EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

Investor Inquiries:

Bill Dunaway, 866-522-7188

billd@fcstone.com

FCStone Group, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year Results

Kansas City, Mo, November 13, 2008 – FCStone Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCSX), a commodity risk management firm, today announced higher year-over-year revenues for its fourth fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2008.

Fourth Quarter Results

Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, a non-GAAP financial measure, were $88.3 million in the three months ended August 31, 2008, compared to $75.8 million in the same prior year quarter, an increase of 16.5%. Net income decreased to $7.4 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter, compared to $12.0 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter.

Net income from continuing operations decreased to $8.1 million, or $0.28 per diluted share for the fourth quarter, compared to $12.0 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, in the same prior year quarter.

Results for the fourth quarter of 2008 and the fourth quarter of 2007 were affected by the following:

 

   

A charge in the fourth quarter of 2008 of $0.8 million, equal to $0.03 per diluted share, net of tax in connection with the company’s decision to freeze all benefit accruals under its pension plans. For the upcoming fiscal year 2009, we expect to realize a savings of approximately $0.9 million, net of tax, in pension related expenses related to the freezing of the pension plans,

 

   

A charge in the fourth quarter of 2008 of $0.7 million, equal to $0.03 per diluted share, net of tax in connection with the impairment losses from the Green Diesel biodiesel plant and losses from the discontinuation of operations of such plant and its disposal,

 

   

An effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 47.5% resulting from the year end tax calculations. The income tax calculations for the full year were based on the 2007 tax return which was filed in June 2008. As a result of the sale of the Company’s majority stake of the Grain Merchandising segment, the Company realized an approximate 2.0% increase in the effective state tax rates. For the full fiscal year 2008 the Company’s effective tax rate was 39.5% as a result of these adjustments, and

 

   

Amounts for the fourth quarter of 2007, net of tax, of $800,000, equal to $0.03 per diluted share, for special or one-time items, including a $2.6 million gain on the sale of a portion of the Company’s membership units of FGDI, LLC, a $0.5 million dividend received on Chicago Board of Trade stock, a $3.7 million gain on the sale of CME Group, Inc. common stock and a loss of $5.6 million from investments managed by Sentinel Management.


The following table presents results on a total and per share basis.

Financial Highlights

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended
August 31,
   Year Ended
August 31,
     2008    2007    2008    2007

Non-GAAP Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold (1) (3)

   $ 88,227    $ 75,754    $ 336,457    $ 257,757

Income from continuing operations before income tax expense (1) (3)

   $ 15,497     $ 19,297     $ 78,288     $ 53,588  

Net income from continuing operations

   $ 8,130     $ 12,097     $ 47,421     $ 33,588  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

   $ (746 )   $ (123 )   $ (6,829 )   $ (311 )

Net income (2) (4)

   $ 7,384     $ 11,974     $ 40,592     $ 33,277  

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

     28,793       28,753       28,934       25,051  

Diluted earnings per share, continuing operations

   $ 0.28     $ 0.42     $ 1.64     $ 1.34  

Diluted loss per share, discontinued operations

     (0.03 )     —         (0.24 )     (0.01 )

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.25     $ 0.42     $ 1.40     $ 1.33  

 

(1) Amounts for the three months ended and year ended August 31, 2007 include a net amount of $1.2 million for special or one-time items, which include a $2.6 million gain on the sale of a portion of the Company’s membership units of FGDI, LLC, a $0.5 million dividend received on Chicago Board of Trade stock, a $3.7 million gain on the sale of CME Group, Inc. common stock and a loss of $5.6 million from investments managed by Sentinel Management.
(2) Amounts for the three months ended and year ended August 31, 2007 include after tax effect of the items noted in (1) above of approximately $0.8 million.
(3) Amounts for the three months ended August 31, 2008 include $1.5 million charge related to the freezing of all benefit accruals under the Company’s pension plan.
(4) Amounts for the three months ended August 31, 2008 include after tax effect of the items noted in (3) above of approximately ($0.8) million.

The increase in fourth quarter revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, from the prior year fourth quarter was driven by higher exchange traded and over-the-counter (OTC) volumes. This growth was primarily related to continued volatility in the grain, energy, metals, and soft commodity markets and higher OTC volumes from our energy, renewable fuels and Brazilian customers. These volumes have been slightly offset by lower interest income due to prevailing market rates, although interest income was positively influenced by higher customer segregated assets and increased margin requirements.

Costs and expenses, exclusive of cost of commodities sold, were higher compared to the prior year primarily due to higher volume-related costs of broker commissions and pit brokerage and clearing fees and a $1.5 million charge related to the Company’s decision to freeze all benefit accruals under its pension plans. The Company estimates this action will result in an estimated pre-tax savings of $1.5 million in fiscal year 2009.

“Despite the turmoil in the broader economy, FCStone continued along the path of steady growth in our core business segments during our fourth fiscal quarter,” said Pete Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer of FCStone. “Looking back on fiscal 2008, the success and operating results we achieved are evidence of our core business strength and ability to generate improved earnings, growing revenues and strong operating cash flows during unprecedented volatility in many of the markets we serve. A large portion of this growth is attributable to the ability of our risk management consultants to continually react to the changing needs of the customer by identifying new products, structures and solutions to manage their commodity risk. We believe that the Company will continue to advance in the current market environment in all of our core business segments that have been the foundation of FCStone, with steady growth driven by our Commodity and Risk Management Services Segment.”

Fiscal Year Results

Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, a non-GAAP financial measure, were $336.5 million for the fiscal year 2008, compared to $257.8 million during the fiscal year 2007, an increase of 30.5%. Net income increased


21.9% to $40.6 million for the fiscal year 2008, or $1.40 per diluted share, compared to $33.3 million, or $1.33 per diluted share during fiscal year 2007.

Net income from continuing operations increased to $47.4 million, or $1.64 per diluted share for the fiscal year 2008, compared to $33.6 million, or $1.34 per diluted share during the fiscal year 2007.

“It’s important to note that unlike previous quarters in 2008, the market interest rate environment remained stable during our fourth fiscal quarter,” said Bill Dunaway, Chief Financial Officer. “Taking in to account the current economic headwinds, we believe that this recent quarter shows the resiliency of our business model and our ability to operate in an extremely volatile marketplace. We are pleased to report that both our over the counter and exchange traded contract volumes have continued to exceed expectations and for the second quarter in a row, have put out new record highs. We believe this core business momentum will continue to deliver strong growth for FCStone going forward.”

Operating Segments

FCStone’s income (loss) from continuing operations before minority interest and income tax expense by segment and certain other data are outlined below for the periods noted.

 

     Three Months Ended
August 31,
    Year Ended
August 31,
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  
     ($ in thousands)  

Segment Data:

  

Income (loss) from continuing operations before minority interest and income tax expense:

        

Commodity and Risk Management Services (1) (2)

   $ 13,272     $ 19,083     $ 67,550     $ 45,721  

Clearing and Execution Services (1) (2)

     5,089       (1,231 )     20,161       9,610  

Financial Services

     506       48       1,689       1,052  

Grain Merchandising

     —         —         —         2,130  

Corporate and Other (1) (2)

     (3,466 )     1,397       (11,258 )     (4,286 )
                                
   $ 15,401     $ 19,297     $ 78,142     $ 54,227  
                                

Other Data:

  

Non-GAAP - EBITDA (1)

   $ 17,458     $ 20,557     $ 85,989     $ 65,273  

Exchange contract trading volume (000’s)

     21,545       20,515       98,611       60,979  

Customer Segregated Assets, end of period (000’s)

   $ 1,528,028     $ 997,436     $ 1,528,028     $ 997,436  

 

(1) Amounts for the three months ended and year ended August 31, 2007 include the following special or one-time items by segment: a $2.6 million gain from the sale of FGDI stock in the Corporate and Other segment; a $0.5 million dividend received on CBOT stock and a $3.7 million gain on the sale of CME stock included in the Commodity and Risk Management Services segment; and a $5.6 million loss from investments managed by Sentinel Management included in the Clearing and Execution Services segment.
(2) Amounts for the three months ended August 31, 2008 include a charge related to the freezing of all benefit accruals under the Company’s pension plans in the following segments: $0.9 million in the Commodity and Risk Management Services segment; $0.2 million in the Clearing and Execution segment; and $0.4 million in the Corporate and Other segment.

In the Commodity and Risk Management Services segment, revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, were $49.2 million in the fourth quarter ended August 31, 2008, compared to $45.5 million in the prior year quarter, an increase of 8%. Segment income before minority interest and income tax for the fourth quarter 2008 decreased to $13.3 million, compared to $19 million in the same prior year quarter. This was primarily a result of $2.1 million in lower interest income in 2008 and a $4.2 million gain on CME and CBOT stock in 2007.


For the Clearing and Execution Services segment, revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, were $36.7 million in the fourth quarter ended August 31, 2008, compared to $26.0 million in the prior year quarter, an increase of 41.2%. Segment income before minority interest and income tax was $5.0 million in the fourth quarter, compared to a net loss of $1.2 million in the prior year quarter, resulting from a $5.6 million charge from investments managed by Sentinel Management.

The Financial Services segment reported revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, of $1.3 million in the fourth quarter ended August 31, 2008, compared to $1.6 million in the prior year quarter, a decrease of 19%. Segment income increased to $506 thousand for the fourth quarter, compared to $48 thousand in the prior year quarter.

Our Corporate and Other segment included income primarily from our minority interest in a grain merchandising business during the three months ended August 31, 2008, similar to the same period a year ago.

Business Outlook

Commenting on the Company’s fiscal year results and future expectations, Anderson said, “Demand for prudent risk management programs has never been greater, particularly as economic stress points continue to build across virtually every commodity market. We continue to advise and provide value for our customers amidst market conditions of increased volatility and stringent credit conditions. While FCStone is not immune to market volatility and credit risks, we have renewed our focus on providing reliable risk management solutions for our customers, which should provide long-term value to our shareholders.”

Conference Call & Web Cast

A conference call will be held today, November 13th, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. (ET). A live web cast of the conference call as well as a replay will be available online on the Company’s corporate web site at http://www.fcstone.com. Participants can also access the call by dialing (800) 240-5318 (within the United States and Canada), or (303) 262-2053 (international callers). A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the call has ended and will be available until 11:59 p.m. (CT) on Friday, December 12, 2008. To access the replay, dial (800) 405-2236 (within the United States and Canada), or (303) 590-3000 (international callers) and enter the conference ID number: 11122158#.

About FCStone Group, Inc.

FCStone Group, Inc., along with its affiliates, is an integrated commodity risk management company providing risk management consulting and transaction execution services to commercial commodity intermediaries, end-users and producers. The firm assists primarily middle market customers in optimizing their profit margins and mitigating exposure to commodity price risk. In addition to risk management consulting services, FCStone, LLC, operates one of the leading independent clearing and execution platforms for exchange-traded futures and options contracts. FCStone Group, Inc., serves more than 8,000 customers and in the 12 months ended August 31, 2008, executed 100.0 million derivative contracts in the exchange-traded and over-the-counter markets. The FCStone Group companies work in all the major commodity areas including agriculture, energy, renewable fuels, foods, forestry, cotton and textile, dairy and currency exchange. Headquartered in the Midwest, it has offices located throughout the world and is a clearing member of all major North American futures exchanges. FCStone Group, Inc., trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “FCSX.”

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may include forward-looking statements regarding, among other things, our plans, strategies and prospects, both business and financial. All statements other than statements of current or historical fact contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “plan,” “will,” “may,” “could,” “intend,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions, as they relate to FCStone Group, Inc., are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions, including the risks, uncertainties


and assumptions described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. When you consider these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risk factors and other cautionary statements in this press release.

Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Use of NON-GAAP Financial Information

In this press release we disclose “revenues, net of cost of commodities sold”, and “EBITDA”, both of which are non-GAAP financial measures. For purposes of Regulation G, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position, or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure, calculated and prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United Sates (GAAP). Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, is not a substitute for the GAAP measure of total revenues. EBITDA is not a substitute for the GAAP measure of net income or cash flows. Such non-GAAP financial measures are reconciled to its closest GAAP measure, in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission rules, and are included in the attached supplemental data. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to both management and its stockholders in their analysis of the company’s business and operating performance.


FCSTONE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended
August 31,
    Year Ended
August 31,
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Revenues:

        

Commissions and clearing fees

   $ 46,479     $ 43,530     $ 179,188     $ 145,077  

Service, consulting and brokerage fees

     28,904       18,527       97,700       47,679  

Interest

     10,759       11,785       48,294       42,957  

Other

     2,105       1,917       10,372       4,497  

Sales of commodities

     14       —         1,972       1,101,752  
                                

Total revenues

     88,261       75,759       337,526       1,341,962  
                                

Costs and expenses:

        

Cost of commodities sold

     34       5       1,069       1,084,205  

Employee compensation and broker commissions

     19,394       14,900       65,936       49,524  

Pit brokerage and clearing fees

     30,483       20,796       104,045       67,978  

Introducing broker commissions

     8,411       10,842       33,304       36,050  

Employee benefits and payroll taxes

     3,934       2,426       13,746       10,678  

Interest

     1,301       868       5,705       9,937  

Depreciation and amortization

     660       412       1,996       1,748  

Bad debt expense

     93       —         1,998       1,632  

Other expenses

     8,550       6,213       31,585       25,983  
                                

Total costs and expenses

     72,860       56,462       259,384       1,287,735  
                                

Income from continuing operations before income tax expense and minority interest

     15,401       19,297       78,142       54,227  

Minority interest

     (96 )     —         (146 )     639  
                                

Income from continuing operations before income tax expense

     15,497       19,297       78,288       53,588  

Income tax expense

     7,367       7,200       30,867       20,000  
                                

Net income from continuing operations

     8,130       12,097       47,421       33,588  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     (746 )     (123 )     (6,829 )     (311 )
                                

Net income

   $ 7,384     $ 11,974     $ 40,592     $ 33,277  
                                

Basic shares outstanding

     27,966       27,419       27,749       24,500  

Diluted shares outstanding

     28,793       28,753       28,934       25,051  

Basic earnings (loss) per share:

        

Continuing operations

   $ 0.29     $ 0.44     $ 1.71     $ 1.37  

Discontinued operations

     (0.02 )     —         (0.25 )     (0.01 )
                                

Net income

   $ 0.27     $ 0.44     $ 1.46     $ 1.36  
                                

Diluted earnings (loss) per share:

        

Continuing operations

   $ 0.28     $ 0.42     $ 1.64     $ 1.34  

Discontinued operations

     (0.03 )     —         (0.24 )     (0.01 )
                                

Net income

   $ 0.25     $ 0.42     $ 1.40     $ 1.33  
                                


FCSTONE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share amounts)

 

     August 31,
2008
    August 31,
2007
 
ASSETS     

Cash and cash equivalents:

    

Unrestricted

   $ 73,646     $ 90,053  

Segregated

     8,355       14,250  

Commodity deposits and receivables:

    

Commodity exchanges and clearing organizations—customer segregated

     1,306,477       686, 441  

Proprietary commodity accounts

     253,998       77,690  

Receivables from customers, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

     19,603       16,868  
                

Total commodity deposits and receivables

     1,580,078       780,999  
                

Marketable securities, at fair value—customer segregated and other

     241,333       307,828  

Counterparty deposits and trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

     71,714       20,746  

Open contracts receivable

     308,016       120,219  

Notes receivable and advances

     77,979       49,291  

Exchange memberships and stock

     11,473       10,366  

Equipment, furniture, software and improvements, net of accumulated depreciation

     7,267       4,763  

Assets held for sale

     3,664       —    

Other assets

     37,953       21,679  
                

Total assets

   $ 2,421,478     $ 1,420,194  
                
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Liabilities:

    

Commodity and customer regulated accounts payable

   $ 1,486,299     $ 935,515  

Trade accounts payable and advances

     257,941       115,145  

Open contracts payable

     297,926       121,101  

Accrued expenses

     51,709       38,632  

Notes payable and repurchase obligations

     79,190       35,133  

Subordinated debt

     16,000       1,000  
                

Total liabilities

     2,189,065       1,246,526  
                

Minority interest

     4,855       —    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock, $0.0001 par value, authorized 40,000,000 at August 31, 2007 and August 31, 2008, respectively; issued and outstanding 27,416,567 and 27,911,127 shares at August 31, 2007 and August 31, 2008, respectively

     108,016       104,267  

Additional paid-in capital

     10,777       1,115  

Treasury stock

     (2,185 )     (376 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (1,632 )     (3,620 )

Retained earnings

     112,582       72,282  
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     227,558       173,668  
                

Commitments and contingencies

    

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 2,421,478     $ 1,420,194  
                


FCSTONE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

     Year Ended August 31,  
     2008     2007     2006  

Cash flows from operating activities:

      

Net income

   $ 40,592     $ 33,277     $ 15,257  

Plus: Loss from discontinued operations

     6,829       311       —    
                        

Income from continuing operations

     47,421       33,588       15,257  

Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash flows from operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     1,996       1,748       1,674  

Other

     101       (55 )     (46 )

Gain on sale of FGDI membership units

     —         (2,595 )     —    

Gain on sale and conversion of exchange memberships, stock and trading rights

     (3,748 )     (3,776 )     —    

Gain on sale of other assets

     (930 )     —         —    

Stock compensation

     1,698       —         —    

Excess tax benefit of stock options

     (8,382 )     —         —    

Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of distributions

     (2,533 )     (294 )     591  

Minority interest, net of distributions

     (146 )     639       (237 )

Change in commodity accounts receivable/payable, marketable securities, customer segregated funds, counterparty deposits and advances, net

     (89,234 )     (51,901 )     8,328  

Change in open contracts receivable/payable, net

     (10,972 )     (21,371 )     (30,001 )

Decrease in trade accounts receivable and advances

     1,326       2,989       1,191  

Increase in inventories—grain, fertilizer and fuel

     —         (4,635 )     (12,023 )

Increase in other assets

     3,945       (5,290 )     (3,588 )

Decrease (increase) in trade accounts payable and advances

     5,261       10,018       50,632  

Increase in accrued expenses

     11,194       11,176       9,233  
                        

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

     (43,003 )     (29,759 )     41,011  
                        

Cash flows from investing activities:

      

Purchase of furniture, equipment, software and improvements

     (4,425 )     (2,847 )     (1,255 )

Proceeds from the sale of FGDI membership units, net of cash held by FGDI

     —         3,934       —    

Acquisition of equity investment

     —         —         (2,405 )

Acquisition of minority interest

     —         —         (911 )

Acquisition of businesses

     (7,000 )     —         —    

Purchase of marketable securities

     —         (25,000 )     —    

Issuance of notes receivable, net

     (39,366 )     (27,342 )     (5,458 )

Purchase of exchange memberships and stock

     —         (1,855 )     (5,403 )

Proceeds from the sale and conversion of exchange memberships, stock and trading rights

     5,164       4,237       613  

Proceeds from the sale of other intangibles

     1,972       —         —    

Purchase of other intangibles

     (1,054 )     —         —    
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (44,709 )     (48,873 )     (14,819 )
                        

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

(Decrease) increase in checks written in excess of bank balance

     —         (1,656 )     1,556  

Proceeds from notes payable, net

     40,729       35,996       11,258  

Proceeds from initial public offering, net of issuance and registration costs

     —         129,643       —    

Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of registration costs

     —         1,373       —    

Proceeds from exercises of stock options

     3,749       —         —    

Proceeds from issuance of redeemable common stock held by ESOP

     —         —         223  

Proceeds from issuance of subsidiary stock, net of costs

     4,583       —         —    


     Year Ended August 31,  
     2008     2007     2006  

Payment for redemption of common stock

     —         (48,496 )     —    

Treasury stock acquired

     (1,809 )     —         —    

Excess tax benefit of stock option exercises

     8,382       —         —    

Dividends paid

     —         (6,057 )     (2,898 )

Payments under capital lease

     —         (413 )     (550 )

Proceeds from subordinated debt

     31,000       9,500       4,500  

Payment of subordinated debt

     (16,000 )     (14,500 )     (3,000 )

Monies deposited in escrow

     —         (54 )     (2,600 )

Monies released from escrow

     —         3,623       —    
                        

Net cash provided by financing activities

     70,634       108,959       8,489  
                        

Cash flows provided by discontinued operations:

      

Net cash from operating activities

     2,382       —         —    

Net cash used in investing activities

     (1,711 )     —         —    
                        

Net cash provided by discontinued operations

     671       —         —    
                        

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents—unrestricted

     (16,407 )     30,327       34,681  

Cash and cash equivalents—unrestricted—at beginning of year

     90,053       59,726       25,045  
                        

Cash and cash equivalents—unrestricted—at end of year

   $ 73,646     $ 90,053     $ 59,726  
                        

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

      

Cash paid during the year for:

      

Interest

   $ 6,164     $ 10,196     $ 5,587  

Income taxes

     26,612       19,632       10,335  


Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The following table reconciles revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, with our total revenues.

 

     Three Months Ended    Year Ended
     August 31,
2008
   August 31,
2007
   August 31,
2008
   August 31,
2007
     ($ in thousands)

Revenues:

           

Commissions and clearing fees

   $ 46,479    $ 43,530    $ 179,188    $ 145,077

Service, consulting and brokerage fees

     28,904      18,527      97,700      47,679

Interest

     10,759      11,785      48,294      42,957

Other

     2,105      1,917      10,372      4,497

Sales of commodities

     14         1,972      1,101,752
                           

Total revenues

     88,261      75,759      337,526      1,341,962

Less: Cost of commodities sold

     34      5      1,069      1,084,205
                           

Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold

   $ 88,227    $ 75,754    $ 336,457    $ 257,757
                           

The following table reconciles EBITDA with our net income.

 

     Three Months Ended    Year Ended
     August 31,
2008
   August 31,
2007
   August 31,
2008
   August 31,
2007
     ($ in thousands)

Net income:

   $ 7,384    $ 11,974    $ 40,592    $ 33,277

Plus: interest expense

     1,301      868      5,705      9,937

Plus: depreciation and amortization

     660      412      1,996      1,748

Plus: income tax expense

     7,367      7,200      30,867      20,000

Plus: loss on discontinued operations, net of tax

     746      123      6,829      311
                           

EBITDA

   $ 17,458    $ 20,577    $ 85,989    $ 65,273
                           


Commodity and Risk Management Services Segment:

The following table provides the financial performance for this segment.

 

     Three Months Ended
August 31,
    Year Ended
August 31,
     2008     2007     2008    2007
     ($ in thousands)

Sales of commodities

   $ 14     $ (1 )   $ 1,972    $ 3,806

Cost of commodities sold

     34       5       1,069      3,727
                             

Gross profit on commodities sold

     (20 )     (6 )     903      79

Commissions and clearing fees

     15,659       16,277       55,871      54,367

Service, consulting and brokerage fees

     29,033       18,679       98,140      48,227

Interest

     4,184       6,264       18,972      20,445

Other revenues (1)

     372       4,329       3,475      4,476
                             

Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold

     49,228       45,543       177,361      127,594

Other costs and expenses:

         

Expenses (excluding interest expense) (2)

     35,596       26,351       109,118      81,480

Interest expense

     360       109       693      393
                             

Total costs and expenses (excluding cost of commodities sold)

     35,956       26,460       109,811      81,873
                             

Segment income before minority interest and income taxes (1) (2)

   $ 13,272     $ 19,083     $ 67,550    $ 45,721
                             

Exchange contract trading volume (000’s)

     1,090       888       3,543      3,121

OTC Contract volume (000’s)

     396       288       1,361      751

 

(1) Includes $4.2 million from the combined gain on the sale of CME stock and dividends from CBOT stock in the three months ended and year ended August 31, 2007.
(2) Includes ($0.9) million charge related to the freezing of all benefit accruals related to the Company’s pension plans.

Clearing and Execution Segment:

The following table provides the financial performance for this segment.

 

     Three Months Ended
August 31,
    Year Ended
August 31,
 
     2008    2007     2008    2007  
     ($ in thousands)  

Sales of commodities

   $ —      $ —       $ —      $ —    

Cost of commodities sold

     —        —         —        —    
                              

Gross profit on commodities sold

     —        —         —        —    

Commissions and clearing fees

     30,891      27,533       124,070      91,486  

Service, consulting and brokerage fees

     —        —         —        —    

Interest

     5,388      3,985       22,237      15,707  

Other revenues (1)

     453      (5,525 )     878      (5,420 )
                              

Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold

     36,732      25,993       147,185      101,773  

Other costs and expenses:

          

Expenses (excluding interest expense) (2)

     31,631      27,203       126,957      91,570  

Interest expense

     12      21       67      593  
                              


Total costs and expenses (excluding cost of commodities sold)

     31,643      27,224       127,024      92,163
                            

Segment income before minority interest and income taxes (1) (2)

   $ 5,089    $ (1,231 )   $ 20,161    $ 9,610
                            

Exchange contract trading volume (000’s)

     20,456      19,627       95,068      57,858

 

(1) Includes a loss of $5.6 million from investments managed by Sentinel Management in the three months ended and year ended August, 31, 2007
(2) Includes ($0.2) million charge related to the freezing of all benefit accruals related to the Company’s pension plans.

Financial Services Segment:

The following table provides the financial performance for this segment.

 

     Three Months
Ended August 31,
   Year Ended
August 31,
     2008     2007    2008    2007
     ($ in thousands)

Sales of commodities

   $ —       $ 1    $ —      $ 20,007

Cost of commodities sold

     —         —        —        19,904
                            

Gross profit on commodities sold

     —         1      —        103

Commissions and clearing fees

     —         —        —        —  

Service, consulting and brokerage fees

     —         —        —        —  

Interest

     1,025       1,118      6,494      7,179

Other revenues

     320       463      2,692      1,798
                            

Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold

     1,345       1,582      9,186      9,080

Other costs and expenses:

          

Expenses (excluding interest expense)

     (122 )     723      2,378      2,344

Interest expense

     961       811      5,119      5,684
                            

Total costs and expenses (excluding cost of commodities sold)

     839       1,534      7,497      8,028
                            

Segment income (loss) before minority interest and income taxes

   $ 506     $ 48    $ 1,689    $ 1,052
                            


Quarterly Financial Highlights:

The following table provides summary financial highlights

Trending by quarter for fiscal year 2008.

 

     Three Months Ended  
     November 30,
2007
    February 29,
2008
    May 31,
2008
    August 31,
2008
 
     ($ in thousands)  

NON GAAP-Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold

   $ 73,634     $ 91,212     $ 83,384     $ 88,227  

Income from continuing operations before income tax expense (1)

   $ 21,081     $ 28,489     $ 13,221     $ 15,497  

Net income from continuing operations

   $ 13,131     $ 17,789     $ 8,371     $ 8,130  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

   $ (46 )   $ (5,673 )   $ (364 )   $ (746 )

Net income

   $ 13,085     $ 12,116     $ 8,007     $ 7,384  

 

(1) The three months ended November 30, 2007 included a pre-tax gain on the sale of exchange stock and trading rights of $2.9 million. The three months ended November 30, 2007 and February 29, 2008 included pre-tax gains related to interest rate derivative contracts of $0.7 million and $4.4 million, respectively. The three months ended May 31, 2008 included pre-tax losses related to interest rate derivative contracts of $5.0 million. The three months ended August 31, 2008 include a pre-tax charge related to the freeze of all benefit accruals in the Company’s pension plans.

Without these items our quarterly income from continuing operations before income tax expense for the first, second, third, and fourth quarters would have been $17.5 million, $24.1 million, $18.2 million, and $17.0 million, respectively.