Banking, finance, and taxes
Knight Capital: Let the Bidding Begin (KCD, JEF, AMTD, SF, BX)
Published:
Source: thinkstock
Privately held high-frequency market-making firm Getco Holding Co. has offered to merge with Knight in a transaction that values Knight’s stock at $3.50 a share. That’s a far cry from the price before the massive loss of more than $10 a share, and the good news is that it may just be the starting point for a number of competing bids.
Other firms believed to be mulling over an offer include Jefferies Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF), TD Ameritrade Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTD), Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF), and even The Blackstone Group LLC (NYSE: BX), all of which contributed to the $400 million rescue fund for Knight following the August disaster. That rescue package diluted existing investors by more than 70%, which is about where the Getco bid is coming in. There’s no reason to believe that this is the final offer for Knight, not with that much headroom.
Shares of Knight are up more than 14% today, at $3.39 in a 52-week range of $2.24 to $13.59. Knight has also today postponed its analyst and investor conference originally scheduled for December 3rd.
Paul Ausick
ALERT: Take This Retirement Quiz Now (Sponsored)
Take the quiz below to get matched with a financial advisor today.
Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.
Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future
Take the retirement quiz right here.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
