GETCO, a global market creator, has agreed to acquire global financial services firm Knight Capital Group (NYSE: KCG) for approximately $1.4 billion. A number of PE firms were minority players in the deal. Headquartered in New Jersey, Knight Capital provides access to capital markets across multiple asset classes to a broad network of clients, including broker-dealers, institutions and corporations. Finding their exits are Knight-backers Stifel Financial, Stephens, Jefferies & Company, TD Ameritrade Holding and Blackstone. Private equity firm General Atlantic made a minority equity investment in GETCO in 2007. The combined company will be a publicly traded market-maker and agency broker across geographies, market structures and asset classes.
