<PAGE>
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000
REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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WIT SOUNDVIEW GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 13-3900397
(State or other jurisdiction of (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
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826 BROADWAY, SEVENTH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10003
(212) 253-4400
(Address, including zip code, of Principal Executive Offices)
--------------
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(Full title of the plan)
-------------
ROBERT H. LESSIN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
WIT SOUNDVIEW GROUP, INC.
826 BROADWAY, SEVENTH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10003
(212) 253-4400
(Name, address, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
-------------
COPIES TO:
STEPHEN P. FARRELL, ESQ.
MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP
101 PARK AVENUE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10178
(212) 309-6050
FAX: (212) 309-6273
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<PAGE>
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PROPOSED PROPOSED
MAXIMUM MAXIMUM
TITLE OF SECURITIES TO NUMBER OF SHARES OFFERING AGGREGATE OFFERING AMOUNT OF
BE REGISTERED (1) TO BE REGISTERED PRICE PER SHARE PRICE REGISTRATION FEE
----------------- ---------------- --------------- ----- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.01
per share, issued upon
exercise of options granted
under the Stock Incentive Plan 171,760 $1.43 (2) $245,616.80
7,754 $2.14 (2) $16,593.56
Common Stock TOTAL 179,514 $262,210.36 $69.23
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) The securities to be registered include the associated rights to purchase
preferred stock.
(2) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h) for the purpose of calculating the
registration fee, based upon the price at which outstanding options were
exercised.
2
<PAGE>
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement includes a form of prospectus to be used by
certain individuals, current or former employees of Wit SoundView Group, Inc. or
Wit Capital Corporation, in connection with the resale of shares of common stock
previously acquired by such individuals upon exercise of options granted under
the Stock Incentive Plan.
3
<PAGE>
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Item 1. PLAN INFORMATION.*
Item 2. REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.*
* Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a)
prospectus is omitted from this registration statement in accordance
with Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
Explanatory Note to Part I of this Form S-8.
4
<PAGE>
Prospectus
179,514 Shares
WIT SOUNDVIEW GROUP, INC.
Common Stock
------------------
We are an Internet investment banking and brokerage firm. This prospectus
relates to the resale of our common stock by some of our employees. The common
stock which may be sold has previously been acquired by these individuals upon
exercise of options granted to them under our Stock Incentive Plan. The Stock
Incentive Plan amended and restated the Stock Option and Restricted Stock
Purchase Plan, effective March 1, 1999.
We will not receive any of the proceeds from these sales. We will pay all
expenses in connection with this offering, other than commissions and discounts
of underwriters, dealers or agents.
Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market (Symbol: WITC). On
July 24, 2000, the closing price of the common stock was $9.03 per share.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is July 25, 2000
<PAGE>
We have not, nor has any individual named in this prospectus, authorized
any person to give any information or to make any representation other than
those contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus. This
prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to
buy.
We have filed a registration statement on Form S-8 in respect of the common
stock offered by this prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Securities Act. This prospectus does not contain all of the
information contained in the registration statement. You should read this entire
prospectus carefully as well as the registration statement for additional
information.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We must file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any documents we file at
the SEC's public reference rooms in Washington, D.C., New York, N.Y. and
Chicago, Illinois. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information
on the public reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available to the public
from the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this
prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information
incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus.
Information in this prospectus may update documents previously filed with the
SEC, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update
this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any
future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prior to the termination of the offering:
- Our registration statement on Form S-4 (File Number 333-42062) filed with
the SEC on July 24, 2000;
- Our periodic report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 26, 2000;
- Our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2000 filed
with the SEC on May 12, 2000;
- Our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on May 2,
2000;
- Our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 (File
Number 000-26225) filed with the SEC on March 30, 2000; and
- Our Form 8-A filed with the SEC on June 1, 1999, including any amendments
or reports filed for the purpose of updating the description of our common
stock that is incorporated by reference therein.
2
<PAGE>
You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or
telephoning us at the following address:
Wit SoundView Group, Inc.
826 Broadway, Seventh Floor
New York, New York 10003
Attention: Secretary
212-253-4400
-----------------
Information on our website is not part of this prospectus.
3
<PAGE>
OUR BUSINESS
We are an Internet investment banking and brokerage firm that provides an
array of services to our institutional and retail customers. We use electronic
mail and the Internet to distribute public offerings to retail customers and use
more traditional channels for distribution of public equity offerings to our
insitutional customers. We also provide extensive equity research focused almost
exclusively on technology and the Internet. Our other services include
institutional sales and trading, private placements, strategic advisory services
and merger and acquisition advice. We have also established private equity funds
for venture capital investing in Internet and technology companies.
In May 2000, we announced our strategic alliance with E*TRADE and our
acquisition of E*OFFERING. As part of the strategic alliance with E*TRADE, we
will become the exclusive source of IPOs, follow-on offerings and other
investment banking products to E*TRADE's customers for an inital term of 3
years and E*TRADE will acquire our retail brokerage business.
PROCEEDS
We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares of our
common stock by the individuals named herein.
4
<PAGE>
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The following table identifies certain of our current and former employees,
any of whom may use this prospectus to sell our common stock. We do not know
whether the individuals listed below will sell any or all of their shares
covered by this prospectus. Assuming all such shares are sold by them, none of
the individuals would own one percent (1%) or more of our common stock.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SHARES COVERED
BY THIS PROSPECTUS
-------------------------
<S> <C>
OTHER EMPLOYEES AND
FORMER EMPLOYEES
Ryan Alexander 750
LeAnn Allen 219
David Bisceglia(1) 2,188
Pamela Blechman 2,188
Jon Cappadona(1) 219
Amy Cortese(1) 6,562
Rachel Cuite 438
Sam Datta(1) 219
B. Espejo 219
Robert Griggs(1) 116,666
Tenzing Jangley 219
Peter Kirby 1,166
Ken Lenskold(1) 8,749
Richard Lerner(1) 4,375
Sheri Lerea(1) 219
Michael Lubik(1) 438
Pamela MacDonald(1) 438
Jimmy Matheos(1) 219
Joanne Medvecky 2,916
Elizabeth Morgan 437
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SHARES COVERED
BY THIS PROSPECTUS
-------------------------
<S> <C>
Kyle McNamara 219
Laura Medley 875
Gina Raetz(1) 700
Gene Robbins(1) 437
Bob Schmidt(1) 21,000
Nancy Hernandez Toste 2,188
Rahul Vaid(1) 5,250
</TABLE>
-------------------------
(1) No longer employed by us.
6
<PAGE>
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus will be sold, if
at all, by the individuals named above, and not by us. The shares may be sold
from time to time as follows:
- on the Nasdaq National Market, in the over-the-counter market, or on a
national securities exchange (any of which may involve crosses and
block transactions);
- to purchasers directly;
- in ordinary brokerage transactions in which the broker solicits
purchasers;
- through underwriters, dealers and agents who may receive compensation
in the form of underwriting discounts, concessions or commissions from
a seller and/or the purchasers of the shares for whom they may act as
agent;
- through the writing of options on the shares;
- through the pledge of shares as security for any loan or obligation,
including pledges to brokers or dealers who may from time to time
effect distributions of the shares or other interests in the shares;
- through purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by
such broker or dealer for its own account pursuant to this prospectus;
- through block trades in which the broker or dealer so engaged will
attempt to sell the shares as agent or as riskless principal but may
position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate
the transaction;
- through exchange distributions in accordance with the rules of the
applicable exchange;
- in any combination of one or more of these methods; or
- in any other lawful manner.
These sales may be made at prices related to the then current market price
or otherwise at prices and on terms then prevailing, or in privately negotiated
transactions. In effecting sales, a broker or dealer engaged by an individual
using this prospectus to sell common stock may arrange for other brokers or
dealers to participate in the sale. In addition, any shares covered by this
prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Section 4(1) of the Securities Act
or Rules 144 or 701(g) under the Securities Act may be sold thereunder rather
than by this prospectus.
The number of shares to be reoffered or resold by means of this
prospectus by each individual named above, and any other individual with whom
he or she is cooperating for the purpose of selling our common stock, may not
exceed the greater of, during any three-month period, (1) 1% of all
outstanding shares of our common stock, (2) the average weekly reported
volume of trading in our common stock on the Nasdaq National Market during
the four weeks preceding, the date of the receipt of the order to execute the
transaction by the broker or the date of execution of the transaction
directly with a market maker, or (3) the average weekly volume of trading in
our common stock reported through the
7
<PAGE>
consolidated transaction reporting system contemplated by Rule 11Aa3-1 under
the Exchange Act during the four-week period specified in clause (2) above.
In connection with distributions of the shares or otherwise, an individual
using this prospectus to sell common stock may enter into hedging transactions
with a broker-dealer. In connection with such a transaction, a broker-dealer may
engage in short sales of shares registered hereunder in the course of hedging
the positions they assume with the seller. The seller may also sell shares short
and deliver the shares to close out such short positions. The seller may also
enter into an option or other transaction with a broker-dealer which requires
the delivery to the broker-dealer of shares we have registered, which the
broker-dealer may resell by this prospectus.
A seller may pay a broker-dealer or an agent compensation in the form of
commissions, discounts or concessions. The broker-dealer and any other
participating broker-dealer may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales and any such
commission, discount or concession may be deemed to be underwriting discounts or
commissions under the Securities Act.
We may be required to file a supplemented prospectus in connection with any
activities involving a seller which may be deemed to be an "underwriting." In
that case, a supplement to this prospectus would contain (1) information as to
whether an underwriter selected by a seller, or any other broker-dealer, is
acting as principal or agent for the seller, (2) the compensation to be received
by an underwriter selected by a seller or any broker-dealer, for acting as
principal or agent for a seller and (3) the compensation to be received by any
other broker-dealer, in the event the compensation of such other broker-dealers
is in excess of usual and customary commissions. Any broker or dealer
participating in any distribution of the shares may be required to deliver a
copy of this prospectus, including any prospectus supplement, to any individual
who purchases any shares from or through such a broker-dealer.
We have advised the people identified in this prospectus as potential
sellers of common stock that during any period when they may be engaged in a
distribution of the shares offered by this prospectus, they are required to
comply with Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act. With certain
exceptions, Regulation M precludes any seller, any affiliated purchaser and any
broker-dealer or other individual who participates in such a distribution from
bidding for or purchasing, or attempting to induce any individual to bid for or
purchase any security, that is the subject of the distribution until the entire
distribution is complete. Regulation M also prohibits any bids or purchases made
in order to stabilize the price of a security in connection with the
distribution of that security. All of these factors may affect the marketability
of our common stock.
The people identified in this prospectus as potential sellers of common
stock offer to sell all, some or none of the shares covered by this prospectus.
Because it is possible that a significant number of shares could be sold
simultaneously by means of this prospectus, such sales, or the possibility
thereof, may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.
INDEMNIFICATION
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation limits, to the
maximum extent permitted under Delaware law, the personal liability of
directors and officers for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary
duties as directors and officers, except in certain circumstances involving
certain
8
<PAGE>
wrongful acts, such as a breach of the director's duty of loyalty or acts of
omission which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law.
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware permits us to
indemnify officers, directors or employees against expenses (including
attorney's fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection
with legal proceedings if the officer, director or employee acted in good faith
and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best
interests, and, with respect to any criminal act or proceeding, he had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Indemnification is not
permitted as to any matter as to which the person is adjudged to be liable
unless, and only to the extent that, the court in which such action or suit was
brought upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in
view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper. Individuals
who successfully defend such an action are entitled to indemnification against
expenses reasonably incurred in connection therewith.
Our By-Laws require us to indemnify directors and officers against, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, liabilities which they may incur under the
circumstances described in the preceding paragraph.
We plan to maintain standard policies of insurance under which coverage is
provided (1) to our directors and officers against loss arising from claims made
by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (2) to us with respect to
payments which may be made by us to such officers and directors pursuant to the
above indemnification provision or otherwise as a matter of law.
In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our
directors and executive officers. Under these agreements, we agree to indemnify
each director and officer to the fullest extent permitted by law for any acts
performed, or for failures to act, on our behalf or on behalf of another person
or entity for which that director or officer is performing services at our
request. We will not indemnify a director or officer for any breach of loyalty
to us or to our stockholders, or if the director or officer does not act in good
faith or for acts involving intentional misconduct, or for acts or omissions
falling under Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, or for any
transaction for which the director or officer derives an improper benefit. We
agree to indemnify for expenses related to indemnifiable events, and to pay for
these expenses in advance. Our obligation to indemnify and to provide advances
for expenses are subject to the approval of a review process with a reviewer to
be determined by the board. The rights of directors and officers will not
exclude any rights to indemnification otherwise available under law or under the
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
VALIDITY OF COMMON STOCK
The validity of our common stock has been passed upon by Morgan, Lewis &
Bockius LLP, New York, New York.
9
<PAGE>
EXPERTS
The annual consolidated financial statements and schedule of Wit Capital
Group, Inc. incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 10-K in this
prospectus have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public
accountants, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are included
herein in reliance upon the authority of this firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.
10
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
The following documents filed by us with the SEC are incorporated by
reference into this Registration Statement:
(a) Our registration statement on Form S-4 (File Number 333-42062) filed
with the SEC on July 24, 2000;
(b) Our periodic report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 26, 2000;
(c) Our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2000
filed with the SEC on May 12, 2000;
(d) Our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on
May 2, 2000;
(e) Our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999
(File Number 000-26225) filed with the SEC on March 30, 2000; and
(f) Our Form 8-A filed with the SEC on June 1, 1999, including any
amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating the
description of our common stock that is incorporated by reference
therein.
All reports and other documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Any statement contained herein or in a document all or a portion of which
is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed
to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.
-II-1-
<PAGE>
Not applicable.
Item 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
Not applicable.
Item 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation limits, to the
maximum extent permitted under Delaware law, the personal liability of directors
and officers for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as
directors and officers, except in certain circumstances involving certain
wrongful acts, such as a breach of the director's duty of loyalty or acts of
omission which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law.
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware permits us to
indemnify officers, directors or employees against expenses (including
attorney's fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection
with legal proceedings if the officer, director or employee acted in good faith
and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best
interests, and, with respect to any criminal act or proceeding, he had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Indemnification is not
permitted as to any matter as to which the person is adjudged to be liable
unless, and only to the extent that, the court in which such action or suit was
brought upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in
view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper. Individuals
who successfully defend such an action are entitled to indemnification against
expenses reasonably incurred in connection therewith.
Our By-Laws require us to indemnify directors and officers against, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, liabilities which they may incur under the
circumstances described in the preceding paragraph.
We plan to maintain standard policies of insurance under which coverage is
provided (1) to our directors and officers against loss arising from claims made
by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (2) to us with respect to
payments which may be made by us to such officers and directors pursuant to the
above indemnification provision or otherwise as a matter of law.
In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our
directors and executive officers. Under these agreements, we agree to indemnify
each director and officer to the fullest extent permitted by law for any acts
performed, or for failures to act, on our behalf or on behalf of another person
or entity for which that director or officer is performing services at our
request. We will not indemnify a director or officer for any breach of loyalty
to us or to our stockholders, or if the director or officer does not act in good
faith or for acts involving intentional misconduct, or for acts or omissions
falling under Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, or for any
transaction for which the director or officer derives an improper benefit. We
agree to indemnify for expenses related to indemnifiable events, and to pay for
these expenses in advance. Our obligation to indemnify and to provide advances
for expenses are subject to the approval of a review process with a reviewer to
be determined by the board. The rights of directors and officers will not
exclude any rights to indemnification otherwise available under law or under the
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
-II-2-
<PAGE>
Item 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.
The outstanding securities to be resold under this registration statement
were sold by Wit Capital Group, Inc. (now Wit SoundView Group, Inc.) or Wit
Capital Corporation in transactions that were exempt from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act either (i) pursuant to Section 4(2) of the
Securities Act, or Regulation D promulgated thereunder, or (ii) with respect to
issuances to employees, directors and consultants, Rule 701, promulgated under
Section 3(b) of the Securities Act, as transactions by an issuer not involving a
public offering or transactions pursuant to compensatory benefit plans and
contracts relating to compensation as provided under Rule 701. The recipients of
securities in each of these transactions represented their intentions to acquire
the securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in
connection with any distribution thereof and appropriate legends were affixed to
the instruments representing such securities issued in such transactions. All
recipients either received adequate information about us or had adequate access,
through their relationships with us, to such information.
Item 8. EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
5.1 Opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (incorporated by
reference to exhibit 5.1 to our Form S-8 (Registration
No. 333-85203) filed with the SEC on August 13, 1999).
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
23.3 Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (incorporated by
reference to exhibit 5.1 to our Form S-8 (Registration
No. 333-85203) filed with the SEC on August 13, 1999).
24 Powers of Attorney (included on pages II-5 and II-6 of this
Registration Statement).
Item 9. UNDERTAKINGS.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the Prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the
most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually
or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
information set forth in this Registration Statement; and
-II-3-
<PAGE>
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
Registration Statement or any material change to such information
in this Registration Statement;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification
is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
-II-4-
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on July 13, 2000.
WIT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
By /S/ROBERT H. LESSIN
-------------------
Robert H. Lessin
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Robert
H. Lessin and Ronald Readmond, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any
and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration
Statement and any and all other documents and instruments incidental thereto,
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory
authority, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following individuals in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/Robert H. Lessin Chief Executive Officer July 13, 2000
----------------------- and Director
Robert H. Lessin
/s/Ronald Readmond Director July 13, 2000
-----------------------
Ronald Readmond
/s/Russell D. Crabs Director July 13, 2000
-----------------------
Russell D. Crabs
/s/Andrew D. Klein Director July 13, 2000
-----------------------
Andrew D. Klein
/s/John H. N. Fisher Director July 13, 2000
-----------------------
John H. N. Fisher
-II-5-
<PAGE>
/s/Edward H. Fleishman Director July 13, 2000
-----------------------
Edward H. Fleischman
/s/Steven M. Gluckstern Director July13, 2000
-----------------------
Steven M. Gluckstern
/s/Joseph R. Hardiman Director July 13, 2000
-----------------------
Joseph R. Hardiman
/s/Gilbert C. Maurer Director July 13, 2000
-----------------------
Gilbert C. Maurer
/s/Curtis L. Snyder Chief Financial Officer July 21, 2000
-----------------------
Curtis L. Snyder
-II-6-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
5.1 Opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (incorporated by
reference to exhibit 5.1 to our Form S-8 (Registration No.333-
85203) filed with the SEC on August 13, 1999).
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
23.3 Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (incorporated by reference
to exhibit 5.1 to our Form S-8 (Registration No.333-85203) filed
with the SEC on August 13, 1999).
24 Powers of Attorney (included on pages II-5 and II-6 of this
Registration Statement).
-II-7-
