EX-99 2 a5662832ex99.htm EXHIBIT 99

Exhibit 99

Jefferies Announces First Quarter Financial Results

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jefferies Group, Inc. (NYSE: JEF) today announced financial results for our first quarter ended March 31, 2008.

Highlights for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008:

  • Net revenues were down 52% to $201.2 million, versus $418.8 million in the first quarter of 2007, primarily resulting from a $51 million loss in Jefferies High Yield Trading, a $34 million loss in Jefferies Asset Management, and investment banking revenues of only $99 million.
  • The net loss for the first quarter of 2008 was $60.5 million as compared to net earnings of $62.3 million for the first quarter of 2007.
  • The net loss per share (diluted) was $0.43 as compared to net earnings per share (diluted) of $0.42 for the first quarter of 2007.

“Despite this quarter’s brutal market conditions and disappointing results, Jefferies remains in a strong financial and market position with excess liquidity and a solid business base,” commented Richard B. Handler, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jefferies. "With a platform positioned to perform, we remain confident about executing on our strategy as the markets reach equilibrium.”

Conference Call

A conference call with management discussion of financial results for the first quarter will be held on April 21, 2008 at 11:00 AM Eastern and can be accessed at (706) 634-9290. A replay of the call will be available two hours post-call at (402) 977-9140 (code: 21379617). A live audio webcast and delayed replay will also be available under “Investor Relations” at www.jefferies.com. Questions for consideration by management can be submitted in advance through “Contact Us” at www.jefferies.com or by calling 203-708-5975 by 10:00 AM Eastern on April 21, 2008.

About Jefferies

Jefferies, a global investment bank and institutional securities firm, has served growing and mid-sized companies and their investors for 45 years. Headquartered in New York, with more than 25 offices around the world, Jefferies provides clients with capital markets and financial advisory services, institutional brokerage, securities research and asset management. The firm is a leading provider of trade execution in equity, high yield, convertible and international securities for institutional investors and high net worth individuals. Jefferies & Company, Inc. is the principal operating subsidiary of Jefferies Group, Inc. (NYSE: JEF; www.jefferies.com).

-- financial tables follow --


JEFFERIES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2008   Mar. 31, 2007
 
Revenues:
Commissions $ 113,651 $ 77,032
Principal transactions 54 144,449
Investment banking 99,207 170,115
Asset management fees and investment income (loss) from managed funds
(27,796 ) 22,485
Interest 204,891 201,162
Other   6,480     8,041  
Total revenues 396,487 623,284
Interest expense   195,291     204,475  
Revenues, net of interest expense   201,196     418,809  
 
Non-interest expenses:
Compensation and benefits 259,951 227,666
Floor brokerage and clearing fees 12,948 14,582
Technology and communications 30,916 22,157
Occupancy and equipment rental 17,257 18,171
Business development 12,900 13,109
Other   20,481     19,631  
Total non-interest expenses   354,453     315,316  
 
(Loss)/earnings before income taxes and minority interest (153,257 ) 103,493
Income tax (benefit)/expense   (57,892 )   40,658  
(Loss)/earnings before minority interest (95,365 ) 62,835
Minority interest in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries, net
  (34,828 )   576  
Net (loss)/earnings   ($60,537 ) $ 62,259  
 
(Loss)/earnings per share:
Basic   ($0.43 ) $ 0.44  
 
Diluted   ($0.43 ) $ 0.42  
 
Weighted average shares:
Basic 141,784 140,897
Diluted 141,784 152,058
 
Effective Tax Rate 37.8 % 39.3 %

JEFFERIES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SELECTED STATISTICAL INFORMATION

(Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 
Quarters ended
  3/31/2008     12/31/2007     9/30/2007     6/30/2007     3/31/2007     12/31/2006
Statement of Earnings          
Revenues, net of interest expense $ 201,196 $ 349,397 $ 334,424 $ 465,460 $ 418,809 $ 374,235
Non-interest expenses:
Compensation and benefits 259,951 283,538 183,503 251,602 227,666 197,425
Non-personnel expenses   94,502     107,330     95,600     85,467     87,650     82,615
(Loss)/earnings before income taxes and minority interest
(153,257) (41,471) 55,321 128,391 103,493 94,195
Income tax (benefit)/expense   (57,892)     (14,134)     21,608     45,046     40,658     38,018
(Loss)/earnings before minority interest (95,365) (27,337) 33,713 83,345 62,835 56,177
Minority interest in (loss) earnings of consolidated subsidiaries, net
  (34,828)     (3,135)     (5,060)     15,510     576     394
Net (loss)/earnings   ($60,537)     ($24,202)   $ 38,773   $ 67,835   $ 62,259   $ 55,783
 
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share   ($0.43)     ($0.17)   $ 0.26   $ 0.45   $ 0.42   $ 0.38
 
Financial Ratios
Pretax operating margin -76.2% -11.9% 16.5% 27.6% 24.7% 25.2%
Compensation and benefits / net revenues 129.2% 81.2% 54.9% 54.1% 54.4% 52.8%
Effective tax rate 37.8% 34.1% 39.1% 35.1% 39.3% 40.4%

JEFFERIES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SELECTED STATISTICAL INFORMATION

(Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

   
Quarters ended
  3/31/2008       12/31/2007       9/30/2007       6/30/2007     3/31/2007     12/31/2006
Revenues by Source          
Equities $ 138,193 $ 139,248 $ 140,296 $ 144,563 $ 173,057 $ 151,974
Fixed Income & Commodities
Fixed Income (excluding high yield) and Commodities
33,668 36,201 16,502 40,443 46,128 32,964
High Yield   (51,676 )     (3,225 )     (7,387 )     34,123     10,337     9,978
Fixed Income & Commodities Total   (18,008 )     32,976       9,115       74,566     56,465     42,942
                     
Total 120,185 172,224 149,411 219,129 229,522 194,916
 
Investment banking 99,207 167,204 189,780 223,093 170,115 145,167
 
Asset management fees and investment income (loss) from managed funds:
Asset management fees 6,285 6,419 5,369 7,294 9,451 14,190
Investment income (loss) from managed funds   (34,081 )     (12,471 )     (11,652 )     6,090     13,034     15,228
Total (27,796 ) (6,052 ) (6,283 ) 13,384 22,485 29,418
Interest   204,891       328,926       334,056       310,739     201,162     143,847
Total revenues $ 396,487     $ 662,302     $ 666,964     $ 766,345   $ 623,284   $ 513,348
 
Other Data
Number of trading days 61 64 63 63 61 63
Average employees 2,486 2,521 2,472 2,319 2,265 2,239
Common shares outstanding 132,762 124,453 125,657 125,740 124,238 119,547
Weighted average shares:
Basic 141,784 140,726 142,822 142,092 140,897 136,438
Diluted 141,784 140,726 155,480 154,301 152,058 150,599
 
As of March 31, 2008, stockholders' equity amounted to $1.7 billion, resulting in book value of $13.03 per share.

CONTACT:
Jefferies Group, Inc.
Chief Financial Officer
Peregrine C. Broadbent, (212) 284-2338