Here is a press release. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=104432&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=906722&highlight= I was told at a ToS seminar that they have 30,000 customers, this release says there are only 15300 funded accounts. EDIT: More detailed merger info http://library.corporate-ir.net/library/10/104/104432/items/212981/IEDU - TOS Deal Deck Final.pdf
I trade through a prop but InteractiveBrokers is the only oft discussed retail broker here that trades options on futures and many other products. if you go to a futures broker, I am sure many will also have futures on options.
Coach, It has been sometime since we discussed the brokerage options for those of us trading spreads, diag's, calendars, and various other combos. In light of the TOS announcement maybe now would be a good time for those traders to post about their experiences with firms other than TOS. PS For those traders who do use TOS (like myself) I think it is very important for us to investigate other options. TOS received a great price for their business. Make no mistake about it, this was not a merger but a takeover. The new company paid a ton, and will run things the way they want. The TOS guys will probably hang around for some period of time (probably contractually), but this will certainly be the end of TOS as we know it!
I think you got it wrong in my off the top of my head analysis. I doubt Joel Blom and Tom Sossnoff are letting InvestTools take over their brokerage side of things since those guys are hands on experts in option trading. I think this was a partnership to add more analytical tools to ToS' offering and Investools wanted to partner with a broker. I think they are combining to give each other what they do not have in detail. I highly doubt ToS is the lamb in this. ToS is huge. I doubt this was a takeover, this was a merger and ToS is stil the big dog here. Investools is just seminars, they are not a brokerage. ToS does not need Investtools, but adding mroe seminar offerings will help drive more clients to their brokerage business. That was solely why the started optionplanet, to drive customers to the brokerage side.
Coach, I generally defer to you. But, soomeone posted the PDF file containing detailed analysis of the transaction. TOS is getting paid cash and stock. AFter the transaction TOS stockholders will hold 30% of the stock in the new company. TOS will have 2 of eight directors in the new company. Additionally, this deal is being done to capture the investools customers as brokerage customers. The PDF file contains an analysis of how investools spends money to capture these cusotmers, but the lions share of the benefit then accrues to the brokerage firms (after the education\ or during the continuing education.) This deal is being done so taht investools has its own brokerage arm. The investools custoemrs are significantly different than the current TOS customers, in all respects. This deal was not done to increase the educational opportunities for the TOS option customers. This was done so that Investools has a brokerage arm to capture the business from the 100,000 + custoemrs that they now have!