Bats Global Markets, Inc. (Bats: BATS), a global exchange operator and provider of market data and other financial markets services, has reported net income of $28.5 million and adjusted earnings of $35.3 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016.
Net income increased 13% and adjusted earnings rose 17% compared to the same period in 2015 driven by continued growth in non-transaction revenue.
Diluted earnings per share increased to $0.29 during the third quarter of 2016 from $0.27 for the same period in 2015, along with adjusted earnings, which excludes tax-adjusted amortization and other costs, rose to $0.36 per diluted share from $0.32.
CEO Chris Concannon commented:
The third quarter was strong for Bats and our shareholders, highlighted by the announcement with CBOE Holdings. We expect this transaction, once complete, to move the combined company into new asset classes, products and geographies, all powered by Bats market-leading proprietary technology.
Operationally, it was business as usual during the quarter as we continued to grow organic net revenue and adjusted earnings, driven by continued growth in non-transaction revenues and increased U.S. Options market share.
Corporate Highlights
- Entered into a definitive agreement under which CBOE Holdings has agreed to acquire Bats in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $32.50 per Bats share, or a total of approximately $3.2 billion, consisting of 31% cash and 69% CBOE Holdings stock, based on CBOE Holdings’ closing stock price of $70.30 per share on September 23, 2016.
- Reported best-since-acquisition market share for Global FX (12.4%) and also remained strong in U.S. Equities (20.8%), U.S. Options (11.0%), and European Equities (23.0%). Global FX market share rose to 12.4% from 11.1% one year ago, while U.S. Options market share rose to 11.0% from 10.9% one year ago. U.S. Equities was 20.8% vs 21.7% and European Equities market share was 23.0% vs 24.4%. Bats also remained the largest stock exchange operator and trade reporting facility in Europe.
- Welcomed seven new issuers to the Bats ETF Marketplace continuing the growth of its exchange-traded fund (ETF) trading and listings business. Bats remained the #1 market for the trading of ETFs with combined market share of 24.2% during the quarter, and has held the top position since February 2014. During the quarter, Bats added 11 ETF listings versus zero ETF listings during the third quarter of 2015, increasing its total number of listings on its U.S. market to 103. In the nine months ended September 30, 2016, Bats added 47 ETF listings.
- Announced the planned launch of Bats LIS, a new block trading service for the European equity market. Bats LIS, which is subject to regulatory approval, is a large in scale indication of interest (IOI) negotiation and execution platform that will allow market participants to negotiate large blocks in European equities. Bats will license technology from BIDS Trading LP, the largest block trading ATS by volume in the U.S., to launch the service. Bats LIS will leverage BIDS’ highly-regarded software, BIDS Trader, and buy-side channel distribution, combined with Bats’ infrastructure required for trade execution, clearing and settlement.
- Completed the acquisition of the Javelin Swap Execution Facility on November 1, 2016. The deal is intended to accelerate Bats’ plans to offer trading of non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) for the foreign exchange market, diversifying Bats Hotspot’s product offering. Bats Hotspot also plans to offer global trading of forwards contracts by the end of 2016.
- The Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share on the company’s outstanding common stock, which is payable on December 13, 2016, to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 30, 2016.