Knight Capital Group Announces GAAP Earnings of $0.17 Per Diluted Share for Third Quarter Of 2007

Global Markets generated third quarter pre-tax income of $32.2 million in choppy trading environment compared to pre-tax income of $27.5 million in the third quarter of 2006




JERSEY CITY, N.J., Oct. 17  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Knight Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NITE) today reported GAAP earnings of $16.4 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, and pre-tax income of $27.8 million for the third quarter of 2007. The results include a pre-tax gain of $13.0 million, or approximately $0.08 per diluted share, related to the sale of equity interests in Direct Edge. Excluding the gain from the equity transactions, pre-tax income for the third quarter of 2007 would have been $14.8 million, or $0.09 per diluted share.

For the third quarter of 2006, the company reported GAAP earnings of $31.5 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, and pre-tax income of $52.1 million. The results included a pre-tax gain of $7.2 million, or approximately $0.04 per diluted share, related to the sale of a portion of the company's equity ownership in the International Securities Exchange, Inc. Excluding the gain from the sale, pre-tax income for the third quarter of 2006 would have been $44.9 million, or $0.26 per diluted share.

Revenues for the third quarter of 2007 were $204.9 million, compared to $211.7 million for the third quarter of 2006.

"The third quarter of 2007 produced many noteworthy developments at Knight," said Thomas M. Joyce, Chairman and CEO of Knight Capital Group. "Knight secured a $140 million credit facility, the first in its history, to facilitate different paths of capital management designed to enhance our competitive advantage. Our strategic investment in Direct Edge and ongoing work to build up this asset led to a number of key milestones including record volumes, the installation of a new management team and the sale of equity interests to both Citadel and Goldman Sachs. Despite turmoil in the broader financial markets, Deephaven increased assets under management. Finally, underscoring our confidence in Knight's prospects for long-term growth, we continued to repurchase shares, buying 5.4 million shares for $76.5 million this quarter, with $463 million remaining in the $1 billion buyback program."

                                                Q3 2007           Q3 2006

  Revenues ($)                               204,938,188       211,692,001
  Net income ($)                              16,444,284        31,460,221
  Diluted EPS ($)                                   0.17              0.30
  U.S. equity dollar value traded
   (in $ millions)                               877,490           410,525
  U.S. equity trades executed
   (in thousands)                                 87,980            46,591
  Average daily U.S. equity trades
   (in thousands)                                  1,408               745
  Nasdaq and Listed equity shares
   traded (in millions)                           29,749            18,824
  OTC Bulletin Board and Pink Sheet
   shares traded (in millions)                   185,778           223,830
  Average revenue capture per U.S.
   equity dollar value traded (bps)                  1.3               2.2
  Average month-end balance of assets
   under management (in $ millions)              4,121.7           3,479.5
  Quarterly fund return to investors*              -1.8%              4.9%

  * Quarterly fund return represents the blended quarterly return across
    all assets under management in the Deephaven funds



                                               YTD 2007          YTD 2006

  Revenues ($)                               647,986,861       694,836,772
  Net income ($)                              72,675,414       110,931,850
  Diluted EPS ($)                                   0.71              1.05
  U.S. equity dollar value traded
   (in $ millions)                             2,090,626         1,536,421
  U.S. equity trades executed
   (in thousands)                                227,591           166,832
  Average daily U.S. equity trades
   (in thousands)                                  1,220               890
  Nasdaq and Listed equity shares
   traded (in millions)                           79,329            72,357
  OTC Bulletin Board and Pink Sheet
   shares traded (in millions)                   637,885           902,500
  Average revenue capture per U.S.
   equity dollar value traded (bps)                  1.6               2.2
  Average month-end balance of assets
   under management (in $ millions)              4,054.6           3,165.9
  Year-to-date fund return to
   investors*                                       5.3%             14.6%

  * Year-to-date fund return represents the blended return across all
    assets under management in the Deephaven funds



  Global Markets


During the third quarter of 2007, Global Markets generated total revenues of $192.7 million, compared to $147.3 million in the third quarter of 2006. In the third quarter of 2007, Global Markets reported pre-tax income of $32.2 million, compared to pre-tax income of $27.5 million in the third quarter of 2006.

"In a choppy trading environment, Global Markets delivered average daily U.S. equity volume of 1.4 million trades and average daily dollar value traded of $14.0 billion for the third quarter of 2007, the highest totals for each in Knight's history," Mr. Joyce said. "The increased trading revenue and commission income validate Knight's efforts to enhance our electronic and voice offerings to provide clients with multiple access points across asset classes. This summer, when quant funds were forced to re-engineer their models, institutional clients quickly turned to our sales traders for market insights in making critical adjustments to their portfolios. We also continued to diversify our product mix as order flow from alternative liquidity providers boosted listed volumes while demand for OTC Bulletin Boards faded due to diminished investor confidence. In the end, excluding the financial results of Direct Edge, Global Markets achieved pre-tax profit margins of 21 percent for the third quarter."

As of the close of business on September 28, 2007, Knight completed the sale of equity interests in Direct Edge to Citadel Derivatives Group LLC, an affiliate of Citadel Investment Group, L.L.C., and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. As a result of these transactions, Knight's equity interest in Direct Edge was reduced to less than 50 percent and Direct Edge is no longer a consolidated subsidiary of Knight for financial reporting purposes. Knight's remaining investment balance is included within Strategic investments on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at September 30, 2007. All future results related to Knight's investment in Direct Edge will be included with Knight's other strategic investments within the Corporate segment.

If Direct Edge had not been a consolidated subsidiary of Knight during the third quarter of 2007, Global Markets would have generated total revenues of $164.2 million, pre-tax income of $33.9 million and pre-tax margins of 21 percent.

Asset Management

During the third quarter of 2007, Asset Management, comprising Deephaven Capital Management, generated negative net asset management fees of $1.2 million, which consisted of $12.2 million of negative net incentive fees due to the quarterly fund returns, offset by $11.0 million of asset-based management fees. This compares to positive asset management fees of $50.5 million in the same period a year ago. In the third quarter of 2007, Deephaven reported a pre-tax loss of $8.3 million, compared to pre-tax income of $18.4 million in the third quarter of 2006. Deephaven had approximately $4.2 billion under management at September 30, 2007, up from $3.8 billion at the close of the third quarter a year ago. Deephaven had approximately $4.4 billion under management at October 1, 2007.

"While the blended performance of the Deephaven funds was down for the third quarter, Deephaven had no direct exposure to the subprime market and largely avoided the cascading negative returns witnessed in the broader financial markets," Mr. Joyce said. "Within this unsettled environment, Deephaven was able to grow assets under management due to its historical fund performance and a strong management team. Deephaven's blended return through the third quarter of 5.3 percent exceeds the 5.1 percent return of the benchmark HFRI Equity Market Neutral Index."

As noted in its Form 8-K filing on August 27, 2007, the company, at its sole discretion, made the determination that if a Deephaven fund with a six- month performance period incurs losses in the performance period ending December 31, 2007, Deephaven will return all or a portion of the incentive allocation fees collected from investors in that fund for the six-month performance period ended June 30, 2007. Deephaven recorded gross negative incentive fees of $15.4 million within Accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at September 30, 2007 that may be repaid to investors at the end of the 2007 fiscal year, depending on fund performance in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Corporate

In the third quarter of 2007, the Corporate segment reported pre-tax income of $3.9 million, which included a pre-tax gain of $13.0 million, or approximately $0.08 per diluted share, related to the sale of equity interests in Direct Edge. Pursuant to SEC guidance, of the $13.0 million pre-tax gain, $8.8 million is reported as Non-operating gain from subsidiary stock issuance, and $4.2 million is included in Investment income and other, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

In the third quarter of 2006, the Corporate segment reported pre-tax income of $6.2 million, which included a pre-tax gain of $7.2 million, or approximately $0.04 per diluted share, related to the sale of a portion of the company's equity ownership in the International Securities Exchange, Inc.

The company's corporate investment in the Deephaven funds incurred a pre-tax loss of $1.3 million during the third quarter of 2007, compared to a pre-tax gain of $4.8 million during the third quarter of 2006. As of September 30, 2007, the company had $143.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and a $199.6 million corporate investment in funds managed by Deephaven.

On October 3, 2007, Knight entered into a three-year $140 million credit agreement with TD Banknorth, N.A. and Wachovia Bank, N.A., National Association, as co-syndication agents, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and a consortium of banks and other financial institutions. The credit agreement includes a three-year delayed-draw senior secured term loan facility of $70 million and a three-year senior secured revolving facility of $70 million. The proceeds of the credit facilities may be used to finance share repurchases by Knight and for general corporate purposes.

"Global Markets performed exceptionally well and, moving forward, we remain focused on adding new liquidity sources, augmenting our electronic and voice offerings and cross-selling products and services to our clients," Mr. Joyce said. "Deephaven deftly navigated the market turmoil and continued to deliver on 2007 goals of growing assets under management and developing the European and Asian teams. The recently secured $140 million credit facility will give us added flexibility to continue the share repurchase program as well as the search for strategic acquisitions that allow us to grow the client base and diversify our offerings."

The company had $915.3 million in stockholders' equity as of September 30, 2007, equivalent to a book value of $9.31 per diluted share.

During the third quarter of 2007, the company repurchased 5.4 million shares for approximately $76.5 million under the company's $1.0 billion stock repurchase program. As of September 30, 2007, the company has repurchased 52.6 million shares for $536.8 million. The company has $463 million available to repurchase shares under the revised program. The company cautions that there are no assurances that any further repurchases may actually occur.

Copies of this earnings release and other information on the company can be obtained at the company's website, http://www.knight.com/. The company will conduct its third quarter of 2007 earnings conference call for analysts, investors and the media at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) today, October 17, 2007. To access Knight's earnings conference call, please dial 877.856.1968 for domestic callers or 719.325.4804 for international callers. When prompted, provide the passcode, which is 3714731. The conference call will be webcast live at 9:00 a.m. EDT for all investors and interested parties on Knight's website. In addition, the company will release its monthly volume statistics for September 2007 on its website before the start of trading today at http://www.knight.com/ourliquidity/volumestatistics.asp.

Knight will host its Annual Sell-Side Analyst & Institutional Investor Meeting on Monday, November 5, 2007. The meeting will be webcast live for all interested parties starting at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the webcast, go to http://www.knight.com/.

About Knight

Knight Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NITE) is a leading financial services firm that provides voice and electronic access to the capital markets across multiple asset classes for buy-side, sell-side and corporate clients, and asset management for institutions and private clients. Our Global Markets business offers superior execution quality through natural liquidity, capital facilitation and trading technology, with comprehensive products and services that support the capital formation process. Our Asset Management business, Deephaven Capital Management, is a global multi-strategy alternative investment manager focused on delivering attractive risk-adjusted returns with low correlation to the broader markets. More information about Knight can be found at http://www.knight.com/.

Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. 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. 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 herein; however, readers should carefully review reports or documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties detailed under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Certain Factors Affecting Results of Operations" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007. Other risk factors include (i) those associated with the determination made by the Company, at its sole discretion, that if a Deephaven fund with a six-month performance period incurs losses in the performance period ending December 31, 2007, Deephaven will return all or a portion of the incentive allocation fees collected from investors in that fund for the six-month performance period ended June 30, 2007, and the potential adverse impact on the Company's results of operations and (ii) the risks, limitations, restrictions and uncertainties associated with the Company's entrance into its new credit facility with several lenders and the potential incurrence of debt, and continued availability of borrowings, thereunder.

  KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
  (Unaudited)

                     For the three months ended   For the nine months ended
                            September 30,               September 30,
                          2007         2006          2007          2006

  Revenues
   Commissions and
    fees              $131,472,737  $97,423,900  $342,261,284  $312,542,065
   Net trading
    revenue             57,660,458   42,845,803   173,490,179   191,105,022
   Asset management
    fees, net           (1,237,474)  50,535,992    88,592,637   135,122,744
   Interest, net         4,624,603    5,175,455    13,611,582    11,264,764
   Non-operating gain
    from subsidiary
    stock issuance       8,756,678          -       8,756,678           -
   Investment income
    and other, net       3,661,186   15,710,851    21,274,501    44,802,177
     Total revenues    204,938,188  211,692,001   647,986,861   694,836,772

  Transaction-based expenses
   Execution and
    clearance fees      39,554,992   22,100,471    95,656,024    81,051,228
   Soft dollar and
    commission
    recapture expense   15,255,663   18,115,024    44,260,759    55,245,778
   Payments for order
    flow and ECN
    rebates             18,977,831    9,662,643    44,338,169    31,662,062
     Total transaction-
      based expenses    73,788,486   49,878,138   184,254,952   167,959,068

    Revenues, net of
      transaction-based
      expenses         131,149,702  161,813,863   463,731,909   526,877,704

  Other direct expenses
   Employee
    compensation and
    benefits            71,785,378   82,546,389   252,715,568   246,718,114
   Communications and
    data processing      9,948,024    8,483,788    28,034,538    24,525,721
   Depreciation and
    amortization         5,625,816    5,446,285    16,541,368    15,178,859
   Professional fees     5,281,122    3,737,064    13,961,217    15,212,425
   Business
    development          3,532,398    3,371,117    11,804,533     8,627,797
   Occupancy and
    equipment rentals    3,685,289    3,163,697    10,690,801     9,914,296
   Writedown of
    assets and lease
    loss accrual           136,058          -      (1,354,003)    8,479,703
   Other                 3,402,995    2,924,751     9,010,928    13,269,731
     Total other
      direct expenses  103,397,080  109,673,091   341,404,950   341,926,646


  Income from
   continuing
   operations before
   income taxes         27,752,622   52,140,772   122,326,959   184,951,058
  Income tax expense    11,204,563   20,680,551    48,214,952    74,019,208

  Net income from
   continuing
   operations           16,548,059   31,460,221    74,112,007   110,931,850

  Loss from
   discontinued
   operations, net of
   tax                    (103,775)         -      (1,436,593)          -
  Net income           $16,444,284  $31,460,221   $72,675,414  $110,931,850

  Basic earnings per
   share from
   continuing
   operations                $0.17        $0.31         $0.75         $1.10

  Diluted earnings
   per share from
   continuing
   operations                $0.17        $0.30         $0.73         $1.05

  Basic and diluted
   earnings per share
   from discontinued
   operations               $(0.00)        $-          $(0.01)         $-

  Basic earnings per
   share                     $0.17        $0.31         $0.74         $1.10

  Diluted earnings
   per share                 $0.17        $0.30         $0.71         $1.05

  Shares used in
   computation of
   basic earnings per
   share                95,892,953  102,199,516    98,809,081   101,286,562

  Shares used in
   computation of
   diluted earnings
   per share            98,315,134  106,469,308   102,080,509   105,951,813

  "Continuing operations" include the company's two operating business
  segments, Global Markets and Asset Management.  Continuing operations
  also include a Corporate segment, encompassing corporate investments and
  overhead expenses. Amounts reported as "discontinued operations" include
  the company's former Derivative Markets business segment, which included
  the subsidiary Knight Financial Products LLC, the sale of which was
  completed to Citigroup at the close of business on December 9, 2004.



  KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
  (Unaudited)

                                       September 30, 2007  December 31, 2006
  ASSETS
  Cash and cash equivalents                 $143,175,001      $214,759,915
  Securities owned, held at clearing
   brokers, at market value                  371,372,747       711,774,643
  Receivable from brokers and dealers        352,418,637       372,897,376
  Asset management fees receivable             8,016,213       112,204,064
  Investment in Deephaven sponsored
   funds                                     199,591,386       187,573,291
  Fixed assets and leasehold
   improvements at cost, less
   accumulated depreciation and
   amortization                               60,982,070        66,449,617
  Strategic investments                       67,942,437        49,436,605
  Goodwill                                   132,832,435       133,042,889
  Intangible assets, less accumulated
   amortization                               59,352,361        63,701,006
  Deferred compensation investments           85,146,369        31,585,597
  Other assets                               110,792,067        84,788,713

     Total assets                         $1,591,621,723    $2,028,213,716

  LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  Liabilities
  Securities sold, not yet purchased,
   at market value                          $347,540,898      $693,071,230
  Payable to brokers and dealers              48,246,799        47,852,721
  Accrued compensation expense               188,204,716       227,846,699
  Accrued expenses and other
   liabilities                                92,281,218        96,956,122

     Total liabilities                       676,273,631     1,065,726,772

  Stockholders' equity
  Class A common stock                         1,505,256         1,449,588
  Additional paid-in-capital                 576,592,052       519,790,132
  Retained earnings                          884,534,739       811,859,325
  Treasury stock, at cost                   (547,283,955)     (370,612,101)

     Total stockholders' equity              915,348,092       962,486,944

     Total liabilities and stockholders'
      equity                              $1,591,621,723    $2,028,213,716



  KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
  PRE-TAX EARNINGS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT*
  Amounts in millions
  (Unaudited)
                   For the three months ended    For the nine months ended
                  September 30,  September 30,  September 30,  September 30,
                       2007           2006           2007           2006

  Asset Management
  Revenues            $(0.9)         $50.8          $89.7         $135.8
  Expenses              7.4           32.4           72.8           88.3
  Pre-Tax Earnings     (8.3)          18.4           16.9           47.5

  Global Markets
  Revenues            192.7          147.3          530.5          519.3
  Expenses            160.5          119.8          429.6          394.3
  Pre-Tax Earnings     32.2           27.5          101.0          125.0

  Corporate
  Revenues             13.1           13.6           27.7           39.7
  Expenses              9.3            7.4           23.3           27.2
  Pre-Tax Earnings      3.9            6.2            4.4           12.5

  Consolidated
  Revenues            204.9          211.7          648.0          694.8
  Expenses            177.2          159.6          525.7          509.9
  Pre-Tax Earnings    $27.8          $52.1         $122.3         $185.0

  * Totals may not add due to rounding.


DATASOURCE: Knight Capital Group, Inc.



CONTACT:  Margaret Wyrwas, Senior Managing Director, Corporate

Communications & Investor Relations, [phone], , or

Kara Fitzsimmons, Director, Media Relations, [phone],

, or Jonathan Mairs Vice President, Corporate

Communications, [phone], , all of Knight Capital

Group, Inc.



Web site:  http://www.knight.com/ 

Copyright