KCG Holdings, Inc. Class A (NYSE:KCG) today reported consolidated earnings of $249.3 million, or $2.19 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2015.
Included in these results is a pre-tax gain of $373.8 million from the sale of KCG Hotspot net of professional fees and compensation costs related to the sale.
Excluding these items, on a non-GAAP basis, first quarter 2015 pre-tax income from continuing operations was $32.4 million.
First Quarter Highlights
- Market making grew the percentage of consolidated U.S. equity share and dollar volume on both a quarter over quarter and year over year basis
- KCG BondPoint grew trade volumes across Corporates, Municipals and CDs on both a quarter over quarter and year over year basis
- Completed the sale of KCG Hotspot to BATS Global Markets, Inc.
- Raised $500 million in 6.875% Senior Secured Notes due in 2020, repaid $117 million in Convertible Notes upon maturity in March 2015, and, subsequent to the quarter, redeemed $305 million in 8.250% Senior Secured Notes due in 2018
- Subsequent to the quarter, announced plans to launch a modified Dutch auction tender offer for up to $330 million of its common stock as part of an expanded share repurchase program
“During the first quarter, we accomplished a great deal. On the cost front, we’ve relentlessly focused on operating expenses. On the client front, we continue to develop strategic relationships. In addition, we closed the sale of KCG Hotspot to BATS and initiated a process to rationalize our long-term debt. We’ve done all this while continuing to build out and optimize our trading businesses to position them for future revenue growth,” said CEO Daniel Coleman.
He continued “Notwithstanding all of this, we believe we can do more. We can support our firm’s ability to grow with regard to improving returns on equity and optimizing our capital structure. To that end, we announced a planned $330 million tender offer at a range of$13.50 to $14.00 per share. ”
“The offer is a premium to current and historical prices our shares have traded at since the merger. We believe this is an appropriate recognition of our stockholders’ patience as we have worked through the integration and we believe this is the right use of capital as we invest in our future as a new breed of independent securities firm” concluded Mr. Coleman.
Market Making
The Market Making segment encompasses direct-to-client and non-client, exchange-based market making across multiple asset classes and is an active participant in all major cash, options and futures markets in the U.S., Europe and Asia. During the first quarter of 2015, the segment generated total revenues of $224.5 million and pre-tax income of $39.3 million.
During the first quarter of 2015, consolidated U.S equity share and dollar volume posted modest declines quarter over quarter despite the continued rise of leading market indexes. Retail investors remained engaged as evidenced by the sustained average daily SEC Rule 605 share volume and net flows into stocks during the quarter. Market volumes for fixed income, currencies and commodities during the quarter were mixed, punctuated by heightened trading activity from macro events.
Mr. Coleman commented, “KCG’s market making results reflect lower consolidated U.S. equity market volumes compared to the previous quarter and similar levels of realized volatility. Anecdotally, we saw improvement in market making in European equities to European clients, offset by a more difficult quarter in U.S. options. During the quarter, KCG continued to make progress building out direct-to-client market making in FX across regions.”
In the fourth quarter of 2014, the segment generated total revenues of $238.7 million and pre-tax income of $42.7 million. In the first quarter of 2014, the segment generated total revenues of $277.3 million and pre-tax income of $76.0 million.
Global Execution Services
The Global Execution Services segment comprises agency execution services and trading venues. During the first quarter of 2015, the segment generated total revenues of $464.3 million and pre-tax income of $381.1 million. Excluding the gain on the sale of KCG Hotspot and related professional and compensation expenses, the segment generated total revenues of $79.2 million and pre-tax income of $7.2 million.
During the first quarter of 2015, KCG’s algorithmic trading continued to add leading institutions as clients. The ETF trading team posted a strong quarter by developing existing clients and converting additional prospects. KCG BondPoint generated record average daily par value traded with growth in volumes of Corporates, Municipals and CDs.
Mr. Coleman commented, “We believe algorithmic trading is a real, emerging strength at KCG. The product development process blends the firm’s deep intellectual capital with our advanced technologies. Client orders benefit from access to KCG’s naturally occurring liquidity from retail and institutional clients. We continue to focus on growing our business with buyside clients.
“During the first quarter, 10 asset management clients began using KCG algorithms, and we onboarded an additional 16 new asset management clients. The decline in volume quarter over quarter reflects a decrease in low margin order routing flow, which had a minimal impact on revenues” concluded Mr. Coleman.
As previously announced, during the quarter, KCG completed the sale of KCG Hotspot to BATS Global Markets. First quarter 2015 financial results for the Global Execution Services segment includes contributions from KCG Hotspot encompassing 50 trading days until the completion of the sale on March 13, 2015.
In the fourth quarter of 2014, the segment generated total revenues of $93.4 million and pre-tax income of $10.0 million. Excluding a gain of$2.1 million from the sale of KCG’s futures commodity merchant (FCM), the segment generated total revenues of $91.3 million and pre-tax income for the quarter of $7.9 million. In the first quarter of 2014, the segment generated total revenues of $87.2 million and pre-tax income of$2.0 million.
Corporate and Other
The Corporate and Other segment includes strategic investments and corporate overhead expenses. During the first quarter of 2015, the segment generated total revenues of $7.3 million and pre-tax loss of $14.3 million.
In the fourth quarter of 2014, the segment generated total revenues of $14.0 million and a pre-tax loss of $26.1 million. Excluding net lease loss accruals of $6.1 million, the pre-tax loss for the quarter was $20.0 million. In the first quarter of 2014, the segment generated total revenues of $19.1 million and a pre-tax loss of $18.7 million.
Excluding revenue of $9.6 million from the merger of BATS and Direct Edge and a write down of$7.6 million in capitalized debt costs and net lease loss benefit of $0.1 million, the pre-tax loss for the quarter was $20.8 million.
Financial Condition
As of March 31, 2015, KCG had $990.5 million in cash and cash equivalents. Total outstanding debt was $799.8 million (See Debt below). The Company had $1.78 billion in stockholders’ equity, equivalent to a book value of $15.10 per share and tangible book value of $13.86 per share based on total shares outstanding of 118.1 million, including restricted stock units.
KCG’s headcount at March 31, 2015 was 1,038 full-time employees as compared to 1,093 full-time employees at December 31, 2014, which included 40 full-time employees of KCG Hotspot.
During the first quarter of 2015, KCG did not repurchase any shares of KCG Class A Common Stock.
Debt
On March 13, 2015, KCG provided 30 days’ notice that it would call its 8.250% $305.0 million Senior Secured Notes due 2018 (“8.250% Notes”), effective April 13, 2015. KCG funded $330.2 million, an amount sufficient to redeem the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the 8.250% Notes plus accrued interest, a make whole premium and other costs into an escrow account.
As the 8.250% Notes were redeemed in April, the $305.0 million remained on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition as of March 31, 2015. The charges for the make-whole premium of $16.5 million and the acceleration of capitalized debt costs of $8.8 million will be recorded in the second quarter of 2015. In addition, upon maturity on March 16, 2015, KCG repaid all of its outstanding $117.3 million aggregate principal amount of 3.50% Cash Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes.
Modified Dutch Auction Tender Offer
Subsequent to the first quarter of 2015, on April 2, 2015, KCG’s board of directors authorized an expanded share repurchase program of up to $400 million of KCG common stock and warrants (including the $55 million of remaining capacity under the previously authorized repurchase program).
As part of this authority, KCG expects to commence, on May 4, 2015, a “modified Dutch auction” tender offer that will remain open for at least 20 business days. Under the proposed terms of the tender offer, stockholders will have the opportunity to sell stock to KCG at a specified price per share not less than $13.50 and not greater than $14.00.
Upon expiration of the tender offer, and based on the number of shares tendered and the prices specified by the tendering stockholders, KCG will determine the lowest price within the range that will allow it to repurchase up to $330 million of KCG’s Class A common stock (or all Shares properly tendered and not properly withdrawn if the tender offer is not fully subscribed).
All shares purchased by KCG in the tender offer will be purchased at the same price. If the aggregate purchase price for shares tendered at or below the specified purchase price exceeds $330 million, allocations will be made on a pro rata basis from stockholders tendering at or below the purchase price, except as otherwise specified in the Offer to Purchase.
The tender offer range represents a premium of 5 percent to 9 percent above the closing price of KCG’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange of $12.84 on April 30, 2015. Assuming the offer is fully subscribed, KCG will repurchase a minimum of 23.6 million shares, or 22 percent of its total shares outstanding excluding restricted stock units (RSUs) as of April 29, 2015. Assuming the tender offer is fully subscribed, approximately $70 million in authority will remain in the share repurchase program.
Additional Information Regarding the Tender Offer
The tender offer described in this press release has not yet commenced. This press release is for informational purposes only, is not a recommendation to buy or sell KCG common stock, and does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation to sell shares of KCG common stock.
The tender offer will be made only pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, Letter of Transmittal and related materials that KCG expects to file Monday, May 4th with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Stockholders should read carefully the Offer to Purchase, Letter of Transmittal and related materials because they contain important information, including the various terms of, and conditions to, the tender offer. Once the tender offer is commenced, stockholders will be able to obtain a free copy of the tender offer statement on Schedule TO, the Offer to Purchase, Letter of Transmittal and other documents that KCG will be filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission at the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov or the investor information section of KCG’s website at www.kcg.com.
For the official announcement and financial information from KCG, click here.