

    28      $ 14.50        -       
             

March 1, 2011 – March 31, 2011

       

Common stock repurchases

    -            -        $ 182,635   

Employee transactions(2)

    8          -       
             

Total

    8      $ 13.03        -       
             

Total

       

Common stock repurchases

    -            -       

Employee transactions(2)

    882          -       
             

Total

            882      $ 13.95        -       
             

 

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.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

 

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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 March 31, 2011, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language); (i) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 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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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 10th day of May, 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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