SCHEDULE 14A
Information Required in Proxy Statement
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant [ X ]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement Commission Only (as permitted
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials By Rule 14A-6(e)(2))
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant
[ ] to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
Nyfix, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[ X ] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(I)(4) AND
0-11.
A. Title of each class of securities to which transaction applied:
B. Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
C. Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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E. Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
A. Amount Previously Paid:
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D. Date Filed:
<PAGE>
NYFIX, INC.
Stamford Harbor Park
333 Ludlow Street
Stamford, CT 06902
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
June 5, 2000
To the Shareholders of NYFIX, INC.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the
"Meeting") of NYFIX, Inc. (the "Company") will be held on Monday, June 5, 2000
at 10:00 A.M. local time, at Stamford Harbor Park, 333 Ludlow Street, Stamford,
CT 06902 for the following purposes:
1. To elect four (4) Directors to the Board of Directors to a one
year term;
2. To approve the amendment to the Company's Amended and Restated
1991 Incentive and Nonqualified Stock Option Plan (the "Plan")
whereby the total number of shares of the Company's Common Stock
available for issuance under the Plan will be increased to
6,625,000 shares from 5,625,000.
3. To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as auditors
of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2000;
4. To consider and act upon such other business as may properly
come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 21,
2000 as the record date for the Meeting. Only shareholders of record on the
stock transfer books of the Company at the close of business on that date are
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors.
Richard A. Castillo
Secretary
Stamford, Connecticut
May 1, 2000
<PAGE>
2000 PROXY STATEMENT
--------------
NYFIX, INC.
Stamford Harbor Park
333 Ludlow Street
Stamford, CT 06902
--------------
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MONDAY, JUNE 5, 2000
This Proxy Statement is furnished to shareholders of NYFIX, Inc., a
New York corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the solicitation, by
order of the Board of Directors of the Company, of proxies to be voted at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on June 5, 2000 at 10:00 A.M., Local
Time, at the principal executive offices of the Company located at Stamford
Harbor Park, 333 Ludlow Street, Stamford, CT 06902. The accompanying proxy is
being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company. This Proxy
Statement and enclosed proxy card will be first mailed to the shareholders of
the Company on or about May 9, 2000, accompanied by the Company's Annual Report
for the year ended December 31, 1999, and the Company incorporates the contents
of such report herein by reference thereto.
As indicated in the Notice of Annual Meeting of the Shareholders,
the Meeting has been called to 1) elect four (4) Directors to the Board of
Directors for the ensuing year and 2) increase the Company's available stock
option grants by a total of one million shares (3) ratify the appointment of
Deloitte & Touche LLP as auditors of the Company for the year ended December 31,
2000 and (4) consider and act upon such other business as may properly come
before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
PROXIES AND VOTING RIGHTS
Shareholders of record at the close of business on April 21, 2000
(the "Record Date") are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. The
voting securities of the Company outstanding on the Record Date consisted of
24,434,137 shares of common stock, par value $.001 (the "Shares"), entitling the
holders thereof to one vote per Share. There was no other class of voting
securities of the Company outstanding on such date. All Shares have equal voting
rights. A majority of the outstanding Shares present in person or by proxy is
required for a quorum.
All proxies delivered pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked
by the person executing the same by notice in writing received at the office of
the Company at any time prior to exercise. If not revoked, the Shares
represented thereby will be voted at the Meeting. All proxies will be voted in
accordance with the instructions specified thereon. If no specification is
indicated on the proxy, the Shares represented thereby will be voted (i) FOR the
election of the persons nominated as Directors and (ii) FOR an increase of one
million shares in the Company's available stock option grants under the plan and
(iii) FOR the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as auditors of the Company
for the year ended December 31, 2000 and (iv) at the discretion of the proxy
holders on any other matters that may properly come before the Meeting. The
Board of Directors does not know of any matters to be considered at the Meeting
other than the election of directors.
Broker "non-votes" and the Shares as to which a shareholder abstains
are included for purposes of determining whether a quorum of Shares is present
at a meeting. A broker "non-vote" occurs when a nominee holding Shares for a
beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does
not have discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not
received instructions from the beneficial owner. Neither broker "non-votes" nor
abstentions are included in the tabulation of the
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<PAGE>
voting results on the election of directors or issues requiring approval of a
majority of the votes cast and, therefore, do not have the effect of votes in
opposition in such tabulations.
All expenses in connection with the solicitation will be borne by
the Company. It is expected that the solicitation will be made primarily by
mail, but regular employees or representatives of the Company may also solicit
proxies by telephone, telegraph or in person, without additional compensation.
The Company will, upon request, reimburse brokerage houses and persons holding
Shares in the names of their nominees for their reasonable expenses in sending
proxy material to their principals.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING, YOU ARE
URGED TO FILL IN, DATE, SIGN, AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE
ENVELOPE THAT IS PROVIDED, WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN
THE UNITED STATES.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP
The following table sets forth information concerning ownership of
the Company's Shares, as at the Record Date, by (i) each person known by the
Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the Shares, (ii)
each director and nominee for election as a director, (iii) each of the
executive officers named in the executive summary compensation table and (iv)
all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. Unless otherwise
indicated, each shareholder has sole voting power and sole dispositive power
with respect to the indicated Shares.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares
Beneficially
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner Owned Percentage of Class (*)
------------------------------------ ------------ -----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Peter Kilbinger Hansen 2,024,663 (1) 8.3%
333 Ludlow Street
Stamford, CT 06902
Jerome Belson 1,615,500 6.6%
495 Broadway 6th Floor
New York, NY 10012
Carl E. Warden 777,690 3.2%
1516 Country Club Drive
Los Altos, CA 94024
Lars Kragh 759,713 (2) 2.4%
333 Ludlow Street
Stamford, CT 06902
Richard A. Castillo 22,500 **
333 Ludlow Street
Stamford, CT 06902
Dean G. Stamos 0 0
100 Wall Street 21st Floor
New York, NY 10005
All Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (6 persons) 3,412,440 14.0%
- --------------------------------------
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
* - Based upon 24,434,137 shares outstanding on April 21, 2000.
** - Less than 1% of outstanding common stock.
(1) -Includes 56,250 warrants and 343,125 options to purchase the Company's
Common Stock held by Mr. Hansen all of which are exercisable within 60
days hereof.
(2) -Includes 109,125 shares issuable upon exercise of options within 60 days
hereof.
MANAGEMENT
The directors and executive officers of the Company are as follows:
Name Age Position
- ---- --- --------
Peter Kilbinger Hansen 39 President, Chief Executive Officer,
Chairman and Director
Richard A. Castillo 42 Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Lars Kragh 39 Executive Vice President-Research and
Development
Dean Stamos 34 Executive Vice President and President
NYFIX Millennium, L.L.C. and nominee for
Director
Dr. John H. Chapman 56 Director
Carl E. Warden 61 Director
- --------------------
The Principal Occupation for the Past Five Years and Current Public
Directorships of the executive officer's and directors are as follows:
Peter Kilbinger Hansen, the founder of the Company, has served as its President,
Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of Directors since the
commencement of the Company's operations in June 1991. Prior to founding NYFIX,
Mr. Hansen served for three years as director of banking systems of Business
Line A/S, a Danish company, where he installed more than 30 online telex-trading
systems. Prior thereto, Mr. Hansen was for more than three years the Sales and
Marketing Director for Mark Computer Systems, responsible for developing the
business idea for and launching its turnkey network broker communication system.
Mr. Hansen holds a degree in Economics from Neil's' Brock Business School of
Copenhagen and an associated degree in economics from the Copenhagen University
of Language and Economics.
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<PAGE>
Richard A. Castillo joined NYFIX, Inc. as Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
in November 1998. Prior to that, he held positions in long-term financial
management roles involving strategic planning, business analysis and operations
responsibility. Mr. Castillo served a ten year tenure with American Airlines
where, in addition to budgetary responsibilities, he was directly involved in
significant logistical and operational functions. One of Mr. Castillo's most
significant roles at American Airlines was that of Controller for the Dallas
Fort Worth and Chicago Airports, which combined represented a $500 million
operation. Prior to that, Mr. Castillo spent six years with Datapoint, a pioneer
in networking technology. Mr. Castillo, a Certified Public Accountant, earned a
Masters of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from the University
of Texas and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the
University of Texas at San Antonio.
Lars Kragh, Executive Vice President, Research and Development, has been with
the Company since its inception in 1991. Mr. Kragh is directly involved in all
research and development of the Company's products. Prior to joining NYFIX, Mr.
Kragh developed turnkey network systems for banking involving numerous system
integrations with global market data providers. Mr. Kragh also developed an
accounting and ticketing system for SAS-Airlines and a substantial turnkey PC
Network Communication System for the shipping industry. In total, Mr. Kragh has
developed software for turnkey integrations that are utilized in the daily
operations of more than 300 international companies in Europe, the Far East and
the United States. Mr. Kragh earned a Masters of Science in Electrical
Engineering from the Danish University of Technology.
Dean Stamos, Executive Vice President of NYFIX, Inc. and President of NYFIX
Millennium, L.L.C. joined the Company in August 1999. Mr. Stamos comes to the
Company with ten years of trading and management experience, most recently as
Director of Execution Services at SG Cowen Securities. In that role, Mr. Stamos
focused on management both in strategic and operating roles, overseeing all of
that firm's execution services division including floor operations on the
domestic regional equity and options exchanges. Prior to that, Mr. Stamos was
Regional Manager of Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc., where he headed execution
services for the Boston and San Francisco Exchanges. Mr. Stamos also served as
Exchange Floor Manager for the Boston Stock Exchange for Cowen & Company and was
a regional exchange specialist on the Boston Stock Exchange. Mr. Stamos has
served on several industry committees, including the Transaction Auditing Group
(TAG) Advisory Board, the Boston Stock Exchange Fee Committee and the SG Cowen
Order Routing Committee.
Dr. John Haven Chapman has served as a Director of the Company since May 1992.
Dr. Chapman serves as Chairman on the Audit Committee and a member of the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Dr. Chapman has over 20 years
experience in the computer and telecommunication industries, and presently
serves as General Partner of Dignitas Partners LLC, a strategic ventures firm.
His industry experience has included executive positions at Xerox Corporation
and Gartner Group, and he has served as an Executive Director and is a Research
Fellow of the Columbia Institute of Tele-Information at Columbia University. Dr.
Chapman is also Managing Director of the Law & Economics Group in Stamford, CT.
In addition, he is Counsel to the Computer and Communications Industry
Association, an international trade organization based in Washington, D.C. Dr.
Chapman received his Engineering and English degrees from Brown University, his
MBA in Management and Finance from the University of Southern California, a
Juris Doctor Degree from Boston University School of Law, and his Ph.D. and
M.Phil in Business Economics and Public Policy from Columbia University.
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<PAGE>
Carl E. Warden has served as a Director of the Company since August 1993. Mr.
Warden serves as Chairman of the Compensation Committee and a member of the
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. For more than five years, Mr. Warden
has been a self-employed private investor. Mr. Warden received his BBA from the
Freeman School of Business at Tulane University.
None of the Directors or Executive Officers has been involved in material legal
proceedings during the last five years in which he has been a party adverse to
or has had a material interest adverse to the Company.
PROPOSAL NO. 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The By-Laws of the Company (the "By-Laws") provide that the Company
shall have not less than two nor more than seven directors, with the exact
number to be fixed by the Board of Directors of the Company from time to time.
The Board of Directors of the Company presently consists of five members. A
total of four directors will be elected at the Meeting to serve, subject to the
provisions of the By-Laws of the Company, until the next annual meeting of the
Shareholders and until the election and qualification of their successors or
until their prior death, resignation or removal. Mr. Craig M. Shumate, who
served as director during 1999, has decided to retire at the end of this term
and the Company has elected not to nominate a replacement at this time. All
nominees are currently directors of the Company. Management has no reason to
believe that any of the nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve as a
director, if elected. Should any nominee not be a candidate at the time of the
Meeting (a situation which is not now anticipated), proxies may be voted in
favor of the remaining nominees and may also be voted for a substitute nominee
selected by the Board of Directors.
The names of the nominees for director are John H. Chapman, Peter K.
Hansen, Dean Stamos and Carl E. Warden.
See "Management" for information regarding each of the nominees for
director.
The Board of Directors of the Company recommends a vote FOR the
above-named nominee directors of the Company. The proxy enclosed herewith will
be voted FOR the above-named nominee directors of the Company unless the
shareholder specifically votes against any or all of the nominee directors, or
abstains from voting on this matter.
Directors Meetings and Compensation
The Board of Directors meets on a regularly scheduled basis and met
six times during 1999. The Board of Directors has assigned certain
responsibilities to committees. The Audit Committee, which met once during 1999,
reviews, analyzes and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors with
respect to the Company's accounting policies, controls and statements and
coordinates with the Company's independent public accountants. In December of
1999 the SEC Blue Ribbon committee issued requirements and deadlines associated
with these requirements for Audit Committees. The Company expects to be in full
compliance on or before these deadlines. The members of the Audit Committee
currently are John H. Chapman (Chairman), Craig M. Shumate and Carl E. Warden.
At this time, the Company has not nominated a replacement for Mr. Shumate. The
Compensation Committee, which met once during 1999, determines the amounts and
types of remuneration to be paid to management employees. The members of the
Compensation Committee are Carl E. Warden (Chairman), Peter K. Hansen and John
H. Chapman. From time to time, the members of the Board of Directors act by
unanimous written consent pursuant to the laws of the State of New York.
As compensation for their services as members of the Board of
Directors for 1997 and 1998, and pursuant to a formula plan, each Board Member
received warrants to purchase Common Stock of the Company. The warrants
(exercisable into an aggregate of 60,000 shares of Common Stock) vest in two
equal portions on December 31, 1997 and 1998, so long as the director completes
service for such respective years. No director compensation was granted in 1999.
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<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary of Cash and Certain Other Compensation
The following table provides certain information, for the years
ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively, concerning compensation
awarded to, earned by or paid to the chief executive officer of the Company and
(ii) the three most highly compensated executive officers of the Company other
than the CEO whose salary and bonus exceeded $100,000 with respect to the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1999 and who were employed by the Company on December
31, 1999 (the "Named Executive Officers"). Other than the CFO, Executive Vice
President - Research and Development and Executive Vice President and President
of NYFIX Millennium L.L.C. of the Company, no other executive officer received
compensation in excess of $100,000 for the periods presented below. On March 14,
2000, the Company announced a 3 for 2 stock split in the form of a 50% stock
dividend to all shareholders of record on March 24, 2000, payable on April 4,
2000. All shares listed below have been adjusted for this stock split.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Long-Term
Annual Compensation Compensation
------------------- ------------
Other Annual Securities All Other
Name and Salary Bonus Compensation Underlying Options Compensation
Principal Position Year ($) ($) ($) (Shares) ($) (c)
------------------ ---- --- --- --- -------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Peter K. Hansen, 1999 $134,519 - - 67,500 (b) $1,580
President 1998 $115,000 - $ 6,075 (a) - $1,732
1997 $115,000 - $57,900 (a) 562,500 (d) $1,300
Richard A. Castillo, 1999 $ 115,000 - $ 7,500 (e) 11,250 (f) -
Chief Financial Officer 1998 $ 11,058 - $ 7,500 (e) 67,500 (g) -
1997 N/A
Lars Kragh, 1999 $121,815 $1,000 56,250 (h) $1,117
Executive Vice President - 1998 $110,000 $5,000 - $1,031
Research and Development 1997 $100,000 $2,000 225,000 (i) $ 896
Dean Stamos, 1999 $100,916 337,500 (j)
Executive V.P. & President 1998 N/A
NYFIX Millennium L.L.C. 1997 N/A
</TABLE>
(a) - Represents sales commissions.
(b) - Represents 67,500 options which vest on April 13, 2000
(c) - Represents car allowance
(d) - Represents 562,500 options which vest ratably over five years at 112,500
per annum beginning on January 3, 1998
(e) - Represents relocation allowance
(f) - Represents 11,250 options which vest on August 2, 2000
(g) - Represents 67,500 option which vest ratably over three years at 22,500 per
annum beginning at November 4, 1999
(h) - Represents 2,250 options which vest on April 13, 2000 and 54,000 options
which vest ratably over three years at 18,000 per annum beginning on June
1, 2000
(i) - Represents 225,000 options which vest ratably over five years at 45,000
options per annum beginning on January 3, 1998
(j) - Represents 112,500 options which vest ratably over three years at 37,500
per annum beginning at August 2, 2000. In addition, 112,500 options vest
no later than December 31, 2000 and 112,500 vest on December 31, 2001. The
vesting of these options is contingent upon the achievement of certain
earnings performance-based criteria and revenue goals related to NYFIX
Millennium, LLC ("Millennium")
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<PAGE>
Stock Option Grants
The following table provides information with respect to the Named
Executive Officers concerning grants of stock options during the year ended
December 31, 1999.
OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percentage of
Total Options
Granted to
Number of Employees in Per Share
Name Options Granted Fiscal 1999 Exercise Price Expiration Date
---- --------------- ----------- -------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Peter K. Hansen 67,500(1) 4.7% $3.30 April 13, 2004
Richard A. Castillo 11,250(2) 0.8% $6.945 August 2, 2009
Lars Kragh 2,250(3) 0.2% $3.00 April 13, 2009
Lars Kragh 54,000(4) 3.7% $6.555 June 1, 2009
Dean G. Stamos 337,500(5) 23.3% $6.945 August 2, 2009
</TABLE>
(1) Represents options to purchase the Company's Common Stock granted on
April 13, 1999 at 110% of their then fair market value. The options
granted vest on April 13, 2000. According to the "Amended and
Restated 1991 Incentive and Nonqualified Stock Option Plan" an
individual who possesses more than ten percent of the total combined
voting power al all classes of stock of the Company is subject to a
purchase price of not less than one hundred ten percent of the fair
market value of such stock on the date the option is granted. The
duration of the stock option is five years from the date of grant
for ten percent holders.
(2) Represents options to purchase the Company's Common Stock granted on
August 2, 1999 at their then fair market value. The options granted
vest on August 2, 2000.
(3) Represents options to purchase the Company's Common Stock granted on
April 13, 1999 of their then fair market value. The options granted
vest
1,125 each year beginning on April 13, 2000.
(4) Represents options to purchase the Company's Common Stock granted on
June 1, 1999 of their then fair market value. The options granted
vest 18,000 each year beginning on June 1, 2000.
(5) Represents options to purchase the Company's Common Stock granted on
August 2, 1999 at their then fair market value. The options granted
vest 37,500 each year for three years beginning on August 2, 2000.
In addition, 112,500 options vest no later than December 31, 2000
and 112,500 vest on December 31, 2001. The vesting of these options
is contingent upon the achievement of certain earnings
performance-based criteria and revenue goals related to Millennium.
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<PAGE>
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL PERIOD,
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of
Number of Shares Securities Underlying Value of Unexer1cised
Acquired on Unexercised Options at In-the-Money Options
Value December 31, 1999 December 31, 1999 (1)
Name Exercise Realized (E) (U) (E) (U)
---- -------- -------- --- --- --- ---
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Peter K. Hansen
Options -- -- 275,625 405,000 $4,637,344 $6,696,000
Warrants 16,875 $ 98,438 37,500 -- $ 890,750 --
Richard A. Castillo
Options 22,500 $ 383,750 -- 56,250 -- $ 845,938
Lars Kragh
Options -- -- 90,000 191,250 $1,522,500 $2,987,063
Dean G. Stamos
Options -- -- -- 337,500 -- $4,040,625
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(E) - Exercisable
(U) - Unexercisable
(1) - Based on the December 31, 1999 closing price of $28.375as
reported by AMEX.
Employment Agreement
In January 1991, the Company entered into a five-year employment
agreement with Peter Kilbinger Hansen, its President. The agreement called for a
base salary of $114,000 for the first year, with such base salary to be review
on an annual basis thereafter by the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors. Effective June 7, 1999 the board of directors approved an increase in
Mr. Hansen's base salary from $115,000 to $150,000. In addition, Mr. Hansen is
entitled to receive a sales commission on the gross sales of any products of the
Company which are sold through his direct sales efforts, which is equivalent to
the normal sales commission paid to all Company commission employees. During the
years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, Mr. Hansen earned commissions of
$0, $6,075 and $57,900, respectively. In the event Mr. Hansen is terminated by
the Company without cause, he is entitled to receive an amount equal to four
times his then current base salary and prorated payment of any bonus, cash or
stock earned.
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<PAGE>
1999 Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation:
General
The Compensation Committee determines the cash and other incentive
compensation, if any, to be paid to the Company's executive officers and key
employees. Messrs. Warden, Hansen and Chapman serve as members of the
Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee is responsible for the
administration and award of stock options under the Company's Amended and
Restated Incentive and Nonqualified Stock Option Plan. Both Messrs. Chapman and
Warden are non-employee directors of the Company, as defined under Rule 16b-3 of
the 1934 Exchange Act, as amended. Mr. Warden serves as Chairman of the
Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee met once during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1999.
Compensation Philosophy
The Compensation Committee's executive compensation philosophy is to
base management's pay, in part, on achievement of the Company's annual and
long-term performance goals, to provide competitive levels of compensation, to
recognize individual initiative, achievement and length of service to the
Company, and to assist the Company in attracting and retaining qualified
management. The Compensation Committee also believes that the potential for
equity ownership by management is beneficial in aligning management's and
stockholders' interests in the enhancement of stockholder value. The Company has
not established a policy with regard to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
Salaries
Base salaries for the Company's executive officers are determined
initially by evaluating the responsibilities of the position held and the
experience of the individual, and by reference to the competitive marketplace
for management talent, including a comparison of base salaries for comparable
positions at other comparable companies. Base salary compensation of executive
officers is reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee, and recommendations
of the Compensation Committee in that regard are acted upon by the Board of
Directors. Annual salary adjustments are determined by evaluating the
competitive marketplace; the performance of the Company; the performance of the
executive; the length of the executive's service to the Company and any
increased responsibilities assumed by the executive. The Company places itself
between the low and medium levels in determining salaries compared to the other
comparable businesses.
Stock Option and Other Plans
The Company awarded Messrs. Hansen, Castillo, Kragh and Stamos options
to purchase 67,500, 11,250, 56,250 and 337,500 shares of common stock,
respectively, in 1999. The exercise prices for the options ranged from $3.00 to
$6.945. It is the philosophy of the Compensation Committee that stock options
should be awarded to employees of the Company to promote long-term interests
between such employees and the Company's stockholders through an equity interest
in the Company and assist in the retention of such employees. The Compensation
Committee also considered the amount and terms of options previously granted to
executive officers. The Compensation Committee believes the potential for equity
ownership by management is beneficial in aligning management's and stockholders'
interest in the enhancement of stockholder value. Participation in incentive
plans is offered, pursuant to their terms, to provide incentive to executive
officers to contribute to corporate growth and profitability.
9
<PAGE>
Mr. Hansen was the Company's President in 1999, with an annual salary
of $134,519. Mr. Castillo was Chief Financial Officer of the Company in 1999
with an annual base salary of $115,000. As described in the Employment
Agreements section above, Mr. Hansen's annual base salary is determined by
contract. In determining such amount, the Board of Directors considered the
responsibilities performed by Mr. Hansen as President of the Company, his
performance in managing and directing the Company's operations, his efforts in
assisting the Company to improve its capital base and financial condition, a
competitive assessment of survey data of other comparable companies as it
relates to the Company's performance versus other comparable companies, and the
evaluation of the other factors described in "Salaries" above.
Compensation Committee: Carl E. Warden (Chairman), Peter K. Hansen, and
John H. Chapman.
10
<PAGE>
Common Stock Performance: The following graph compares, for each of the
fiscal years indicated, the yearly percentage change in the Company's cumulative
total stockholder return on the Company's common stock with the cumulative total
return of a) the Standard and Poor's Index, a broad equity market index, and b)
the Nasdaq Computer & Data Processing Index.
[PERFORMANCE CHART]
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
S&P 500 Index 100.00 138 169 226 290 351
NYFIX, INC. 100.00 216 189 326 379 1,792
Nasdaq Computer & 100.00 152 188 231 412 871
Data Processing Index
There can be no assurance that the Common Stock's performance will
continue with the same or similar trends depicted in the graph above.
11
<PAGE>
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
On December 13, 1999, Richard A. Castillo exercised 22,500 common
stock options, at an exercise price of $3.11 per share, by signing promissory
note payable to the Company for $70,000. The note bears interest at the annual
rate of 6%. The related amounts outstanding from Mr. Castillo at December 31,
1999 were $70,219 and $712 of advances receivable.
On June 30, 1999, Peter Kilbinger Hansen exercised 16,875 common
stock warrants at an exercise price of $1.00 per share, by signing a promissory
note payable to the Company for $16,875. The note bears interest at the annual
rate of 6%. The related amounts outstanding from Mr. Hansen at December 31, 1999
were $17,388. At December 31, 1999, the Company had $50,000 receivable from Mr.
Hansen relating to an earlier exercise of 112,500 stock options and $141,798 of
advances receivable.
On March 30, 1999, the Board of Directors formally approved the
second amendment to the Amended and Restated 1991 Incentive and Nonqualified
Stock Option Plan. Under this amendment, the number of options reserved for
issuance has been increased from 1,500,000 shares to 2,500,000 shares of common
stock. This amendment was approved at the Company's Annual Meeting of
Shareholders held on June 7, 1999. In connection with the aforementioned stock
split paid on November 15, 1999, the number of shares reserved for issuance was
increased to 3,750,000. On March 14, 2000, the Company announced a 3 for 2 stock
split in the form of a 50% stock dividend to all shareholders of record on March
24, 2000, payable on April 4, 2000. As a result of this stock dividend the
number of shares reserved for issuance has been increased to 5,625,000.
On July 13, 1998, the Company entered into a three year $3 million
line of credit agreement (the "Agreement") with a financial institution. The
debt is personally secured by Jerome Belson, a beneficial owner of more that 5%
of Company stock and Peter Kilbinger Hansen, the Company's president. In
consideration for securing the Agreement, Mr. Belson and Mr. Hansen received
337,500 and 56,250 warrants respectively, to purchase the Company's common stock
at $2.83 per share, which was the market value of the Company's common stock on
the date such warrants were issued.
On December 30, 1997, Peter Kilbinger Hansen and Lars Kragh, Vice
President - Research and Development, exercised 258,750 and 168,750 common stock
warrants, respectively, at an exercise price of $0.89 per share, by signing
promissory notes payable to the Company for $230,000 and $150,000 respectively.
The notes bear interest at the annual rate of 6%. The related amounts
outstanding from Mr. Hansen and Mr. Kragh at December 31, 1999 were $257,676 and
$168,049, respectively. At December 31, 1999, the Company had $1,000 of advances
receivable from Mr. Kragh.
PROPOSAL NO. 2 - APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED 1991
INCENTIVE AND NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN
The Board of Directors proposes that the Amended And Restated 1991
Incentive And Nonqualified Stock Option Plan Amendment (the "Plan Amendment"),
whereby the number of Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the exercise of
options granted under the Plan will be increased from 5,625,000 Shares of Common
Stock to 6,625,000 Shares of Common Stock, be approved.
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On February 12, 1996 the Board of Directors of NYFIX, Inc. adopted
certain amendments to the Company's 1991 Incentive Stock Option Plan. The
Amended And Restated 1991 Incentive And Nonqualified Stock Option Plan (the
"Plan") was approved at the 1996 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The number of
shares available under the plan was increased to 2,500,000 at the 1999 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders. The number of shares available under the plan was
increased to 3,750,000 as a result of a 50% stock dividend issued on November
15, 1999. These plan shares were further increased to 5,625,000 on April 4, 2000
as a result of another 50% stock dividend. On March 29, 2000 at a Regular
meeting of the Board of Directors, the Board voted to increase the number of
Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan to 6,625,000 Shares of Common Stock.
Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Plan upon exercise of incentive
stock options, as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code (the
"Code"), and nonqualified stock options.
The Plan is intended to assist the Company in securing and retaining
key employees and non-employee directors by allowing them to participate in the
ownership and growth of the Company through the grant of incentive and
nonqualified stock options. The granting of such options serves as partial
consideration for and gives key employees and non-employee directors an
additional inducement to remain in the service of the Company and its
subsidiaries and provides them with an increased incentive to work towards the
Company's success.
The Board of Directors believes it is in the Company's and its
shareholders best interests to approve the Plan amendment because it would (i)
allow the Company to continue to grant options under the Plan which facilitates
the benefits of additional incentive inherent in the ownership of Common Stock
by key employees and non-employee directors and help the Company retain the
services of key employees and non-employee directors and (ii) enable
compensation received under the Plan to qualify as "performance-based" for
purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.
The Plan currently authorizes the issuance of a maximum of 5,625,000
Shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of options granted
thereunder. As of the date hereof, stock options to purchase 5,529,275 Shares of
Common Stock, at exercise prices ranging from $0.44 to $27 per share, vesting
over a one-to- three year period have been granted under the Plan, of which
1,698,002 have lapsed or have been exercised. No options have been heretofore
granted subject to shareholder approval of the Plan Amendment. Options to
purchase 230,568 Shares of Common Stock were exercised in 1999 and in 2000
through the Record Date. Options to purchase 4,605,448 Shares of Common Stock
were outstanding as of the date hereof. During the last completed calendar year
and through the Record Date, options to purchase Shares of Common Stock have
been granted pursuant to the Plan to (i) the Named Executive Officers, (ii) all
current executive officers as a group and (iii) all employees, including all
current officers who are not executive officers, as a group, as follows:
PLAN BENEFITS
Number of Options (1) (2)
Named Executive Officers 472,500
Executive Officers 472,500
Non-executive Director Group -
Non-executive Officer Employee Group 2,824,350
(1) On the record date, the last reported sales price of the Common Stock as
reported on the AMEX was $28.25 per share.
(2) Information contained in this table is duplicative information contained
in "Executive Compensation" and does not signify additional grants of
options to purchase Shares of Common Stock.
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Administration
The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee (the
"Compensation Committee"), consisting of members of the Board of Directors
appointed by the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee will select
individuals who will be granted options to purchase Shares of Common Stock under
the Plan and, subject to the provisions of the Plan, will determine the terms
and conditions and number of Shares of Common Stock subject to each such option.
The Compensation Committee will also make any other determinations necessary or
advisable for the administration of the Plan. The Plan will terminate on June
23, 2001, but may be terminated by the Board of Directors at any time before
that date.
Options
Upon the grant of an option to purchase Shares of Common Stock to an
employee or non-employee director, the Compensation Committee will fix the
number of Shares of the Company's Common Stock that the optionee may purchase
upon exercise of such option and the price at which the Shares may be purchased.
The option price for options shall not be less than 100% of the "fair market
value" of the Shares of Common Stock at the time such option is granted;
provided, however, that with respect to an incentive stock option in the case of
an optionee, who, at the time such option is granted, owns more than 10% of the
voting stock of the Company or its subsidiaries, then the purchase price per
share shall be at least 110% of the fair market value. "Fair market value" is
deemed to be the closing price of Shares of Common Stock on such date, on the
AMEX. The aggregate fair market value of Shares of Common Stock (determined at
the time the incentive option is granted) subject to incentive stock option
plans of the Company, and of the Company's subsidiaries (if any), and that
become exercisable for the first time by such key employee during any calendar
year may not exceed $100,000. Payment of the exercise price for Shares of Common
Stock subject to options may be made with cash; check or such other instrument
as may be acceptable to the Company. In order to assist an option holder with
the acquisition of Shares pursuant to the exercise of an option granted under
the Plan, the Committee may, in its discretion and subject to the requirements
of applicable statutes, rules and regulations, whenever, in its judgment, such
assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the Company, authorize, either
at the time of the grant of the option or thereafter the extension of a loan to
the option holder by the Company. The Committee shall determine the terms of any
such loan, including the interest rate and other terms of repayment thereof.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
Incentive Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options granted under the
Plan are intended to be "incentive stock options" as defined by Section 422 of
the Code. Under present law, the grantee of an incentive stock option will not
realize taxable income upon the grant or exercise of the incentive stock option
and the Company will not receive an income tax deduction either at such time. If
the grantee does not sell the Shares acquired upon exercise of an incentive
stock option within either (i) two years after the grant of the incentive stock
option or (ii) one year after the date of exercise of the incentive stock
option, the gain upon a subsequent sale of Shares will be taxed as long-term
capital gain. If the grantee within either of the above periods, disposed of the
Shares acquired upon exercise of the incentive stock option, the grantee will
recognize as ordinary income an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the gain
realized by the grantee upon such disposition or (ii) the difference between the
exercise price at the fair market value of the Shares on the date of exercise.
In such event, the Company would be entitled to a corresponding income tax
deduction equal to the amount recognized as ordinary income by the grantee. The
gain in excess of such amount recognized by the grantee as ordinary income would
be taxed as a long-term capital gain or short-term capital gain (subject to the
holding period requirements for long-term or short-term capital gain treatment).
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Unless the Shares subject to an incentive stock option are subject
to a risk of forfeiture at the time the option is exercised, the exercise of the
incentive stock option will result in the excess of the stock's fair market
value on the date of exercise over the exercise price being included in the
optionee's alternative minimum taxable income (AMTI). If the Shares are subject
to a risk of forfeiture and are nontransferable, the excess described above will
be included in the AMTI when risk of forfeiture lapses or the Shares become
transferable, whichever occurs sooner. Liability for the alternative minimum tax
is complex and depends upon an individual's overall tax situation. Before
exercising an incentive stock option, a grantee should discuss the possible
application of the alternative minimum tax with his/her tax advisor in order to
determine the tax's impact.
Non-Qualified Stock Options. Upon exercise of a non-qualified stock
option granted under the Plan, or upon exercise of an incentive stock option
that does not qualify for the tax treatment described above under "Incentive
Stock Options," the grantee will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal
the excess of fair market value of the Shares received over the exercise price
of such Shares. That amount increases the grantee's basis in the stock acquired
pursuant to the exercise of the non-qualified option. Upon subsequent sale of
the stock, the grantee will incur short-term or long-term gain or loss depending
upon his/her holding period for the Shares and upon the Shares' subsequent
appreciation or depreciation in the value. The Company will be allowed a federal
income tax deduction for the amount recognized as ordinary income by the grantee
upon the grantee's exercise of the option.
Summary of Tax Consequences. The forgoing outline is no more than a
summary of the federal income tax provisions relating to the grant and exercise
of options under the Plan and the sale of Shares acquired under the Plan.
Individual circumstances may vary these results. The federal income tax laws and
regulations are constantly being amended, and each participant should rely upon
his/her own tax counsel for advice concerning the federal income tax provisions
applicable to the Plan.
The Board of Directors believes it is in the Company's best
interests to approve the Plan Amendment which would allow the Company to
continue to grant options under the Plan to secure for the Company the benefits
of the additional incentive inherent in the ownership of Shares of the Company's
Common Stock by key employees and non-employee directors and to help the Company
secure and retain the services of key employees and non-employee directors and
to enable compensation under the Plan to qualify as "performance-based" for
purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. The affirmative vote of the holders of
record of a majority of the Shares of Common Stock present in person or by proxy
at the Meeting is required for approval of the Plan Amendment.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE PLAN AMENDMENT.
The Company operates in a competitive environment and offers stock
options as a means of compensation to employees. The increased number of Shares
available for grant under the Plan will help to ensure that the Company will
continue to be able to recruit and retain qualified employees who can contribute
to the overall success of the Company and its shareholders.
PROPOSAL NO. 3 - INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors engaged Deloitte & Touche LLP ("Deloitte &
Touche") on April 27, 2000 to serve as the independent public accountants of the
Company for the current year ending December 31, 2000. Such firm has no other
relationship to the Company. A representative of Deloitte & Touche is expected
to attend the Annual Meeting, and such representative will have the opportunity
to make a statement if he/she so desires and will be available to respond to
appropriate questions from shareholders. The accounting firm of Arthur Andersen
LLP ("Arthur Andersen") served as the Company's independent public accountants
for each of the three years on the period ended December 31, 1999. The Audit
Committee of the Company's Board of Directors approved a change in the Company's
independent
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accountants for the year ended December 31, 2000, from Arthur Andersen to
Deloitte & Touche, and Arthur Andersen was dismissed on April 21, 2000. The
report of Arthur Andersen for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1999 contained no adverse opinions, disclaimer of opinion or
qualification or modification as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting
principles. During each of the three years in the period ended December 31,
1999, there were no disagreements between the Company and Arthur Andersen on any
accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing
scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Arthur
Andersen would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the
disagreement in connection with its report. No event described in paragraph (a)
(1) (v) of Item 304 of Regulation S-K has occurred within the Company for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31 1999.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Proposals of shareholders intended for presentation at the next
Annual Meeting of Shareholders and intended to be included in the Company's
Proxy Statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting must be received at
the offices of the Company no later than December 29, 2000.
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OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors does not know of any matter, other than those
described above that may be presented for action at the Meeting. If any other
matter or proposal should be presented and should properly come before the
meeting for action, the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote upon
such matter or proposal in accordance with their best judgment.
The Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1999, including
financial statements, is being mailed herewith. If, for any reason, you did not
receive your copy of the Annual Report, please advise the Company and another
will be sent to you.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Richard A.Castillo
Secretary
NYFIX, Inc.
Stamford, Connecticut
May 1, 2000
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NYFIX, Inc.
PROXY - Annual Meeting of Stockholders - June 5, 2000
The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints PETER K. HANSEN, JOHN H.
CHAPMAN, DEAN G. STAMOS, and CARL E. WARDEN, and each of them, the attorneys and
proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote on behalf
of the undersigned all of the shares of NYFIX, Inc. (the "Company"), which the
undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the
Company, to be held at Stamford Harbor Park, 333 Ludlow Street, Stamford,
Connecticut 06902, at 10 o'clock in the morning, Eastern Daylight Time, on
Monday, June 5, 2000, and all adjournments thereof, upon the following matters:
(Continued, and to be signed and dated on the other side)
<PAGE>
1. Election of Directors John H. Chapman, Peter K. Hansen, Dean G. Stamos
and Carl E. Warden
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
For all nominees WITHHOLD (INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to
listed (except as AUTHORITY vote for any individual nominee, write that
marked to the to vote for all nominee's name on the space provided
contrary.) nominees listed. below:)
</TABLE>
----------- ------------ ----------------------------------
2. A proposal to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as auditors of
the Company for the year ended December 31, 2000.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
----- ----- -----
3. To approve an amendment to the Company's Amended And Restated 1991 Incentive
and Nonqualified Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") whereby the total number of
shares of the Company's Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan
will be increased to 6,625,000 shares from 5,625,000 shares.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
----- ----- -----
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE MANAGEMENT
Dated: _____________________________, 2000
- ----------------------------------------
(Signature of Shareholder)
- ----------------------------------------
Please sign, as name appears hereon. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. Joint
tenants should both sign.
