Leucadia and US currency broker FXCM have struck a $300 million financing deal that will allow FXCM to continue normal operations.
This development comes after Thursday's shocking announcement from the Swiss National Bank that it would remove its currency peg against the euro, which sent currency markets into turmoil and resulted in heavy losses for numerous currency brokers, including a $225 million loss for FXCM.
Shares of FXCM were down as much as 90% in premarket trading on Friday, but were halted all day pending this news.
After re-opening for trade in the after hours on Friday, shares of FXCM were up an eye-watering 367% to $6.98 a share. Near 4:45 pm ET on Friday, the stock was trading at around $4, a 170% increase from its lows on Friday but down about 70% from its closing price on Thursday.
Here's Friday's announcement from the companies:
Leucadia National Corporation (NYSE: LUK) and FXCM (NYSE: FXCM) today announced that Leucadia would be providing $300 million in cash to FXCM and its subsidiaries (collectively "FXCM") that will permit FXCM to meet its regulatory-capital requirements and continue normal operations after yesterday’s loss of $225 million due to the unprecedented actions of the Swiss National Bank. Under the terms of the agreements, Leucadia is investing $300 million in cash into FXCM in the form of a $300 million senior secured term loan with a two-year maturity and an initial coupon of 10%. The term loan obligations are guaranteed, on a secured basis, by certain of FXCM's domestic subsidiaries. In addition, Leucadia will receive, in the event of a sale of FXCM or its subsidiaries, a certain percentage of the sale proceeds and, in the event FXCM makes other distributions on account of its equity, a corresponding payment for its own account. This transaction is expected to close this afternoon.
And here's Thursday's statment from FXCM:
NEW YORK, Jan. 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FXCM (NYSE:FXCM) an online provider of forex trading and related services worldwide, announced today due to unprecedented volatility in EUR/CHF pair after the Swiss National Bank announcement this morning, clients experienced significant losses, generated negative equity balances owed to FXCM of approximately $225 million.
As a result of these debit balances, the company may be in breach of some regulatory capital requirements.
We are actively discussing alternatives to return our capital to levels prior to today's events and discussing the matter with our regulators.
Earlier Friday, Business Insider's Mike Bird outlined the problems facing currency brokers around the world following the surprising decision from the SNB.
As Bird outlined:
Brokers can go out of business on big moves like this because they give their clients access to leverage. For example, an account holder might have $1,000 with the broker but hold positions worth $10,000 in currency markets. That doesn't matter so long as the holder's losses are covered by the initial amount.
And so FXCM survives. At least for now.
