Knight Capital Group, Inc. (NYSE: KCG, "Knight") and GETCO Holding Company, LLC ("GETCO") today announced they have entered into an agreement for a strategic business combination whereby GETCO and Knight will be combined under a new publicly traded holding company.
The combined firm will create a true industry leader as an independent market-maker and agency broker across geographies, market structures and asset classes. The resulting company will benefit from Knight's deep customer franchise and GETCO's leading edge technology platform, resulting in a company extremely well positioned to serve customers across multiple products globally.
Under the agreement, existing Knight shareholders (other than GETCO) will have the right to elect to receive $3.75 per share in cash or one share of common stock of the new holding company. The cash consideration will be subject to pro-ration if the holders elect to receive more than $720 millionin cash in the aggregate. Jefferies & Company, Inc. and its affiliates, the largest shareholders in Knight, have agreed to limit their cash election to 50 percent of their Knight shares to the extent it is necessary to ensure that other Knight shareholders can receive their desired cash level up to the 720 million dollar aggregate amount. GETCO members will receive 233 million shares of the new holding company and the 57 million shares of Knight currently owned by GETCO will be retired. GETCO members will receive warrants in the new holding company as follows: 25 million warrants with a$4.00 exercise price and a four-year term; 25 million warrants at a $4.50exercise price and a five-year term; and 25 million warrants at a $5.00exercise price and a six-year term. Based on the tangible net worth of GETCO and Knight as of September 30, 2012, pro forma tangible book value of the combined company would be approximately $3.75 per share.
"After a thorough evaluation, the Knight Board of Directors unanimously concluded that a merger between Knight and GETCO provides the best possible value creation opportunity for Knight's shareholders," said Thomas M. Joyce, Knight's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The transaction provides near-term certainty in the form of cash, while also allowing shareholders to benefit from participation in the future success of the firm. Broker-dealers and institutions will continue to experience the same industry-leading execution quality and client service they've come to expect from Knight, with the additional liquidity-enhancing capabilities of GETCO's renowned technology."
"The combination of Knight and GETCO will create a powerful, dynamic firm with an unmatched ability to deliver results for clients," said Daniel Coleman, GETCO's Chief Executive Officer. "Market participants will benefit from industry-leading services, and our larger capital base will provide strong support for existing operations, as well as an attractive currency for growth. We are looking forward to bringing the talented employees of both companies together and beginning to realize the full potential of the combined organization."
Mr. Coleman will become the Chief Executive Officer of the combined firm, while Mr. Joyce will serve as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors.Steven Bisgay, Knight's Chief Financial Officer, will continue in that role for the combined company. The Board of Directors of the combined company will have nine members including Mr. Coleman and four other GETCO designees, and Mr. Joyce and three other Knight designees. The transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2013, subject to shareholder and customary regulatory approvals.
"General Atlantic is excited to support the merger of GETCO and Knight. We look forward to working with the combined company's board and management to build the world's leading electronic market making and institutional brokerage firm," said Bill Ford, Chief Executive Officer ofGeneral Atlantic, a growth investment firm that owns 25 percent of GETCO and has extensive experience as an active investor in market structure firms globally.
The $1.4 billion purchase price represents a 51 percent premium to Knight's closing share price on November 23, 2012. The amount also equates to a 15 percent premium to Knight's tangible book value, as of September 30, 2012.
GETCO has obtained commitments from affiliates of Jefferies for the financing necessary to complete the transaction, including refinancing all existing Knight and GETCO debt. General Atlantic will make an additional$55 million equity investment, which will bring their total investment in the new company to over $400 million.
Sandler O'Neill & Partners, L.P. is serving as the financial advisor andWachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is providing legal advice to Knight. Jefferies & Company, Inc. is serving as the financial advisor and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is providing legal advice to GETCO. Bank of America Merrill Lynchprovided a fairness opinion to the board of directors of GETCO.