Leucadia National Corp. (NYSE:LUK), the New York-based financial conglomerate, will provide $300m in financing to FXCM Inc (NYSE:FXCM), the retail FX giant, allowing it to stay afloat and keep operations. The investment is done in the form of a $300 million senior secured term loan with a two-year maturity and an initial coupon of 10%.
The investment will enable FXCM to compensate for the $225 million hit it suffered as a result of the sharp movements in the price of the Swiss Franc on Thursday.
Below you can find the official press release on the deal. Or click here:
Leucadia National Corporation and FXCM Announce $300 Million Financing to Permit FXCM to Continue Normal Operations
Leucadia National Corporation (NYSE: LUK) and FXCM (NYSE: FXCM) today announced that Leucadia would be providing $300 million in cash to FXCM and its subsidiaries (collectively “FXCM”) that will permit FXCM to meet its regulatory-capital requirements and continue normal operations after yesterday’s loss of $225 million due to the unprecedented actions of the Swiss National Bank. Under the terms of the agreements, Leucadia is investing $300 million in cash into FXCM in the form of a $300 million senior secured term loan with a two-year maturity and an initial coupon of 10%. The term loan obligations are guaranteed, on a secured basis, by certain of FXCM’s domestic subsidiaries. In addition, Leucadia will receive, in the event of a sale of FXCM or its subsidiaries, a certain percentage of the sale proceeds and, in the event FXCM makes other distributions on account of its equity, a corresponding payment for its own account. This transaction is expected to close this afternoon.
Drew Niv, Chief Executive Officer of FXCM, stated: “We could not be more grateful to Leucadia and its team for their rapid and effective response and to our regulators, who have been willing to work with us through this challenging process. Leucadia’s support and this financing are by far the best alternative for FXCM, our customers, our shareholders, and all other relevant constituencies. We are pleased to continue to act as the leading online provider of foreign exchange trading and related services to retail and institutional customers worldwide.”
Richard B. Handler, Chief Executive Officer, and Brian P. Friedman, President of Leucadia, stated: “We are pleased to have been able to provide this critical financing to FXCM that is designed to maintain FXCM’s financial strength and allow it to prosper going forward. We believe this is an attractive investment for Leucadia and we look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with FXCM management. We want to thank the entire FXCM team, with whom Leucadia and Jefferies worked over the past approximately 36 hours to achieve this solution for FXCM.”
UBS acted as financial advisor and Weil Gotshal and Manges, LLP as legal advisor to FXCM. Jefferies originated and advised Leucadia in respect of this transaction and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP acted as legal advisors to Jefferies and Leucadia.