Knight Trading Group 2001 2Q Conference Call

Pasternak On The Rumors Of His Removal
I want to quickly address the recent rumors and get them out of the way. Well I'm here this morning to tell you the facts, I am the Chairman and CEO. Any change in executive levels in Knight will be done under my guiding hand. I am firmly committed to Knight, our mission and our shareholders. Firmly believe in the value we offer. I'm confidant that our board of directors fully supports me.

Analysis - Pasternak still CEO and that keeps the company stable and well positioned. But day to day operations are now under Peter Hajas, who has very successfully led the options business (Knight's Sir Galahad?)

3Q Guidance
Knight will do what it takes to keep profitability during 3Q. Pasternak refused to answer the question whether NITE will make current First Call consensus for 3Q, which is currently $0.09. He said that analysts have a market recovery priced into 3Q numbers, which very well may not happen. Pasternak stated that it was the analyst's job to make earnings projections, not his. He repeated that Knight will strive to be profitable during the seasonally slow third quarter.

Analysis - Therefore a quarter over quarter EPS decrease of up to 9 cents is probable under current market conditions.

Europe
Very committed to Europe. Need to adjust the model, right size it to market realities. When asked whether Knight is still standing by it's guidance that the European business will break even by year end, Pasternak responded the company will be re-evaluating the business model and that additional guidance will be provided intra-quarter on profitability. Expect 6 to 8 cents EPS spent on Europe during 3Q.

Analysis - European business will probably not be profitable by year end under current market conditions. While Knight remains committed to Europe, there may be significant changes in the business plan to save costs.

Fees
Fees would be similar to ECN fees and Knight would provide added value. 70% of all orders go unfilled in ECNs. Knight would increase the probability of filling orders by at least a factor of two. Currently Knight makes 1/3 of cent profit, if it charged 1/3 of a cent then Knight's revenue could potentially double on these trades.

Payment For Order Flow
Will now decrease between 25% to 40% for the equities business. Equities rebates are 65% of Knight's rebate business. Don't see rates going to zero this quarter. These rates will be forced down to a rational level. Not enough experience yet to know what the right rates and fees should be. Probability is that they will go down.

Why isn't Knight buying back shares of its stock? Instead of just talk, let's see some action to enhance shareholder value! With the stock price below 10, the board needs to authorize a buy back.

Sean Chin of Merrill Lynch should be ashamed of himself. Yesterday (July 17, 2001) Merrill Lynch downgraded NITE based on the rumor that Ken Pasternak may leave Knight. Downgrade a stock based on a rumor? What sort of irresponsible behavior is that? And even worse, why downgrade on a rumor when the reality would be known within a day? Today we found out that Pasternak is remaining with Knight. So now where is the upgrade back to a Buy? This certainly does not pass the smell test.



Sir Galahad
Alfred Lord Tennyson

My good blade carves the casques of men,
My tough lance thrusteth sure,
My strength is as the strength of ten,
Because my heart is pure.
The shattering trumpet shrilleth high,
The hard brands shiver on the steel,
The splinter'd spear-shafts crack and fly,
The horse and rider reel:
They reel, they roll in clanging lists,
And when the tide of combat stands,
Perfume and flowers fall in showers,
That lightly rain from ladies' hands.

How sweet are looks that ladies bend
On whom their favours fall!
From them I battle till the end,
To save from shame and thrall:
But all my heart is drawn above,
My knees are bow'd in crypt and shrine:
I never felt the kiss of love,
Nor maiden's hand in mine.
More bounteous aspects on me beam,
Me mightier transports move and thrill;
So keep I fair thro' faith and prayer
A virgin heart in work and will.

When down the stormy crescent goes,
A light before me swims,
Between dark stems the forest glows,
I hear a noise of hymns:
Then by some secret shrine I ride;
I hear a voice but none are there;
The stalls are void, the doors are wide,
The tapers burning fair.
Fair gleams the snowy altar-cloth,
The silver vessels sparkle clean,
The shrill bell rings, the censer swings,
And solemn chaunts resound between.

Sometime on lonely mountain-meres
I find a magic bark;
I leap on board: no helmsman steers:
I float till all is dark.
A gentle sound, an awful light!
Three angels bear the holy Grail:
With folded feet, in stoles of white,
On sleeping wings they sail.
Ah, blessed vision! blood of God!
My spirit beats her mortal bars,
As down dark tides the glory slides,
And star-like mingles with the stars.

When on my goodly charger borne
Thro' dreaming towns I go,
The cock crows ere the Christmas morn,
The streets are dumb with snow.
The tempest crackles on the leads,
And, ringing, springs from brand and mail;
But o'er the dark a glory spreads,
And gilds the driving hail.
I leave the plain, I climb the height;
No branchy thicket shelter yields;
But blessed forms in whistling storms
Fly o'er waste fens and windy fields.

A maiden knight--to me is given
Such hope, I know not fear;
I yearn to breathe the airs of heaven
That often meet me here.
I muse on joy that will not cease,
Pure spaces clothed in living beams,
Pure lilies of eternal peace,
Whose odours haunt my dreams;
And, stricken by an angel's hand,
This mortal armour that I wear,
This weight and size, this heart and eyes,
Are touch'd, are turn'd to finest air.

The clouds are broken in the sky,
And thro' the mountain-walls
A rolling organ-harmony
Swells up, and shakes and falls.
Then move the trees, the copses nod,
Wings flutter, voices hover clear:
"O just and faithful knight of God!
Ride on! the prize is near."
So pass I hostel, hall, and grange;
By bridge and ford, by park and pale,
All-arm'd I ride, whate'er betide,
Until I find the holy Grail.

George W. Bush 4 More Years!

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