(Source: Business Wire)

MF Global Ltd. (NYSE: MF), a leading intermediary offering customized
solutions in global cash, derivatives and related markets, today
reported financial results for the second fiscal quarter of 2010, ended
September 30, 2009.
Second Quarter Highlights
Revenue, net of interest and transaction-based expenses (net revenue),
was $252.0 million for the second quarter versus $372.9 million for
the same period last year.
GAAP net loss applicable to common shareholders was $16.0 million or
$0.13 per basic and diluted share for the second quarter, compared
with net income of $3.5 million or $0.03 per basic and diluted share
for the same period last year.1
Client payables were $12.2 billion at September 30, 2009 compared to
$14.0 billion at September 30, 2008. MF Global's market share in
August 2009 of U.S. segregated assets was 5.8%, a 12-month high.
"We are making significant progress during this challenging market
environment. The company is advancing its global growth strategy, and we
are beginning to realize the multiple benefits of these efforts," said
Bernard W. Dan, chief executive officer of MF Global. "During the second
quarter, we expanded the valuable products and services we offer
institutional clients, gaining traction in some of our new fixed income
product areas while significantly growing our retail business in Asia."
"These strategic initiatives mitigated the impact of broader market
conditions," Dan continued. "By pursuing high-growth, high-margin
opportunities, we continue to expand MF Global's market share,
indicating the industry is increasingly recognizing the advantages we
deliver to clients. I believe we are well positioned to accomplish our
goal of enhancing our company's profitability."
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(1 )GAAP net loss includes a number of unusual items, such as gains on exchange memberships, stock compensation expense related to IPO awards, and severance charges.
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Second Quarter 2010 and Six Month
Results
As of September 30, 2009, the company had $2.2 billion in long-term
capital.2
Client payables were $12.2 billion at September 30, 2009, compared with
$14.0 billion at September 30, 2008.
"During the quarter, we focused on managing the elements of our business
where we can effect change for our key constituencies," said Randy
MacDonald, chief financial officer of MF Global. "Despite weak industry
volumes, narrow spreads and a near-zero interest rate environment, we
delivered positive adjusted earnings to shareholders by controlling our
fixed costs and further diversifying our revenue streams. We will
continue to invest in our growth strategy, positioning our model to
create long-term value for shareholders."
Revenue, net of interest and transaction-based expenses (net revenue),
was $252.0 million in the second quarter, compared with net revenue of
$372.9 million for the same period last year. The decline in net revenue
was primarily due to a decrease in exchange volumes, lower interest
rates and narrower spreads in fixed income, commodities and foreign
exchange products. Net revenue for the six months ended September 30,
2009, was $523.6 million, down from $747.5 million for the same period
in the prior year.
GAAP net loss applicable to common shareholders in the second quarter
was $16.0 million, or a loss of $0.13 per basic and diluted share,
compared with net income of $3.5 million or $0.03 per basic and diluted
share in the corresponding quarter last year. MF Global reported GAAP
net loss applicable to common shareholders of $48.8 million or $0.40 per
basic and diluted share for the six months ended September 30, 2009
compared with net income of $16.6 million, or $0.14 per basic and
diluted share for the same period in the prior year.
Second quarter GAAP results included exchange membership gains of $10.6
million or $0.04 per fully diluted share, stock compensation related to
IPO awards expense of $9.2 million or $0.04 per fully diluted share,
legal settlement costs of $3.4 million or $0.01 per fully diluted share
and severance charges of $1.5 million or $0.01 per fully diluted share.3
Employee compensation and benefits (excluding non-recurring IPO awards)
during the quarter totaled $164.4 million, or 65.2 percent of net
revenue compared with $214.6 million, or 57.5 percent of net revenue in
the same period last year. The increase in compensation and benefits
percentage was primarily due to an increase in headcount related to the
company's focus on growing certain product offerings, as well as the
migration away from consulting costs to salaried employees against lower
net revenue.
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(2) Long-term capital includes all sources of long-term debt and equity (at par amounts).
(3) Fully diluted shares is a non-GAAP financial measure. Please see the definition of non-GAAP financial measures at the end of this release.
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Non-compensation expense in the second quarter of 2010 was $92.1 million
compared with $112.8 million for the same period last year. The decrease
was primarily due to rationalizing the company's cost structure, which
was partially offset by re-engineering costs associated with the effort
to make the cost structure scalable in the long-term.
Second Quarter 2010 and Six Month
Business Metrics
Total second quarter 2010 exchange traded volumes were 395.8 million
contracts versus 501.4 million for the same period last year.
Second quarter 2010 execution-only volumes were 113.0 million contracts
compared with 142.8 million for the same period last year. Cleared
volumes for the second quarter were 282.8 million contracts versus 358.6
million for the same period in the prior year.
Total volumes for the six month period ended September 30, 2009, were
825.5 million contracts, versus 1,044.0 million for the same period in
the prior year. Execution-only volumes were 244.5 million contracts
compared to 298.6 million for the same period in the prior year. Cleared
volumes were 581.0 million contracts versus 745.4 million for the same
period in the prior year.
Principal transactions for the second quarter of 2010 totaled $40.2
million versus $69.2 million in the same period last year. Including net
interest income from related financing transactions, aggregate revenue
from principal transactions totaled $76.1 million in the second quarter
of 2010 compared with $94.1 million in the same period in the prior year.
Net revenue from the investment of client payables and excess cash,
including net interest income and related principal transaction revenue,
was $32.6 million for the second quarter of 2010 compared with $77.7
million in the same period last year. Please see the attached table for
comparison periods.
Business Developments
Change of Domicile to Delaware
As previously disclosed, MF Global has been in the process of evaluating
whether to change its jurisdiction of incorporation from Bermuda to
Delaware, to best support our business and growth strategies, and more
specifically, our focus on diversifying our business within financial
services, as well as to improve our ability to respond to our current
and anticipated competitive and regulatory landscape. Upon the
effectiveness of the domestication and discontinuance, the jurisdiction
of incorporation with respect to our parent company, MF Global Ltd.,
would change from Bermuda to Delaware. Although neither the
domestication nor the discontinuance requires shareholder approval, both
the domestication and discontinuance are subject to the final approval
of our board of directors. On November 4, 2009, MF Global filed a
Registration Statement on Form S-4 with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The registration statement will register the common stock
and preferred stock of the Delaware company into which the outstanding
common shares and preference shares of the Bermuda company will be
converted on a one-for-one basis upon completion of a domestication in
accordance with Section 388 of the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware and the concurrent discontinuance from Bermuda under the
Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda.
Enhanced Global Team
New Head of Foreign Exchange
In August, MF Global appointed Paul G. Farrell as global head of foreign
exchange. Mr. Farrell, who held several management positions at JPMorgan
Chase from 1973 to 2008, is responsible for managing MF Global's foreign
exchange business across all customers, products and geographies around
the world.
New Head of Equities
Peter Forlenza was named global head of equities in September. Mr.
Forlenza is responsible for managing the company's equity and equity
derivatives business across all customers and product lines. Most
recently, Mr. Forlenza created and launched Outpost Investment Group,
LLC, a multi-asset class global macro hedge fund based in New York. He
also served in a number of management positions at Bank of America
Securities, LLC, including global head of equities and global head of
cash equities.
North American Chief Operating Officer
Robert Lyons joined MF Global as chief operating officer for North
America, overseeing the region's operational controls and its
administrative and reporting procedures. From 1987 until 2008, he served
in a number of capacities within the Global Equities Division at Bear
Stearns & Co. Inc, including chief operating officer and chief financial
officer.
Product Offering Expansion
MF Global launched an independent, equities research, sales and
execution team on September 8, 2009 to provide global clients with
insight and analysis on Japan's most liquid stocks. The offering further
advances the company's Asian expansion strategy and leverages the
success of its existing European research model.
Earnings Conference Call Information
MF Global will hold a conference call to discuss the second quarter 2010
results today at 8:00 a.m. EST. The call is open to the public.
Dial-in information
U.S./Canada: +1 866 312 9464
International: +1 706 643 0009
Conference ID: 34458047
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Listeners to the call should dial in approximately 10 minutes prior to
the start of the call.
Webcast information
A live audio webcast of the presentation will also be available on the
investor relations section of the MF Global Web site, at http://www.mfglobalinvestorrelations.com,
and will be available for replay shortly after the event.
About MF Global
MF Global Ltd. (NYSE: MF), is a leading intermediary offering customized
solutions in global cash, derivatives and related markets. It provides
execution and clearing services for exchange-traded and over-the-counter
derivative products as well as for non-derivative foreign exchange
products and securities in the cash market. MF Global is uniquely
diversified across products, trading markets, customers and regions. Its
worldwide client base includes financial institutions, industrial
groups, hedge funds and other asset managers as well as professional
traders and private/retail clients. MF Global operates in 14 countries
on more than 70 exchanges, providing access to some of the largest
financial markets in the world and is the leader by volume on many of
these markets.