BPSG Broadpoint Gleacher Securities Grp., Inc. (MM)

Broadpoint Gleacher Securities Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BPSG), to be renamed Gleacher & Company, Inc., reported today financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010. The Company will hold a conference call this morning, May 4, 2010, at 10:00 A.M. (EDT) (See Conference Call Information below) to discuss these results.

Highlights for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009

(In thousands)

 

    Three Months Ended Net Revenues (including net interest income)     March 31,

2010

    March 31,

2009

Net revenues   $ 79,303     $ 70,560 (Loss)/income from continuing operations before income taxes (GAAP)     (2,051 )     9,336 Add back: Compensation expense associated with the resignations of the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Chief Financial Officer (1)     13,306       - Adjusted income from continuing operations before income taxes (Non-GAAP)   $ 11,255     $ 9,336  

Note: See the paragraph captioned “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional information.

(1) Compensation expense consists of $12.7 million non-cash expense.

Highlights of the first quarter include:

• Net revenues of $79.3 million for the first quarter of 2010, compared to $70.6 million for the first quarter of 2009. Revenue growth in the first quarter was driven principally by increased investment banking revenues.
• The pre-tax loss of $2.1 million includes $13.3 million in compensation expense associated with the resignations of the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Chief Financial Officer.
• Annualized net revenue per employee of $0.9 million.
• Served as joint book-running manager on two notes offerings totaling $605 million and as sole dealer manager on a $150 million debt exchange transaction.
• Eric Gleacher assumed the additional role of Chief Executive Officer.
• Announced the consolidation of the Company’s branding to Gleacher & Company.

Eric Gleacher, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “The long term growth potential of the Company was demonstrated in the first quarter by our work on the successful Appleton and Reddy Ice note offerings. These transactions show the strength of the full service investment banking model---attractive financing terms and strategic advice for our corporate clients and quality investment opportunities for our institutional investor clients.”

Peter McNierney, President and Chief Operating Officer, said, “We are very pleased to have unified the branding of the firm to Gleacher & Company and consolidated our New York presence to a single office. This closer coordination of our divisions will allow us to better provide a full suite of services to our corporate and institutional clients.”

Overview of Financial Results for the Quarters Ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009

(In thousands except per share amounts)

(Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations)

        Three Months Ended March 31,       2010     2009 Revenues:     Principal transactions $ 46,306 $ 52,041 Commissions 4,165 4,902 Investment banking 15,098 5,190 Investment gains / (losses), net 150 (9 ) Interest 16,161 10,648 Fees and other     910       1,490   Total revenues 82,790 74,262 Interest expense     3,487       3,702   Net revenues     79,303       70,560   Expenses (excluding interest): Compensation and benefits* 68,201 52,407 Clearing, settlement and brokerage 1,375 812 Communications and data processing 3,207 2,287 Occupancy, depreciation and amortization 2,246 1,788 Amortization of intangible assets 1,078 257 Selling 1,195 925 Other     4,052       2,748   Total expenses (excluding interest)     81,354       61,224   (Loss) / income before income taxes and discontinued operations     (2,051 )     9,336   Income tax (benefit) / expense     (1,843 )     4,357   (Loss) / income from continuing operations (208 ) 4,979 (Loss) / income from discontinued operations, net of taxes     (3 )     42   Net (loss) / income   $ (211 )   $ 5,021  

Per share data:

Basic (loss) / earnings per share: Continuing operations $ (0.00 ) $ 0.07 Discontinued operations     -       -   Net (loss) / income per share   $ (0.00 )   $ 0.07   Diluted (loss) / earnings per share: Continuing operations $ (0.00 ) $ 0.06 Discontinued operations     -       -   Net (loss) / income per share   $ (0.00 )   $ 0.06   Weighted average common and common

equivalent shares outstanding:

Basic 119,301 75,526 Diluted     119,301       79,798  

 

*Compensation and benefits detail:

Salary, bonus and benefits $ 46,508 $ 44,964 Earnout associated with BNY transaction 3,124 4,723 Employee stock-based compensation     18,569       2,720   Total   $ 68,201     $ 52,407  

Discussion of operating results for the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of 2009

Net revenues for the first quarter of 2010 were $79.3 million, an increase of $8.7 million, or 12 percent, from $70.6 million in the first quarter of 2009. Pre-tax loss from continuing operations in the first quarter was $2.1 million compared to pre-tax income from continuing operations of $9.3 million in the prior year quarter. The first quarter pre-tax loss includes compensation expense of $13.3 million related to the resignations of the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Chief Financial Officer.

Revenues from principal transactions and commissions were $50.5 million in the first quarter of 2010, a decrease of $6.5 million, or 11 percent, compared to the first quarter of 2009, due to decreased revenues of $8.9 million in corporate bonds and $1.0 million in equities, partially offset by an increase in mortgage and asset backed revenues of $3.5 million. Investment banking revenues increased $9.9 million over the first quarter of 2009 to $15.1 million, due to an increase in capital markets activity and advisory activity. Investment gains were $0.2 million compared to a $9,000 loss in the first quarter of 2009. Net interest income increased by $5.7 million over the first quarter of 2009 to $12.7 million in the first quarter of 2010, primarily due to coupon interest generated on higher mortgage and asset backed securities inventory levels. Fees and other revenues of $0.9 million decreased by $0.6 million compared to the first quarter of 2009, primarily due to a decrease in payments received for equity research.

Non-interest expenses for the first quarter of 2010 of $81.4 million increased $20.2 million, or 33 percent, compared to $61.2 million in the first quarter of 2009. In the first quarter of 2010, compensation and benefits expense was $68.2 million, an increase of $15.8 million, or 30 percent, over the prior year quarter, primarily due to the expense associated with the resignations of the former CEO and former CFO as well as an increase in revenues of 12 percent. Clearing, settlement and brokerage costs were $1.4 million, an increase of $0.6 million, or 69 percent, compared to the prior year quarter due to an increase in the costs associated with new fixed income products traded. Communications and data processing expense of $3.2 million increased by $0.9 million compared to the first quarter of 2009 due to increased business activity. Occupancy, depreciation and amortization expense of $2.2 million increased $0.5 million, or 26 percent, compared to the first quarter of 2009 due to the leasing of additional office space. Amortization of intangibles increased $0.8 million, or 319 percent, to $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2010 due to the acquisition of Gleacher Partners, which occurred in June of 2009. Selling expense increased $0.3 million, or 29 percent, to $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2010 due to an increase in sales activity. Other expenses increased $1.3 million, or 47 percent, to $4.1 million in the first quarter of 2010 primarily due to an increase in professional service fees and the implementation of a new SIPC assessment fee.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

(In thousands except per share and share amounts)

(Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition)

    March 31,   December 31, As of     2010     2009 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 33,288 $ 24,997 Cash segregated for regulatory purposes 100 100 Receivables from: Brokers, dealers and clearing agencies 13,671 19,797 Others 14,587 17,105 Securities owned, at fair value 832,360 979,701 Investments 19,756 19,326 Office equipment and leasehold improvements, net 4,554 3,069 Goodwill 106,141 105,694 Intangible assets 18,185 19,263 Deferred tax assets, net 21,974 16,137 Other assets     11,109       10,974   Total Assets   $ 1,075,725     $ 1,216,163     Liabilities Payables to: Brokers, dealers and clearing agencies $ 555,592 $ 691,495 Others 13,211 14,180 Securities sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value 96,175 72,988 Accrued compensation 23,205 70,728 Accounts payable 1,696 2,203 Accrued expenses 5,326 4,754 Income taxes payable 1,836 2,397 Deferred tax liabilities 2,751 2,817 Mandatorily redeemable preferred stock     24,477       24,419   Total Liabilities     724,269       885,981   Commitments and Contingencies Subordinated debt     1,197       1,197   Shareholders’ Equity Common stock; $.01 par value; authorized 200,000,000 and 200,000,000 shares, respectively; issued 128,901,290 and 125,056,247 shares, respectively; and outstanding 128,294,480 and 124,357,163 shares, respectively 1,251 1,251 Additional paid-in capital 433,541 411,633 Deferred compensation 534 534 Accumulated deficit (83,353 ) (83,142 ) Treasury stock, at cost (606,810 shares and 699,084 shares, respectively)     (1,714 )     (1,291 ) Total Shareholders’ Equity     350,259       328,985   Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity   $ 1,075,725     $ 1,216,163  

Income Tax Note

The Company’s effective income tax rate from continuing operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2010 of 89.9% resulted in an income tax benefit of approximately $1.8 million. The effective income tax rate includes the benefit of a discrete item of 41.6% due to the reversal of prior year non-deductible share-based compensation previously granted to the Company’s former CEO. In 2009, the compensation was not deductible due to the application of IRC Section 162(m), but became deductible as a result of the officer’s separation from the Company in the current quarter. The effective rate also differs from the statutory rate of 35% primarily due to state and local income taxes, preferred stock dividends, non-deductible compensation and meals and entertainment expense.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company has presented non-GAAP financial measures to enhance an investor’s evaluation of the Company’s operating results.

Annualized net revenue per employee, stated previously in this press release, may be viewed as a non-GAAP financial measure. We calculate this number by dividing our net revenue for the quarter by the average number of employees during the period and multiplying by four. Our annualized net revenue per average number of employees during the first quarter of 2010, calculated using our first quarter net revenues of $79.3 million, and an average of 343 employees, was $0.925 million.

Adjusted income from continuing operations, stated previously in this press release is a non-GAAP financial measure. We calculate this number by adding back to our GAAP pre-tax loss, the severance expense and related employee benefits and the remaining stock based compensation amortization for the former CEO and the former CFO since the dates of their resignations.

Conference Call Information

The Company will hold a conference call today, May 4, 2010, at 10:00 A.M. (EDT). This call will be webcast and can be accessed on the Investor Relations portion of the Company’s website at www.gleacher.com, as well as being distributed through Thomson StreetEvents Network. Individual investors can listen to the call at www.earnings.com, Thomson’s individual investor portal, powered by StreetEvents. Institutional investors can access the call via Thomson StreetEvents (www.streetevents.com), a password protected event management site. To participate on the call, please dial 888.713.4216 for domestic calls or 617.213.4868 for international calls, participant passcode 34423033 or request the Broadpoint Gleacher earnings call. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a recording of the call will be available for seven days following the call by dialing 888.286.8010 for domestic calls or 617.801.6888 for international calls, participant passcode 52612678.

About Gleacher & Company

Broadpoint Gleacher Securities Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BPSG), to be renamed Gleacher & Company, Inc., is an independent investment bank that provides corporations and institutional investors with strategic, research-based investment opportunities, capital raising, and financial advisory services, including merger and acquisition, restructuring, recapitalization and strategic alternative analysis services. For more information, please visit http://www.gleacher.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." These statements are not historical facts but instead represent the Company's belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. The Company's forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including the conditions of the securities markets, generally, and acceptance of the Company's services within those markets and other risks and factors identified from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is possible that the Company's actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in its forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any of its forward-looking statements.