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Archipelago Announces Fourth Quarter And 2005 Year End Results

Date 31/01/2006

Archipelago Holdings, Inc. (PCX: AX), owner and operator of the Pacific Exchange (PCX) and the Archipelago Exchange(R) (ArcaEx(R)) reported net income attributable to common stockholders of $16.3 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2005, compared to $59.3 million, or $1.38 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2004. On a sequential basis, for the fourth quarter of 2005, Archipelago reported a net loss of $(7.6) million, or $(0.17) per diluted share, down from net income of $7.8 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2005.

Fourth quarter results included the results of operations of PCX Holdings, Inc. (PCX), acquired by Archipelago at the end of September 2005. Also included are certain merger related costs for the companies proposed merger with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) consisting of:

-- $28.8 million of compensation expense incurred as a result of the acceleration of certain payments and vesting to our executive officers that would have occurred in 2006 following the termination of employment agreements or change in control severance agreements after the completion of our proposed merger with the NYSE,

-- $2.9 million of legal and other fees incurred directly in connection with the NYSE merger, and

-- $3.0 million of legal fees incurred in monitoring litigation matters involving NYSE and certain of its members.

Excluding the $34.7 million of NYSE merger costs and related executive compensation, the net income for the fourth quarter of 2005 would have been $13.1 million, or $0.28 per diluted share. A full reconciliation of these items is included in the attached table entitled "Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP measures."

In connection with Archipelago's September 2005 acquisition of PCX, the Securities and Exchange Commission entered an order under which Archipelago undertook to divest its introducing broker, Wave Securities. Accordingly, the results of operations and financial condition of Wave Securities are presented as discontinued. To allow for accurate financial performance comparisons, all historical periods have been conformed to this presentation.

On January 23, 2006, Archipelago announced that it sold Wave Securities to Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

Full-Year Results

Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2005 were $493.4 million, up from $491.3 million in 2004. Net income was $16.3 million compared to net income attributable to common stockholders of $59.3 million in 2004. Diluted earnings per share for 2005 totaled $0.34 versus $1.38 in 2004. Excluding the $46.1 million of NYSE merger costs and related executive compensation, the net income for the year ended December 31, 2005 would have been $42.9 million, or $0.90 per diluted share.

Jerry Putnam, Chairman and CEO of Archipelago, commented, "We began 2005 with our announced acquisition of the Pacific Exchange and quickly followed up with our planned merger with the New York Stock Exchange. We focused on diversifying our business and making continued improvements to our existing services. As a result, we are well positioned today to meet the changing needs of the evolving marketplace and our transformation to the NYSE Group."

    Fourth Quarter Financial Highlights

    * Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2005 were $136.9 million as
      compared to $114.1 million for the third quarter of 2005 and $128.2
      million for the fourth quarter of 2004.

    * Cost of revenues declined $4.0 million to $71.3 million for the fourth
      quarter of 2005 from $75.3 million for the same period in 2004.

    * Gross margin increased to $65.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2005
      from $53.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2004, representing an
      increase of $12.6 million, or 23.8%.  As a percentage of total revenues,
      gross margin increased to 47.9% for the fourth quarter of 2005 from
      41.3% for the fourth quarter of 2004.

    * Indirect expenses increased to $80.1 million for the fourth quarter of
      2005 from $35.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2004. This increase was
      primarily due to NYSE merger costs and related executive compensation as
      well as increased employee compensation and benefits.

    * For the fourth quarter of 2005, the operations of PCX contributed $16.8
      million to total revenues and $4.5 million to operating income.

    * As of December 31, 2005, the continuing operations of Archipelago had
      $134.4 million of cash and cash equivalents and no long-term debt.

    Fourth Quarter Business and Volume Highlights

    * Clients executed 38.3 billion shares or 14.0% of total U.S. equity
      securities on ArcaEx during the fourth quarter of 2005 compared to 36.2
      billion shares or 13.9% in the fourth quarter a year ago.

    * ArcaEx market share decreased to 22.3% in Nasdaq-listed stocks from
      23.0% in the third quarter of 2005 and 23.7% from the fourth quarter of
      2004.

    * ArcaEx market share increased to 4.8% in NYSE-listed stocks from 3.7% in
      the third quarter of 2005 and 2.3% from the fourth quarter of 2004.

    * ArcaEx market share increased to 32.8% in AMEX-listed stocks from 30.8%
      in the third quarter of 2005 and up from 25.6% from the fourth quarter
      of 2004.

    * The internal match rate rose slightly to 89.2% on ArcaEx compared to an
      internal match rate of 88.8% in the third quarter of 2005 and 87.4% in
      the fourth quarter a year ago.

    Fourth Quarter Business Highlights

    * ArcaEx announced plans to launch a corporate bond trading platform that
      would allow users of ArcaEx to trade certain bonds listed on, or issued
      by companies listed by (US) markets and exchanges, through unlisted
      trading privileges pending SEC approval.

    * Archipelago announced plans for the development of a next generation
      options trading platform replacing the PCX Plus trading system, designed
      to offer significant improvements in trading system performance,
      functionality and reliability.

    * Archipelago shareholders approved its merger with the NYSE.

To supplement Archipelago's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and to better reflect period-over-period comparisons, Archipelago uses non- GAAP financial measures of operating performance. A non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of 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 presented in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures do not replace and are not superior to the presentation of GAAP financial results but are provided to present the effects of expenses recorded by Archipelago in connection with its announced merger with the NYSE and to improve overall understanding of the company's current financial performance and its prospects for the future. Specifically, Archipelago believes the non-GAAP financial results provide useful information to both management and investors regarding certain additional financial and business trends relating to financial condition and operating results. In addition, management uses these measures for reviewing financial results and evaluating financial performance.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on Archipelago's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause Archipelago's actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. There can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause Archipelago's results to differ materially from current expectations include: general economic and business conditions, industry trends, competitive conditions, regulatory developments as well as other risks or factors identified in the Company's filings with the Securities Exchange Commission, including its Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004 which is available on the Company's website at http://www.archipelago.com. You should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except for any obligation to disclose material information under the Federal securities laws, Archipelago undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

About Archipelago

Archipelago Holdings (PCX: AX) operates the Archipelago Exchange(R) (ArcaEx(R)) the first totally open all-electronic stock exchange in the United States. ArcaEx trades all Nasdaq-listed equity securities and exchange listed equity securities, including those listed on the New York Stock Exchange(R), American Stock Exchange(R), and ArcaEx(R). In addition to offering core execution services, ArcaEx provides corporate clients with listing services and innovative data products. In September 2005, Archipelago acquired PCX Holdings, Inc., parent company of the Pacific Exchange and PCX Equities, Inc. allowing Archipelago to bring together the all-electronic trading of equity securities and options products thereby expanding and diversifying Archipelago's business lines. For more information please visit http://www.archipelago.com.

    Contacts:
     Margaret Nagle, 312-442-7083 (Press)
     Patrick Murphy, 312-442-7005 (Investor Relations)



                          Archipelago Holdings, Inc.
                    Consolidated Statements of Operations
                    (In thousands, except per share data)

                               Three months ended                Year ended
                       December 31, September 30, December 31,   December 31,
                           2005         2005(a)      2004      2005(a)   2004
                                     (unaudited)             (unaudited)
    Revenues
      Transaction fees    $114,658     $98,853    $110,018  $424,981  $434,482
      Activity assessment
       fees                 47,988           -           -    47,988         -
      Market data fees      16,249      15,080      18,098    61,996    56,366
      Listing and other
       fees                  6,003         135         121     6,379       445
    Total revenues         184,898     114,068     128,237   541,344   491,293
    Section 31 fees         47,988           -           -    47,988         -
    Revenues, less Section
     31 fees               136,910     114,068     128,237   493,356   491,293

    Cost of revenues
      Liquidity payments    53,985      49,457      52,312   206,907   203,506
      Routing charges       15,738      15,684      21,039    66,705    88,703
      Clearance, brokerage
       and other transaction
       expenses              1,561       1,357       1,925     5,880    13,686
    Total cost of revenues  71,284      66,498      75,276   279,492   305,895

    Gross margin            65,626      47,570      52,961   213,864   185,398
    Gross margin as a %
     of total revenues       47.9%       41.7%       41.3%     43.3%     37.7%

    Indirect expenses
      NYSE merger costs and
       related executive
       compensation         34,702       2,993           -    46,127         -
      Other employee
       compensation and
       benefits             15,871      12,135       9,743    51,552    38,382
      Depreciation and
       amortization          6,776       5,262       4,569    21,631    22,877
      Communications         5,190       4,803       4,549    19,512    16,278
      Marketing and
       promotion             4,234       4,689       7,937    22,141    20,123
      Legal and professional 4,158       3,121       2,847    12,623    11,129
      Occupancy              2,600       1,504       1,322     6,708     4,243
      General and
       administrative        6,569       3,379       4,522    16,173    11,267
    Total indirect expenses 80,100      37,886      35,489   196,467   124,299

    Operating income (loss)(14,474)      9,684      17,472    17,397    61,099
    Interest and other, net  1,197       1,372         667     4,458     1,580
    Income (loss) from
     continuing operations
     before income tax
     provision (benefit)   (13,277)     11,056      18,139    21,855    62,679
    Income tax provision
     (benefit)              (4,851)      4,533       7,169     9,349     5,286
    Income (loss) from
     continuing operations  (8,426)      6,523      10,970    12,506    57,393
    Income from discontinued
     operations                783       1,238       1,555     3,813    11,547
    Net income (loss)       (7,643)      7,761      12,525    16,319    68,940
    Deemed dividend on
     convertible preferred
     shares                      -           -           -         -   (9,619)
    Net income (loss)
     attributable to common
     stockholders          $(7,643)     $7,761     $12,525   $16,319   $59,321

    Basic earnings (loss)
     per share from:
      Continuing operations $(0.18)      $0.14       $0.23     $0.27     $1.42
      Discontinued
       operations             0.02        0.03        0.03      0.08      0.29
      Deemed dividend on
       convertible preferred
       shares                    -           -           -         -    (0.24)
    Basic earnings (loss)
     per share              $(0.17)      $0.16       $0.27     $0.35     $1.47

    Diluted earnings (loss)
     per share from:
      Continuing operations $(0.18)      $0.14       $0.23     $0.26     $1.34
      Discontinued
       operations             0.02        0.03        0.03      0.08      0.27
      Deemed dividend on
       convertible preferred
       shares                    -           -           -         -    (0.22)
    Diluted earnings (loss)
     per share              $(0.17)      $0.16       $0.26     $0.34     $1.38

    Basic weighted average
     shares outstanding     45,660      47,206      47,137    46,806    40,301
    Diluted weighted
     average shares
     outstanding            46,785      48,292      47,635    47,821    42,915

    (a) Excludes the results of operations of PCX Holdings, Inc. and
        subsidiaries for the four-day period ended September 30, 2005. These
        results of operations were not material.



                          Archipelago Holdings, Inc.
                Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
                                (In thousands)

                                                          December 31,
                                                     2005               2004
                                                 (unaudited)
    Assets
       Current assets:
          Cash and cash equivalents               $134,358           $145,170
          Accounts receivable, net                  79,889             74,356
          Income tax receivable                     18,014              2,220
          Deferred tax asset                         5,863              5,094
                Total current assets               238,124            226,840

       Fixed assets, net                            67,091             44,738
       Goodwill                                    131,865            131,865
       Other intangible assets, net                108,753             92,169
       Non-current deferred tax asset,
        net                                         11,863                340
       Other assets                                  7,976              7,774
                Total non-current assets           327,548            276,886
       Assets of discontinued operations            14,122             40,172
    Total assets                                  $579,794           $543,898

    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
       Liabilities:
          Accounts payable and accrued
           expenses                               $136,185            $62,600
          Capital lease obligations                  1,691              1,545
                Total current liabilities          137,876             64,145
          Deferred tax liability                    10,347              3,595
          Liabilities of discontinued
           operations                                9,422             15,285
                Total liabilities                  157,645             83,025

    Stockholders' equity
          Common stock                                 475                471
          Additional paid-in capital               472,705            451,625
          Treasury stock                           (73,395)               -
          Unearned stock-based
           compensation                             (2,751)               (19)
          Retained earnings                         25,115              8,796
                Total stockholders'
                 equity                            422,149            460,873
    Total liabilities and stockholders'
     equity                                       $579,794           $543,898



                          Archipelago Holdings, Inc.
                    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                                (In thousands)

                                                           Year ended
                                                          December 31,
                                                     2005              2004
                                                  (unaudited)
    Cash flows from operating activities:
    Income from continuing operations              $12,506           $57,393
    Adjustments to reconcile income from
     continuing operations to net cash provided
     by operating activities:
        Depreciation and amortization of
         fixed assets                               19,911            21,250
        Amortization of intangible assets            1,720             1,627
        Provision for doubtful accounts               (540)             (900)
        Deferred taxes                               7,648            (1,839)
        Stock-based compensation                    11,113               151
        Tax benefit from stock-based
         payment arrangements                        5,516                18
      Changes in operating assets and
       liabilities:
        Accounts receivable                         13,805            (6,365)
        Income tax receivable                      (15,794)           (2,220)
        Other assets                                    32            (4,310)
        Accounts payable and accrued
         expenses                                   35,550           (35,500)
    Net cash provided by operating
     activities of continuing operations            91,467            29,305
    Net cash provided by (used in)
     operating activities of discontinued
     operations                                       (655)           31,964
          Net cash provided by operating
           activities                               90,812            61,269

    Cash flows from investing activities:
    Acquisition of business, net of cash
     acquired                                      (89,376)              -
    Additions to fixed and other
     intangible assets                             (29,032)          (25,135)
    Net cash used in investing activities
     of continuing operations                     (118,408)          (25,135)
    Net cash provided by investing
     activities of discontinued operations           2,922               339
          Net cash used in investing
           activities                             (115,486)          (24,796)

    Cash flows from financing activities:
    Capital contribution from discontinued
     operations                                     24,000            17,000
    Proceeds from initial public offering,
     net of underwriting discounts                     -              67,646
    Direct costs of initial public
     offering                                          -              (6,777)
    Cash distribution to former Members                -             (24,613)
    Principal payments under capital lease
     obligations                                    (1,770)           (2,253)
    Repurchase of common stock                      (7,825)              -
    Proceeds from exercises of stock
     options                                         1,724                16
    Repayment of note payable                          -              (4,429)
    Net cash provided by financing
     activities of continuing operations            16,129            46,590
    Net cash used in financing activities
     of discontinued operations                    (24,000)          (17,000)
          Net cash provided by (used in)
           investing activities                     (7,871)           29,590

    Net increase (decrease) in cash and
     cash equivalents                              (32,545)           66,063
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
     of period                                     177,878           111,815
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of
     period                                        145,333           177,878
    Cash and cash equivalents of
     discontinued operations                        10,975            32,708
    Cash and cash equivalents of
     continuing operations                        $134,358          $145,170



                          Archipelago Holdings, Inc.
                                Operating Data
                                 (unaudited)

                                    Three months ended          Year ended
                                December  September  December
                                   31,       30,        31       December 31,
                                  2005      2005       2004    2005       2004

    Trading Days                   63        64         64      252        252

    Total U.S. market volume
     (millions of shares)(1)  274,112   252,130    260,031  1,047,720  990,497
    Our total U.S. market
     volume (millions of
     shares)(1)                38,278    34,589     36,168    144,318  140,306

    Our share of total U.S.
     market volume(1)(2)        14.0%     13.7%      13.9%      13.8%    14.2%
      % of handled shares
       matched internally(3)    11.3%     11.0%      10.8%      11.1%    10.9%
      % of handled shares
       routed out(3)             2.7%      2.7%       3.1%       2.7%     3.3%

    Total volume of Nasdaq-
     listed securities
     (millions of shares)     111,368   105,797    120,994    453,363  455,536
    Our total volume of
     Nasdaq-listed securities
     (millions of shares)      24,855    24,288     28,682    104,271  115,008

    Our share of total volume
     of Nasdaq-listed
     securities(2)              22.3%     23.0%      23.7%      23.0%    25.2%
      % of handled shares
       matched internally(3)    17.9%     18.4%      18.3%      18.4%    19.2%
      % of handled shares
       routed out(3)             4.4%      4.6%       5.4%       4.6%     6.0%

    Total volume of NYSE-
     listed securities
     (millions of shares)     142,435   128,241    120,810    523,615  460,455
    Our volume in NYSE-listed
     securities (millions of
     shares)                    6,768     4,721      2,828     18,855    8,375

    Our share of total volume
     of NYSE-listed
     securities(2)               4.8%      3.7%       2.3%       3.6%     1.8%
      % of handled shares
       matched internally(3)     3.8%      2.8%       1.7%       2.8%     1.2%
      % of handled shares
       routed out(3)             1.0%      0.9%       0.6%       0.8%     0.6%

    Total volume of AMEX-
     listed securities
     (millions of shares)      20,309    18,092     18,227     70,742   74,506
    Our volume in AMEX-listed
     securities (millions of
     shares)                    6,655     5,580      4,658     21,192   16,924

    Our share of total volume
     on AMEX-listed
     securities(2)              32.8%     30.8%      25.6%      30.0%    22.7%
      % of handled shares
       matched internally(3)    28.1%     26.3%      22.3%      25.8%    19.4%
      % of handled shares
       routed out(3)             4.7%      4.5%       3.3%       4.2%     3.3%

    Our ETF volume (millions
     of shares)                 7,618     6,376      4,618     25,152   15,637

    Our U.S. equity
     transaction volume
     (thousands of
     transactions)            131,522   119,782    112,255    486,638  416,629

    Our average U.S. equity
     transaction size (shares
     per transaction)             291       289        322        297      337
    Our average U.S. equity
     transactions per day
     (thousands of
     transactions)              2,088     1,872      1,754      1,931    1,653

    Our average transaction-
     related revenue (per
     share)(4)                $0.0027   $0.0029    $0.0030    $0.0029  $0.0031
    Our average transaction-
     related cost of revenue
     (per share)(5)           $0.0018   $0.0019    $0.0020    $0.0019  $0.0021
    Our average transaction-
     related gross margin
     (per share)(6)           $0.0009   $0.0010    $0.0010    $0.0010  $0.0010

    % of customer order
     volume matched
     internally(7)              89.2%     88.8%      87.4%      88.8%    86.6%
    % of customer order
     volume routed out(7)       10.8%     11.2%      12.6%      11.2%    13.4%


    (1) U.S. market volume is calculated based on the number of shares of
        equity securities traded on the NYSE, AMEX and Nasdaq, including
        exchange-traded funds, as reported in the consolidated tape. The
        "consolidated tape" is the system that continuously provides the last
        sale price and volume of securities transactions in listed securities
        to the public.

    (2) Our market share is calculated based on the number of shares handled
        on the Archipelago system as a percentage of total volume.  For
        example, if a customer's 10,000 share buy order is matched with
        another customer's 10,000 share sell order in our internal liquidity
        pool, our handled volume will be 10,000 shares.  If the buy or sell
        order were routed out, our handled volume would still be 10,000
        shares.

    (3) Represents our share of the total volume of such securities handled on
        ArcaEx that was either matched internally on ArcaEx or routed out to
        an external market center.

    (4) The per share amount is calculated based on our total revenues derived
        from equity transaction fees of $105.1 million, $98.9 million, and
        $110.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2005, September
        30, 2005, and December 31, 2004, respectively, and $415.4 million and
        $434.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004,
        respectively.

    (5) The per share amount is calculated based on our cost of revenues
        derived from transaction fees, which consist of routing charges and
        liquidity payments, of $69.7 million, $65.1 million, and $73.4 million
        for the three months ended December 31, 2005, September 30, 2005, and
        December 31, 2004, respectively, and $273.6 million and $292.2 million
        for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The cost
        of revenue from transaction fees used in the per share computation
        does not include clearance, brokerage and other transaction expenses.

    (6) The per share amount is calculated based on our net revenues received
        from transaction fees, and our total U.S. market volume for the
        relevant period.

    (7) The percentage of customer order volume matched internally is
        calculated by dividing the volume of customer orders executed within
        our internal liquidity pool (including the volume of both buy orders
        and sell orders) by the total volume of customer orders (again
        including the volume of both buy orders and sell orders when such
        orders are matched internally).  The percentage of customer orders
        routed out is calculated by dividing the volume of customer orders
        routed to other market centers by the total volume of customer orders.



                          Archipelago Holdings, Inc.
        Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP measures
          for the three months and the year ended December 31, 2005
                    (In thousands, except per share data)
                                 (unaudited)

We use non-GAAP financial measures of operating performance. Non-GAAP measures do not replace and are not superior to the presentation of our GAAP financial results but are provided to improve overall understanding of our current financial performance and our prospects for the future.

                                            Three months ended     Year ended
                                               December 31,       December 31,
                                                   2005               2005

    Income (loss) from continuing
     operations before income tax
     provision (benefit), GAAP                  $(13,277)           $21,855
    Add back:
    NYSE merger costs and related
     executive compensation                       34,702             46,127
    Income from continuing operations
     before income tax provision, non-GAAP        21,425             67,982
    Income tax provision(1)                        9,106             28,892
    Income from continuing operations,
     non-GAAP                                     12,319             39,090
    Income from discontinued operations              783              3,813
    Net income, non-GAAP                         $13,102            $42,903

    Diluted earnings (loss) per share,
     GAAP                                         $(0.17)             $0.34
    Net effect of adjustments                       0.45               0.56
    Diluted earnings per share, non-GAAP           $0.28              $0.90

    Diluted weighted average shares
     outstanding                                  46,785             47,821

    (1) Using a 42.5% effective tax rate.