AMENDMENT #4 TO FORM S-4
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 27, 2002
Registration No. 333-72184
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 4
TO
FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under The Securities Act of 1933
CBOT Holdings, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware (State or other
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
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6231 (Primary Standard
Industrial Classification Code Number) 141 West Jackson Boulevard Chicago, Illinois 60604 (312) 435-3500 |
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36-4468986 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrants principal
executive offices)
Carol
A. Burke
Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff
CBOT
Holdings, Inc. and
Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.
141 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604
(312) 435-3500
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
John H. Stassen,
P.C.
Joseph P. Gromacki
Kirkland & Ellis
200 East Randolph Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 861-2000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public: As promptly as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes
effective and the satisfaction or waiver of certain other conditions described herein.
If the securities being
registered on this Form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box. ¨
If this Form is filed to
register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration
statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
The
registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall
thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
PROXY STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
DATED DECEMBER 27, 2002
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC.
141 WEST JACKSON BOULEVARD
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60604
, 2003
Dear Voting Member:
It is my privilege to present to you this proxy statement and prospectus in connection with a historic membership vote on a proposed restructuring of the Chicago Board of Trade. The restructuring transactions are designed to (1)
demutualize our organization by creating a stock, for-profit holding company, CBOT Holdings, Inc., and distributing shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to our members, while maintaining the CBOT as a nonstock subsidiary of CBOT Holdings; and (2)
modernize our corporate governance structure by, among other things, adopting new mechanisms for initiating and voting on stockholder and member proposals, providing for a reduction in the size of our board and modifying the nomination and election
process for directors as well as the terms of office and qualifications of directors. We believe that the restructuring transactions will better position us to compete in the rapidly changing and consolidating futures industry and will give our
organization greater structural flexibility.
As a result of the restructuring transactions, you will
receive a combination of interests consisting of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings, one of the five series of Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary that corresponds to the class of CBOT membership that you currently hold, and, if you hold
a Full Membership in the CBOT, one Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary. You will receive your shares of CBOT Holdings common stock as a dividend from the CBOT and, as a result of a merger, your existing membership will be converted into and
exchanged for your new membership(s) in the CBOT subsidiary. Pursuant to these transactions, CBOT members will receive an aggregate of 39,802,650 shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings and up to 3,702 combinations of interests, each consisting of
common stock of CBOT Holdings and memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. The following table shows what CBOT members will receive in respect of each current CBOT membership:
Class of CBOT Membership
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Shares of Common Stock of CBOT
Holdings
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Class B Memberships in the
CBOT Subsidiary
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Class C Memberships in the
CBOT Subsidiary
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Full |
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25,000 |
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1 Series B-1 |
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1 |
Associate |
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5,000 |
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1 Series B-2 |
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GIM |
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2,500 |
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1 Series B-3 |
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IDEM |
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300 |
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1 Series B-4 |
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COM |
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350 |
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1 Series B-5 |
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The common stock of CBOT Holdings will represent an equity interest in that company,
and will have traditional features of common stock, including equal per share dividend, voting and liquidation rights. Each series of Class B memberships will represent trading rights and privileges in the demutualized CBOT that correspond to the
trading rights and privileges currently associated with that holders class of membership in the CBOT. Class C memberships will represent the so-called exercise right of Full Members to become a member of the Chicago Board Options
Exchange without having to purchase a membership on such exchange. As a result of transfer restrictions applicable to the common stock of CBOT Holdings and the Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary, these interests will effectively be
stapled together for an indefinite period of time. This means that, for the duration of these transfer restrictions, these interests may only be transferred as a combination. The Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will not be
subject to restrictions on transfer. However, a holder of a Class C membership must also hold 25,000 shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings as well as one Series B-1, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary in order to be eligible to utilize the
CBOE exercise right. We do not currently intend to list either the common stock of CBOT Holdings or memberships in the CBOT subsidiary on any stock exchange.
Our Full Members and Associate Members will be entitled to vote on four propositions relating to the restructuring transactions. Full Members will be entitled to one vote for each Full Membership owned
and Associate Members will be entitled to one-sixth of one vote for each Associate Membership owned. No other class of membership will be entitled to vote on the restructuring transactions. The restructuring transactions will be approved if Full
Members and Associate Members, voting together as a single class based on their respective voting rights, cast at least 300 votes at the special meeting of the Members and each proposition on which members are entitled to vote is approved by the
Full Members and Associate Members in accordance with the current certificate of incorporation and bylaws, rules and regulations of the CBOT and applicable law. No members have entered into any arrangement with us to vote in favor of any of these
propositions.
WE URGE YOU TO READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY, INCLUDING THE SECTION ENTITLED RISK
FACTORS THAT BEGINS ON PAGE 22.
Our board of directors has approved the restructuring
transactions and recommends that Full Members and Associate Members vote FOR each of the four propositions relating to the restructuring transactions being submitted for your approval.
Sincerely,
/S/ NICKOLAS J. NEUBAUER
Nickolas J. Neubauer
Chairman of the Board
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities regulator has approved or disapproved these securities, or determined if this proxy statement and prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to
the contrary is a criminal offense.
This document is dated
, 2003 and was first mailed, with the form of proxy, to members on or about , 2003.
The information contained in this document may change. We may not complete the transactions described in this document, and issue
the securities described in this document, until the registration statement is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is declared effective. This document is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an
offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC.
141 WEST JACKSON BOULEVARD
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60604
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
To Our Voting Members:
The board of directors of the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. has called a special meeting of the membership,
to be held at 2:30 p.m., central time, on , 2003 in the Visitor Center Theater, Fifth Floor, at our offices at 141 West Jackson Boulevard,
Chicago, Illinois 60604. The purpose of the meeting is for Full Members and Associate Members to vote on four propositions relating to the restructuring transactions described in this document: (1) the approval and adoption of the agreement and plan
of merger relating to the merger of the CBOT with a newly formed, nonstock, for-profit corporation, which will facilitate the demutualization of the CBOT; (2) the approval and adoption of the amended and restated bylaws of the CBOT, which will
become the bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary, and a technical amendment to the bylaws of the CBOT clarifying the status of holders of GIM, IDEM and COM membership interests as members of the CBOT for purposes of Delaware corporation law; (3) the
ratification of the agreements relating to the exercise right entered into by us and the Chicago Board Options Exchange; and (4) the ratification of all other matters relating to the restructuring transactions, including, among other things, the
proposed changes to our corporate governance structure as set forth in a new certificate of incorporation and bylaws for the holding company and the CBOT subsidiary, and in certain changes to the rules and regulations. Collectively, these
propositions will facilitate the demutualization and the modernization of our corporate governance structure. Unless ALL FOUR of these propositions are approved, the restructuring transactions will not have been approved by the members and,
accordingly, will not be completed.
Holders of Full Memberships and Associate Memberships will be
entitled to vote on these matters at the special meeting of the membership. Full Members will be entitled to one vote for each Full Membership owned and Associate Members will be entitled to one-sixth of one vote for each Associate Membership owned.
No other class of membership will be entitled to vote on the restructuring transactions.
We have enclosed a proxy
ballot for your use in voting on the propositions described above and in this document. The special meeting of the membership and related proxy ballot solicitation will be conducted in accordance with our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and
rules and regulations and applicable law. In particular, the propositions described in this document are being submitted to a vote of the membership pursuant to Sections 5 and 7 of Exhibit A to our certificate of incorporation.
In connection with the proxy ballot solicitation, please note the following instructions:
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Please mark the enclosed proxy ballot with respect to each proposition and provide your signature, printed name and date where indicated, and enclose and seal
the completed proxy ballot in the gold envelope addressed to the Secretary of the CBOT. Each proxy ballot must be signed in order to be effective. |
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Print your name in the upper left-hand corner of the gold envelope and deliver or mail it to the Secretarys Office. Alternatively, you may submit your
completed proxy ballot to the Secretarys Office by depositing the proxy ballot in the ballot box located in the fourth floor lobby of our offices between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., central time, on
, 2003. |
Proxy ballots that are duly executed and submitted with no voting direction as to a given proposition will be counted for purposes of constituting a quorum but will not be treated as votes cast with
respect to such proposition. Proxies that are marked both FOR and AGAINST a given proposition will not count and will not be treated as votes cast with respect to such proposition. Proxy ballots must be received at the Board
of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., Office of the Secretary, 141 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604 prior to 2:15 p.m., central time, on
, 2003 in order to be counted.
Returning your completed proxy ballot will not prevent you
from voting in person at the special meeting of the membership if you are present and wish to vote. Please note, however, that if you vote by proxy ballot you will not need to attend the special meeting of the membership, or take any further action
in connection with the special meeting, because you already will have directed the proxy how you wish to vote with respect to the propositions. You may revoke your proxy ballot any time before the special meeting of the membership by providing
written notice to the Secretary or by submission of a later-dated proxy ballot.
Your board of directors
has carefully considered and approved these matters and recommends that Full Members and Associate Members vote FOR each of the four propositions relating to the restructuring transactions being submitted for their approval.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/S/ PAUL J. DRATHS
Paul J. Draths
Vice President and Secretary
, 2003
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Page
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1 |
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22 |
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38 |
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78 |
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79 |
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81 |
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92 |
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117 |
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130 |
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139 |
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153 |
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154 |
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156 |
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160 |
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160 |
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161 |
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Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and Subsidiaries Financial Statements |
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A-1 |
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Pro Forma Financial Information of Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and Subsidiaries |
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B-1 |
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Form of Agreement and Plan of Merger |
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C-1 |
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Fairness Opinion |
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D-1 |
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Appendix E-1: August 7, 2001 Agreement between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and Chicago Board Options
Exchange |
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E-1-1 |
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Appendix E-2: October 24, 2001 Letter Agreement between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., CBOT Holdings, Inc. and Chicago Board Options Exchange |
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E-2-1 |
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Appendix E-3: September 13, 2002 Letter Agreement between Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., CBOT Holdings, Inc. and Chicago Board Options Exchange |
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E-3-1 |
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Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of CBOT Holdings, Inc. |
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F-1 |
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Amended and Restated Bylaws of CBOT Holdings, Inc. |
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G-1 |
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Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. |
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H-1 |
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Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. |
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I-1 |
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Status of Certain Current CBOT Rules and Regulations as a Result of the Restructuring Transactions |
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J-1 |
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References to we, us or our refer to either the CBOT, in its current form as a
nonstock, not-for-profit corporation or in its post-restructuring form as the CBOT subsidiary, a nonstock, for-profit corporation, or CBOT Holdings, the stock, for-profit holding company that will result from the completion of the restructuring
transactions described in this document, as the context requires, together with its consolidated subsidiaries.
Project A® is a registered trademark of Ceres Trading Limited Partnership. Certain
other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.
On January 26, 2001, the CBOT initially
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-54370), including a combined proxy statement and prospectus, relating to its proposed restructuring, which was subsequently amended on
March 6, 2001, March 26, 2001, April 6, 2001 and May 2, 2001. In addition, the CBOT and its predecessor have filed various communications relating to its proposed restructuring with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 425
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. As a result of certain refinements to its proposed restructuring that result in CBOT Holdings being the issuer of securities in the restructuring, the CBOT has withdrawn its Registration Statement on
Form S-4 as of October 24, 2001 and caused CBOT Holdings to file a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-72184), of which this document forms a part, relating to the restructuring transactions, as described in this document. All
communications relating to the restructuring transactions described in this document and previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the CBOT and its predecessor pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
shall be deemed to refer to the restructuring transactions described in this document.
You should rely only on
the information contained in this document or to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. This document may be used only where it is legal to issue these securities and solicit a
proxy in connection with the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions. The information contained in this document is accurate only as of the date of this document, regardless of the date of delivery of this document or of the sale of
any securities.
This is not an offer to sell, and it is not a solicitation of offers to buy the securities
offered by this document in any jurisdiction where offers and sales are not permitted under the laws of such jurisdiction. In addition, this is not a solicitation of a vote to approve the CBOT restructuring transactions or any other matter in any
jurisdiction where such a solicitation is not permitted under the laws of such jurisdiction.
Until 90
days following the date on which these securities are issued, all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this transaction, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to any
dealers obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
ii
SUMMARY
In this summary, we highlight selected information which we describe in greater detail elsewhere in this document. This summary does not contain all of the information
contained in this document which you should consider before voting on the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions and may not contain all of the information that is important to your individual situation. Consequently, you should
read this entire document very carefully before voting on the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions.
Overview of the Restructuring Transactions (See page 38)
Pursuant to this
document, we are asking our Full Members and Associate Members to vote on matters relating to an important restructuring of our organization. We are also sending this document to our other members for their information because it contains important
information regarding this proposed restructuring.
As a result of evolving changes in the futures
industry, principally the increasing importance of electronic trading, we have over the last several years conducted an ongoing and extensive evaluation process with respect to maintaining our competitiveness in the futures industry. As a result of
this evaluation process, we have determined that we should restructure our organization in order to enhance our competitiveness.
We have developed, and are proposing for approval by our Full Members and Associate Members, a series of transactions designed to restructure the CBOT. We believe that the completion of the restructuring transactions will
enable us to enhance our competitiveness within the futures industry, including within both the open outcry and electronic trading markets. In particular, we believe that, as a for-profit enterprise with a new, more modern corporate governance
structure, we will be able to react more rapidly and with greater flexibility to changes in the competitive environment. In addition, as described in greater detail elsewhere in this document, as a for-profit corporation, we will have the ability,
subject to applicable law, to distribute profits to our members.
These restructuring
transactions are designed to:
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demutualize our organization by creating a stock, for-profit holding company, which we refer to as CBOT Holdings, and distributing
shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to our members, while maintaining the CBOT as a nonstock, for-profit subsidiary of CBOT Holdings, which we refer to as the CBOT subsidiary; and |
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modernize our corporate governance structure by, among other things, adopting new mechanisms for initiating and voting on stockholder and member proposals,
providing for a reduction in the size of our board and modifying the nomination and election process for directors as well as the terms of office and qualifications of directors. |
Our Business (See page 92)
Founded in 1848, we are one of the worlds leading exchanges for the trading of futures and options on futures contracts (based on the total volume of contracts traded). From our origins in the
nineteenth century as a market for trading grains, we have evolved in the twenty-first century into a major financial center, offering a diverse range of futures and options on futures products based on interest rates, debt instruments, agricultural
commodities, equity indices and other underlying instruments. According to industry data provided by the Futures Industry Association, during the period from January 1, 2002 through September 30, 2002, about 6% of the global listed futures, options
on futures and equity index market was traded on our markets. According to this data, we ranked fifth worldwide among futures exchanges in volume of contracts traded in the first nine months of 2002, transacting about 46% of the global listed
agricultural futures and options contracts, e.g., wheat, corn, soybeans, and about 18% of the global listed financial futures and options contracts, e.g., U.S. Treasury bonds and notes.
1
Our products trade both electronically and on traditional open outcry auction
markets on our trading floors in Chicago, where members trade among themselves for their own accounts and for the accounts of their customers. Through Ceres Trading Limited Partnership, which we refer to as Ceres, we currently offer
electronic trading on the a/c/e system, which is based on a modified form of the technology used at Eurex, the largest derivatives exchange in the world. Electronic Chicago Board of Trade, Inc., which we refer to as eCBOT, a wholly owned
subsidiary of the CBOT, is the general partner of Ceres. For the eleven-month period ended November 30, 2002, open outcry trading represented about 63% of our total contract volume traded with electronic trading representing the remaining about 37%
of our total contract volume traded.
We also engage in market surveillance and financial supervision
activities designed to ensure market integrity and provide financial safeguards for users of our markets. Further, we market and distribute real-time and historical market data generated from trading activity in our markets to users of our products
and related cash and derivative markets.
We do not believe that the implementation of the restructuring
transactions will cause any interruption to the day-to-day operation of our businesses, including our electronic trading business. After the completion of the restructuring transactions, we expect that CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary will
continue to conduct the electronic trading business through Ceres until such time as the CBOTs current contractual arrangements with certain affiliates and Deutsche Börse AG, the Swiss Stock Exchange and certain of their affiliates,
including Deutsche Börse Systems AG, Eurex Zürich AG and Eurex Frankfurt AG, which we collectively refer to as the Eurex Group, are terminated, which we currently expect to occur in December 2003. Upon such termination, we plan to replace
the Eurex Group arrangements with other arrangements that will enable us to continue our electronic trading operations after such termination, and we are currently in the process of evaluating proposals by third party service providers for these
alternative arrangements. We currently anticipate that, at such time as the CBOTs current arrangements with the Eurex Group are terminated, Ceres will be liquidated and its assets distributed to its partners in accordance with the terms of the
Ceres limited partnership agreement, and CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary will thereafter conduct their electronic trading business through the CBOT subsidiary, eCBOT or another affiliate. As a result of the liquidation of Ceres, the holders of
memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will no longer participate in the electronic trading business of the CBOT as limited partners of Ceres, but rather as stockholders of CBOT Holdings.
The principal executive offices of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT are located at 141 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, and our telephone number
is (312) 435-3500.
What Our Members Will Receive in the Restructuring Transactions (See pages 130 and 135)
In connection with the restructuring transactions, each member of the CBOT will receive in respect
of their current CBOT membership a combination of interests in two different companies, consisting of:
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common stock of CBOT Holdings, the new holding company; |
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one of the five series of Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary that corresponds to the class of CBOT membership currently held; and
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if a Full Member of the CBOT, one Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary. |
As a result of the transfer restrictions applicable to the common stock of CBOT Holdings and the Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary, these interests will effectively be
stapled together for an indefinite period of time. This means that, for the duration of these transfer restrictions, these interests may only be transferred as a combination. We will describe these interests, as well as the applicable
transfer restrictions, in greater detail below.
Common Stock of CBOT Holdings (See page 130)
Each member of the CBOT will receive shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings as part of the
restructuring transactions. The number of shares of common stock to be received by each member will be
2
determined based upon the allocation methodology developed and recommended by an independent committee of our board of directors, the Independent Allocation Committee, and approved by our board
of directors.
The common stock of CBOT Holdings will represent an equity interest in that company and
will have traditional features of common stock, including dividend, voting and liquidation rights. In particular, the common stock of CBOT Holdings will provide the holder with the right to receive dividends as determined by the CBOT Holdings board
of directors and the right to share in the proceeds of liquidation, in each case ratably on the basis of the number of shares held. You should understand, however, that it is not currently anticipated that CBOT Holdings will pay dividends on its
common stock in the immediate future. In addition, holders of common stock of CBOT Holdings will have the right to vote on all matters upon which stockholders of CBOT Holdings will be entitled to vote generally, including, among other things, the
election of directors to the board of directors of CBOT Holdings.
The following table shows the number
of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to be received by our members in respect of each current CBOT membership and each current class of CBOT membership. In addition, the table shows the relative voting power of the holders of the common stock
of CBOT Holdings by class of current CBOT membership immediately following the completion of the restructuring transactions.
Shares of Common Stock of CBOT Holdings
to Be Received for each Current CBOT Membership, each Class of Current CBOT Membership
and the Relative Voting Power by each Class of Current CBOT Membership
Current Class of CBOT Membership
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Number of Current Members (as of December 18, 2002)
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Shares of Common Stock to be Received for each Current CBOT Membership
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Shares of Common Stock to be Received by each Current Class of CBOT Membership
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Relative Voting Power by each Current Class of CBOT Membership
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Full |
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1,402 |
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25,000 |
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35,050,000 |
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88.06 |
% |
Associate |
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793 |
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5,000 |
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3,965,000 |
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9.96 |
% |
GIM |
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148 |
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2,500 |
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370,000 |
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0.93 |
% |
IDEM |
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642 |
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300 |
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192,600 |
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0.48 |
% |
COM |
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643 |
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350 |
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225,050 |
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0.57 |
% |
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Total |
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3,628 |
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39,802,650 |
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100.00 |
% |
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For purposes of the restructuring transactions, each
holder of a one-half Associate Membership will be treated as a GIM. This means that, if you hold a one-half Associate Membership, you will receive what the table above indicates will be received by a GIM.
Immediately after the completion of the restructuring transactions, our members will be the only common stockholders of CBOT Holdings.
As a result of the restructuring transactions, all of the authorized shares of capital stock of CBOT Holdings will be issued and outstanding. As a result, without further action by the board of directors and common stockholders of CBOT Holdings to
approve an appropriate amendment to the certificate of incorporation of CBOT Holdings to increase the amount of authorized capital stock of CBOT Holdings, no additional shares of capital stock of CBOT Holdings can be issued. This means that CBOT
Holdings will not be able to engage in capital-raising activities involving the issuance of additional capital stock without the approval of the board of directors and a majority of the voting power of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings, which could
represent a significant limitation on the ability of CBOT Holdings to raise capital in the future.
Memberships in the CBOT Subsidiary (See page 135)
In connection with the
restructuring transactions, each CBOT member will also receive a Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary. There will be five series of Class B membership issued to our members,
3
with each series corresponding to one of the five current classes of CBOT membership. The Class B membership will represent trading rights and privileges in the exchange operated by the CBOT
subsidiary. With respect to each series of Class B membership, the trading rights and privileges will be substantially identical to those currently associated with the corresponding class of CBOT membership.
The Class B memberships will not entitle the holders to the right to receive any distributions, dividends or proceeds upon liquidation
from the CBOT subsidiary. The holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships will have certain limited voting rights with respect to the CBOT subsidiary. Specifically, the holders of these two series of Class B memberships will have the
exclusive right among members to vote on any proposed amendment to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws (including the rules and regulations) of the CBOT subsidiary that would adversely affect the following rights relating to the trading
rights and privileges associated with the Class B memberships, which we refer to as the core rights:
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the allocation of products that a holder of a specific series of Class B membership is permitted to trade on the exchange facilities of the CBOT subsidiary,
e.g., the elimination of any product from a holders trading rights and privileges; |
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the requirement that, subject to certain limited exceptions agreed to by the CBOT and CBOE, holders of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will be
charged transaction fees for trades of the CBOT subsidiarys products for their accounts that are lower than the transaction fees charged to any participant who is not a holder of a Class B membership for the same products;
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the authorized number of any class or series of memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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the membership and eligibility requirements to become a holder of a Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary or to exercise the associated trading rights or
privileges; and |
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the commitment to maintain current open outcry markets so long as each such market is deemed liquid unless the discontinuance of any such market is approved by
the holders of the Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. |
The holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships will also have the exclusive right among members to vote on any amendment to or elimination of the transfer restrictions set forth in the certificate of incorporation of
the CBOT subsidiary applicable to the Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary (which will be held by CBOT Holdings) or the Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. In addition, holders of the Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in
the CBOT subsidiary will have the right to initiate member proposals, including proposals to adopt, repeal or amend the bylaws and non-binding recommendations to the board of directors, such as recommendations that the board of directors consider
proposed amendments to the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary. On all such matters, each holder of a Series B-1, Class B membership will be entitled to one vote per membership and each holder of a Series B-2, Class B membership will
be entitled to one-sixth of one vote per membership. The holders of Series B-3, Series B-4 and Series B-5, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will not have any voting rights with respect to the CBOT subsidiary. These voting rights are based
on the voting rights (or lack thereof) currently associated with our membership classes.
In addition,
each Full Member of the CBOT will receive a Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary. This Class C membership will, subject to satisfaction of certain requirements, represent the right to become a member of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, or
CBOE, without having to purchase a membership in that exchange. We sometimes refer to this right as the exercise right. The exercise right is set forth in the certificate of incorporation of the CBOE and is currently held by
each Full Member of the CBOT. The Class C memberships will not entitle the holders to the right to receive any distributions, dividends or proceeds upon liquidation from the CBOT subsidiary. Further, the holders of Class C memberships in the CBOT
subsidiary will not have any voting rights with respect to the CBOT subsidiary. In other words, the exercise right will be the only right associated with the Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary.
The following table shows the number and type of Class B membership to be received in respect of each current CBOT membership and each
current class of CBOT membership. In addition, the table shows the relative voting power of the holders of the Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary, by class of CBOT membership,
4
immediately following the completion of the restructuring transactions on those matters on which Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary are entitled to vote.
Class B Memberships in the CBOT Subsidiary
to be Received for each Current CBOT Membership, each Class of Current CBOT Membership
and the Relative Voting Power by each
Class of Current CBOT Membership
Current Class of CBOT Membership
|
|
Number of Current Members (as of December 18, 2002)
|
|
Number and Series of Class B Membership to be Received for each Current CBOT
Membership
|
|
Number and Series of Class B Membership to be Received by each Current Class of
CBOT Membership
|
|
Relative Voting Power by each Current Class of CBOT Membership
|
|
Full |
|
1,402 |
|
1 Series B-1 |
|
1,402 Series B-1 |
|
91.39 |
% |
Associate |
|
793 |
|
1 Series B-2 |
|
793 Series B-2 |
|
8.61 |
% |
GIM |
|
148 |
|
1 Series B-3 |
|
148 Series B-3 |
|
0.00 |
% |
IDEM |
|
642 |
|
1 Series B-4 |
|
642 Series B-4 |
|
0.00 |
% |
COM |
|
643 |
|
1 Series B-5 |
|
643 Series B-5 |
|
0.00 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
3,628 |
|
|
|
|
|
100.00 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In addition, as noted above, each of the 1,402 Full
Members of the CBOT will receive one Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary.
Transfer
Restrictions. The common stock of CBOT Holdings and the Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will be subject to certain restrictions on transfer which have the effect of stapling these interests together so that they can only be
transferred as a combination of interests for the duration of such restrictions. We will describe these transfer restrictions in greater detail below.
Holders of common stock of CBOT Holdings may transfer all, but not less than all, of their shares of common stock if all such shares are transferred together with the Class B membership associated with
such shares. For example, if you are a Full Member of the CBOT, you will receive as part of the restructuring transactions 25,000 shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings, one Series B-1, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary and one Class C
membership in the CBOT subsidiary. As a result of the transfer restrictions, you will only be able to transfer your common stock of CBOT Holdings if you transfer all 25,000 shares of your common stock of CBOT Holdings together with your Series B-1,
Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary. Otherwise, the shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings will be subject to a complete restriction on transfer as described in greater detail elsewhere in this document. This restriction on transfer may be
removed or reduced only with the approval of the board of directors and common stockholders of CBOT Holdings or, with respect to specific transactions, by the board of directors. There is no current plan or intention to remove or reduce the transfer
restrictions with respect to any specific transactions.
Holders of Class B memberships in the CBOT
subsidiary may transfer a Class B membership if such Class B membership is transferred together with the shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings associated with such Class B membership. For example, if you are an Associate Member of the CBOT, you
will receive as part of the restructuring transactions 5,000 shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings and one Series B-2, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary. As a result of the transfer restrictions, you will only be able to transfer your
Series B-2, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary if you transfer all 5,000 shares of your common stock together with your Series B-2, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary. Otherwise, the Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will be
subject to a complete restriction on transfer as described in greater detail elsewhere in this document. This restriction on transfer may be removed or reduced only with the approval of the board of directors and the holders of Series B-1 and Series
B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary or, with respect to specific transactions, by the board of directors. There is no current plan or intention to remove or reduce the transfer restrictions with respect to any specific transactions.
Because the restrictions on transfer on the common stock of CBOT Holdings and the Class B memberships in
the CBOT subsidiary are in effect reciprocal and imposed pursuant to the certificates of incorporation of both
5
entities, we expect that no amendment to either certificate of incorporation would be made unless amendments to both certificates of incorporation were approved by both the board of directors and
the stockholders of CBOT Holdings and by the board of directors and the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary, as applicable.
The Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will not be subject to any transfer restrictions. However, pursuant to our agreements with the CBOE relating to the exercise
right, a holder of a Class C membership seeking to utilize the exercise right to become a member of the CBOE without having to purchase a membership in such exchange must hold 25,000 shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings and one Series B-1, Class
B membership in the CBOT subsidiary, along with such Class C membership, in each case subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments. Accordingly, if you are a Full Member of the CBOT, you should give careful consideration to this requirement before
either transferring your common stock of CBOT Holdings and Series B-1, Class B membership without your Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary or transferring your Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary without your common stock of CBOT
Holdings and Series B-1, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary.
Description of the Restructuring Transactions (See
pages 51 and 130)
The restructuring transactions consist of a series of transactions designed to
demutualize our organization and to modernize our corporate governance structure. We will describe the restructuring transactions in greater detail below.
The Demutualization of the CBOT
We will demutualize our organization by establishing a stock, for-profit holding company which will become the parent company of the CBOT. As a result, the CBOT, which will continue to operate the exchange, will exist as a subsidiary
of the holding company. This is why we sometimes refer to the CBOT, after the completion of the restructuring transactions, as the CBOT subsidiary. After the demutualization, our members will hold interests in both companies: shares of
common stock of the holding company and memberships of various classes and series in the subsidiary. However, transfer restrictions will apply to some of these interests and will have the effect of creating combinations of interests. In addition,
after the demutualization, the holding company will hold a special interest in the subsidiary, which will entitle the holding company to the right to all dividends, distributions and proceeds upon liquidation from the subsidiary. As a result, any
dividends or other distributions would be paid to you in respect of your common stock of CBOT Holdings and not in respect of your membership in the CBOT subsidiary.
The demutualization will be accomplished in two separate steps:
|
|
|
a dividend to distribute shares of common stock to our members; and |
|
|
|
a merger to convert our members existing memberships into new memberships. |
The Dividend. In order to implement the restructuring transactions, the CBOT board of directors will declare a dividend to the CBOT members consisting of
shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings. This dividend, which will not be paid until immediately following the effectiveness of the merger described below, will have the effect of distributing all of the outstanding shares of CBOT Holdings common
stock to our members. The dividend will specify the exact number of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to be distributed to each CBOT member in connection with the restructuring transactions, based on the allocation methodology approved by the
CBOT board of directors as described in greater detail elsewhere in this document.
Currently, the CBOT
holds all of the outstanding shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings. Prior to the completion of the restructuring transactions, these shares will be reclassified into the 39,802,650 shares which will be distributed to our members pursuant to the
dividend described above. As a result of the payment of this dividend, each of our members will receive the appropriate number of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings pursuant to the board-approved allocation methodology in connection with the
restructuring transactions.
The Reorganization Merger. After the declaration of the
dividend by the CBOT board of directors, but before such dividend is paid, a newly formed, nonstock, for-profit indirect subsidiary of the CBOT will merge
6
with and into the CBOT, with the CBOT being the surviving entity. We sometimes refer to this merger as the reorganization merger. Upon the completion of the reorganization merger, the
CBOT will become a nonstock, for-profit corporation and a subsidiary of CBOT Holdings. Pursuant to the reorganization merger, each current CBOT membership will be converted into and exchanged for a Class B membership of the applicable series and, if
applicable, a Class C membership.
Also, as a result of the reorganization merger, CBOT Holdings will
become the holder of the sole Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary. Currently, CBOT Holdings holds the sole membership in the subsidiary which will merge into the CBOT pursuant to the reorganization merger as described above. We sometimes refer
to this subsidiary as the CBOT merger sub. Pursuant to the reorganization merger, this membership will be converted into and exchanged for the sole Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary. This Class A membership will entitle CBOT
Holdings to the exclusive right to receive all distributions, dividends and proceeds upon liquidation from the CBOT subsidiary. Except for limited matters that may be voted upon only by the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships,
CBOT Holdings, as the holder of the sole Class A membership, will have the right to vote on all matters upon which the members of the CBOT subsidiary will be entitled to vote generally, including, among other things, the election of directors to the
board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary. Other than certain transfers to an affiliate, the Class A membership held by CBOT Holdings may not be transferred by CBOT Holdings without an amendment to the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT
subsidiary, which will require the approval of the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary and the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary.
Modernization of Our Current Corporate Governance Structure (See pages 56 and 139)
In connection with the restructuring transactions, we will change many aspects of our corporate governance structure. These changes will be implemented as a result of the
new holding company structure and the adoption of a new certificate of incorporation and bylaws for CBOT Holdings and a new certificate of incorporation, bylaws, rules and regulations for the CBOT subsidiary. These changes are designed to modernize
our corporate governance structure by:
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|
|
adopting new mechanisms for initiating and voting on stockholder and member proposals; |
|
|
|
providing for a reduction in the size of our board of directors; and |
|
|
|
modifying the nomination and election process for our directors as well as the terms of office and qualifications of our directors.
|
Because you will receive interests in both CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary as a result of the
completion of the restructuring transactions, you will have different rights and obligations in these two separate, but affiliated organizations based on the applicable corporate governance documents. Upon the completion of the restructuring
transactions, you will be a stockholder of CBOT Holdings and a member of the CBOT subsidiary. Your rights as a stockholder of CBOT Holdings will generally resemble those of a stockholder of a public company, and your rights as a member of the CBOT
subsidiary will more closely resemble your current rights as CBOT members. However, as described in greater detail elsewhere in this document, there will be important changes to your rights and obligations as a result of the changes to certain
aspects of our corporate governance structure. Generally speaking, as a result of these changes, the ability of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings and the members of the CBOT subsidiary to participate in the day-to-day management and operations of
CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary, respectively, will be somewhat reduced by comparison to the current ability of CBOT members to participate in the day-to-day management and operations of the CBOT. However, certain important rights relating to
the trading rights and privileges associated with Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary will be reserved for the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships, as described in greater detail elsewhere in this document.
Our Structure Before and After the Restructuring Transactions
In order to help you to understand the restructuring transactions and how they will affect our corporate organizational structure, the following charts show, in simplified
form, the structure of our company before and after the completion of the restructuring transactions as well as the reorganization merger described above:
7
BEFORE THE RESTRUCTURING TRANSACTIONS
AFTER THE RESTRUCTURING TRANSACTIONS
8
Summary Comparison of Rights Before and After the Restructuring Transactions (See page
139)
As a result of the completion of the restructuring transactions, you will become
stockholders in a Delaware stock, for-profit holding company (CBOT Holdings) and members of a Delaware nonstock, for-profit corporation that will be a subsidiary of the holding company (the CBOT subsidiary), and you will no longer be members of a
Delaware nonstock, not-for-profit corporation (the CBOT as it currently exists). Thus, you will hold interests in two companies rather than one and you will have different rights and obligations with respect to each of these companies. You should
consider carefully the differences in your rights and obligations that will result from these changes in our corporate governance structure before voting on the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions.
Some of these differences arise from differences between the corporation law applicable to the different types of
organizations, such as for-profit vs. not-for-profit corporations and nonstock vs. stock corporations. Other differences arise from choices that we have made in designing the certificates of incorporation and bylaws of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT
subsidiary. We will briefly summarize below some of the more important differences in your rights and obligations that will result from the completion of the restructuring transactions.
Rights
|
|
Before the Restructuring Transactions
|
|
After the Restructuring
Transactions
|
|
Voting Rights
|
|
CBOT: Full Members and Associate Members have the right to vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the general membership. Each Full Member is entitled to one vote per Full Membership, and each Associate Member is entitled to one-sixth
of one vote per Associate Membership.
|
|
CBOT Holdings: The holders of common stock of CBOT Holdings will have the right to vote on all matters upon which the stockholders of CBOT Holdings will be entitled to vote generally. Each share of common
stock of CBOT Holdings will be entitled to one vote per share. CBOT Subsidiary: Except as set forth below, CBOT Holdings, as the holder of the sole Class A
membership in the CBOT subsidiary, will have the right to vote on all matters upon which the members of the CBOT subsidiary will be entitled to vote generally. The holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will have the exclusive
right among members to vote on any proposed amendment to the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary that would adversely affect the core rights and on any amendment to the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary to
amend or eliminate the transfer restrictions applicable to the Class A membership or the Class B memberships. |
|
|
|
|
|
The holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT
subsidiary may also initiate other proposals, including proposals to adopt, repeal or amend the bylaws and non-binding recommendations to the board of directors, such as recommendations that the board amend the certificate of
incorporation. |
9
Rights
|
|
Before the Restructuring Transactions
|
|
After the Restructuring
Transactions
|
|
|
|
|
|
The holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT
subsidiary will have one vote per membership and one-sixth of one vote per membership, respectively, on any matter on which they are entitled to vote. |
|
Special Meetings
|
|
CBOT: Full and Associate Members are entitled to propose amendments to the bylaws, including the rules. Twenty-five or more voting members have the right to petition for the board of
directors approval to call a special meeting of the members for the purpose of voting on amendments to the bylaws, including the rules. If the board of directors does not approve such a special meeting, 100 or more voting members have the
right to petition for such special meeting and such special meeting will then be called by the board of directors. |
|
CBOT Holdings: CBOT Holdings will be required to call a special meeting of the stockholders for the purpose of amending the bylaws of CBOT Holdings or to vote on other proposals upon the written request of
at least 10% of the voting power (or 3,980,265 shares) of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings. Because each Full Member will receive 25,000 shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings in the restructuring transactions, this means that it will require at
least 160 such stockholders to call a special meeting of the CBOT Holdings stockholders. CBOT Subsidiary: The CBOT subsidiary will be required to call a special meeting of the members
for the purpose of amending the bylaws, rules or regulations of the CBOT subsidiary or to vote on other proposals upon the written request of at least 10% of the voting power (or 154 votes) of the holders of the Series B-1 or Series B-2, Class B
memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. |
|
Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation
|
|
CBOT: Amendments to our certificate of incorporation must be adopted by the board of directors and submitted to a vote of the membership. Proposals to amend the certificate of incorporation will be
adopted if at least 300 votes have been cast at an annual or special |
|
CBOT Holdings: Amendments to the certificate of incorporation of CBOT Holdings must be adopted by the board of directors and submitted to a vote of the stockholders. Proposals to amend the certificate of
incorporation will be adopted only if at least a majority of the voting power of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings are voted in favor of the proposal. CBOT Subsidiary: Amendments to
the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary must be adopted by the board of directors and submitted for approval to a vote of CBOT Holdings as the Class A member. However, |
10
Rights
|
|
Before the Restructuring Transactions
|
|
After the Restructuring Transactions
|
|
|
meeting of the membership and a majority of the votes cast were in favor of the
proposal. |
|
amendments to the certificate of incorporation that would adversely affect the core
rights and any amendment to or elimination of the transfer restrictions imposed on the Class A membership and Class B memberships must be adopted by the board of directors and approved by a majority of the votes cast by the holders of Series B-1 and
Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary at any annual or special meeting of the members. |
|
Amendments to Bylaws and Rules
|
|
CBOT: Currently, the bylaws, which
include the rules, may only be adopted, amended or repealed with the approval of the membership. Proposals to amend the bylaws, including the rules, will be adopted if at least 300 votes have been cast at an annual or special meeting of the
membership and a majority of the votes cast were in favor of the proposal.
|
|
CBOT Holdings: The board of directors of CBOT
Holdings will have the authority to adopt, amend and or repeal the bylaws of CBOT Holdings without the approval of the stockholders. The stockholders will also be entitled to initiate proposals to amend the bylaws at any annual or special meeting,
which will be approved by a majority of the votes cast at such annual or special meeting. CBOT Subsidiary: The board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary will have the authority to adopt,
amend or repeal the bylaws, rules and regulations of the CBOT subsidiary without the approval of the members, except that amendments that would adversely affect the core rights must be adopted by the board of directors and approved by a majority of
the votes cast at a meeting of the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. The holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships will also be entitled to initiate proposals to amend the bylaws at any
annual or special meeting of the members, which will be approved by a majority of the votes cast at such annual or special meeting by the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. |
|
Composition of the Board(s) of Directors
|
|
CBOT: The CBOT board of directors
currently consists of 18 directors, including: the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, the President (non-voting), nine directors who are Full Members, two directors who are Associate Members, and four directors who are not members. |
|
CBOT Holdings and CBOT Subsidiary: The directors serving on the board of directors of the CBOT immediately prior to the completion of the restructuring transactions will continue as members of the boards of directors of both
CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary immediately following the completion of the restructuring transactions. The continuing directors will serve for the duration of their current terms with the exception of the current public directors, whose terms
will end in connection with the first annual election following the completion of the restructuring. |
11
Rights
|
|
Before the Restructuring Transactions
|
|
After the Restructuring
Transactions
|
|
|
|
Directors other than the President and the four non-member directors are
elected for either two- or three-year terms. The four non-member directors are appointed to serve four-year terms. The President and Chief Executive Officers appointment coincides with his term as President
|
|
Following the initial annual meeting of CBOT Holdings after the restructuring,
the board of directors of CBOT Holdings will consist of 16 directors, including: the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, the President and Chief Executive Officer (who will serve as a non-voting director), eight directors who will be holders of Series B-1,
Class B memberships, two directors who will be holders of Series B-2, Class B memberships and three directors who will be independent. The elected directors of CBOT Holdings will be classified into two classes of directors consisting of eight directors and seven directors, respectively.
Following a one-year transition period designed to accommodate the new classification of directors, directors other than the President and Chief Executive Officer will generally serve two-year terms. The president and chief executive officer will,
upon appointment to such position, automatically become a non-voting director. |
|
|
|
|
CBOT Holdings, as the holder of the sole Class A membership in the CBOT
subsidiary, will elect the same persons serving as directors of CBOT Holdings as members of the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary. As a result, CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary are expected to have identical boards. |
|
Nomination Procedures for Directors
|
|
CBOT: The nominating committee nominates candidates to stand for election to the board of directors. Members have the right to petition, which petition must be signed by at least 40 members, to nominate other
candidates to stand for election to the board of directors.
|
|
CBOT Holdings: The board of directors of CBOT Holdings will designate a nominating committee to recommend to the board of directors nominations of persons to stand for election as directors of CBOT
Holdings. Stockholders of CBOT Holdings will also be entitled to nominate persons to stand for election as directors of CBOT Holdings if the nominee is qualified and the stockholder satisfies certain
advance notice requirements. If the stockholder satisfies such advance notice requirements and delivers a petition executed by at least 40 persons who are both stockholders of CBOT Holdings and the holder of a Series B-1, Class B membership in the
CBOT subsidiary, CBOT Holdings will, to the extent that it prepares and delivers a proxy statement and form of proxy to its stockholders, at its own expense, include the name of such nominee and all other information related to such nominee that is
provided with respect to the board of directors |
12
Rights
|
|
Before the Restructuring Transactions
|
|
After the Restructuring
Transactions
|
|
|
|
|
nominees in such information or proxy statement and form of proxy. |
|
|
|
|
|
CBOT Subsidiary: CBOT Holdings, as the holder of the sole Class A membership, will be entitled to nominate and elect directors to serve on the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary. However, it
will be a qualification that each director of the CBOT subsidiary serve on the board of directors of CBOT Holdings. |
|
Dividends
|
|
CBOT: Nonstock, not-for-profit corporations are permitted to declare and pay dividends under Delaware law. However, in view of its not-for-profit status, the CBOT has not historically done
so.
|
|
CBOT Holdings: CBOT Holdings will be for-profit and will generally have the ability to declare and pay dividends to its common stockholders out of its surplus as defined under Delaware
law. CBOT Subsidiary: The CBOT subsidiary will also have the ability to declare and pay dividends as described above. However, other than the distribution to members of shares of
CBOT Holdings common stock in the restructuring, the CBOT subsidiary may only declare and pay dividends to CBOT Holdings as the holder of the sole Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary. |
|
Capital Stock
|
|
The CBOT is prohibited from issuing
any capital stock.
|
|
CBOT Holdings: CBOT Holdings will be authorized to issue 39,802,650 shares of common stock, all of which will be issued to CBOT members in the restructuring transactions. CBOT Subsidiary: The CBOT subsidiary will be prohibited from issuing any capital stock. |
|
Assessments and Dues
|
|
The board of directors of the CBOT
currently possesses the authority to levy assessments upon the CBOT membership as it may deem necessary or advisable to meet certain anticipated operating deficits.
|
|
CBOT Holdings: The common stock of CBOT Holdings will be issued as fully paid and non-assessable. As such, CBOT Holdings will have no authority to assess its stockholders. CBOT Subsidiary: The board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary will continue to possess the authority to levy assessments upon the CBOT subsidiary membership on substantially the same terms as the board of
directors of the CBOT, subject to applicable law. |
13
Rights
|
|
Before the Restructuring Transactions
|
|
After the Restructuring
Transactions
|
|
Change of Control Provisions
|
|
CBOT: Although the membership application process may serve as a deterrent to persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral takeover proposals, the CBOT does not generally have
mechanisms to protect against such actions.
|
|
CBOT Holdings: CBOT Holdings will have mechanisms designed to deter persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral takeover proposals without negotiating with its board of directors,
including the following: a classified board of directors with staggered terms of
office; advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals; application of the Delaware anti-takeover statute; and a prohibition on the ability of stockholder to take action by written consent. CBOT Subsidiary: Although the membership application process may serve as a deterrent to persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral takeover proposals, the CBOT subsidiary will not
generally have mechanisms to protect against such actions. However, as a subsidiary of CBOT Holdings, it will benefit from certain protective mechanisms applicable to CBOT Holdings, as described above. |
Impact of Restructuring Transactions on the CBOE Exercise Right (See pages
23 and 112)
Since 1973, when we created the Chicago Board Options Exchange, our Full Members have
had a legal right to become members of that exchange without having to purchase a membership on that exchange. This is the exercise right described in this document. Over the last several years, since we first announced our desire to
pursue a strategic restructuring of the CBOT into a stock, for-profit company, the CBOE has stated publicly its view that, if completed, the restructuring transactions would extinguish the exercise right under certain circumstances. Because we
believed that the CBOEs position violated a 1992 agreement between us and the CBOE, which addresses the exercise right, and because the exercise right is valuable to our Full Members, we, among other things, initiated litigation in the
Illinois Circuit Court against the CBOE to protect the exercise right. The parties entered into discussions in order to address the situation, including the effect of the restructuring transactions on the exercise right.
On August 7, 2001, the CBOT entered into an agreement with the CBOE for the stated purpose of resolving the dispute between
the parties regarding the exercise right within the context of the restructuring transactions and electronic trading generally at the CBOT. Subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, including, among other things, approval of the August 7, 2001
agreement by the membership of the CBOE, approval of the agreement by the SEC as an interpretation of the certificate of incorporation of the CBOE and the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this document is part, the parties
agreed, among other things, to clarify the nature and scope of the exercise right in the context of the CBOTs proposed strategic restructuring and the expanded operation of the CBOTs electronic trading system. In addition, the CBOT
agreed to dismiss pending litigation and the CBOE agreed to withdraw its proposed interpretation and rule change that had been filed with
14
the SEC and to take no further action to amend, modify, or otherwise limit, or terminate or cause to expire, the exercise right as a result of the completion of the restructuring transactions
except as contemplated in the agreement.
On October 24, 2001, the CBOT, CBOT Holdings and the CBOE
entered into a letter agreement that, among other things, specified the terms and conditions under which the August 7, 2001 agreement will apply upon the completion of the restructuring transactions as revised to provide for the holding company
structure. On September 13, 2002, the CBOT, CBOT Holdings and the CBOE entered into a letter agreement that, among other things, specified the terms and conditions under which the August 7, 2001 agreement and the October 24, 2001 letter agreement
will apply upon completion of the restructuring transactions as refined subsequent to the October 24, 2001 letter agreement.
You should understand that the CBOE could challenge the exercise right in the future, notwithstanding that we have entered into these agreements. See Risk FactorsThe Exercise Right could be challenged
further by the CBOE.
Fairness of the Allocation of Shares of CBOT Holdings Common Stock Among Members (See page
24)
Since no mechanism currently exists in our certificate of incorporation, bylaws or rules and
regulations for allocating ownership in our organization among the members in connection with a restructuring such as that contemplated by the restructuring transactions, our board of directors appointed the Independent Allocation Committee,
comprised solely of public or independent directors of the board, to develop and recommend for adoption by the full board an appropriate and fair allocation among the CBOT members of shares of common stock in the restructured organization.
On September 17, 2002, the Independent Allocation Committee recommended to the board of directors as
fair, an allocation of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings among the CBOT members in respect of their memberships in connection with the restructuring transactions in the ratio of 5.0: 1.0: 0.5: 0.06: 0.07 to each Full Member, Associate Member,
GIM, IDEM and COM, respectively. In reaching this conclusion, the Independent Allocation Committee received and considered an opinion of William Blair & Company, L.L.C. that the proposed allocation was fair from a financial point of view to each
of the five classes of CBOT members.
William Blair was retained by the Independent Allocation Committee
and the CBOTs board of directors to deliver a written opinion as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the allocation of shares of common stock in the restructured organization among the CBOT members in respect of their
memberships in connection with the restructuring transactions. William Blairs fairness opinion dated September 17, 2002, states that, based upon and subject to the matters set forth in the opinion, the proposed allocation of shares of common
stock in CBOT Holdings is fair, from a financial point of view, to each of the five classes of CBOT members. The full text of the William Blair fairness opinion, dated September 17, 2002, is attached as Appendix D to this document.
William Blair was paid fees of $750,000 for the issuance of its written opinion to the Independent Allocation
Committee and the CBOT board of directors and each update through its January 16, 2001 update. On September 7, 2001, the CBOT and William Blair agreed to extend William Blairs engagement for nine months for a fee of $200,000. On
September 3, 2002, the CBOT and William Blair agreed again to extend William Blairs engagement for twelve months for an additional fee of $200,000. Thus, the total fees paid to William Blair to date are $1,150,000. Payment of these fees
was not conditioned on the conclusion reached by William Blair in its opinion.
You should understand
that this fairness opinion from William Blair is limited in its scope and does not address the value of the CBOT or the memberships before or after completion of the restructuring transactions, or the fairness of the consideration to be received by
CBOT members in respect of their memberships in connection with the restructuring transactions.
U.S. Federal Income
Tax Consequences of the Restructuring Transactions (See page 154)
We have received a ruling
from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, you will not recognize any gain or loss strictly as a result of receiving shares of common stock of
15
CBOT Holdings and Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary and that CBOT Holdings will not recognize any gain or loss strictly as a result of CBOT Holdings receiving the Class A
membership in the CBOT subsidiary in connection with the restructuring transactions as originally proposed last year. We are currently seeking a supplemental ruling from the IRS confirming that certain changes to the restructuring transactions as
originally proposed will not affect the validity of certain of the rulings previously received.
Assuming
this non-recognition treatment, the tax basis in your membership will carry over to your common stock of CBOT Holdings and memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. Receipt of a favorable ruling from the IRS with respect to the receipt by members of Class
B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary and receipt of a favorable ruling from the IRS or an opinion of counsel with respect to the receipt by CBOT Holdings of the Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary and receipt by members of common
stock of CBOT Holdings, in each case, in form and substance satisfactory to our board, are conditions to our obligation to complete the restructuring transactions. This condition will be satisfied with respect to the ruling if we receive the
supplemental ruling which we have requested from the IRS.
We have received an opinion of Kirkland &
Ellis, tax counsel to the CBOT and CBOT Holdings, to the effect that the discussion set forth at Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Restructuring Transactions represents its opinion as to material U.S. federal income
tax consequences of the restructuring transactions, subject to the qualifications set forth therein, and are based on reasonable interpretation of existing law.
Accounting Matters Relating to the Restructuring Transactions (See page 75)
The accounting treatment of certain aspects of the restructuring transactions will be treated in a manner similar to a reorganization of entities under common control. Under this method of accounting,
no gain or loss will be recognized, and the assets and liabilities of the CBOT will each appear on the books of CBOT Holdings at the same recorded amounts as on the books of the CBOT.
Regulatory Matters Relating to the Restructuring Transactions (See page 75)
The completion of the restructuring transactions is subject to our receipt of any approvals required by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in connection with the proposed changes to our
certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations that will be made in connection with the restructuring transactions and confirmation by the CFTC that implementation of the restructuring transactions will not have a material adverse
effect on our current contract market designation. We are currently in the process of reviewing such proposed changes with the CFTC. We currently expect that, pursuant to applicable CFTC regulations, the CFTC will make its determinations regarding
such changes within 45 days following membership approval of the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions. However, under certain circumstances, this process could take much longer.
In addition, the restructuring transactions may be subject to certain regulatory requirements of other state, federal and foreign
governmental agencies and authorities. We are currently working to evaluate and comply, as applicable, in all material respects with these requirements and do not currently anticipate that they will delay the completion of the restructuring
transactions.
Conditions to Completing the Restructuring Transactions (See page 76)
Although we are asking you to vote to approve the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions at this time, we will not be
obligated to complete the restructuring transactions unless and until each of the following conditions has been satisfied or waived:
|
|
|
the Full Members and Associate Members of the CBOT, voting together as a single class based on their respective voting rights, shall have approved each of the
four propositions being submitted for their approval in connection with the restructuring transactions in accordance with applicable law; |
16
|
|
|
we shall have received (1) a favorable ruling from the IRS to the effect that receipt by members of Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary and
(2) a favorable ruling from the IRS or an opinion of counsel to the effect that receipt by CBOT Holdings of the Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary and receipt by members of common stock of CBOT Holdings, in each case, in form and substance
satisfactory to our board of directors, will not result in the recognition of gain or loss to our members under U.S. federal tax law; |
|
|
|
we shall have received any approvals required by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in connection with changes to our corporate governance structure and
we shall have confirmed with the CFTC that implementation of the restructuring transactions will not have a material adverse effect on our current contract market designation, and we have received any other governmental or regulatory approvals and
authorizations determined by us to be necessary; |
|
|
|
we shall have received each required material third party consent which the failure to obtain would, in the sole and absolute determination of the board of
directors, have a material adverse effect on CBOT Holdings or the CBOT subsidiary; |
|
|
|
there shall be no court order or other regulation prohibiting or restricting the restructuring transactions; |
|
|
|
our board of directors shall not have determined that there is a material risk of an adverse outcome in the Associate Members and membership interest holders
litigation challenging the proposed allocation methodology; and |
|
|
|
our board of directors shall not have determined that the restructuring transactions are no longer in the best interests of the CBOT and its members or that the
restructuring transactions are not fair to each class of CBOT membership. |
No Stock Exchange Listing;
Market for Shares and Memberships (See page 27)
We have no current plans to seek the listing
of the common stock of CBOT Holdings or the memberships of the CBOT subsidiary on any stock exchange.
No
market presently exists for the common stock of CBOT Holdings. Although we cannot provide any assurances in this regard, we currently believe that a market for the common stock of CBOT Holdings and the Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary may
develop that is similar to the current markets for CBOT memberships. The current markets for memberships in the CBOT should facilitate the development of new markets for the common stock of CBOT Holdings and the Class B memberships in the CBOT
subsidiary. As the rights and privileges associated with the Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary are not currently transferable separate and apart from a Full Membership in the CBOT, we are uncertain as to what extent, if any, a market will
develop for Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary and what effect the transferability of the Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will have on the market for the common stock of CBOT Holdings and Class B memberships in the CBOT
subsidiary.
Risk Factors (See page 22)
There are significant risks associated with the restructuring transactions that you should consider very carefully before voting on the matters being submitted for your
consideration. These risks include, among other things, our ability to implement in a timely and successful manner changes to our organizational and corporate governance structure that are required in order to operate more efficiently. Although we
have a long history of operating as a successful member-owned institution, significant changes will be required in the manner in which we evaluate and undertake activities.
17
Propositions To Be Approved by Members; Vote Required (See page 156)
Full Members and Associate Members are being asked to approve the restructuring transactions described in this
document by voting on the following four propositions:
|
(1) |
|
the approval and adoption of the agreement and plan of merger relating to the reorganization merger; |
|
(2) |
|
the approval and adoption of the amended and restated bylaws of the CBOT, which will become the bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary, and a technical amendment to the
bylaws of the CBOT clarifying the status of the holders of GIM, IDEM and COM membership interests as members of the CBOT for purposes of Delaware corporation law; |
|
(3) |
|
the ratification of the agreements relating to the exercise right entered into by us and the CBOE; and |
|
(4) |
|
the ratification of all other matters relating to the restructuring transactions, including, among other things, the proposed changes to our corporate
governance structure, as set forth in the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws for CBOT Holdings and a new certificate of incorporation for the CBOT subsidiary, and certain changes to the rules and regulations of the CBOT
subsidiary, which, collectively, will facilitate the demutualization and the modernization of certain aspects of our corporate governance structure. |
The requested ratifications are expressions of approval by members of one or more matters for which their approval is not required as a matter of law. Although we are not
aware of case law addressing the effect of ratification by members of a Delaware nonstock corporation, we believe, based on certain cases addressing ratification by stockholders, that ratification may under certain circumstances be effective to
protect actions taken by a corporation and its board of directors against certain claims by stockholders (or, in the case of the CBOT, members) challenging such actions. It is a condition to the CBOTs obligation to complete the restructuring
transactions that the Full Members and the Associate Members, voting together as a single class based on their respective voting rights, approve each of the four propositions presented to them by the board of directors in accordance with applicable
law. For this reason, ratification of certain matters described above will be required to complete the restructuring transactions.
The four propositions described above, all of which relate to the restructuring transactions, are separate matters to be voted upon by the Full Members and the Associate Members but are expressly
conditioned upon the approval of each of the other of these four propositions. This means that ALL FOUR of these propositions must be approved by the Full Members and the Associate Members, voting together as a single class based on their respective
voting rights, in order for the restructuring transactions to be completed. The restructuring transactions described in this document will not be completed, even if all of the other conditions are satisfied or waived, unless the Full Members and the
Associate Members, voting in this manner, approve ALL FOUR of these propositions.
In accordance with
applicable Delaware law, proposition (1) will be approved if a majority of the voting power of Full Members and Associate Members, voting together as a single class based upon their respective voting rights, vote in favor of the approval of
proposition (1). In accordance with the current certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the CBOT, propositions (2), (3) and (4) will be approved if Full Members and Associate Members, voting together as a single class based upon their respective
voting rights, cast at least 300 votes at the special meeting, in person or by proxy ballot, and at least a majority of the votes cast are in favor of propositions (2), (3) and (4). Full Members will be entitled to one vote for each Full Membership
owned, and Associate Members will be entitled to one-sixth of one vote for each Associate Membership owned. No other class of CBOT membership will be entitled to vote on the restructuring transactions. Our directors and officers hold memberships
entitling them to cast an aggregate of 16 5/6 votes on the propositions, representing about 1.1% of the total
votes that may be cast.
18
Absence of Appraisal Rights (See Page 152)
Members who object to the restructuring transactions will have no appraisal rights under Delaware law. If the restructuring
transactions are completed and regardless of whether you voted for or against the restructuring transactions, your membership in the CBOT will be eliminated and you will receive shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings and memberships in the CBOT
subsidiary, in each case, as described in this document.
Board Recommendation
Our board of directors has determined that the restructuring transactions are in the best interests of the CBOT and its members and
that the restructuring transactions are fair to each class of CBOT membership. Our board of directors has approved the restructuring transactions and recommends that Full Members and Associate Members vote FOR each of the four
propositions being submitted for their approval in connection with the restructuring transactions.
19
SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table sets forth a summary of consolidated financial and other information for the CBOT. The balance sheet data as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 and operating
data for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this document. The balance sheet data as of December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 and
operating data for the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997 have been derived from audited financial statements and related notes not included in this document. The balance sheet and operating data as of, and for the nine months ended September
30, 2002 and 2001 are unaudited but include, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of such data. The results of operations for the nine months ended
September 30, 2002 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. The information set forth below should be read in conjunction with Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations, the consolidated financial statements and the related notes, the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements and other financial information included elsewhere in this document.
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2000
|
|
|
1999
|
|
|
1998
|
|
|
1997
|
|
Operating Data |
|
(dollars in thousands, except per share data) |
|
Total revenues |
|
$ |
234,394 |
|
$ |
178,393 |
|
|
$ |
243,932 |
|
|
$ |
214,161 |
|
|
$ |
203,948 |
|
|
$ |
207,185 |
|
|
$ |
177,475 |
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
177,695 |
|
|
160,051 |
|
|
|
235,466 |
|
|
|
222,319 |
|
|
|
221,303 |
|
|
|
195,490 |
|
|
|
154,669 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from operations |
|
|
56,699 |
|
|
18,342 |
|
|
|
8,466 |
|
|
|
(8,158 |
) |
|
|
(17,355 |
) |
|
|
11,695 |
|
|
|
22,806 |
|
Total income taxes (credit) |
|
|
23,384 |
|
|
7,486 |
|
|
|
4,002 |
|
|
|
1,950 |
|
|
|
(2,895 |
) |
|
|
5,051 |
|
|
|
6,147 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle and minority interest |
|
|
33,315 |
|
|
10,856 |
|
|
|
4,464 |
|
|
|
(10,108 |
) |
|
|
(14,460 |
) |
|
|
6,644 |
|
|
|
16,659 |
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principlenet of tax of $36(1) and $2,026(2), respectively
|
|
|
|
|
|
(51 |
) |
|
|
(51 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,920 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before minority interest |
|
|
33,315 |
|
|
10,805 |
|
|
|
4,413 |
|
|
|
(10,108 |
) |
|
|
(17,380 |
) |
|
|
6,644 |
|
|
|
16,659 |
|
Minority interest in (income) loss of subsidiary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,933 |
|
|
|
(38 |
) |
|
|
(6,995 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
33,315 |
|
$ |
10,805 |
|
|
$ |
4,413 |
|
|
$ |
(10,108 |
) |
|
$ |
(10,447 |
) |
|
$ |
6,606 |
|
|
$ |
9,664 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
370,802 |
|
$ |
372,638 |
|
|
$ |
359,061 |
|
|
$ |
373,836 |
|
|
$ |
373,379 |
|
|
$ |
400,971 |
|
|
$ |
397,449 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
141,006 |
|
|
170,120 |
|
|
|
162,988 |
|
|
|
182,516 |
|
|
|
172,405 |
|
|
|
189,924 |
|
|
|
193,538 |
|
Short-term borrowings |
|
|
16,339 |
|
|
19,767 |
|
|
|
18,398 |
|
|
|
27,083 |
|
|
|
6,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,662 |
|
Long-term borrowings |
|
|
46,041 |
|
|
59,158 |
|
|
|
58,324 |
|
|
|
64,286 |
|
|
|
87,500 |
|
|
|
100,726 |
|
|
|
105,000 |
|
Total equity |
|
|
229,796 |
|
|
202,518 |
|
|
|
196,073 |
|
|
|
191,320 |
|
|
|
200,974 |
|
|
|
211,047 |
|
|
|
203,911 |
|
Pro forma Data(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
370,802 |
|
$ |
372,638 |
|
|
$ |
359,061 |
|
|
$ |
373,836 |
|
|
$ |
373,379 |
|
|
$ |
400,971 |
|
|
$ |
397,449 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
141,006 |
|
|
170,120 |
|
|
|
162,988 |
|
|
|
182,516 |
|
|
|
172,405 |
|
|
|
189,924 |
|
|
|
193,538 |
|
Short-term borrowings |
|
|
16,339 |
|
|
19,767 |
|
|
|
18,398 |
|
|
|
27,083 |
|
|
|
6,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,662 |
|
Long-term borrowings |
|
|
46,041 |
|
|
59,158 |
|
|
|
58,324 |
|
|
|
64,286 |
|
|
|
87,500 |
|
|
|
100,726 |
|
|
|
105,000 |
|
Total equity |
|
|
229,796 |
|
|
202,518 |
|
|
|
196,073 |
|
|
|
191,320 |
|
|
|
200,974 |
|
|
|
211,047 |
|
|
|
203,911 |
|
Net income (loss) |
|
|
33,315 |
|
|
10,805 |
|
|
|
4,413 |
|
|
|
(10,108 |
) |
|
|
(10,447 |
) |
|
|
6,606 |
|
|
|
9,664 |
|
Net income (loss) per share(4) |
|
|
0.84 |
|
|
0.27 |
|
|
|
0.11 |
|
|
|
(0.25 |
) |
|
|
(0.26 |
) |
|
|
0.17 |
|
|
|
0.24 |
|
Other Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current ratio(5) |
|
|
1.75 |
|
|
1.02 |
|
|
|
1.11 |
|
|
|
0.71 |
|
|
|
1.02 |
|
|
|
1.41 |
|
|
|
1.42 |
|
Working capital (deficit) |
|
$ |
45,079 |
|
$ |
1,781 |
|
|
$ |
8,324 |
|
|
$ |
(22,507 |
) |
|
$ |
1,067 |
|
|
$ |
18,574 |
|
|
$ |
18,457 |
|
Capital expenditures |
|
|
23,934 |
|
|
10,336 |
|
|
|
16,358 |
|
|
|
38,497 |
|
|
|
25,165 |
|
|
|
26,985 |
|
|
|
48,529 |
|
Interest coverage ratio(6) |
|
|
16.31 |
|
|
4.47 |
|
|
|
2.26 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
2.63 |
|
|
|
4.52 |
|
Number of full time employees at end of period |
|
|
659 |
|
|
640 |
|
|
|
661 |
|
|
|
711 |
|
|
|
846 |
|
|
|
853 |
|
|
|
805 |
|
Sales price per CBOT Full MembershipHigh |
|
$ |
453 |
|
$ |
360 |
|
|
$ |
415 |
|
|
$ |
642 |
|
|
$ |
633 |
|
|
$ |
780 |
|
|
$ |
858 |
|
Low |
|
|
240 |
|
|
290 |
|
|
|
290 |
|
|
|
255 |
|
|
|
400 |
|
|
|
384 |
|
|
|
660 |
|
20
(1) |
|
In 2001, the CBOT adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities, as amended and interpreted, requiring recognition of all derivative instruments in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as either assets or liabilities and the measurement of those instruments at fair value. SFAS No.
133 also requires changes in the fair value of derivative instruments to be recorded each period in current earnings or other comprehensive income depending on the intended use of the derivatives. |
(2) |
|
In 1999, the CBOT adopted Statement of Position (SOP) 98-5, Reporting on the Costs of Start-Up Activities. SOP 98-5 requires that
start-up activities be expensed as incurred. Previously, start-up activities were capitalized and amortized. |
(3) |
|
Reflects the conversion of members equity to common stock of CBOT Holdings. |
(4) |
|
Based on 39,802,650 shares issued and outstanding immediately following the completion of the restructuring transactions. |
(5) |
|
Equals current assets divided by current liabilities. |
(6) |
|
Equals the sum of income from operations plus interest expense, divided by interest expense. |
21
If the restructuring transactions are completed, in respect of your
CBOT membership, you will receive shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings and a membership in the CBOT subsidiary. If you are a Full Member of the CBOT, you will also receive an additional membership in the CBOT subsidiary representing the exercise
right. Therefore, you should carefully consider each of the following risks and uncertainties, and all other information set forth in this document, before deciding whether to vote for or against the four propositions relating to the restructuring
transactions. The following risks relate principally to:
|
|
the restructuring transactions, particularly the demutualization; |
|
|
our business in general and the industry in which we operate; |
|
|
regulations applicable to our business and litigation in which we are, or may be, involved; and |
|
|
changes in our corporate governance structure that will be implemented as part of the restructuring transactions. |
You should be aware that the risks and uncertainties described below are not the only risks and uncertainties we are facing
or will face in the future. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business.
This document contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The results of CBOT Holdings could differ materially from those anticipated in
these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks and uncertainties faced by CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary described below and elsewhere in this document.
Risks Relating to the Restructuring Transactions
We are subject to the following risks in connection with the restructuring transactions, particularly our demutualization. Certain other risks relating to changes in our governing documents in
connection with the restructuring transactions are described below, see Risks Relating to Changes in Our Corporate Governance Structure.
We Have No Internal Experience and Little Representative External Experience Upon Which to Rely in Operating as a For-Profit Futures Exchange
Since our formation in the mid-nineteenth century, we have operated as a nonstock, not-for-profit corporation for the benefit of our
members. As such, we have been a mutual (or member-owned) organization focused on delivering member benefits and enhancing member opportunity at reasonable cost. After the restructuring transactions are completed, CBOT Holdings will be a stock,
for-profit corporation and, as such, will be operated for the long-term benefit of its stockholders rather than for the purpose of delivering member benefits and enhancing member opportunity. In addition, after the restructuring transactions are
completed, the CBOT subsidiary will itself become a for-profit corporation. Our management has limited experience operating a for-profit corporation. In addition, they have no experience, and there is relatively little history of or experience by
other U.S. futures exchanges, operating a for-profit futures exchange. Consequently, our transition to for-profit operations will be subject to risks, expenses and difficulties that we cannot predict and may not be capable of handling in an
efficient manner.
Our Holding Company Structure May Not Achieve its Intended Benefits
We believe that the proposed holding company structure contemplated by the restructuring transactions
will provide us increased flexibility to operate in a manner that will allow us to pursue our strategic goals while preserving certain desirable attributes of nonstock membership corporations. The expected benefits of the holding company structure
may not be realized if market conditions, the regulatory environment or other circumstances limit us from pursuing our strategic goals. As a result, we could incur the costs of maintaining a holding company structure without realizing all of its
intended benefits.
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As a Holding Company, CBOT Holdings Will be Totally Dependent on
Distributions and Dividends from its Operating Subsidiaries to Pay Dividends and Other Obligations
Immediately following the completion of the restructuring transactions, CBOT Holdings will have no business operations of its own. The only significant asset of CBOT Holdings will initially consist of the Class A membership in the
CBOT subsidiary. This Class A membership will entitle CBOT Holdings to all dividends, distributions and proceeds upon liquidation from the CBOT subsidiary. As a result, CBOT Holdings will rely upon distributions from the CBOT subsidiary to meet its
obligations. We currently expect that most of the earnings and cash flow of the CBOT subsidiary will initially be retained and used by it in its operations, including for purposes of servicing debt obligations it may have now or incur in the future.
The Exercise Right Could be Challenged Further by the CBOE
Notwithstanding our execution of the August 7, 2001 agreement and related October 24, 2001 and September 13, 2002 letter
agreements with the CBOE, we cannot assure you that the CBOE will not take other actions in the future to challenge or interfere with the exercise right in reliance upon its interpretation of these agreements, the 1992 agreement or article fifth (b)
of the CBOEs certificate of incorporation, which created the exercise right in 1973. We also cannot assure you that the CBOE will not otherwise be successful in terminating the exercise right or preventing Full Members from exercising such
right in the future in response to future innovations by CBOT Holdings or the CBOT subsidiary in implementing their business strategies, especially in the area of electronic trading. For more information on the exercise right and the CBOEs
recent attempts to restrict the scope of the exercise right, see Our BusinessLegal ProceedingsChicago Board Options Exchange Dispute.
Certain Members Have Filed a Complaint in Illinois State Court Challenging the Proposed Allocation of Equity in the CBOT
Certain Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs have instituted litigation in Cook County Circuit Court against certain individual
Full Members and a class of all Full Members alleging that the proposed allocation of equity in the CBOT as part of the restructuring transactions unfairly favors Full Members to the detriment of Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs. The
plaintiffs have requested, among other things, that the court enjoin Full Members from voting in favor of the allocation contemplated by the restructuring transactions and that the court declare that the proposed allocation is unfair. The court
certified a plaintiff class consisting of all persons or entities who own an Associate Membership or any other membership interest (excluding the 1,402 individuals who hold Full Memberships and any entity which owns a Full Membership in addition to
owning an Associate Membership or other membership interest) and certified a defendant class consisting of all persons or entities who are CBOT Full Members. Subsequently, defendants filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing among other things
that Full Members of the CBOT do not owe fiduciary duties to Associate Members and membership interest holders under Delaware law, and therefore plaintiffs complaint should be dismissed. On August 8, 2002, the court granted defendants
motion for summary judgment. On September 6, 2002, the plaintiffs filed a motion asking the court to reconsider its decision to dismiss the case and terminate this litigation. On December 16, 2002, the court denied plaintiffs motion for
reconsideration. We believe that the courts decision is correct and that plaintiffs position is without merit. Nevertheless, we cannot provide any assurances that the plaintiffs will not appeal nor can we provide any assurances that the
plaintiffs will not succeed in preventing or delaying the vote which is the subject of this proxy solicitation or in altering the proposed allocation of equity in the restructuring transactions. Additionally, we cannot assure you that the plaintiffs
will not attempt to pursue other remedies, such as damages, in the event that the restructuring transactions are completed on the terms proposed in this document. For more information, see Our BusinessLegal ProceedingsLawsuit
Brought By Certain Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs.
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We Have Not Determined or Received Any Opinion Regarding the Value of the
CBOT Before or After the Restructuring Transactions or the Value of the Securities and/or Memberships You Will Receive in the Restructuring Transactions Compared to the Value of the Memberships You Currently Own
We have not determined the value of the CBOT in its current form as a nonstock, not-for-profit corporation or its value as a stock,
for-profit holding company after the restructuring transactions, nor have we determined the value of the securities and/or memberships that will be issued in respect of the existing CBOT memberships in connection with the restructuring transactions.
The fairness opinion that we have received from William Blair is limited in scope and does not address either of the foregoing valuation matters. Accordingly, we can give you no assurance that the value of CBOT Holdings will be at least equal to the
value of the CBOT or that the value of the securities of CBOT Holdings and/or memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will be at least equal to the value of the corresponding memberships in the CBOT that you currently own.
The Allocation of the Equity in CBOT Holdings Depends on Several Relative Factors
The Independent Allocation Committee and our board of directors considered a number of factors in determining the allocation of equity in
CBOT Holdings among the existing CBOT members in connection with the restructuring transactions. The Independent Allocation Committee based its recommendation on a combination of factors including, among other things, relative voting rights,
relative liquidation rights, the allocation of partnership interests in connection with the formation of Ceres, membership or seat prices and contract volumes. There are other equity allocation methods that could be applied and, if applied, might
produce different results. However, the Independent Allocation Committee and our board of directors have determined that the proposed allocation will accomplish a fair allocation of the common stock of CBOT Holdings among the CBOT members in respect
of their memberships. See The Restructuring TransactionsIndependent Allocation Committee of the Board for more information regarding the Independent Allocation Committee and the allocation methodology.
Certain members of the CBOT have initiated litigation against certain Full Members in the Cook County Circuit Court challenging our
allocation determination. For more information regarding this litigation, see Certain Members Have Filed a Complaint in Illinois State Court Challenging the Proposed Allocation of Equity in the CBOT above and Our
BusinessLegal ProceedingsLawsuit Brought By Certain Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs.
Full Members Will Experience Dilution in Their Relative Voting Powers
As a
result of the allocation of common stock of CBOT Holdings among our members and the limitation on the voting rights of Class B and Class C members of the CBOT subsidiary resulting from the completion of the restructuring transactions, Full Members
will experience dilution of their voting power on general matters relative to the voting power of Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs on such matters. Our current certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that the Full Members are entitled
to one vote per membership and Associate Members are entitled to one-sixth of one vote per membership on all matters subject to a membership vote, while GIMs, IDEMs and COMs do not have the right to vote on any matters. Upon the completion of the
restructuring transactions, the holders of the common stock of CBOT Holdings will have the right to vote on all matters upon which the stockholders of CBOT Holdings will be entitled to vote generally, including, among other things, the election of
directors to the board of directors of CBOT Holdings. By virtue of their receipt of shares of common stock pursuant to the restructuring transactions, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs who do not currently have voting rights in the CBOT will also be entitled as
common stockholders to vote on all matters submitted to the stockholders of CBOT Holdings for a vote. See The Restructuring TransactionsIndependent Allocation Committee of the Board and Description of Capital Stock and
Memberships.
Your Relative Liquidation Rights Will Change as a Result of the Restructuring
Transactions and Full Members and GIMs Will Experience Dilution in Their Relative Liquidation Rights
As a
result of the allocation of common stock of CBOT Holdings among members and the exclusive right of CBOT Holdings as the sole Class A member of the CBOT subsidiary to share in the proceeds of liquidation of
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the CBOT subsidiary resulting from the completion of the restructuring transactions, Full Members and GIMs will experience dilution of their liquidation rights in CBOT Holdings relative to the
liquidation rights of Associate Members, IDEMs and COMs. Our current certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that the members would share in the proceeds upon liquidation in a ratio of 1.000 : 0.167 : 0.111 : 0.005 : 0.005 to each Full
Member, Associate Member, GIM, IDEM and COM, respectively. This represents an implied allocation among Full Members, Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs as follows: 6.00 : 1.00 : 0.67 : 0.03 : 0.03. Upon the completion of the restructuring
transactions, CBOT Holdings common stockholders will have the right to share in the proceeds of liquidation of CBOT Holdings pro rata on the basis of the number of shares of common stock owned and CBOT Holdings, as the holder of the sole Class A
membership in the CBOT subsidiary, will have the exclusive right to share in the proceeds of liquidation of the CBOT subsidiary.
Accordingly, upon the completion of the restructuring transactions, the proceeds upon liquidation would be shared among CBOT Holdings common stockholders in accordance with the ratio used to allocate equity in CBOT Holdings
pursuant to the restructuring transactions, which is 5.0 : 1.0 : 0.5 : 0.06 : 0.07 to each Full Member, Associate Member, GIM, IDEM and COM, respectively. This will increase somewhat the liquidation rights of stockholders who are now Associate
Members, IDEMs and COMs and will reduce in a corresponding manner the relative liquidation rights of stockholders who are now Full Members and GIMs. See The Restructuring TransactionsIndependent Allocation Committee of the Board
and Description of Capital Stock and Memberships.
Our Business May Be Materially Adversely
Affected if We Do Not Timely Complete the Restructuring Transactions
If we fail to complete the
restructuring transactions substantially in a timely fashion, our business may be materially adversely affected. Specifically, we believe that we would likely be significantly less capable of making decisions on important issues in an expeditious
manner, responding rapidly to the technological innovations currently shaping the derivatives markets, maximizing the value of our organization or achieving the other benefits we expect to achieve in connection with the restructuring transactions,
all of which are important to our business strategy. Although we currently plan to complete the restructuring transactions as promptly as reasonably practicable following satisfaction or waiver of all conditions, we cannot assure you as to whether
or when implementation of the restructuring transactions will occur. For more information about the restructuring transactions and the benefits we expect to achieve in connection with the restructuring transactions, see The Restructuring
TransactionsBackground of the Restructuring TransactionsReasons for the Restructuring Strategy.
We May Incur Material, Unanticipated Costs in Connection with the Restructuring Transactions
We have already incurred substantial expenses in connection with the restructuring transactions and have planned for additional expenditures necessary for the completion of the transactions. We may, however, incur additional
significant costs and expenses greater than those we have planned for in connection with the restructuring transactions. We cannot assure you that these additional costs will not be material to our business.
We Will Be Unable to Complete the Restructuring Transactions Unless We Can Obtain a Favorable Supplemental Ruling from the IRS
and/or an Opinion of Counsel
We have designed and structured the restructuring transactions with the
intention that neither the CBOT nor its members will recognize any gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in connection with the demutualization. On September 30, 2002, we received a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service
to the effect that you will not recognize gain or loss strictly as a result of the receipt of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings and Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary and that CBOT Holdings will not recognize any gain or
loss strictly as a result of the receipt by CBOT Holdings of the Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary in connection with the restructuring transactions as originally proposed last year. We are currently seeking a supplemental ruling from the
IRS to the effect that certain changes to the CBOT subsidiarys corporate governance structure described in this document will not affect certain of the IRSs holdings in its
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September 30, 2002 ruling. Because there is limited authority for the tax treatment of the demutualization aspect of our restructuring transactions, we cannot be sure that the IRS will issue the
requested supplemental ruling or, if issued, that we will receive the requested supplemental ruling in the near future. This process can, under certain circumstances, take a significant amount of time. Receipt of a favorable ruling from the IRS with
respect to receipt by the members of Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary and receipt of a favorable ruling from the IRS or an opinion of counsel with respect to the receipt by CBOT Holdings of the Class A membership in the CBOT
subsidiary and receipt by members of common stock of CBOT Holdings, in each case, in form and substance satisfactory to our board, are conditions to our obligation to complete the restructuring transactions, and we will not complete the
restructuring transactions unless and until we receive the ruling and/or opinion, as applicable. Even if we do receive the requested ruling from the IRS, any significant delay in the implementation of the restructuring transactions caused by the IRS
could jeopardize our ability to achieve the expected benefits of the restructuring transactions.
We Will Be
Unable to Complete the Restructuring Transactions Unless We Can Obtain Necessary Regulatory Approvals, Including from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
In order to complete the restructuring transactions, we currently anticipate that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission will be asked to approve changes to our
certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations, and that the CFTC will be asked to confirm that implementation of the restructuring transactions will not have a material adverse effect on our current contract market designation. We
are currently in the process of reviewing such proposed changes with the CFTC. We currently expect that, pursuant to applicable CFTC regulations, within 45 days following membership approval of the propositions relating to the restructuring
transactions, the CFTC will make its determinations regarding such changes. However, under certain circumstances, this process could take much longer. If these CFTC approvals and any other necessary regulatory approvals or authorizations cannot be
obtained, we may not be able to complete the restructuring transactions and any delay in the implementation of the restructuring transactions caused by the CFTC or other regulators may jeopardize the expected benefits of the restructuring
transactions. Generally speaking, depending on the circumstances, it could take several months to receive the necessary approvals from the CFTC. We cannot assure you that the CFTC and other regulatory approvals will be obtained in connection with
the restructuring transactions or, if obtained, that the approvals will be timely received.
Common
Stockholders of CBOT Holdings May Support Decisions That Are Contrary to the Interests of Members of the CBOT Subsidiary
As described in greater detail elsewhere in this document, the transfer restrictions applicable to the common stock of CBOT Holdings and the Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will cause such common stock and
memberships to generally be linked together for an indefinite period of time. However, these transfer restrictions applicable to the common stock of CBOT Holdings and the memberships of the CBOT subsidiary may, in the future, as described in greater
detail elsewhere in this document, be removed, reduced or otherwise changed. As a result, if and when these restrictions are removed or reduced, persons who are not members of the CBOT subsidiary could acquire shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings
issued to our members in the restructuring transactions. To the extent that persons who are not members of the CBOT subsidiary acquire common stock of CBOT Holdings, CBOT Holdings would no longer be controlled solely by our members. Under these
circumstances, because holders of common stock of CBOT Holdings may have solely an economic interest in the CBOT subsidiary and no interest in the trading opportunities made available by the CBOT subsidiary, they may be more likely to advocate that
CBOT Holdings use its control over the CBOT subsidiary to maximize the long-term enterprise value of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary rather than to enhance or protect the trading opportunities available to the Class B members of the CBOT
subsidiary or the exercise right associated with the Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. This could lead to decisions or outcomes that are contrary to the interests of the holders of Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary.
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The Absence of a Prior Public Market Limits Our Ability to Predict Whether
and to What Extent a Public Market Will Develop in Our Shares
There is currently no public market for
the shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings as such common stock will be newly issued securities and subject to significant transfer restrictions. The transfer restrictions applicable to the common stock of CBOT Holdings will cause such common stock
to be linked together with the Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary for an indefinite period of time. Although we currently expect that the boards of directors of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary may consider seeking the removal and/or
reduction of these transfer restrictions from time to time in the future, we cannot assure you that the CBOT Holdings common stock will become freely tradable or to what extent a market will develop for such common stock. Moreover, even if the CBOT
Holdings common stock were to become freely tradable, we do not know whether third parties would find the shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to be an attractive investment, or whether firms would be interested in making a market in shares of
the CBOT Holdings common stock. Consequently, we cannot assure you that any trading market for any shares of our capital stock will develop or, if one or more develops, how strong it may be.
There is Uncertainty as to the Effect the Restructuring Transactions Will Have on the Application of Our Rule Concerning Claims Against the Proceeds of a
Transfer of a Membership After the Restructuring Transactions
Under our current rules and
regulations, proceeds from the transfer of a membership are subject to certain prior claims of other members against the seller of that membership. As a result of the restructuring transactions, our members will receive a combination of interests
consisting of both common stock of CBOT Holdings and membership(s) in the CBOT subsidiary. As described in greater detail elsewhere in this document, the CBOT Holdings common stock and the Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will be linked
together for an indefinite period of time. Due to this linkage and the unique characteristics of the resulting combinations of interests, we believe that there is significant uncertainty concerning the application of this rule after the completion
of the restructuring transactions. Absent special circumstances, proceeds from the transfer of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings will not be subject to the prior claims of the holders of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary unless and to
the extent that such holders have otherwise perfected a security interest in the transferred shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings, such as receiving a pledge of such shares. The rules and regulations of the CBOT subsidiary will provide that the
proceeds of any transfer of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will be subject to the priority of payments provision that is currently applicable to the transfer of CBOT memberships. However, we are not aware of any court that has considered
the applicability of such a provision in the context of linked common stock and memberships. Accordingly, while we currently intend to retain this provision in the rules and regulations of the CBOT subsidiary, there is uncertainty as to whether, how
and to what extent the priority of payments provision would be enforced in accordance with its terms. As a result, we cannot provide you any assurances as to the continued enforceability of this priority of payments provisions after the completion
of the restructuring transactions and you may wish to consider the implementation of special procedures to protect your interests in this regard.
Risks Relating to Our Business
Our business, and the value of the stock to be issued by
CBOT Holdings and the memberships to be issued by the CBOT subsidiary, are subject to the following risks, which include risks relating to the industry in which we operate.
As a Result of Reduction in Our Workforce, We May Lack Sufficient Personnel to Run CBOT Holdings and the CBOT Subsidiary
We have experienced a significant reduction in staffing over the last two years. From January 1, 2000 through December 15, 2002, the
number of our employees decreased by 188, which represented about a
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22% reduction in our total workforce. We cannot assure you that we will be able to continue to successfully run our business with this reduced number of employees. We may desire or need to
recruit additional employees. However, we cannot assure you that we can successfully recruit these persons.
We Depend on Our Executive Officers and Other Key Personnel
Our future success
depends, in significant part, upon the continued service of our executive officers, as well as various key management, technical and trading operations personnel. In particular, we believe that it is difficult to hire and retain executive management
with the skills and abilities desirable for managing and operating a futures exchange. For example, our former chief executive officer recently resigned from his position. The loss of these additional key people could have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition and operating results. We cannot assure you that any of our other key personnel will not voluntarily terminate his or her employment with us.
Our future success also will depend in significant part on our ability to recruit and retain highly skilled and often specialized individuals as employees, particularly in
light of the rapid pace of technological advances. The level of competition in our industry for people with these skills is intense, and from time to time we have experienced losses of key employees. Significant losses of key personnel, particularly
to other employers with which we compete, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
We May Not Effectively Manage Our Growth
We intend to develop and expand
our business, including both our open outcry and electronic trading systems. This growth may place a significant strain on our management, personnel, systems and resources. We must continue to improve our operational and financial systems and
managerial controls and procedures, and we will need to continue to expand, train and manage our technology workforce. We must also maintain close coordination among our technology, compliance, accounting, finance, marketing and sales organizations.
We cannot assure you that we will manage our growth effectively, and failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Our Decision to Operate Both Pit-Based, Open Outcry Trading and Electronic Trading, Including Our Commitment to Maintain Open Outcry Markets, May Materially Adversely
Affect Our Operating Costs, Markets and Profitability
It is expensive in terms of costs and
management and other resources to continue operating two trading systems for the same products. Our current business strategy involves the operation of both pit-based, open outcry trading and electronic trading systems for our products. In addition,
the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary will contain a provision generally requiring the CBOT subsidiary to maintain current open outcry markets so long as each such market is deemed liquid under the terms of the certificate of
incorporation unless the discontinuance of any such market is approved by the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary in accordance with the certificate of incorporation. As a result, the CBOT subsidiary will
be obligated under the terms of its certificate of incorporation to provide financial and other support to these markets. We may not have sufficient resources to adequately fund or manage both trading systems. This may result in resource allocation
decisions that adversely impact one or both systems. Also, if we continue to operate both trading systems, liquidity on each may be less than the liquidity on a competitive unified trading system, making our trading systems less attractive and less
competitive. As a result, our total revenues may be lower than if we operated only open outcry trading or only electronic trading. Moreover, to the extent that we continue to operate two trading systems, our boards and management may make decisions
which are designed to enhance the continued viability of two separate trading systems. These decisions may have a negative impact on the overall competitiveness of each trading system.
We are Subject to Certain Risks Associated with the Globalization of Our Business
We expect that the expansion of our electronic markets will increase the portion of our business that is generated from outside the United States. The globalization of our
business presents a number of inherent risks, including, among other things, the following:
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potential difficulty of enforcing agreements and collecting receivables through certain foreign legal systems; |
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the evolving global tax treatment of electronic commerce, and the possibility that foreign governments could adopt onerous or inconsistent tax policies with
respect to taxation of products traded on our markets or of the services that we provide; |
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tax rates in certain foreign countries may exceed those of the United States and foreign earnings may be subject to withholding requirements or the imposition
of tariffs, exchange controls or other restrictions; |
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listed derivatives markets are regulated in most developed nations, and it may be impractical for us to secure or maintain the regulatory approvals necessary
for our markets to be accessible from one or more nations; |
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certain of our expenses are denominated in foreign currencies, including expenses relating to the a/c/e system denominated in euros, which exposes us to
the risk of fluctuating exchange rates and we may not fully eliminate this risk through our hedging activity; |
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general economic and political conditions in the countries from which our markets are accessed may have an adverse effect on our trading from those countries;
and |
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it may be difficult to enforce our intellectual property rights in certain foreign countries. |
As we expand our business globally, our success will be dependent, in part, on our ability to anticipate and manage these and other risks
effectively. We cannot assure you that these and other factors will not have a material adverse effect on our business as a whole.
Our Market Data Fees May be Reduced or Eliminated by the Growth of Electronic Trading and Electronic Order Entry Systems
We sell our market data to vendors who distribute such data to persons or entities that use or monitor our markets. In the nine months ended September 30, 2002, revenue from the sale of market data
represented about 19% of our total revenue. Electronic trading systems, including the a/c/e system, do not usually impose separate charges and therefore realize revenue from the distribution of market data to trading terminals. If electronic trading
of our products continues to grow and trading terminals with access to our markets become more widely available, we can expect to lose market data fee revenue from those who have access to trading terminals that make our products available. We may
experience a reduction in our revenues if we are unable to recover that lost revenue through terminal usage fees or transaction fees.
We May Not Be Successful in Executing Our Electronic Trading Strategy
We
have committed substantial resources to develop our electronic trading capabilities. We began to offer our products electronically over the a/c/e system in August 2000. In implementing this system, we balanced the desire to maximize system
functionality against the associated costs, in both capital expenditure and time to market. While we believe these decisions will benefit our electronic trading capabilities, we cannot assure you these initiatives will be successful. For instance:
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contract volume may be lower than the break-even volume on which we budgeted costs for the a/c/e system, either because overall volume is lower than our
projections, because the portion of volume traded electronically is lower than we projected or because our market share is lower than we projected; |
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competitors that offer systems capable of 24-hour trading may gain a competitive advantage over the a/c/e system, which is not yet capable of operating 24 hours
a day; and |
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users may prefer the features and technology of other systems or products of other exchanges over ours. |
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We Are Subject to Certain Risks Relating to the Operation of an Electronic
Trading Market
The a/c/e system, which we currently rely upon for offering electronic trading of our
products, is the result of an alliance between the CBOT and the Eurex Group. In 2001, certain disputes between the CBOT and the Eurex Group developed concerning, among other things, our obligation to participate in the cost of certain software
upgrades, the development of an equity options market in the United States and the structure and function of CBOT/Eurex Alliance, L.L.C., the joint venture company that we co-own with the Eurex Group. In 2002, we resolved these disputes by entering
into agreements with the Eurex Group, which collectively modified the structure of our relationship with the Eurex Group from an alliance to an outsourcing arrangement. As a result, we have relinquished co-ownership of the a/c/e system software and
have no further joint development obligations. In connection with these agreements, we acknowledged Eurexs right to engage in equity options trading in the United States and we have agreed that CBOT/Eurex Alliance would have no further role in
the operation of the a/c/e system. We now have a non-exclusive license to use the a/c/e system software and certain modifications until December 31, 2003. We have also entered into related arrangements to obtain system operation and software
maintenance services from the Eurex Group until December 31, 2003. If our relationship with the Eurex Group is terminated early, our agreements provide for the provision of certain limited transition services while we find another technology
platform and/or provider. However, we cannot assure you that we would be able to replace this technology in a timely or cost-effective manner. In addition, we cannot assure you that the Eurex Group would provide such transition services if the
alliance is terminated as a result of a partys breach of such agreements.
In addition, we are subject
to risks relating generally to the provision of electronic transaction services which include our failure or inability to:
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acquire, develop or implement new, enhanced or updated versions of electronic trading software; |
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attract independent software vendors to write front-end software that effectively accesses our electronic trading system; |
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increase the number of devices, e.g., trading and order routing terminals, capable of sending orders to our floor and to our electronic trading system; and
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respond effectively to technological developments or service offerings by competitors. |
If our electronic trading operations are not successful, our business or future financial condition or operating results could be materially adversely affected.
Intense Competition Could Materially Adversely Affect Our Market Share and Financial Performance
The futures industry is highly competitive. Many of our competitors and potential competitors are more established or have greater
financial resources than we do. We expect that competition will intensify in the future as a result of continuing consolidation in the futures exchange industry and the increasing automation of risk management services. Many of our competitors also
have greater marketing capabilities and financial, technological and personnel resources.
Competitive pressures
may cause us to re-evaluate our current business model and strategy. For example, in an industry where substantially all derivatives are traded electronically, the concept of an open outcry exchange, including the services we provide and our sources
of revenue, may change swiftly and substantially. Increased development of the electronic trading markets could substantially increase competition for some or all of the products and services we currently provide.
In addition, our competitors may:
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respond more quickly to competitive pressures due to their corporate governance structures, which may be more flexible and efficient than our
corporate-governance structure; |
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develop similar products that are preferred by our customers; |
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develop non-traditional alternative risk transfer products that compete with our products; |
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price their products and services more competitively; |
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develop and expand their network infrastructures and service offerings more efficiently; |
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adapt more swiftly to new or emerging technologies and changes in client requirements; |
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utilize better, more user-friendly and more reliable technology; |
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take greater advantage of acquisitions, alliances and other opportunities; |
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more effectively market, promote and sell their products and services; |
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better leverage existing relationships with clients and strategic partners or exploit better recognized brand names to market, distribute and sell their
services; and |
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exploit regulatory disparities between traditional, regulated exchanges and alternative markets that benefit from a reduced regulatory burden and a lower-cost
business model. |
Our current and prospective competitors are numerous and include securities
exchanges, futures and options exchanges, market data and information vendors, electronic communications networks, crossing systems and similar entities, consortia of large customers and some of our clearing member firms and interdealer brokerage
firms. We may also face competition from computer software companies and media and technology companies. The number of businesses providing internet-related financial services, which are sometimes referred to as e-commerce businesses,
has grown rapidly, and other companies have entered into, or are forming, joint ventures or consortia to provide services similar to those provided by us. Further, many of our competitors are already for-profit companies with more modern corporate
governance structures that enable them to make decisions more quickly and efficiently and enhance their overall competitiveness. For more information concerning the competitive nature of our industry and the challenges we face, see Our
BusinessCompetition.
As a result of this intense competition, we cannot assure you that we will be
able to retain our current customers or attract new customers to our markets, products and services. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will not lose customers because of more economical alternatives offered from competitors with comparable
or possibly superior products, services or trade execution services. Our business could be adversely affected if we fail to attract new customers or lose a substantial number of our current customers to competitors.
We Are Dependent Upon the Clearing Services of the Board of Trade Clearing Corporation
Currently, all of the contracts traded on the CBOT and on our wholly owned subsidiary, the MidAmerica Commodity Exchange, are cleared
through the Board of Trade Clearing Corporation, or BOTCC. BOTCC has agreements with our clearing members to provide clearing services and data processing with respect to transactions on the CBOT and the MidAmerica Exchange. Although
BOTCC has agreed to provide its services to our clearing members, you should be aware that the loss of any of its services with respect to transactions on the CBOT may have a material adverse effect on our operations. In addition, BOTCC has entered
into arrangements to provide clearing or processing services to parties unaffiliated and, in certain instances, in direct competition, with the CBOT. As a result, the CBOT may experience some loss of service as a result of BOTCCs reallocation
of resources, which could also have a material adverse effect on our operations. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain alternative clearing and data processing arrangements in a timely or cost-effective manner.
We Have No Written Contract For Clearing Services With Our Clearing Organization
We believe that the services of the Board of Trade Clearing Corporation to our clearing members provide us with a competitive
advantage. However, we currently do not have a written contract with BOTCC that would obligate it to continue to provide its clearing services to our clearing members. Although we may consider negotiating such a written contract with BOTCC, we
cannot assure you that we will determine to do so or, if we so determine, that we will be successful in entering into such a written contract.
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Computer and Communications Systems Failures and Capacity Constraints Could
Harm Our Reputation and Our Business
Our failure to operate, monitor or maintain our computer systems and
network services or, if necessary, to find a replacement for our technology in a timely and cost-effective manner could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition and operating results. We rely and expect to
continue to rely on third parties for various computer and communications systems, such as telephone companies, on-line service providers, data processors, clearance organizations and software and hardware vendors. Our systems or those of our third
party providers may fail, causing one or more of the following effects:
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unanticipated disruptions in service to customers; |
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delays in trade execution; |
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decreased customer satisfaction; |
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incomplete or inaccurate accounting, recording or processing of trades; |
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litigation or other customer claims; and |
Our status as a Commodity Futures Trading Commission registrant requires that our trade execution and communications systems be able to handle anticipated present and future peak trading volume. Heavy use of our computer systems
during peak trading times or at times of unusual market volatility could cause our systems to operate slowly or even to fail for periods of time. We constantly monitor system loads and performance and regularly implement system upgrades to handle
estimated increases in trading volume. However, we cannot assure you that our estimates of future trading volume will be accurate or that our systems will always be able to accommodate actual trading volume without failure or degradation of
performance. System failure or degradation could lead our customers to file formal complaints with industry regulatory organizations, file lawsuits against us or cease doing business with us or could lead the CFTC or other regulators to initiate
inquiries or proceedings for failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
In addition, we cannot
assure you that we will not experience system failures, outages or interruptions that will materially adversely affect our business. Any failures that cause an interruption in service or decrease our responsiveness, including failures caused by
customer error or misuse of our systems, could impair our reputation, damage our brand name and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
We Depend on Third Party Suppliers for a Number of Services that are Important to Our Business
We depend on a number of suppliers, such as banking, clearing and settlement organizations, telephone companies, online service providers, data processors, and software and
hardware vendors for elements of our trading, clearing and other systems, as well as communications and networking equipment, computer hardware and software and related support and maintenance. We cannot assure you that any of these providers will
be able to continue to provide these services in an efficient, cost-effective manner or that they will be able to adequately expand their services to meet our needs. An interruption in or the cessation of service by any service provider and our
inability to make alternative arrangements in a timely manner, or at all, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Our Networks and Those of Our Third Party Service Providers may be Vulnerable to Security Risks
We expect the secure transmission of confidential information over public networks to continue to be a critical element of our operations. Our networks and those of our
third party service providers, our member firms
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and our customers may be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses and other security problems. Persons who circumvent security measures could wrongfully use our information or cause
interruptions or malfunctions in our operations, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results. We may be required to expend significant resources to protect against the threat of
security breaches or to alleviate problems, including reputational harm and litigation, caused by any breaches. Although we intend to continue to implement industry-standard security measures, these measures may prove to be inadequate and result in
system failures and delays that could lower trading volume and have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
We May Not Be Able to Keep Up With Rapid Technological Changes
To remain competitive, we must continue to enhance and improve the responsiveness, functionality, accessibility and features of our proprietary software, network distribution systems and other technologies. The financial services and
e-commerce industries are characterized by rapid technological change, changes in use and customer requirements and preferences, frequent product and service introductions embodying new technologies and the emergence of new industry standards and
practices that could render obsolete our existing proprietary technology and systems. Our success will depend, in part, on our ability to:
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develop or license leading technologies useful in our business; |
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enhance our existing services; |
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develop new services and technology that address the increasingly sophisticated and varied needs of our existing and prospective clients; and
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respond to technological advances and emerging industry standards and practices on a cost-effective and timely basis. |
We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully implement new technologies or adapt our proprietary technology and transaction-processing
systems to customer requirements or emerging industry standards. We cannot assure you that we will be able to respond in a timely manner to changing market conditions or customer requirements, and a failure to so respond could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Declines in the Global Financial
Markets May Materially Adversely Affect Our Business
Adverse economic and political conditions may cause
declines in global financial markets and may affect our operating results. The global financial services business is, by its nature, risky and volatile and is directly affected by many national and international factors that are beyond our control.
Any one of these factors may cause a substantial decline in the global financial services markets, resulting in reduced trading volume. These events could materially adversely affect our business. These factors include:
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economic and political conditions in the United States and elsewhere in the world; |
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wavering institutional/consumer confidence levels; |
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the availability of cash for investment by mutual funds and other wholesale and retail investors; and |
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legislative and regulatory changes. |
In particular, U.S. Treasury bond futures and options contracts comprised about 28% of our financial product volume and about 21% of our total transaction volume for the nine-month period ended
September 30, 2002. On October 31, 2001, the U.S. Treasury announced its decision to halt the issuance of 30-year bonds. Further reductions in the amount of U.S. Treasury bonds outstanding or adverse changes in investors preferences for
futures contracts on fixed income obligations issued or backed by the U.S. Government, including increased demand by investors in fixed income obligations with shorter-term maturities, may adversely affect our business, financial condition and
operating results.
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Strategic Alliances May Not Generate Increased Trading in Our Marketplaces
We currently believe that strategic alliances could play an important role in our long-term success.
However, we cannot assure you that any strategic alliance that we may enter into will be successful or otherwise contribute to the growth of our business. In the future, we may seek to enter into alliances or other arrangements with other parties.
However, we cannot provide you any assurances as to our success in this regard. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in either developing, or fulfilling the objectives of, any such alliance. Our participation in these alliances may strain
our resources and may limit our ability to pursue other strategic and business initiatives.
Our Operating
Results Are Subject to Fluctuations as a Result of Seasonality
Certain factors beyond our control,
including the seasonality of the futures industry, may contribute to fluctuations in our operating results, including our quarterly results. In particular, we have experienced relatively higher volume during certain quarters and lower trading volume
during other quarters. As a result of this seasonality, our operating results for any particular period may not be indicative of our future performance.
Our Business is Subject to Risks Related to Our Real Estate Holdings
Revenue from our building services operations represented about 8% of our operating revenue for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2002. Lower occupancy rates, market rental rates and non-renewal of leases by tenants
could have a material adverse effect on our future business services revenue, overall financial condition and operating results. Any decrease in leased space could also affect future building service revenue if there is no corresponding demand for
the vacated office space. Furthermore, most of our tenants are engaged in businesses that are directly or indirectly related to the brokerage/trading industry or related areas of financial services and adverse business conditions affecting those
businesses could have a material adverse effect on our occupancy rates and building services revenues.
Risks Relating to Regulation
and Litigation
We are subject to the following risks in connection with the regulation of, and litigation
relating to, our business.
We May Not Be Able to Maintain Our Self-Regulatory Responsibilities
Some financial services regulators have publicly stated their concerns about the ability of a financial
exchange, organized as a for-profit corporation, to adequately discharge its self-regulatory responsibilities. Our regulatory programs and capabilities contribute significantly to our brand name and reputation. Although we believe that we will be
permitted to maintain these responsibilities, we cannot assure you that we will not be required to modify or restructure our regulatory functions in order to address these or other concerns. Any such modifications or restructuring of our regulatory
functions could entail material costs, which we have not currently planned for.
We Are Subject to
Significant Risks of Litigation
Many aspects of our business involve substantial risks of liability.
Dissatisfied customers frequently make claims regarding quality of trade execution, improperly settled trades, mismanagement or even fraud against their service providers. We may become subject to these claims as the result of failures or
malfunctions of systems and services provided by us. We could incur significant legal expenses defending claims, even those without merit. Although the Commodity Exchange Act and our Commodity Futures Trading Commission-approved disclaimer and
limitation of liability rules offer us some protections, an adverse resolution of any lawsuits or claims against us could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition and operating results.
We are and have been subject to litigation in which the plaintiffs are seeking or have sought significant monetary recovery from the
CBOT. Although generally speculative in nature, these claims (including matters we recently settled and matters recently decided in our favor) include, or included, demands for monetary recovery in amounts as much as $450 to $600 million. We cannot
assure you that we will be successful in defending these matters and any resulting judgment could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition. In addition, we have been subject to legal proceedings and claims as a result of the
restructuring
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transactions. See Our BusinessLegal ProceedingsLawsuit Brought By Certain Associate Members and Membership Interest Holders and Our BusinessLegal
ProceedingsChicago Board Options Exchange Dispute.
Any Infringement by Us on Patent Rights of
Others Could Result in Litigation and Could Materially Adversely Affect Our Operations
Our competitors as
well as other companies and individuals may obtain, and may be expected to obtain in the future, patents that concern products or services related to the types of products and services we offer or plan to offer. We cannot assure you that we are or
will be aware of all patents containing claims that may pose a risk of infringement by our products, services or technologies. In general, if one or more of our products, services or technologies were to infringe patents held by others, we may be
required to stop developing or marketing the products, services or technologies, to obtain licenses to develop and market the services from the holders of the patents or to redesign the products, services or technologies in such a way as to avoid
infringing on the patent claims. If we were unable to obtain these licenses, we may not be able to redesign our products, services or technologies to avoid infringement, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and
operating results.
We May Not Be Able to Protect Our Intellectual Property Rights
We rely primarily on trade secret, copyright, service mark, trademark law and contractual protections to protect our
proprietary technology and other proprietary rights. Notwithstanding the precautions we take to protect our intellectual property rights, it is possible that third parties may copy or otherwise obtain and use our proprietary technology without
authorization or otherwise infringe on our rights. We also seek to protect our software and databases as trade secrets and under copyright law. We have copyright registrations for certain of our software, user manuals and databases. The copyright
protection accorded to databases, however, is fairly limited. While the arrangement and selection of data generally are protectable, the actual data are not, and others may be free to create databases that would perform the same function. In some
cases, including a number of our most important products, there may be no effective legal recourse against duplication by competitors. In addition, in the future, we may have to rely on litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights, protect
our trade secrets, determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others or defend against claims of infringement or invalidity. Any such litigation, whether successful or unsuccessful, could result in substantial costs to us and
diversions of our resources, either of which could adversely affect our business.
Misconduct Could Harm Us
and is Difficult to Detect
Although we perform significant self-regulatory functions, there have been
a number of highly publicized cases involving fraud or other misconduct in the futures industry in recent years. We run the risk that the holders of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary, other persons who use our markets or our employees
will engage in fraud or other misconduct, which could result in regulatory sanctions and serious reputational harm. It is not always possible to deter misconduct, and the precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective
in all cases.
The Existing Legal Framework for Our Industry Has Been Modified to Lower Barriers to
Entry and Decrease Continuing Regulatory Costs for Competitors
Our industry has been subject to several
fundamental regulatory changes, including changes in the statute under which we have operated since 1974. The Commodity Exchange Act generally required all futures contracts to be executed on an exchange that has been approved by the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission. The exchange trading requirement was modified by CFTC regulations to permit privately negotiated swap contracts to be transacted in the over-the-counter market. The CFTC exemption under which the over-the-counter
derivative market operated precluded the over-the-counter market from avoiding CFTC regulation for exchange- like electronic transaction systems and clearing. These regulatory restrictions on the over-the-counter market were repealed by the
Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000. It is possible that the chief beneficiaries of the Commodity Futures Modernization Act will be over-the-counter dealers and competitors that operate or intend to open electronic trading facilities or to
conduct their futures business directly among themselves on a
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bilateral basis. The customers who may access such electronic exchanges or engage in such bilateral private transactions are the same customers who conduct the vast majority of their financial
business on regulated exchanges. The Commodity Futures Modernization Act also permits banks, broker-dealers and some of their affiliates to engage in foreign exchange futures transactions for or with retail customers without being subjected to
regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act.
In the future, our industry may become subject to new regulations or
changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing regulations. We cannot predict the extent to which any future regulatory changes may adversely affect our business. For more information about potential changes in our regulatory environment,
see Our BusinessRegulationChanges in Existing Laws and Rules.
Risks Relating to Changes in Our Corporate
Governance Structure
The following risks relate to the significant changes to our corporate governance
structure that will occur as part of the restructuring transactions.
Certain of Our Proposed
Changes to Our Corporate Governance Structure May Reduce the Influence of the Members in the Management of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT Subsidiary
As a result of the completion of the restructuring transactions, our members will have somewhat less authority to control the day-to-day management and operations of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT
subsidiary. Following the completion of the restructuring transactions, the holders of the common stock of CBOT Holdings will have the right to vote on all matters upon which the stockholders of CBOT Holdings are entitled to vote generally,
including, among other things, the election of directors to the board of directors of CBOT Holdings. In addition, the holders of the common stock of CBOT Holdings will be entitled to initiate proposals to adopt, repeal, or amend the bylaws of CBOT
Holdings and non-binding recommendations to the board of directors, such as recommendations that the board of directors of CBOT Holdings consider proposals to amend the certificate of incorporation of CBOT Holdings. Any proposal by stockholders of
CBOT Holdings may be brought to a vote at an annual meeting in accordance with the bylaws of CBOT Holdings, which will generally require advance notice of any proposal not less than 20, nor more than 60, days in advance of the first anniversary of
the mailing of proxy materials for the preceding years annual meeting. Stockholders holding at least 10% of the outstanding common stock (that is, 3,980,265 shares) may also require that a special meeting be called. Any stockholder proposal
will require the approval of a majority of the votes cast at such annual or special meeting. Stockholders will not have authority to take action by written consent of stockholders.
CBOT Holdings, as the holder of the sole Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary, will have the right to vote on most matters requiring a vote of the members of the CBOT
subsidiary, including, among other things, the election of directors to the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary and, subject to the rights of holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships with respect to the core rights and
transfer restrictions described elsewhere in this document, amendments to the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary. The holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships will have the exclusive voting rights among members to
approve changes that would adversely affect the core rights relating to the trading right and privileges of the holders of Class B memberships as discussed elsewhere in this document. The Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT
subsidiary will also have the exclusive right among members to vote on any amendment to or elimination of the transfer restrictions applicable to the Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary (which will be held by CBOT Holdings) or the Class B
membership in the CBOT subsidiary set forth in the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary. In addition, holders of Series B-1 and B-2, Class B memberships will have the right to initiate and vote on proposals at an annual or special
meeting of the CBOT subsidiary, including proposals to adopt, repeal or amend the bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary and non-binding recommendations to the board of directors, such as recommendations that the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary
consider proposed amendments to the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary. Holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships will not be entitled to initiate binding proposals to take any action that requires board approval,
including proposals to amend the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary. Also, as a result of changes to the mechanisms for calling special meetings of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary, the rights of our Full Members and Associate
Members will be somewhat more limited after the completion of the restructuring transactions in that convening special meetings will require the action of
36
the holders of 3,980,265 shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings (for CBOT Holdings) or 154 votes of the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary acting
together as a single class based on their respective voting rights (for the CBOT subsidiary).
Collectively,
these changes may reduce the influence of our members and may lead to decisions and outcomes that differ from those made under our current certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations. This reduction in the ability of our members
to participate in the day-to-day management and operations of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary may make our organization somewhat less attractive to our current members. As a result, they may seek to conduct their business at, or obtain
membership in, one or more other exchanges. A loss or material diminution of member trading activity could negatively impact liquidity and trading volumes in our products. A material reduction in the aggregate capital provided by our clearing
members to guarantee trades by them and their customers could lead to a reduction in trading activity on our exchange, and make it more difficult for us to generate revenue or to sustain growth.
Delaware Law May Protect Decisions of the Board of Directors That Have Differing Effects on the Holders of Class A, Class B and Class C Memberships in the CBOT
Subsidiary
In the context of stock corporations, Delaware law generally provides that a board of
directors owes an equal duty to all stockholders, regardless of class or series, and does not provide separate or additional duties to any particular group of stockholders. As a nonstock corporation with multiple classes of memberships, the board of
directors of the CBOT subsidiary may have similar obligations to the holders of each class of membership. Moreover, the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary will include unique provisions that are intended to protect the core rights
associated with the trading rights and privileges of the holders of Class B memberships, which include, among other things, a commitment to maintain current open outcry markets so long as each such market is deemed liquid under the terms of the
certificate of incorporation unless the discontinuance of any such market is approved by the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary in accordance with the certificate of incorporation. Such provisions may
have the effect of requiring the board of directors to make certain decisions that would benefit one or more series of Class B members but not the Class A members or Class C members, or which would affect the Class C members, the Class A members and
one or more series of Class B members differently.
More generally, the board of directors of the CBOT
subsidiary may make decisions that may have the effect of benefitting one class of membership over the other, or which affect the holders of each class or series of membership differently. Delaware law will generally protect these decisions so long
as the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary acts in a disinterested, informed manner with respect to these decisions, in good faith and in the belief that it is acting in the best interests of the corporation and its members generally.
Effects of Certain Provisions Could Enable the Board of Directors of CBOT Holdings to Prevent or Delay a
Change of Control
Some of the provisions of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of CBOT Holdings,
could, together or separately:
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discourage potential acquisition proposals; |
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delay or prevent a change in control; or |
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limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of the common stock of CBOT Holdings. |
CBOT Holdings certificate of incorporation and bylaws will provide, among other things, that the common stock of CBOT
Holdings will be subject to significant transfer restrictions and that stockholders may not take action by written consent. These provisions could prevent or delay a change of control or could limit the price some investors might be willing to pay
in the future for shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings.
Following the completion of the restructuring
transactions, a change of control of the CBOT subsidiary could not occur without the consent of CBOT Holdings as the holder of the sole Class A membership and, under certain circumstances, could also require the approval of the holders of Series B-1
and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary.
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THE RESTRUCTURING TRANSACTIONS
Overview
As a result of rapidly evolving changes in the futures industry, principally the increasing importance of electronic trading, we have determined that it is necessary to
restructure our organization in order to enhance its competitiveness. Over the last several years, with the assistance of various outside advisors, we have conducted an ongoing and extensive evaluation process with respect to our need to
restructure. As a result of this process, we have developed, and are proposing for approval by our Full Members and Associate Members, a series of transactions designed to restructure the CBOT.
The restructuring transactions are designed to demutualize our organization by creating a stock, for-profit holding company, CBOT
Holdings, and distributing shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to our members while maintaining the CBOT as a nonstock, for-profit subsidiary of CBOT Holdings in which the CBOT members will hold memberships entitling them to certain trading
rights and privileges on the exchange operated by such subsidiary. These restructuring transactions are also designed to modernize our corporate governance structure by, among other things, adopting new mechanisms for initiating and voting on
stockholder and member proposals, providing for a reduction in the size of our board and modifying the nomination and election process for directors as well as the terms of office and qualifications of directors, as described in greater detail
elsewhere in this document. We believe that the completion of the restructuring transactions will enable us to enhance our competitiveness within the futures industry, including both the open outcry and electronic trading markets. We also believe
that, upon the completion of the restructuring transactions, we will be better positioned to potentially have easier access to equity capital, if needed, to grow and continue to offer quality products and services.
We currently anticipate that we will complete the restructuring transactions as soon as reasonably practicable following membership
approval of the restructuring transactions, subject to receiving a favorable ruling from the Internal Revenue Service and/or an opinion of counsel and any required regulatory approvals from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. However, our
obligation to complete the restructuring transactions is subject to satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions, including, among others, a condition that our board of directors shall not have determined that the restructuring transactions are
no longer in the best interests of the CBOT and its members or are not fair to each class of CBOT membership. For more information about the IRS supplemental ruling and opinion of counsel, CFTC approvals and other conditions to our obligation to
complete the restructuring transactions, see Regulatory Matters, and Conditions to Completing the Restructuring Transactions.
Background of the Restructuring Transactions
Development of the Restructuring Strategy
The CBOT was organized in 1848 as a voluntary,
unincorporated association to serve as an open outcry marketplace for the growing agricultural market in Chicago. In 1859, the Illinois General Assembly, by legislative act, granted us a special charter that incorporated our organization. In August
2000, the CBOT reincorporated in Delaware and currently exists as a Delaware nonstock, not-for-profit corporation.
Now in our 154th year of operation, we have become a leader in the domestic listed derivatives market (based on total volume of contracts traded). According to industry data provided by the Futures Industry Association, in the period
from January 1, 2002 through September 30, 2002, about 6% of the global listed futures, options on futures and equity index market was traded on our markets. According to this data, we ranked fifth worldwide among futures exchanges in volume of
contracts traded in the first nine months of 2002, transacting about 46% of the global listed agricultural futures and options contracts, e.g., wheat, corn, soybeans, and about 18% of the global listed financial futures and options contracts, e.g.,
U.S. Treasury bonds and notes. In addition, as the Chicago Board of Trade, we believe that we have one of the strongest brand names in the futures industry.
Competitive conditions in the futures industry have changed significantly in the last decade or more due to innovations in the computer and communications industries. As a
result, maintaining our competitive position
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has become increasingly challenging. To meet the challenges and opportunities associated with the increasing importance of electronic trading, in 1992 we began to make our products available for
electronic trading, initially, on the Globex system, and, beginning in 1994, on the Project A electronic trading system, which was operated by the electronic trading division of Ceres until August 25, 2000. On August 27, 2000, Ceres, through its
participation in an alliance with the Eurex Group, began to operate the a/c/e electronic trading system. For the eleven months ended November 30, 2002, total volume traded on the a/c/e/ system was about 119.5 million contracts.
Notwithstanding the success of the Globex system, Project A and other electronic trading initiatives, the Strategy Committee of
our board of directors concluded in early 1999 that changes to our organizational structure were desirable in order to respond to the increasingly competitive challenges presented by electronic trading as well as other exchanges. This conclusion was
adopted in a strategic plan approved by our board of directors in August 1999.
In addition, in July 1999, our
board of directors established a Restructuring Task Force, composed of directors and non-director members of the CBOT. The Restructuring Task Force was charged with developing a restructuring strategy designed to modernize our organizational
structure and a corporate governance mechanism designed to position us to compete more effectively in the evolving marketplace.
Over the following six months, the Restructuring Task Force conducted an extensive strategic analysis, assisted by the management of the CBOT, A.T. Kearney, Inc., a management consulting firm, Merrill Lynch & Co., an investment
banking firm, Kirkland & Ellis, as legal counsel to the CBOT and the board of directors, and Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe, as special legal counsel to the Restructuring Task Force.
As part of this strategic analysis, the Restructuring Task Force, together with its advisors, reviewed our business, including our organizational and corporate governance
structures, and current industry trends and practices. The findings of the Restructuring Task Force formed the basis for a recommendation to our board of directors, which included objectives for a restructuring strategy and a detailed business
outline, including alternative organizational structures.
January 2000 Board Meeting. In January 2000, our
board of directors approved a general restructuring strategy recommended by the Restructuring Task Force, subject to the board of directors further review, consideration and approval of the definitive terms and structure of the transactions
designed to implement the strategy, which had not yet been formulated. The restructuring strategy generally contemplated the restructuring of the CBOT into two separate stock, for-profit companies, one conducting the CBOTs open outcry business
and the other conducting the CBOTs electronic trading business, and the distribution of shares of stock in both companies to the current CBOT members. The strategy also contemplated the possibility that the then proposed electronic trading
company might conduct an offering of shares of its stock to the public at or around the time of its separation from the open outcry company.
In addition, our board of directors at such time appointed two special committees of the board. One, the Implementation Committee, initially consisted of nine members of the board of directors and was
chaired by the then current chairman of our board, David P. Brennan. The other members of the Implementation Committee were Charles P. Carey, Andrew J. Filipowski, Harold W. Lavender, Peter C. Lee, Veda Kaufman Levin, James P. McMillin, Joseph
Niciforo and Michael P. Ryan. The Implementation Committee was directed to develop and recommend for the boards further review, consideration and approval the definitive terms and structure of the transactions designed to implement the
restructuring strategy.
The other special committee, the Independent Allocation Committee, was composed solely of
outside or non-member directors of the board and was chaired by former Illinois Governor James R. Thompson, the Chairman of the law firm, Winston & Strawn. The other members of the Independent Allocation Committee were Dr. Robert S. Hamada, the
Dean and Edward Eagle Branch Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at
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the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, Robert H. Michel, a former Republican leader of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senior Advisor at the law firm of Hogan & Hartson,
and Ralph H. Weems, an independent farmer and former president of the American Soybean Association. Since no mechanism currently exists in our certificate of incorporation, bylaws or rules and regulations for allocating ownership in our organization
among members in connection with a restructuring such as the one contemplated by the board, the Independent Allocation Committee was directed to develop and recommend for the boards further review, consideration and approval an appropriate and
fair allocation of value among the members of the CBOT in connection with the transactions to implement the restructuring strategy, including the allocation to CBOT members of shares of stock of the then proposed open outcry trading and electronic
trading companies.
The Implementation Committee continued the work of the Restructuring Task Force with
assistance from the management of the CBOT and its outside advisors, including A.T. Kearney, Merrill Lynch, Kirkland & Ellis and Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe. In particular, the Implementation Committee worked to develop the definitive
terms and structure of transactions designed to effectuate the restructuring strategy, including a preliminary step necessary in order to proceed with the implementation of the restructuring strategy. This step involved the reincorporation of the
CBOT in Delaware as a nonstock, not-for-profit corporation and was designed to cause the CBOT to be governed under a more modern and well developed legal framework so that the CBOT could more effectively accomplish its purposes. Among other things,
unlike the law of Illinois then applicable to the CBOT, Delaware law provided the CBOT a more direct procedure pursuant to which it could change its status from that of a nonstock, not-for-profit corporation to that of a stock, for-profit
corporation.
In addition to developing the terms of the transactions required to implement the
reincorporation of the CBOT in Delaware, the Implementation Committee further refined and developed the original restructuring strategy. Concurrently, the Independent Allocation Committee, together with its advisors, which included the law firm of
Winston & Strawn, as its special counsel, and the investment banking firm of William Blair & Company, L.L.C., as its financial advisor, worked to develop a recommended methodology for an appropriate and fair allocation of shares of common
stock in both companies among the members in connection with implementation of the original restructuring strategy. The Independent Allocation Committee developed an allocation for recommendation as fair to the full board based in such methodology
and instructed William Blair to give an opinion as to whether the proposed allocation was fair from a financial point a view to the various classes of members. For more information about the work of the Independent Allocation Committee, see
Independent Allocation Committee of the Board. In addition, Arthur Andersen LLP was retained by us to prepare a valuation analysis of Ceres and the limited partnership interests.
In early May 2000, the Independent Allocation Committee submitted to our board of directors its initial report, which summarized the
allocation methodology recommended as appropriate by the Independent Allocation Committee and recommended as fair an allocation of shares of common stock in both companies among the members in connection with the implementation of the original
restructuring strategy in the ratio of 5.0 : 1.0 : 0.5 : 0.06 : 0.07 to each Full Member, Associate Member, GIM, IDEM and COM, respectively. We sometimes refer to this allocation ratio among the respective classes of members as the Allocation
Ratio. In reaching this conclusion, the Independent Allocation Committee received and considered an opinion of William Blair that the proposed allocation was fair, from a financial point of view, to each of the five classes of CBOT Members.
For more information about the development of the Allocation Ratio recommendation, see Development of the Allocation Ratio and Opinion of the Financial Advisor to the Independent Allocation Committee under
Independent Allocation Committee of the Board.
Also in May 2000, our board of directors
received a report prepared by the Implementation Committee, which provided additional information regarding, and refined certain aspects of, the original restructuring strategy. This report also contained a detailed description of the transactions
required in order to implement the Delaware reincorporation and recommended that the Delaware reincorporation be approved and submitted to the CBOT membership for its approval.
May 2000 Board Meeting. At its May 16, 2000 meeting, our board of directors approved the transactions necessary to effect the Delaware reincorporation and directed
that such transactions be submitted to the CBOT membership for a ballot vote. Following member approval, the reincorporation of the CBOT in Delaware as a nonstock, not-for-profit corporation was completed in August 2000. Shortly thereafter, we
formed eCBOT as a wholly owned subsidiary of the CBOT for the purpose of later reorganizing our electronic trading business. The CBOT assigned its general and limited partnership interests in Ceres to eCBOT in September 2000.
40
At the same May 2000 meeting, our board of directors also approved and
adopted the report of the Independent Allocation Committee, including its recommendation regarding the methodology to be used with respect to the allocation of shares of stock of the then proposed open outcry trading and electronic trading companies
among the holders of Full, Associate, GIM, IDEM and COM Memberships in the CBOT and the Allocation Ratio, subject to any changes in the factors underlying the assumptions that were used or reviewed in the preparation of the Independent Allocation
Committee report and taking into account any adjustments to such allocation resulting from the terms of the reorganization of our electronic trading business, and further subject to the boards further review, consideration and approval of
transactions necessary to implement the restructuring strategy. At this time, William Blair, as financial advisor to the Independent Allocation Committee, delivered its opinion to the Independent Allocation Committee and the board of directors that,
based upon and subject to the matters set forth in the opinion, the proposed allocation of shares of common stock in the then proposed open outcry trading and electronic trading companies to each Full Member and Associate Member, and each holder of
a GIM, IDEM and COM, respectively, was fair, from a financial point of view, to each of the five classes of CBOT members. At this time, Arthur Andersen provided a report to the board regarding its preliminary valuation analysis of Ceres as of May
16, 2000.
The board of directors also approved at this meeting the report of the Implementation Committee as
a description of the restructuring strategy as it was then envisioned by the board of directors, subject to any changes in the factors underlying the assumptions that were used or reviewed in the preparation of the report, and subject to the
boards further review, consideration and approval of the transactions necessary to implement the restructuring strategy.
Following the May board meeting, the management of the CBOT, with the assistance of its outside advisors, primarily consisting of Merrill Lynch, Kirkland & Ellis and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, a management consulting firm,
conducted an evaluation process with respect to the implementation of the original restructuring strategy and worked to develop detailed business plans for the then proposed open outcry trading and electronic trading companies envisioned by the
original restructuring strategy.
Based upon this evaluation process and further analysis, management of the CBOT
and the Executive Committee of our board of directors concluded that the original restructuring strategy should be substantially revised in light of a number of factors, including, among other things, increasing competitive pressures in the
industry, the adverse changes in the capital markets, further review and analysis regarding the implementation and execution of the separate business plans of the then proposed open outcry trading and electronic trading companies, the overall
financial status of the CBOT and the need for the CBOT to demutualize as quickly as possible so that it could enhance its competitive posture and improve its decision-making capability.
August 2000 Board Meeting. On August 31, 2000, management of the CBOT and the Executive Committee recommended to the board of directors that the original
restructuring strategy be abandoned in favor of a substantially revised restructuring strategy. After careful consideration of the matters discussed and presented, the board of directors approved a revised restructuring strategy, which involved
demutualizing the CBOT but not restructuring the CBOT into two separate, competing companies. Specifically, the revised strategy contemplated the following:
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converting the CBOT into a single Delaware stock, for-profit corporation, which would be focused on updated open outcry trading with enhanced technology, and
distributing shares of common stock in such stock, for-profit company, representing both trading rights and privileges and equity ownership, to the current members; |
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adopting a revised corporate governance structure, which would include substantially eliminating the membership petition process, streamlining the board of
directors and making certain other changes to implement a more efficient decision-making process for the company; and |
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reorganizing and consolidating the CBOTs electronic trading business, part of which is currently operated by Ceres, into eCBOT, which would be operated as
a wholly owned subsidiary of the for-profit company. |
41
At this time, the board of directors determined that the original two-company
strategy should be abandoned and that a simple demutualization plan involving the conversion of the CBOT into a single stock, for-profit company should be pursued instead. The board concluded that the revised strategy would enable each of the two
businesses to be operated independently and in a more competitive manner but under a common ownership structure that would allow substantial sharing of resources and infrastructure.
The boards approval of the revised strategy was subject to its further review, consideration and approval of the definitive terms and structure of transactions
designed to implement the revised restructuring strategy, including an appropriate and fair allocation of value in the then proposed stock, for-profit company among the members. On August 31, 2000, our board directed the Executive Committee and the
management of the CBOT to develop and recommend for its further review and consideration the definitive terms and structure of transactions designed to implement this revised restructuring strategy.
Following the August board meeting, management and the Executive Committee, with the assistance of the CBOTs advisors, primarily
consisting of Merrill Lynch and Kirkland & Ellis, worked to develop the terms and structure of transactions designed to implement the revised restructuring strategy. In addition, Arthur Andersen LLP was retained by us and our eCBOT subsidiary to
prepare a valuation analysis of Ceres and its limited partnership interests in connection with the reorganization and consolidation of our electronic trading business, part of which is currently operated by Ceres, into eCBOT. Shortly thereafter,
Arthur Andersen was also engaged to evaluate the fairness, from a financial point of view, to Ceres and each class of its limited partners of the consideration to be received by each limited partner in exchange for their respective limited
partnership interests pursuant to the Ceres merger as described further below. Concurrently, the Independent Allocation Committee consulted with its legal and financial advisors and updated its recommendation of the Allocation Ratio as a fair
allocation of common stock in the single company among the members in the context of the transactions to implement the revised restructuring strategy. The Independent Allocation Committee instructed its financial advisor to give an opinion as to
whether the proposed allocation was fair from a financial point of view to the various classes of members.
November 2000 Board Meeting. On November 21, 2000, the Independent Allocation Committee reported on and provided to our board of directors its updated recommendation regarding the allocation among the CBOT members of equity in
the then proposed stock, for-profit company in respect of their memberships in connection with the restructuring transactions. The Independent Allocation Committee recommended as fair, in the context of the restructuring transactions, an allocation
of common stock in the proposed stock, for-profit company among the members in respect of their memberships in connection with the restructuring in accordance with the Allocation Ratio. The Independent Allocation Committee indicated that, in
reaching this recommendation, it received and considered an updated opinion of William Blair that the proposed allocation was fair, from a financial point of view, to each of the five classes of members. For more information about the allocation
recommendation and the additional work of the Independent Allocation Committee, see Independent Allocation Committee of the BoardNovember 2000 Update.
At the same meeting, Arthur Andersen reported to our board regarding its valuation of Ceres and its limited partnership interests as of October 31, 2000. Arthur Andersen
also reported that, subject to a review of the final terms of the restructuring transactions, it was prepared to deliver its opinion that the consideration to be received by each limited partner of Ceres in exchange for their respective limited
partnership interests pursuant to the Ceres merger is fair, from a financial point of view, to Ceres and to each class of the Ceres limited partners.
December 2000 Board Meeting. At the December 12, 2000 meeting of the board of directors, the then current status of the restructuring transactions was reviewed and discussed. At this meeting,
management and the Executive Committee presented to the board of directors a detailed update regarding the restructuring transactions. At this meeting, the board received a report from management regarding the restructuring transactions and the
CBOTs business strategy. The board also received a report from Kirkland & Ellis concerning certain legal matters relating to the restructuring transactions.
In early January 2001, the Executive Committee met to consider certain refinements to the restructuring transactions proposed by the new chairman of the board of directors,
who had been elected in December 2000 and assumed office in January 2001. These refinements primarily related to the composition of the board of
42
directors of the then proposed stock, for-profit company, the provisions to be included in the certificate of incorporation concerning certain core rights associated with the trading rights and
privileges of certain common stockholders and clarifications regarding the importance of considering the expected effects, if any, of the restructuring transactions on the Chicago Board Options Exchange exercise right in making any determination
that the restructuring transactions remain in the best interests of the CBOT and its members.
At its briefing
meeting on January 9, 2001, the board of directors received a further update concerning the status of the restructuring transactions, including the refinements recommended by the Executive Committee and management. These matters were reviewed and
discussed. Kirkland & Ellis answered questions with respect to certain aspects of the restructuring transactions.
On January 16, 2001, the Independent Allocation Committee, which, following the expiration of the terms of Dr. Hamada and Mr. Michel as directors as of January 1, 2001, was comprised of Governor Thompson and Mr. Weems, held a meeting
for the purpose of considering the refinements to the restructuring transactions recommended by the Executive Committee and management. William Blair and Winston & Strawn, as advisors to the Independent Allocation Committee, participated in this
meeting. The Independent Allocation Committee updated its recommendation of the Allocation Ratio as fair and instructed William Blair to give an opinion as to whether the proposed allocation was fair from a financial point of view to the various
classes of members.
January 2001 Board Meeting. On January 16, 2001, immediately following the
meeting of the Independent Allocation Committee, a meeting of the board of directors was held for the purpose of considering the restructuring transactions. At this meeting, management and the Executive Committee presented to the board of directors
for its review and consideration the proposed restructuring transactions. The board also received a report from the Executive Committee and management regarding the restructuring transactions and the CBOTs business strategy, including, among
other things, the business purposes of the restructuring transactions. The Independent Allocation Committee reported to the board of directors that it had reviewed the refinements to the restructuring transactions recommended by the Executive
Committee and management and confirmed its updated recommendation as fair of an allocation among the CBOT members of shares of common stock in the then proposed stock, for-profit company in respect of their memberships in accordance with the
Allocation Ratio in connection with the restructuring transactions, as provided to the board at the November 21, 2000 meeting. The Independent Allocation Committee indicated that, in reaching this recommendation, it received and considered an
updated opinion of William Blair that the proposed allocation was fair, from a financial point of view, to each of the five classes of CBOT members.
The board also received a report from Kirkland & Ellis concerning certain legal matters relating to the restructuring transactions as well as an overview of the terms and structure of the
restructuring transactions. Kirkland & Ellis answered questions with respect to certain aspects of the restructuring transactions and provided an update regarding the then current status of various litigation and other matters relating to
the restructuring transactions.
In addition, the board received an update from Arthur Andersen regarding its
valuation of Ceres and the limited partnership interests as of November 30, 2000. Merrill Lynch, financial advisor to the CBOT in connection with the restructuring transactions, answered questions with respect to certain aspects of the restructuring
transactions, the capital markets generally, industry trends and the competitive challenges currently facing the CBOT.
At this time, our board of directors approved and adopted the recommendation of the Independent Allocation Committee regarding the allocation of equity in the then proposed stock, for-profit company among the holders of Full,
Associate, GIM, IDEM and COM Memberships in the CBOT in respect of their memberships in connection with the restructuring transactions in accordance with the Allocation Ratio, subject to any changes in the factors underlying the assumptions that
were used or reviewed in the preparation of the Independent Allocation Committee updated report. In connection therewith, William Blair, as financial advisor to the Independent Allocation Committee, delivered its opinion to the Independent
Allocation Committee and the board of directors that, based upon and subject to the matters set forth in the opinion, the proposed allocation of equity in the then proposed stock, for-profit company among the CBOT members in respect of their
memberships in connection with the restructuring transactions in accordance with the Allocation Ratio was fair, from a financial
43
point of view, to each of the five classes of CBOT members. For more information regarding this opinion, see Opinion of the Financial Advisor to the Independent Allocation
Committee.
Also at this time, Arthur Andersen delivered its opinion to the board of directors that, based
on and subject to the matters set forth in the opinion, the consideration to be received by each limited partner in exchange for their respective limited partnership interests pursuant to the Ceres merger was fair, from a financial point of view, to
Ceres and each class of its limited partners.
After careful consideration of the matters discussed and presented
at this meeting, our board of directors determined that the restructuring transactions, taken as a whole, including the allocation methodology to be utilized in the demutualization for the allocation of shares in the then proposed stock,
for-profit company among Full Members, Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs in respect of their memberships and the terms of the Ceres merger, were in the best interests of CBOT and its members and fair to all classes of CBOT members.
Accordingly, our board approved and authorized the restructuring transactions and determined to recommend to the membership of the CBOT that they vote to approve the restructuring transactions. In connection with such approval, two directors
who were Associate Members voted in favor of the restructuring transactions, but indicated orally at the board meeting their intention to deliver to the Secretary of the CBOT written statements with respect to certain reservations regarding the
proposed allocation of value in the then proposed stock, for-profit company. To date, the secretary of the CBOT has not received any such written statements.
The boards approval of the restructuring transactions was subject to its determination, at the time of the mailing of the proxy statement and prospectus relating to the restructuring
transactions, that the restructuring transactions remain in the best interests of the CBOT and its members and remain fair to all classes of CBOT members. For more information, see Conditions to Completing the Restructuring
Transactions.
Following the January 2001 board meeting, management and the Executive Committee, with the
assistance of Kirkland & Ellis, worked to refine the terms and structure of the transactions designed to implement the revised restructuring strategy. Throughout this process, management and the Executive Committee continued to review the
restructuring transactions to determine whether such transactions continued to best achieve the organizations objectives with respect to the revised restructuring strategy, and whether the restructuring transactions offered the optimal
organizational structure in light of further changes in competitive pressures in the industry, the continued adverse condition of the capital markets and the refinement of the CBOTs long-term strategic objectives. During the summer of 2001,
the CBOT and the Chicago Board Options Exchange met to discuss matters pertaining to the impact of the proposed restructuring on the exercise right.
As a result of this review, management of the CBOT and the Executive Committee of our board of directors determined that the board of directors should adopt certain refinements to the restructuring
transactions, designed, in part, to provide the CBOT additional structural flexibility while retaining certain benefits associated with nonstock membership corporations in a manner that is consistent with the objectives of the revised restructuring
strategy, including, among other things, refinements designed to demutualize the CBOT by creating a stock, for-profit holding company, CBOT Holdings, and distributing shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to the current CBOT members, while
maintaining the CBOT as a nonstock, for-profit subsidiary of CBOT Holdings in which the CBOT members would hold memberships entitling them to certain trading rights and privileges on the exchange operated by such subsidiary.
On September 13, 2001, the Independent Allocation Committee held a meeting at which the members of the committee received an update
from each of William Blair, Winston & Strawn and Kirkland & Ellis relating to the proposed refinements to the restructuring transactions. On September 24, 2001, the Independent Allocation Committee held another meeting for the purpose of
considering the proposed refinements to the restructuring transactions recommended by management and the Executive Committee. William Blair and Winston & Strawn, as advisors to the Independent Allocation Committee, participated in the meeting.
The Independent Allocation Committee updated its recommendation of the Allocation Ratio as fair and instructed William Blair to give an opinion as to whether the proposed allocation was fair from a financial point of view to the various classes of
CBOT members.
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September 2001 Board Meeting. On September 24, 2001, at a special
meeting of the board of directors, management of the CBOT and the Executive Committee recommended that the board of directors adopt and approve the proposed refinements to the restructuring transactions, which are designed, in part, to implement a
holding company structure. Specifically as modified by the proposed refinements, the restructuring transactions contemplated the following:
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demutualizing the CBOT by creating a stock, for-profit holding company, CBOT Holdings, and distributing shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to our members,
while maintaining the CBOT as a nonstock, for-profit subsidiary of CBOT Holdings; |
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adopting a revised corporate governance structure, which would include substantially eliminating the membership petition process, adopting a more modern
mechanism for initiating and voting on stockholder proposals and making certain other changes designed to improve the CBOTs corporate decision-making process; and |
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reorganizing and consolidating the CBOTs electronic trading business, part of which is currently operated by Ceres, into eCBOT, which would be operated as
a wholly owned subsidiary of the CBOT subsidiary. |
In connection with this recommendation, the
board of directors received a report from Kirkland & Ellis concerning certain legal matters relating to the refinements to the restructuring transactions as well as an overview of the terms and structure of the restructuring transactions, as
modified by the refinements recommended by management and the Executive Committee and a preliminary draft of an amendment to the registration statement marked to show changes necessary to implement such refinements.
In addition, Kirkland and Ellis made a presentation to the board of directors regarding certain legal issues relating to the proposed
refinements to the restructuring transactions. These matters were reviewed and discussed. Kirkland & Ellis answered questions with respect to certain aspects of the restructuring transactions.
After careful consideration of the matters discussed and presented at this meeting, our board of directors determined that it was
appropriate to defer further consideration of the proposed refinements to the restructuring transactions in order to provide the directors with additional time to more carefully review and evaluate the proposed refinements. Accordingly, a special
meeting of the board was scheduled for October 2, 2001.
October 2001 Board Meeting. On October 2,
2001, at the special meeting of the board, the Independent Allocation Committee of the board reported on its resolution confirming its recommendation as fair of the allocation of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings among the members in
accordance with the Allocation Ratio in connection with the restructuring transactions as modified by the proposed refinements. The Independent Allocation Committee indicated that, in reaching this recommendation, it received and considered an
updated opinion of its financial advisor, William Blair, that the allocation of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings among the members in connection with the restructuring transactions as modified by the proposed refinements was fair, from a
financial point of view, to each of the five classes of members. In connection with the Independent Allocation Committees recommendation, William Blair delivered its opinion, dated as of September 24, 2001, to the effect that the allocation of
shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings among the members in respect of their memberships in connection with the restructuring transactions as modified by the proposed refinements was fair, from a financial point of view, to each of the five classes
of members.
At the same meeting of the board of directors, Arthur Andersen reported regarding, and delivered
to the board of directors of the CBOT a valuation of Ceres and the limited partnership interests of Ceres as of June 30, 2001, and its opinion, dated as of October 2, 2001, to the effect that the distributions of cash payments to each of the
limited partners of Ceres in exchange for their respective limited partnership interest as merger consideration pursuant to the Ceres merger, as proposed in connection with the restructuring transactions, as modified by the proposed refinements, was
fair, from a financial point of view, to Ceres and each class of the limited partners of Ceres.
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In addition, the board of directors reviewed and discussed the proposed
refinements to the restructuring transactions as set forth in a then current draft registration statement and in a report prepared by Kirkland & Ellis, which had previously been distributed to the board in connection with the special meeting of
the board of directors on September 24, 2001, concerning certain legal matters relating to the restructuring transactions as well as an overview of the terms and structure of the restructuring transactions as modified by the proposed refinements.
Kirkland & Ellis answered questions with respect to certain aspects of the proposed refinements and with respect to the restructuring transactions generally.
After careful consideration of the matters discussed and presented, the board of directors determined that the refinements to the restructuring transactions, taken as a whole, were advisable, desirable
and in the best interests of the CBOT and its members and fair to all classes of CBOT members, and approved and authorized the refinements to the restructuring transactions, including, among other things, refinements designed to demutualize the CBOT
by creating a stock, for-profit holding company, CBOT Holdings, and distributing shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to the current CBOT members, while maintaining the CBOT subsidiary as a for-profit, nonstock subsidiary of CBOT Holdings.
The boards approval of the refinements to the restructuring transactions was subject to its determination,
at the time of the mailing of the proxy statement and prospectus relating to the restructuring transactions, that the refinements to the restructuring transactions remain in the best interests of the CBOT and its members and remain fair to all
classes of CBOT members. For more information, see Conditions to Completing the Restructuring Transactions.
On December 18, 2001, the Independent Allocation Committee met for the purpose of considering the restructuring transactions as then proposed and its recommendation of a fair allocation of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings
among CBOT members in connection with the restructuring transactions. William Blair and Winston & Strawn, as advisors to the Independent Allocation Committee, participated in this meeting.
December 2001 Board Meeting. On December 18, 2001, at a regular meeting of the board of directors, the board of directors of the CBOT reviewed and
considered the restructuring transactions to be proposed to the CBOT membership and considered whether to approve the mailing of a proxy statement and prospectus relating to the restructuring transactions to the CBOT membership in connection with
their consideration of the restructuring transactions. At this meeting, management and the Executive Committee addressed the board of directors concerning the proposed restructuring transactions. The Independent Allocation Committee reported to the
board of directors that it had held a meeting immediately prior to this board meeting to consider the restructuring transactions, including its earlier recommendation regarding the allocation among the members of common stock of CBOT Holdings in
respect of their memberships in connection with the restructuring transactions as presented to the board at the October 2, 2001 meeting. The Independent Allocation Committee confirmed at this time its prior recommendation as fair of the Allocation
Ratio and indicated that, in reaching this recommendation, it received and considered William Blairs letter, dated December 18, 2001, updating its opinion, dated September 24, 2001, that the proposed allocation was fair, from a financial point
of view, to each of the five classes of members.
The board also received a report from Kirkland & Ellis
concerning the proposed restructuring transactions, including certain legal matters relating to the restructuring transactions. Kirkland & Ellis answered questions with respect to certain aspects of the restructuring transactions and provided a
report regarding the then current status of various litigation and other matters relating to the restructuring transactions.
At this time, William Blair, as financial advisor to the Independent Allocation Committee, delivered its letter, dated December 18, 2001, updating its opinion, dated September 24, 2001, to the Independent Allocation Committee and the
board of directors that, based upon and subject to the matters set forth in the opinion, the allocation of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings among the CBOT members in respect of their memberships in connection with the restructuring
transactions in accordance with the Allocation Ratio, was fair, from a financial point of view, to each of the five classes of CBOT members.
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In addition, the board received a report from Arthur Andersen regarding its
valuation of Ceres and the limited partnership interests as of November 30, 2001 and its opinion, dated as of October 2, 2001, to the effect that the distributions of cash payments to each of the limited partners of Ceres in exchange for their
respective limited partnership interest as merger consideration pursuant to the Ceres merger, as proposed in connection with the restructuring transactions was fair, from a financial point of view, to each of the classes of Ceres partnership
interests.
After careful consideration of the matters discussed and presented at this and previous meetings,
the CBOT board of directors determined that the restructuring transactions, taken as a whole, including the allocation methodology to be utilized in the demutualization for the allocation of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings among the Full
Members, Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs in respect of their memberships and the allocation of such shares in accordance with the Allocation Ratio and the terms of the Ceres merger, were in the best interests of the CBOT and its members and
were fair to all classes of CBOT members and approved the mailing of the proxy statement and prospectus relating to the restructuring transactions.
Following the December 2001 board meeting, Management and the Executive Committee considered an additional refinement to the restructuring transactions that would help ensure that in the immediate
future only CBOT members would be holders of the common stock of CBOT Holdings. After careful consideration of this matter, Management and the Executive Committee determined that the board of directors should adopt transfer restrictions that are
designed to link CBOT Holdings with the CBOT subsidiary until such time as the board of directors determines.
January 2002 Board Meeting. On January 17, 2002, at a special meeting of the board of directors of the CBOT, the CBOT board considered and, subject to confirmation by the Independent Allocation Committee of its recommendation
regarding the proposed allocation of CBOT Holdings common stock among the CBOT members, approved certain modifications to the transfer restrictions that would be applicable to the CBOT Holdings common stock and the Class B memberships in the CBOT
subsidiary. For more information regarding these restrictions, see Description of Capital Stock and MembershipsCommon Stock of CBOT HoldingsTransfer Restrictions.
Following the January 2002 board meeting, management and the Executive Committee continued to review the restructuring transactions to determine whether the transactions
would best achieve the organizations objectives with respect to the restructuring strategy. In connection with this review, management and the Executive Committee determined that the objectives of the organization would be best achieved by
proposing further refinements to the corporate governance structure that are generally designed to provide members of the CBOT subsidiary and stockholders of CBOT Holdings more rights than was previously contemplated as part of the restructuring
transactions. In addition, as a result of recent revisions to the CBOTs relationship with the Eurex Group and certain tax and other financial considerations, management and the Executive Committee determined that a reorganization of the
electronic trading business at the time the restructuring transactions are completed would no longer best serve to achieve the organizations objectives. Accordingly, management and the Executive Committee determined that the board of directors
should approve refinements to the proposed restructuring transactions to delay the reorganization of the electronic trading business until the termination of the CBOTs arrangements with the Eurex Group, which is currently expected to occur in
December 2003.
In the spring of 2002, in connection with the preparation of materials relating to the
lawsuit brought by certain Associate Members and GIMs, IDEMs and COMs, management learned that certain data relating to historical contract volume attributable to each membership class, which was previously provided by the CBOT to the Independent
Allocation Committee and its financial advisor, was inaccurate. In particular, the inaccurate data overstated the amount of historical contract volume attributable to Full Members and IDEMs of the CBOT. As a result of this discovery, management
conducted a thorough review of the process previously utilized to generate such data, corrected this process and delivered revised data to the Independent Allocation Committee and its financial advisor.
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During the summer of 2002, management and the Executive Committee, with the
assistance of the CBOTs advisors, continued to work to develop and refine the terms and structure of the restructuring transactions.
On September 13, 2002, the Independent Allocation Committee held a meeting at which the committee received an update from each of William Blair and Winston & Strawn on the refinements to the restructuring transactions
proposed to or adopted by the board of directors subsequent to the committees meeting in March 2002 and the circumstances related to the CBOTs discovery of inaccuracies in the historical contract volume data provided to the committee. In
addition, the Independent Allocation Committee also received an update from Kirkland & Ellis on the lawsuit brought by certain Associate Members and GIMs, IDEMs and COMs of the CBOT described elsewhere in this document. On September 17, 2002,
the Independent Allocation Committee held another meeting for the purpose of considering the proposed refinements to the restructuring transactions and its recommendation of a fair allocation of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings among CBOT
members in connection with the restructuring transactions. William Blair and Winston & Strawn, as advisors to the Independent Allocation Committee, participated in this meeting.
On September 17, 2002, at a regular meeting of the board of directors, the Executive Committee recommended that the board of directors adopt the proposed refinements to the
restructuring transactions, including refinements to the proposed corporate governance structure that are generally designed to provide members of the CBOT subsidiary and stockholders of CBOT Holdings greater rights than previously contemplated as
part of the restructuring transactions and the delay in the reorganization of the electronic trading business until the termination of the CBOTs current contractual arrangements with the Eurex Group, which is currently expected to occur in
December 2003.
The Independent Allocation Committee reported to the board of directors that it had held
a meeting immediately prior to this board meeting to consider, among other things, the proposed refinements to the restructuring transactions. The Independent Allocation Committee updated its recommendation of the Allocation Ratio as fair at that
meeting and instructed William Blair to give an opinion as to whether the proposed allocation ratio was fair from a financial point of view to the various classes of members. The Independent Allocation Committee confirmed at this time its prior
recommendation as fair of the allocation ratio and indicated that, in reaching this recommendation, it received and considered William Blairs opinion, dated September 17, 2002, that the proposed allocation was fair, from a financial point of
view, to each of the five classes of members.
The board also received a report from Kirkland & Ellis
concerning the proposed restructuring transactions, including certain legal matters relating to the restructuring transactions. Kirkland & Ellis answered questions with respect to certain aspects of the restructuring transactions and provided a
report regarding matters relating to the restructuring transactions. The board also received William Blairs opinion, dated September 17, 2002, to the Independent Allocation Committee and the board of directors, that, based upon and subject to
the matters set forth in the opinion, the proposed allocation of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings among the CBOT members in respect of their memberships in connection with the restructuring transactions was fair, from a financial point of
view, to each of the five classes of CBOT members. For more information regarding this opinion, see Opinion of the Financial Advisor to the Independent Allocation Committee.
At the meeting, David Vitale, the then president and chief executive officer of the CBOT and a non-voting director, noted to the CBOT
board of directors that he disagreed with the determinations made by the CBOT with regard to certain terms of the restructuring transactions. In particular, Mr. Vitale expressed his disagreement with the refinements to the corporate governance
structure designed to provide members of the CBOT subsidiary and stockholders of CBOT Holdings greater rights than previously contemplated. As described in greater detail elsewhere in this document, Mr. Vitale voluntarily resigned from his positions
with the CBOT in November 2002. For more information, see Management and Executive Compensation.
After careful discussion of the matters discussed and presented at this and previous meetings, the CBOT board of directors determined that the restructuring transactions, taken as a whole, including the allocation methodology to be
utilized in the demutualization for the allocation of shares of common stock of CBOT
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Holdings among the Full Members, Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs, and COMs in respect of their memberships and the allocation of such shares in accordance with the Allocation Ratio are in the best
interests of the CBOT and its members and are fair to all classes of CBOT members.
Reasons for the
Restructuring Strategy
Our restructuring strategy is designed to respond to significant competitive
challenges currently faced by the CBOT and to enhance the long-term value of the CBOT for its members. Current industry trends, including increased electronic trading of derivative securities, may threaten the long-term viability of traditional open
outcry exchanges, including the CBOT. In fact, as reported by Futures Industry Magazine, in 1999, Eurex, an electronic derivatives exchange, overtook the CBOT to become the worlds largest derivatives exchange based on contract volume.
We believe that these industry trends are related, in large part, to shifting priorities of investors and members of exchanges, rapid advances in technology and electronic trading and the realignment of key industry participants.
Shifting Priorities of Investors and Members. We believe that institutional investors are demanding greater liquidity,
lower cost and more efficient trade execution, enhanced access and a sophisticated supporting infrastructure. In addition, traditional open outcry exchanges are competing with new electronic markets, which are generally lower cost, more accessible,
very focused, faster in trade execution and, increasingly, more liquid. These pressures are forcing traditional open outcry exchanges, such as the CBOT, to modernize in order to remain competitive.
Additional pressure is placed on the industry by the over-the-counter derivatives market, which is estimated by the Bank for International
Settlements to have grown to over $111 trillion in notional amount outstanding as of December 31, 2001. Although, according to the Bank for International Settlements, transaction volume in 2001 in over-the-counter derivatives grew more slowly than
transaction volume in exchange-listed derivatives (11% to 21%), we believe that over-the-counter derivatives continue to pose a competitive threat to the sale of exchange-listed derivatives.
Members of exchanges are also under increasing pressure from clients and new entrants in the marketplace. As a result, we believe that members of exchanges are generally
concerned about the long-term value of their memberships.
Advances in Technology and Electronic Trading.
Technological innovations are creating new competitors and encouraging the development of electronic trading systems that are challenging traditional open outcry exchanges. According to industry data assembled by the CBOT, from 1995 through June
30, 2002, contract volume traded on open outcry derivatives exchanges has declined by over 35%, and electronic trading has grown by more than 95%. Based on industry trends outside the United States, we expect that electronic trading will account for
virtually all overseas trading in the near future.
Some leading exchanges are already fully electronic and
other leading exchanges are aggressively pursuing an electronic trading model. We believe that major securities exchanges and quotation systems, such as the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market, are under pressure from electronic
communications networks. About one dozen electronic communications networks have been established in the United States, many during the last four years, by leading investment banks, broker-dealers and market markers, which are aligning themselves
with multiple alternative systems. For example, according to Internet Trading Magazine, Goldman Sachs has made investments in four electronic communications networks. In addition, according to a special study prepared by the SECs
Division of Market Regulation, electronic communications networks have already captured about one-third of Nasdaqs trading volume.
The CBOT is facing increasing competition from electronic competitors. For example, Cantor/eSpeed has introduced an electronic trading system for cash bonds, futures on Treasury bonds and block
over-the-counter
49
derivatives trades for large derivatives dealers. In addition, BrokerTec, which is owned by several of the largest United States and European investment banks, currently provides electronic,
inter-dealer brokerage for Treasury bonds and euro-denominated sovereign debt, and introduced an electronic trading system for futures and other derivatives during the fourth quarter of 2001.
Industry Realignment. Some exchanges that have restructured in response to industry pressures have demutualized and have become for-profit entities. Through
demutualization, exchanges are streamlining their corporate governance structure, quickening their organizational decision-making, improving their access to capital and technology, and enhancing their ability to quickly enter into strategic
alliances. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the New York Mercantile Exchange and the Hong Kong Futures Exchange, among others, have already demutualized. Some exchanges have announced that they are planning initial public offerings to raise capital
necessary for strategic endeavors. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Deutsche Börse, Toronto Stock Exchange, Euronext.liffe, the Australian Stock Exchange, and OM Grüppen AB are already publicly-held corporations. The New York Stock
Exchange and Nasdaq have also each indicated at various times in the past that they have considered initial public offerings.
In addition to demutualization, we believe that the futures industry will consolidate pursuant to mergers and alliances of exchanges in order to achieve the economies of scale and expanded geographic reach necessary to
remain competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace.
Objectives of the Restructuring Strategy
We have determined that it is desirable for the CBOT to restructure in response to the changing
marketplace in order to meet two principal objectives. First, the current corporate governance structure of the CBOT, which is slow to respond and primarily oriented towards delivering member benefits and supporting member opportunity rather than
enterprise profitability, must be changed to adopt a more streamlined decision-making process, more focused on maximizing value to the enterprise. Second, the CBOT should have the capacity to rapidly react to the technological innovations that are
currently shaping the futures industry.
With these objectives in mind, we evaluated a number of
restructuring alternatives as described below at Strategic Alternatives Considered. We determined that any new structure should incorporate both an updated open outcry exchange, in response to member demand, and an electronic
marketplace, in response to competitive pressures.
Strategic Alternatives Considered
We initially considered four principal restructuring strategies, taking into account the relevant associated business, legal,
tax and regulatory issues. Each alternative strategy incorporated a variation of the corporate structure and equity ownership of the entities. The principal restructuring strategies we considered included the following:
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maintaining the CBOT in its current form as a parent company and creating a separate electronic trading company as a subsidiary;
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restructuring the CBOT into two separate and independent for-profit, stock companies, one to conduct the open outcry trading business and the other to conduct
the electronic trading business; |
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organizing a single demutualized holding company with an open outcry subsidiary and an electronic trading company subsidiary; and
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operating the electronic trading business through the parent company and creating a subsidiary to operate our open outcry markets.
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50
For some time, we considered pursuing a strategy of restructuring the CBOT into
two separate for-profit, stock companies. As autonomous entities, each with a separate business focus, we initially believed that each of the companies would be well positioned to make independent strategic business decisions and pursue appropriate
business opportunities. We believed that, as for-profit, stock companies, each would have the financial and decision-making flexibility to pursue alliances and joint ventures, as well as the resources to make necessary technology investments.
In late August 2000, we concluded that such a strategy was no longer appropriate in light of a number of factors,
including, among other things, increasing competitive pressures in the industry, adverse changes in the capital markets, further review and analysis regarding the implementation and execution of separate business plans for the two independent
companies, the overall financial status of the CBOT and the need for the CBOT to demutualize as quickly as possible so that it could enhance its competitive posture and improve its decision-making capability. Accordingly, we ultimately rejected the
two-company strategy and determined to adopt a strategy of demutualizing the CBOT and operating the electronic trading company as a wholly owned subsidiary.
Following further evaluation and analysis, we concluded that, under then-existing conditions, the revised restructuring strategy would achieve benefits similar to those associated with the creation of
two separate companies, while preserving our flexibility to consider pursuing one or more value-enhancing transactions in the future, as described above at Overview. Among other things, the revised strategy was designed to
encourage independent operation of the electronic trading business in a competitive manner, but under a common ownership structure that will allow substantial sharing of resources and infrastructure. We believe that the restructuring transactions,
as most recently refined, will enable us to successfully implement this strategy.
More recently, we reconsidered
the holding company structure as a strategic alternative as a result of further changes in competitive pressures in the industry, the continued adverse condition of the capital markets and the refinement of our long-term strategic objectives. We
believe the holding company structure represents a refinement of the previously approved restructuring transactions that is consistent with the revised restructuring strategy adopted in August 2000 in that it encourages independent operation of the
electronic trading business under a common ownership structure while providing us additional structural flexibility to organize our business in a manner that will allow us to achieve our long-term strategic objectives. In addition, we believe that
the holding company structure will allow us to maintain the CBOT as a nonstock membership corporation, which will provide us with certain benefits associated with such form of organization.
Most recently, as a result of recent revisions to our current contractual arrangements with the Eurex Group, we reconsidered certain aspects of the proposed
reorganization of our electronic trading business. In particular we believe that postponing the reorganization of our electronic trading business until the termination of our current arrangements with the Eurex Group, which is currently expected to
occur in December 2003, provides the CBOT the opportunity to explore alternative strategies for operating its electronic trading business and eliminates the burden of effecting the reorganization during the period that the current arrangements with
the Eurex Group wind down.
Description of the Restructuring Transactions
The restructuring transactions are designed to:
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demutualize our organization by creating a stock, for-profit holding company, CBOT Holdings, and distributing shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to our
members, while maintaining the CBOT as a nonstock, for-profit subsidiary of CBOT Holdings in which the CBOT members will hold memberships representing the trading rights and privileges on the exchange operated by such subsidiary; and
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modernize our corporate governance structure by, among other things, adopting new mechanisms for initiating and voting on stockholder and member proposals,
providing for a reduction in the size of our
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51
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board and modifying the nomination and election process for directors as well as the terms of office and qualifications of directors. |
We believe that the completion of the restructuring transactions will enable us to enhance our competitiveness within the futures industry, including our
competitiveness within both the open outcry and electronic trading markets. In particular, we believe that, as a for-profit enterprise with a more modern corporate governance structure, we will be able to react more rapidly and with greater
flexibility to changes in the competitive environment.
The Demutualization
We will demutualize our organization by establishing a stock, for-profit holding company, CBOT Holdings, which will become
the parent company of the CBOT subsidiary. As a result, the CBOT, which will continue to operate the exchange, will exist as a subsidiary of CBOT Holdings. After the demutualization, our members will hold interests in both companies: shares of
common stock of CBOT Holdings and memberships of various classes and series in the CBOT subsidiary. However, as described in greater detail elsewhere in this document, transfer restrictions will apply to some of these interests and will have the
effect of creating combinations of interests. In addition, after the demutualization, CBOT Holdings will hold the sole Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary, which will entitle CBOT Holdings to the right to all dividends, distributions and
proceeds upon liquidation from the CBOT subsidiary. As a result, any dividends or other distributions would be paid to you in respect of your common stock of CBOT Holdings and not in respect of your membership in the CBOT subsidiary.
The demutualization will be accomplished in two separate steps:
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a dividend to distribute shares of common stock to our members; and |
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a merger to convert our members existing memberships into new memberships. |
The Dividend of Common Stock of CBOT Holdings.
The reorganization of the CBOT and the implementation of the proposed holding company structure will be accomplished by the reorganization merger, which, as described
below, will result in the CBOT becoming a subsidiary of CBOT Holdings. The reorganization merger will not, however, result in the distribution of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to the CBOT members. Consequently, a separate mechanism will be
utilized to effect the distribution of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to the CBOT members.
Immediately prior to the completion of the restructuring transactions, the board of directors of the CBOT will declare a dividend to the CBOT members consisting of 39,802,650 shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings. This dividend,
which will not be paid until immediately following the effectiveness of the reorganization merger described below, will have the effect of distributing all of the outstanding shares of CBOT Holdings common stock to our members. The dividend will
specify the exact number of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to be distributed to each CBOT member in connection with the restructuring transactions, based on the allocation methodology approved by the CBOT board of directors as described in
greater detail elsewhere in this document.
Currently, the CBOT holds all of the outstanding shares of
common stock of CBOT Holdings. Prior to the completion of the restructuring transactions, the board of directors of CBOT Holdings, and the CBOT as sole stockholder, will approve the reclassification of CBOT Holdings capital stock into
39,802,650 shares which will be distributed to our members pursuant to the dividend.
The
following table indicates the number of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to be paid to CBOT members in respect of each current CBOT membership and in respect of each current class of CBOT membership. In addition, the table indicates the
relative voting power of the holders of the common stock of CBOT Holdings (by class of current CBOT membership) immediately following the completion of the restructuring transactions.
52
Shares of Common Stock of CBOT Holdings
to Be Received for each Current CBOT Membership, each Class of Current CBOT Membership
and the Relative
Voting Power by each Class of Current CBOT Membership
Current Class of CBOT Membership
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Number of Current Members (as of December 18, 2002)
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Shares of Common Stock to be Received for each Current CBOT Membership
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Shares of Common Stock to be Received by each Current Class of CBOT Membership
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Relative Voting Power by each Current Class of CBOT Membership
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Full |
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1,402 |
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25,000 |
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35,050,000 |
|
88.06 |
% |
Associate |
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793 |
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5,000 |
|
3,965,000 |
|
9.96 |
% |
GIM |
|
148 |
|
2,500 |
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370,000 |
|
0.93 |
% |
IDEM |
|
642 |
|
300 |
|
192,600 |
|
0.48 |
% |
COM |
|
643 |
|
350 |
|
225,050 |
|
0.57 |
% |
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|
|
|
|
|
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Total |
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3,628 |
|
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39,802,650 |
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100.00 |
% |
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Immediately following the payment of the dividend, our
members will be the only common stockholders of CBOT Holdings. As a result of the restructuring transactions, all of the authorized shares of capital stock of CBOT Holdings will be issued and outstanding. As a result, without further action by the
board of directors and common stockholders of CBOT Holdings to approve an appropriate amendment to the certificate of incorporation of CBOT Holdings to increase the amount of authorized capital stock of CBOT Holdings, no additional shares of capital
stock of CBOT Holdings can be issued. This means that CBOT Holdings will not be able to engage in capital raising activities involving the issuance of additional capital stock without prior approval of the board of directors and a majority of the
voting power of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings, which could represent a significant limitation on the ability of CBOT Holdings to raise capital in the future.
For more information regarding the common stock of CBOT Holdings, and the respective rights and privileges of such stock, see Description of Capital Stock and
MembershipsCommon Stock of CBOT Holdings. For more information regarding the determination of the methodology for allocating shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings among the CBOT members, see Independent Allocation Committee
of the Board and Opinion of the Financial Advisor to the Independent Allocation Committee. The allocation methodology utilized in the restructuring transactions is the subject of a complaint filed against certain individual
Full Members as well as an alleged class of Full Members of the CBOT on behalf of certain Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs. For more information regarding this litigation, see Our BusinessLegal ProceedingsLawsuit Brought By
Certain Associate Members GIMs, IDEMs and COMs.
The Reorganization Merger. After
the declaration of the dividend by the CBOT board of directors as described above, but before such dividend is paid, the reorganization merger will be completed. The reorganization merger will effect the reorganization of the CBOT into a holding
company structure and the conversion of the existing CBOT memberships into Class B and, as applicable, Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. The reorganization merger also results in CBOT Holdings being the holder of the sole Class A
membership in the CBOT subsidiary.
We have formed two subsidiaries, CBOT Holdings, Inc.
and CBOT Merger Sub, Inc., for the purpose of effecting the reorganization merger. CBOT Holdings, a Delaware stock, for-profit corporation, is currently a direct and wholly owned subsidiary of the CBOT. CBOT merger sub, a Delaware nonstock,
for-profit membership corporation, is currently a direct and wholly owned subsidiary of CBOT Holdings.
Pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger, CBOT merger sub will merge with and into the CBOT, which will result in the CBOT being the surviving entity. Upon the effectiveness of the reorganization merger, the CBOT will become a
nonstock, for-profit corporation and a subsidiary of CBOT Holdings. As a result of completing the reorganization merger, the CBOT subsidiary will have three new classes of membership: Class A memberships, Class B memberships and Class C memberships.
53
Class A Membership. CBOT Holdings will hold the sole Class A
membership in the CBOT subsidiary, which will entitle CBOT Holdings to the exclusive right to receive all distributions, dividends and proceeds upon liquidation from the CBOT subsidiary. Except for certain matters relating to core rights, the
transfer restrictions currently imposed on the Class A membership and Class B memberships and proposals by the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships to amend the bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary, which, in each case, may be voted on
exclusively by the holders of the Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships, CBOT Holdings, as holder of the Class A membership will have the right to vote on all matters upon which the members of the CBOT subsidiary will be entitled to vote
generally, including, among other things, the election of directors to the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary.
Class B Memberships. The Class B memberships will consist of five separate series: Series B-1, Series B-2, Series B-3, Series B-4 and Series B-5. Subject to certain restrictions that currently apply, including, in the case of
Series B-3, Class B memberships, that such memberships may not be sold or otherwise transferred without eliminating the associated trading rights and privileges, and satisfaction of the application and approval process applicable to CBOT membership
candidates, each such series will represent the trading rights and privileges that correspond to one of the current classes of membership of the CBOT, as described below:
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Series B-1 Members. The holder of a Series B-1, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary will generally be entitled to execute
trades in all futures and options contracts listed on the exchange operated by the CBOT subsidiary. |
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Series B-2 Members. The holder of a Series B-2, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary will generally be entitled to execute
trades in all futures and options contracts listed in the CBOT subsidiarys Government Instrument Market, Index, Debt and Energy Market and Commodity Options Market. |
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Series B-3 Members. With certain exceptions described in greater detail elsewhere in this document, the holder of a Series B-3, Class B membership in the
CBOT subsidiary will generally be entitled to execute trades in all futures contracts assigned to the market category known as the Government Instrument Market, which includes contracts in certain U.S. government and agency securities,
certain foreign government securities and certain domestic certificates of deposit. Following the completion of the restructuring transactions, two Series B-3, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will be convertible into one Series B-2, Class
B membership in the CBOT subsidiary, which may result in fewer members having the trading rights and privileges of GIMs and more members having the trading rights and privileges of Associate Members. |
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Series B-4 Members. The holder of a Series B-4, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary will generally be entitled to execute trades in all futures
contracts assigned to the market category known as the Index, Debt and Energy Market, which includes contracts in certain stock and bond indices, certain money market instruments and certain energy, i.e., crude oil, gasoline and heating
oil, products. |
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Series B-5 Members. The holder of a Series B-5, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary will generally be entitled to execute trades in all options
contracts assigned to the market category known as the Commodity Options Market, which includes contracts in U.S. Treasury bond futures options and all other options contracts listed for trading by the CBOT.
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The specific trading rights and privileges associated with each series of Class B membership will generally be governed by the
rules and regulations of the CBOT subsidiary. These rules and regulations will constitute a part of the bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary.
The holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships will have the exclusive right among members to vote on any proposed amendment to the certificate of incorporation, bylaws or rules, which are incorporated into
the bylaws, of the CBOT subsidiary that would adversely affect the core rights relating to their trading rights and privileges described elsewhere in this document, and on any amendment to or elimination of the transfer restrictions applicable to
the Class A membership and the Class B memberships in the CBOT
54
subsidiary set forth in the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary. In addition, the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will have
the right to initiate member proposals, including proposals to adopt, repeal or amend the bylaws and non-binding recommendations to the board of directors, such as recommendations that the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary consider proposed
amendments to the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary. The holders of Series B-3, Series B-4 and Series B-5, Class B memberships will not have any voting rights with respect to the CBOT subsidiary.
Class C Memberships. Each Full Member will also receive a Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary, which will, subject to
satisfaction of certain requirements, entitle the holder to exercise a right to become a member of the CBOE without having to purchase a membership on such exchange. Following the completion of the restructuring transactions, the Class C membership
of the CBOT subsidiary will represent the right held by each Full Member of the CBOT. The exercise right will be the only right associated with the Class C membership. The Class C memberships will not have associated with them any trading rights or
privileges at the CBOT subsidiary.
Pursuant to the reorganization merger, members of the CBOT
will receive one of the five series of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary in respect of each membership held by such member. In addition, each Full Member will also receive a Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary. The following table
indicates the number and series of Class B membership to be received for each current CBOT membership and by each class of current CBOT membership. In addition, the table indicates the relative voting power of the holders of the Class B memberships
in the CBOT subsidiary (by class of CBOT membership) immediately following the completion of the restructuring transactions on matters on which Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary are entitled to vote.
Class B Memberships in the CBOT Subsidiary
to be Received for each Current CBOT Membership, and by each Class of Current CBOT Membership
and the Relative Voting Power by
each Class of Current CBOT Membership
Current Class of CBOT Membership
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|
Number of Current Members (as of December 18, 2002)
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|
Number and Series of Class B Membership to be Received for each Current CBOT Membership
|
|
Number and Series of Class B Membership to be Received by each Current Class of CBOT Membership
|
|
Relative Voting Power by each Current Class of CBOT Membership
|
|
Full |
|
1,402 |
|
1 Series B-1 |
|
1,402 Series B-1 |
|
91.39 |
% |
Associate |
|
793 |
|
1 Series B-2 |
|
793 Series B-2 |
|
8.61 |
% |
GIM |
|
148 |
|
1 Series B-3 |
|
148 Series B-3 |
|
0.00 |
% |
IDEM |
|
642 |
|
1 Series B-4 |
|
642 Series B-4 |
|
0.00 |
% |
COM |
|
643 |
|
1 Series B-5 |
|
643 Series B-5 |
|
0.00 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
3,628 |
|
|
|
|
|
100.00 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ceres Trading Limited Partnership. The CBOT
currently conducts its electronic trading business indirectly through Ceres, which is managed by eCBOT, its general partner. eCBOT is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of the CBOT. Many of the members of the CBOT also currently hold limited
partnership interests in Ceres, and it is currently a requirement of the Ceres limited partnership agreement that its Class A limited partners hold a CBOT membership.
We do not believe that the implementation of the restructuring transactions will cause any interruption to the day-to-day operation of our businesses, including our
electronic trading business. After the completion of the restructuring transactions, we expect that CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary will continue to conduct their electronic trading business through Ceres until such time as the CBOTs
current contractual arrangements with the Eurex Group are terminated, which we currently expect to occur in December 2003. We do not currently expect that the completion of the restructuring transactions will have any material effect on the manner
in which we conduct our electronic trading business.
55
Upon such termination, we plan to replace the current Eurex Group
arrangements with other arrangements that will enable us to continue our electronic trading operations after such expiration, and we are currently in the process of evaluating proposals by third party service providers for these alternative
arrangements. We currently anticipate that at such time as the CBOTs current arrangements with the Eurex Group are terminated, Ceres will be liquidated and its assets distributed to its partners in accordance with the terms of the Ceres
limited partnership agreement, and CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary will thereafter conduct their electronic trading business through the CBOT subsidiary, eCBOT or an affiliate. We currently do not expect that Ceres will make any distributions
to its limited partners until such time as it is liquidated. As a result of the liquidation of Ceres, CBOT members will no longer participate in the electronic trading business of the CBOT as limited partners of Ceres, but rather as stockholders of
CBOT Holdings.
In order to ensure that members who are limited partners in Ceres will retain the rights
and obligations that they currently possess following the completion of the restructuring transactions, eCBOT, as general partner of Ceres, will amend the limited partnership agreement of Ceres. In particular, among other things, certain definitions
in the limited partnership agreement corresponding to Full, Associate, GIM, IDEM and COM memberships in the CBOT will be revised to correspond to Series B-1, Series B-2, Series B-3, Series B-4 and
Series B-5, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary, respectively. In addition, the limited partnership agreement will be amended to specifically provide that Ceres will be liquidated in accordance
with the terms of the Ceres limited partnership agreement upon the termination of the CBOTs current arrangements with the Eurex Group, which we expect will occur on December 31, 2003. Because these amendments to the limited partnership
agreement will not amend sections with respect to which limited partners of Ceres have voting rights, no vote of the limited partners of Ceres is required in order to amend the limited partnership agreement.
We have included as Appendix C to this document the form of agreement and plan of merger relating to the reorganization merger,
which you are being asked to approve and adopt in connection with the restructuring transactions. We urge you to review carefully the agreement and plan of merger before voting on the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions.
Modernization of Our Corporate Governance Structure
An objective of the restructuring transactions is the modernization of the corporate governance structure of the CBOT. Accordingly,
the restructuring transactions will involve significant changes, which will largely occur as a result of the creation of a holding company structure and the adoption of a new certificate of incorporation and bylaws for CBOT Holdings and a new
certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations of the CBOT subsidiary. These changes are designed to modernize our corporate governance structure by:
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adopting new mechanisms for initiating and voting on stockholder and member proposals; |
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providing for a reduction in the size of our board of directors; and |
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|
modifying the nomination and election process for our directors as well as the terms of office and qualifications of our directors.
|
Because you will receive interests in both CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary as a result of the
completion of the restructuring transactions, you will have different rights and obligations in these two separate, but affiliated organizations based on the applicable corporate governance documents. Upon the completion of the restructuring
transactions, you will be a stockholder of CBOT Holdings and a member of the CBOT subsidiary. Your rights as a stockholder of CBOT Holdings will resemble those of a stockholder of a public company, and your rights as a member of the CBOT subsidiary
will more closely resemble your current trading rights and privileges as CBOT members. However, as explained below, there will be important changes to your rights and obligations as a result of the modernization of our corporate governance
structure. Generally speaking, as a result of these changes, the ability of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings and the members of the CBOT subsidiary to participate in the day-to-day management and operations of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary,
56
respectively, will be somewhat reduced by comparison to the current ability of CBOT members to participate in the day-to-day management and operations of the CBOT. However, certain important
rights relating to the trading rights and privileges associated with Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary will be reserved for the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships, as described in greater detail below.
Voting Rights
As a result of the restructuring transactions, you will hold interests in two companies rather than one: CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary. Your interests will entitle you to different rights with
respect to voting on matters pertaining to the two companies, as described below.
CBOT Holdings.
As compared to our current corporate governance structure as a not-for-profit, nonstock corporation, CBOT Holdings will have a corporate governance structure more customary for a for-profit, stock corporation. The holders of the common stock of
CBOT Holdings will have the right to vote on all matters upon which the stockholders of CBOT Holdings will be entitled to vote generally, including, among other things, the election of directors to the board of directors of CBOT Holdings. The board
of directors of CBOT Holdings will have the authority to, among other things, adopt and recommend for stockholder approval amendments to the certificate of incorporation of CBOT Holdings. Any amendment to the certificate of
incorporation of CBOT Holdings will require the approval of the board of directors of CBOT Holdings and the approval of a majority of the voting power of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings. In addition, the board of directors of CBOT Holdings will
have the authority to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of CBOT Holdings without the approval of stockholders. However, subject to limitations under applicable law, the stockholders of CBOT Holdings will also have the right to initiate proposals,
including proposals to adopt, repeal or amend the bylaws of CBOT Holdings and non-binding recommendations that the board of directors of CBOT Holdings consider proposed amendments to the certificate of incorporation of CBOT Holdings. You
should understand, however, that the board of directors of CBOT Holdings will consider such non-binding recommendations in accordance with its fiduciary duties under applicable law and, accordingly, there can be no assurance that the board of
directors of CBOT Holdings will approve any such proposed amendment. The stockholders of CBOT Holdings will not be entitled to initiate binding proposals to take any action that requires board approval, including proposals to amend the certificate
of incorporation of CBOT Holdings, or as described below, proposals to amend the certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations of the CBOT subsidiary. Stockholders proposals may be initiated at an annual or special meeting of
stockholders of CBOT Holdings after satisfying certain advance notice requirements and, subject to applicable law, will require the approval of a majority of the votes cast at such annual or special meeting. The bylaws of CBOT Holdings will provide
that one-third of the total voting power of CBOT Holdings entitled to vote generally in an election of directors must be present in person or by proxy to constitute a quorum.
The bylaws of CBOT Holdings will contain provisions requiring that advance notice be delivered to CBOT Holdings of any business to be brought by a stockholder before an
annual or special meeting of stockholders and providing for procedures to be followed by stockholders in nominating persons for election to CBOT Holdings board of directors. Generally, in connection with annual meetings, such advance notice
provisions will require that a stockholder must give written notice to the secretary of CBOT Holdings not less than 20, nor more than 60, days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which CBOT Holdings first mailed its proxy materials for the
preceding years annual meeting of stockholders. In connection with special meetings, following receipt of a written request from the holders of at least 10% of the voting power of CBOT Holdings, the chairman of the board or the board of
directors will call and provide written notice of, a special meeting not less than 10, nor more than 60, days before the date of such meeting. In each case, the notice or request by stockholders must set forth specific information regarding such
stockholder and each director nominee or other business proposed by such stockholder, as applicable, as provided in CBOT Holdings bylaws.
CBOT Subsidiary. The CBOT subsidiary will have a corporate governance structure that is designed to vest control of corporate governance matters generally, including the election of directors,
with CBOT Holdings, but provide the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships with voting rights with respect to Class B member proposals, including amendments to the bylaws, rules and regulations of the CBOT subsidiary, as well
57
as with respect to the core rights relating to the trading rights and privileges associated with Class B memberships and on amendments to or elimination of the restrictions on transfer applicable
to the Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary (of which CBOT Holdings will hold the sole membership) and Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary.
In particular, CBOT Holdings, as the holder of the sole Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary, will have the right to vote on most matters requiring a vote of the members of the CBOT subsidiary
including, among other things, the election of directors to the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary and, subject to the rights of holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships with respect to the core rights and transfer
restrictions described below, amendments to the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary.
The
holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will have the exclusive right among members to vote on any proposed amendment to the bylaws, which include the rules and regulations, of the CBOT subsidiary, and on any
proposed amendment to the certificate of incorporation that would adversely affect the following core rights:
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the allocation of products that a holder of a specific series of Class B membership is permitted to trade on the exchange facilities of the CBOT subsidiary,
e.g., the elimination of any product from a holders trading rights and privileges; |
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the requirement that, subject to certain limited exceptions agreed to by the CBOT and Chicago Board Options Exchange, holders of Class B memberships will be
charged transaction fees for trades of the CBOT subsidiarys products for their accounts that are lower than the transaction fees charged to any participant who is not a holder of a Class B membership for the same products;
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the authorized number of any class or series of memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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the membership and eligibility requirements to become a holder of a Class B membership or to exercise the associated trading rights or privileges; and
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the commitment to maintain current open outcry markets so long as each such market is deemed liquid under the terms of the certificate of incorporation of the
CBOT subsidiary unless the discontinuance of any such market is approved by the holders of the Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships. This commitment to maintain current open outcry markets is described further below at
Commitment to Maintain Open Outcry Markets. |
The holders of Series
B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will also have the exclusive right among members to vote on any amendment to or elimination of the transfer restrictions applicable to the Class A membership and the Class B memberships
in the CBOT subsidiary.
In addition, subject to applicable law, the holders of Series B-1 and Series
B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary may initiate other proposals, including proposals to adopt, repeal or amend the bylaws and non-binding recommendations to the board of directors, such as recommendations that the board of directors of
the CBOT subsidiary consider proposed amendments to the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary. You should understand, however, that the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary will consider such non-binding recommendations in
accordance with its fiduciary duties under applicable law and, accordingly, there can be no assurance that the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary will approve any such proposed amendment. The holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B
memberships will not be entitled to initiate binding proposals to take any action that requires board approval, including proposals to amend the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary. Member proposals may be initiated at an annual
meeting of the members of the CBOT subsidiary or, after satisfying certain advance notice requirements, a special meeting of the members of the CBOT subsidiary and, subject to applicable law, will require the approval of a majority of votes cast at
such special or annual meeting.
Holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships will be the only
members of the CBOT subsidiary entitled to vote with respect to a proposed amendment to the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary that would adversely affect any of the above-described core rights and any proposal
58
initiated by the holders of Series B-1 and/or Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary, with holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships entitled to one vote per membership and
holders of Series B-2, Class B memberships entitled to one-sixth of one vote per membership. These voting rights are based on the current voting rights of Full Members and Associate Members of the CBOT. The holders of Series B-3, Series B-4 and
Series B-5, Class B memberships and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will not have the right to vote on any matters or to initiate any proposals. These voting rights are based on the facts that GIM, IDEM and COM members currently have
no voting rights at the CBOT and that Full Members are currently not entitled to any special additional voting rights at the CBOT by virtue of their exercise right.
Subject to applicable law and subject to the right of the Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B members to vote to discontinue a market, which shall require a vote of a
majority of the voting power of the Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B members, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at any annual or special meeting called for such purpose shall be sufficient to constitute approval of all matters
upon which the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships are entitled to vote, provided that quorum requirements have been met. The certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary will provide that the holder of the Class A
membership must be present in person or by proxy to constitute a quorum on matters upon which the holder of a Class A membership is entitled to vote and that one-third of the voting power of the Class B memberships entitled to vote must be present
in person or by proxy in order to constitute a quorum on matters upon which the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2 Class B memberships are entitled to vote. Based on the respective voting power of these two series of Class B memberships, any such
amendment or proposal could be approved by the holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships even though the holders of Series B-2, Class B memberships voted against the amendment. This result is consistent with the result that would be obtained under
the CBOTs existing certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations with respect to matters voted on by Full Members and Associate Members as a single class.
Following receipt of a written request from at least 10% of the voting power of the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary, the
chairman of the board or the board of directors will call and provide written notice of, a special meeting not less than 10, nor more than 60, days before the date of such meeting. Any such request must specify the purpose of the meeting.
Commitment to Maintain Open Outcry Markets. The certificate of incorporation
of the CBOT subsidiary will provide that, subject to the following terms and conditions, the CBOT subsidiary will be obligated to maintain current open outcry markets and provide financial support to each such market for technology, marketing and
research, which the board of directors determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, is reasonably necessary to maintain each such open outcry market.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary may discontinue any open outcry market at such time and in such manner as it may determine if the board of directors
determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that a market is no longer liquid in accordance with the criteria described below or the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class
B memberships, voting together as a single class based on their respective voting power, approve the discontinuance of such open outcry market. A market is liquid for this purpose if, as measured on a quarterly basis:
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a comparable exchange-traded product exists, the open outcry market has maintained at least 30 percent of the average daily volume of such comparable product,
including for calculation purposes, volume from exchange-for-physicals transactions in such open outcry market; or |
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no comparable exchange-traded product exists, the open outcry market has maintained at least 40 percent of the average quarterly volume in that market as
maintained by the CBOT in 2000, including, for calculation purposes, volume from exchange-for-physicals transactions in such open outcry market. |
Board of Directors. After the completion of the restructuring transactions, there will be two boards of directors, that is, one for CBOT
Holdings and one for the CBOT subsidiary, rather than one. However, as explained in greater detail below, we currently expect that the same persons will serve on both of these boards.
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The directors serving on the board of directors of the CBOT immediately prior
to the completion of the restructuring transactions will continue as the boards of directors of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary immediately following the completion of the restructuring transactions. The continuing directors will serve for the
duration of their current terms with the exception of the current public directors, whose terms will end in connection with the first annual election following the completion of the restructuring transactions.
The size of the board of directors of CBOT Holdings will thereafter be reduced from 18 directors to 16 directors in connection with
the first annual meeting of stockholders to be held following the completion of the restructuring transactions.
The board of directors of CBOT Holdings will consist of:
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the chairman of the board, who will be a holder of a Series B-1, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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a vice-chairman, who will be a holder of a Series B-1, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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eight directors, who will be holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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two directors, who will be holders of Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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three directors, who will be independent within the meaning of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of CBOT Holdings; and
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the president and chief executive officer of CBOT Holdings, who will be a non-voting director. |
Except as described below, each director of CBOT Holdings will be elected to serve as a director until the second annual meeting of each
such corporation following his other due election and will not be subject to term limits. Directors shall be entitled to serve only so long as they retain the qualifications of the directorship for which they were nominated and elected. For
information regarding the executive officers of CBOT Holdings, see Management and Executive CompensationDirectors and Executive Officers.
The elected directors of CBOT Holdings will be classified into two classes of directors consisting of eight directors and seven directors, respectively.
The first class of directors will consist of:
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the chairman of the board; |
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four directors, who will be holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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one director, who will be a holder of a Series B-2, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary; and |
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two independent directors. |
The second class of directors will consist of:
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the vice-chairman of the board; |
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four directors, who will be holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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one director, who will be a holder of a Series B-2, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary; and |
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one independent director. |
The president and chief executive officer will, upon appointment to such position, automatically become a non-voting director.
At the first annual meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings following the completion of the restructuring transactions, the stockholders will elect six directors, consisting of three of the
directors from the
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second class of directors and three directors from the first class of directors. The directors of the second class will be elected to serve until the third annual meeting of the stockholders of
CBOT Holdings following the completion of the restructuring transactions, and the directors of the first class will be elected to serve until the second annual meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings following the completion of the
restructuring transactions. Thereafter, each class of directors will be elected at every other annual meeting, beginning with the first class at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings following the completion of the
restructuring transactions.
The following chart describes the directors and the terms that such
directors are expected to be elected to at each of the first, second and third annual elections following completion of the restructuring transactions:
First Annual Meeting |
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Second Annual Meeting |
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Third Annual Meeting |
Two Year Term
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Two Year Term
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Two Year Term
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1 Vice Chairman |
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1 Chairman |
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1 Vice Chairman |
1 Series B-1 Director |
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4 Series B-1 Directors |
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4 Series B-1 Directors |
1 Independent Director |
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1 Series B-2 Director |
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1 Series B-2 Director |
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2 Independent Directors |
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1 Independent Director |
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One Year Term
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2 Independent Directors |
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1 Series B-1 Director |
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In connection with the election of directors to the new
sixteen-member board of directors of CBOT Holdings, we currently anticipate that CBOT Holdings, as the holder of the sole Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary,which is the only membership class entitled to vote in the election of directors,
will elect the same persons as members of the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary. In order to ensure that the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary is generally identical in size and composition to the board of directors of CBOT Holdings,
it will be a qualification for service as a director of the CBOT subsidiary that such director also serve at the same time on the board of directors of CBOT Holdings.
Nomination Procedures for Directors. We currently expect that the board of directors of CBOT Holdings will designate a nominating committee to recommend to the board
of directors nominations of persons to stand for election as directors of CBOT Holdings. In addition to nominations made by this committee, stockholders of CBOT Holdings will also be entitled to nominate persons to stand for election as directors of
CBOT Holdings if the nominee is qualified and the stockholder satisfies certain advance notice requirements. If the stockholder satisfies each of these conditions and delivers a petition executed by at least 40 persons who are both stockholders and
holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary, CBOT Holdings will, to the extent it prepares and delivers a proxy statement and form of proxy, at its own expense, include the name of such nominee and all other information related
to such nominee, that is provided with respect to the board of directors nominees in such proxy statement and form of proxy.
Change of Control Provisions. CBOT Holdings certificate of incorporation and bylaws will contain certain provisions that may have the effect of encouraging persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other
unilateral takeover proposals to negotiate with the board of directors rather than pursue non-negotiated takeover attempts. The provisions will include, among other things:
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a classified board of directors with staggered terms of office; |
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advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals; |
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application of the Delaware anti-takeover statute; and |
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a prohibition on the ability of stockholders to take action by written consent. |
You are being asked to approve the amended and restated bylaws of the CBOT, which will become the bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary, and a technical amendment to the bylaws of
the CBOT clarifying the status of
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holders of GIM, IDEM and COM membership interests as members of the CBOT for purposes of Delaware corporation law; all other matters relating to the restructuring transactions, including, among
other things, the proposed changes to our corporate governance structure as set forth in a new certificate of incorporation and bylaws for the holding company and the CBOT subsidiary as part of the restructuring transactions. We have included the
form of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of CBOT Holdings as Appendices F and G, respectively, to this document. In addition, we have included the form of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary as Appendices H
and I, respectively, to this document. The certificate of incorporation and bylaws of CBOT Holdings will become effective prior to the time the reorganization merger becomes effective and the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the CBOT
subsidiary will become effective at the time the reorganization merger becomes effective, with the exception of a provision in the CBOT bylaws that is designed to confirm that GIMs as well as holders of one-half Associate Memberships, IDEMs and COMs
are members for purposes of Delaware law, which will become effective immediately following membership approval of the restructuring transactions. By voting in favor of the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions, you will be voting
to approve and adopt, among other things, this amendment to the CBOT bylaws in advance of the completion of the restructuring transactions. We urge you to review carefully all of the terms and conditions of the certificate of incorporation and
bylaws of each of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary before voting on the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions.
In addition, you are being asked to approve certain changes to the rules and ratify certain changes to the regulations of the CBOT subsidiary as part of the restructuring transactions. Among other things, the rules and
regulations of the CBOT subsidiary will establish the specific trading rights and privileges associated with each series of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. We currently expect that these changes to our rules and regulations will take
effect at the time that the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary becomes effective. The form of the rules and regulations of the CBOT subsidiary as we currently expect such rules and regulations to be implemented immediately after the
restructuring transactions (subject to other changes to the rules and regulations occuring after the date of this document), as well as the current rules and regulations of the CBOT, have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which
this document is a part. We have included as Appendix J to this document a summary entitled Status of Certain Current CBOT Rules and Regulations as a Result of the Restructuring Transactions, which summarizes the changes to certain of
the current rules and regulations that will occur as a result of the restructuring transactions. We urge you to review carefully the summary of the changes to the rules and regulations as well as the above-referenced exhibits before voting on the
propositions relating to the restructuring transactions.
For more information about these changes to our
corporate governance structure, and how such changes will affect your rights and obligations, see Comparison of the Rights of Members of the CBOT Prior to and After Completion of the Restructuring Transactions.
Independent Allocation Committee of the Board
In January 2000, in connection with its approval of the original restructuring strategy, our board of directors established an Independent Allocation Committee of the board, composed solely of public
or independent directors of the board, to determine and recommend to the full board an appropriate and fair allocation among the CBOT members of shares in the two companies contemplated by the original restructuring strategy: the company conducting
the updated open outcry trading business and the company conducting the electronic trading business.
To assure
the independence of the process, each member of the Independent Allocation Committee confirmed that there were no conflicts of interest presented by his service on the Independent Allocation Committee and that neither any member nor any person in a
members family held a financial interest in a CBOT member. The Independent Allocation Committee engaged an independent financial advisor, William Blair, and special counsel, Winston & Strawn, to assist in developing its recommendation.
Again, each of these advisors confirmed that their service to the Independent Allocation Committee did not present a conflict of interest. Governor Thompson, the Chairman of the Independent Allocation Committee, is the Chairman of Winston &
Strawn, special counsel to the Independent Allocation Committee. Members of the Independent Allocation
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Committee each initially received a fee of $20,000 for service on the committee. In connection with their continued service on the Independent Allocation Committee, in November 2001, Governor
Thompson and Mr. Weems each received an additional fee of $20,000 for service on the Committee. In addition, the CBOT agreed to indemnify each member against liabilities arising from such service. Also, the CBOT agreed to compensate each member
of the Independent Allocation Committee for time spent in connection with any litigation proceeding relating to the matters considered by the Independent Allocation Committee at an hourly rate, not to exceed $500, equal to the rate at which such
member is compensated by third parties for legal or consulting services or, if no such rate is applicable to a member, such rate as is mutually agreed to by the CBOT and the member.
Development of the Allocation Ratio
During the course of its initial deliberations, which took place from January to May 2000, the Independent Allocation Committee and its advisors reviewed CBOT member correspondence regarding their views on allocation; met with
various membership committees and groups as well as CBOT management and staff; reviewed various CBOT organizational documents, documents relating to the creation of memberships and certain trading and financial statistics relating to the CBOT,
including historical prices for memberships; reviewed various other materials prepared for the CBOT or the board of directors by outside consultants, financial, legal and other advisors; participated in various meetings with such advisors; and
researched other relevant data, including the allocation methodologies used by other exchanges in connection with demutualization transactions.
Since no mechanism existed in the CBOTs certificate of incorporation, bylaws or rules and regulations for allocating ownership in the CBOT among the Full
Members, Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs, the Independent Allocation Committee identified with the help of its financial and legal advisors the factors it considered relevant to determining such an allocation in the context of the proposed
restructuring transactions. These factors are:
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the relative liquidation rights of the five classes of membership in the CBOT; |
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the relative voting rights of the five classes of membership in the CBOT; |
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the allocation made in respect of each class of membership in connection with the formation of Ceres ; |
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the market values of CBOT memberships; and |
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the contract volumes attributable to each class of CBOT membership. |
The Independent Allocation Committee then looked at the allocation that would result from each such factor if it were considered determinative. For example, each of the
first three factors, taken alone, would imply an allocation ratio of 6.0 : 1.0 as between Full Memberships and Associate Memberships, while the last two factors taken alone would imply allocation ratios as between Full Members and Associate Members
of 2.49 : 1.0 and 0.72 : 1.0 respectively. For additional information and a complete list of the allocation ratios implied by each of the factors taken alone, see Relative Liquidation Rights, Relative Voting
Rights, Allocation Made in Respect of Each Membership in Connection with the Formation of Ceres, Market Values of Memberships and Contract Volumes under Opinion of the Financial
Advisor to the Independent Allocation Committee.
The Independent Allocation Committee then
determined with the concurrence of its advisors that it would be appropriate to adopt an allocation methodology that takes into account a combination of these factors rather than a single factor. Neither the Independent Allocation Committee nor its
financial advisor believed that it was appropriate to assign specific weight to any particular factor. However the Independent Allocation Committee concluded in conjunction with its financial advisor that in establishing the allocation, relatively
greater
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importance should be given to liquidation rights, voting rights and the allocation made to CBOT members in connection with the formation of Ceres. See Opinion of the Financial Advisor
to the Independent Allocation Committee for a discussion of the relative importance of the five factors. Based on its deliberations and after taking into consideration all five factors and the relative importance assigned to them, the
Independent Allocation Committee developed an allocation for recommendation to the full board as fair based on such methodology and instructed William Blair to give an opinion as to whether the prepared allocation was fair from a financial point of
view to the various classes of members.
The Independent Allocation Committee on May 5, 2000, unanimously
recommended to the full board as fair an allocation of shares of common stock in each of the then proposed open outcry trading and electronic trading companies in accordance with the Allocation Ratio. In reaching this conclusion, the Independent
Allocation Committee received and considered an opinion dated May 5, 2000 from William Blair that the allocation recommended by the Independent Allocation Committee in connection with the restructuring was fair, from a financial point of view, to
the holders of each class of CBOT membership. For more information on this opinion, see Opinion of the Financial Advisor to the Independent Allocation Committee of the Board.
The recommendation of the Independent Allocation Committee on May 5, 2000, as well as the opinion of William Blair as of such date, were
based on a number of assumptions, including that:
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the restructuring would not take the form of a liquidation; |
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the trading rights and privileges of each CBOT membership class, including the Chicago Board Options Exchange exercise right of Full Members, would continue;
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each CBOT member would receive in addition to their trading rights the appropriate number of shares in both the then proposed open outcry trading and electronic
trading companies per the allocation; |
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each companys shares would be issued with equal per share voting and liquidation rights; |
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such shares would be in addition to any shares or other consideration received in connection with the reorganization of Ceres, which transaction was outside the
purview of the Committee. |
The allocation did not take into consideration any transaction with the Chicago Board
Options Exchange, and the allocation of assets and liabilities between the then proposed open outcry trading and electronic trading companies was beyond the purview of the Independent Allocation Committee.
On May 16, 2000, the board of directors of CBOT approved and adopted the recommendation made by the Independent Allocation Committee on
May 5, 2000, subject to any changes in the underlying assumptions, and subject to the boards further approval of the definitive terms and structure of transactions designed to implement the restructuring.
November 2000 Update
Following the adoption by the board of directors of the revised restructuring strategy in August 2000, the Independent Allocation Committee undertook to consider the revised restructuring strategy and
update its recommendation regarding an appropriate and fair allocation of value among CBOT members in the context of the revised restructuring strategy.
In the course of updating its initial recommendation regarding the allocation of equity among members of CBOT, the Independent Allocation Committee reviewed with its legal and financial advisors
various aspects of the revised restructuring strategy that were developed subsequent to May 5, 2000, including:
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the change in the form of the restructuring transactions to provide for the distribution and allocation solely of shares of the then proposed stock, for-profit
company and the formation of eCBOT as a wholly owned subsidiary of CBOT; |
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the board of directors decision to reorganize and consolidate the electronic trading business into eCBOT through a series of transactions involving Ceres,
including a merger transaction in which limited partnership interests in Ceres would be exchanged for shares of convertible preferred stock of the stock, for-profit company; and |
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the proposal to issue shares of common stock of the then proposed stock, for-profit company in two classes: Class A common stock with traditional voting,
liquidation and dividend rights that would represent substantially all of the equity value and voting power initially evidenced by the common stock of the then proposed stock, for-profit company; and Class B common stock that would be issued in five
series, two of which would have special voting rights with respect to certain trading rights and privileges of Class B common stockholders, each of which series would entitle an eligible holder to trading rights and privileges that would correspond
to, and would be substantially similar to, the trading rights and privileges of one of the five member classes of CBOT. |
The Independent Allocation Committee also considered such other factors as it deemed relevant, including the trading volume activity by various membership classes and the trading prices for various
memberships. Based on these deliberations and its conclusion that the factors which supported its initial recommendation remained an appropriate basis for determining an allocation methodology in the context of the restructuring transactions and
that such factors had not changed in any material respect since May 5, 2000, the Independent Allocation Committee updated its recommendation of the Allocation Ratio as a fair allocation of shares of common stock in the single company and instructed
its financial advisor to give an opinion as to whether the proposed allocation was fair from a financial point of view to the various classes of members.
The Independent Allocation Committee on November 21, 2000, unanimously recommended to the board of directors as fair an allocation of shares of Class A common stock of the
then proposed stock, for-profit company among the CBOT members in respect of their memberships in connection with the restructuring in accordance with the Allocation Ratio. In reaching this conclusion, the Independent Allocation Committee received
and considered an updated oral opinion on November 20, 2000, which was confirmed in writing on November 21, 2000, from William Blair that the proposed allocation was fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of each class of CBOT
membership. For more information on this updated opinion, see Opinion of the Financial Advisor to the Independent Allocation Committee.
The updated recommendation of the Independent Allocation Committee on November 21, 2000, as well as the opinion of William Blair as of such date, were based on a number of assumptions, including that:
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the restructuring will not take the form of a liquidation; |
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the trading rights and privileges of each CBOT membership class, including the Chicago Board Options Exchange exercise right of Full Members, would continue;
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each CBOT member would receive, in addition to a share of the appropriate series of Class B common stock and associated trading rights and privileges, the
number of shares of Class A common stock to which such member would be entitled in the then proposed stock, for-profit company per the allocation ratio in respect of his or her membership; |
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such shares would be in addition to the shares of convertible preferred stock or other consideration received in connection with the Ceres merger, the fairness
of which transaction was beyond the purview of the Independent Allocation Committee and the opinion of William Blair; and |
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the allocation did not take into consideration any possible transaction or business combination with any other party. |
January 2001 Update
On January 16, 2001, immediately prior to the meeting of the board of directors to consider the restructuring transactions, the Independent Allocation Committee met to review and consider certain
refinements to the restructuring transactions recommended by the Executive Committee and management. William Blair and Winston & Strawn, as advisors to the Independent Allocation Committee, participated in this meeting. The Independent
Allocation Committee updated its recommendation of the Allocation Ratio as fair and instructed William Blair to give an opinion as to whether the proposed allocation was fair from a financial point of view to the various classes of members. At the
meeting of the board of directors, the Independent Allocation Committee reported to the board of directors that it had reviewed such refinements to the restructuring transactions
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recommended by the Executive Committee and management and confirmed its updated recommendation regarding the allocation among the CBOT members of Class A common stock of the then proposed stock,
for-profit company in respect of their memberships in connection with the restructuring transactions, as currently proposed, as provided to the board at the November 21, 2000 meeting. The Independent Allocation Committee indicated that, in reaching
this recommendation, it received and considered an updated opinion of William Blair, dated January 16, 2001, that the proposed allocation was fair, from a financial point of view, to each of the five classes of CBOT members.
September 2001 Update
In September 2001, the Independent Allocation Committee undertook to consider further refinements to the restructuring transactions and update its recommendation regarding an appropriate and fair
allocation of value among CBOT members in the context of the revised restructuring strategy. In the course of updating its recommendation regarding the allocation of equity among members of the CBOT, the Independent Allocation Committee reviewed
various aspects of the restructuring transactions that were developed subsequent to January 16, 2001, including the refinements to the restructuring transactions to provide for the creation of a holding company structure, the distribution of shares
of common stock of the holding company to the members of the CBOT and the creation of a separate class of membership in the CBOT subsidiary to represent the Chicago Board Options Exchange exercise right. The Independent Allocation Committee also
considered such other factors as it deemed relevant, including the trading volume activity by various CBOT membership classes and the trading prices for various CBOT memberships. On September 13, 2001, the Independent Allocation Committee met with
representatives of William Blair, Winston & Strawn and Kirkland & Ellis to consider these refinements and their impact, if any, on their previous recommendations.
Based on these deliberations and its conclusion that the factors which supported its earlier recommendation remained an appropriate basis for determining an allocation
methodology in the context of the restructuring transactions and that such factors had not changed in any material respect since January 16, 2001, the Independent Allocation Committee met again on September 24, 2001, updated its recommendation of
the Allocation Ratio as fair, and instructed William Blair to give an opinion as to whether the proposed allocation was fair from a financial point of view to the various classes of CBOT members.
On September 24, 2001, the Independent Allocation Committee unanimously adopted as fair a recommendation (delivered to the board of
directors on October 2, 2001) of an allocation of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings among the CBOT members in respect of their memberships in connection with the restructuring in accordance with the Allocation Ratio. In reaching this
conclusion, the Independent Allocation Committee received and considered an updated opinion on September 24, 2001 from William Blair that such allocation was fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of each class of CBOT membership.
December 2001 Update
On December 18, 2001, immediately prior to the meeting of the CBOT board of directors, the Independent Allocation Committee met to review and consider the proposed
restructuring transactions. William Blair and Winston & Strawn, as advisors to the Independent Allocation Commmittee, participated in this meeting. At the meeting of the CBOT board of directors, the Independent Allocation Committee reported to
the CBOT board of directors that it had reviewed the restructuring transactions and confirmed its updated recommendation regarding the allocation among CBOT members of common stock of CBOT Holdings as provided to the board of directors at the
October 2, 2001 meeting. The Independent Allocation Committee indicated that, in reaching this recommendation, it received and considered William Blairs letter, dated December 18, 2001, updating its opinion, dated September 24, 2001, that the
proposed allocation was fair, from a financial point of view, to each of the five classes of CBOT members. For the assumptions underlying this recommendation and opinion, see Assumptions Underlying the December 2001 and September
2002 Updates below. For more information on this updated opinion, see Opinion of the Financial Advisor of the Independent Allocation Committee of the Board.
September 2002 Update
In
the spring of 2002, in connection with the preparation of materials relating to the lawsuit brought by certain Associate Members and Membership interest holders, management learned that certain data relating to
66
historical contract volume attributable to each membership class, which was previously provided by the CBOT to the Independent Allocation committee and its financial advisor, was inaccurate. In
particular, the inaccurate data overstated the amount of historical contract volume attributable to Full Members and IDEMs of the CBOT. As a result of this discovery, management conducted a thorough review of the process previously utilized to
generate such data, corrected this process and delivered revised data to the Independent Allocation Committee and its financial advisor.
On September 13, 2002, the Independent Allocation Committee held a meeting at which the committee received an update from each of William Blair and Winston & Strawn on the refinements to the restructuring transactions
proposed to be adopted by the board of directors subsequent to the committees last meeting in December 2001 and the circumstances related to the CBOTs discovery of inaccuracies in the historical contract volume data provided to the
committee, including actions undertaken by the CBOT to collect the data and the process utilized to generate such data. In addition, the Independent Allocation Committee also received an update from Kirkland & Ellis on the lawsuit brought by
certain Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs described elsewhere in this document. For more information on this lawsuit, see Risk Factors: Certain members have filed a complaint in Illinois State Court Challenging the Proposed
Allocation of Equity in the CBOT.
On September 17, 2002, the Independent Allocation Committee held
another meeting for the purpose of considering the proposed refinements to the restructuring transactions and its recommendation of a fair allocation of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings among the various classes of members in connection with
the restructuring transactions. William Blair and Winston & Strawn, as advisors to the Independent Allocation Committee, participated in this meeting. Based on these deliberations, the Independent Allocation Committee, with the concurrence of
its financial advisor, concluded that the factors which supported its earlier recommendation remained an appropriate basis for determining an allocation methodology in the context of the restructuring transactions. The Independent Allocation
Committee further concluded that although the changes in the contract volumes of the various classes of members were material in the context of the allocation ratio implied by this factor taken alone, such changes were not material in the context of
the overall allocation taking all five factors into account, given the lesser importance the Independent Allocation Committee attached to this factor and the lack of any material changes in the other four factors. Accordingly, the Independent
Allocation Committee updated its recommendation of the Allocation Ratio as fair and instructed William Blair to give an opinion as to whether the proposed allocation was fair from a financial point of view to the various classes of members.
The Independent Allocation Committee unanimously adopted a resolution, which was delivered to the board
of directors on September 17, 2002 recommending an allocation of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings among the CBOT members in respect of their memberships in connection with the restructuring in accordance with the Allocation Ratio. In reaching
this conclusion, the Independent Allocation Committee received and considered an opinion of September 17, 2002 from William Blair that the proposed allocation was fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of each class of membership.
Assumptions Underlying the December 2001 and September 2002 Updates
The updated recommendations of the Independent Allocation Committee on December 18, 2001 and September 17, 2002, as well as William
Blairs letter as of December 18, 2001 and its opinions, dated September 24, 2001, and September 17, 2002 were based on a number of assumptions, including that:
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the restructuring would not take the form of a liquidation; |
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the trading rights and privileges of each CBOT membership class, including the Chicago Board Options Exchange exercise right of Full Members, would remain
intact; |
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|
each CBOT member would receive, in addition to an appropriate series of Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary and associated trading rights and privileges,
the number of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to which such member would be entitled per the allocation ratio in respect of his or her membership; |
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each Full Member would receive a Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary, which would represent the Chicago Board Options Exchange exercise right; and
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67
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the allocation did not take into consideration any possible transaction or business combination with any other party. |
Opinion of the Financial Advisor to the Independent Allocation Committee
Since no mechanism currently exists in our certificate of incorporation, bylaws or rules and regulations for allocating ownership in our organization among the CBOT
members, the CBOT established the Independent Allocation Committee as described above at Independent Allocation Committee of the Board and William Blair was retained by the Independent Allocation Committee to render a written
opinion as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the allocation of equity in CBOT Holdings among the CBOT members in respect of their memberships. William Blair was hired based on its qualifications and expertise in providing financial
advice to companies and its reputation as a nationally recognized investment banking firm. William Blair was paid total fees of $750,000 for the issuance of its written opinion to the Independent Allocation Committee and the board of directors and
each update through the January 16, 2001 update. On September 7, 2001, the CBOT and William Blair agreed to extend William Blairs engagement for nine months for a fee of $200,000. On September 3, 2002, the CBOT and William Blair agreed again
to extend William Blairs engagement for twelve months for a fee of $200,000. Thus, the total fees paid to William Blair to date are $1,150,000. Payment of the fees was not conditioned on the conclusion reached by William Blair in its opinion.
We also agreed to indemnify William Blair against potential liabilities and expenses arising out of both its initial and its extended engagement. We note that, in the opinion of the SEC, indemnification against liabilities under the U.S. federal
securities laws is against the public policy expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
At the request of the Independent Allocation Committee, William Blair originally delivered to the committee its oral fairness opinion on May 5, 2000, which was also confirmed in writing as of such date and also addressed to our board
of directors. In light of the August 31, 2000 abandonment of the original restructuring strategy, which had contemplated two separate for-profit companies, in favor of the revised restructuring strategy, which contemplated a single demutualized
company operating the electronic trading company as a wholly owned subsidiary, William Blair reissued its opinion on November 20, 2000, which it confirmed in writing on November 21, 2000 and updated on January 16, 2001. The November 21, 2000 and
January 16, 2001 opinions were also addressed to our board of directors.
In light of the further refinements to
the revised restructuring strategy recommended by the Executive Committee and management in September 2001, and at the request of the Independent Allocation Committee, William Blair reviewed and considered the refinements to the restructuring
transactions, including the creation of a holding company and the distribution of common stock of the holding company to the members of the CBOT, and reissued its opinion by letter dated September 24, 2001 and reissued its opinion on September 17,
2002. On September 17, 2002, the Independent Allocation Committee confirmed its updated recommendation concerning the allocation and the board of directors met to consider, and voted to approve, the restructuring transactions, including the
recommended allocation of common stock of CBOT Holdings among the CBOT members in respect of their memberships.
In the spring of 2002, management learned that certain data relating to historical contract volume attributable to each membership class, which was previously provided by the CBOT to the Independent Allocation committee and its
financial advisor, was inaccurate. In particular, the inaccurate data overstated the amount of historical contract volume attributable to Full Members of the CBOT. As a result of this discovery, management conducted a thorough review of the process
previously utilized to generate such data, corrected this process and delivered revised data to the Independent Allocation Committee and its financial advisor.
In August 2002, at the request of the Independent Allocation Committee, William Blair reviewed and considered the revised data and reissued its opinion by letter dated September 17, 2002. The September
17, 2002 opinion was also addressed to our board of directors.
The September 24, 2001 and September 17, 2002
opinions and December 18, 2001 update were also addressed to our board of directors. For more information, see Background of the Restructuring TransactionsDevelopment of the Restructuring Strategy.
The opinion, dated September 17, 2002 was substantially similar to William Blairs January 16, 2001 and November 21, 2000 opinions
and stated that, based upon and subject to the matters set forth in the opinion, the
68
allocation to the CBOT members of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings in respect of their memberships in connection with the restructuring transactions in accordance with the Allocation Ratio
is fair, from a financial point of view, to each of the five classes of CBOT members. William Blairs November 21, 2000 and January 16, 2001 opinions had stated, with similar qualifications, that an allocation in the same ratio of common
stock of the then proposed stock, for-profit corporation would be fair, from a financial point of view, to each of the five classes of CBOT members. William Blairs May 5, 2000 opinion had stated, also with similar qualifications, that an
allocation in the same ratio of common stock of the then proposed stock, for-profit corporation and the electronic trading company would be fair, from a financial point of view, to each of the five classes of CBOT members. The full text of the
William Blair fairness opinion, dated September 17, 2002, is attached as Appendix D to this document and describes the assumptions made, matters considered and limits on the scope of the review undertaken, by William Blair. We urge you to read
the opinion carefully in its entirety before voting on the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions.
William Blairs opinions address only the fairness, from a financial point of view, to each class of the CBOT members of the allocation of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings among the CBOT members in respect of their
memberships in connection with the restructuring transactions. William Blairs opinions do not address the merits of our underlying decision to engage in the restructuring transactions or the fairness of the consideration to be received by the
CBOT members in respect of memberships in the restructuring transactions; in other words, the opinions do not express a view as to whether the combination of financial interests and other rights, such as voting rights, to be received by each of the
CBOT members in the restructuring transactions is a fair exchange for the interests and rights to be surrendered by such member in the restructuring transactions. The opinions accordingly do not constitute a recommendation to any CBOT member as to
the desirability of the restructuring transactions for you or how you should vote with respect to the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions. See Risk FactorsRisks Relating to the Restructuring TransactionsWe Have
Not Determined or Received Any Opinion Regarding the Value of the CBOT Before or After the Restructuring Transactions or the Value of the Securities and/or Memberships You Will Receive in the Restructuring Transactions Compared to the Value of the
Memberships You Currently Own.
In rendering each of its opinions, William Blair assumed and relied,
without independent verification, upon the accuracy and completeness of all the information examined by or otherwise reviewed or discussed with it for purposes of the opinion. William Blair did not make or obtain an independent valuation or
appraisal of our assets, liabilities or solvency. Each opinion is based upon economic, market, financial and other conditions existing on, and other information disclosed to William Blair, as of the date of the opinion. Although subsequent
developments may affect an opinion, William Blair does not have any obligation to update, revise, reaffirm or reissue such opinion except when requested as provided in the letter agreement between William Blair and the CBOT, dated September 3, 2002.
In connection with its review of the restructuring transactions and the preparation of the opinions, William
Blair examined, among other things:
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copies of materials prepared by the CBOT concerning the possible restructuring; |
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various organizational documents of the CBOT and Ceres, including the CBOTs certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations and the Ceres
limited partnership agreement; |
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various trading and financial statistics, including CBOT annual reports containing historical financial statements, seat cross-ownership statistics, and the
contract volume statistics summarized at Contract Volumes below; |
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certain publicly available information regarding terms of certain transactions involving restructurings of exchanges comparable to the CBOT* and the allocation
of value; |
* |
|
Transactions examined included the demutualizations of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the International Petroleum Exchange, the London International Financial
Futures Exchange, and the Sydney Futures Exchange. William Blair concluded that none of the transactions examined for which adequate documentation for meaningful review was available involved an exchange that, in William Blairs judgment, had
characteristics sufficiently similar to the CBOTs to assume substantial significance in William Blairs analysis. |
69
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presentations provided to us by our consultants and financial and legal advisors; |
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letters to the CBOT from various CBOT members regarding the restructuring transactions; and |
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information regarding the historical trading prices of memberships. |
In connection with its opinions, William Blair also examined drafts of the registration statement on Form S-4 of the CBOT relating to the restructuring transactions and the
certificates of incorporation and bylaws of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary.
William Blair also held
discussions with current and former members of our senior management and of the various classes of members of CBOT regarding the foregoing, considered other matters which it deemed relevant to its inquiry and has taken into account such accepted
financial and investment banking procedures and considerations as it deemed relevant.
William Blair was also
advised by the Independent Allocation Committee that, for purposes of rendering its opinions, it could assume that the restructuring transactions will not be effected by means of a liquidation. William Blair made this assumption without independent
legal analysis.
Furthermore, in connection with its review of the restructuring transactions and the
preparation of its September 17, 2002 opinion, William Blair assumed that:
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the restructuring would not take the form of a liquidation; |
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the trading rights and privileges of each CBOT membership class, including the Chicago Board Options Exchange exercise right of Full Members, would remain
intact; |
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each CBOT member would receive, in addition to an appropriate series of Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary and associated trading rights and privileges,
the number of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to which such member would be entitled per the allocation ratio in respect of his or her membership; |
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each Full Member would receive a Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary, which would represent the Chicago Board Options Exchange exercise right; and
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the allocation did not take into consideration any possible transaction or business combination with any other party. |
William Blairs earlier opinions also made assumptions that varied from the foregoing assumptions in light of
differences between the form of the restructuring then contemplated and the restructuring transactions now being proposed to Full Members and Associate Members for their approval.
The following summarizes the principal financial analyses performed by William Blair to arrive at the conclusions set forth in its opinion, dated September 17, 2002.
William Blair performed similar financial analyses in arriving at its conclusions in its May 5, 2000, November 21, 2000, January 16, 2001 and September 24, 2001 opinions. William Blair performed certain procedures, including each of the
financial analyses described below, and reviewed with the Independent Allocation Committee the assumptions upon which such analyses were based, and other factors. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process. The summary set forth
below does not purport to be a complete description of the analyses performed or factors considered by William Blair in this regard.
In arriving at its conclusion, William Blair considered various methodologies for allocating ownership among the CBOT members in respect of their memberships in connection with the restructuring transactions. William Blair
concluded, in its professional judgment, that an allocation methodology that takes into account a combination of factors rather than a single factor was appropriate, and that such combination of factors should include, with respect to each of the
five classes of CBOT members:
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the relative liquidation rights of the five classes of membership in the CBOT; |
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the relative voting rights of the five classes of membership in the CBOT; |
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the allocation made in respect of each class of membership in connection with the formation of Ceres; |
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the market values of CBOT memberships; and |
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the contract volumes attributable to each class of CBOT membership. |
In reaching its judgment that use of a combination of allocation factors is fair and appropriately considers the interests of all membership classes, William Blair observed
that no one method is conclusive as to the allocation of ownership. William Blair concluded that liquidation rightsand voting rightsare important measures of member ownership by class because both are characteristics of memberships that
vary by class (but not by member), do not vary over time, were known by members when they purchased seats, and are inherent in ownership of memberships. Voting rights were also viewed as important because they represent control, which often carries
a premium in corporate transactions. The allocation made in respect of each class of membership in connection with the formation of Ceres was viewed as a third important measure of members relative ownership by class because it is a CBOT
precedent for an allocation of distributions to members by class. Trading volume was viewed as a factor to be considered as an indication of each memberships contribution to CBOT liquidity and value, but was considered less important, because
it varies by individual member (rather than consistently across each class) and varies over time, holders of multiple memberships can skew the data, and because of uncertainty as to the correlation between trading volumes, contribution to CBOT
profitability and entitlement to a share of equity. Seat prices were also viewed as a factor to be considered, as values derived through open market transactions that should reflect efficient market pricing, but were considered less important
because of their fluctuations over time, difficulties in separating ownership elements reflected in seat prices from trading rights which are also reflected in seat prices, and an inability to separate prices for Full Memberships from the value of
the CBOE exercise right, which would be retained by Full Members in the restructuring transactions.
Although, as discussed above, William Blair attached greater importance to liquidation rights, voting rights and the allocation made in respect of each membership in connection with the formation of Ceres, William Blair did not
otherwise weight the five factors or perform a mathematical calculation based on the factors. William Blair compiled the data, discussed below, with respect to the five factors, discussed the factors and such data with the Independent Allocation
Committee, and advised the Committee as to Blairs ability to render a fairness opinion with respect to the allocation ratio that has been recommended by the Independent Allocation Committee.
In each table below, the Implied, Per Membership, Share Allocation Ratio states, for the applicable factor, the ratio for allocating
the shares of CBOT Holdings that such factor supports. Thus, for example, in the case of relative liquidation rights, on a hypothetical liquidation at a time when there was one member of each class and total proceeds of $1.288, the Full Member would
be entitled to $1 and the Associate Member to 16.7 cents. Because $1 is six times greater than 16.7 cents, this implies a share ratio of allocation between the Full Member and the Associate Member of 6.0:1.0.
Relative Liquidation Rights
William Blair reviewed the liquidation rights as defined in the CBOT bylaws, including the rules, which provide for the sharing of proceeds from dissolution allocated to each member in the event of
liquidation. In addition, William Blair reviewed the implied per share allocation ratios, as set forth below:
Member Class
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Liquidation Share Per Member
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Implied, Per Membership, Share Allocation Ratio*
|
Full |
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1.000 |
|
6.00 |
Associate |
|
0.167 |
|
1.00 |
GIM |
|
0.111 |
|
0.67 |
IDEM |
|
0.005 |
|
0.03 |
COM |
|
0.005 |
|
0.03 |
* Stated as a multiple of Liquidation
Share Per Member for the Associate Member class.
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Relative Voting Rights
William Blair reviewed voting rights per CBOT member as set forth in the CBOT certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and
regulations. In addition, William Blair reviewed the implied per share allocation ratios, as set forth below:
Member Class
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Relative Voting Rights Per Member
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|
Implied, Per Membership, Share Allocation Ratio*
|
Full |
|
1.000 |
|
6.00 |
Associate |
|
0.167 |
|
1.00 |
GIM |
|
0.000 |
|
0.00 |
IDEM |
|
0.000 |
|
0.00 |
COM |
|
0.000 |
|
0.00 |
* Stated as a multiple of Relative
Voting Rights Per Member for the Associate Member class.
Allocation Made in Respect of Each Membership in
Connection with the Formation of Ceres
William Blair reviewed the allocation of profits as defined in the
Ceres limited partnership agreement for the 70% of Ceres owned by the Ceres limited partners who are CBOT members other than the clearing members. In addition, William Blair reviewed the implied per share allocation ratios, as set forth below:
Member Class
|
|
Allocation of Profits by Member Class (1)
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Per Member Allocation of
Profits (2)
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|
Implied, Per Membership, Share Allocation Ratio (3)
|
Full |
|
90.28% |
|
0.06439% |
|
6.00 |
Associate |
|
8.49% |
|
0.01073% |
|
1.00 |
GIM |
|
0.82% |
|
0.00537% |
|
0.50 |
IDEM |
|
0.21% |
|
0.00032% |
|
0.03 |
COM |
|
0.21% |
|
0.00032% |
|
0.03 |
(1) |
|
As defined in the Ceres limited partnership agreement. Based on member seat count, as stated in Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of
CBOT Holdings (Registration No. 333-72184), as follows: Full (1,402), Associate (791), GIM/one-half Associate Members (152), IDEM (642) and COM (643). |
(2) |
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Defined as Allocation of Profits by Member Class divided by the respective member seat count. |
(3) |
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Stated as a multiple of Per Member Allocation of Profits for the Associate Member class. |
Market Values of Memberships
William Blair reviewed the median historical trading prices of CBOT memberships for the one-year period ending July 21, 1999, the day before the announcement of the formation of the Restructuring Task
Force and the restructuring initiative. In addition, William Blair reviewed the implied per share allocation ratios, as set forth below:
Member Class
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Median Membership Price (For the
One Year Period Ending July 21, 1999)
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|
Implied, Per Membership, Share Allocation Ratio*
|
Full |
|
$490,000 |
|
2.49 |
Associate |
|
$197,000 |
|
1.00 |
GIM |
|
$ 89,000 |
|
0.45 |
IDEM |
|
$ 27,000 |
|
0.14 |
COM |
|
$ 55,000 |
|
0.28 |
*Stated as a multiple of Median
Membership Price for the Associate Member class.
72
William Blair also considered median historical trading prices for the five-year
period ending July 21, 1999, as well as spot market prices as of September 11, 2002 for each CBOT membership class.
Contract Volumes
William Blair reviewed the contract volume traded by each CBOT membership
class as a percentage of the total contract volume traded by all CBOT membership classes. The analysis was based on contract trading volume data for the period beginning September 1, 1998 and ending July 31, 2002, the latest such period for which
contract trading volume data by CBOT membership class was readily available. In addition, William Blair reviewed the implied per share allocation ratios, as set forth below:
Member Class
|
|
Percent of Total Contract Volume by Member Class*
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|
Implied, Per Membership, Share Allocation Ratio**
|
Full |
|
34.90% |
|
0.72 |
Associate |
|
48.59% |
|
1.00 |
GIM |
|
6.46% |
|
0.13 |
IDEM |
|
3.12% |
|
0.06 |
COM |
|
6.93% |
|
0.14 |
*Approximately |
|
ten percent of the total contract volume over such period was not allocated to any membership category, and most of such unallocated volume consisted of
non-local electronic volume entered through member firms that, with three exceptions related to Eurex, are required to have at least one Full Membership in addition to the junior memberships such firms may have.
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**Stated as a multiple of Percent of Total Contract Volume by Member Class for the Associate Member class.
The following table sets forth the inaccurate contract volume data for the period beginning September 1, 1998 and ending December 12,
2001, previously supplied to the Independent Allocation Committee and William Blair:
Member Class
|
|
Percent of Total Contract Volume by Member Class
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|
Implied, Per Membership, Share Allocation Ratio
|
Full |
|
47.68% |
|
1.16 |
Associate |
|
41.28% |
|
1.00 |
GIM |
|
0.56% |
|
0.01 |
IDEM |
|
5.35% |
|
0.13 |
COM |
|
5.13% |
|
0.12 |
The foregoing description is only a summary of the material
aspects of the financial analyses used by William Blair in connection with rendering the opinions. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process and is not necessarily susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. It involves
various determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of financial analysis and the application of those methods to the particular circumstances. Selecting portions of the analyses or of the summary set forth above, without
considering the analyses as a whole, could create an incomplete view of the processes underlying William Blairs opinions. In arriving at the opinions, William Blair considered the results of all these analyses. The analyses were prepared
solely for the purposes of William Blair providing its opinion as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, to each of the five classes of CBOT members, of the allocation of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings among the CBOT members in
respect of their memberships in connection with the restructuring transactions.
Any analysis of the fairness,
from a financial point of view, to the CBOT members, involves complex considerations and judgments. The fairness opinions, the update letter, and the related presentations to the Independent Allocation Committee on May 5, 2000, November 20, 2000,
January 16, 2001, September 24, 2001
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and September 17, 2002 were among many factors taken into consideration by the Independent Allocation Committee in recommending the allocation. William Blairs opinions and the update letter
are for the use and benefit of the Independent Allocation Committee and the board of directors in their consideration of the allocation in the context of the restructuring transactions.
William Blair was not requested to, and did not, participate in the structuring of the restructuring transactions nor was it asked to consider, and its opinions do not
address, the relative merits of the restructuring transactions as compared to any alternative business strategies that might exist for us or the effect of any other transaction in which we might engage, the value of the CBOT before or after the
completion of the restructuring transactions, or the fairness of the consideration to be received by CBOT members in respect of their memberships in connection with the restructuring transactions. See Risk FactorsRisks Relating to the
Restructuring TransactionsWe Have Not Determined or Received Any Opinion Regarding the Value of the CBOT Before or After the Restructuring Transactions or the Value of the Securities and/or Memberships You Will Receive in the Restructuring
Transactions Compared to the Value of the Memberships You Currently Own.
Stock Exchange Listing; Market for Shares
and Memberships
We have no current plans to list the common stock of CBOT Holdings or the memberships of
the CBOT subsidiary on any stock exchange.
No market presently exists for the common stock of CBOT
Holdings. Although we cannot provide any assurances in this regard, we currently believe that a market for the common stock of CBOT Holdings and the Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary may develop that is similar to the current markets for
CBOT memberships. The current markets for memberships in the CBOT should facilitate the development of new markets for the common stock of CBOT Holdings and the Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. As the rights and privileges associated with
the Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary are not currently transferable separate and apart from a Full Membership in the CBOT, we are uncertain as to what, if any, market will develop for Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary and what
effect the transferability of the Class C Memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will have on the market for the common stock of CBOT Holdings and Class B Memberships in the CBOT subsidiary.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
On
September 30, 2002, we received a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, you will not recognize any gain or loss strictly as a result of receiving shares of common stock of
CBOT Holdings and Class A, Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary and that CBOT Holdings will not recognize any gain or loss strictly as a result of CBOT Holdings receiving the Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary in connection
with the restructuring transactions as originally proposed in 2001. We are seeking a supplemental ruling from the IRS to the effect that certain changes to the CBOT subsidiarys corporate governance structure reflected in this document will not
affect certain of the IRS holdings in its September 30, 2002 ruling. Receipt of a favorable ruling from the IRS with respect to the receipt by members of Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary and receipt of a favorable ruling
from the IRS or an opinion of counsel with respect to the receipt by CBOT Holdings of the Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary and receipt by members of common stock of CBOT Holdings, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to our
board, are conditions to our obligation to complete the restructuring transactions.
Based upon our
understanding of the position of the IRS in the private letter ruling issued to the CBOT as well as rulings issued with respect to other exchanges involved in the process of demutualization and the opinion of our counsel as described elsewhere in
this document:
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you will not recognize gain or loss as a result of your receipt of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings and Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT
subsidiary or as a result of the receipt by CBOT Holdings of the Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary; |
74
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assuming this non-recognition treatment, the aggregate basis in your current membership will carry over to your common stock of CBOT Holdings and Class B and
Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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the holding period of the common stock of CBOT Holdings and Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary received by you will include the period for
which you held your current membership, provided that you held your membership as a capital asset or property as described in Code Section 1231 on the date of the distribution of the common stock of CBOT Holdings and Class B and Class C memberships
in the CBOT subsidiary; and |
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we will not recognize any gain or loss upon our demutualization. |
For more information, including the opinion of our counsel on these matters, see Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Restructuring
Transactions.
Absence of Appraisal Rights
Members who object to the restructuring transactions will have no statutory appraisal or dissenters rights under applicable law. Appraisal or dissenters rights, if
available, would have enabled members to demand payment of the fair value of their memberships in cash rather than accept the consideration to be received as a result of the restructuring transactions. Under Delaware law, these rights generally
apply to transactions involving mergers or consolidations of stock corporations but not similar transactions involving only nonstock corporations. The demutualization will be accomplished by distribution of a dividend of shares of common stock to
our members and a merger of two nonstock corporations. Accordingly, if the restructuring transactions are completed, notwithstanding the fact that you may vote against the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions, you will become
entitled to shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings, a Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary and, to the extent you are a Full Member, a Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary, as described in this document.
Accounting Matters
The accounting treatment of certain aspects of the restructuring transactions will be treated similar to a reorganization of entities under common control. Under this method of accounting, no gain or loss will be recognized, and the
assets and liabilities of the CBOT will appear on the books of CBOT Holdings at their same recorded amounts.
Regulatory Matters
In addition to those conditions described below at Conditions to Completing the Restructuring
Transactions, our obligation to complete the restructuring transactions is subject to:
|
|
receipt of any approvals required by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in connection with the proposed changes to our certificate of incorporation,
bylaws and rules and regulations that will be made in connection with the restructuring transactions; and |
|
|
receipt of confirmation by the CFTC that implementation of the restructuring transactions will not have a material adverse effect on our contract market
designation. |
We are currently in the process of reviewing such proposed changes with the
CFTC. We currently expect that, pursuant to applicable CFTC regulations, the CFTC will make its determinations regarding such changes within 45 days following membership approval of the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions.
However, under certain circumstances, this process could take much longer. Although we currently expect to receive these approvals or authorizations from the CFTC, we can provide no assurance as to when or whether we will receive such approvals.
75
Also, the restructuring transactions may be subject to certain regulatory
requirements of other state, federal and foreign governmental agencies and authorities, including those relating to the regulation of securities. We are currently working to evaluate and comply, as applicable, in all material respects with these
requirements and do not anticipate that they will hinder, delay or restrict completion of the restructuring transactions.
In connection with our compliance with these regulatory requirements, we have engaged ABN AMRO Financial Services, Inc. to serve as a registered broker-dealer or dealer, as applicable, in certain jurisdictions to assist us with
certain aspects of the membership vote relating to, and other matters regarding, the restructuring transactions. We agreed to pay ABN AMRO Financial Services $50,000 plus reasonable expenses for their services and to indemnify them against potential
liabilities arising out of its engagement. We note that, in the opinion of the SEC, indemnification against liabilities under the U.S. federal securities laws is against public policy expressed in the Securities Act and, therefore, this
indemnification may be deemed unenforceable. We may adopt other special procedures in connection with these compliance efforts.
No filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, are required in connection with the restructuring transactions generally. However, if any CBOT member acquires enough securities in connection
with the restructuring transactions to exceed any threshold stated in the regulations under this act, and if an exemption under those regulations does not apply, such member and the CBOT and CBOT Holdings, as applicable, could be required to make
filings under this act, and the waiting period under the act would have to expire or be terminated before any issuance of shares to such member could be effected. A filing requirement could delay the distribution of shares to such member for several
months or more.
Conditions to Completing the Restructuring Transactions
We will not be obligated to complete the restructuring transactions unless and until each of the following conditions has been satisfied or waived:
|
|
the Full Members and Associate Members, voting together as a single class based on their respective voting rights, shall have approved each of the four
propositions being submitted for their approval in connection with the restructuring transactions in accordance with our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations and applicable law; |
|
|
we shall have received a favorable ruling from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the receipt by members of Class B and Class C memberships in the
CBOT subsidiary and a favorable ruling from the IRS or an opinion of counsel to the effect that receipt by CBOT Holdings of the Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary and receipt by members of common stock of CBOT Holdings, in each case, in form
satisfactory to our board of directors, will not result in the recognition of gain to our members under U.S. federal tax law; |
|
|
we shall have received any approvals or authorizations required by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in connection with the changes to our certificate of
incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations that will be made in connection with the restructuring transactions and we shall have received confirmation from the CFTC that implementation of the restructuring transactions will not have a material
adverse effect on the CBOTs contract market designation, and we shall have received any other governmental or regulatory approvals and authorizations determined by us to be necessary or appropriate; |
|
|
we shall have received each required material third party consent, which the failure to obtain would, in the sole and absolute determination of the board of
directors, have a material adverse effect on CBOT Holdings or the CBOT subsidiary; |
|
|
there shall be no court order or administrative or other regulation or similar decree prohibiting or restricting the completion of the restructuring
transactions; |
|
|
our board of directors shall not have determined that there is a material risk of an adverse outcome in the Associate Members and membership interest holders
litigation; and |
76
|
|
our board of directors shall not have determined that the restructuring transactions are no longer in the best interests of the CBOT and its members or that the
restructuring transactions are not fair to each class of CBOT membership. |
In making this
determination, our board of directors will give due consideration to all relevant facts and circumstances, including, among other things, any update, confirmation or reaffirmation of the fairness opinion received by the board in connection with the
restructuring transactions, the then current status of any litigation relating to the restructuring transactions, if any, and the expected effects, if any, of the restructuring transactions on the CBOE exercise right.
We currently expect to complete the restructuring transactions as soon as reasonably practicable following the satisfaction of these
conditions.
Board Recommendation
Our board of directors has determined that the restructuring transactions are in the best interests of the CBOT and its members and that the restructuring transactions are fair to each class of CBOT
membership. The board of directors has approved the restructuring transactions and recommends that Full Members and Associate Members vote FOR each of the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions.
Each of the four propositions relating to the restructuring transactions being submitted for your approval is expressly
conditioned upon approval of each of the other propositions. This means that, unless ALL FOUR of these propositions are approved, the restructuring transactions will not have been approved by the members and, accordingly, will not be completed.
77
We set forth below the historical capitalization of the CBOT and a pro
forma capitalization of CBOT Holdings giving effect to the restructuring transactions. This information should be read in conjunction with Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, the
historical consolidated financial statements of the CBOT included in this document as Appendix A and the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements of CBOT Holdings included in this document as Appendix B.
|
|
As of September 30, 2002
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
Pro Forma After Effects of Issuance of Common Stock(1)
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
Long-term debt |
|
$ |
46,041 |
|
$ |
46,041 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members equity |
|
|
229,690 |
|
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
|
106 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total members equity |
|
|
229,796 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 39,802,650 shares authorized, issued and outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
40 |
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
|
|
|
229,650 |
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
106 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders equity |
|
|
|
|
|
229,796 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total capitalization |
|
$ |
275,837 |
|
$ |
275,837 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Pro forma data reflects such adjustments as necessary, in the opinion of management, to reflect the conversion of members equity to common stock of CBOT
Holdings. |
78
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table sets forth selected
consolidated financial and other data for the CBOT. The balance sheet data as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 and operating data for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements
and related notes included elsewhere in this document. The balance sheet data as of December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 and operating data for the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997 have been derived from audited financial statements and related
notes not included in this document. The balance sheet and operating data as of, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001 are unaudited but include, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring
accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of such data. The results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. The information
set forth below should be read in conjunction with Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, the consolidated financial statements and related notes, the unaudited pro forma condensed
consolidated financial statements and other financial information included elsewhere in this document.
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2000
|
|
|
1999
|
|
|
1998
|
|
|
1997
|
|
Operating Data |
|
(in thousands) |
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange fees |
|
$ |
155,617 |
|
$ |
91,747 |
|
|
$ |
129,030 |
|
|
$ |
101,981 |
|
|
$ |
102,545 |
|
|
$ |
112,115 |
|
|
$ |
88,932 |
|
Market data(1) |
|
|
44,255 |
|
|
49,888 |
|
|
|
66,509 |
|
|
|
61,060 |
|
|
|
54,028 |
|
|
|
53,100 |
|
|
|
47,242 |
|
Building(2) |
|
|
19,882 |
|
|
18,897 |
|
|
|
24,828 |
|
|
|
24,530 |
|
|
|
22,653 |
|
|
|
21,876 |
|
|
|
21,896 |
|
Services(3) |
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
9,592 |
|
|
|
12,629 |
|
|
|
17,848 |
|
|
|
20,279 |
|
|
|
16,907 |
|
|
|
15,776 |
|
Other(4) |
|
|
2,640 |
|
|
8,269 |
|
|
|
10,936 |
|
|
|
8,742 |
|
|
|
4,443 |
|
|
|
3,187 |
|
|
|
3,629 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues |
|
|
234,394 |
|
|
178,393 |
|
|
|
243,932 |
|
|
|
214,161 |
|
|
|
203,948 |
|
|
|
207,185 |
|
|
|
177,475 |
|
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
|
|
44,002 |
|
|
44,337 |
|
|
|
58,545 |
|
|
|
56,391 |
|
|
|
64,133 |
|
|
|
57,991 |
|
|
|
49,384 |
|
General and administrative expenses |
|
|
8,010 |
|
|
10,001 |
|
|
|
12,840 |
|
|
|
15,557 |
|
|
|
21,084 |
|
|
|
15,896 |
|
|
|
17,089 |
|
Building operating costs |
|
|
17,364 |
|
|
16,724 |
|
|
|
22,961 |
|
|
|
22,584 |
|
|
|
23,171 |
|
|
|
22,572 |
|
|
|
21,023 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
29,579 |
|
|
32,810 |
|
|
|
43,537 |
|
|
|
40,013 |
|
|
|
36,140 |
|
|
|
33,764 |
|
|
|
27,681 |
|
Information technology services |
|
|
28,570 |
|
|
29,717 |
|
|
|
40,904 |
|
|
|
36,742 |
|
|
|
16,677 |
|
|
|
11,576 |
|
|
|
9,669 |
|
Contracted license fees |
|
|
7,621 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Programs(5) |
|
|
1,576 |
|
|
1,280 |
|
|
|
1,847 |
|
|
|
3,539 |
|
|
|
7,280 |
|
|
|
8,802 |
|
|
|
9,974 |
|
Professional services |
|
|
19,991 |
|
|
11,966 |
|
|
|
23,013 |
|
|
|
32,459 |
|
|
|
45,717 |
|
|
|
37,719 |
|
|
|
13,366 |
|
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets |
|
|
6,244 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,210 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest |
|
|
3,704 |
|
|
5,280 |
|
|
|
6,734 |
|
|
|
6,773 |
|
|
|
6,774 |
|
|
|
7,170 |
|
|
|
6,483 |
|
Litigation |
|
|
10,735 |
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Severance and related costs |
|
|
299 |
|
|
4,936 |
|
|
|
9,875 |
|
|
|
8,261 |
|
|
|
327 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
177,695 |
|
|
160,051 |
|
|
|
235,466 |
|
|
|
222,319 |
|
|
|
221,303 |
|
|
|
195,490 |
|
|
|
154,669 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from operations |
|
|
56,699 |
|
|
18,342 |
|
|
|
8,466 |
|
|
|
(8,158 |
) |
|
|
(17,355 |
) |
|
|
11,695 |
|
|
|
22,806 |
|
Total incomes taxes (credit) |
|
|
23,384 |
|
|
7,486 |
|
|
|
4,002 |
|
|
|
1,950 |
|
|
|
(2,895 |
) |
|
|
5,051 |
|
|
|
6,147 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle and minority interest |
|
|
33,315 |
|
|
10,856 |
|
|
|
4,464 |
|
|
|
(10,108 |
) |
|
|
(14,460 |
) |
|
|
6,644 |
|
|
|
16,659 |
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principlenet of tax of $36(6) and $2,026(7), respectively
|
|
|
|
|
|
(51 |
) |
|
|
(51 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,920 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before minority interest |
|
|
33,315 |
|
|
10,805 |
|
|
|
4,413 |
|
|
|
(10,108 |
) |
|
|
(17,380 |
) |
|
|
6,644 |
|
|
|
16,659 |
|
Minority interest in (income) loss of subsidiary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,933 |
|
|
|
(38 |
) |
|
|
(6,995 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
33,315 |
|
$ |
10,805 |
|
|
$ |
4,413 |
|
|
$ |
(10,108 |
) |
|
$ |
(10,447 |
) |
|
$ |
6,606 |
|
|
$ |
9,664 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
79
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
2002
|
|
2001
|
|
2001
|
|
2000
|
|
|
1999
|
|
|
1998
|
|
1997
|
|
|
(dollars in thousands, except per share data) |
Balance Sheet Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
370,802 |
|
$ |
372,638 |
|
$ |
359,061 |
|
$ |
373,836 |
|
|
$ |
373,379 |
|
|
$ |
400,971 |
|
$ |
397,449 |
Total liabilities |
|
|
141,006 |
|
|
170,120 |
|
|
162,988 |
|
|
182,516 |
|
|
|
172,405 |
|
|
|
189,924 |
|
|
193,538 |
Short-term borrowings |
|
|
16,339 |
|
|
19,767 |
|
|
18,398 |
|
|
27,083 |
|
|
|
6,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,662 |
Long-term borrowings |
|
|
46,041 |
|
|
59,158 |
|
|
58,324 |
|
|
64,286 |
|
|
|
87,500 |
|
|
|
100,726 |
|
|
105,000 |
Total equity |
|
|
229,796 |
|
|
202,518 |
|
|
196,073 |
|
|
191,320 |
|
|
|
200,974 |
|
|
|
211,047 |
|
|
203,911 |
|
Pro forma Data(8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
370,802 |
|
$ |
372,638 |
|
$ |
359,061 |
|
$ |
373,836 |
|
|
$ |
373,379 |
|
|
$ |
400,971 |
|
$ |
397,449 |
Total liabilities |
|
|
141,006 |
|
|
170,120 |
|
|
162,988 |
|
|
182,516 |
|
|
|
172,405 |
|
|
|
189,924 |
|
|
193,538 |
Short-term borrowings |
|
|
16,339 |
|
|
19,767 |
|
|
18,398 |
|
|
27,083 |
|
|
|
6,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,662 |
Long-term borrowings |
|
|
46,041 |
|
|
59,158 |
|
|
58,324 |
|
|
64,286 |
|
|
|
87,500 |
|
|
|
100,726 |
|
|
105,000 |
Total equity |
|
|
229,796 |
|
|
202,518 |
|
|
196,073 |
|
|
191,320 |
|
|
|
200,974 |
|
|
|
211,047 |
|
|
203,911 |
Net income (loss) |
|
|
33,315 |
|
|
10,805 |
|
|
4,413 |
|
|
(10,108 |
) |
|
|
(10,447 |
) |
|
|
6,606 |
|
|
9,664 |
Net income (loss) per share(9) |
|
|
0.84 |
|
|
0.27 |
|
|
0.11 |
|
|
(0.25 |
) |
|
|
(0.26 |
) |
|
|
0.17 |
|
|
0.24 |
|
Other Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current ratio(10) |
|
|
1.75 |
|
|
1.02 |
|
|
1.11 |
|
|
0.71 |
|
|
|
1.02 |
|
|
|
1.41 |
|
|
1.42 |
Working capital (deficit) |
|
$ |
45,079 |
|
$ |
1,781 |
|
$ |
8,324 |
|
$ |
(22,507 |
) |
|
$ |
1,067 |
|
|
$ |
18,574 |
|
$ |
18,457 |
Capital expenditures |
|
|
23,934 |
|
|
10,336 |
|
|
16,358 |
|
|
38,497 |
|
|
|
25,165 |
|
|
|
26,985 |
|
|
48,529 |
Interest coverage ratio(11) |
|
|
16.31 |
|
|
4.47 |
|
|
2.26 |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
2.63 |
|
|
4.52 |
Number of full time employees at end of period |
|
|
659 |
|
|
640 |
|
|
661 |
|
|
711 |
|
|
|
846 |
|
|
|
853 |
|
|
805 |
Sales price per CBOT Full MembershipHigh |
|
$ |
453 |
|
$ |
360 |
|
$ |
415 |
|
$ |
642 |
|
|
$ |
633 |
|
|
$ |
780 |
|
$ |
858 |
Low |
|
|
240 |
|
|
290 |
|
|
290 |
|
|
255 |
|
|
|
400 |
|
|
|
384 |
|
|
660 |
(1) |
|
Beginning in 2000, the CBOT repriced the distribution of market data. At the same time, the CBOT introduced a rebate to member firms for fees paid for market
data. This rebate is offset against market data revenue. |
(2) |
|
Building revenue consists of rental payments from tenants for leased space in buildings owned by the CBOT. |
(3) |
|
Services revenue consists of those charges for telecommunications, member services-related fees, workstation fees, exchange floor services and other services.
|
(4) |
|
Other revenues consist of members dues, interest income, fines and other miscellaneous items. Members dues consist of dues on both CBOT and
MidAmerica Commodity Exchange memberships. Dues on CBOT memberships were waived from 1989 through May 2000, and again beginning January 2002. |
(5) |
|
Programs include costs primarily related to marketing and communication programs. |
(6) |
|
In 2001, the CBOT adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities, as amended and interpreted, requiring recognition of all derivative instruments in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as either assets or liabilities and the measurement of those instruments at fair value. SFAS No.
133 also requires changes in the fair value of derivative instruments to be recorded each period in current earnings or other comprehensive income depending on the intended use of the derivatives. |
(7) |
|
In 1999, the CBOT adopted Statement of Position (SOP) 98-5, Reporting on the Costs of Start-Up Activities. SOP 98-5 requires that
start-up activities be expensed as incurred. Previously, start-up activities were capitalized and amortized. |
(8) |
|
Reflects the conversion of members equity to common stock of CBOT Holdings. |
(9) |
|
Based on 39,802,650 shares issued and outstanding immediately following the completion of the restructuring transactions. |
(10) |
|
Equals current assets divided by current liabilities. |
(11) |
|
Equals the sum of income from operations plus interest expense divided by interest expense. |
80
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This document contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from
those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks and uncertainties faced by us as described below and elsewhere in this document, including under Risk Factors above.
Overview
Our primary business is the operation of markets for the trading of listed financial and commodity futures contracts and options on futures contracts. In addition to our traditional open outcry auction markets, we offer
electronic trading through the a/c/e system, which is based on a modified form of technology used at Eurex, the largest derivatives exchange in the world. We derive revenue from exchange fees relating to the trading in our markets, which accounted
for 66% of our total revenues in the first nine months of 2002. In order to increase our volume and resulting revenues, we seek to develop and promote contracts designed to satisfy the trading, hedging and risk-management needs of our market
participants.
Because our trading fees are assessed on a per-transaction basis, our trading revenues are directly
correlated to the volume of contracts traded on our markets. Many factors may affect our trading volume, including fluctuations in interest rate volatility, growth in equity trading, the general domestic business cycle, changes in weather and
farming conditions and changes in the debt management policy of the United States government.
In addition to
trading fees, we also derive revenue from the sale of our market data. Because we are the primary market for our products, our price information has value as a key indicator of the overall financial and agricultural markets. To some extent, revenues
from the sales of our market data are also dependent upon volume, as well as our ability to remain a primary market and to respond to innovations in technology that may affect the availability and price of market data. These revenues may also be
subject to legislative and regulatory changes. Sales of market data accounted for 19% of our total revenues in the first nine months of 2002.
The expenses relating to our trading operations are primarily fixed in nature, meaning that the overall expense structure is generally independent of trading volume. Salaries and benefits represent our
largest expense category and are mostly dependent upon our staffing requirements and the overall employment market. Other operating expenses have increased in recent years primarily due to expenses associated with upgrades to our computer systems,
enhancements to our trading systems and development of the restructuring transactions.
We rent commercial space
in the buildings that we own. In the first nine months of 2002, revenues from our real estate operations represented 8% of our total revenues. These revenues are generally affected by market rental rates, lease renewals and business conditions in
the financial services industry in which most of our tenants operate. Building expenses are dependent on variable utility costs, cleaning expenses, real estate taxes and other general operating costs.
The board of directors of the CBOT currently possesses the authority to levy assessments on its membership. The memberships of the CBOT
subsidiary existing after completion of the restructuring transactions will be subject to assessment on substantially the same terms.
Results of Operations
Nine months ended September 30, 2002 compared to nine months
ended September 30, 2001
Net Income. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 was $33.3
million, a 208% increase compared to $10.8 million for the comparable period of 2001. Income from operations increased 209%, or $38.4 million, to $56.7 million in the first nine months of 2002. The increase in income from operations resulted from
additional revenues of $56.0 million offset to a degree by increased operating expenses of $17.6 million.
Revenues. Consolidated operating revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 were $234.4 million, an increase of 31%, from $178.4 million in the corresponding period of 2001.
81
Exchange fee revenues are the core of the CBOTs business. Exchange fee
revenue is a function of three variables: (1) exchange fee rates, determined primarily by contract type, trading mechanism and membership/customer status; (2) trading volume and (3) transaction mix. In the fourth quarter of 2001, a comprehensive
study was conducted by the CBOT addressing the rates charged for various trading activities. Based on the results of this study, in 2002 the CBOT revised certain aspects of its fee structure, which took effect throughout the year. While pricing is
established by the CBOT, volume and transaction mix are primarily influenced by factors outside the CBOTs control. These external factors include, among other things: price volatility in the underlying commodities, interest rate or inflation
volatility, changes in the U.S. Government monetary policy, weather conditions in relation to agricultural commodities, and national and international economic and political conditions.
Trading volume during the first nine months of 2002 was 253.0 million contracts, a 34% increase from 188.9 million contracts in 2001. Open outcry trading volume for the
current period increased 6% to 163.5 million contracts compared to 153.8 million contracts in the prior year. Trading volume for electronic trading increased 155% to 89.5 million contracts in 2002 versus 35.1 million contracts in 2001. During the
first nine months of 2002, all of our electronic trading occured through the a/c/e system. Since the launch of the a/c/e system, the percentage of electronic trading to total trading volume has progressively increased from approximately 12% at the
inception of the a/c/e system to an average of 20% in 2001 and an average of 35% in the first nine months of 2002.
Due to the increased trading volume and revised fee structure described above, as well as the increased proportion of electronic trading which has higher fees, revenues from exchange fees increased 70%, or $63.9 million, from $91.7
million in 2001 to $155.6 million in 2002. The average rate per contract was $0.62 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, compared to $0.49 for the same period of the prior year.
Open outcry fees, which are the primary component of the exchange floor trading segments exchange fees were $77.9 million for the nine months ended September 30,
2002, a 22% increase compared to $64.0 million in the prior year period. The revised fee structure implemented in the current year, as well as the increased volume in open outcry trading mentioned above, resulted in increased open outcry fees. Fees
charged to members and delegates were $16.7 million higher, while fees charged to non-members decreased $7.9 million compared to the prior year period. Volume discounts offered as part of the revised fee structure lowered open outcry trading fees by
$1.8 million.
Electronic trading fees, which are the primary component of the electronic trading
segments exchange fees, were $77.7 million in the current period, 180% higher than $27.7 million recorded in the same period of the prior year. The increased electronic trading volume described above, as well as the revised fee structure
implemented in the current year, accounted for the higher electronic trading fees. The increased electronic trading revenue accounted for 78% of the total increase in exchange fee revenue. Fees charged to members and delegates for electronic trading
increased $29.2 million in the current period, while fees charged to non-members were $25.2 million higher than the prior year. Volume discounts offered as part of the revised fee structure lowered electronic trading fees by $4.4 million.
In April 2002, the board of directors approved certain additional waivers and fee reductions of several
categories of fees charged by the CBOT. Fee reductions and waivers varied by product type and customer class and were used as an incentive to increase volume in such product or class. In the nine months ended September 30, 2002, waivers reduced
exchange fee revenues by less than 4% of total exchange fee revenue. The use of volume discounts and waivers is expected to continue through the remainder of 2002 and in the near future.
Market data revenues were $44.3 million in 2002, an 11% decrease from $49.9 million in 2001. The main component of market data revenues, quote fees, decreased by $6.4
million, or 14%, in the current period due to a reduction in the average number of terminal subscriptions in 2002 versus 2001. This was offset to a degree by a $1.0 million reduction in rebates to member firms for terminal subscription fees. These
rebates, which were $2.5 million and $3.5 million in 2002 and 2001, respectively, will be discontinued in 2003. The reduction in terminal subscriptions is consistent with recent trends as industry consolidation and the increased use of electronic
trading systems, which do not typically charge for the distribution of market data, have reduced the total subscription needs for market data. This trend is expected to continue in the future.
82
Building revenues from leased office space, a component of the real estate
operations segment, were $19.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, $1.0 million higher than the $18.9 million for the same period of 2001. This increase consists primarily of an $0.8 million early termination penalty charged to one
tenant. This tenants lease expires in June of 2003; however, the tenant has indicated that it intends to vacate as of the end of 2002. The building revenues attributable to this tenant were $4.2 million and $4.0 million in the nine months
ended September 30, 2002 and 2001, respectively, excluding the early termination penalty. If the space occupied by the tenant cannot be leased at similar lease rates or in a timely manner, building revenues could be significantly affected.
Service revenues increased in 2002 to $12.0 million from $9.6 million a year earlier, primarily the result
of new fees charged to all traders for services provided by the CBOT. One such fee, the trading floor efficiency fee, which was charged in the first six months of 2002, was waived for the remainder of the year. The waiver of trading floor efficiency
fees for the remainder of the year resulted in a decrease in revenues of $1.3 million in the third quarter and is expected to reduce revenues by approximately $1.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2002. Membership dues have not been assessed in the
current year. Member dues recorded in the first nine months of 2001 totaled $6.8 million. Trading floor efficiency fees and member dues may be assessed when determined necessary based upon our review of operational funding requirements. Trading
floor efficiency fees and member dues are independent of fees charged for trading and are not believed to have an effect on trading volume or the number of memberships outstanding.
Expenses. Operating expenses totaled $177.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, compared to $160.1 million for the same period of 2001,
an 11% increase. Operating expenses as a percent of total revenues decreased from 90% in the first nine months of 2001, to 76% in the current period, thereby raising the operating margin to 24% from 10% in the comparable periods.
At the end of 2001, the CBOT decided to pursue licensing the a/c/e system, as opposed to making capital investments to upgrade
future versions. Accordingly, an impairment adjustment was recorded to revalue the a/c/e system to its net realizable value of $12.5 million, which was to be completely amortized through June 2002, at which time a licensing agreement was projected
to be in place. The new licensing arrangement actually became effective in April of this year. Accordingly, the March 31, 2002 book value of $6.2 million for the a/c/e system was expensed as a loss on long-lived assets.
Salaries and benefits were $44.0 million during the first nine months of 2002, a slight decrease from $44.3 million for the same period of
2001. Notable variances from the prior period included increased incentive accruals of $1.3 million, offset by decreased salaries and wages of $0.6 million.
During the first nine months of 2001, 50 employees were terminated and $4.9 million of severance and related costs were incurred related to ongoing staff reductions at the CBOT. During the first nine
months of 2002, 13 employees were terminated and $0.3 million of severance and related costs were incurred.
General and administrative expenses decreased 20% to $8.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2002, down from $10.0 million in the same 2001 period. The first nine months of 2001 included a bad debt charge of $1.6 million
related to one market data customer. No such charge was made during the first nine months of 2002. Also, losses related to fixed asset retirements of $1.3 million were recorded in the prior year.
Depreciation and amortization charges decreased 10% from $32.8 million to $29.6 million, in the first nine months of 2001 and 2002, respectively. The first quarter of
2002 included $6.2 million of accelerated depreciation related to the impairment adjustment made to the a/c/e system at the end of 2001. At December 31, 2001, the CBOT revalued the a/c/e system to its net realizable value of $12.5 million, which was
initially intended to be completely amortized through June 2002. As discussed above, the remaining book value at March 31, 2002 was expensed as a loss on long-lived assets.
Information technology services were $28.6 million in the nine months ended September 20, 2002, a $1.1 million, or 4%, decrease from $29.7 million in 2001. The decrease
primarily related to a $2.5 million reduction in data processing costs. This was partially offset by a $1.4 million increase in the operating expenses of the a/c/e system.
Contracted license fees were $7.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2002. No such charges were incurred in 2001. As discussed above, the license fees relate to
the new licensing arrangement for the a/c/e
83
system that became effective in April of this year. The license obligates the CBOT to make fee payments of 2.5 million euros (equal to $2.5 million at September 30, 2002) quarterly, as well as a
variable quarterly fee denominated in euros, which, for contracts existing prior to the execution of the license agreement, is a function of daily a/c/e system volume in excess of the minimum number of contracts specified in the license agreement
and the rate that is determined based on the number of contracts traded on the a/c/e system in a single day as specified in the license agreement. For a/c/e system contracts created subsequent to the execution of the license agreement, the variable
fee is calculated as a fixed percentage of the exchange fees generated by these contracts. As trading volume on the a/c/e system has increased since its inception, the variable portion of the fee is expected to increase over the duration of the
license.
Professional service expenses increased 67%, or $8.0 million, to $20.0 million in the current
period. Consultant expenses and legal expenses increased $4.1 million and $3.9 million, respectively, in 2002 compared to the prior year. Professional services also included amounts related to the current demutualization plan of $2.2 million in both
of the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001.
On August 27, 2002, the CBOT announced an agreement to
settle a patent infringement lawsuit. In accordance with the settlement agreement, the CBOT is to pay $15.0 million over a five year period, which consists of an initial payment of $5.0 million, with five subsequent annual payments of $2.0 million.
In October of 2002, the CBOT obtained a favorable ruling on litigation that had alleged soybean antitrust violations. While this ruling has been appealed, the CBOT believes that no payments by the CBOT to the plaintiffs will be required as a result
of such appeal. The effect of the foregoing legal matters was recorded in the third quarter of 2002 and, net of amounts previously accrued, was about $10.7 million of expense. This amount is net of a discount of $1.3 million arising from the
determination of the present value of the foregoing annual payments using a 4.7% discount rate.
Building
operating costs increased slightly in the first nine months of 2002 to $17.4 million, from $16.7 million in 2001, due to fluctuations in supplies, maintenance and security expenses. Interest expense decreased 30%, or $1.6 million, due to reductions
in outstanding debt. Finally, program costs increased from $1.3 million to $1.6 million.
Year ended December
31, 2001 compared to year ended December 31, 2000
Net IncomeNet income for the year ended
December 31, 2001 was $4.4 million compared to a net loss of $10.1 million for the comparable period of 2000. During 2001, consolidated operating revenues increased by $29.7 million. This increase was partially offset by a loss on asset impairment
of $15.2 million ($9.0 million after tax) as discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.
Revenues. Consolidated operating revenues for the year ended December 31, 2001 were $243.9 million, an increase of 14%, from $214.2 million in the corresponding period of 2000.
Exchange fee revenue is a function of three variables: (1) exchange fee rates, determined primarily by contract type, trading
mechanism and membership/customer status; (2) trading volume and (3) transaction mix.
Total trading
volume in 2001 was 260.3 million contracts, an 11% increase from 233.5 million contracts in 2000. The average rate per contract increased from $0.44 in 2000 to $0.50 in 2001. Open outcry trading volume for the year ended December 31, 2001 was down
5% at 207.8 million contracts compared to 218.0 million contracts in the prior year. Trading volume for electronic trading, however, increased to 52.6 million contracts in 2001 versus 15.5 million contracts in 2000. Electronic trading occurred on
the Project A platform until August 27, 2000, when it was replaced by the a/c/e system. Since the launch of the a/c/e system, the percentage of electronic trading to total trading volume has progressively increased from approximately 12% at the
inception of the a/c/e system to an average of 20% in 2001. The averages for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2001 were 15%, 19%, 22% and 24%, respectively.
Open outcry fees, which are the primary component of the exchange floor trading segments exchange fees, were $88.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2001,
compared to $83.8 million in the prior year period. The largest component of open outcry fees, non-member fees, decreased from $65.2 million in 2000 to $58.2
84
million in 2001, a decline of $7.0 million, or 11%. Approximately $5.7 million of this decrease related to an increase in net rebates requested from clearing firms for trades erroneously reported
to the CBOT as non-member trades and adjusted during 2001.
The increased electronic trading volume described
above, which was offset to a degree by lower rates charged for screen trading versus the prior year, resulted in electronic trading fees, which are the primary component of the electronic trading segments exchange fees, of $40.9 million in
2001, up 125% from $18.2 million in 2000. This increase accounted for 84% of the total increase in exchange fee revenue. Non- member fees, which are the largest component of electronic trading fees, increased $10.7 million in 2001 to $19.8 million.
This increase more than offset the decrease experienced in non-member open outcry fees.
Adjustments to
previously reported exchange fee revenues arise primarily from the subsequent identification by clearing firms of misclassifications of the membership/customer status that had been reported by the clearing firms in their initial submission to the
CBOT. Prior to July 15, 2001, clearing firms could submit requests for adjustments relating to trading activity during the past 5 years. Subsequent to July 15, 2001, the period for adjustments was reduced to one year.
Adjustments to exchange fees, arising principally from corrections to member firm reporting submitted by those firms, are recorded in the
period such adjustments are reported to the CBOT as it is not practical for the CBOT to estimate such exchange fee adjustments until requests for such adjustments are received. The CBOT recorded adjustments to exchange fees in the amount of a $4.6
million reduction and a $1.1 million addition during 2001 and 2000, respectively, of which $3.7 million and $0.9 million related to prior years.
Market data revenues were $66.5 million in 2001, an increase of 9% from $61.1 million in 2000. The main component of market data revenues, quote fees, actually decreased by $2.1 million in 2001. The
net increase resulted primarily from a $7.3 million reduction in rebates to member firms for terminal subscription fees. Rebates, which were $3.6 million and $10.9 million in 2001 and 2000, respectively, are currently available to member firms for a
third of their market data fees. Previously, rebates were available to member firms and their subsidiaries for 60% of their market data fees. Rebates are accrued in the month that the revenues are recorded.
Building revenues from leased office space, a component of the real estate operations segment, were $24.8 million for the year ended
December 31, 2001, slightly more than the $24.5 million for the same period of 2000. Leased space remained relatively unchanged from 2000 to 2001. In 2001, one tenant accounted for approximately 22% of building revenues. This tenants lease
expires in June of 2003; however, the tenant has indicated that they intend to vacate as of the end of 2002. Building revenues attributable to this tenant were $5.4 million and $5.2 million in 2001 and 2000, respectively. If the space occupied by
the tenant cannot be leased at similar rates or in a timely manner, building revenues could be significantly affected.
Service revenues decreased in 2001 to $12.6 million from $17.8 million a year earlier, primarily the result of the absence in the current year of $3.7 million of revenue from equipment rent and communication line charges related to
the former electronic platform, Project A. Service revenues consist primarily of telecommunication charges, badge fees, booth space rentals and membership application and registration fees.
Membership dues of $9.0 million were recognized in 2001, compared to $5.5 million in 2000. Beginning in June of 2000, the CBOT reinstated dues to all CBOT members. The
year-over-year increase in membership dues was a result of a full year of dues in 2001 versus seven months of dues in 2000.
ExpensesOperating expenses totaled $235.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2001, compared to $222.3 million for the same period of 2000, an increase of 6%. Operating expenses before the employee termination
benefits and asset impairment charge discussed below decreased $3.7 million, or 2%.
Salaries and benefits, which
account for one quarter of operating expenses, were $58.5 million in 2001, a 4% increase from $56.4 million for the same period of 2000. The increase primarily resulted from increased employee incentive expenses of $2.8 million offset to a degree by
$1.4 million decreased salaries and benefits costs related to reduced employee staffing levels from 2000 levels.
Severance and related costs in 2000 were $8.3 million and related primarily to the contract settlement with the former CEO of the CBOT. Severance and related costs in 2001 were $9.9 million and resulted from ongoing staff reductions
at the CBOT. Included in this amount were $1.8 million of severance and contract settlement
85
expenses with two former executive officers, as well as expenses related to the elimination of 82 additional staff positions via layoffs in September 2001 and an early retirement package offered
to select employees at the end of 2001, which aggregated $2.2 million and $5.9 million, respectively.
General and
administrative expenses decreased to $12.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2001, a $2.7 million, or 17%, decrease from the $15.6 million recorded in the prior year period. The decrease was primarily the result of reduced fixed asset
retirement expenses of $2.6 million.
Depreciation and amortization charges increased 9%, from $40.0 million to
$43.5 million, for the year ended December 31, 2001. The increase primarily related to additional depreciation for computer equipment, as well as software for the a/c/e system, that was capitalized in 2000 and 2001. Depreciation and amortization,
which are non-cash items, represented approximately 18% of total expenses in 2001.
Information technology
services in 2001 were $40.9 million, $4.2 million, or 11%, higher than those recorded in the previous year. Operating expenses of the a/c/e system, the largest component of information technology services, increased $3.6 million in 2001, to $23.5
million. The a/c/e system was implemented in the second half of 2000; therefore, 2001 was the first year with a full twelve months of operating costs, which led to the higher costs in 2001. Data processing costs, which comprise the remaining balance
of information technology services, were $17.4 million in 2001 versus $16.9 million in 2000.
Professional
services expenses were $23.0 million, a decrease of 29%, or $9.5 million, from $32.5 million in the year earlier period. This decrease was largely the result of lower expenses for corporate restructuring, consultants and leased programmers in the
amounts of $5.3 million, $4.8 million and $0.7 million, respectively. These reductions were offset somewhat by an increase in legal expenses of $2.8 million, as the CBOT is seeking to resolve various pending lawsuits. Professional services included
amounts related to the current demutualization plan of $4.6 million and $9.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively.
Building operating costs increased slightly to $23.0 million from $22.6 million in 2000, due to fluctuations in supplies, maintenance and security expenses. Finally, program costs decreased from $3.5
million to $1.8 million, as a result of the continuing change in the focus of the marketing efforts of the CBOT.
The provision for income taxes was $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2001, compared to $2.0 million in the year earlier period. The effective tax rate for the current year was 47%. This rate is higher than the corporate
federal and state combined rate of 41% due to certain non-deductible expenses, primarily related to the costs associated with the corporate restructuring process.
Year ended December 31, 2000 compared to year ended December 31, 1999
Net Loss. For the year ended December 31, 2000, the CBOT had a net loss of $10.1 million compared to a net loss of $10.4 million in the prior year. Loss from operations improved to $8.2 million
in 2000 from $10.4 million in 1999 due primarily to higher revenues. The loss for 2000 is primarily the result of contract settlement expenses related to the termination of the employment agreement with the former president and chief executive
officer of approximately $8.3 million and bad debt expense of $2.1 million related to an account receivable from one market data customer.
Revenues. In 2000, our consolidated operating revenues increased 5% to $214.2 million compared to $203.9 million in 1999.
Revenues from exchange fees slightly decreased to $102.0 million compared to $102.5 million in 1999. The average rate per contract increased from $0.40 in 1999 to $0.44 in 2000. Exchange fees are
derived from two sources: open outcry trading, which is included in the exchange floor trading segment, and electronic trading, which is included in the electronic trading segment. The amount of exchange fees from open outcry trading was $83.8
million in 2000, compared to $83.9 million in 1999. The largest component of open outcry fees, non-member fees, decreased from $68.5 million in 1999 to $65.2 million in 2000, a decline of 5%. The decrease in non-member fees was partially offset by
an increase in the fee rate charged to members and delegates beginning in September 2000. The amount of exchange fees from electronic trading was $18.2 million in 2000 compared to $18.6 million in 1999. Total trading volume declined to 233.5 million
contracts in 2000 from 254.6 million contracts in 1999. Trading volume for electronic trading was 15.5 million contracts in 2000 and 11.2 million contracts in 1999.
86
The decreased revenue from exchange fees was offset by increased market data
revenues. In 2000, the CBOT recognized $61.1 million in revenue from the sale of market data compared to $54.0 million in 1999, representing an increase of 13%. This increase was due primarily to an increase in the price charged for certain market
data. The change in pricing of market data fees included the creation of a rebate program available to member firms and their subsidiaries allowing them a rebate equal to 60% of the new market data fees. Such rebates totalled $10.9 million in 2000.
Building revenues from leased office space, which are included in the real estate operations segment,
increased to $24.5 million in 2000, an 8% increase from 1999, primarily due to a rental rate increase in this same period. The amount of lease space remained relatively steady from 1999 to 2000. One tenant accounted for $5.2 million, or 23%, of
total building revenues in the current year and $5.6 million, or 25%, in 1999.
Service revenues decreased
12% from $20.3 million in 1999 to $17.8 million in 2000. Service revenues consist of telephone charges, badge fees, booth space and member services related fees. The decrease was primarily attributable to decreased revenues from fees charged to
access the trading floor communication system and the elimination of Project A terminal leasing and communication charges in September 2000.
Membership dues were $5.5 million in 2000 compared to $0.4 million in 1999. The increase was a result of the reinstatement of dues charged to all CBOT members in June 2000.
Expenses. Operating expenses were relatively unchanged at $222.3 million in 2000, compared to $221.3 million in 1999.
Salaries and benefits decreased 12% to $56.4 million from $64.1 million in 1999. The decrease was due to reduced staffing
levels relative to 1999. Salary expense decreased $2.7 million from $47.7 million in 1999 to $45.0 million in 2000. In addition, incentive compensation for employees decreased $3.1 million from $4.2 million in 1999 to $1.1 million in 2000.
Furthermore, pension and savings plan expense decreased $1.9 million from $4.4 million in 1999 to $2.5 million in 2000.
In 2000, severance and related costs of $8.3 million were recorded and related primarily to the contract settlement with the former CEO of the CBOT. Severance and related costs in 1999 were $0.3 million and resulted from ongoing
staff reductions at the CBOT.
Information technology services were $36.7 million in 2000, $20.1 million
higher than the prior year. The increase primarily related to $19.8 million of operating expenses related to the a/c/e system that was implemented in 2000. No such expenditures were incurred in 1999.
Professional service expenses were $32.5 million in 2000, unchanged from 1999. Professional services include the cost of restructuring,
which was approximately $9.9 million in 2000 compared to $1.7 million in 1999. Included in 1999 were costs of approximately $8.0 million associated with making our computer systems year 2000 compliant.
Building operating expenses decreased 3% from $23.2 million in 1999 to $22.6 million in 2000. Program costs decreased 51% from $7.3
million in 1999 to $3.5 million in 2000. These costs decreased primarily as a result of the change in the marketing efforts of the CBOT.
While the CBOT recognized a loss before income taxes, a provision for income taxes was recorded due to the non-deductibility of certain restructuring costs.
Financial Position
At September 30, 2002, total assets
were $370.8 million, an increase of $11.7 million from December 31, 2001. Accounts receivable were $8.8 million higher than at year end, primarily the result of increased exchange fee revenues. Property and equipment, net of accumulated
depreciation, was $251.8 million at September 30, 2002, a decrease of $10.2 million from December 31, 2001. The decrease in net property and equipment during the current period was primarily a function of recorded depreciation of $27.7 million,
impairment of the a/c/e system of $6.2 million, loss on disposal of assets of $0.2 million and capital spending of $23.9 million, including the acquisition of the CBOEdirect software license recorded in the third quarter of 2002 for $9.6 million.
87
Total liabilities at September 30, 2002 decreased 13%, or $22.0 million, to
$141.0 million, from $163.0 million at year end 2001. Financing activities included payments of $10.7 million on private placement senior notes, $8.0 million on an asset secured note, $4.3 million for final payment to Deutsche Börse AG related
to the a/c/e system and $0.8 million on an obligation to CBOE for the CBOEdirect software license, as well as a $9.6 million addition to debt related to the CBOE obligation. Total debt was reduced to $62.4 million, from $76.7 million at year end
2001.
At December 31, 2001, total assets were $359.1 million, a decrease of $14.8 million from $373.8 million at
December 31, 2000. Current assets increased $28.5 million from $54.0 million at the end of 2000 to $82.5 million at December 31, 2001, primarily due to an increase in unrestricted cash of $27.3 million. Property and equipment, net of accumulated
depreciation, was $262.0 million at December 31, 2001, a decrease of $41.8 million from $303.8 million at December 31, 2000. The change in net property and equipment during 2001 was primarily a function of the $15.2 million asset impairment
write-down, as well as capital spending of $16.4 million, recorded depreciation of $41.0 million and $2.0 million of disposals of obsolete computer hardware. The most significant portion of the $16.4 million of capital spending consisted primarily
of $8.7 million of software for the a/c/e system. Other assets were $1.4 million lower at $14.6 million, primarily the result of $2.5 million of amortization.
Total liabilities at December 31, 2001 decreased $19.5 million to $163.0 million, from $182.5 million at the end of 2000. Financing activities included proceeds of $10.0
million from the issuance of a note payable secured by certain CBOT assets. Other changes in debt were comprised of payments of $10.7 million on private placement senior notes, $7.3 million to retire a revolving credit facility, $4.2 million net
paydown on a note payable to Deutsche Börse AG related to the a/c/e system and $2.0 million payments on the asset secured note. Thus, total long-term debt, including the current portion, was reduced to $76.7 million at December 31, 2001.
Current liabilities were 3% lower at $74.2 million versus $76.5 million at year-end 2000. The change was the
result of several factors. Current portion of long-term debt decreased by $8.7 million at December 31, 2001. This decrease, however, was offset by increases to certain accruals. Rebate requests on exchange fees from non-member traders resulted in a
$4.4 million increase to the exchange fee refund reserve. Also, employee termination expenses recorded due to restructuring efforts led to a $3.5 million increase to severance reserves.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
At
September 30, 2002, cash and cash equivalents were $71.3 million, compared to $53.2 million at December 31, 2001. The increase consisted primarily of net cash generated from operating activities of $56.2 million less cash used for repayment of
debt and capital expenditures of $23.8 million and $14.4 million, respectively. Working capital was $45.1 million at September 30, 2002, up from $8.3 million at the end of 2001. CBOT management believes that current cash balances, future funds
generated through operations and financing arrangements, will be sufficient to meet cash requirements currently and in the long-term.
At December 31, 2001, cash and cash equivalents were $53.2 million, compared to $28.2 million at December 31, 2000, an increase of $25.0 million. This increase consisted primarily of net cash generated from operating
activities of $55.2 million less cash used for capital expenditures of $16.4 million and net repayment of debt of $14.3 million.
Current assets exceeded current liabilities by $8.3 million at December 31, 2001, a significant improvement from the $22.5 million of net current liabilities at year-end 2000. Several factors led to the improved cash flow such as the
reinstatement of annual member dues. Also, capital expenditures were reduced as capital spending decreased $22.1 million from 2000. Finally, increased net earnings led to increased cash flows from operating activities, which significantly improved
liquidity.
Market Risk
The CBOT provides the market for trading futures and options on futures. However, it does not trade futures and options on futures for its own account. The CBOT invests available cash in highly liquid,
short-term
88
investment grade paper. The CBOT does not believe there is significant risk associated with these short-term investments.
Foreign Currency Risk
The CBOT historically has transacted
minimal business in foreign currencies. The a/c/e system licensing agreement with the Eurex Group, however, has necessitated the entry by the CBOT into additional foreign currency transactions, specifically in euros.
On September 27, 2000, the CBOT entered into foreign exchange forward contracts with a financial institution to hedge its risk of foreign
currency fluctuations related to certain commitments to Eurex and related entities, denominated in euros. The notional amount of these contracts totaled approximately $29.0 million with exchange rates ranging from .89429 to .91100 and maturities at
various dates through 2002 which correspond to the terms of the commitments. In December 2000, the CBOT decided not to pursue certain software commitments for enhancements. The CBOT then entered into approximately $9.8 million of foreign exchange
forward contracts offsetting certain of the contracts entered into in September 2000. Gains and losses on certain of the original forward contracts, which are hedging ongoing commitments, are deferred, and totaled a gain of approximately $462,000 at
December 31, 2000. A net gain of approximately $819,000 at December 31, 2000 on all other forward contracts was recognized in earnings and included in other revenue in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
At September 30, 2002, the CBOT had foreign exchange forward contracts with a financial institution to hedge its risk of foreign currency
fluctuations related to certain liabilities and commitments in euros with Eurex and related entities.
Foreign
exchange forward contracts designated as cash-flow type hedges of liabilities or firm commitments had notional amounts approximating $13.6 million (14.5 million euros) at September 30, 2002. A gain before income taxes of approximately $0.2 million
was recognized on these contracts and recorded as accrued liabilities and other comprehensive income for these derivatives at September 30, 2002. This amount is expected to be reclassified into earnings as the commitments are recorded, which is
expected to occur by March 31, 2003.
Adoption of Accounting Pronouncements
On January 1, 2001, the CBOT adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities, as amended and interpreted. SFAS No. 133 requires recognition of all derivative instruments in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as either assets or liabilities and the measurement of those instruments at fair
value. SFAS No. 133 also requires changes in the fair value of the derivative instruments to be recorded each period in current earnings or other comprehensive income depending on the hedge designation and whether the hedge is highly effective. If
the derivative is designated as a fair-value hedge, the changes in the fair value of the derivative and the hedged item are recognized in earnings. If the derivative is designated in a cash-flow hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are
recorded in other comprehensive income and are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income when the hedged item affects earnings. SFAS No. 133 defines new requirements for designation and documentation of hedging relationships as well as
ongoing effectiveness assessments in order to use hedge accounting. For a derivative that does not qualify, or is not designated, as a hedge, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings.
On January 1, 2001, the CBOT recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income an $87,000 pretax loss ($51,000 loss, after tax) as the cumulative effect of the change
in the foregoing accounting principle. The loss related to derivatives that were either not designated as hedges or derivatives that had been used as fair-value type hedges prior to adoption of SFAS No. 133. In addition, the CBOT recorded a $462,000
pretax gain in other comprehensive income, reflecting the cumulative effect of the foregoing change in accounting principle, relating to derivatives that had been used as cash-flow type hedges prior to adoption of SFAS No. 133.
89
The CBOT formally measures effectiveness of its hedging relationships both at the
hedge inception and on an ongoing basis in accordance with its risk management policy. The CBOT will discontinue hedge accounting prospectively if it is determined that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting changes in the fair value or
cash flows of a hedged item; when the derivative expires or terminates; when the derivative is de-designated as a hedge instrument, because it is probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur; or management determines that designation of
the derivative as a hedge instrument is no longer appropriate.
In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards
Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations, which established accounting and reporting standards for business combinations on or after July 1, 2001. All combinations in the scope of this statement are to be
accounted for using the purchase method. The adoption of SFAS No. 141 did not have an impact on the CBOTs financial position or results of operations.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 142,
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, which established accounting and reporting standards for acquired goodwill and other intangible assets. SFAS No. 142, which is effective January 1, 2002 for the CBOT, addresses how intangible assets
that are acquired individually or with a group of other assets (but not those acquired in a business combination) should be accounted for in financial statements upon their acquisition. SFAS No. 142 also addresses how goodwill and other intangible
assets should be accounted for after they have been initially recognized in the financial statements. The adoption of SFAS No. 142 did not have a significant impact on the CBOTs financial position or results of operations.
In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, which addresses the
financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and (or) the normal operation of a long-lived asset. This statement amends SFAS No.
19, Financial Accounting and Reporting by Oil and Gas Companies. For the CBOT, this statement is effective January 1, 2003 and, when adopted is not expected to have a material impact on the financial position or results of operations.
In August 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived
Assets, which addresses the financial accounting and reporting for the impairment of disposal of long-lived assets. This statement supercedes SFAS No. 121, Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to
Be Disposed Of, and the accounting and reporting provisions of APB No. 30, Reporting the Results of OperationsReporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring
Events and Transactions, for disposal of a segment of a business. SFAS No. 144 was adopted for the year ending December 31, 2002 and is not expected to have a material impact on the financial position or results of operations.
In April 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 145, Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB
Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections, which rescinds SFAS No. 4, Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt, and an amendment of that Statement, SFAS No. 64, Extinguishments of Debt Made to Satisfy
Sinking-Fund Requirements. This Statement also amends SFAS No. 13, Accounting for Leases, to eliminate an inconsistency between the required accounting for sale-leaseback transactions and the required accounting for certain lease
modifications that have economic effects that are similar to sale-leaseback transactions. SFAS No. 145 was adopted for the year ending December 31, 2002 and is not expected to have a significant impact on the CBOTs financial position or
results of operations.
In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated
With Exit or Disposal Activities, which addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities. SFAS No. 146, which is effective January 1, 2003 for the CBOT, nullifies Emerging Issues Task Force
(EITF) Issue No. 94-3, Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring). The adoption of SFAS No. 146 is not expected to have a
significant impact on the CBOTs financial position or results of operations.
90
Quarterly Comparisons
The CBOTs operating results may fluctuate from period to period as a result of, among other things, trading volume. The information below sets forth by quarter the
CBOTs income statement data for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 (in thousands):
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002
|
|
|
|
1st Quarter
|
|
2nd Quarter
|
|
|
3rd Quarter
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
72,323 |
|
$ |
75,589 |
|
|
$ |
86,482 |
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses |
|
|
59,142 |
|
|
52,602 |
|
|
|
65,951 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations |
|
|
13,181 |
|
|
22,987 |
|
|
|
20,531 |
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
|
7,578 |
|
|
13,770 |
|
|
|
11,967 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, 2001
|
|
|
|
1st Quarter
|
|
2nd Quarter
|
|
|
3rd Quarter
|
|
|
4th Quarter
|
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
58,742 |
|
$ |
61,419 |
|
|
$ |
58,232 |
|
|
$ |
65,539 |
|
Expenses |
|
|
55,089 |
|
|
53,498 |
|
|
|
51,464 |
|
|
|
75,415 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from operations |
|
|
3,653 |
|
|
7,921 |
|
|
|
6,768 |
|
|
|
(9,876 |
) |
Net income (loss) |
|
|
2,262 |
|
|
4,334 |
|
|
|
4,209 |
|
|
|
(6,392 |
) |
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, 2000
|
|
|
|
1st Quarter
|
|
2nd Quarter
|
|
|
3rd Quarter
|
|
|
4th Quarter
|
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
53,556 |
|
$ |
54,855 |
|
|
$ |
51,120 |
|
|
$ |
54,630 |
|
Expenses |
|
|
48,121 |
|
|
62,257 |
|
|
|
52,843 |
|
|
|
59,098 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from operations |
|
|
5,435 |
|
|
(7,402 |
) |
|
|
(1,723 |
) |
|
|
(4,468 |
) |
Net income (loss) |
|
|
1,511 |
|
|
(4,884 |
) |
|
|
(2,007 |
) |
|
|
(4,728 |
) |
In the first quarter of 2002, the CBOT recorded a $6.2 million
pretax charge to eliminate the carrying value of the a/c/e system, as the CBOTs ownership of the a/c/e system software was replaced with a licensing agreement. In addition, the CBOT recognized $0.2 million in employment termination costs
related to ongoing staff reductions at the CBOT.
In the second quarter of 2002, the CBOT recognized contracted
license fee expense of $3.7 million related to the new licensing arrangement for the a/c/e system software. Also, the CBOT recorded employment termination costs related to the ongoing staff reductions at the CBOT of $0.1 million.
In the third quarter of 2002, the CBOT recognized $3.9 million of expense related to
the new licensing arrangement for the a/c/e system software. In addition, the effect of litigation was recorded and, net of amounts previously accrued, was $10.7 million of expense.
In the first quarter of 2001, the CBOT recognized bad debt expense of $1.5 million related to amounts receivable from a market data customer. The CBOT also recognized
expense of $1.3 million related to the retirement of obsolete computer hardware. In addition, the CBOT established an accrual of $3.0 million for the potential settlement of various pending lawsuits.
In the first, second and third quarters of 2001, the CBOT recorded employment termination costs related to the ongoing staff reductions at
the CBOT of $1.2 million, $0.8 million and $2.9 million, respectively.
In the fourth quarter of 2001, the CBOT
recorded a $15.2 million pretax charge to adjust the carrying value of the a/c/e system to its estimated realizable value. The CBOT also recognized $5.0 million in employment termination costs related to the ongoing staff reductions at the CBOT.
First quarter 2000 amounts reflect the capitalization of certain costs related to the development of the a/c/e
system.
Through the second quarter of 2000, the CBOT recognized a contract settlement related to the termination
of the employment agreement with the former president and chief executive officer of approximately $8.3 million.
91
Overview
Now in our 154th year of operation, we have become a leader in the domestic listed derivatives market (based on total volume of contracts traded). According to industry
data provided by the Futures Industry Association, through September 30, 2002, about 6% of the global listed futures, options on futures and equity index market was traded on our markets. According to industry data provided by the Futures Industry
Association, we ranked fifth worldwide among futures exchanges in volume of contracts traded for the first nine months of 2002, transacting about 46% of the global listed agricultural futures and options contracts, e.g., wheat, corn, soybeans, and
about 18% of the global listed financial futures and options contracts, e.g., U.S. Treasury bonds and notes. From our origins in the nineteenth century as a market for trading cash grain, we have evolved into a major financial center in the
twenty-first century, offering a diverse range of contracts based on interest rates, agricultural commodities, equity indices and other underlying instruments and risk-based activities.
We operate markets for the trading of commodity and financial futures contracts, as well as options on futures contracts. These contracts have been developed through our
extensive research and development efforts and through relationships with market participants and other financial institutions. We operate traditional open outcry auction markets where our members trade in a centralized location with other members.
Members may be individual traders, who risk their personal capital and provide significant liquidity to our markets, or floor brokers who are executing transactions on behalf of customers or member firm proprietary accounts. We also make our
products available for trading on an electronic trading system operated pursuant to our relationship with the Eurex Group, which includes the operators of the worlds largest derivatives exchange.
We also engage in extensive regulatory compliance activities, including market surveillance and financial supervision activities, designed
to ensure market integrity and provide financial safeguards for users of our markets. Our traditional open outcry and electronic trade execution services provide market participants the ability to determine current market prices, known as
price discovery, and trade matching services that offer market participants price transparency, anonymity and immediacy. Further, we market and distribute valuable real-time and historical market data generated from trading activity in
our markets to users of our products and related cash and derivative markets and financial information providers.
Our market participants include many of the worlds largest banks, investment firms and agricultural corporations. These participants use our products for hedging, risk management, asset allocation and speculation. Other market
users include financial institutions, such as public and private pension funds, mutual funds, hedge funds and other managed funds, insurance companies, corporations, commercial banks, professional independent traders and retail customers. Our users
can be broadly categorized as hedgers or speculators, depending on whether they transfer risk or accept risk. Hedgers are market participants who seek to transfer price risk in an underlying commodity, e.g., soybeans, or financial instrument, e.g.,
U.S. Treasury bonds. Speculators, on the other hand, accept price risk and attempt to make profits through buying and selling futures contracts by anticipating price changes and generally have no interest in making or taking delivery of the
underlying commodity or instrument.
92
Source: CBOT records
Presently, derivatives markets are experiencing significant and rapid changes due to relaxation of regulatory barriers and
advances in technology. Foreign exchanges and exchange-like enterprises operated by or for banks and broker-dealers have gained increased access to U.S. markets as a result of regulatory changes. The ability of computer and telecommunications
systems today to efficiently and economically bring buyers and sellers together presents new challenges to centralized open outcry auction markets, including our open outcry markets. These changes are lowering barriers to entry and creating a
lower-cost business model, forcing traditional open outcry exchanges to streamline their operations and reduce costs. We believe that large market users and the threat of competition have forced exchanges to seek more efficient trading, processing
and clearing facilities. We have responded to these challenges by implementing innovative technology, including the a/c/e system, to preserve and enhance our current business and to streamline our trade execution and processing, which has resulted
in substantial automation. We have also sought to refine our existing products, develop innovative new products to satisfy customers demands and continue to enhance the ability of our independent traders to provide liquidity in our markets.
In order to continue to enhance our ability to compete in this dynamic marketplace, our business strategy
includes demutualizing the CBOT by creating a stock, for-profit holding company pursuant to the restructuring transactions described in this document. We intend to seek to improve our corporate governance structure by, among other things, focusing
the role of the board on traditional oversight activities and enhancing and expanding the responsibility and authority of our management. The restructuring transactions will also reduce, to a degree, members rights with respect to
participation in the day-to-day management and operation of our business. However, certain important rights relating to the trading rights and privileges associated with Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary will be reserved for the holders of
Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships, as described in greater detail elsewhere in this document. For example, following the restructuring transactions, stockholders of CBOT Holdings and holders of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary
will have the right to call special meetings of stockholders or special meetings of members to vote on proposals only upon obtaining 10% of the total voting power of the stockholders or holders of Class B memberships, as
93
applicable, and neither the stockholders of CBOT Holdings nor the holders of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will be able to take stockholder action by written consent instead of a
meeting. Stockholders of CBOT Holdings may request a vote on a proposal to amend our bylaws at our annual meetings, but only if the request complies with certain advance notice requirements under our bylaws and the regulations regarding proxy
solicitation under the federal securities laws, as applicable. We believe that the restructuring transactions will enable us to strengthen and expand our core business.
Products
We believe that the range and diversity of the
products that may be traded on our exchange facilities contribute significantly to our success. These products include futures contracts and options on futures contracts based upon interest rates, debt instruments, agricultural commodities, stock
indices and other underlying instruments. We have a business development division to support market participants and foster the trading and development of current and future products. Our business development and staff meet regularly with market
users, members and clearing members to determine whether our current products, facilities and services meet the participants needs and whether modifications or enhancements are necessary. Our business development staff also develop new product
ideas in consultation with market users and other financial institutions.
The following chart depicts the
distribution of trading volumes across our three major product sectors for the eleven month period ending November 30, 2002:
|
|
|
interest rate products; |
|
|
|
agricultural and other non-financial/commodities products; and |
Source: CBOT records
94
Interest Rate Products
Seventy-eight percent of all of the contracts traded at the CBOT during the first eleven months of 2002 were either financial futures
or options on financial futures contracts. Our interest rate product line includes our U.S. Treasury ten-year note futures and options contract, which is currently our largest single product based on trading volume, comprising about 47% of our
financial product volume in the first eleven months of 2002. Our other interest rate products include U.S. Treasury bond futures and options, five-year and two-year U.S. Treasury note futures and options, federal agency futures and options,
Fed funds futures, interest rate swap futures, mortgage futures and options as well as municipal note index futures and options.
Trading volumes in our interest rate products have fluctuated over the last decade. We believe that these fluctuations primarily reflect changes in Federal Reserve monetary policies and changing levels
of interest rate volatility during these periods, rather than successful competition from other exchanges or increased use of alternative products or markets by market participants. The overall volume of our interest rate products through November
30, 2002 was up 40% compared to the same period of 2001.
We believe that hedgers and speculators have
increasingly turned to our ten-year and five-year U.S. Treasury notes in order to manage interest rate risks. The increase in volumes for ten-year and five-year notes has helped to offset the decrease in volume for the 30-year bonds. Volume in our
interest rate products continues to constitute a significant part of our business. The following chart indicates the annual trading volume of interest rate futures and options on the CBOT from 1990 through November 30, 2002.
Source: CBOT records
Market participants take advantage of the flexibility and liquidity of the interest rate products we list. Our market users
generally include banks, broker/dealers and other financial institutions, all of whom must cope with interest rate risk that arises naturally from their core business activities, e.g., lending, borrowing, underwriting
95
fixed-income securities, or from their dealing in interest rate swaps, structured derivative products and other over-the-counter products. A significant number of our clearing member firms are
affiliates of major domestic and international banks who utilize our interest rate markets for their proprietary trading activities. Asset managers also use our interest rate products to lengthen or shorten the effective duration of their
portfolios. We believe that our contracts are especially useful for this purpose where physical restructuring of a portfolio is difficult or where futures transaction costs are less than cash market transaction costs.
Agricultural and Non-Financial/Commodities Products
Agricultural products are the core product area from which we started. We have maintained a strong franchise in our agricultural products, including contracts based on
soybeans, soybean oil and meal, corn, wheat, oats, rough rice and other agricultural commodities. Our market users include agricultural producers, grain elevators, food processors and retail customers. Other non-financial/commodities products we
offer include silver and gold futures, silver options and insurance options. Together, our agricultural and other non-financial and commodities products represented about 19% of all contracts traded at the CBOT through November 30, 2002. Our trading
volumes in these products from 1990 through November 30, 2002 are illustrated in the following chart. We believe that continuing consolidation and restructuring in the agricultural sector and the reduction or elimination of government subsidies
could provide growth in our agricultural markets as large producers and processors are more likely to adopt formal hedging and risk management programs.
Source: CBOT records
Stock Index Products
Futures and options on futures contracts on stock indices are intended to allow traders and investors the opportunity to invest in the entire market, in selected portions of the market or in the
relative performances of the
96
various market sectors relative to one another and relative to the entire market. Market users of these products include public and private pension funds, investment companies, mutual funds,
insurance companies and other financial services companies that benchmark their investment performance to different segments of the equity markets. We currently offer futures and options on futures contracts on the Dow Jones Industrial
AverageSM.
In June 1997, we entered into an agreement with Dow Jones & Company, Inc. to license certain index and
trademark rights, including, among other things, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Dow Jones Transportation Average, the Dow Jones Utilities Average and the Dow Jones Global Indexes. The license is a non-transferable and exclusive worldwide
license to use these indices as the basis for standardized exchange-traded futures contracts and options on futures contracts. The agreement, which will expire in accordance with its terms on December 31, 2007, requires the CBOT to pay Dow Jones
initial license fees, which were paid in 1997, and annual royalties based upon trading volumes with a minimum annual royalty requirement of $2.0 million. We paid annual royalties of $2.0 million in each of 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.
As depicted in the following chart, our equity index product trading volumes have generally increased since
the introduction of the Dow Jones indices in late 1997, from about 0.9 million contracts in 1997, to about 3.8 million contracts in 1998, to about 4.1 million contracts in 1999 to about 3.8 million contracts in 2000, to about 5.3 million contracts
in 2001. Through November 30, 2002, equity index trading volume was about 8.4 million contracts.
Source: CBOT records
In 2000, Congress adopted legislation that allows us to trade single-stock futures contracts under the regulatory jurisdiction
of the Commodity Futures Exchange Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission. This new type of product could have significant appeal to retail investors and institutional investors.
97
Under the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000, single-stock futures
contracts were made available to be traded on markets limited to institutional investors trading for their own account on a principal-to-principal basis on August 21, 2001. Single-stock futures became available for trading on markets such as
OneChicago LLC, which also allow retail investors to participate as well as brokered trades for institutional investors, in November 2002.
Execution Facilities
We currently operate two trade execution facilities: a traditional
pit-based, open outcry trading market and the electronic a/c/e system.
Open Outcry Trading
In the traditional open outcry trading environment, traders who risk personal capital, or floor brokers, who may execute orders
for institutional, commercial, proprietary and retail customers, bid and offer in an open outcry auction arena. This environment facilitates discovery of market prices. We believe that the CBOT has a strong history of providing a venue that offers
its users tremendous liquidity, access to trading opportunities, and a reliable and stable trading environment.
Open outcry trading occurs in individual arenas and represented about 63% of our total volume through November 30, 2002. The trading pits are the centralized meeting place for floor brokers and independent traders to trade contracts.
Orders for market participants not on the trading floor are relayed to brokers for execution in the trading pits. The trading floors, which cover about 115,150 square feet, have booths surrounding the trading pits from which clearing member firm
personnel can communicate with customers regarding current market activity and prices and receive orders either electronically or by telephone. In addition, our trading floors display current market information and news on wallboards hung above the
pits.
We have enhanced our open outcry and electronic trading markets through automation and lower fees to
help us maintain liquidity for market users. To do this, we have streamlined processes involving order entry, trade execution and open outcry price discovery. The basis for maintaining an open outcry trading system is our belief that many market
participants find this system to be an efficient mechanism for price discovery. The open outcry system leverages our members market-making expertise by utilizing hundreds of speculators to facilitate liquidity and to provide floor brokers with
a mechanism to manage execution risk for customers. We believe that the open outcry system is regarded as having a long-standing history as an environment of integrity, stability and reliability.
Technology Supporting Our Open Outcry Execution Facilities
In order to maintain the viability and growth of the open outcry trading system, we have invested and, to the extent that our resources permit, we plan to continue to invest in technology. For example,
the CBOT recently purchased a license from the CBOE whereby the CBOE will provide technology to support and enhance the CBOTs trading floor using its CBOEdirect software. The CBOT will seek to continue its development of technology to provide
market participants with rapid, reliable and cost-effective transaction processing. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to fund technology in the future. This approach will focus on the following applications.
Order Transmission Systems. Our Order Direct application protocol interface enables our member firms to
transmit orders electronically to and from the open outcry pits and any other firm or broker, and provides an entry point for Internet-based orders from customers and branch offices. This application has resulted in increased order and confirmation
speed, reduced transaction costs, decreased risk of error, improved customer account tracking and bookkeeping and faster clearing reconciliation. eOpenoutcry.com is our web-enabled, browser-based software system that allows trade order entry,
execution and confirmation display via the Internet, enhancing member access to the trading floor while reducing transaction costs.
98
Trade Execution Systems. Our customers may select
one of the following two trade execution systems for executing transactions in the open outcry trading environment.
|
|
COMET is the CBOTs booth-based order entry device that fulfills the need for fast and efficient electronic order delivery to the trading floor while
preserving the firms choice of delivery method to the broker. In keeping with the firms preference, COMET orders may be flashed by hand, delivered by wireless headset or delivered electronically to the broker for execution.
COMET then enables the trade data to be electronically routed to the firms bookkeeping system and to the clearing location on a real-time basis. |
|
|
Electronic Clerks are the CBOTs order receipt and deck management devices for brokers. Using a hard-wired or wireless Electronic Clerk, unit brokers may
receive orders from multiple member firms. Orders are automatically organized by price and order type for ease and speed of execution and trade confirmations are automatically returned to the originator. |
Floor Operations Technology. Floor operations technology consists of the pricing and quotation network as
well as the data network. The pricing and quotation network collects and disseminates in real time all CBOT pricing data. The internal data network connects futures commission merchants and other building occupants with the floor and one another for
all CBOT pricing data. The pricing quotation network comprises price reporters who monitor the price fluctuation in each of the pits and use an electronic data network to communicate this information. As trades are executed, the reporters enter the
price data into the pricing network. The price network transmits the data to the wall board display system, the historical data library and the data services network for re-transmittal through information providers such as Bloomberg. The current
data network is a traditional wired network. Substantially all futures commission merchant offices have the capability to access the network in order to communicate with other offices and the floor. Most futures commission merchants have external
data connections as well as Internet access.
Electronic Trading
Our electronic trading business has historically been, and is currently, primarily conducted through Ceres, of which eCBOT is the general
partner and the CBOT members are limited partners. The CBOT has made its products available for electronic trading since 1992, initially, on the Globex system, and, beginning in 1994, on Project A, which was operated through the electronic trading
division of Ceres. From September 1998 until its decommissioning in August 2000, Project A provided access to the CBOTs global benchmark financial and index products 22 hours each trading day, with workstations located in the United States,
Europe and Asia.
In August 2000, Project A was replaced by the a/c/e system, which is the product of an alliance
between the CBOT and certain affiliates and Deutsche Börse AG, the Swiss Stock Exchange and their jointly owned subsidiaries, Eurex Zürich AG and Eurex Frankfurt AG. A jointly-owned company called CBOT/Eurex Alliance, L.L.C. was
established to provide services related to electronic trading to Ceres and to Eurex.
The a/c/e system provides
CBOT and Eurex members with a single network connection to a single platform configuration with each exchange remaining independent in terms of its membership, access and products. Users of the a/c/e system are provided access to some of the most
actively traded derivative products in the world. Users of the a/c/e system are linked through a dedicated wide-area communications network that can be connected to from virtually anywhere in the world. Currently, about 85 firms trade for themselves
and their customers CBOT products on the a/c/e system from more than 160 locations in the United States, Europe and Asia.
We currently permit a non-member to have a direct connection to the a/c/e system with the approval of its clearing member. Members are permitted to have an unlimited number of terminals to conduct proprietary or customer trading, and
member firms that handle customer business are permitted to connect their own electronic order routing systems to the a/c/e system. Eurex member firms have been given the right to obtain electronic
99
access to our products traded on the a/c/e system by leasing a Full Membership or Associate Membership or buying an Associate Membership. It is possible that the conditions for connectivity could
be relaxed or tightened. A change in these conditions could have the effect of enhancing or diminishing revenue growth associated with the a/c/e system.
As of November 30, 2002, volume on the a/c/e system surpassed an aggregate of above 180.7 million contracts traded since it became operational. The chart below illustrates monthly volume on the a/c/e
system for the months of September 2000 through November 2002:
Source: CBOT records
In 2001, certain disputes between the CBOT and the Eurex Group developed concerning, among other things, our obligation to participate in the cost of certain software
upgrades, the development of an equity options market in the United States and the structure and function of CBOT/Eurex Alliance, L.L.C., the joint venture company that we co-own with the Eurex Group. In 2002, we resolved these disputes by entering
into agreements with the Eurex Group, which collectively modified the structure of our relationship with the Eurex Group from an alliance to an outsourcing arrangement. As a result, we have relinquished co-ownership of the a/c/e system software and
have no further joint development obligations. In connection with these agreements, we acknowledged Eurexs right to engage in equity options trading in the United States and we have agreed that CBOT/Eurex Alliance would have no further role in
the operation of the a/c/e system. In addition the CBOT and Eurex Frankfurt AG have agreed to permit each other to independently launch new products denominated in U.S. dollars and euros, respectively, outside of a small number of their core product
offerings.
Under the new arrangements with the Eurex Group, Deutsche Börse AG and SWX Swiss Stock Exchange
will provide Ceres with a non-exclusive, royalty-bearing license for the use of the a/c/e software that serves as the basis of the a/c/e electronic trading platform, covering both a/c/e Release 1.0, which is the current version of the a/c/e software
operated for the CBOT, as well as a/c/e Release 1.1, which the CBOT currently intends to implement by the first quarter of 2003. The royalty owed by Ceres under the license with the Eurex Group includes both a fixed component and a variable
component based on electronic trading volume. Deutsche Börse Systems AG has operated and will continue to operate the CBOTs electronic market for the duration of the
100
restructured arrangements, which will expire in December 31, 2003. Upon such termination, we plan to replace the current Eurex Group arrangements with other arrangements that will enable us to
continue our electronic trading operations after such expiration, and we are currently in the process of evaluating proposals by third party service providers for these alternative arrangements. Under the restructured alliance with the Eurex Group,
the CBOT has relinquished co-ownership of a/c/e Release 1.0, which it held pursuant to the previous arrangements, but the obligation of Ceres to contribute to development costs pursuant to the previous arrangements has been terminated.
Under a licensing agreement, Ceres provides services related to the operation of the a/c/e system and a sublicense of
the a/c/e software to the CBOT. In addition, under a separate agreement, Ceres operates with employees seconded to it from the CBOT. We currently expect to liquidate Ceres upon termination of the CBOTs arrangements with the Eurex Group and
thereafter conduct our electronic trading business through the CBOT subsidiary, eCBOT or an affiliate.
Market Data
Our markets generate valuable information regarding the prices of our products and the trading activity in
those markets. We sell our market data, which includes bids, offers, trades and trade size, to vendors who redistribute the data to persons or entities that use our markets or that monitor general economic conditions. Such persons and entities
include financial information providers, futures commission merchants, banks, broker-dealers, public and private pension funds, investment companies, mutual funds, insurance companies, hedge funds, commodity pools, individual investors and other
financial services companies or organizations.
We believe the market data supplied by the CBOT enhances
trading activity in our products and trading activity in related cash and derivatives markets. The dissemination of real-time data generates revenue and supports our customer bases with timely market information. In general, the price information is
sent via dedicated networks to over 140 worldwide quote vendors and subvendors. These firms consolidate our market data and information with data from other exchanges and third party data and news services and the firms resell the consolidated data
and information to their subscribers. These quote vendors distribute our market data through dedicated networks, the Internet and wireless handheld devices. Member firms of the CBOT are entitled to rebates equal to one-third of the fees charged for
this information. The CBOT is discontinuing this rebate program effective January 1, 2003.
As of
September 30, 2002, our market data was displayed on about 154,000 screens worldwide. Revenue from market data represented about 19% of our total revenue for the eleven month period ended November 30, 2002. Our annual revenue from market data
has grown from less than $45 million in 1996 to more than $66 million in 2001. We attribute this increase to a change in our market data pricing structure that we instituted in 1999, as well as a substantial increase in the total number of display
devices receiving our market data. However, there has been a recent reduction in terminal subscriptions primarily due to industry consolidation and the increased use of electronic trading systems, which do not usually charge for the distribution of
market data. These industry changes have reduced the total subscription needs for market data, and we believe that the decline will continue in the future.
We further believe that the evolution of technology and the financial services industry, including the trend of industry consolidation, will change the existing distribution channels, sales methods and
pricing structure for market data. These changes might adversely impact the revenue we receive from market data. Increases in the volume of electronic trading, the use of the Internet as a distribution mechanism and increases in the use of our
products by individual retail investors will all impact revenue from market data.
Building Services
Our building services division operates the CBOTs commercial real estate assets. In total, we own and manage three buildings,
with over 1.5 million square feet of commercial space in the aggregate, in the central business district of the City of Chicago. As of November 30, 2002, the buildings were about 85% occupied, with about 26% of the total space used by the CBOT
itself.
101
Tenants pay market rates for rent. The majority of tenant leases have terms
of three to five years, with large tenants having leases for up to ten years. As of August 31, 2002, the largest tenant, other than the CBOT itself, leased 17% of the rentable area and the next five largest tenants leased about 12% of our commercial
space. Our largest tenant is currently moving out of the building during the fourth quarter of 2002, and we are actively seeking a tenant or tenants to replace this tenant. The CBOT manages both the real estate and the general services relating to
such real estate such as cleaning, power and telephone services. Building services generated about 8% of our total revenue through the eleven months ended November 30, 2002.
The majority of our commercial lease space is designated as Class A, which describes that class of premium commercial office space which is typically located in
central business districts and provides the highest level of services and amenities. We have spent considerable resources so that all three buildings have advanced electrical, mechanical and telecommunication infrastructure and services. The
demographics of the tenants of our commercial space have begun to widen beyond traditional brokerage/trading service firms to include technology-related firms which we believe is due to the location and desirable telecommunications infrastructure of
our buildings.
Marketing and Advertising
Our marketing department targets both institutional and retail customers. Our marketing programs for institutional customers are designed to educate highly sophisticated traders, portfolio managers,
corporate treasurers and other market professionals about innovative uses of our products, such as new hedging and risk management strategies. We also seek to educate these users about changes in product design, margin requirements and new clearing
services. Our marketing typically involves the development of personal relationships with professional traders who actively use our markets. We participate in a number of domestic and international trade shows and seminars regarding futures and
options and other marketing events designed to inform market users about our products. Through these relationships and programs, we attempt to determine the needs of our customer base and we use this information in our product development and
product maintenance efforts.
Our advertising strategy is based on both targeted direct contact and cooperative
venture advertising techniques. We utilize direct mail, electronic mail and fax networking extensively. We also support CBOT product-specific advertising.
Competition
We are currently one of the seven principal futures exchanges in the
United States, which include: the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the Kansas City Board of Trade, the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, the New York Board of Trade, the New York Mercantile Exchange and the Philadelphia Board of Trade. Of these exchanges, the
Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the New York Mercantile Exchange have already demutualized in connection with recent restructurings completed within the last several years. In addition, the Kansas City Board of Trade demutualized in 1973. According
to data provided by the Futures Industry Association, we are currently the fifth largest futures exchange in the world based on contract volume for futures, options on futures and equity index options contracts for the six month period ended June
30, 2002.
We face a variety of competitors and competing marketplaces and products. We compete by offering
market participants efficient, cost-effective and liquid marketplaces for trade execution through both open outcry and electronic trading systems, broadly disseminated and transparent market and quotation data, access to market making, superior
product design and innovative technology. Additionally, we are continually enhancing our products and providing additional efficiencies to our customers. We are committed to improving the technology, services, market integrity and liquidity that
will continue to make us an industry leader in volume of trades executed.
In addition to competition from
futures exchanges that offer comparable derivative products, we also face competition from other exchanges, from electronic trading systems, from consortia of end users and futures commission merchants and from technology firms. Other futures
exchanges have trading systems and financial market expertise that may lead them to consider listing copies of our products. These potential competitors
102
would still need to obtain regulatory approval, establish market liquidity and develop derivative product clearing services. For information concerning legislative changes that may make it
easier for potential competitors to enter our markets, see RegulationChanges in Existing Laws and Rules.
Electronic trading firms that currently specialize in the trading of equity securities have electronic trade execution and routing systems that could be used to trade products that compete with our products. In an industry where all
derivatives are traded electronically, the concept of an exchange, including the services we provide and our sources of revenue, may change swiftly and substantially. Increased development of the electronic trading markets could increase
substantially competition for some or all of the products and services we currently provide. For more information, see Risk FactorsRisks Relating to Our BusinessIntense Competition Could Materially Adversely Affect Our Market Share
and Financial Performance. Typically, while these firms have advanced electronic and Internet technology, significant capitalization and competitive pricing, we believe they lack the overall market liquidity and neutrality offered by our
electronic and open outcry trading systems. They also currently lack the financial security and guarantees provided by a AAA rated clearinghouse such as Board of Trade Clearing Corporation.
Consortia owned by member firms and large market participants also may become our competitors, particularly with respect to our Treasury
futures and options contracts. For instance, BrokerTec Global LLC, an electronic inter-dealer fixed income broker, has a designation as a futures contract market from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and has been operational for about 10
months. Most of the members of BrokerTec Global are either clearing member firms of the CBOT or affiliates of our clearing member firms, and are significant participants in the Treasury market.
Technology companies, market data and information vendors, and front end software vendors also represent potential competitors because, as purveyors of market data,
these firms typically have substantial distribution capabilities. As technology firms, they also have access to trading engines that can be connected to their data and information networks. Additionally, technology and software firms that develop
trading systems, hardware and networks but who are otherwise outside of the financial services industry may be attracted to enter our markets.
Strategic Alliances, Acquisitions and Divestitures
Due to increasing competitive pressures
in the futures industry, we review our competitive position on an ongoing basis and from time to time consider, and engage in discussions with other parties regarding, various strategic alliances, acquisitions and divestitures in order to continue
to compete effectively, improve our financial results, increase our business and allocate its resources efficiently. It is also important for us to form strategic partnerships to bring together the necessary expertise and resources to address
competitive pressures and meet new market demands.
Our Members
We are currently owned by our members. For this reason, our organization is sometimes referred to as a mutual organization. Members and individuals who have
leased seats from members can execute trades for their own accounts or for the accounts of customers of clearing member firms. The trades of members and lessees of memberships for their own accounts qualify for lower fees in recognition of the
market liquidity that their trading activity provides. Members and lessees also benefit from market information advantages that may accrue from their proximity to trading activity on the trading floors.
Currently, there are the following classes of CBOT memberships:
|
|
GIM (and one-half Associate Memberships, as described below); |
103
Each class of CBOT membership has associated with it different trading rights and privileges. The specific trading rights and privileges associated with each class of CBOT membership are governed by our rules and regulations. All
membership applicants are reviewed and approved by us in accordance with the membership and eligibility requirements set forth in our rules and regulations.
Currently, members may be assessed trading floor efficiency fees and member dues, which are charged when deemed necessary based upon managements review of capital requirements. Trading floor
efficiency fees and member dues are independent of fees charged for trading and are not believed to have an effect on trading volume or the number of memberships outstanding.
Currently, CBOT memberships may be purchased or sold pursuant to transfer mechanisms established by our rules and regulations. We are currently evaluating appropriate
transfer mechanisms, whether internal or external to the CBOT, to facilitate the transfer of the common stock of CBOT Holdings and the memberships in the CBOT subsidiary.
Price Ranges for Memberships
The following table contains, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices of memberships of each class of membership in the CBOT, reported in thousands.
|
|
Full
|
|
Associate
|
|
GIM
|
|
IDEM
|
|
COM
|
Calendar Year
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
1998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter |
|
$ |
780 |
|
$ |
714 |
|
$ |
487 |
|
$ |
434 |
|
|
* |
|
|
* |
|
$ |
90 |
|
$ |
66 |
|
$ |
147 |
|
$ |
132 |
Second Quarter |
|
|
725 |
|
|
483 |
|
|
410 |
|
|
210 |
|
$ |
125 |
|
$ |
115 |
|
|
57 |
|
|
28 |
|
|
130 |
|
|
62 |
Third Quarter |
|
|
495 |
|
|
384 |
|
|
195 |
|
|
120 |
|
|
89 |
|
|
61 |
|
|
36 |
|
|
20 |
|
|
69 |
|
|
44 |
Fourth Quarter |
|
|
545 |
|
|
431 |
|
|
226 |
|
|
175 |
|
|
* |
|
|
* |
|
|
33 |
|
|
20 |
|
|
71 |
|
|
48 |
|
1999 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter |
|
|
600 |
|
|
490 |
|
|
282 |
|
|
186 |
|
|
100 |
|
|
75 |
|
|
30 |
|
|
25 |
|
|
70 |
|
|
55 |
Second Quarter |
|
|
633 |
|
|
560 |
|
|
246 |
|
|
220 |
|
|
* |
|
|
* |
|
|
36 |
|
|
26 |
|
|
75 |
|
|
54 |
Third Quarter |
|
|
620 |
|
|
530 |
|
|
235 |
|
|
155 |
|
|
* |
|
|
* |
|
|
32 |
|
|
24 |
|
|
60 |
|
|
47 |
Fourth Quarter |
|
|
475 |
|
|
400 |
|
|
180 |
|
|
127 |
|
|
* |
|
|
* |
|
|
33 |
|
|
24 |
|
|
46 |
|
|
37 |
|
2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter |
|
|
520 |
|
|
410 |
|
|
150 |
|
|
105 |
|
|
70 |
|
|
58 |
|
|
27 |
|
|
16 |
|
|
37 |
|
|
30 |
Second Quarter |
|
|
642 |
|
|
472 |
|
|
138 |
|
|
90 |
|
|
50 |
|
|
50 |
|
|
17 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
37 |
|
|
22 |
Third Quarter |
|
|
507 |
|
|
328 |
|
|
100 |
|
|
61 |
|
|
40 |
|
|
21 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
22 |
|
|
14 |
Fourth Quarter |
|
|
350 |
|
|
255 |
|
|
80 |
|
|
50 |
|
|
31 |
|
|
23 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
18 |
|
|
11 |
|
2001 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter |
|
|
350 |
|
|
290 |
|
|
85 |
|
|
62 |
|
|
36 |
|
|
31 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
20 |
|
|
12 |
Second Quarter |
|
|
350 |
|
|
316 |
|
|
82 |
|
|
65 |
|
|
39 |
|
|
33 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
21 |
|
|
16 |
Third Quarter |
|
|
360 |
|
|
312 |
|
|
106 |
|
|
75 |
|
|
49 |
|
|
40 |
|
|
11 |
|
|
7 |
|
|
24 |
|
|
20 |
Fourth Quarter |
|
|
415 |
|
|
315 |
|
|
135 |
|
|
70 |
|
|
38 |
|
|
38 |
|
|
21 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
25 |
|
|
21 |
|
2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter |
|
|
453 |
|
|
407 |
|
|
170 |
|
|
105 |
|
|
* |
|
|
* |
|
|
20 |
|
|
12 |
|
|
32 |
|
|
22 |
Second Quarter |
|
|
317 |
|
|
240 |
|
|
130 |
|
|
90 |
|
|
55 |
|
|
52 |
|
|
16 |
|
|
12 |
|
|
28 |
|
|
21 |
Third Quarter |
|
|
330 |
|
|
282 |
|
|
132 |
|
|
108 |
|
|
63 |
|
|
63 |
|
|
35 |
|
|
18 |
|
|
28 |
|
|
22 |
Fourth Quarter (through December 18, 2002) |
|
|
330 |
|
|
285 |
|
|
142 |
|
|
127 |
|
|
* |
|
|
* |
|
|
27 |
|
|
20 |
|
|
27 |
|
|
24 |
*Indicates |
|
no sales in the quarter. |
Source: CBOT
records.
104
On August 30, 2000, the day prior to the date of public announcement of the
refined restructuring strategy, which contemplated the restructuring transactions, the closing price for Associate Memberships in the CBOT
was $73,000, as reported by the CBOT.
No Full Memberships, GIMs, IDEMs or COMs were purchased or sold on August 30, 2000. On August 30, 2000, the bid and ask prices for Full Memberships, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs were $335,000 and $400,000, $25,000 and $40,000, $4,200 and $5,000 and $14,000
and $16,500, respectively.
Individual Members
Currently, our membership committee reviews applicants and conducts proceedings to determine whether candidates meet our membership and eligibility requirements.
Additionally, registration or a temporary license to act as either a floor broker or a floor trader must be granted by the National Futures Association before an individual can begin trading on our trading floors. All members must be guaranteed or
qualified to trade by a clearing member before they may personally execute a transaction on the CBOTs exchange facilities.
Full Members. Our Full Members are entitled to execute trades in all futures and options contracts listed on the CBOT. Currently, Full Members are also entitled to the Chicago Board Options Exchange exercise right, as
described in greater detail elsewhere in this document. As of December 18, 2002, there were 1,402 Full Memberships.
Associate Members. Our Associate Members are entitled to execute trades in all futures and options contracts listed in the CBOTs Government Instruments Market, Index, Debt and Energy Market and Commodity Options Market.
As of December 18, 2002, there were 793 Associate Memberships.
GIMs/One-Half Associate Members.
The holder of a GIM Membership is a member entitled to execute trades in all futures contracts assigned to the market category known as the Government Instrument Market, which includes contracts in certain U.S. government and agency
securities, certain foreign government securities and certain domestic certificates of deposit. We are currently phasing out GIM Memberships by converting each GIM Membership into a one-half Associate Membership upon the sale of such membership and
permitting the conversion of two one-half Associate Memberships into one Associate Membership. In addition, upon the sale or transfer of a GIM Membership, and the resulting conversion into a one-half Associate Membership, the associated trading
rights and privileges are eliminated. Following the completion of the restructuring transactions, two Series B-3, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will be convertible into one Series B-2, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary, which
may result in fewer members having the trading rights and privileges of GIMs and more members having the trading rights and privileges of Associate Members. As of December 18, 2002, there were 146 GIM Memberships and 2 one-half Associate
Memberships.
For purposes of the restructuring transactions, including for purposes of determining the
number of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings and the appropriate series of Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary to be distributed in connection with the restructuring transactions, all one-half Associate Memberships shall be treated as GIM
Memberships. In addition, we sometimes in this document refer to one-half Associate Members as GIMs, as the context requires.
IDEMs. The holder of an IDEM Membership is a member entitled to execute trades in all futures contracts assigned to the market category known as the Index, Debt and Energy Market, which includes contracts in
certain stock and bond indices, certain money market instruments and certain energy, i.e., crude oil, gasoline and heating oil, products. As of December 18, 2002 there were 642 IDEM Memberships.
COMs. The holder of a COM Membership is a member entitled to execute trades in all options contracts assigned to the market
category known as the Commodity Options Market, which includes contracts in U.S. Treasury bond futures options and all other options contracts listed for trading by the CBOT. As of December 18, 2002 there were 643 COM Memberships.
Clearing Members
Under our rules, all CBOT contracts must be cleared through the Board of Trade Clearing Corporation, or BOTCC, or such other clearing entity as the CBOT board
of directors designates. Such contracts are subject to
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the bylaws of BOTCC, and our rules provide that it may not change its bylaws without the consent of the CBOT board of directors. However, BOTCC has disputed this restriction and its governing
documents do not contain a similar restriction requiring the CBOTs approval for changes to its bylaws. In addition, no person or organization may become a stockholder of BOTCC until approved by the CBOT.
BOTCC has informed us that it is the worlds largest fully independent futures and futures options clearinghouse and the only
futures and options clearinghouse that is rated AAA by Standard & Poors. On a daily basis, BOTCC compares the data that is submitted by its members, collects and disburses original and variation or mark-to-market
margin payments though a network of banks, and provides its financial guarantee of performance for every trade that is accepted by it for clearing. Since its inception in 1925, BOTCC has designed risk management policies and practices for the CBOT
and its members.
We do not currently have a written contract with BOTCC that would obligate it to
provide its clearing services to our clearing members. We are currently considering negotiating a written contract regarding clearing-related services with BOTCC prior to the completion of the restructuring transactions. However, we cannot provide
any assurances that we will determine to do so or, if we so determine, that we will be successful in entering into such a written contract with BOTCC. Our unwillingness or inability to enter into a written contract with BOTCC, or some other entity
which would provide comparable clearing-related services to CBOT subsidiary, could materially adversely affect our business.
Other Business Relationships and Subsidiaries
Ceres Trading Limited Partnership.
Ceres Trading Limited Partnership is a Delaware limited partnership, which we formed in 1992.
Our electronic
trading business has historically been, and is currently, primarily conducted through Ceres, of which eCBOT is the general partner and CBOT members are limited partners. The CBOT has made its products available for electronic trading since 1992,
initially, on the Globex system, and, beginning in 1994, on Project A, which was operated through the electronic trading division of Ceres. From September 1998 until its decommissioning in August 2000, Project A provided access to the CBOTs
global benchmark financial and index products 22 hours each trading day, with workstations located in the United States, Europe and Asia.
In August 2000, Project A was replaced by the a/c/e system, which is the product of an alliance between the CBOT and certain affiliates and Deutsche Börse AG, the Swiss Stock Exchange and their jointly owned
subsidiaries, Eurex Zürich AG and Eurex Frankfurt AG. A jointly-owned company called CBOT/Eurex Alliance, L.L.C. was established to provide services related to electronic trading to Ceres and to Eurex.
In 2001, certain disputes between the CBOT and the Eurex Group developed concerning, among other things, our obligation to participate in
the cost of certain software upgrades, the development of an equity options market in the United States and the structure and function of CBOT/Eurex Alliance, L.L.C., the joint venture company that we co-own with the Eurex Group. In 2002, we
resolved these disputes by entering into agreements with the Eurex Group, which, collectively modified the structure of our relationship with the Eurex Group from an alliance to an outsourcing arrangement. As a result, we have relinquished
co-ownership of the a/c/e system software and have no further joint development obligations. In connection with these agreements, we have acknowledged Eurexs right to engage in equity options trading in the United States and we have agreed
that CBOT/Eurex Alliance would have no further role in the operation of the a/c/e system. In addition the CBOT and Eurex Frankfurt AG have agreed to permit each other to independently launch new products denominated in U.S. Dollars and Euros,
respectively, outside of a small number of their core product offerings.
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Under the new arrangements with the Eurex Group, Deutsche Börse AG and
SWX Swiss Stock Exchange will provide Ceres with a non-exclusive, royalty-bearing license for the use of the a/c/e software that serves as the basis of the a/c/e electronic trading platform, covering both a/c/e Release 1.0, which is the current
version of the a/c/e software operated for the CBOT, as well as a/c/e Release 1.1, which the CBOT currently intends to implement by the first quarter of 2003. The royalty owed by Ceres under the license with the Eurex Group includes both a fixed
component and a variable component based on electronic trading volume. Deutsche Börse Systems AG has operated and will continue to operate the CBOTs electronic market for the duration of the restructured arrangements, which will expire in
December 31, 2003. We are currently in the process of considering proposals by other third party service providers that are intended to allow us to continue our electronic trading operations after December 31, 2003. Under the restructured alliance
with the Eurex Group, the CBOT has relinquished co-ownership of a/c/e Release 1.0, which it held pursuant to the previous arrangements, but the obligation of Ceres to contribute to development costs pursuant to the previous arrangements has been
terminated.
Ceres currently owns rights to the software for electronic trading of the CBOTs products,
including on the a/c/e system. It has entered into contractual arrangements with us for the provision of services in connection with the operation of the system and the provision of related support services. We currently charge Ceres the fair value
for these services. In addition, we have entered into an agreement with Ceres whereby we pay Ceres a fee for access to the a/c/e system. This licensing fee is about equal to the exchange fees received by us as a result of transactions executed on
the a/c/e system.
Ceress wholly owned subsidiary, Ceres Alliance L.L.C., holds the CBOTs 50% interest
in CBOT/Eurex Alliance, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company. The other member of CBOT/Eurex Alliance is Eurex Beteiligungen AG, a Swiss company owned by Deutsche Börse AG and the Swiss Stock Exchange. CBOT/Eurex Alliance does not
presently employ its own staff, and operates with personnel seconded to it by the CBOT and the Eurex Group. Generally, the voting rights, percentage interests and profits of the CBOT/Eurex Alliance are shared equally between its two members, the
Ceres Alliance L.L.C. and Eurex Beteiligungen AG, and its expenses are allocated among the members as incurred. The CBOT and the Eurex Group have agreed to cease the cost-sharing arrangement with respect to the CBOT/Eurex Alliance L.L.C. and it no
longer has any involvement in the operation of the a/c/e system, which is now provided to Ceres by the Eurex Group.
Our wholly owned subsidiary, eCBOT, is currently the general partner of Ceres. In addition, as of December 18, 2002, Ceres had 3,628 Class A limited partnership interests, of which there are four series, and 59 Class B limited
partnership interests. The following table indicates the number of limited partnership interests held by the CBOT members as of December 18, 2002:
Ceres Limited Partnership Interests By Individual Membership Class
Membership Class
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Class A-1 Limited Partnership Interests
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Class A-2 Limited Partnership Interests
|
|
Class A-3 Limited Partnership Interests
|
|
Class A-4 Limited Partnership Interests
|
|
Class B Limited Partnership Interests
|
Full |
|
1,389 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Associate |
|
|
|
793 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
GIM |
|
|
|
|
|
146 |
|
|
|
|
IDEM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
641 |
|
|
COM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
643 |
|
|
Clearing Member |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
59 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
1,389 |
|
793 |
|
146 |
|
1,284 |
|
59 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
With the exception of 16 interests currently held by eCBOT, Class A limited
partnership interests are generally held by individual CBOT members. Class B limited partnership interests are held by CBOT clearing member firms.
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Following the completion of the restructuring transactions, CBOT Holdings and
the CBOT subsidiary will continue to conduct their electronic trading business through Ceres until such time as the CBOTs current contractual arrangements with the Eurex Group are terminated, which we currently expect to occur in December
2003. We currently anticipate that, at such time, Ceres will be liquidated and its assets distributed to its partners in accordance with the terms of the Ceres limited partnership agreement, and CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary will thereafter
conduct their electronic trading business through the CBOT subsidiary, eCBOT or an affiliate. Following the liquidation of Ceres, CBOT members will no longer participate in the electronic trading business of the CBOT as limited partners of Ceres,
but rather as stockholders of CBOT Holdings.
Electronic Chicago Board of Trade,
Inc. eCBOT was formed in 2000 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the CBOT in anticipation of the expected reorganization of the CBOT's electronic trading business. In September 2000, the CBOT assigned its general partnership
interest in Ceres to eCBOT. Following termination of the CBOT's arrangements with the Eurex Group, which we currently expect to occur in December 2003, Ceres will be liquidated as described above and its assets will be distributed to its partners in
accordance with the terms of the limited partnership agreement, and CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary will thereafter conduct their electronic trading business through eCBOT.
MidAmerica Commodity Exchange. The MidAmerica Commodity Exchange, a wholly owned subsidiary of the CBOT since 1986, is the designated contract market for open outcry
trading of smaller versions of certain futures and options on futures contracts currently traded at the CBOT, Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the New York Mercantile Exchange. On June 12, 2001, the CBOTs board approved a plan to redesignate
certain futures and options on futures contracts currently traded as the MidAmerica Exchange as CBOT contracts and to make such redesignated contracts available for electronic trading. This plan was implemented in fall of 2001.
OneChicago, LLC. The CBOT is a minority interest holder in OneChicago, LLC, a joint venture
formed by Chicago Board Options Exchange and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. OneChicago is an electronic exchange that makes available for trading single-stock futures and narrow-based indices. From its launch on November 8, 2002, OneChicago traded
on twenty-one single-stock futures, with plans to expand to eighty single-stock futures and fifteen narrow-based indices. As a result of CBOTs participation in the joint-venture, CBOT members are automatically members of OneChicago and can
trade through existing memberships and accounts.
Intellectual Property
We regard our brand name and logos and substantial portions of our marketing elements, products, market data, software and technology as proprietary, and we attempt to
protect these elements by relying on trademark, service mark, copyright and trade secret laws, contracts, restrictions on disclosure and other methods. For example, with respect to trademarks, we currently have registered marks in more than 15
countries.
We are undertaking a review of our intellectual property to identify property and methods of doing
business which should be protected, as well as the extent of current protection for that property and the availability of additional protection. We believe that our various trade and service marks have been registered where needed. Recent legal
developments allowing patent protection for methods of doing business hold the possibility of additional protection, which we are examining.
Employees
As of December 15, 2002, we had 658 full-time employees and 22 part-time
employees. These numbers do not include 56 full-time employees and 29 part-time employees of C-B-T Corporation, our subsidiary engaged in managing our properties, which operates the CBOT building located at 141 West Jackson Boulevard.
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We consider our relations with our employees to be good. 45 of the 85 C-B-T
Corporation employees are represented by one of the following unions:
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Chicago & North East Illinois District Council of Carpenters; |
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United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America; |
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International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399, AFL-CIO; and |
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Local 1, Service Employees International Union, SEIU, AFL-CIO. |
Facilities
Our principal executive offices are located at
141 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Our telephone number is (312) 435-3500.
We own the three
buildings, located at the property at 141 West Jackson Boulevard, which consist of a total of about 1,523,077 square feet. We occupy about 438,038 square feet of office, trading floor and support space. We lease the remaining space in this building
to third parties. The trading area has state-of-the-art wallboard price display systems, order routing and communications systems.
In addition, we lease 1,191 square feet of office space at 1455 Pennsylvania N.W. in Washington, D.C. This space houses our government relations operations. The current lease on the Washington office space expired on January
31, 2001 and is currently being renewed on a month-to-month basis. We currently expect that this lease will be renegotiated on terms satisfactory to us.
We lease 1,800 square feet of office space at 52-54 Gracechurch Street in London, England, which is used by our European marketing staff. The current lease on the London office expires in June 2004.
We believe that our facilities are adequate for our current operations and that additional space can be obtained
if needed.
Regulation
Regulation of the U.S. Futures Exchange Industry
Our
operations are subject to extensive regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission under the Commodity Exchange Act. The Commodity Exchange Act generally requires that futures trading in commodities be conducted on a commodity exchange
designated as a contract market by the CFTC. That act establishes non-financial criteria for an exchange to be designated to list futures and options contracts. Designation as a contract market for the trading of a specified futures contract is
non-exclusive. This means that the CFTC may designate additional exchanges as contract markets for trading the same or similar contracts. For information regarding the CFTC approvals required as a condition to our obligation to complete the
restructuring transactions, see The Restructuring TransactionsRegulatory Matters.
We are a
self-regulatory organization that is subject to the oversight of the CFTC. In order to guard against default risk with respect to contracts traded on the CBOT, we have instituted detailed risk management policies and procedures. To manage the risk
of financial non-performance, we have established minimum capital requirements for all futures commission merchant member firms. In addition we operate and maintain systems to:
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ensure that futures commission merchant members maintain capital in excess of the risk based capital requirement adopted by the Board of Trade Clearing
Corporation; |
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require that all clearing futures commission merchant member firms electronically file a financial statement each month. All other futures commission merchant
members must electronically file quarterly financial statements. Firms are placed on additional reporting, i.e., daily, weekly or monthly reporting, when necessary; |
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analyze futures commission merchant member firms financial statements with a state-of-the-art computer system designed to immediately detect financial
violations and unfavorable financial trends; |
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require that all futures commission merchant member firms collect initial and variation margin from their customers; |
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on a daily basis, collect large trader information to determine those firms which may have increased financial exposure and, whenever necessary, the CBOT will
contact firms to ensure financial compliance; |
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during volatile market conditions, simulate the effect of market moves on large trader positions in order to identify those firms that have increased risk
exposure; and |
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exercise broad disciplinary authority over member firms including the ability to issue fines in the case of serious rule violations, and in the case of a
financially distressed firm, we may take various emergency actions to protect customers, other member firms and the CBOT. |
We also have surveillance and compliance operations and procedures to monitor and enforce compliance with rules pertaining to the trading, position sizes, delivery obligations and financial condition of members.
Changes in Existing Laws and Rules
Additional legislation or regulation, or changes in existing laws and rules or their interpretation, may directly affect our mode of operation and our profitability.
Congress has recently adopted amendments to the Commodity Exchange Act that will reduce the cost and burdens of listing new contracts for trading. The CFTC has adopted rules to implement those changes. Other amendments to the Commodity Exchange Act
have been adopted by Congress that might be less favorable to our business. The regulations under which we have operated since 1974 have been changed in a manner that will permit unregulated competitors and competitors in other regulated industries
to attempt to trade our products in their own trading facilities without the same regulatory costs we bear.
The
Commodity Exchange Act generally requires all futures contracts to be executed on an exchange that has been approved by the CFTC. For many years, the exchange trading requirement was modified by CFTC regulations to permit privately negotiated swap
contracts to be transacted in the over-the-counter market. The CFTC exemption, under which the over-the-counter derivative market operated, precluded the over-the-counter market from using exchange-like electronic transaction systems and clearing
unless specific permission, including the imposition of specific conditions, was granted by the CFTC. These limitations on the exemptions granted to the over-the-counter market were called into question by a November 1999 report of the
Presidents Working Group on Financial Markets, which is made up of the Treasury Secretary, the Chairmen of the SEC and the CFTC and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
The working group advocated a complete exemption from the Commodity Exchange Act for some principal-to-principal derivative exchanges that provide electronic trade
execution services comparable to those performed by us. The customers who may access those exempt exchanges are also significant customers of regulated exchanges like ours. The working group recommended equivalent treatment for the existing
electronic markets operated by regulated exchanges or their affiliates and further recommended legislation that would permit CFTC-regulated clearing organizations to clear futures, options on futures contracts and OTC derivatives that are not
securities or securities options. In contrast, the working group recommended permitting banks and SEC-regulated clearing organizations to clear financial derivative contracts, as well as equities, government securities, repurchase and reverse
repurchase agreements and other instruments. Finally, the working group recommended permitting banks and broker-dealers, and their affiliates, to operate currency futures markets for retail customers without being subject to regulation under the
Commodity Exchange Act. All of the working group proposals, if adopted, would likely increase the number and quality of competitors who provide execution and clearing services for standardized derivative contracts.
In February 2000, the CFTC staff released a report advocating the passage of broad regulatory exemptions to create a regulatory
environment that would permit the futures industry to accommodate itself to real world
110
competitive conditions. Its goal was regulation by oversight rather than proscription. The degree of regulation proposed was directly related to the characteristics of the product and the type of
customer that has direct or indirect access to the market, with retail customer markets being subject to greater regulation. The CFTCs proposal would treat open outcry markets and electronic trading market in the same way.
During 2000, Congress considered legislation to implement the suggestions of the working group and the CFTC. On October 19,
2000, the U.S. House of Representatives passed that legislation in a bill numbered H.R. 4541, by a vote of 377 to 4. Further amendments were made to that bill and, as amended, it was reintroduced in the House of Representatives as H.R. 5660 on
December 14, 2000. The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate each passed H.R. 5660 on December 15, 2000. It was signed into law by President William J. Clinton on December 21, 2000 as the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000.
The Commodity Futures Modernization Act provides a series of exclusions from the Commodity Exchange Act that would allow our
competitors to trade futures contracts identical to the ones that we offer without any form of regulation or oversight by the CFTC under certain circumstances. Generally those exclusions are available to markets limited to financial products traded
among institutions, whether traded electronically or not. We too could comply with those exclusions and operate markets that are outside CFTC jurisdiction. If we chose to remain subject to CFTC jurisdiction, the Commodity Futures Modernization Act
replaces the current rigid and rigorous statutory requirements exchanges now face with flexible core principles that exchangescalled contract markets or derivatives transaction execution facilitieswould need to satisfy subject to CFTC
oversight. In addition, if we elect to trade our non-agricultural contracts on the derivatives transaction execution facility platform, banks and broker-dealers would become qualified to act as a sales force for our contracts, thus expanding our
sales force substantially. Finally, the Commodity Futures Modernization Act lifts the current ban on trading in single-stock futures subject to the coordinated oversight of the CFTC and SEC, providing U.S. futures exchanges with the opportunity to
compete for this new market.
The Commodity Futures Modernization Acts new regulatory framework for
exchanges could reduce our regulatory costs and enhance our ability to deliver cost-effective services to our customers. The new framework will also make it easier for others to compete with us at lower regulatory cost. Thus, the regulatory
framework may provide greater regulatory advantages for some of our competitors than it does for us.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we are involved in legal proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of
business. As of the date of this document, except as described below, we are not a party to any litigation or other legal proceeding that, in our opinion, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial
condition.
Lawsuit Brought By Certain Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs. On August 11, 2000, eight
Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs filed a complaint, on behalf of themselves and persons or entities who own Associate Memberships, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs (excluding the 1,402 individuals who hold Full Memberships and any entity which owns a
Full Membership in addition to owning an AM or other membership interest), with the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. The complaint names as defendants five persons holding Full Memberships owned by corporations with multiple Full Memberships
in the CBOT and a defendant class of all 1,402 Full Members.
The complaint alleges that the allocation developed
by our Independent Allocation Committee is unfair and the allocation methodology used by the Independent Allocation Committee improperly weights members voting and liquidation rights as well as the historical distribution of market values of
memberships. The plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment that the allocation is unfair to Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs, and that the vote of Full Members in favor of the allocation in connection with the restructuring transactions would
constitute a breach of fiduciary duties allegedly owed by Full Members to Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs. The complaint requests that the court enjoin Full Members from voting in favor of the allocation and declare that the proposed
allocation is unfair.
111
On January 9, 2001, the defendants moved to dismiss the case on the grounds that
the complaint did not sufficiently allege that the defendants would breach any fiduciary duties to Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs by voting in favor of the restructuring. On January 25, 2001, the circuit court denied defendants
motions to dismiss without ruling on the merits of the dispute, including whether Full Members owe fiduciary duties to plaintiffs or whether the allocation is actually unfair. On February 6, 2001, a motion to compel arbitration under the CBOT rules
and regulations, which provide for arbitration of disputes between members at the CBOT, and to stay the proceedings in Illinois court was filed on behalf of individual defendant Steinborn. On February 8, 2001, a similar motion to compel arbitration
and stay proceedings was filed on behalf of the additional individual defendants. On March 23, 2001, the circuit court granted the defendants motions to compel arbitration and stay proceedings. On April 20, 2001, the plaintiffs filed an appeal
of the circuit courts order granting the defendants motion to compel arbitration. On November 15, 2001, the Illinois appellate court reversed the circuit courts decision, holding that the five named defendants had waived their
right to arbitration.
Following the Illinois appellate courts reversal, the five named defendants moved
to dismiss the case as moot. Four of the defendants submitted affidavits stating that they would not vote in favor of the proposed allocation; the fifth defendant, Burnell Kraft, submitted an affidavit stating that he had retired and no longer held
a CBOT membership. The court granted Burnell Krafts motion to dismiss, but denied the motion to dismiss as moot by the remaining defendants on the ground that it was premature. The court stated that it would resolve class certification issues
before deciding the motion to dismiss as moot. The Court subsequently certified the above described plaintiff and defendant classes. The CBOT has assumed the defense of the Full Members named as defendants in the complaint and of the defendant
class.
On December 19, 2001, plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint, which is virtually identical to
the amended complaint, with the exception that it adds a second count, brought by one plaintiff, Virginia McGathey, who holds a COM membership, against the CBOT as a defendant. The CBOT filed a motion to dismiss the second count of the second
amended complaint for failing to state a valid claim. On February 8, 2002, the court granted the CBOTs motion to dismiss the plaintiffs second amended complaint, but allowed the plaintiff twenty-one days to amend the second count of its
second amended complaint again. The CBOT again moved to dismiss the second count of the third amended complaint. At the oral argument on CBOTs motion to dismiss, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the second count of its complaint. As a
result, the only remaining claim in the case is the first count against the defendant class.
On May 31, 2002,
defendants moved for summary judgment on the only remaining count of plaintiffs complaint, on the grounds that Full Members do not owe a fiduciary duty to Associate Members or membership interest holders and that Delawares business
judgment rule protects the allocation decision made by the Independent Committee and the board of directors. On August 8, 2002, the court granted defendants motion for summary judgment, holding that Full Members do not owe fiduciary duties to
Associate Members and membership interest holders. On September 6, 2002, plaintiffs filed a motion asking the court to reconsider its decision to dismiss the case and terminate this litigation. On December 16, 2002, the Court denied plaintiffs
motion for reconsideration.
We believe that the Courts decision is correct and that the
plaintiffs position is without merit. Nevertheless, we cannot provide any assurances that the plaintiffs will not appeal nor can we provide any assurances that the plaintiffs will not succeed in preventing or delaying the vote which is the
subject of this proxy solicitation or in altering the proposed allocation of equity in the restructuring transactions. Additionally, we cannot assure you that the plaintiffs will not attempt to pursue other remedies, such as damages, in the event
that the restructuring transactions are completed on the terms proposed in this document. For more information, see Risk FactorsRisks Relating to the Restructuring TransactionsCertain Members Have Filed a Complaint in Illinois
State Court Challenging the Proposed Allocation of Equity in the CBOT and The Allocation of the Equity in CBOT Holdings Depends on Several Relative Factors.
Chicago Board Options Exchange Dispute. Since 1973, when we created the Chicago Board Options Exchange, our Full Members have had a legal right to become members of
that exchange without having to
112
purchase a membership pursuant to the exercise right. Over the last several years, the CBOE has stated publicly its view that, if consummated, the restructuring transactions would extinguish the
exercise right under certain circumstances.
In response, on June 30, 2000, we filed a complaint against the CBOE
seeking declaratory and injunctive relief with respect to our Delaware reincorporation. Specifically, we sought a declaration that becoming a Delaware not-for-profit corporation would not violate a 1992 agreement between the parties or serve to
extinguish the exercise right of our Full Members. On August 3, 2000, after the CBOE agreed in court that it would take no action to extinguish or limit the exercise right based solely on the reincorporation of the CBOT in Delaware, the court
dismissed the CBOTs complaint. On August 30, 2000, the CBOE filed a proposed rule change with the Securities and Exchange Commission consisting of a proposed interpretation of the exercise right. On October 10, 2000, the CBOE filed an
amendment to its proposed rule change and interpretation and sought SEC approval of its position. In its filing, the CBOE stated that the exercise right would be terminated:
|
|
for any Full Member, if that Full Member sells or otherwise transfers any of the stock and other interests received as a result of completing the restructuring
transactions in exchange for his or her Full Membership; |
|
|
for all Full Members, if the CBOT by expanding electronic trading on the a/c/e system or otherwise, allows non-members to trade directly on the CBOT on the same
basis as members; or |
|
|
for all Full Members, if CBOT members who exercise their right to become members of the CBOE are able to trade all of the CBOTs products and the
CBOEs products simultaneously. |
On October 17, 2000, the CBOT filed a second complaint
seeking a declaration that the restructuring transactions would not extinguish the exercise right and an injunction prohibiting the CBOE from taking any action to the contrary. On January 19, 2001, the Illinois Circuit Court dismissed Count I of our
complaint for failure to sufficiently allege breach of the 1992 agreement by the CBOE and for failure to allege damages. The court also dismissed Count II of the complaint as preempted by federal law, holding that this matter should be resolved in
the first instance by the SEC. The courts ruling did not address the merits of the dispute, including whether or not the CBOEs position breaches the 1992 agreement. Under this ruling, the SEC would have been free to determine whether the
CBOE could take the actions described above with respect to the exercise right in connection with its proposed rule change and interpretation filed with the SEC. In response, on February 16, 2001, the CBOT filed an amended complaint, seeking a
declaration by the court that the CBOE breached the 1992 agreement by adopting its proposed rule change and submitting it to the SEC for approval without the written consent of the CBOT. In addition, the CBOT sought an injunction prohibiting the
CBOE from attempting to amend or modify its Rule 3.16(b), relating to the exercise right, adopted pursuant to the 1992 agreement, without our written consent, in violation of its obligations under the 1992 agreement. Finally, the CBOT sought a
declaration that certain elements of its proposed restructuring comply with the CBOTs obligations under the 1992 agreement.
On November 17, 2000, the SEC requested public comment on the CBOEs proposed rule change. On December 11, 2000 we filed a comment letter with the SEC challenging the legal validity of the proposed rule change and urging the SEC
not to approve it. On February 12, 2001, we filed a supplementary comment letter with the SEC summarizing the proposed restructuring transactions and notifying the SEC of developments at the Illinois Circuit Court.
On February 26, 2001, the CBOE filed with the SEC a letter in support of its proposed rule change and in response to our filed opposition
to that proposed rule change. The CBOEs letter took the position that after the restructuring transactions the CBOT will not be a membership corporation and therefore will not satisfy one of the conditions for retention of the exercise right
under the 1992 agreement. The CBOE further claimed that the a/c/e system gives our members who exercise the right to become CBOE members the ability to trade on the CBOE trading floor and through the CBOT at the same time, activity that the CBOE
claimed is incompatible
113
with the exercise right. The CBOE also claimed that the exercise right may be terminated after the completion of the restructuring transactions because certain non-trading rights, including
voting rights, of the current Full Members of the CBOT will change in connection with the completion of the restructuring transactions.
In March 2001, representatives of the CBOT initiated discussions with representatives of the CBOE to arrange for a settlement of this dispute. On March 28, 2001, we entered into an agreement with the
CBOE for the purpose of facilitating our discussions regarding possible settlement of this dispute. Pursuant to this agreement, the CBOE agreed to request that the SEC refrain from approving the CBOEs filing with the SEC (File No.
SR-CBOE-00-44) and the CBOT has agreed not to seek to have the registration statement of which this document forms a part declared effective by the SEC, in each case so long as such agreement remains in effect. In addition, we agreed with the CBOE
that each party would file one or more joint requests for an extension of time such that the CBOEs answer or response to the CBOTs amended complaint in Illinois Circuit Court would not be due any sooner than 14 days after the termination
of the agreement. This agreement remained in effect through August 1, 2001.
On August 7, 2001, the CBOT entered
into an agreement with the CBOE for the stated purpose of resolving the dispute between the parties regarding the exercise right within the context of the restructuring transactions and electronic trading generally at the CBOT. Among other things,
the CBOT and the CBOE agreed:
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that in order to exercise the right to become a member at the CBOE, an individual must be the owner (or delegate of such owner) of (A) 25,000 shares of Class A
common stock of the previously contemplated stock, for-profit CBOT, subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments, (B) one share of Series B-1, Class B common stock of the previously contemplated stock, for-profit CBOT and (C) one instrument to be
issued to the 1,402 Full Members, which represents the exercise right; |
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that the CBOT has created and will maintain various incentives to promote the continued value of CBOT membership, including meaningful member and delegate fee
preferences (applicable to the floor and electronic trading platform) and pit closing provisions, in each case as described in this document; |
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to submit any questions that may subsequently arise as to the continued meaningfulness of the preferences and incentives described above to binding arbitration
in accordance with the terms of the August 7, 2001 agreement; |
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that if a Full Member of the CBOT delegates his or her membership rights to an individual who exercises and becomes a member of the CBOE, such Full Member will
relinquish all member trading rights at both the CBOT and CBOE and may trade only as a customer at customer rates at the CBOT unless that Full Member owns another CBOT membership which entitles that member to member trading rights and transaction
rates; |
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that delegates of Full Members of the CBOT who have exercised their right to trade at the CBOE may trade on the CBOTs electronic trading platform only at
customer rates; and |
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that if a Full Member of the CBOT is present on the trading floor of the CBOE or is logged on to the CBOE electronic trading platform at the time an order is
entered or altered on the CBOTs electronic trading platform by or on behalf of such member, then such member will be charged CBOT customer rates for trades resulting from the execution of such order. |
In addition, the CBOT agreed to file a notice of voluntary dismissal of its litigation in the Illinois Circuit Court relating to the
exercise right, which was filed on August 17, 2001. The CBOE agreed that it will take no action to amend, modify or otherwise limit, or terminate or cause to expire, whether by interpretation or otherwise, the exercise right as a result of the
completion of the restructuring transactions, except as contemplated in the settlement agreement.
In addition,
the CBOE agreed to withdraw and terminate its proposed rulemaking request, which was done on August 13, 2001.
114
The August 7, 2001 agreement states that it is subject to a number of conditions,
including, among other things:
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the agreement must be filed with and approved by the SEC; |
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the agreement must be approved by the membership of the CBOE; |
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the registration statement of which this document is part must be declared effective by the SEC; |
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the CBOE must consent to any amendment to the registration statement of which this document is part; |
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the restructuring transactions must be approved by the membership of the CBOT; and |
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the CBOT must receive a favorable ruling from the IRS and any required approvals by the CFTC. |
On October 24, 2001, the CBOT, CBOT Holdings and the CBOE entered into a letter agreement that, among other things, specified the
terms and conditions under which the August 7, 2001 agreement will apply upon the completion of the restructuring transactions as revised to provide for the holding company structure. In addition, among other things, the parties agreed that for
purposes of the August 7, 2001 agreement:
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the common stock of CBOT Holdings would correspond to the Class A Common Stock referred to in the August 7, 2001 agreement;
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the Series B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4 and B-5, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary would correspond to the Class B Common Stock or applicable series
thereof referred to in the August 7, 2001 agreement; and |
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the Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary would correspond to the Exercise Coupon referred to in the August 7, 2001 agreement.
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In a related action, on August 30, 2001, 10 members of the CBOE filed a motion for a temporary restraining
order and preliminary injunction against the CBOE and the CBOT, alleging that the then pending CBOE membership vote on the settlement agreement between the CBOT and the CBOE would breach the 1992 agreement, which includes as a recital article fifth
(b) of the certificate of incorporation of the CBOE. According to plaintiffs, article fifth (b) and the 1992 agreement require approval of the August 7, 2001 agreement by 80% of members of the CBOE and 80% of CBOT members or their delegates who have
become members of the CBOE pursuant to the exercise right. Plaintiffs asked the court to enjoin approval of the settlement agreement by members of the CBOE and to enjoin the CBOT and the CBOE from enacting the provisions of the settlement agreement.
Both the CBOT and the CBOE filed motions to dismiss, which were granted by the court on September 17, 2001.
On September 13, 2002, the CBOT, CBOT Holdings and the CBOE entered into a letter agreement that, among other things, specified the terms and conditions under which the August 7, 2001 agreement and the October 24, 2001 letter
agreement will apply upon the completion of the restructuring transactions, as refined subsequent to the October 24, 2001 letter agreement. In addition, among other things, the parties agreed that for purposes of the August 7, 2001 Agreement the
exercise right will continue to be available to Full Members (or their delegates) under the terms of the August 7, 2001 Agreement and the October 24, 2001 letter agreement notwithstanding the restriction on transfers applicable to Series B-1, Class
B memberships.
Notwithstanding entry into the August 7, 2001 agreement and related October 24, 2001 and
September 13, 2002 letter agreements, we cannot assure you that the CBOE will not take other actions in the future to challenge or interfere with the exercise right or that it will not otherwise be successful in terminating the exercise right or
preventing Full Members from exercising such right in the future. For more information about these risks, see Risk FactorsRisks Relating to the Restructuring TransactionsThe Exercise Right Could be Challenged Further by
the Chicago Board Options Exchange.
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Full Members and Associate Members are being asked to ratify the agreements
recently entered into by us and the CBOE. We have included as Appendices E-1, E-2 and E-3 to this document a copy of the August 7, 2001 agreement and related October 24, 2001 and September 13, 2002 letter agreements, respectively. We urge you to
review carefully all three agreements before voting on the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions.
Patent Rights Litigation. On May 5, 1999, the CBOT, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the New York Mercantile Exchange and Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., were sued by Electronic Trading Systems, Inc. in the United States District
Court for the Northern District of Texas (Dallas Division) for alleged infringement of Wagner United States patent 4,903,201, entitled Automated Futures Trade Exchange. On February 1, 2001, the complaint was amended to allege that CBOT
infringed the patent by operating Project A, which we decommissioned in August 2000, as well as the a/c/e system. The amended complaint seeks treble damages, attorneys fees and preliminary and permanent injunctions against all defendants. The
district court denied our motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction and our motion to transfer the case to the Northern District of Illinois. On April 16, 2001, we asserted a right to be indemnified with respect to this litigation by Eurex
Frankfurt AG in connection with its provision of market supervision services. Eurex has disputed that obligation. On April 25, 2001, we were advised that an interest in the patent had been transferred to eSpeed, Inc. On June 5, 2001, the court
allowed eSpeed to join the case as a plaintiff. On October 12, 2001, the court issued an order interpreting the asserted claims of the Wagner patent. As part of our agreement to modify our relationship with the Eurex Group, in July 2002, we released
the Eurex Group from all claims that it was obligated to indemnify us in connection with the Wagner patent. On August 26, 2002, the CBOT and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange entered into a settlement with eSpeed Inc. and Electronic Trading Systems
Inc., and the plaintiffs claims were dismissed with prejudice. In connection with the settlement, the plaintiffs released the CBOT and Ceres from all claims of past infringement and granted the CBOT a license to make, have made and use the
Wagner patent until it expires in February 2007. In exchange, the CBOT agreed to pay $15.0 million over a five-year period.
Soybean Antitrust Litigation. On November 14, 1989, the CBOT was sued in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on behalf of a class of soybean farmers, challenging an emergency resolution issued by CBOT
relating to the July 1989 soybean futures contract. Following two appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the sole claim surviving for trial was plaintiffs claim that CBOT had conspired to manipulate soybean futures
prices and fix cash soybean prices in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. In addition to CBOT, the suit named as defendants certain members of the CBOTs Board of Directors and its Business Conduct Committee. The plaintiff class of
soybean farmers sought treble damages under Section 4 of the Clayton Act on the order of $50 million. Trial began September 17, 2002. On October 10, 2002, the District Court granted defendants FRCP 50(a) motion for judgment as a matter of law,
and entered judgment for CBOT and all remaining defendants. On October 28, 2002, plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal.
116
MANAGEMENT AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Directors and Executive Officers
The CBOT board of directors currently consists of 18 directors, including:
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the chairman of the board; |
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the vice chairman of the board; |
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nine elected directors who are Full Members and of whom at least two are nonresident; |
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four non-member directors nominated and approved by the board of directors; |
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two elected directors who are Associate Members; and |
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the president and chief executive officer, who serves as a non-voting member of the board. |
Currently, there is one vacant non-member directorship.
The directors serving on the board of directors of the CBOT immediately prior to the completion of the restructuring transactions will continue as members of the boards of directors of both CBOT
Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary immediately following the completion of the restructuring transactions. The continuing directors will serve for the duration of their current terms with the exception of the current public directors, whose terms will
end in connection with the first annual election following the completion of the restructuring transactions.
The size of the board of directors of CBOT Holdings will be reduced from 18 directors to 16 directors in connection with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the completion of the restructuring transactions. The board
of directors of CBOT Holdings will then consist of:
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the chairman of the board, who will be a holder of a Series B-1, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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a vice-chairman of the board, who will be a holder of a Series B-1, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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eight directors, who will be holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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two directors, who will be holders of Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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three directors, who will be independent within the meaning of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of CBOT Holdings; and
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the president and chief executive officer of CBOT Holdings, who will be a non-voting director. |
Except as described below, each director of CBOT Holdings will be elected to serve as a director until the second annual meeting of each such corporation
following their election and will not be subject to term limits. Directors will remain entitled to serve, however, only for so long as they retain the qualifications of the directorship for which they were nominated and elected.
The elected directors of CBOT Holdings will be classified into two classes of directors consisting of eight
directors and seven directors, respectively. The first class of directors will consist of:
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the chairman of the board; |
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four directors, who will be holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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one director, who will be a holder of a Series B-2, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary; and |
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two independent directors. |
117
The second class of directors will consist of:
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the vice-chairman of the board; |
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four directors, who will be holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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one director, who will be a holder of a Series B-2, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary; and |
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one independent director. |
The president and chief executive officer will, upon appointment to such position, automatically become a non-voting director.
At the first annual meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings following the completion of the restructuring transactions, the stockholders will elect six directors, consisting of three of the
directors from the second class of directors and the three directors from the first class of directors. The directors of the second class will be elected to serve until the third annual meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings following the
completion of the restructuring transactions, and the directors of the first class will be elected to serve until the second annual meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings following the completion of the restructuring transactions.
Thereafter, each class of directors will be elected at every other annual meeting, beginning with the
first class at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings following the completion of the restructuring transactions. For a more detailed description of the directors and the terms that such directors are expected to be elected
to at each of the first, second and third annual elections following the completion of the restructuring transactions, see, Description of Restructuring TransactionsModernization of Our Corporate Governance StructureBoard of
Directors.
In connection with the election of directors to the new sixteen-member board of
directors of CBOT Holdings, we currently anticipate that CBOT Holdings, as the holder of the sole Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary, will elect the same persons as members of the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary. In order to ensure
that the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary is generally identical in size and composition to the board of directors of CBOT Holdings, it will be a qualification for service as a director of the CBOT subsidiary that such director also serve
at the same time on the board of directors of CBOT Holdings.
Set forth below are the names, ages and
positions of the persons currently serving as directors and executive officers of each of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT. As described above, immediately following the completion of the restructuring transactions, the boards of directors of both CBOT
Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary will consist of the members of the board of directors of the CBOT immediately prior to the completion of the restructuring transactions. We currently expect that, subject to resignation or removal, the current
executive officers of each of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT will continue to serve as executive officers of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary, respectively, immediately following the completion of the restructuring transactions. However we can
provide no assurances in this regard.
CBOT Holdings
Name
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|
Age
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|
Positions Held
|
Bernard W. Dan |
|
42 |
|
President and Chief Executive Officer, Director |
Carol A. Burke |
|
51 |
|
Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff |
William M. Farrow III |
|
47 |
|
Executive Vice President |
Glen M. Johnson |
|
54 |
|
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Nickolas J. Neubauer |
|
57 |
|
Chairman of the Board of Directors |
118
CBOT |
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Positions Held
|
Bernard W. Dan |
|
42 |
|
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Carol A. Burke |
|
51 |
|
Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff |
William M. Farrow III |
|
47 |
|
Executive Vice President |
Glen M. Johnson |
|
54 |
|
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Bryan T. Durkin |
|
42 |
|
Senior Vice President |
Mary McDonnell |
|
47 |
|
Senior Vice President |
Nickolas J. Neubauer |
|
57 |
|
Chairman of the Board of Directors |
Charles P. Carey |
|
49 |
|
Vice Chairman |
Raymond Cahnman |
|
57 |
|
Director |
John E. Callahan |
|
61 |
|
Director |
Mark E. Cermak |
|
50 |
|
Director |
Robert F. Corvino |
|
45 |
|
Director |
Howard R. Feiler |
|
38 |
|
Director |
Andrew J. Filipowski |
|
52 |
|
Director |
Veda Kaufman Levin |
|
55 |
|
Director |
James P. McMillin |
|
44 |
|
Director |
C. C. Odom II |
|
60 |
|
Director |
Gary V. Sagui |
|
50 |
|
Director |
James R. Thompson |
|
66 |
|
Director |
Michael D. Walter |
|
53 |
|
Director |
Ralph H. Weems |
|
70 |
|
Director |
Walt K. Weissman |
|
55 |
|
Director |
Set forth below is a description of the backgrounds of the
persons named in the tables above.
Bernard W. Dan was appointed by the board to serve as President and
Chief Executive Officer in November 2002. He served as an Executive Vice President from July 2001 until his appointment. From 1985 until July 2001, Mr. Dan worked in a number of different senior capacities for Cargill Investor Services Inc. and its
affiliates, including, Asia Pacific Regional Head, Head of Global Execution and, most recently, President.
Carol A. Burke has served as Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff since November 2002 and served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel since February 1995 and Senior Vice President and General Counsel since
April 1994. Prior to that time, Ms. Burke held other positions in the Presidents office and the Legal Department of the CBOT.
William M. Farrow III has served as an Executive Vice President since July 2001. From 1996 until July 2001, Mr. Farrow served as Senior Vice President for Bank One Corp. As Senior Vice President his responsibilities
included eCommerce/eBusiness management, technology sales management and technology platform development and conversion.
Glen M. Johnson has served as our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since February 1995. From December 1982 to February 1995, he was Vice President and Treasurer of the CBOT.
Bryan T. Durkin has served as Senior Vice President, Open Outcry since June 2001. Prior to that, Mr. Durkin served as Senior Vice
President and Administrator, Office of Investigations & Audits and Order Routing from February 2000 to June 2001. From December 1999 to February 2000, Mr. Durkin served as Senior Vice President, Office of Investigations & Audits. From
December 1993 through December 1999, he served as Vice President & Deputy Administrator, Office of Investigations & Audits.
Mary McDonnell has served as Senior Vice President, Screen Based Trading of the CBOT since June 2001. From July 2000 to June 2001, Ms. McDonnell served as Vice President, CBOT/Eurex Alliance. Prior to joining
119
the CBOT in January 2000 as Project Manager and Managing Director of the CBOT/Eurex Alliance, Ms. McDonnell served as the Executive Vice President of the Bermuda Commodities Exchange from
1997 through 1999 where her responsibilities included the development, implementation and operation of the first Internet-based electronic futures exchange. From 1979 through 1996, Ms. McDonnell served as the Chief Financial and Operating Officer of
Griffin Trading, a global futures clearing firm, as well as President of Griffin Asset Management Intl. Ltd., an asset allocation firm in the futures industry.
Nickolas J. Neubauer has served as Chairman of the CBOT since January 2001. He has been an independent trader on the CBOT since February 1978. He is the President of
Sano Corporation, an Arizona real estate corporation that he founded in 1991. He owns two Full Memberships in the CBOT and two CBOE memberships.
Charles P. Carey has served as a director since 1997 and Vice Chairman since January 2000. He also serves on the Finance, Executive and Human Resources Committees. He is the Managing Member of
RCH Trading LLC, a registered broker-dealer. Mr. Carey holds one Full Membership in the CBOT and is a partner at Henning & Carey, a commodity trading firm.
Raymond Cahnman has served as a director since January 2000. Mr. Cahnman has been a trader on the CBOT for the previous five years, and he currently trades with
TransMarket Group L.L.C., a clearing firm. Mr. Cahnman holds, directly or indirectly, by virtue of his controlling interest in TransMarket Group L.L.C., three Full Memberships, two Associate Memberships, eight GIMs and three IDEMs.
John E. Callahan has served as a director since March 2002, and is a member of the Finance Committee. He is currently an
independent trader. From December 1999 to July 2001, Mr. Callahan was a Managing Member of Callahan DPM, LLC. Prior to December 1999, for over twenty years, he was an independent market maker for the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Mr. Callahan
holds a Full Membership in the CBOT.
Mark Cermak has served as a director since January 2000, and is the
Chairman of the Regulatory Compliance Committee and the Joint CBOE/CBOT Advisory Committee and is a member of the Finance Committee and the Executive Committee. He is currently a President of OConnor & Co. LLC, a clearing member of the
CBOT, a position he has held since January 1995. Mr. Cermak is a director of the New England Grain and Feed Council and holds one Full Membership in the CBOT.
Robert F. Corvino has served as a director since January 2000. He is also a member of the Executive Committee, the Finance Committee and the Floor Financial Committee, of which he is the
Chairman. Mr. Corvino is a member of RCH Trading LLC, a registered broker-dealer. From November 1985 to May 2000, Mr. Corvino was an independent trader. He holds one Full Membership in the CBOT.
Howard R. Feiler has served as a director since March 2002. He is a member of the Finance Committee, the Regulatory Compliance Committee, the Audit Committee
and the Appellate Committee. From 1995 to 2001, he was a member of the Treasury Bond Pit Committee. Mr. Feiler has been a bond trader/broker for AH&J Brokerage, Inc. since January 1999. From 1986 to 1998 he was employed as a vice president at
Lehman Brothers. Mr. Feiler holds one Associate Membership in the CBOT.
Andrew J. Filipowski has served as
a director since January 2000 and is a member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Filipowski is the founder and, since June 1999, has been the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of divine, inc., a Chicago-based enterprise Web solutions company. Founded in
1999, divine is focused on developing and marketing critical software infrastructure and technology solutions for enterprises worldwide, as well as the integration, training and sales and marketing services to support those solutions. divine also
holds interests in various companies that are principally involved in integrated solutions for e-commerce and vertical markets. Prior to June 1999, Mr. Filipowski was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of PLATINUM technology
international, inc., a software services company. He is a director of Blue Rhino Corp., a propane cylinder exchange distributor and eShare Technologies, a provider of contract management software solutions.
120
Veda Kaufman Levin has served as a director since January 2000. She has
been the Group Vice PresidentDepartment of Futures Sales at ABN/AMRO, NA. Incorporated since February 2001. From March 1994 to February 2001, Ms. Kaufman Levin served as a Senior Vice President of Lazard Freres & Co. She holds one Full
Membership in the CBOT.
James Patrick McMillin has served as a director since January 2000, and is a
member of the Human Resources Committee. He is currently an Area Director for CSI, Inc., a software engineering company. From August 2000 to July 2001, Mr. McMillin served as an Account Sales Manager at Comdisco Inc., a provider of equipment leasing
and network services, data protection and financial and technology management. Prior to that, Mr. McMillin traded financial futures at the CBOT. Mr. McMillin is a director of Hinsdale Bank and Trust, a community bank, and holds one Associate
Membership in the CBOT.
C. C. Odom, II has served as a director since March 2002, and is a member of the
Executive Committee, the Finance Committee and the Chairman of the Lessors Committee. In addition, Mr. Odom serves as a director of the Mid America Commodity Exchange, and serves on the Executive Committee of the board of directors of the Mid
America Commodity Exchange. Mr. Odom is currently employed by Alexander Consulting & Billing (from 1999), Frontier Health (from 2000), and RBC Development (from 1997). He also serves on the board of directors of Mission Road Development and the
South Texas Community Foundation, both of which are charitable in nature. Prior to his current employment, Mr. Odom was employed at Alamo Capital Funding from 1993 to 2000. Mr. Odom holds one Full Membership in the CBOT.
Gary V. Sagui has served as a director since March 2002, and is a member of the Finance Committee and the Regulatory Compliance
Committee. Since 1989, he has been an individual trader. Mr. Sagui holds one Full Membership, one Associate Membership and one IDEM Membership in the CBOT.
James Robert Thompson, Jr., has served as a director since February 1991. Governor Thompson has been the Chairman of the law firm of Winston & Strawn, a national law firm that acts as
counsel for the Independent Allocation Committee of our board of directors, since January 1991. From January 1977 to January 1991, he was the Governor of the State of Illinois. He serves on the Audit and Human Resources Committees and is Chairman of
the Independent Allocation Committee of our board of directors. Governor Thompson is a director of Jefferson Smurfit Group, Plc, an integrated producer of packaging products; FMC Corporation, a diversified chemicals company; FMC Technologies, Inc.,
a manufacturer of products utilized in the oil and gas industry; Hollinger International Inc., a newspaper publisher; Prime Retail, Inc., a real estate investment trust specializing in factory outlet centers; Prime Group Realty Trust, a real estate
investment trust focused on industrial properties; MAXIMUS, Inc., a consulting company.
Michael D. Walter
has served as a director since January 2000, and is the Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Human Resources Committee. Since October 1996, he has been Senior Vice President, Commodity Procurement and Economic Strategies of
ConAgra Foods, Inc. From February 1989 to September 1996, Mr. Walter was President of ConAgra Specialty Grain Cos. Mr. Walter is Chairman of the Board of European Oat Millers, an oat milling company, and a director of ConAgra Malt, a worldwide
manufacturer of malt. ConAgra holds one Full Membership in the CBOT.
Ralph H. Weems has served as a
director since August 2002 and previously served as a director from January 1990 to March 2002, and from January 1985 to January 1988. He serves as a member of the Independent Allocation Committee of the board of directors. Mr. Weems has owned
and operated an independent farm since June 1955.
Walt K. Weissman has served as a director since March
2002. Since 1978, he has been the Vice Chairman of Tradelink, L.L.C. Mr. Weissman holds one Full Membership in the CBOT.
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Committees of the Board of Directors
It is currently expected that the board of directors of CBOT Holdings will have a nominating committee, an executive committee, an audit committee and a compensation
committee. It is currently expected that the members of these committees will be elected by CBOT Holdings board of directors following the completion of the restructuring transactions. Each of these committees is described in more detail
below.
Nominating Committee
It is currently expected that the board of directors of CBOT Holdings will have a nominating committee consisting of four members who will be directors elected by the board
to serve on such committee. We currently expect that the nominating committee will initially include the chairman of the board, one independent director and the chief executive officer. This committee will review the qualifications of potential
candidates and will propose to the then-sitting board of directors for their review and approval nominees for vacant positions or positions expected to be vacant on the board of directors.
Executive Committee
It is
currently expected that the board of directors of CBOT Holdings will have an executive committee consisting of directors elected by the board to serve on such committee. The Executive Committee will exercise the authority of the full board of
directors when the board is not in session, except as required by the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of CBOT Holdings or applicable law.
Audit Committee
It is currently expected that the board of
directors of CBOT Holdings will have an audit committee consisting of three members who will be directors elected by the board to serve on such committee. We currently expect that the audit committee will initially include the three independent
directors. This committee will review the results and scope of the audit and other services provided by the independent auditors as well as the accounting and internal control procedures and policies of CBOT Holdings.
Compensation Committee
It is currently expected that the board of directors of CBOT Holdings will have a compensation committee consisting of three members who will be directors elected by the board to serve on such
committee. We currently expect that the compensation committee will initially include the three independent directors. It will oversee the compensation and benefits of CBOT Holdings and its subsidiaries management and employees.
Other Committees
In addition to these committees, it is currently expected that CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary will maintain the current board and non-board committees as currently composed. It is also currently
expected that CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary may create additional non-board advisory bodies and other non-board committees comprised of directors, officers and stockholders or members, as appropriate.
Director Compensation
We currently expect that each independent director of CBOT Holdings will receive an annual fee of $40,000, plus a meeting attendance fee of $1,500 for each regular meeting of the board that they attend. All directors of CBOT Holdings
will receive reimbursement of expenses for travel to meetings.
We currently expect that directors of the CBOT
subsidiary will not receive any fees, except that all directors of the CBOT subsidiary will receive reimbursement of expenses for travel to meetings to the extent such meetings do not coincide with meetings of the board of directors of CBOT
Holdings.
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Mr. Neubauer was elected by the members to serve as chairman of the board of
directors in December 2000 and began to serve in such capacity in January 2001. Mr. Neubauer was paid a total of $240,000 in directors fees for 2001.
Executive Compensation
The following table and the related notes set forth
information relating to the compensation paid to, accrued or earned by each of the named executive officers of the CBOT, consisting of the CBOTs chief executive officers and each of the next four most highly compensated of the CBOTs
current executive officers, for services rendered during the year ended December 31, 2001.
|
|
CBOT FY 2001 Annual Compensation
|
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Salary
|
|
Bonus(1)
|
|
Other Annual Compensation(2)(7)
|
|
Total
|
Bernard W. Dan (3)(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
$ |
317,147 |
|
$ |
200,000 |
|
$ |
5,248 |
|
$ |
522,395 |
|
David J. Vitale (5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Former President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
$ |
1,041,667 |
|
|
750,000 |
|
|
8,258 |
|
|
1,799,925 |
|
Carol A. Burke |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff |
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
116,652 |
|
|
691,652 |
|
William M. Farrow III (6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Vice President |
|
|
160,417 |
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
3,854 |
|
|
364,271 |
|
Glen M. Johnson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Vice President & CFO |
|
|
272,000 |
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
76,132 |
|
|
378,132 |
(1) |
|
Bonuses for services performed in 2001 by named executive officers were paid in January 2002. |
(2) |
|
Executives under contract with the CBOT are entitled to participate in all employee benefit plans and to receive all other fringe benefits as are from time to
time made available to the senior management of the CBOT, which includes the CBOT contribution to a qualified 401(k) savings plan and the CBOT contribution to a non-qualified plan. |
(3) |
|
Dennis A. Dutterer, who was appointed Interim President and Chief Executive Officer in April 2000, resigned in December 2000, effective as of January 15, 2001.
Mr. Dutterer received $34,375 in salary during 2001. Pursuant to a letter agreement between the CBOT and the Board of Trade Clearing Corporation, Mr. Dutterers salary was paid by the Board of Trade Clearing Corporation but the CBOT was
obligated to reimburse the Board of Trade Clearing Corporation for such amounts, including any applicable employment taxes. David J. Vitale, who was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer on January 15, 2001, resigned in November 2002. Mr.
Vitale received a total of $1,041,667 in salary, $750,000 in bonus, $8,258 in other annual compensation and $1,799,925 in total compensation in 2001. Upon the CBOTs acceptance of Mr. Vitales resignation in November 2002, Bernard Dan was
appointed President and Chief Executive Officer. See Employment-Related Agreements. |
(4) |
|
Mr. Dan was hired by the CBOT in June 2001. Included in Mr. Dans salary is a one-time payment of $150,000 made upon his acceptance of employment with the
CBOT. |
(5) |
|
In November 2002, Mr. Vitale and the CBOT reached a mutual agreement pursuant to which Mr. Vitale voluntarily resigned, effective November 4, 2002, from all
offices and directorships with the CBOT, including his positions at the CBOT and CBOT Holdings. For further discussion of the terms and conditions of this general release and separation agreement, see Vitale Separation Agreement.
We do not believe that Mr. Vitales resignation will have any material effect on the CBOT or its operations or on our ability to complete the restructuring transactions. |
123
(6) |
|
Mr. Farrow was hired by the CBOT in July 2001. |
(7) |
|
The following table presents the amount of each category of Other Annual Compensation paid by the CBOT with respect to each of the named
individuals: |
Name
|
|
401(k) Matching Contribution
|
|
Supplemental Plan
|
|
Other
|
|
Total
|
Mr. Dan |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
5,248 |
|
$ |
5,248 |
|
Mr. Vitale |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,258 |
|
|
8,258 |
|
Ms. Burke |
|
|
40,546 |
|
|
62,449 |
|
|
13,657 |
|
|
116,652 |
|
Mr. Farrow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,854 |
|
|
3,854 |
|
Mr. Johnson |
|
|
14,519 |
|
|
42,211 |
|
|
19,402 |
|
|
76,132 |
Employee Benefit Plans
Stock Plan
We are currently reviewing, and expect to adopt, a stock plan under which stock-based awards may be made to employees and directors of CBOT Holdings and its subsidiaries, including the CBOT subsidiary. In order to incent
management, it is currently expected that CBOT Holdings will have a long-term equity incentive plan which will enable CBOT Holdings to grant to such individuals stock appreciation rights, performance awards and other similar awards. The purpose of
the plan will be to enable CBOT Holdings to attract and retain highly qualified employees, officers and directors.
401(k) and Thrift Plan
CBOT Holdings and its subsidiaries will maintain the 401(k)-type
plan currently sponsored by us and currently known as the Employee Savings Plan. This is a defined contribution retirement plan intended to qualify under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code. Employees of CBOT Holdings and its
subsidiaries will be eligible to participate in this plan after completing three months of continuous employment.
The following table describes the elective employee and matching employer contributions as defined under this plan, and the vesting of employer contributions:
Employee Contributions*
|
|
Employer Contributions
|
Basic Pre-Tax 1-4% |
|
100% Match up to 4% |
Voluntary Pre-Tax 5-30% |
|
None |
Voluntary After-Tax 1-10% |
|
None |
Vesting |
|
25% after working each of the first two calendar years. Participants become fully vested after completing three years of service. |
* |
|
Subject to limits (Employee Contributions restricted to a combined limit of 40%) and other statutory annual limits. |
Pension Plan
CBOT Holdings and its subsidiaries will also maintain a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan that provides a predetermined amount of retirement income to eligible participants and their beneficiaries. To participate
in this plan, an employee must complete one year of employment and be 21 years of age. The policy will be to fund currently required pension costs to the extent allowed for a tax deduction by the IRS. Participants become fully vested in the plan
after five years of vesting service. One year of vesting service is obtained by completing 1,000 hours of work in a calendar year after age 18.
124
Assuming the participant retires at age 65, the following table sets forth the
retirement income for the qualified pension plan before a reduction of an amount equal to 50 percent of the participants primary social security benefit.
PENSION PLAN TABLE
Final Average Compensation
|
|
Years of Service
|
|
15
|
|
20
|
|
25
|
|
30
|
|
35
|
$ 125,000 |
|
$ |
37,500 |
|
$ |
50,000 |
|
$ |
62,500 |
|
$ |
62,500 |
|
$ |
62,500 |
$ 150,000 |
|
$ |
45,000 |
|
$ |
60,000 |
|
$ |
75,000 |
|
$ |
75,000 |
|
$ |
75,000 |
$ 175,000 |
|
$ |
52,500 |
|
$ |
70,000 |
|
$ |
87,500 |
|
$ |
87,500 |
|
$ |
87,500 |
$ 200,000 |
|
$ |
60,000 |
|
$ |
80,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
$ 250,000 |
|
$ |
75,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
$ 300,000 |
|
$ |
90,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
$ 400,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
$ 450,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
$ 500,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
$ 600,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
$ |
100,000 |
A plan participants retirement benefit is determined by
taking the difference between 50% of his final average compensation (based on participants highest 60 consecutive months of earnings) and 50% of his primary social security benefit. But if the participant is credited with less than 25 years of
benefit service, then the benefit amount is multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the actual years of benefit service and the denominator of which is 25.
Any participant who had both attained age 50 and was fully vested in his accrued benefit under the terms of the plan as of September 1, 1985, will have his retirement
benefit determined by taking the difference between 65 percent of his final average compensation and 50 percent of his primary social security benefit. But if the participant is credited with less than 25 years of benefit service, then the benefit
amount is multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the actual years of benefit service and the denominator of which is 25.
All earnings disclosed at Other Annual Compensation for each of the five named executives is included in the compensation covered by the plan, except for Other Annual Compensation amounts consisting of payment in
lieu of vacation, payments for sick days earned over plan limits and payments for the tax effect on Exec-u-care and 401K payments in excess of qualified limits. Covered compensation for 2001 for Ms. Burke and Mr. Johnson was $502,933 and $280,892,
respectively. Mr. Dan and Mr. Farrow were not eligible for the pension plan based on their service in 2001.
As of December 31, 2001, the estimated credited years of service under the CBOT pension plan for Ms. Burke, Mr. Dan, Mr. Farrow and Mr. Johnson are 19, 0, 0 and 24, respectively.
Mr. Vitales covered compensation for 2001 was $1,041,677 and his estimated credited years of service was 1 year.
CBOT Excess Plan
CBOT Holdings and its subsidiaries will maintain our non-qualified plans that are not subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Employees whose compensation limits their benefits under certain sections of
federal law are compensated at year end for any benefit shortfall based on current actuarial assumptions that mirror the defined benefit or defined contribution plans. These year-end payments are intended to make up for the reduction in qualified
pension plan benefits payable to those certain employees because of the
125
limitations imposed under federal law. In 2001, Ms. Burke and Mr. Johnson received $62,449 and $42,211, respectively under the Excess Plan.
CBOT Holdings and its subsidiaries also will maintain a nonqualified supplemental pension plan for certain former employees. The liability
for this nonqualified plan is funded by life insurance on the lives of the participating employees. CBOT Holdings and its subsidiaries will succeed to the trust established by us for the purpose of administering the nonqualified plan.
Health Plan
CBOT Holdings and its subsidiaries will maintain the health plan currently sponsored by us which provides multiple medical and dental coverage options covering qualified participants and their eligible
dependents. New employees are eligible to participate in the plan if working on a full-time basis after 30 days of consecutive active service. Plan funding is accomplished through a combination of fully insured and self-funded arrangements.
Employees contribute specified amounts to the plan, depending on the medical or dental option elected and the number of dependents covered. The administration of claims is performed by insurance carriers and paid claims administrators.
Insurance Benefit Plan
CBOT Holdings and its subsidiaries will maintain our non-contributory welfare plan providing life, disability and accidental death and dismemberment benefits to eligible participants. New employees are
eligible to participate in the plan if working on a full-time basis after 30 days of consecutive active service. The plan pays certain insurance carriers premiums through which designated benefits are paid.
Non-Qualified Plans
CBOT Holdings and its subsidiaries will maintain our non-qualified plans that are not subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Employees whose compensation limits their benefits under Section 415 of
the Internal Revenue Code are compensated at year end for any benefit shortfall based on current actuarial assumptions that mirror the defined benefit or defined contribution plans.
CBOT Holdings and its subsidiaries also will maintain a nonqualified supplemental pension plan for certain former employees. The liability for this nonqualified plan is
funded by life insurance on the lives of the participating employees. CBOT Holdings and its subsidiaries will succeed to the trust established by us for the purpose of administering the nonqualified plan.
Employment-Related Agreements
Dutterer Agreement
On April 18, 2000, Mr. Dutterer entered into a letter agreement with
the CBOT and the CBOT entered into a letter agreement with the Board of Trade Clearing Corporation, which agreements provided for Mr. Dutterers employment as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the CBOT and his retention of his
position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Trade Clearing Corporation under the terms of his existing employment agreement with the Board of Trade Clearing Corporation, as amended. Pursuant to the agreements, Mr. Dutterer was
entitled to receive a base salary of $825,000 per year for his services to the CBOT and any discretionary bonus determined by our board of directors. His employment with the CBOT was at will and the CBOT is not responsible for any
severance obligations. Under the agreements, the CBOT agreed to reimburse the Board of Trade Clearing Corporation for its payment of:
|
|
|
Mr. Dutterers base salary; |
|
|
|
applicable employment taxes; and |
|
|
|
the amount of any discretionary bonus awarded to Mr. Dutterer by the CBOT board of directors, with such reimbursement for employment taxes and bonus being
grossed-up for any additional taxes resulting from the reimbursement. |
126
All other expenses relating to the employment of Mr. Dutterer are the responsibility of the Board of
Trade Clearing Corporation.
Pursuant to his agreement with the CBOT, Mr. Dutterer agreed to abstain from taking
part in discussions and decisions that involve a potential conflict of interest between the CBOT and the Board of Trade Clearing Corporation. The agreement also contained certain confidentiality provisions and the CBOTs agreement to indemnify
Mr. Dutterer and to provide liability insurance to the extent provided to the CBOTs other officers. Effective in January 2001, Mr. Dutterer resigned from his position as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the CBOT and returned to
his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Trade Clearing Corporation on a full-time basis.
Vitale Separation Agreement
In November 2002, in connection with the resignation of
David J. Vitale, our President and Chief Executive Officer, we entered into a general release and separation agreement with Mr. Vitale which terminated certain terms of Mr. Vitales employment agreement. Under the agreement, the CBOT is
obligated to continue to pay Mr. Vitales base salary at a rate of $1,250,000 per annum through December 31, 2004 and will be obligated to pay Mr. Vitale a performance bonus of $500,000 and Mr. Vitales supplemental 401(k) plan payment for
the calendar year ended December 31, 2002. The CBOT will be required to provide Mr. Vitale with all health benefits covering Mr. Vitale as of the date of termination, and to provide Mr. Vitale with an office, clerical assistance and a parking space
at its facilities, through November 30, 2003. In addition, Mr. Vitale will remain vested in the appreciation units granted as incentive awards vested on or before March 31, 2003 and will retain the right to exercise such vested appreciation units on
or before March 31, 2003.
Under the agreement, Mr. Vitale agreed to release and discharge the CBOT, its
affiliates, directors, officers, members, employees, representatives and insurers from any and all claims suits, demands, causes of action and other liabilities arising from any matter occurring on or prior to the date of the Agreement. Mr. Vitale
also remains subject to the confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation obligations under his employment agreement until November 4, 2003, except that Mr. Vitales non-competition obligations with regard to the Eurex Group, Brokertec,
the St. Louis Merchants Exchange and the Board of Trade Clearing Corporation will extend until November 4, 2004. The failure of Mr. Vitale to comply with these obligations will result in the termination of Mr. Vitales ability to exercise his
vested appreciation units.
Vitale Employment Agreement
On February 20, 2001, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Vitale which had a term of four years unless terminated earlier by
the CBOT or Mr. Vitale or as a result of Mr. Vitales death or permanent disability. Under the agreement, Mr. Vitale was entitled to a base salary of $1,250,000 per year in addition to a performance bonus, which for fiscal year 2001 was
$750,000. He was entitled to participate in all of our employee benefit plans that are generally available to senior management. In addition, because Mr. Vitales term of employment has terminated prior to achieving vested status under such
employee benefit plans, he will be entitled to an additional benefit under a non-qualified deferred compensation plan in an amount equal to the amount of non-vested benefits accrued under such employee benefit plans. He was also entitled to have
certain perquisites paid for or reimbursed by the CBOT, including club memberships, automobile allowance and financial planning and other professional expenses not to exceed $25,000.
In addition, Mr. Vitale received an incentive award, consisting of equity appreciation rights, which will entitle him to receive the benefit of any appreciation in the
value of the CBOTs memberships and/or their post-restructuring equivalents. The equity appreciation rights, which have been granted in the form of appreciation units, gave Mr. Vitale the right to receive the excess of the fair market value of
the covered equity with respect to an appreciation unit on the date such appreciation unit is exercised over the grant value of such appreciation unit.
The following table summarizes the type, number, grant value and covered equity with respect to each appreciation unit granted to Mr. Vitale, as modified to reflect the holding company structure
adopted by the
127
board of directors in October 2001 and set forth in a letter agreement, which we expect to enter into with Mr. Vitale prior to the completion of the restructuring transactions.
EQUITY APPRECIATION RIGHTS
|
|
COVERED EQUITY
|
Class of Appreciation Unit
|
|
Number of Appreciation Units
|
|
Grant Value Per Unit
|
|
Membership Equivalent Per Unit
|
|
Common Stock Equivalent Per Unit
|
|
Class B Membership Equivalent Per Unit
|
|
Class C Membership Equivalent Per Unit
|
A-1A |
|
25 |
|
$ |
400,000 |
|
1 Full Membership |
|
A-1 Conversion Shares |
|
1 Series B-1 |
|
1 Class C |
A-1B |
|
10 |
|
$ |
600,000 |
|
1 Full Membership |
|
A-1 Conversion Shares |
|
1 Series B-1 |
|
1 Class C |
A-2 |
|
10 |
|
$ |
80,000 |
|
1 Associate Membership |
|
A-2 Conversion Shares |
|
1 Series B-2 |
|
|
A-4 |
|
5 |
|
$ |
10,000 |
|
1 IDEM Membership |
|
A-4 Conversion Shares |
|
1 Series B-4 |
|
|
A-5 |
|
5 |
|
$ |
20,000 |
|
1 COM Membership |
|
A-5 Conversion Shares |
|
1 Series B-5 |
|
|
The number of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings covered
by an appreciation right will be dependent upon the number of shares of common stock issued with respect to the membership equivalent for such appreciation unit following the completion of the restructuring transactions. The appreciation rights will
generally vest in accordance with the schedule set forth in the following table:
Class of Appreciation Unit
|
|
Number of Applicable Appreciation Units Vested
|
|
February 20, 2002
|
|
February 20, 2003
|
|
February 20, 2004
|
|
February 20, 2005
|
A-1A |
|
10 Units |
|
5 Units |
|
5 Units |
|
5 Units |
A-1B |
|
4 Units |
|
2 Units |
|
2 Units |
|
2 Units |
A-2 |
|
4 Units |
|
2 Units |
|
2 Units |
|
2 Units |
A-4 |
|
2 Units |
|
1 Unit |
|
1 Unit |
|
1 Unit |
A-5 |
|
2 Units |
|
1 Unit |
|
1 Unit |
|
1 Unit |
Mr. Vitale is subject to certain non-competition and
non-solicitation provisions during the employment term and for one year following the date of termination and, pursuant to the terms of the separation agreement, to certain non-competition provisions for an additional two years following the date of
termination.
Other Agreements
We also have an Executive Employment Agreement with Carol A. Burke, our Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff. The term of the agreement began May 18, 1999 and
generally runs until May 18, 2002 or the earlier death, total and permanent disability or termination of the executive. The employment period under the agreement will be extended for one calendar month for each calendar month after May 2001 that Ms.
Burke serves under her agreement. The CBOT and Ms. Burke each have the right to provide notice to the other party to their respective agreements of their intent to cease extending such agreement and, upon such notice, the term of such agreement
shall terminate 12 calendar months following the furnishing of notice of such intent. The agreement provides for a base salary of $500,000 and annual increases as determined by our board of directors in its sole discretion. The agreement provides
that the executive is entitled to participate in all of our employee benefit plans that are generally available to senior management, including post-employment medical and dental benefits.
In the event of Ms. Burkes disability, she would receive her base compensation for the first year during which she is under the disability. After the first year, she
would receive one-half of her base pay during the remainder of the disability, but not beyond the end of the employment term. This disability pay would be reduced to the extent she receives payments from other sources such as insurance as a result
of the disability. We may terminate her if the disability is total and permanent, in which case she would be entitled to her base compensation through the end of the employment term. Pursuant to the agreement, Ms. Burke agrees to certain
non-competition provisions during the employment term and for one year thereafter.
Mr. Dan and Mr. Farrow
each have entered into arrangements whereby they will be entitled to one year of their current annual salary should their employment be terminated other than for cause. The CBOT has not entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Dan concerning
his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, and the CBOT has no immediate plans to enter into such an employment agreement with Mr. Dan regarding his appointment.
128
Beneficial Ownership of Management and Directors
The following table lists the shares of capital stock of CBOT Holdings that will be beneficially owned following the completion of the
restructuring transactions by each of the directors, each of the executive officers named in the summary compensation table included at Executive Compensation and CBOT Holdings directors and executive officers as a group.
Except as otherwise indicated below, this information is based on the beneficial ownership known to us by those persons of CBOT memberships as of December 19, 2002. There was no person known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent
of the membership interests of CBOT as of such date and none of the persons listed in the table below are currently expected to beneficially own one percent or more of any of the shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings.
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Number of Shares of Common Stock
|
|
|
Percent of Class
|
|
Nickolas J. Neubauer |
|
50,000 |
|
|
* |
|
Bernard W. Dan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carol A. Burke |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bryan T. Durkin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
William M. Farrow III |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Glen M. Johnson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mary McDonnell |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles P. Carey |
|
25,000 |
|
|
* |
|
Raymond Cahnman(1) |
|
116,600 |
|
|
* |
|
Mark E. Cermak |
|
25,000 |
|
|
* |
|
Robert F. Corvino |
|
25,000 |
|
|
* |
|
Andrew J. Filipowski |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Veda Kaufman Levin |
|
25,000 |
|
|
* |
|
James P. McMillin |
|
5,000 |
|
|
* |
|
James R. Thompson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael D. Walter(2) |
|
25,000 |
|
|
* |
|
John E. Callahan |
|
25,000 |
|
|
* |
|
Howard R. Feiler |
|
5,000 |
|
|
* |
|
C. C. Odom, II |
|
25,000 |
|
|
* |
|
Gary V. Sagui |
|
30,300 |
|
|
* |
|
Ralph H. Weems |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Walt K. Weissman(3) |
|
75,000 |
|
|
* |
|
Directors and Executive Officers as a group (22 persons) |
|
457,500 |
|
|
1.1 |
% |
*Indicates |
|
percent of class owned is not more than 1%. |
(1) |
Includes 10,700 shares of common stock owned by TransMarket Group LLC, which Mr. Cahnman may be deemed to beneficially own. Mr. Cahnman disclaims such
beneficial ownership. |
(2) |
Includes 25,000 shares of common stock owned by ConAgra Specialty Grain Cos., which Mr. Walter may be deemed to beneficially own. Mr. Walter disclaims such
beneficial ownership. |
(3) |
|
Includes 50,000 shares of common stock owned by Tradelink L.L.C., which Mr. Weissman may be deemed to beneficially own. Mr. Weissman disclaims such beneficial
ownership. |
Our directors and officers hold memberships entitling them to cast an aggregate of
16 5/6 votes on each of the propositions, representing about 1.1% of the total votes that may be cast. As
described above, certain of our directors own memberships of various classes in the CBOT. As a result, their interests may differ from and conflict with your interests.
Until January 1, 2001, our board of directors was composed of twenty-seven members, at which time the terms of nine directorships expired and ceased to exist pursuant to
our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. Some of these directors may have held Full, Associate, GIM (or one-half Associate Memberships), IDEM or COM Memberships.
129
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK AND MEMBERSHIPS
In connection with the restructuring
transactions, in respect of each membership in the CBOT, each member of the CBOT will receive a combination of interests consisting of:
|
|
|
common stock of CBOT Holdings; |
|
|
|
one of the five series of Class B Membership in the CBOT subsidiary that corresponds to the class of CBOT membership currently held; and
|
|
|
|
if you are a Full Member of the CBOT, one Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary. |
As a result of the transfer restrictions applicable to the common stock of CBOT Holdings and the Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary, these interests
will effectively be stapled together for an indefinite period of time, as described in greater detail below. This means that, for the duration of these transfer restrictions, these interests may only be transferred as a combination.
We describe generally below the material terms of the common stock of CBOT Holdings and the Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. However, this
description is not complete. For a complete description of the terms of our common stock, we refer you to the forms of amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws of CBOT Holdings which are attached as Appendices F and G,
respectively, to this document. For a complete description of the terms of the Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary, as well as the Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary, which will be received by CBOT Holdings, we refer you to
the forms of amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary, which are attached as Appendices H and I, respectively, to this document. We urge you to read those documents carefully before voting on the
propositions relating to the restructuring transactions.
For more information about the common stock of CBOT
Holdings and Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary and how your rights and obligations as stockholders of CBOT Holdings and members of the CBOT subsidiary will differ from your current rights and obligations as CBOT members, see
Comparison of the Rights of Members of the CBOT Prior to and After Completion of the Restructuring Transactions.
Common
Stock of CBOT Holdings
General
Under its certificate of incorporation, the authorized capital stock of CBOT Holdings will consist of 39,802,650 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share.
Immediately following the completion of the restructuring transactions, all 39,802,650 shares of common stock authorized will be outstanding. The shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings issued in connection with the restructuring transactions will
be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
The common stock will represent an equity interest in CBOT
Holdings and will generally have traditional features of common stock, including, among other things, dividend, voting and liquidation rights.
Dividend Rights
Subject to the limitations under Delaware
law and priorities and preferences that may apply to any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of common stock will be entitled to receive such dividends or other distributions as may be declared by the board of directors of CBOT Holdings
out of funds legally available therefor.
It is not currently anticipated that CBOT Holdings will pay
dividends on its common stock in the near future. However, CBOT Holdings may later determine to pay dividends out of its available surplus.
Voting
Unless otherwise required by the certificate
of incorporation of CBOT Holdings or applicable law, holders of the common stock of CBOT Holdings will be entitled to one vote per share with respect to all matters upon which the stockholders of CBOT Holdings are entitled to vote generally,
including the election of directors, amendments to the certificate of incorporation, mergers, sales of all or substantially all of the corporate assets or property or a dissolution. The common stock will not have cumulative voting rights.
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Board of Directors
The directors serving on the board of directors of the CBOT immediately prior to the completion of the restructuring transactions will
continue as members of the boards of directors of both CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary immediately following the completion of the restructuring transactions. The continuing directors will serve for the duration of their current terms with the
exception of the current public directors, whose terms will end in connection with the first annual election following the completion of the restructuring.
The size of the board of directors of CBOT Holdings will be reduced from 18 directors to 16 directors in connection with the first annual meeting of stockholders following
the completion of the restructuring transactions. The board of directors of CBOT Holdings will then consist of:
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the chairman of the board, who will be a holder of a Series B-1, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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a vice-chairman of the board, who will be a holder of a Series B-1, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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eight directors, who will be holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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two directors, who will be holders of Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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three directors, who will be independent within the meaning of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of CBOT Holdings; and
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the president and chief executive officer of CBOT Holdings who will be a non-voting director. |
Except as described below, each director of CBOT Holdings will be elected to serve as a director until the second annual meeting of each such corporation
following their election and will not be subject to term limits.
The elected directors of CBOT Holdings will be
classified into two classes of directors consisting of eight directors and seven directors, respectively. The first class of directors will consist of:
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the chairman of the board; |
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four directors, who will be holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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one director, who will be a holder of a Series B-2, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary; and |
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two independent directors. |
The second class of directors will consist of:
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the vice-chairman of the board; |
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four directors, who will be holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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one director, who will be a holder of a Series B-2, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary; and |
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one independent director. |
The president and chief executive officer will, upon appointment to such position, automatically become a non-voting director.
At the first annual meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings following the completion of the restructuring transactions, the stockholders will elect six directors, consisting of three of the
directors from the second class of directors and the three directors from the first class of directors. The directors of the second class will be elected to serve until the third annual meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings following the
completion of the restructuring transactions, and the directors of the first class will be elected to serve until the second annual meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings following the completion of the restructuring
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transactions. Thereafter, each class of directors will be elected at every other annual meeting, beginning with the first class at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings
following the completion of the restructuring transactions. For a more detailed description of the directors and the terms that such directors are expected to be elected to at each of the first, second and third annual elections following the
completion of the restructuring transactions, see Description of Restructuring TransactionsModernization of Our Corporate Governance StructureBoard of Directors.
Nomination Procedures for Directors
We currently expect that the board of directors of CBOT Holdings will designate a nominating committee to recommend to the board of directors nominations of persons to stand for election as directors
of CBOT Holdings. In addition to nominations made by this committee, stockholders of CBOT Holdings will also be entitled to nominate persons to stand for election as directors of CBOT Holdings if the nominee is qualified and the stockholder
satisfies certain advance notice requirements. If the stockholder satisfies each of these conditions and delivers a petition executed by at least 40 persons who are both stockholders and holders of Series B-1 or Series B-2, Class B memberships in
the CBOT subsidiary, CBOT Holdings will, to the extent it prepares and delivers a proxy statement and form of proxy, at its own expense, include the name of such nominee and all other appropriate information related to such nominee, that is provided
with respect to the board of directors nominees in such proxy statement and form of proxy.
No
Conversion, Preemptive or Subscription Rights
The holders of common stock of CBOT Holdings will have no
conversion, preemptive or subscription rights.
Liquidation Rights
Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of CBOT Holdings, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of common stock of CBOT
Holdings will be entitled to receive pro rata such assets as are available for distribution to stockholders after there shall have been paid or set apart for payment the full amounts necessary to satisfy any preferential or participating rights to
which holders of each outstanding series of preferred stock, if any, are entitled by the terms of such series. In other words, each share of common stock of CBOT Holdings shall have equal liquidation rights.
Transfer Restrictions
The shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings will generally be subject to a complete restriction on transfer. Notwithstanding this restriction on transfer, stockholders may transfer all, but not less
than all, of the shares of common stock associated with a Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary if all such shares of common stock are transferred together with the associated Class B membership (i.e., 25,000 shares of common stock of CBOT
Holdings with one Series B-1, Class B membership, 5,000 shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings with one Series B-2, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary, 2,500 shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings with one Series B-3, Class B
membership in the CBOT subsidiary, 300 shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings with one Series B-4, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary, and 350 shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings with one Series B-5, Class B membership in the CBOT
subsidiary).
This restriction on transfer will not apply in a transfer by operation of law or a transaction
that is specifically approved by the board of directors of CBOT Holdings or a committee thereof. In addition, the restriction may be removed or reduced if the board of directors and stockholders of CBOT Holdings approve an amendment to the relevant
provision of the certificate of incorporation of CBOT Holdings. However, because a reciprocal restriction appears in the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary, we expect that no amendment to either certificates of incorporation would
be made unless amendments to both certificates of incorporation were
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approved both by the board of directors and stockholders of CBOT Holdings and by the board of directors of and the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT
subsidiary, as applicable.
In addition to the restrictions discussed above, shares of common stock of CBOT
Holdings received in connection with the restructuring transactions by affiliates may be resold only pursuant to further registration under the Securities Act or in transactions that are exempt from registration under the Securities Act.
Other Provisions
CBOT Holdings will establish a number of change of control provisions that may have the effect of encouraging persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral takeover proposals to
negotiate with CBOT Holdings board of directors rather than pursue non-negotiated takeover attempts. Some of these provisions will be implemented pursuant to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of CBOT Holdings and others will be
implemented independently. These provisions will include the following:
Advance Notice
Procedures. CBOT Holdings bylaws will contain provisions requiring that advance notice be delivered to CBOT Holdings of any business to be brought by a stockholder before an annual meeting of stockholders and
providing for certain procedures to be followed by stockholders in nominating persons for election to the CBOT Holdings board of directors.
Generally, such advance notice provisions will require that a stockholder must give written notice to the secretary of CBOT Holdings not less than 20, nor more than 60, days prior to the first
anniversary of the date on which CBOT Holdings first mailed its proxy materials for the preceding years annual meeting of stockholders. In each case, the notice must set forth specific information regarding such stockholder and each director
nominee or other business proposed by such stockholder, as applicable, as provided in the bylaws. Except as described below with respect to nominations by stockholders of CBOT Holdings for persons to be elected to the board of directors of CBOT
Holdings at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected, stockholders will not be permitted to make proposals, or bring other business, to a special meeting of stockholders.
Nominations by stockholders for persons to be elected to the CBOT Holdings board of directors at a special meeting of the
stockholders, if directors are to be elected at such meeting, generally will require that a stockholder give written notice to the secretary of CBOT Holdings not later than the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the 10th day
following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the CBOT Holdings board of directors.
If nominations are made in accordance with such advance notice procedures, CBOT Holdings shall, to the extent it prepares and delivers a proxy statement and
form of proxy, at its own expense, include the name of such nominee and all other information related to such nominee that is provided with respect to the board of directors nominees in such proxy statement and form of proxy in the event that:
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a stockholder proposes to nominate an individual for election or reelection as a director of CBOT Holdings; |
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such stockholder has satisfied each of the terms and conditions described above for the nomination of such nominee; and |
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such stockholder has delivered to the secretary of CBOT Holdings a written petition executed by at least 40 persons who are both holders of Series B-1, Class B
memberships in the CBOT Subsidiary and holders of common stock of CBOT Holdings proposing to nominate such nominee. |
Special Meetings of Stockholders. CBOT Holdings certificate of incorporation and bylaws will provide that the chairman of the board or the board of directors may
call special meetings of the stockholders. In addition, the chairman of the board or the board of directors will be required to call a special meeting upon the written request of the holders of at least 10% of all outstanding shares entitled to vote
on the action proposed to be taken at such meeting.
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No Action by Written Consent of
Stockholders. CBOT Holdings certificate of incorporation will require that all stockholder actions must be taken by a vote of the stockholders at an annual or special meeting, and will not permit the stockholders to
take action by written consent without a meeting.
Amendment of Certificate of
Incorporation. CBOT Holdings certificate of incorporation will generally require the approval of not less than a majority of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares of stock of CBOT Holdings entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, in order to amend the certificate of incorporation.
Amendment of Bylaws. CBOT Holdings certificate of incorporation will generally require the approval of not less than a majority of the votes cast at any annual or
special meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings, in order to adopt, repeal or amend the bylaws in response to a stockholder proposal.
Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute. CBOT Holdings will elect to be subject to a Delaware anti-takeover law. Subject to certain exceptions, this statute prohibits a publicly
held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless:
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prior to such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the
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upon the completion of the transaction which resulted in the stockholders becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least
85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding, for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding, those shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and by employee
stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or |
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on or after such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by
written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned
by the interested stockholder. |
For purposes of this statute, a
business combination includes a merger, asset sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder, and an interested stockholder is a person who, together with affiliates and associates,
owns 15% or more of the corporations voting stock or a person who is an affiliate of the corporation and who did own, within three years prior to the date of determination whether the person is an interested stockholder, 15% or
more of the corporations voting stock.
Limitation of Liability of Directors
The certificate of incorporation of CBOT Holdings will provide, as authorized by Delaware law, that a director of CBOT Holdings will
not be personally liable to CBOT Holdings or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability:
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for any breach of the directors duty of loyalty to CBOT Holdings or its stockholders; |
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for any act or omission not in good faith or which involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; |
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for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided by Delaware law; or |
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for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. |
The inclusion of this provision in our certificate of incorporation may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors, and may
discourage or deter stockholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their duty of care, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have benefitted CBOT Holdings and its stockholders.
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The bylaws of CBOT Holdings will provide that CBOT Holdings will indemnify its
directors and officers and may indemnify its employees and agents to the fullest extent permitted by law. The bylaws will also permit CBOT Holdings to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability
arising out of his or her actions in that capacity, regardless of whether the bylaws would permit indemnification.
Transfer Agent
We have selected LaSalle Bank, National Association to serve as the stock
transfer agent and registrar for the common stock of CBOT Holdings following the completion of the restructuring transactions.
Book Entry
The common stock of CBOT Holdings will be initially issued as
uncertificated shares registered in book-entry form. As a result, no certificates representing your shares of the common stock of CBOT Holdings will be mailed to you upon the completion of the restructuring transactions. Instead of receiving share
certificates, you will receive account statements reflecting your respective ownership interest in shares of the common stock of CBOT Holdings. Your book-entry shares will be held with our transfer agent, LaSalle Bank, National Association, who will
serve as the record keeper for all holders of the common stock of CBOT Holdings. However, any holder of the common stock of CBOT Holdings who would like to receive a physical certificate evidencing his or her shares of the common stock of CBOT
Holdings will be able to obtain a certificate at any time at no charge by contacting the transfer agent.
Although stockholders are entitled pursuant to applicable law to receive physical stock certificates evidencing their shares, our stock transfer agent has advised us that physical certification of shares may make it more difficult to
verify stock ownership to the CBOE for the purpose of facilitating the utilization of the CBOE exercise right and, as a result, could delay the utilization of the CBOE exercise right by Full Members who request such certification. Thus, you may wish
to consider this before requesting physical certification of your shares if you are a holder of a Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary.
Class B and Class C Memberships in the CBOT Subsidiary
General
Under its certificate of incorporation, the CBOT subsidiary will be authorized to issue a maximum of one Class A
membership, 3,702 Class B memberships, composed of 1,402 Series B-1, 867 Series B-2, 148 Series B-3, 642 Series B-4 and 643 Series B-5 Class B memberships, and 1,402 Class C memberships. Based on CBOT membership as of December 18, 2002, immediately
following the completion of the restructuring transactions, one Class A membership, 1,402 Series B-1, Class B memberships, 793 Series B-2, Class B memberships, 148 Series B-3, Class B memberships, 642 Series B-4, Class B memberships, 643 Series B-5,
Class B memberships and 1,402 Class C memberships will be outstanding. Of course, these numbers would change if and to the extent that GIMs are transferred and one-half Associate Memberships are converted into Associate Memberships. The memberships
in the CBOT subsidiary will be validly issued.
The certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary will provide that each holder of Series B-1,
Series B-2, Series B-3, Series B-4 and Series B-5, Class B memberships who satisfies the membership and eligibility requirements with respect to a Full Membership, Associate Membership, GIM Membership, IDEM Membership or COM Membership,
respectively, in each case, as set forth in the CBOT subsidiarys rules and regulations, will be entitled to all of the rights and privileges, including all trading rights and privileges, of a CBOT Full Member, Associate Member, GIM, IDEM or
COM, as the case may be, subject to applicable Delaware law or as otherwise provided in the CBOT subsidiarys certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations.
Holders of Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will, subject to satisfaction of certain requirements, be entitled to exercise a right to become a member of the CBOE
without having to purchase a
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membership on such exchange. Following the completion of the restructuring transactions, the Class C membership of the CBOT subsidiary will represent the exercise right held by each Full Member
of the CBOT. The exercise right will be the only right associated with the Class C membership.
Distribution and Dividend Rights
The Class B and Class C memberships will not be entitled
to receive any distributions or dividends, including the proceeds from liquidation, from the CBOT subsidiary. Subject to the limitations under Delaware law, CBOT Holdings, as the holder of the sole Class A membership, will have the exclusive right
to receive all distributions and dividends, including the proceeds from liquidation, as may be declared by the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary out of funds legally available therefore.
Voting Rights
The
board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary will have the authority to adopt and recommend for membership approval amendments to the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary. An amendment to the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT
subsidiary will require the approval of the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary and, except as provided below, CBOT Holdings, the holder of the sole Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary. In addition, subject to the rights of holders of
Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships with respect to the core rights as further described below, the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary will have the authority to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary, which will
include the rules and regulations of the CBOT subsidiary, without approval from the membership. However, the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will have the exclusive right among members to vote on any
proposed amendment to the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary that would adversely affect the following core rights:
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the allocation of products that a holder of a specific series of Class B membership is permitted to trade on the exchange facilities of the CBOT subsidiary,
e.g., the elimination of any product from a holders trading rights and privileges; |
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the requirement that, subject to certain limited exceptions agreed to by the CBOT and CBOE, holders of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will be
charged transaction fees for trades of the CBOT subsidiarys products for their accounts that are lower than the transaction fees charged to any participant who is not a holder of a Class B membership for the same products;
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the authorized number of any class or series of memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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the membership and eligibility requirements to become a holder of a Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary or to exercise the associated trading rights or
privileges; and |
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the commitment to maintain current open outcry markets so long as each such market is deemed liquid unless the discontinuance of any such market is approved by
the holders of the Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. |
The holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will also have the exclusive right among members to vote on any amendment to or elimination of the transfer restrictions set forth in the
certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary applicable to the Class A membership and Class B memberships. In addition, subject to applicable law, the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary may
initiate other proposals, including proposals to adopt, repeal or amend the bylaws and non-binding recommendations to the board of directors, such as recommendations that the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary consider proposed amendments to
the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary. However, holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships will not be entitled to initiate binding proposals to take any action that requires board approval, including proposals to
amend the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary. Member proposals may be initiated at an annual meeting of the members of the CBOT subsidiary or, after satisfying certain advance notice requirements, special meetings of the members of
the CBOT subsidiary and, subject to applicable law, will require the approval of a majority of votes cast at such annual or special meeting.
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Holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will have one vote per membership and holders of
Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will have one-sixth of one vote per membership in any vote on any matter on which the holders of such memberships are entitled to vote. These voting rights are based on the current voting rights
of Full Members and Associate Members of the CBOT. Holders of Series B-3, Series B-4 and Series B-5, Class B memberships and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will not have the right to vote on any matters or to initiate any proposal.
Subject to applicable law, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at any annual or special meeting called for such purpose shall be sufficient to constitute approval of all matters upon which the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2,
Class B memberships are entitled to vote, provided that quorum requirements have been met.
The
certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary will provide that the holder of the Class A membership must be present in person or by proxy to constitute a quorum on matters upon which the Class A membership is entitled to vote and that
one-third of the voting power of the Class B memberships entitled to vote must be present in person or by proxy in order to constitute a quorum on matters upon which the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2 Class B memberships are entitled to vote.
Based on the respective voting power of these two series of Class B memberships, any such amendment or proposal could be approved by the holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships even though the holders of Series B-2, Class B memberships voted
against the amendment. This result is consistent with the result that would be obtained under the CBOTs existing certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations with respect to matters voted on by Full Members and Associate
Members as a single class.
The chairman of the board or the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary
will have the ability to call a special meeting of the members of the CBOT subsidiary and will be required to call a special meeting of the members of the CBOT subsidiary upon the written request of at least 10% of the voting power of the holders of
Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. The certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary will provide that one-third of the voting power of the Class B memberships entitled to vote must be present in person or
by proxy in order to constitute a quorum.
Board of Directors
In connection with the election of directors to the new sixteen-member board of directors of CBOT Holdings, we currently anticipate that
CBOT Holdings, as the holder of the sole Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary (which is the sole membership entitled to vote in the election of directors), will nominate and elect the same persons as members of the board of directors of the
CBOT subsidiary. In order to ensure that the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary is generally identical in size and composition to the board of directors of CBOT Holdings, it will be a qualification for service as a director of the CBOT
subsidiary that such director also serve at the same time on the board of directors of CBOT Holdings.
Transfer
Restrictions
The Class A membership held by CBOT Holdings may not be transferred by CBOT Holdings except
with the approval of the board of directors and holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary to the amendment to or elimination of the transfer restrictions applicable to the Class A membership in the CBOT
subsidiary or in the case of a transfer to an affiliate of CBOT Holdings.
The holders of Class B memberships
in the CBOT subsidiary may transfer a Class B membership if such Class B membership is transferred together with the shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings associated with such Class B membership. For example, if you are an Associate Member of the
CBOT and receive as part of the restructuring transactions 5,000 shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings and one Series B-2, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary, you will only be able to transfer your common stock in CBOT Holdings, if you
transfer all 5,000 shares of your common stock together with your Series B-2, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary. Otherwise, the Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary generally will be subject to a complete restriction on transfer as
described in greater detail elsewhere in this document.
This restriction on transfer will not apply in a
transfer by operation of law or a transaction that is specifically approved by the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary or a committee thereof. In addition, the restriction may be removed or reduced if the board of directors and the holders of
Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B
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memberships in the CBOT subsidiary approve an amendment to the relevant provision of the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary. However, because a reciprocal restriction appears in
the certificate of incorporation of CBOT Holdings, we expect that no amendment would be made unless amendments to both certificates of incorporation were approved both by the board of directors and the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B
memberships in the CBOT subsidiary and by the board of directors and stockholders of CBOT Holdings, as applicable.
The Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary generally will not be subject to any transfer restrictions. However, a holder of a Class C membership seeking to become a member of the CBOE must hold 25,000 shares of common stock of
CBOT Holdings and one Series B-1, Class B membership, along with such Class C membership, in each case subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments, in order to be eligible to become a member of the CBOE without having to purchase a membership in
such exchange. Accordingly, if you are a Full Member of the CBOT, you should give careful consideration to this requirement before either transferring your common stock of CBOT Holdings and Series B-1, Class B membership without your Class C
membership in the CBOT subsidiary or transferring your Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary without your common stock of CBOT Holdings and Series B-1, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary.
Conversion, Preemption, or Subscription Rights
Holders of Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will not be entitled to conversion, preemption or subscription rights from the CBOT subsidiary.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of the full liquidation of the CBOT subsidiary, holders of Class B and Class C memberships will not be entitled to any distributions upon the liquidation of
the CBOT subsidiary. CBOT Holdings, as the holder of the sole Class A membership, will have the exclusive right to receive all distributions upon the liquidation of the CBOT subsidiary.
Limitation of Liability of Directors
The certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary will provide, as authorized by Delaware law, that a director of the CBOT subsidiary will not be personally liable to the CBOT subsidiary or its members for monetary damages for
breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability:
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for any breach of the directors duty of loyalty to the CBOT subsidiary or its members; |
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for any act or omission not in good faith or which involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; |
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for unlawful payments of dividends, distributions or unlawful members repurchases or redemptions as provided by Delaware law; or
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for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. |
The inclusion of this provision in the CBOT subsidiarys certificate of incorporation may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against
directors, and may discourage or deter members or management from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their duty of care, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have benefitted the CBOT subsidiary and its members.
The bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary will provide that the CBOT subsidiary will indemnify its directors and officers
and may indemnify its employees and agents to the fullest extent permitted by law. The bylaws will also permit the CBOT subsidiary to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of his
or her actions in that capacity, regardless of whether the bylaws would permit indemnification.
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COMPARISON OF THE RIGHTS OF MEMBERS OF THE CBOT PRIOR TO AND AFTER COMPLETION OF THE RESTRUCTURING TRANSACTIONS
Overview
As a result of the restructuring transactions, the CBOT will be demutualized by creating a stock, for-profit holding company, CBOT Holdings, and distributing shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to our members, while maintaining
the CBOT as a nonstock, for-profit subsidiary of CBOT Holdings in which our members will hold memberships representing trading rights and privileges on the exchange operated by such subsidiary. In addition, in connection with the restructuring
transactions, our board of directors has approved and adopted, and we are proposing for your consideration, significant changes to our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations. Generally speaking, these changes are designed to
implement a more modern and efficient corporate governance structure, while maintaining for our members important rights with respect to the core rights relating to the trading rights and privileges associated with Class B membership, as well as
other voting rights, and rights to initiate proposals to repeal or amend the bylaws, rules, and regulations of the CBOT.
You are being asked to approve a new certificate of incorporation for the CBOT (which will be approved if you approve the merger agreement relating to the reorganization merger, and will take effect as the certificate of
incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary at the effective time of the merger), changes to the CBOTs bylaws, (which will become the bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary) and ratify all other matters relating to the restructuring transactions, including
the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of CBOT Holdings and certain new rules and regulations of the CBOT subsidiary as part of the restructuring transactions. The certificate of incorporation and bylaws of CBOT Holdings will become effective
prior to the time the reorganization merger becomes effective and the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary will become effective at the time the reorganization merger becomes effective, with the exception of a provision in
the CBOTs bylaws that is designed to confirm that GIMs, IDEMs, and COMs are members for purposes of Delaware law, which will become effective immediately following membership approval of the propositions relating to the restructuring
transactions. By voting in favor of the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions, Full Members and Associate Members will be voting to approve and adopt this amendment to the CBOTs bylaws in advance of the completion of the
restructuring transactions. Upon the effectiveness of these changes to our corporate governance structure, certain of your rights and obligations as stockholders of CBOT Holdings and as members of the CBOT subsidiary will change from those that you
currently have as members of the CBOT. In this section, we will describe those changes that we believe to be material. We urge you to carefully review and consider these changes in your rights and obligations before voting on the propositions
relating to the restructuring transactions.
The following description summarizes the material
differences between the rights and obligations of holders of the CBOT memberships prior to and following the completion of the restructuring transactions. We do not intend this summary to be a complete statement of the rights and obligations of
holders of the common stock of CBOT Holdings or memberships in the CBOT subsidiary, or a comprehensive comparison of the rights and obligations of members of the CBOT prior to and following the completion of the restructuring transactions, or a
complete description of the specific provisions referred to in this summary. We do not intend that this identification of specific differences is to indicate that other equally or more significant differences do not exist.
The forms of certificate of incorporation and bylaws of CBOT Holdings are attached as Appendices F and G, respectively,
to this document and the forms of certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary are attached as Appendices H and I, respectively, to this document. Our current certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations have been
filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this document forms a part. In addition, the form of the rules and regulations of the CBOT subsidiary, which, subject to changes to the rules and regulations occurring from time to time after
the date of this document, we currently expect to be the rules and regulations of the CBOT subsidiary immediately after the completion of the restructuring transactions, has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. A summary of the
status of certain current CBOT rules and regulations as a result of the restructuring transactions is attached as Appendix J to this document. We urge you to review and consider carefully each of these documents before voting on the propositions
relating to the restructuring transactions.
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For-Profit Status; Authority to Issue Capital Stock
Currently, our certificate of incorporation expressly provides that the CBOT is not-for-profit and has no authority to issue capital
stock. The certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary will provide that it
remains without authority to issue capital stock, but that it is for-profit. CBOT
Holdings, as the holder of the sole Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary, will be entitled to receive all profits, i.e., distributions, dividends and proceeds upon liquidation, from the CBOT subsidiary. The certificate of incorporation for CBOT
Holdings will provide that it is for-profit and has the ability to issue capital stock, which will enable CBOT Holdings to issue the shares of common stock to be distributed to the CBOT members in connection with the restructuring transactions.
Dividends
Delaware law currently provides that corporations, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, may declare and pay dividends on the shares of its stock, or to its members if the corporation is a nonstock corporation, out of funds
legally available for such purposes. Neither the CBOTs, CBOT Holdings nor the CBOT subsidiarys certificate of incorporation otherwise restricts the CBOTs, CBOT Holdings or the CBOT subsidiarys respective authority
to declare and pay dividends. Consequently, the CBOT, under the current certificate of incorporation, CBOT Holdings, under its certificate of incorporation, and the CBOT subsidiary, under its certificate of incorporation, are, for purposes of
Delaware law, authorized to declare and pay dividends.
CBOT Holdings will have the ability to declare and pay
dividends to its common stockholders, and the CBOT subsidiary will have the ability to declare and pay dividends to the holder of its sole Class A membership, CBOT Holdings, in each case, out of funds legally available for such purposes. Stock
corporations may pay dividends out of their surplus as defined under Delaware law or, in certain circumstances out of net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year.
The demutualization of the CBOT pursuant to the restructuring transactions has been designed to provide
that the mechanism for the distribution of legally available funds, if any, to the CBOT members after the completion of the restructuring transactions will be the declaration and payment of dividends on the shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings.
The board of directors of CBOT Holdings will be able to determine, in its sole and absolute discretion, the time of declarations and payments, if any, of dividends on the shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings.
We have no current plans to pay dividends on the common stock of CBOT Holdings in the near future. However, although we can provide no
assurances in this regard, CBOT Holdings may later determine to pay dividends out of its available surplus.
Authorized Capital
Currently, our certificate of incorporation, bylaws, rules and regulations authorize the following classes of
CBOT membership:
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GIM (and one-half Associate Membership); |
In order to authorize any additional classes of CBOT membership, it would be necessary to amend our bylaws or rules, which are deemed part of the bylaws. The authorized or maximum number of Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs
under the bylaws and rules is 867, 351, 642 and 643, respectively. Our
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certificate of incorporation, bylaws, rules and regulations do not expressly provide for an authorized or maximum number of Full Memberships. However, our certificate of incorporation, bylaws,
rules and regulations do not authorize the creation of new members in existing classes. Therefore, we believe that the creation of new members would require an amendment to our rules, which, in the case of Full Members, has the result of creating a
de facto authorized or maximum number of Full Memberships equal to the current number of such memberships, which is 1,402.
Under its amended and restated certificate of incorporation, CBOT Holdings will be authorized to issue up to 39,802,650 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share. The common stock of CBOT Holdings will generally
have traditional features of common stock, including, among other things, dividend, voting and liquidation rights. Immediately after the completion of the restructuring transactions, there will be 39,802,650 shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings
issued and outstanding.
As a result, based on the foregoing, following the completion of the
restructuring transactions, the board of CBOT Holdings will not be authorized to issue any additional shares of its common stock without requiring an amendment to the certificate of incorporation of CBOT Holdings and without stockholder approval.
The authorization of any additional shares of common stock or additional classes or series of stock would require an amendment to the certificate of incorporation of CBOT Holdings, which would, in turn, require appropriate stockholder approval.
Under the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary, it will be authorized to issue up to:
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one Class A membership; |
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1,402 Series B-1, Class B memberships; |
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867 Series B-2, Class B memberships; |
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148 Series B-3, Class B memberships; |
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642 Series B-4, Class B memberships; |
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643 Series B-5, Class B memberships; and |
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1,402 Class C memberships. |
Immediately after the completion of the restructuring transactions, assuming no further conversions of one-half Associate Memberships in the CBOT into Associate Memberships in the CBOT, we currently expect that the following
memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will be outstanding:
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one Class A membership; |
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1,402 Series B-1, Class B memberships; |
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793 Series B-2, Class B memberships; |
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148 Series B-3, Class B memberships; |
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642 Series B-4, Class B memberships; |
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643 Series B-5, Class B memberships; and |
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1,402 Class C memberships. |
The sole Class A membership, which will be held by CBOT Holdings, will entitle CBOT Holdings to the exclusive right to receive all distributions, dividends and proceeds upon liquidation from the CBOT subsidiary. Except for
matters relating to the core rights described elsewhere in this document, the transfer restrictions imposed on the Class A membership and Class B memberships, and proposals by members to the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships
to amend the bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary, which in each case, may be voted on exclusively by the holders of the Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships, CBOT Holdings, as holder of the Class A membership will have the right to vote on all
matters upon which the members of the CBOT subsidiary will be entitled to vote generally, including among other things, the election of directors
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to the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary. Each of the five series of Class B membership will entitle an eligible holder to trading rights and privileges that correspond to the trading
rights and privileges of one of the five current classes of CBOT membership. The Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary will, subject to satisfaction of certain requirements, entitle the holder to become a member of the CBOE without having to
purchase a membership on such exchange. Neither the Class B nor Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will entitle the holder to receive any distributions, dividends or proceeds upon liquidation from the CBOT subsidiary.
The creation of any additional classes or series of memberships or the creation of any additional authorized memberships
from the classes or series of memberships in the CBOT subsidiary described above would require an amendment to the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary, which would require the approval of the CBOT subsidiarys board of directors
and Class A member. In addition, any amendment which would reduce the authorized number of Class B memberships would require the approval of the holders of the Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships.
Terms and Conditions of Membership
Currently, the terms and conditions of membership in the CBOT are set forth in our certificate of incorporation, bylaws, rules and regulations. The terms and conditions of membership, including all trading rights and privileges, will
continue to be set forth in the CBOT subsidiarys certificate of incorporation and bylaws, which will include the rules and regulations. The terms and conditions of membership in the CBOT include, among other things, general provisions related
to application for membership, member rights, privileges and obligations, member conduct and discipline, registration, assessments and fees, purchase and sale or transfers of memberships or membership interests, insolvency and trading and other
rights and privileges of the various classes of membership.
As described above, the Class B memberships will be
issued in five separate series: Series B-1, Series B-2, Series B-3, Series B-4 and Series B-5. The certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary will provide that each holder of Series B-1, Series B-2, Series B-3, Series B-4 and Series B-5,
Class B memberships who satisfies the membership and eligibility requirements with respect to a Full Membership, Associate Membership, GIM, IDEM or COM, respectively, in each case, as set forth in the CBOT subsidiarys rules and regulations,
will be entitled to all of the rights and privileges, including all trading rights and privileges, of a Full Member, Associate Member, GIM, IDEM or COM, as the case may be, subject to applicable Delaware law or as otherwise provided in the CBOT
subsidiarys certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations.
In addition, the certificate of
incorporation for the CBOT subsidiary will provide for the issuance to each Full Member one Class C membership, which will, subject to satisfaction of certain terms and conditions, entitle the holder to become a member of the CBOE without having to
purchase a membership on such exchange.
Transferability
Currently, memberships may be purchased or sold pursuant to transfer mechanisms established by our rules and regulations.
Following the completion of the restructuring transactions, shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings, and the Class A membership and
the Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary each will generally be subject to a complete restriction on transfer, except to the extent otherwise described elsewhere in the document.
Notwithstanding this restriction on transfer, stockholders may transfer all, but not less than all, of the shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings associated with a
Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary if all such shares of common stock are transferred together with the associated Class B membership. This restriction on transfer will not apply in a transfer by operation of law or a transaction that is
specifically approved by the board of directors of CBOT Holdings or a committee thereof. In addition, the restriction may be removed or reduced if the board of directors and stockholders of CBOT Holdings approve an amendment to the relevant
provision of the certificate of
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incorporation of CBOT Holdings. However, because a reciprocal restriction appears in the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary, we expect that no amendment to either certificate of
incorporation would be made unless amendments to both certificates of incorporation were approved both by the board of directors and stockholders of CBOT Holdings and by the board of directors of and the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B
memberships in the CBOT subsidiary, as applicable.
The Class A membership held by CBOT Holdings may not be
transferred by CBOT Holdings except with the approval of the board of directors of CBOT Holdings and the holders Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary or in the case of a transfer to an affiliate of CBOT Holdings.
The Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary generally will be subject to a complete restriction on
transfer. Notwithstanding this restriction on transfer, the holders of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary may transfer Class B memberships if such Class B memberships are transferred together with all, but not less than all, of the shares of
common stock of CBOT Holdings associated with the Class B memberships. This restriction on transfer will not apply in a transfer by operation of law or a transaction that is specifically approved by the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary or a
committee thereof. In addition, the restriction may be removed or reduced if the board of directors and the holders of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary approve an amendment to the relevant provision of the certificate of incorporation of
the CBOT subsidiary. However, because a reciprocal restriction appears in the certificate of incorporation of CBOT Holdings, we expect that no amendment would be made unless such amendments were approved both by the board of directors and the
holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary and by the board of directors and stockholders of CBOT Holdings. In addition, the exercise of the trading rights and privileges associated with the Class B memberships
will be subject to substantially the same restrictions that currently apply, including, in the case of Series B-3, Class B memberships, that such memberships may not be sold or transferred without eliminating the associated trading rights and
privileges, and satisfaction of the application and approval process applicable to CBOT membership candidates. Under that process, any adult, other than an employee of the CBOT subsidiary, of good character, reputation, financial responsibility and
credit will be eligible to become a holder of a Class B membership in, and exercise trading rights and privileges at the, CBOT subsidiary. Candidates will be reviewed to determine whether they meet applicable requirements in accordance with the
rules and regulations of the CBOT subsidiary.
The Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary generally
will not be subject to any transfer restrictions. However, a holder of a Class C membership seeking to become a member of the Chicago Board Options Exchange must hold 25,000 shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings and one Series B-1, Class B
membership in the CBOT subsidiary, along with such Class C membership, in each case subject to certain adjustments, in order to be eligible to become a member of the CBOE without having to purchase a membership on such exchange. Accordingly, if you
are a Full Member of the CBOT, you should give careful consideration to this requirement before either transferring some or all of your common stock of CBOT Holdings without all of your other shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings and your Series
B-1, Class B membership and Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary or transferring your Series B-1, Class B membership or Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary without all of your shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings.
Limited partnership interests in Ceres are currently subject to certain transfer restrictions which result in the Ceres limited
partnership interests being stapled to the CBOT memberships. As a result of the above-described transfer restrictions applicable to the common stock of CBOT Holdings and the memberships in the CBOT subsidiary, and substantially similar
transfer restrictions that will be applicable to the existing limited partnership interests in Ceres, all of these interests will be stapled together after the completion of the restructuring transactions. This means that, unless and
until these transfer restrictions are eliminated or modified, these interests can only be transferred together.
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Voting Rights
Under the CBOTs current certificate of incorporation and bylaws, Full Members and Associate Members have the right to vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the
general membership. Each Full Member is entitled to one vote per Full Membership and each Associate Member is entitled to one-sixth of one vote per Associate Membership on all such matters. GIMs, IDEMs and COMs have no right to vote under the
current certificate of incorporation and bylaws.
The holders of common stock of CBOT Holdings will have the right
to vote on all matters upon which the stockholders of CBOT Holdings will be entitled to vote generally, including, among other things, the election of directors to the board of directors of CBOT Holdings. As a result, to the extent that they hold
shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs will have the right to vote on all matters upon which the stockholders of CBOT Holdings will be entitled to vote generally. In addition, the allocation of shares of common stock of CBOT
Holdings among members in connection with the completion of the restructuring transactions will result in a dilution of the Full Members voting rights relative to the voting rights of Associate Members, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs.
The board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary will have the authority to adopt and recommend for membership approval
amendments to the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary. An amendment to the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary will require approval by the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary and, except as provided below, CBOT
Holdings, the holder of the sole Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary. However, the holders of the Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will have the exclusive right among members to vote on any proposed
amendment to the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary that would adversely affect the following core rights:
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the allocation of products that a holder of a specific series of Class B membership is permitted to trade on the exchange facilities of the CBOT subsidiary,
e.g., the elimination of any product from a holders trading rights and privileges; |
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the requirement that, subject to certain limited exceptions agreed to by the CBOT and CBOE, the holders of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will be
charged transaction fees for trades of the CBOT subsidiarys products for their accounts that are lower than the transaction fees charged to any participant who is not a holder of a Class B membership for the same products;
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the authorized number of any class or series of memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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the membership and eligibility requirements to become a holder of a Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary or to exercise the associated trading rights or
privileges; and |
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the commitment to maintain current open outcry markets so long as each such market is deemed liquid unless the discontinuance of any such market is approved by
the holders of the Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. |
The holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will also have the exclusive right among members to vote on any amendment to the transfer restrictions set forth in the certificate of incorporation
of the CBOT subsidiary with respect to the Class A membership and the Class B memberships.
In addition,
the holders of the Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will have the right to initiate and have the exclusive right among members to vote on other proposals, including proposals to adopt, repeal or amend the bylaws
and non-binding recommendations to the board of directors, such as recommendations that the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary consider proposed amendments to the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary. The members of the CBOT
subsidiary will not be entitled to initiate binding proposals to take any action that requires board approval, including proposals to amend the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary, or as described above, proposals to amend the
certificate of incorporation and bylaws of CBOT Holdings. Member proposals may be initiated at an annual meeting of the members of the CBOT subsidiary or, after satisfying certain advance notice requirements, special meetings of the members of the
CBOT subsidiary and, subject to applicable law, will require the approval of a majority of votes cast at such special or annual meeting.
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The holders of the Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary
will have one vote per membership and the holders of the Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will have one-sixth of one vote per membership in any vote with respect to a proposed amendment to the certificate of incorporation or
bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary that would adversely affect any of the above-described core rights and on any proposal initiated by the holders of the Series B-1 and/or Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. The holders of Series B-3,
Series B-4 and Series B-5, Class B memberships and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will not have the right to vote on any matters or to initiate any proposal. Subject to applicable law, the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes
cast at any annual or special meeting called for such purpose shall be sufficient to constitute approval of all matters upon which Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships are entitled to vote.
The chairman of the board or the board of directors will be required to call a special meeting of the members of the CBOT subsidiary
upon the written request of at least 10% of the voting power of the holders of the Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. The bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary will provide that the holder of the sole Class A membership
must be present in person or by proxy to constitute a quorum on matters upon which the Class A membership is entitled to vote and the certificate of incorporation will provide that one-third of the voting power of the Class B memberships entitled to
vote must be present in person or by proxy in order to constitute a quorum on matters upon which the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships are entitled to vote. Based on the respective voting power of these two series of
Class B memberships, any such amendment or proposal could be approved by the holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships even though the holders of Series B-2, Class B memberships voted against the amendment. This result is consistent with the result
that would be obtained under the CBOTs existing certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations with respect to matters voted on by Full Members and Associate Members as a single class.
As a result of the modifications to the voting rights of CBOT members, the influence of Full and Associate members will be somewhat
reduced, and this reduction may lead to decisions and outcomes that differ from those made under our current certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations.
Liquidation Rights
The CBOTs current rules and
regulations provide that, in the event of a full liquidation of the CBOT, the members would share in the proceeds from dissolution in an approximate ratio of 6.00 : 1.00 : 0.67 : 0.03 : 0.03 for each Full Membership, Associate Membership, GIM, IDEM
and COM, respectively.
In the event of a full liquidation of CBOT Holdings, liquidating distributions will be
made to common stockholders pro rata based on the number of shares of common stock they hold. In the event of the full liquidation of the CBOT subsidiary, the holder of the sole Class A membership, which will be CBOT Holdings, will be entitled to
all liquidating distributions. The holders of Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will not be entitled to any distributions upon the liquidation of the CBOT subsidiary. As a result of the allocation of shares of common stock of
CBOT Holdings and the creation of the holding company structure in connection with the restructuring transactions, Full Members and GIMs will experience a decline in their liquidation rights relative to the liquidation rights of Associate Members,
IDEMs and COMs.
Proceeds of Membership
Under our current rules and regulations, proceeds from the transfer of a membership are subject to certain prior claims of other members against the seller of that
membership. As a result of the restructuring transactions, our members will receive a combination of interests consisting of both common stock of CBOT Holdings and memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. As described in greater detail elsewhere in this
document, the CBOT Holdings common stock and the Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will be linked together for an indefinite period of time. Due to this linkage, we believe that there is significant uncertainty concerning the application of
this rule after the completion of the restructuring transactions. Absent special circumstances, proceeds from the transfer of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings will not be subject to the prior claims
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of the holders of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary unless and to the extent that such holders have otherwise perfected a security interest in the transferred shares of common stock of
CBOT Holdings, such as receiving a pledge of such shares. The rules and regulations of the CBOT subsidiary will provide that the proceeds of any transfer of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will be subject to the priority of payments
provision that is currently applicable to the transfer of CBOT memberships. However, we are not aware of any court that has considered the applicability of such a provision in the context of linked common stock and memberships. Accordingly, while we
currently intend to retain this provision in the rules and regulations of the CBOT subsidiary, there is uncertainty as to whether, how and to what extent the priority of payments provision would be enforced in accordance with its terms.
We currently believe that, following the completion of the restructuring transactions, the claims of the
holders of Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary should continue to have an automatic priority over the claims of non-members against the proceeds of the sale of Class B and Class C memberships in substantially the same manner as
the priority associated with current CBOT memberships. However, the restructuring transactions involve significant changes to our organizational structure and, as a result, we cannot provide any assurances in this regard. In particular, we are not
aware of any court that has considered the enforceability of such a provision in the context of memberships issued by a demutualized exchange. The rules and regulations of the CBOT subsidiary will provide that the proceeds of any transfer of Class B
and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will be subject to the priority of payments provision that is currently applicable to the transfer of CBOT memberships.
Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation
Under our
current certificate of incorporation, amendments to the certificate of incorporation must be adopted by the board of directors in accordance with Delaware law and then submitted to a vote of the membership. Proposals to amend the certificate of
incorporation will be adopted if at least 300 votes have been cast at a special meeting of the membership and a majority of the votes cast were in favor of the proposal.
Under the certificate of incorporation of CBOT Holdings, amendments must also be adopted by the board of directors and then submitted to a vote of the stockholders.
However, proposals to amend the certificate of incorporation will be adopted only if at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of stock of CBOT Holdings entitled to vote generally in the election of directors,
voting together as a single class, are voted in favor of the proposal. As a result, it will be more difficult to amend the certificate of incorporation of CBOT Holdings.
In addition, the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary will provide that amendments must be approved by the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary and
submitted to a vote of the membership. An amendment to the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary will require approval by the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary and, except as provided below, CBOT Holdings, the holder of the
sole Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary. However, the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will have the exclusive right among members to vote on any amendment to the certificate of incorporation or
bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary that would adversely affect the following core rights:
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the allocation of products that a holder of a specific series of Class B membership is permitted to trade on the exchange facilities of the CBOT subsidiary,
e.g., the elimination of any product from a holders trading rights and privileges; |
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the requirement that, subject to certain limited exceptions agreed to by the CBOT and CBOE, the holders of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will be
charged transaction fees for trades of the CBOT subsidiarys products for their accounts that are lower than the transaction fees charged to any participant who is not a Class B member for the same products; |
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the authorized number of any class or series of memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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the membership and eligibility requirements to become a holder of a Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary or to exercise the associated trading rights or
privileges; and |
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the commitment to maintain current open outcry markets so long as each such market is deemed liquid unless the discontinuance of any such market is approved by
the holders of the Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. |
The holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will also have the exclusive right among members to vote on any amendment to or elimination of the transfer restrictions set forth in the
certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary applicable to the Class A membership and Class B memberships.
Amendment of
Bylaws and Rules and Regulations; Modification of the Petition Process
Currently, our certificate of
incorporation provides that the bylaws, which include the rules, may only be adopted, amended or repealed with the approval of the membership. Proposed amendments to the bylaws may be independently recommended by the board of directors for
submission to a vote at a special meeting of the membership. In addition, 25 or more voting members have the right to petition for the board of directors approval to call a special meeting of the membership for the purpose of voting on
amendments to the bylaws. If the board of directors does not approve the initial petition, 100 or more voting members have the right to petition for such special meeting and such special meeting will then be called by the board of directors or the
chairman of the board in accordance with the procedures set forth in the certificate of incorporation and bylaws, See Special Meetings. However, in the event that the proposal to be voted upon has previously been rejected within
the prior twelve months, 100 or more voting members will be required to re-petition the board to call another meeting, and 250 or more voting members will be required to petition for such special meeting to be called by the board of directors or the
chairman of the board in accordance with the procedures set forth in the certificate of incorporation and bylaws. Proposals to amend the bylaws, including the rules, will be adopted if at least 300 votes have been cast at a special meeting and a
majority of the votes cast were in favor of the proposal. This process, together with certain other provisions of the bylaws, rules and regulations, effectively vests in the voting membership the authority to adopt, amend and repeal bylaws,
including the rules, which, together with our certificate of incorporation and the regulations, generally govern the rights and obligations of the members of the CBOT.
Upon the completion of the restructuring transactions, the boards of directors of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary will each generally have the authority to adopt,
repeal and amend the bylaws, without approval by the holders of its common stock or members, as the case may be. This will enable the board of directors of CBOT Holdings to, among other things, amend the provisions in the bylaws of CBOT Holdings
relating to the definition of independent directors. In addition, the requirement that members approve all changes to the bylaws, which will include the rules and regulations, will be substantially eliminated. However, subject to limitations under
applicable law, the stockholders of CBOT Holdings and the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary each will also have the ability to adopt, repeal or amend the bylaws of CBOT Holdings or the CBOT subsidiary,
respectively, at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings or members of the CBOT subsidiary, respectively. For each organization, the chairman of the board or the board of directors will be required to call a special
meeting of the stockholders or members, as applicable, upon the written request of at least 10% of the voting power of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings or the members of the CBOT subsidiary, respectively. The ability of the holders of common stock
of CBOT Holdings and the holders of Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary to participate in the day-to-day management and operations of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary, respectively, will be somewhat reduced. In contrast to
the substantial rights of current CBOT members pursuant to the petition process, stockholders of CBOT Holdings will have rights somewhat more consistent with those of stockholders of a publicly held corporation and members of the CBOT subsidiary
will have reduced rights relative to the members of the CBOT.
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The board of directors of CBOT Holdings will have the authority to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of CBOT Holdings
without the approval of the stockholders. The holders of the common stock of CBOT Holdings will also be entitled to initiate proposals to amend the bylaws of CBOT Holdings and non-binding recommendations, such as recommendations that the board
consider proposals, including proposals to amend the certificate of incorporation of CBOT Holdings. Any proposal brought by stockholders of CBOT Holdings may be brought at to a vote at a special meeting or at an annual meeting in accordance with the
bylaws of CBOT Holdings described below and subject to applicable law, will require the approval of a majority of the votes cast at such annual or special meeting, provided certain quorum requirements are met. The certificate of incorporation of
CBOT Holdings will provide that at least one third of the total voting power of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings entitled to vote generally in the election of directors must be present in person or by proxy in order to constitute a quorum. The
certificate of incorporation and bylaws of CBOT Holdings will provide that the chairman and the board of directors will have the right to call such special meetings. In addition, the chairman of the board or the board of directors will be required
to call a special meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings upon the written request of at least 10% of the voting power of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings.
The bylaws of CBOT Holdings will contain provisions requiring that advance notice be delivered to CBOT Holdings of any business to be brought by a stockholder before an
annual or special meeting of stockholders and providing for certain procedures to be followed by stockholders in nominating persons for election to CBOT Holdings board of directors. Generally, such advance notice provisions will require that
for an annual meeting a stockholder must give written notice to the secretary of CBOT Holdings not less than 20, nor more than 60, days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which CBOT Holdings first mailed its proxy materials for the
preceding years annual meeting of stockholders. In each case, the notice must set forth specific information regarding such stockholder and each director nominee or other business proposed by such stockholder, as applicable, as provided in
CBOT Holdings bylaws.
Subject to the rights of the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B
memberships with respect to the core rights as described elsewhere in this document, the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary will have the authority to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary without the approval of the
members.
The holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary may
initiate other proposals, including proposals to adopt, repeal or amend the bylaws and non-binding recommendations to the board of directors, such as recommendations that the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary consider proposed amendments to
the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary. Member proposals may be initiated at an annual meeting of the members of the CBOT subsidiary or, after satisfying certain advance notice requirements, at a special meeting of the members of
the CBOT subsidiary and, subject to applicable law, will require the approval of a majority of votes cast at such special or annual meeting.
The holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will have one vote per membership and the holders of Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will have one-sixth of
one vote per membership in any vote with respect to a proposed amendment to the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary that would adversely affect any of the above-described core rights and on any proposal initiated by the
holders of Series B-1 and/or Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. The holders of Series B-3, Series B-4 and Series B-5, Class B memberships and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will not have the right to vote on any
matters or to initiate any proposal. Subject to applicable law, the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast at any annual or special meeting called for such purpose shall be sufficient to constitute approval of all matters upon which
Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B members are entitled to vote.
The chairman of the board or the board
of directors will be required to call a special meeting of the members of the CBOT subsidiary upon the written request of at least 10% of the voting power of the Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary. The
certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary will provide that one-third of the voting power of the Class B memberships entitled to vote must be present in person or by proxy in order to constitute a quorum.
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Under our current certificate of incorporation and bylaws, the rules are
deemed to be part of the bylaws and are therefore subject to the petition process described above. Under the CBOT subsidiarys certificate of incorporation and bylaws, the rules and regulations will be incorporated into the bylaws and the board
of directors of the CBOT subsidiary, subject to the rights of the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships with respect to the core rights, and the Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B members of the CBOT subsidiary, will have
authority to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary.
Election of Directors
Currently, our certificate of incorporation provides that the nominating committee will nominate candidates to stand for election to the
board of directors. In addition, members have the right to petition, which petition must be signed by at least 40 members, to nominate other candidates to stand for election to the board of directors.
Under the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of CBOT Holdings, nominations for directors will be made by the nominating committee of
the board of directors of CBOT Holdings and may be made by stockholders satisfying the advance notice requirements described above at Description of Capital Stock and MembershipsOther ProvisionsAdvance Notice Procedures. As a
result of the advance notice requirements under CBOT Holdings bylaws, stockholder influence on the nomination process in connection with the election of directors may be diminished.
It is currently expected that the board of directors of CBOT Holdings will designate a nominating committee to recommend to the board of directors
nominations of persons to stand for election as directors of CBOT Holdings. In addition to nominations made by the nominating committee, stockholders of CBOT Holdings will also be entitled to nominate persons to stand for election as directors of
CBOT Holdings if the nominee is qualified and the stockholder satisfies certain advance notice requirements. If the stockholder satisfies each of these conditions and delivers a petition executed by at least 40 persons who are both stockholders and
holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary, CBOT Holdings and/or the CBOT subsidiary will, to the extent either prepares and delivers a proxy statement and form of proxy to its stockholders or members at its own expense,
include the name of such nominee and all other information related to such nominee that is provided with respect to the board of directors nominees in such proxy statement and form of proxy.
The certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary will provide that the holder of the sole Class A membership, which will be
CBOT Holdings, will be entitled to elect directors to serve on the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary. However, it will be a qualification that each director of the CBOT subsidiary serve on the board of directors of CBOT Holdings, which will
generally result in CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary having boards of directors that are identical in size and composition.
Special Meetings
Currently, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provides that 25
or more voting members have the right to petition for the board of directors approval to call a special meeting of the membership for the purpose of voting on amendments to the bylaws. If the board of directors does not approve the initial
petition, 100 or more voting members have the right to petition for such special meeting and such special meeting will then be called by the board of directors or the chairman of the board in accordance with the procedures set forth in the
certificate of incorporation and bylaws. Independently, the board of directors or the chairman of the board may call for a special meeting of the membership for any purpose to be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as they or he or
she fix.
Under the bylaws of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary, special meetings of the stockholders and
special meetings of the members, as applicable, may be called by the chairman of the board or by the board of directors acting pursuant to a resolution of a majority of such board of directors, in each case of CBOT Holdings
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or the CBOT subsidiary, as applicable. In each case, the chairman of the board or the board of directors will be required to call a special meeting upon the written request of the holders of at
least 10% of all outstanding shares or memberships entitled to vote on the action proposed to be taken at such meeting.
Annual Meetings
Under our current bylaws, the annual meeting of the members is required to
be held on the first Thursday after the third Tuesday in February at 2:30 p.m. As a matter of practice, member matters are generally not submitted to a vote at such meetings.
Under the bylaws of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary, and to the fullest extent required by applicable law, an annual meeting will be required to be held for the
purpose of electing directors and transacting such other business as may be properly called come before the meeting at such place, on such date, and at such time as the board of directors shall each year fix, provided that, in the case of CBOT
Holdings, the date of the annual meeting shall be within 13 months of the last annual meeting of stockholders as required by applicable law.
Assessments and Dues
The board of directors of the CBOT currently possesses the
authority to levy assessments upon the CBOT membership as it may deem necessary or advisable to meet certain anticipated operating deficits. The board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary will continue to possess the authority to levy assessments
upon the CBOT subsidiary membership on substantially the same terms as the board of directors of CBOT, subject to applicable law. The common stock of CBOT Holdings will be issued as fully-paid and non-assessable. As such, CBOT Holdings will have no
authority to assess its stockholders.
Conversion Rights
Our current certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that GIM Memberships are converted into one-half Associate Memberships upon the sale of such memberships and
permits the conversion of two one-half Associate Memberships into one Associate Membership.
Following the
completion of the restructuring transactions, two Series B-3, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary will be convertible at the option of the holder, at any time, into a Series B-2, Class B membership. This convertibility feature is designed to
facilitate our current plan to phase out GIM Memberships and, after the completion of the restructuring transactions, Series B-3, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary.
Repeal of Certain Rules and Regulations
In order to
implement certain changes to the corporate governance structure of the CBOT subsidiary in connection with the restructuring transactions, certain rules and regulations will be repealed or eliminated in their entirety. A summary of certain of those
rules and regulations that will be repealed or eliminated in their entirety in connection with the restructuring transactions is set forth in Appendix J to this document, which is entitled Status of Certain Current CBOT Rules and Regulations
as a Result of the Restructuring Transactions. We urge you to review this summary carefully before voting on the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions. Of course, other changes to the rules and regulations not related
to the restructuring transactions may be implemented from time to time after the date of this document in accordance with the provisions of our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations.
Board of Directors
The directors serving on the board of directors of the CBOT immediately prior to the completion of the restructuring transactions will continue as members of the boards of directors of both CBOT Holdings and the
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CBOT subsidiary immediately following the completion of the restructuring transactions. The continuing directors will serve for the duration of their current terms with the exception of the
current public directors, whose terms will end in connection with the first annual election following the completion of the restructuring.
The size of the board of directors of CBOT Holdings will be reduced from 18 directors to 16 directors in connection with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the completion of the
restructuring transactions. The board of directors of CBOT Holdings will then consist of:
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the chairman of the board, who will be a holder of a Series B-1, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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vice-chairman of the board, who will be a holder of a Series B-1, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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eight directors, who will be holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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two directors, who will be holders of Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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three directors, who will be independent within the meaning of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of CBOT Holdings; and
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the president and chief executive officer of CBOT Holdings, who will be a non-voting director. |
Except as described below, each director of CBOT Holdings will be elected to serve as a director until the second annual meeting of each such corporation
following their election and will not be subject to term limits.
The elected directors of CBOT Holdings will be
classified into two classes of directors consisting of eight directors and seven directors, respectively. The first class of directors will consist of:
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the chairman of the board; |
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four directors, who will be holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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one director, who will be a holder of a Series B-2, Class B membership the CBOT subsidiary; and |
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two independent directors. |
The second class of directors will consist of:
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the vice-chairman of the board; |
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four directors, who will be holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary; |
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one director, who will be a holder of a Series B-2, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary; and |
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one independent director. |
The president and chief executive officer will, upon appointment to such position, automatically become a non-voting director.
At the first annual meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings following the completion of the restructuring transactions, the stockholders will elect six directors, consisting of three of the
directors from the second class of directors and the three directors from the first class of directors. The directors of the second class will be elected to serve until the third annual meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings following the
completion of the restructuring transactions, and the directors of the first class will be elected to serve until the second annual meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings following the completion of the restructuring transactions. Thereafter,
each class of directors will be elected at every other annual meeting, beginning with the first class at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of CBOT Holdings following the completion of the restructuring transactions. For a more detailed
description of the directors and the terms that such directors are expected to be elected to at each of the first, second and third annual elections following the completion of the restructuring transactions, see Description of Restructuring
TransactionsModernization of Our Corporate Governance StructureBoard of Directors.
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In connection with the election of directors to the new sixteen-member board
of directors of CBOT Holdings, we currently anticipate that CBOT Holdings, as the holder of the sole Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary, which is the only membership entitled to vote in the election of directors, will elect the same persons
as members of the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary. In order to ensure that the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary is generally identical in size and composition to the board of directors of CBOT Holdings, it will be a qualification
for service as a director of the CBOT subsidiary that such director also serve at the same time on the board of directors of CBOT Holdings.
Change of Control Provisions
Currently, our certificate of incorporation, bylaws,
rules and regulations do not contain robust change of control provisions. However, the CBOT membership application process may serve as a deterrent to persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral takeover proposals.
CBOT Holdings will establish a number of change of control provisions that may have the effect of
encouraging persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral takeover proposals to negotiate with the board of directors of CBOT Holdings rather than pursue non-negotiated takeover attempts. These provisions will include, among
other things:
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a classified board of directors with staggered terms of office; |
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advance notice requirements in connection with stockholder meetings; |
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a prohibition on the ability of stockholders to take action by written consent; and |
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the application of the provisions of the Delaware anti-takeover statute. |
For more information about these provisions, see Description of Capital Stock and MembershipsOther Provisions.
In addition, we currently anticipate that, in the event that CBOT Holdings were to conduct an underwritten public offering of its common
stock in the future, the board of directors would be asked to consider, and may adopt, a stockholder rights plan. We have no current plan or intention to conduct any such offering.
These provisions could have the following effects, among others:
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delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control; |
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delaying, deferring or preventing the removal of existing management; |
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deterring potential acquirors from making an offer to CBOTs Holdings stockholders; and |
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limiting any opportunity of CBOT Holdings stockholders to realize premiums over prevailing market or other prices of CBOT Holdings common stock in
connection with offers by potential acquirors. |
This could be the case notwithstanding that a majority of CBOT
Holdings stockholders might benefit from such a change in control or offer.
Appraisal Rights
Under Delaware law and subject to certain exceptions, stockholders of CBOT Holdings will have appraisal rights in connection with a merger
or consolidation of CBOT Holdings with another entity. Appraisal rights
allow a stockholder to dissent from the merger or consolidation and receive the fair value of the
stockholders shares in cash. Appraisal rights will also generally be available to the members of the CBOT subsidiary, as they are presently available to CBOT members, in connection with a merger or consolidation of the CBOT subsidiary with
another entity, subject to certain exceptions. Under Delaware law, however, appraisal rights are not available in connection with a merger or consolidation of two nonstock corporations and, accordingly, appraisal rights are not available to any CBOT
members in connection with the restructuring transactions.
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SHARES AND MEMBERSHIPS ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
The 39,802,650 shares of
common stock of CBOT Holdings to be distributed in connection with the restructuring transactions will generally be subject to a complete restriction on transfer. Notwithstanding this restriction on transfer, stockholders may transfer all, but not
less than all, of the shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings associated with a Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary if all such shares of common stock are transferred together with the associated Class B membership.
The Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary generally will be subject to a complete restriction on transfer. Notwithstanding
this restriction on transfer, the holders of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary may transfer Class B memberships if such Class B memberships are transferred together with all, but not less than all, of the shares of common stock of CBOT
Holdings associated with the Class B memberships.
The foregoing restrictions on the transfer of common stock
of CBOT Holdings and of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary, respectively, will not apply in a transaction that is specifically approved by the board of directors of CBOT Holdings or the board of directors of the CBOT subsidiary, respectively
(or, in each case, a committee of such board) or a transfer that occurs by operation of law. In addition, the restriction on the transfer of common stock of CBOT Holdings may be removed or reduced if the board of directors and stockholders of CBOT
Holdings approve an amendment to the relevant provision in the certificate of incorporation of CBOT Holdings, and the restriction on the transfer of Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary may be removed or reduced if the board of directors of
and the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary approve an amendment to the relevant provision in the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary. However, because the restrictions are in effect
reciprocal and are imposed in the certificate of incorporation of both entities, we expect that no such amendment to either certificate of incorporation would be made unless amendments to both certificates of incorporation were approved both by the
board of directors and stockholders of CBOT Holdings and by the board of directors of and the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT subsidiary, as applicable.
In addition, the exercise of the trading rights and privileges associated with the Class B memberships will be subject to substantially the same restrictions that
currently apply, including, in the case of Series B-3, Class B memberships, that such memberships may not be sold or transferred without eliminating the associated trading rights and privileges, and satisfaction of the application and approval
process applicable to CBOT membership candidates. Under that process, any adult, other than an employee of the CBOT subsidiary, of good character, reputation, financial responsibility and credit will be eligible to become a holder of a Class B
membership in, and exercise trading rights and privileges at the, CBOT subsidiary. Candidates will be reviewed to determine whether they meet applicable requirements in accordance with the rules and regulations of the CBOT subsidiary.
In addition, a holder of a Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary seeking to become a member of the Chicago Board
Options Exchange must hold 25,000 shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings and one Series B-1, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary, along with such Class C membership, in each case subject to certain adjustments, in order to be eligible to
become a member of the Chicago Board Options Exchange without having to purchase a membership on such exchange. Accordingly, if you are a Full Member of the CBOT, you should give careful consideration to this requirement before either transferring
your common stock of CBOT Holdings and your Series B-1, Class B membership without your Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary or transferring your Class C membership in the CBOT subsidiary without your common stock of CBOT Holdings and Series
B-1, Class B membership in the CBOT subsidiary.
Securities received in connection with the restructuring
transactions by affiliates may be resold only pursuant to further registration under the Securities Act or in transactions that are exempt from registration under the Securities Act.
Sales of substantial amounts of common stock of CBOT Holdings in the open market, or the availability of such shares for sale, could adversely affect the price of our
common stock and/or our other capital stock.
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE RESTRUCTURING TRANSACTIONS
The following general discussion constitutes the opinion of Kirkland & Ellis, tax counsel to CBOT Holdings and the CBOT, as to the
material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the completion of the restructuring transactions, subject to the qualifications described below. This opinion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the United States Treasury
Department regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial authority and current administrative rulings and practice now in effect, all of which are subject to change at any time, including with possible retroactive effect, or different
interpretations. This opinion is also based on a private letter ruling received from the IRS on September 30, 2002, regarding the consequences discussed herein. This opinion does not discuss all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be
relevant to a particular CBOT member in light of such members particular circumstances or to CBOT members subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, and this opinion does not discuss any aspects of state, local or
foreign tax laws.
In the private letter ruling issued to the CBOT as well as rulings issued to other
exchanges involved in the process of demutualization, the Internal Revenue Service has adopted the position that:
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the equity component of a membership or stock is to be treated as separate property from the trading rights and other non-equity rights associated with that
membership or stock so that the demutualization will be treated, in effect, as two exchanges, an exchange of the equity components and an exchange of the trading rights and other non-equity rights; and |
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the taxability of each exchange must be tested under the relevant provisions of the Code applicable to the particular property rights.
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Thus, we understand that, under this IRS position, the exchange of the equity components will be tested for tax-free status under
the corporate reorganization or corporate formation provisions, as applicable, and the exchange of the trading rights and other non-equity rights will be treated as taxable or not based on whether there is any significant modification in the legal
rights associated with those rights under Code Section 1001, which provides for recognition of gain or loss on the sale or exchange of property. In its private letter ruling issued to the CBOT, the IRS ruled that (1) the exchange of equity
components will be tax-free under the corporate formation provisions and (2) the exchange of the trading rights and other non-equity rights will not be taxable because there will not be a significant modification in the legal rights associated with
these rights. As discussed below, the CBOT has requested a supplemental ruling that certain changes to the post-restructuring governance structure of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary adopted after the initial ruling request was filed will not
affect the September 30, 2002, ruling regarding the tax-free exchange of trading rights and other non-equity rights.
Based upon the foregoing, it is the opinion of Kirkland & Ellis that:
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No gain or loss will be recognized by a CBOT member with respect to the receipt of common stock of CBOT Holdings or the Class A, Class B or Class C memberships
of the CBOT subsidiary, including any associated right to trade on the CBOT or Chicago Board Options Exchange. |
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If the foregoing exchanges do not result in the recognition of gain or loss, the aggregate basis in a members current membership will carry over to the
property received and must be allocated to the various components. If the equity rights and the trading rights and other non-equity rights are treated as separate property for tax purposes, the basis in the equity rights will be allocated among the
equity rights received in proportion to their fair market values, and the basis in the existing trading rights and other non-equity rights will carry over to the basis of the trading rights and other non-equity rights received. It is not entirely
clear how basis will be allocated between trading rights and other non-equity rights and equity rights because no separate market exists for those property rights. Members of the CBOT who intend to sell some but not all of their stock or memberships
should consult their own tax advisors. |
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The holding period of the common stock of CBOT Holdings or the Class B or Class C memberships of the CBOT subsidiary, will include the period for which such
persons current membership has been held, provided that such membership is held as a capital asset or property described in Code Section 1231 on the date of the distribution of the stock or memberships, as the case may be.
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The CBOT will not recognize any gain or loss upon its demutualization and creation of the holding company structure. |
It is a condition to the CBOTs obligation to complete the restructuring transactions that it receive a private letter ruling
from the IRS generally to the effect that receipt by members of Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary and a private letter ruling or an opinion of counsel to the effect that receipt by CBOT Holdings of a Class A membership in the
CBOT subsidiary and receipt by members of common stock of CBOT Holdings, in form and substance satisfactory to our board of directors, will have the foregoing effects. On October 30, 2001, the CBOT filed a request for the ruling with the IRS, and on
September 30, 2002, the CBOT received a ruling from the IRS that the restructuring transactions will have the foregoing effects. This ruling will generally be binding on the IRS. Although an IRS ruling can be revoked or modified retroactively under
some extraordinary circumstances, we are not aware of any such circumstances that would cause the IRS to revoke or modify any such ruling with respect to the restructuring transactions. On October 16, 2002, the CBOT filed a request with the IRS for
a supplemental ruling to the effect that certain changes to the post-restructuring governance structure of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary adopted after the initial ruling request was filed will not affect certain of the IRS holdings in
the IRS ruling. Based on conversations with the IRS, we currently expect the IRS to issue this supplemental ruling, but this result cannot be guaranteed.
Because of the complexity of the tax laws, and because the tax consequences of the restructuring transactions to you may be affected by matters not discussed in this section, you are urged to
consult your own tax advisor with respect to your own particular circumstances and with respect to the specific tax consequences of the restructuring transactions to you, including the applicability and effect of state, local and foreign tax laws
and any proposed changes in applicable tax laws.
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SPECIAL MEETING AND PROXY INFORMATION
Persons Making the Solicitation
The proxy solicitation being made pursuant to this document is being conducted on behalf of the CBOT board of directors.
Time and Place of Special Meeting
The special meeting will be held on ,
, 2003 at 2:30 p.m., central time, in the Visitor Center Theater, Fifth Floor, at our executive offices located at 141 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604.
Matters To Be Approved
Full Members and
Associate Members are being asked to approve each of the following four propositions relating to the restructuring transactions described more fully in this document:
(1) The approval and adoption of the agreement and plan of merger relating to the reorganization merger, which provides for the reorganization merger and
the adoption of a new amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the CBOT to take effect upon effectiveness of such merger;
(2) The approval and adoption of the amended and restated bylaws of the CBOT, which will become the bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary, and a technical amendment to the bylaws of the CBOT clarifying the
status of holders of GIM, IDEM and COM membership interests as members of the CBOT for purposes of Delaware law;
(3) Ratification of the August 7, 2001 agreement and the related October 24, 2001 and September 13, 2002 letter agreements entered into among the CBOT, CBOT Holdings and the CBOE relating to the exercise right; and
(4) Ratification of all other matters relating to the restructuring transactions including,
among other things, the proposed changes to our corporate governance structure, as set forth in the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws for each of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary, and certain changes to the rules and
regulations of the CBOT which, collectively, will facilitate the demutualization and the modernization of certain aspects of our corporate governance structure.
As described in greater detail below, in order for the restructuring transactions to be approved by the requisite CBOT membership vote, ALL FOUR of these propositions must
be approved by the Full Members and Associate Members in accordance with the current CBOT certificate of incorporation, bylaws, rules and regulations and applicable law.
Eligibility to Vote
Although this document will be mailed
to all CBOT members, you are eligible to vote at the special meeting only if you are a Full Member or Associate Member as of the date for the special meeting of the CBOT membership at which a vote on the restructuring transactions will be taken. In
accordance with our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations, GIMs, IDEMs and COMs are not eligible to vote on the restructuring transactions.
Description of Propositions
There are four separate
propositions being submitted to the CBOT membership for consideration in connection with the restructuring transactions. We will describe each of these four propositions below:
Proposition 1: Approval and Adoption of the Merger Agreement Relating to the Reorganization Merger
This proposition is to approve and adopt the agreement and plan of merger entered into on
, 2003, by and between the CBOT and CBOT Merger Sub, Inc., a transitory subsidiary of CBOT Holdings formed for the purpose of
effectuating the reorganization merger. The agreement and plan of merger provides for the
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reorganization merger described in greater detail elsewhere in this document and the adoption, as of the effective time of the reorganization merger, of an amended and restated certificate of
incorporation of the CBOT in the form set forth as Appendix F to this document. Accordingly, approval of the agreement and plan of merger also constitutes approval of the form of amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the CBOT
subsidiary. The agreement and plan of merger for the reorganization merger is attached to this document as Appendix C.
Upon the filing of the certificate of merger relating to the reorganization merger with the Secretary of State in Delaware, as required by the agreement and plan of merger, the merger of the CBOT merger sub with and into the CBOT
will occur. As a result of the merger, the CBOT will become a wholly owned subsidiary of CBOT Holdings, with CBOT Holdings becoming the holder of the sole Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary. The merger of the CBOT merger sub with and into the
CBOT and the distribution by the CBOT of the common stock of CBOT Holdings to the CBOT members by means of a dividend, collectively, constitute what we sometimes refer to as the demutualization of the CBOT. The distribution by the CBOT
of the common stock of CBOT Holdings to the CBOT members will not occur if the reorganization merger is not completed.
Proposition 2: Approval and Adoption of Changes to the CBOTs Bylaws
This
proposition is to approve and adopt the amendment and restatement of the CBOTs bylaws, which will become the amended and restated bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary, and a technical amendment to the CBOTs bylaws. The form of the amended and
restated bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary are included as Appendix I to this document.
The amendment and restatement
to the bylaws of the CBOT is generally designed to implement certain of the proposed changes to our corporate governance structure, which will become effective upon the completion of the reorganization merger. The technical amendment will clarify
that holders of GIM, IDEM and COM membership interests are members of the CBOT for purposes of Delaware law and will become effective immediately following membership approval of the restructuring transactions. Obtaining member approval of these
changes to the bylaws of the CBOT is required under the current certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the CBOT.
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3: Ratification of Certain Agreements with the CBOE Relating to the CBOE Exercise Right |
This proposition is to ratify the execution, delivery and performance by the CBOT and CBOT Holdings of certain agreements among the
CBOT, CBOT Holdings and the CBOE relating to the exercise right.
On August 7, 2001, the CBOT entered into an agreement with the CBOE for the stated
purpose of resolving the dispute between the parties regarding the exercise right within the context of the restructuring transactions. On October 24, 2001 and on September 13, 2002, the CBOT and CBOT Holdings entered into letter agreements with the
CBOE which specify the terms and conditions under which the August 7, 2001 agreement will apply upon the completion of the restructuring transactions, as subsequently revised and further refined. Attached as Appendices E-1, E-2, and E-3 to this
document are copies of the August 7, 2001 agreement and related October 24, 2001 and September 13, 2002 letter agreements, respectively.
Proposition 4: Ratification of All Other Matters Relating to the Restructuring Transactions, Including Changes to the Corporate Governance Structure
This proposition is to ratify all other matters relating to the restructuring transactions, including, among other things, the
proposed changes to our corporate governance structure, as described in greater detail elsewhere in this document.
This proposition includes, among other things, the ratification of the changes to our corporate governance structure contemplated by the new certificate of incorporation and bylaws for CBOT Holdings and the new certificate of
incorporation and bylaws for the CBOT subsidiary. The effectiveness of the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary will occur by operation of law upon the effectiveness of the reorganization
157
merger as described above. The adoption of the new certificate of incorporation for CBOT Holdings requires the approval of the board of directors of CBOT Holdings and the approval of the CBOT, as
sole stockholder of CBOT Holdings. It is currently anticipated that the new CBOT Holdings certificate of incorporation will become effective upon the filing of an amended and restated certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State in
Delaware, which we currently expect will occur immediately prior to the completion of the restructuring transactions. The amendment and restatement of the bylaws of CBOT Holdings requires the approval of the board of directors of CBOT Holdings,
which we currently expect will become effective upon the completion of the restructuring transactions. The forms of the new amended and restated certificates of incorporation for CBOT Holdings and the CBOT subsidiary are attached as Appendices F and
H to this document, respectively. The form of amended and restated bylaws of CBOT Holdings is attached as Appendix G to this document. The form of amended and restated bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary is attached as Appendix I to this document. Also
included in this proposition is the ratification of certain changes to the rules and regulations of the CBOT, as described in Appendix J to this document, which we expect will facilitate certain aspects of the demutualization and enhance the ability
of the CBOT subsidiary to modernize certain aspects of its corporate governance. These changes to the rules and regulations will become effective upon the approval by the board of directors of the CBOT, which we currently expect will occur
immediately prior to the completion of the restructuring transactions. In addition to these changes to our rules and regulations and our corporate governance structure, this proposition includes all other matters relating to the restructuring
transactions not otherwise covered by the other propositions.
Propositions 3 and 4 seek ratification by the
CBOT membership (in accordance with the current voting rights of CBOT members) of certain matters relating to the restructuring transactions. In this context, ratification refers to an expression of approval by members of one or more
matters for which their approval is not required as a matter of law. Although we are not aware of case law addressing the effect of ratification by members of a Delaware nonstock corporation such as the CBOT, we believe, based on certain cases
addressing ratification by stockholders of a Delaware corporation, that ratification may under certain circumstances be effective to protect actions taken by a corporation and its board of directors against certain claims by stockholders (or, in the
case of the CBOT, members) challenging such actions. It is a condition to the CBOTs obligation to complete the restructuring transactions that the CBOT membership approve each of the four propositions presented to them by the board of
directors. For this reason, ratification of certain matters pursuant to propositions 3 and 4, as described above, will be required in order to complete the restructuring transactions.
Although you are being asked to approve each of these four propositions separately, each of these propositions is related to, and expressly conditioned upon the approval of, the other
propositions. This means that we will not take any one or more of these actions relating to the restructuring transactions without taking all actions, subject to the terms and conditions of such transactions as described in greater detail elsewhere
in this document. Accordingly, unless ALL FOUR of the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions are approved by the requisite vote of the members as described in this document, the restructuring transactions will NOT have been approved
by the members and, accordingly, the restructuring transactions will not be completed.
Available Votes; Required Vote
Currently, there are 1,402 Full Members and 793 Associate Members of the CBOT. Under our certificate of
incorporation, bylaws and rules and regulations, each Full Member will be entitled to one vote for each Full Membership owned and each Associate Member will have one-sixth of a vote for each Associate Membership owned. The restructuring transactions
will be approved if Full Members and Associate Members, voting together as a single class based upon their respective voting rights, approve each of the four propositions set forth above. In accordance with applicable Delaware law, proposition (1)
will be approved if a majority of the voting power of the Full Members and Associate Members, voting together as a single class based upon their respective voting rights, vote in favor of the approval of proposition (1). In accordance with the
current certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the CBOT, propositions (2), (3) and (4) will be approved if Full Members and Associate Members, voting together as a single class based upon their respective voting rights, cast at least 300 votes
at the special meeting, whether in person or by proxy, and at least a majority of the votes cast are in favor of propositions (2), (3) and (4).
158
Under our certificate of incorporation, bylaws, rules and regulations, GIMs, COMs
and IDEMs are not entitled to vote on the restructuring transactions.
Our directors and officers held
memberships as of December 19, 2002 entitling them to cast an aggregate of 16 5/6 votes on the proposal, which
would represent about 1.1% of the total votes that may be cast.
Board Recommendation
Our board of directors has determined that the restructuring transactions are in the best interests of the CBOT and its members and
that the restructuring transactions are fair to each class of CBOT membership. Our board of directors has approved the restructuring transactions and recommends that Full Members and Associate Members vote FOR approval of the
restructuring transactions, including ALL FOUR of the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions. Unless ALL FOUR of these propositions are approved, the restructuring transactions will NOT have been approved by the members and,
accordingly, will NOT be completed.
Manner of Voting; Costs
You may vote on the propositions relating to the restructuring transactions by attending the special meeting in person and registering your vote. You may also vote by
completing the enclosed proxy ballot and submitting it in accordance with its instructions.
In connection with
the proxy ballot solicitation, please note the following instructions:
|
|
Please mark the enclosed proxy ballot with respect to each proposition and provide your signature, printed name and date where indicated, and enclose and seal
the completed proxy ballot in the gold envelope addressed to the Secretary of the CBOT. Each proxy ballot must be signed in order to be effective. |
|
|
Print your name in the upper left-hand corner of the gold envelope and deliver or mail it to the Secretarys Office. Alternatively, you may submit your
completed proxy ballot to the Secretarys Office by depositing the proxy ballot in the ballot box located in the fourth floor lobby of our offices between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., central time,
on , 2003. |
You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the meeting by:
|
|
sending written notice to Paul J. Draths at the Secretarys Office, Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., 141 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL
60604; |
|
|
submitting a later dated proxy ballot; or |
|
|
attending the special meeting and voting in person. |
Attendance at the special meeting will not automatically revoke your proxy ballot. All properly executed and unrevoked proxy ballots will be voted at the special meeting or at any adjournment of the
special meeting.
You may vote FOR or AGAINST in the vote on each of the propositions
relating to the restructuring transactions. Proxy ballots that are duly executed and submitted with no voting direction as to a given proposition will be counted for purposes of constituting a quorum but will not be counted as a vote cast for or
against such proposition. A proxy ballot with respect to such proposition that has more than one box marked for a given proposition, e.g., both FOR and AGAINST, will be counted for purposes of constituting a quorum, but will
not be counted as a vote cast for or against such proposition. Your proxy ballot must be received prior to 2:15 p.m., central time, on
, 2003
to be counted.
159
To obtain a replacement proxy ballot, please call Paul J. Draths, Secretary of
the CBOT, at (312) 435-3500 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., central time.
All proxies, ballots
and tabulations that identify the vote of a particular member will be kept confidential, except as necessary to allow the third-party inspectors designated with respect to the vote on the propositions relating to the restructuring to certify the
voting results or to meet other legal requirements. At the CBOTs request, such inspectors may provide the CBOT with a list of members who have not voted and periodic status reports on the aggregate vote. These status reports may include
breakdowns of vote totals by different types of membership classes. However, it is currently expected that the CBOT will not be able to determine how individual members voted.
The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by us. In addition to solicitation by mail, our directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies in person or by
telephone.
The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon
for CBOT Holdings by Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell. As described herein, Kirkland & Ellis may issue an opinion of counsel with respect to the receipt by CBOT Holdings of the Class A membership in the CBOT subsidiary and receipt by members
of common stock of CBOT Holdings. Kirkland & Ellis has in the past represented CBOT Holdings and the CBOT and their respective boards of directors and continues to represent CBOT Holdings and the CBOT and their respective boards of directors in
connection with various matters. Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell acts as special Delaware counsel to CBOT Holdings and the CBOT.
The consolidated financial statements of the Board of Trade of the City of
Chicago, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2001 included in this prospectus have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in
their report appearing herein and elsewhere in the registration statement, which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph regarding the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133,
Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, and have been so included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
160
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission a registration statement on Form S-4 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the securities being offered in connection with the restructuring transactions.
This proxy statement and prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration
statement. Consistent with the rules and regulations of the SEC, some items of information are contained in exhibits to the registration statement. Statements made in this proxy statement and prospectus as to the content of any contract, agreement
or other document filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete. You should refer to the corresponding exhibit for a more complete description of the relevant matter and read all
statements in this proxy statement and prospectus with due consideration of that exhibit.
Following effectiveness
of the registration statement, CBOT Holdings will be required to file periodic reports and other information with the SEC. The SEC filings of CBOT Holdings are available to the public at the SECs Public Reference Room, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the SECs web site at http://www.sec.gov. Information on the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.
161
INDEX TO APPENDICES
Appendix A |
|
Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and Subsidiaries Financial Statements |
|
Appendix B |
|
Pro Forma Financial Information of Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and Subsidiaries |
|
Appendix C |
|
Form of Agreement and Plan of Merger |
|
Appendix D |
|
Fairness Opinion |
|
Appendix E |
|
Chicago Board Options Exchange Agreements |
|
|
|
Appendix E-1: August 7, 2001 Agreement between Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and Chicago Board Options
Exchange |
|
|
|
Appendix E-2: October 24, 2001 Letter Agreement between Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., CBOT Holdings, Inc. and Chicago
Board Options Exchange |
|
|
|
Appendix E-3: September 13, 2002 Letter Agreement between Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and Chicago Board Options
Exchange |
|
Appendix F |
|
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of CBOT Holdings, Inc. |
|
Appendix G |
|
Amended and Restated Bylaws of CBOT Holdings, Inc. |
|
Appendix H |
|
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. |
|
Appendix I |
|
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. |
|
Appendix J |
|
Status of Certain Current CBOT Rules and Regulations as a Result of the Restructuring Transactions |
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
|
|
Page
|
|
|
A-2 |
|
|
|
A-3 |
|
|
|
A-4 |
|
|
|
A-5 |
|
|
|
A-6 |
|
|
|
A-7 |
|
|
|
A-23 |
|
|
|
A-24 |
|
|
|
A-25 |
|
|
|
A-26 |
|
|
|
A-27 |
A-1
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT
To the Board of Directors and Members
of
the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.
Chicago, Illinois
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition of the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the
CBOT) as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the related consolidated statements of income, members equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2001. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the CBOTs management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the CBOT adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133,
Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.
In our opinion, such consolidated
financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the results of their operations and their cash flows
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2001 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Chicago, Illinois
February 19, 2002
(October 10, 2002 as to Note 14)
A-2
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
December 31, 2001 and 2000
(in thousands)
ASSETS
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2000
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrestricted |
|
$ |
50,831 |
|
|
$ |
23,552 |
Held under deposit and membership transfers |
|
|
2,336 |
|
|
|
4,653 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
53,167 |
|
|
|
28,205 |
Restricted cash |
|
|
491 |
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivablenet of allowance of $3,908 and $2,188 in 2001 and 2000, respectively
|
|
|
21,599 |
|
|
|
20,920 |
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
4,012 |
|
|
|
1,642 |
Other current assets |
|
|
3,205 |
|
|
|
3,256 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets |
|
|
82,474 |
|
|
|
54,023 |
Property and equipment: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Land |
|
|
34,234 |
|
|
|
34,234 |
Buildings and equipment |
|
|
306,971 |
|
|
|
305,872 |
Furnishings and fixtures |
|
|
150,467 |
|
|
|
153,504 |
Computer software and systems |
|
|
28,561 |
|
|
|
49,620 |
Construction in progress |
|
|
1,262 |
|
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total property and equipment |
|
|
521,495 |
|
|
|
543,280 |
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization |
|
|
259,485 |
|
|
|
239,443 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipmentnet |
|
|
262,010 |
|
|
|
303,837 |
Other assets |
|
|
14,577 |
|
|
|
15,976 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
359,061 |
|
|
$ |
373,836 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
16,787 |
|
|
$ |
17,805 |
Accrued real estate taxes |
|
|
8,700 |
|
|
|
8,500 |
Accrued exchange fee refunds |
|
|
4,830 |
|
|
|
384 |
Accrued employee termination |
|
|
5,538 |
|
|
|
2,082 |
Accrued expenses |
|
|
10,072 |
|
|
|
6,929 |
Due to joint venture |
|
|
5,169 |
|
|
|
8,939 |
Funds held for deposit and membership transfers |
|
|
2,336 |
|
|
|
4,653 |
Current portion of long-term debt |
|
|
18,398 |
|
|
|
27,083 |
Other current liabilities |
|
|
2,320 |
|
|
|
155 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
74,150 |
|
|
|
76,530 |
Long-term liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred income tax liabilities |
|
|
16,877 |
|
|
|
30,214 |
Long-term debt |
|
|
58,324 |
|
|
|
64,286 |
Other liabilities |
|
|
13,637 |
|
|
|
11,486 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total long-term liabilities |
|
|
88,838 |
|
|
|
105,986 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
162,988 |
|
|
|
182,516 |
Members equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members equity |
|
|
196,124 |
|
|
|
191,320 |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
|
(51 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total members equity |
|
|
196,073 |
|
|
|
191,320 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and members equity |
|
$ |
359,061 |
|
|
$ |
373,836 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to consolidated financial statements
A-3
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999
(in thousands)
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2000
|
|
|
1999
|
|
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange fees |
|
$ |
129,030 |
|
|
$ |
101,981 |
|
|
$ |
102,545 |
|
Market data |
|
|
66,509 |
|
|
|
61,060 |
|
|
|
54,028 |
|
Building |
|
|
24,828 |
|
|
|
24,530 |
|
|
|
22,653 |
|
Services |
|
|
12,629 |
|
|
|
17,848 |
|
|
|
20,279 |
|
Dues |
|
|
9,027 |
|
|
|
5,484 |
|
|
|
389 |
|
Other |
|
|
1,909 |
|
|
|
3,258 |
|
|
|
4,054 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues |
|
|
243,932 |
|
|
|
214,161 |
|
|
|
203,948 |
|
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
|
|
58,545 |
|
|
|
56,391 |
|
|
|
64,133 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
43,537 |
|
|
|
40,013 |
|
|
|
36,140 |
|
Professional services |
|
|
23,013 |
|
|
|
32,459 |
|
|
|
45,717 |
|
General and administrative expenses |
|
|
12,840 |
|
|
|
15,557 |
|
|
|
21,084 |
|
Building operating costs |
|
|
22,961 |
|
|
|
22,584 |
|
|
|
23,171 |
|
Information technology services |
|
|
40,904 |
|
|
|
36,742 |
|
|
|
16,677 |
|
Programs |
|
|
1,847 |
|
|
|
3,539 |
|
|
|
7,280 |
|
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets |
|
|
15,210 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest |
|
|
6,734 |
|
|
|
6,773 |
|
|
|
6,774 |
|
Severance and related costs |
|
|
9,875 |
|
|
|
8,261 |
|
|
|
327 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
235,466 |
|
|
|
222,319 |
|
|
|
221,303 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from operations |
|
|
8,466 |
|
|
|
(8,158 |
) |
|
|
(17,355 |
) |
Income taxes (credit) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current |
|
|
19,709 |
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
|
(1,198 |
) |
Deferred |
|
|
(15,707 |
) |
|
|
1,817 |
|
|
|
(1,697 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total income taxes (credit) |
|
|
4,002 |
|
|
|
1,950 |
|
|
|
(2,895 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle and minority interest |
|
|
4,464 |
|
|
|
(10,108 |
) |
|
|
(14,460 |
) |
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principlenet of tax |
|
|
(51 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,920 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before minority interest |
|
|
4,413 |
|
|
|
(10,108 |
) |
|
|
(17,380 |
) |
Minority interest in loss of subsidiary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,933 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
4,413 |
|
|
$ |
(10,108 |
) |
|
$ |
(10,447 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to consolidated financial statements
A-4
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF MEMBERS EQUITY
For the Years Ended December 31, 2001,
2000 and 1999
(in thousands)
|
|
Members Equity
|
|
|
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
|
|
|
Total
|
|
BalanceDecember 31, 1998 |
|
$ |
211,047 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
211,047 |
|
Comprehensive income: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
|
(10,447 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(10,447 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(10,447 |
) |
Capital contributions |
|
|
374 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
374 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BalanceDecember 31, 1999 |
|
|
200,974 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
200,974 |
|
Comprehensive income: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
|
(10,108 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(10,108 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(10,108 |
) |
Capital contributions |
|
|
454 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
454 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BalanceDecember 31, 2000 |
|
|
191,320 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
191,320 |
|
Comprehensive income: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
|
4,413 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,413 |
|
Transition adjustment for adoption of new accounting pronouncement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
462 |
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized gains and losses on foreign exchange forward contracts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(499 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Reclass of foreign exchange forward contract gains and lossesnet |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(48 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Tax effect |
|
|
|
|
|
|
34 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(51 |
) |
|
|
(51 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,362 |
|
Capital contributions |
|
|
391 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
391 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BalanceDecember 31, 2001 |
|
$ |
196,124 |
|
|
$ |
(51 |
) |
|
$ |
196,073 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to consolidated financial
statements
A-5
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999
(in thousands)
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2000
|
|
|
1999
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
4,413 |
|
|
$ |
(10,108 |
) |
|
$ |
(10,447 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle |
|
|
87 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,946 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
43,537 |
|
|
|
40,013 |
|
|
|
36,140 |
|
Allowance for bad debts |
|
|
1,721 |
|
|
|
2,187 |
|
|
|
|
|
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets |
|
|
15,210 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain/loss on foreign currency transaction |
|
|
(708 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain/loss on foreign currency translation |
|
|
401 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss on sale or retirement of fixed assets |
|
|
1,162 |
|
|
|
3,800 |
|
|
|
220 |
|
Deferred income taxes (benefit) |
|
|
(15,707 |
) |
|
|
1,817 |
|
|
|
(1,697 |
) |
Minority interest in loss of subsidiary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6,933 |
) |
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(19 |
) |
Changes in assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable |
|
|
(2,400 |
) |
|
|
(6,374 |
) |
|
|
2,551 |
|
Other current assets |
|
|
51 |
|
|
|
6,905 |
|
|
|
269 |
|
Other assets |
|
|
(868 |
) |
|
|
(949 |
) |
|
|
(4,187 |
) |
Accounts payable |
|
|
(1,223 |
) |
|
|
(2,282 |
) |
|
|
(6,058 |
) |
Accrued real estate taxes |
|
|
200 |
|
|
|
(150 |
) |
|
|
97 |
|
Accrued exchange fee refunds |
|
|
4,446 |
|
|
|
(1,821 |
) |
|
|
1,448 |
|
Accrued employee termination |
|
|
3,456 |
|
|
|
2,082 |
|
|
|
|
|
Due to joint venture |
|
|
(3,770 |
) |
|
|
8,939 |
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued expenses |
|
|
3,143 |
|
|
|
748 |
|
|
|
2,057 |
|
Funds held for deposit and membership transfers |
|
|
(2,317 |
) |
|
|
195 |
|
|
|
(862 |
) |
Other current liabilities |
|
|
2,165 |
|
|
|
(253 |
) |
|
|
(29 |
) |
Other long-term liabilities |
|
|
2,151 |
|
|
|
1,612 |
|
|
|
(187 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
55,150 |
|
|
|
46,361 |
|
|
|
17,309 |
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition of property and equipment |
|
|
(16,358 |
) |
|
|
(38,497 |
) |
|
|
(25,165 |
) |
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment |
|
|
836 |
|
|
|
356 |
|
|
|
390 |
|
Investment in joint ventures |
|
|
(293 |
) |
|
|
(500 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Deposit to restricted cash |
|
|
(491 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash flows used in investing activities |
|
|
(16,306 |
) |
|
|
(38,641 |
) |
|
|
(24,775 |
) |
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Repayments of borrowings |
|
|
(32,948 |
) |
|
|
(19,000 |
) |
|
|
(5,000 |
) |
Proceeds from borrowings |
|
|
18,675 |
|
|
|
16,582 |
|
|
|
|
|
Capital contributions from members |
|
|
391 |
|
|
|
454 |
|
|
|
374 |
|
Capital contributions from minority interest in subsidiaries |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
723 |
|
Distributions to minority interest in subsidiaries |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(400 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash flows used in financing activities |
|
|
(13,882 |
) |
|
|
(1,964 |
) |
|
|
(4,303 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
24,962 |
|
|
|
5,756 |
|
|
|
(11,769 |
) |
Cash and cash equivalentsbeginning of period |
|
|
28,205 |
|
|
|
22,449 |
|
|
|
34,218 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalentsend of period |
|
$ |
53,167 |
|
|
$ |
28,205 |
|
|
$ |
22,449 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest |
|
$ |
5,968 |
|
|
$ |
6,166 |
|
|
$ |
6,797 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income taxes |
|
$ |
16,414 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to consolidated financial statements
A-6
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999
1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of presentation
The consolidated financial
statements include the accounts of the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiaries, including Electronic Chicago Board of Trade, Inc. (eCBOT) established in 2000, which has a controlling general partner
interest in Ceres Trading Limited Partnership (Ceres), which in turn holds a 50% ownership interest in CBOT/Eurex Alliance LLC (CBOT/Eurex Alliance), (collectively, the CBOT). The CBOT also holds a 9.75% interest
in a joint venture called OneChicago, LLC (OneChicago). The CBOT accounts for its interests in CBOT/Eurex Alliance and OneChicago under the equity method. These investments are included in other assets on the Consolidated Statements of
Financial Condition. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Business and proposed restructuring transactions
The CBOT operates markets for the trading
of commodity and financial futures contracts, as well as options on futures contracts. Products traded on the exchange include domestic derivatives, global listed agricultural futures and options contracts (e.g. wheat, corn, and soybeans), and
global listed financial futures and options contracts (e.g. U.S. Treasury bonds and notes). Products are traded on traditional open outcry auction markets on trading floors where members trade among themselves for their own accounts and for the
accounts of their customers. Since 1992, products are also traded electronically. The CBOT also engages in market surveillance and financial supervision activities designed to ensure market integrity and provide financial safeguards for users of the
markets. In addition, the CBOT markets and distributes real-time and historical market data generated for trading activity in its markets to users of its products and related cash and derivative markets.
For the past two and a half years the CBOT has been studying and developing a restructuring strategy. The current proposal contemplates
the following:
|
|
demutualize the CBOT by creating a stock, for profit holding company, CBOT Holdings, and distributing shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings to its members,
while maintaining the CBOT as a non-stock, for-profit subsidiary of CBOT Holdings; |
|
|
adopt a revised corporate governance structure, which would substantially eliminate the membership petition process, adopt a more modern mechanism for
initiating and voting on stockholder proposals, and make certain other changes designed to improve the CBOTs corporate decision-making process; and |
|
|
reorganize and consolidate the CBOTs electronic trading business, part of which is currently operated by Ceres, into eCBOT, which would be operated as a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the CBOT subsidiary. |
The foregoing proposal is subject to a number
of conditions, including membership approval.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not reflect
the effects of the proposed transactions.
Use of estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States
of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements. Actual amounts could differ from those estimates.
A-7
Revenue recognition
The largest source of the CBOTs operating revenues is exchange fees which are assessed on trades made through the CBOT. These fees are recognized as revenue
in the same period that the trades are made. Exchange fee revenue is a function of three variables: (1) exchange fee rates, determined primarily by contract type, trading mechanism and membership/customer status, (2) trading volume and (3)
transaction mix. Adjustments to previously reported exchange fee revenues arise primarily from the subsequent identification by clearing firms of misclassifications of the membership/customer status that had been reported by the clearing firms in
their initial submission to the CBOT. Prior to July 15, 2001, clearing firms could submit requests for adjustments relating to trading activity during the past five years. Subsequent to July 15, 2001, the period for adjustment was reduced to one
year.
Adjustments to exchange fees, arising principally from corrections to member firm reporting submitted
by those firms, are recorded in the period such adjustments are reported to the CBOT as it is not practical for the CBOT to estimate such exchange fee adjustments until requests for such adjustments are received. The CBOT recorded adjustments to
exchange fees in the amount of a $4.6 million reduction, a $1.1 million addition and a $0.5 million reduction during 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively, of which $3.7 million, $0.9 million and $0.4 million related to prior years.
The CBOT provides to market data vendors real time and delayed market data regarding the prices of the futures and options
on futures contracts traded through the CBOT. Fees for market data, which are based on the number of subscribers, are remitted to the CBOT by market data vendors. The CBOT recognizes revenue for market data based on quotation services provided to
market data vendors at the time services are rendered. Rebates are available to member firms for one-third of their market data fees. These rebates are accrued in the month that the revenues are recorded.
Revenues from the rental of office space is recognized over the life of the lease term, utilizing the straight-line method.
Service revenues consist primarily of telecommunication charges, badge fees, booth space rentals and membership application and
registration fees, and are recognized when the services are provided.
Member dues are determined by the Board of
Directors of the CBOT based upon various factors including the CBOTs cash and working capital requirements. Member dues are recognized over the period to which they relate.
Other revenue relates primarily to fines levied on members and members firms for rule infractions, as determined by the CBOTs regulatory committees and board of
directors. The fines are recognized as revenue when levied.
Accounts receivable
The CBOT estimates an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon factors surrounding credit risk of specific customers. The following
provides a reconciliation of the allowance for doubtful accounts as of, and for the years ended December 31 (in thousands):
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2000
|
|
|
1999
|
|
Allowance for doubtful accountsbeginning of year |
|
$ |
2,188 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Bad debt expense |
|
|
1,921 |
|
|
|
2,235 |
|
|
|
56 |
|
Charge-offs |
|
|
(201 |
) |
|
|
(47 |
) |
|
|
(56 |
) |
Recoveries |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allowance for doubtful accountsend of year |
|
$ |
3,908 |
|
|
$ |
2,188 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment
Property and equipment, excluding land, are reported at historical cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Land is
reported at cost. Computer software and systems include purchased and internally
A-8
developed software, including software jointly developed with Deutsche Börse AG and the Swiss Stock Exchange (collectively the Eurex Group) for use in electronic trading of
financial derivative products. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets which are generally as follows:
Buildings and equipment |
|
10 to 60 years |
Furnishings and fixtures |
|
3 to 10 years |
Computer software and systems |
|
3 to 5 years |
Depreciation and amortization expense related to the above assets
was $41.0 million, $37.5 million and $33.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively.
Other assets
Other assets are presented net of accumulated amortization. Amortization is
computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Amortization expense related to these assets was $2.5 million, $2.5 million and $2.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively.
Income taxes
The CBOT and its wholly owned subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. Income taxes are determined using the asset and liability method. Accordingly, deferred tax assets and
liabilities are determined based upon the differences between financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities, and are measured at the tax rates expected to be in effect when these differences reverse.
Cash flows
For purposes of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents include highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less from date of purchase.
Cash held under deposit and membership transfers
When any membership is sold, the CBOT holds the proceeds of such sale before remitting the amount to the selling member for a specified period of time to allow other
members to make claims against the selling member. Cash held under deposit and membership transfers consists of funds held by the CBOT from membership sales. Use of these funds is not restricted and the CBOT has an offsetting liability titled funds
held for deposit and membership transfers.
Restricted cash
Restricted cash consists of collateral required for purchase of foreign currency forward contracts.
Long-lived assets
Long-lived assets to be held and used by the CBOT are reviewed to determine whether any events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. The CBOT bases its evaluation
on such impairment indicators as the nature of the assets, the future economic benefit of the assets, any historical or future profitability measurements, as well as other external market conditions or factors that may be present. If such impairment
indicators are present or other factors exist that would indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable, the CBOT determines whether an impairment has occurred through the use of an undiscounted cash flows analysis of assets
at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows exist. In the event of an impairment, the CBOT recognizes a loss for the difference between the carrying amount and the estimated value of the asset as measured using quoted market prices or, in
the absence of quoted market prices, a discounted cash flow analysis.
A-9
During the fourth quarter of 2001, formal discussions began and preliminary term
sheets were shared regarding licensing a new version of the electronic trading platform. Based on managements assessment of the probable outcome of these discussions, management has concluded that the carrying value of the current electronic
trading platform, included in computer software and systems, should be reduced. The carrying value represents the future undiscounted cash flows to be generated from the current electronic trading platform. As a result of managements
evaluation, a $15.2 million pretax charge was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2001 to adjust the carrying value of the current electronic trading platform to its estimated realizable value. The adjustment is reflected in the electronic trading
operating segment. The remaining carrying value of $12.5 million will be amortized through June 30, 2002.
Operating segments
Management has identified three reportable operating segments: exchange
floor trading, electronic trading and real estate operations. The CBOT evaluates segment reporting based on revenues and income from operations.
Equity method investments
Equity method
investments represent investments in which the CBOT has a greater than 20% interest or is able to exercise significant influence. These investments are carried at the initial capital contributions increased or reduced by the proportionate shares of
the entities accumulated net income or loss, which approximates fair value. Equity method investments are reviewed to determine whether any events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investment may not be
recoverable. The CBOT bases its evaluation on its ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity which would justify the carrying amount of the investment. In the event of an
impairment, the CBOT would recognize a loss for the difference between the carrying amount and the estimated fair value of the equity method investment.
Derivative instruments held for purposes other than trading
The CBOT enters into derivative contracts as a means of reducing the CBOTs foreign exchange exposures. The CBOTs derivative program is monitored by senior management. The CBOTs risk of loss is typically limited to
the fair value of its derivative instruments and not to the notional or contractual amounts of those derivatives. Risks arise from changes in the fair value of the underlying instruments and, with respect to over-the-counter transactions, from the
possible inability of counterparties to meet the terms of the contracts. The CBOT has strict policies regarding the financial stability and credit standing of its major counterparties. The CBOT attempts to limit its credit risk by dealing with
creditworthy counterparties.
At the inception of these contracts, the contracts are evaluated in order to
determine whether they may qualify for hedge accounting treatment and prior to January 1, 2001, were accounted for either on a deferral, accrual or market value basis, depending on the nature of the CBOTs hedge strategy and the method used to
account for the hedged item. Hedge criteria include demonstrating the manner in which the hedge will reduce risk, identifying the specific asset, liability or firm commitment being hedged, and citing the time horizon being hedged. Regular
evaluations are performed to ensure that continuing correlation exists between the hedge and the item being hedged. See Adoption of new accounting policies for accounting policies adopted in 2001.
Adoption of new accounting policies
In 1999, the CBOT adopted Statement of Position (SOP) 98-1, Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use. SOP 98-1 provides guidance on
accounting for the costs of computer software developed or modified for internal use. The adoption of SOP 98-1 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In 1999, the CBOT also adopted SOP 98-5, Reporting on the Costs of Start-Up Activities. SOP 98-5 requires that start-up activities be expensed as incurred.
Previously, start-up activities were capitalized and
A-10
amortized on a straight-line basis over 60 months. The cumulative effect of this change in accounting principle as of January 1, 1999 was a charge of $2.9 million, net of a tax credit of $2.0
million.
On January 1, 2001, the CBOT adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No.
133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended and interpreted. SFAS No. 133 requires recognition of all derivative instruments in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as either assets or
liabilities and the measurement of those instruments at fair value. SFAS No. 133 also requires changes in the fair value of the derivative instruments to be recorded each period in current earnings or other comprehensive income depending on the
hedge designation and whether the hedge is highly effective. If the derivative is designated as a fair-value hedge, the changes in the fair value of the derivative and the hedged item are recognized in earnings. If the derivative is designated in a
cash-flow hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded in other comprehensive income and are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income when the hedged item affects earnings. SFAS No. 133 defines new requirements for
designation and documentation of hedging relationships as well as ongoing effectiveness assessments in order to use hedge accounting. For a derivative that does not qualify, or is not designated, as a hedge, changes in fair value are recognized in
earnings.
On January 1, 2001, the CBOT recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income an $87,000 pretax loss
($51,000 loss, after tax) as the cumulative effect of the change in the foregoing accounting principle. The loss related to derivatives that were either not designated as hedges or derivatives that had been used as fair-value type hedges prior to
adoption of SFAS No. 133. In addition, the CBOT recorded a $462,000 pretax gain in other comprehensive income, reflecting the cumulative effect of the foregoing change in accounting principle, relating to derivatives that had been used as cash-flow
type hedges prior to adoption of SFAS No. 133.
The CBOT formally measures effectiveness of its hedging
relationships both at the hedge inception and on an ongoing basis in accordance with its risk management policy. The CBOT will discontinue hedge accounting prospectively if it is determined that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting
changes in the fair value or cash flows of a hedged item; when the derivative expires or terminates; when the derivative is de-designated as a hedge instrument, because it is probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur; or management
determines that designation of the derivative as a hedge instrument is no longer appropriate.
In June 2001, the
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations, which established accounting and reporting standards for business combinations on or after July 1, 2001. All combinations in the scope of
this statement are to be accounted for using the purchase method. The adoption of SFAS No. 141 did not have an impact on the CBOTs financial position or results of operations as the CBOT does not have any goodwill or intangible assets.
Recent accounting pronouncements
In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, which established accounting and reporting standards for acquired goodwill and
other intangible assets. SFAS No. 142, which is effective January 1, 2002 for the CBOT, addresses how intangible assets that are acquired individually or with a group of other assets (but not those acquired in a business combination) should be
accounted for in financial statements upon their acquisition. SFAS No. 142 also addresses how goodwill and other intangible assets should be accounted for after they have been initially recognized in the financial statements. The adoption of SFAS
No. 142 is not expected to have a significant impact on the CBOTs financial position or results of operations.
In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, which addresses the financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that
result from the acquisition, construction, development and (or) the normal operation of a long-lived asset. This statement amends SFAS No. 19, Financial Accounting and Reporting by Oil and Gas Companies. For the CBOT, this statement is
effective January 1, 2003 and, when adopted is not expected to have a material impact on the financial position or results of operations.
A-11
In August 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment
or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, which addresses the financial accounting and reporting for the impairment of disposal of long-lived assets. This statement supercedes SFAS No. 121, Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and
for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of, and the accounting and reporting provisions of APB No. 30, Reporting the Results of OperationsReporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and
Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions, for disposal of a segment of a business. For the CBOT, this statement is effective January 1, 2002 and, when adopted, is not expected to have a material impact on the financial position or
results of operations.
Prior year reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made of prior year amounts to conform to current year presentations.
2. Minority Interests in Subsidiaries
Ceres was
formed by the CBOT for the purpose of engaging in activities related to financial and futures markets. The results of Ceres operations are the primary component of the electronic trading segment as disclosed in Note 12. The CBOT, through
eCBOT, as general partner, holds a 10% interest in Ceres. Members of the CBOT are limited partners of Ceres. Under the terms of the Ceres partnership agreement, income and losses are allocated to the general partner and limited partners based on
their partnership interests. Losses in excess of limited partner capital accounts are allocated to eCBOT, as general partner. The limited partners do not have rights that allow them to participate in the management of Ceres or rights that limit the
CBOTs ability to control the operations of Ceres. Accordingly, the CBOT controls Ceres and Ceres is accounted for as a consolidated subsidiary of the CBOT.
The carrying value of the minority interest at December 31, 2001 and 2000 was zero as the losses of Ceres that were allocated to the minority partners exceeded the capital of such partners.
3. Debt
Long-term debt at December 31 consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
2001
|
|
2000
|
Private placement senior notes, due in annual installments through 2007, at an annual interest rate of
6.81% |
|
$ |
64,286 |
|
$ |
75,000 |
Secured revolving credit agreement, due in 2001, at an annual interest rate based on LIBOR (6.6875% at December 31,
2000), plus .625% |
|
|
|
|
|
7,300 |
Secured note payable, due in 2004, at an annual interest rate of 8.25% |
|
|
7,990 |
|
|
|
Note payable to the Eurex Group, due in June 2002, at an annual interest rate of 6.25% |
|
|
4,446 |
|
|
9,069 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
76,722 |
|
|
91,369 |
Less current portion |
|
|
18,398 |
|
|
27,083 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
58,324 |
|
$ |
64,286 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In March 2001, the CBOT entered into a secured note payable
with a lending institution, under which the CBOT borrowed $10.0 million. The note payable is secured by the telecommunications equipment of the CBOT, which is included in Furnishings and fixtures in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition,
with an approximate carrying value of $12.7 million at December 31, 2001. The CBOT primarily used the proceeds to retire the secured revolving credit agreement in the amount of $7.3 million.
Under the terms of an agreement between Ceres and the Eurex Group, Ceres agreed to pay to the Eurex Group certain amounts related to the modification of the
CBOTs electronic trading systems. The payments to
A-12
the Eurex Group are denominated in euros. Such amounts were hedged using foreign exchange forward contracts. The balances due at December 31, 2001 and 2000 were $4.4 million (5.0 million euros)
and $9.3 million (9.8 million euros), respectively.
The aggregate amount of required principal repayments on the
CBOTs long-term debt as of December 31, 2001 are as follows (in thousands):
2002 |
|
$ |
18,398 |
2003 |
|
|
14,229 |
2004 |
|
|
11,951 |
2005 |
|
|
10,714 |
2006 |
|
|
10,714 |
Thereafter |
|
|
10,716 |
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
76,722 |
|
|
|
|
On January 15, 2002, the CBOT entered an agreement with LaSalle
Bank National Association to provide the CBOT with a $20.0 million revolving credit facility (the Revolver). The Revolver has a maturity date of one year from the closing date. Interest related to the Revolver is payable monthly at the
lower of LIBOR plus 2.75% or the banks prime rate. The Revolver contains certain covenants which, among other things, require the CBOT to maintain certain equity levels and financial ratios, as well as restrict the CBOTs ability to incur
additional indebtedness, except in certain specified instances. The Revolver restricts the usage of the proceeds to the Ceres Interest Repurchase and general corporate purposes. No principal is outstanding on the Revolver.
4. Income Taxes
Deferred income taxes reflect the tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts for income tax purposes. These temporary differences
result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years. Differences between financial reporting and tax bases arise most frequently from differences in the timing of expense recognition.
Significant components of the CBOTs deferred tax assets (liabilities) as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2000
|
|
Allowance for bad debt |
|
$ |
1,553 |
|
|
$ |
870 |
|
Rebate accrual |
|
|
1,095 |
|
|
|
153 |
|
Legal expense |
|
|
1,192 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
|
172 |
|
|
|
619 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net current asset |
|
$ |
4,012 |
|
|
$ |
1,642 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation |
|
$ |
(25,773 |
) |
|
$ |
(28,281 |
) |
Employee and retiree benefit plans |
|
|
2,021 |
|
|
|
1,032 |
|
Ceres partnership |
|
|
3,576 |
|
|
|
(5,469 |
) |
Other |
|
|
3,299 |
|
|
|
2,504 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net long-term liability |
|
$ |
(16,877 |
) |
|
$ |
(30,214 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The CBOT has not established a valuation reserve at December 31,
2001 and 2000 as management believes that all deferred tax assets are fully realizable.
A-13
A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the effective income
tax rate is as follows:
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2000
|
|
|
1999
|
|
Statutory federal income tax rate |
|
35.0 |
% |
|
(35.0 |
)% |
|
(35.0 |
)% |
State income tax rate, net of federal income tax effect |
|
5.7 |
|
|
1.4 |
|
|
(3.4 |
) |
Non-deductible corporate restructuring costs |
|
6.5 |
|
|
42.3 |
|
|
5.9 |
|
Other non-deductible expenses |
|
3.4 |
|
|
6.5 |
|
|
4.5 |
|
Other, net |
|
(3.3 |
) |
|
8.7 |
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effective income tax rate |
|
47.3 |
% |
|
23.9 |
% |
|
(27.8 |
)% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5. Membership
At December 31, 2001 and 2000, the membership of the CBOT consisted of the following classes and numbers of members:
|
|
2001
|
|
2000
|
Full memberships |
|
1,402 |
|
1,402 |
Associate memberships |
|
789 |
|
779 |
Government Instruments Market membership interests (GIM) |
|
156 |
|
174 |
Commodity Options Market membership interests (COM) |
|
643 |
|
643 |
Index, Debt and Energy Market membership interests (IDEM) |
|
642 |
|
641 |
The principal differences between the memberships relate to voting
and trading rights, and member preferences in liquidation rights in dissolution. No mechanism currently exists in the CBOTs certificate of incorporation or bylaws for allocating ownership among CBOTs members. In accordance with the CBOT
rules and regulations, the members preferences in dissolution are dictated by their class of membership. These preferences as defined, and the equivalent percentages resulting are as follows:
|
|
Preferences
|
|
Percentage
|
|
Full members |
|
1.000 |
|
77.7 |
% |
Associate memberships |
|
0.167 |
|
13.0 |
|
GIMs |
|
0.111 |
|
8.5 |
|
IDEMs |
|
0.005 |
|
0.4 |
|
COMs |
|
0.005 |
|
0.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6. Benefit Plans
Substantially all employees of the CBOT are covered by a noncontributory, defined benefit pension plan. The benefits of this plan are based primarily on the years of
service and the employees average compensation levels. The CBOTs funding policy is to contribute annually the maximum amount that can be deducted for federal income tax purposes. The plan assets are primarily invested in marketable debt
and equity securities.
A-14
The following provides a reconciliation of pension benefit obligation, plan
assets, funded status and net periodic benefit expense of the plan as of, and for the years ended, December 31 (in thousands):
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2000
|
|
Change in benefit obligation: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benefit obligation, beginning of year |
|
$ |
26,352 |
|
|
$ |
23,799 |
|
Service cost |
|
|
1,519 |
|
|
|
1,678 |
|
Interest cost |
|
|
1,872 |
|
|
|
1,950 |
|
Actuarial loss (gain) |
|
|
(2,900 |
) |
|
|
1,635 |
|
Special termination benefits |
|
|
3,170 |
|
|
|
|
|
Benefits paid |
|
|
(1,949 |
) |
|
|
(2,710 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benefit obligation, end of year |
|
$ |
28,064 |
|
|
$ |
26,352 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in plan assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value of plan assets at January 1 |
|
$ |
17,859 |
|
|
$ |
14,141 |
|
Actual return on plan assets |
|
|
(659 |
) |
|
|
1,397 |
|
Company contributions |
|
|
2,697 |
|
|
|
5,031 |
|
Benefits paid |
|
|
(1,949 |
) |
|
|
(2,710 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value of plan assets at December 31 |
|
$ |
17,948 |
|
|
$ |
17,859 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funded status: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funded status of the plan at December 31 |
|
$ |
(10,116 |
) |
|
$ |
(8,493 |
) |
Unrecognized cost: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actuarial and investment net losses |
|
|
5,380 |
|
|
|
7,156 |
|
Prior service cost |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
Transition obligation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(204 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued benefit cost (included in other long-term liabilities) |
|
$ |
(4,731 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,531 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows:
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2000
|
|
|
1999
|
|
Service cost |
|
$ |
1,519 |
|
|
$ |
1,678 |
|
|
$ |
1,575 |
|
Interest cost |
|
|
1,872 |
|
|
|
1,950 |
|
|
|
1,604 |
|
Expected return on plan assets |
|
|
(1,696 |
) |
|
|
(1,397 |
) |
|
|
(1,306 |
) |
Net amortization: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transition asset |
|
|
(204 |
) |
|
|
(204 |
) |
|
|
(204 |
) |
Unrecognized prior service cost |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
15 |
|
Unrecognized net loss |
|
|
248 |
|
|
|
394 |
|
|
|
278 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net periodic benefit cost |
|
|
1,744 |
|
|
|
2,420 |
|
|
|
1,962 |
|
Special termination benefits, curtailment and settlement (Note 9) |
|
|
4,226 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net periodic benefit cost after special termination benefits, curtailment and settlement |
|
$ |
5,970 |
|
|
$ |
2,420 |
|
|
$ |
1,962 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
During 2001, the CBOT recorded special termination benefits of
$3,170 for pension benefits and loss on settlements of $1,056. These benefits were primarily the result of 31 employees taking advantage of an early retirement program offered by the CBOT in 2001.
The assumptions used in the measurement of the pension benefit obligation as of December 31 are as follows:
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2000
|
|
Weighted average discount rate |
|
7.25 |
% |
|
7.25 |
% |
Expected return on plan assets |
|
9.0 |
|
|
9.0 |
|
Rate of compensation increase |
|
5.0 |
|
|
5.0 |
|
A-15
The CBOT has a retiree benefit plan which covers all eligible employees, as
defined. Employees retiring from the CBOT on or after age 55, who have at least ten years of service, or after age 65 with five years of service, are entitled to postretirement medical and life insurance benefits. The CBOT funds benefit costs on a
pay-as-you-go basis. These costs totaled approximately $83,200, $80,700 and $57,500 for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively.
The following provides a reconciliation of postretirement obligation, plan assets, funded status and net periodic benefit cost of the plan as of, and for the years ended, December 31 (in thousands):
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2000
|
|
Change in benefit obligation: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benefit obligation, beginning of year |
|
$ |
4,089 |
|
|
$ |
3,490 |
|
Service cost |
|
|
207 |
|
|
|
238 |
|
Interest cost |
|
|
312 |
|
|
|
285 |
|
Actuarial loss (gain) |
|
|
302 |
|
|
|
161 |
|
Benefits paid |
|
|
(87 |
) |
|
|
(85 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benefit obligation, end of year |
|
$ |
4,823 |
|
|
$ |
4,089 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in plan assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value of plan assets at January 1 |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Company contributions |
|
|
87 |
|
|
|
85 |
|
Benefits paid |
|
|
(87 |
) |
|
|
(85 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value of plan assets at December 31 |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funded status: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funded status of the plan at December 31 |
|
$ |
(4,823 |
) |
|
$ |
(4,089 |
) |
Unrecognized net gain |
|
|
(1,023 |
) |
|
|
(1,035 |
) |
Unrecognized transition obligation |
|
|
1,371 |
|
|
|
1,557 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued benefit cost (included in other long-term liabilities) |
|
$ |
(4,475 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,567 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows:
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2000
|
|
|
1999
|
|
Service cost |
|
$ |
207 |
|
|
$ |
238 |
|
|
$ |
238 |
|
Interest cost |
|
|
312 |
|
|
|
285 |
|
|
|
250 |
|
Expected return on plan assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net amortization: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transition liabilities |
|
|
130 |
|
|
|
130 |
|
|
|
130 |
|
Net gain |
|
|
(51 |
) |
|
|
(56 |
) |
|
|
(31 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net periodic benefit cost |
|
|
598 |
|
|
|
597 |
|
|
|
587 |
|
Special termination benefits, curtailment and settlement (Note 9) |
|
|
398 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net periodic benefit cost after special termination benefits, curtailment and settlement |
|
$ |
996 |
|
|
$ |
597 |
|
|
$ |
587 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
During 2001, the CBOT recorded special termination benefits
and curtailment losses of $341 and $57, respectively for postretirement obligations.
The assumptions used in the
measurement of the postretirement obligation as of December 31 are as follows:
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2000
|
|
Weighted average discount rate |
|
7.25 |
% |
|
7.25 |
% |
Rate of compensation increase |
|
5.0 |
|
|
5.0 |
|
A-16
The assumed health care cost trend rate used in measuring the accumulated
postretirement benefit obligation was 11% in 2001 and 2000 (decreasing by 1% per year until a long-term rate of 5% is reached). If the health care cost trend rate assumptions were increased by 1% for each year, the accumulated postretirement benefit
obligation as of December 31, 2001 would be increased by 9%. The effect of this change on the sum of the service costs and interest cost would be an increase of 14%. If the health care cost trend rate assumptions were decreased by 1% for each year,
the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of December 31, 2001 would be decreased by 7%. The effect of this change on the sum of the service costs and interest cost would be a decrease of 12%.
The CBOT also maintains a qualified savings plan pursuant to Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The plan is a defined
contribution plan offered to eligible employees of the CBOT, who meet certain length of service requirements and elect to participate in the plan. The CBOT will make matching contributions to certain participants based on a formula specified by the
plan. The cost of these matching contributions amounted to approximately $1,363,000, $1,368,000 and $1,370,000 for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively. The CBOT also sponsors a nonqualified supplemental pension plan for
certain former employees. The liability for this nonqualified plan is funded by life insurance policies on the lives of the participating employees. The CBOT has established a trust for the purpose of administering the nonqualified plan. The CBOT
also has a health plan which provides benefits (hospital, surgical, major medical and short-term disability) for full-time salaried employees of the CBOT. The plan is funded by the CBOT as claims are paid. Employees may contribute specified amounts
to extend coverage to eligible dependents.
7. Commitments
Certain office space, data processing and office equipment are leased. Certain of these leases contain escalation clauses. Rental expense for the years ended December 31,
2001, 2000 and 1999 was $1,956,000, $2,173,000 and $2,461,000 respectively. The future minimum rental payments under non-cancelable leases in effect as of December 31, 2001 for the next five years are as follows (in thousands):
2002 |
|
$ |
300 |
2003 |
|
|
240 |
2004 |
|
|
185 |
2005 |
|
|
144 |
2006 |
|
|
140 |
Building revenues relate primarily to the leasing of office and
commercial space, generally for periods ranging from one to five years. Future minimum rentals under non-cancelable leases in effect as of December 31, 2001 are as follows (in thousands):
2002 |
|
$ |
19,601 |
2003 |
|
|
12,562 |
2004 |
|
|
7,016 |
2005 |
|
|
3,232 |
2006 |
|
|
1,152 |
In June 1997, the CBOT agreed to license certain index and
trademark rights, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Dow Jones Transportation Average, the Dow Jones Utilities Average and the Dow Jones Global Indices which extends through June 2002. The initial license fee remitted to Dow Jones is
being amortized over the term of the agreement and is included in other assets on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. In December 2001, the CBOT renewed its agreement with Dow Jones. The license is a non-transferable and exclusive
worldwide license to use these indices as the basis for standardized exchange-traded futures contracts and options on futures contracts. The agreement which expires December 31, 2007 unless terminated by either party, requires the CBOT to pay Dow
Jones annual royalties, based upon the trading volumes, with a minimum annual royalty requirement of $2.0 million. These annual royalty charges are recorded as expense in the year to which the payment relates.
A-17
The CBOT, through Ceres, has commitments with Deutsche Börse Systems for
approximately $32.1 million (36.0 million euros) as of December 31, 2001 to fund the operations of the CBOTs current electronic trading platform. These payments are due at various times through 2003 as follows (in thousands):
On January 30, 2002, the CBOT entered into foreign exchange forward
contracts with a financial institution to hedge risk of foreign currency fluctuations related to certain commitments in euros to the Eurex Group. The notional amount of these contracts total 12.0 million euros with exchange rates ranging from .8561
to .8591 and maturities at various dates which correspond to the terms of the commitments through December, 2002.
Additionally, the CBOT has employment agreements with certain members of management. The agreements called for, among other incentives and benefits, payments in the aggregate of approximately $2.5 million during 2001.
Furthermore, under the agreement with the new President and Chief Executive Officer (the Executive), the Executive
was granted a right to receive a benefit from the appreciation in the value of the CBOTs memberships through appreciation units. The memberships and their related appreciation rights are as follows:
Membership Type
|
|
Number of Appreciation Units
|
|
Grant Value Per Unit
|
1 Full Membership |
|
25 |
|
$400,000 |
1 Full Membership |
|
10 |
|
600,000 |
1 Associate Membership |
|
10 |
|
80,000 |
1 IDEM Membership |
|
5 |
|
10,000 |
1 COM Membership |
|
5 |
|
20,000 |
Each appreciation unit represents the right to receive the excess
of the fair market value of the membership type over the grant value of each appreciation unit on the date of which such appreciation unit is exercised. The fair market value is to be determined by computing the average sale price of the membership
type over the prior ninety calendar days to the day of exercise.
The units vest over a four year-year period,
with 40% vesting one year after the grant date and 20% vesting on the same date in each year of the following three years.
The CBOT is accounting for the appreciation rights in a manner similar to stock appreciation rights as set forth in SFAS Interpretation No. 28, Accounting for Stock Appreciation Rights and Other Variable Stock Option or Award
Plans (An interpretation of APB Opinion Nos. 15 and 25). For the year ended December 31, 2001, there was no measured compensation expense relating to the appreciation rights.
In October 2001, the CBOT became a minority interest holder in the joint venture OneChicago with the Chicago Board Options Exchange and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
OneChicago is a for-profit company whose business is to facilitate the electronic trading of single-stock futures. Pursuant to the joint venture agreement, the CBOT is obligated to make specified capital contributions. In October 2001, the CBOT made
a capital contribution of $292,500. The maximum future amount the CBOT was required to contribute to the joint venture was $682,500. This amount was paid in February of 2002.
8. Foreign Currency Forward Contracts
On September 27,
2000, the CBOT entered into foreign exchange forward contracts with a financial institution to hedge its risk of foreign currency fluctuations related to certain commitments to Eurex and related entities, denominated in euros. The notional amount of
these contracts totaled approximately $29.0 million with exchange rates ranging from .89429 to .91100 and maturities at various dates through 2002 which correspond to the terms of the commitments. In December 2000, the CBOT decided not to pursue
certain software commitments for enhancements. The CBOT then entered into approximately $9.8 million of foreign exchange
A-18
forward contracts offsetting certain of the contracts entered into in September 2000. Gains and losses on certain of the original forward contracts, which are hedging ongoing commitments, are
deferred, and totaled a gain of approximately $462,000 at December 31, 2000. A net gain of approximately $819,000 at December 31, 2000 on all other forward contracts was recognized in earnings and included in Other revenue in the Consolidated
Statements of Income.
At December 31, 2001, the CBOT had foreign exchange forward contracts with a financial
institution to hedge its risk of foreign currency fluctuations related to certain liabilities and commitments in euros with Eurex and related entities.
Foreign exchange forward contracts designated as cash-flow type hedges of liabilities or firm commitments had notional amounts approximating $9.9 million (11.1 million euros) at December 31, 2001. A
loss before income taxes of approximately $80,000 was recognized on these contracts and recorded as accrued liabilities and other comprehensive income for these derivatives at December 31, 2001. This amount is expected to be reclassified into
earnings as the commitments are recorded, which is expected to occur by June 30, 2002.
9. Severance and Related Costs
The severance and related costs incurred during 2001 of $9.9 million consisted of $4.0 million of
severance costs, $1.4 million of early retirement related costs, $4.2 million of pension plan special termination benefits, curtailment and settlement (see Note 6) and $0.4 million of retiree benefit plan special termination benefits, curtailment
and settlement (see Note 6) for 84 employees who accepted early retirement or severance packages throughout the organization as a result of the proposed restructuring strategy. The severance and related costs incurred during 2000 of $8.3 million are
primarily the result of an agreement with the CBOTs former chief executive, dated April 14, 2000, in which the CBOT terminated an employment agreement and agreed to make payments through 2003 of approximately $6.1 million plus amounts for
certain medical insurance and pension benefits. The severance and related costs incurred during 1999 of $0.3 million related to ongoing staff reductions.
The following table summarizes severance and related costs, the amounts paid and the accrual balances, exclusive of special termination benefits, curtailment and settlement
expenses, which are summarized in Note 6 (in thousands):
|
|
For the Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2000
|
|
|
1999
|
Accrued employee termination liabilitybeginning of year |
|
$ |
6,120 |
|
|
$ |
327 |
|
|
$ |
|
Employee termination costs |
|
|
5,410 |
|
|
|
8,317 |
|
|
|
327 |
Cash payments |
|
|
(3,787 |
) |
|
|
(2,524 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued employee termination liabilityend of year |
|
$ |
7,743 |
|
|
$ |
6,120 |
|
|
$ |
327 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10. Litigation
The CBOT has been named as a defendant in various lawsuits. Although the ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be presently determined, the CBOT established an accrual
for legal liabilities of $3.0 million during 2001, which represents the CBOTs assessment of the probable outcome of, and reasonable estimate of the liabilities associated with, such matters. The CBOT does not believe that the ultimate
resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position. However, the ultimate resolution of such matters could have a material adverse effect on consolidated results of operations and cash flows in a
particular quarter or fiscal year. See Note 14.
11. Deposits of U.S. Treasury Securities
The rules and regulations of the CBOT require certain minimum financial requirements for delivery of physical commodities, maintenance of
capital requirements and deposits on pending arbitration matters. To satisfy these requirements, member firms have deposited U.S. Treasury securities with the CBOT. These deposits are not considered assets of the CBOT, nor does any interest earned
on these deposits accrue to the CBOT; accordingly, they are not reflected in the accompanying financial statements. The aggregate market value of these securities on deposit was $28.2 million and $15.0 million as of December 31, 2001 and 2000,
respectively.
A-19
12. Operating Segments
During 2001, the CBOT reorganized its allocation methodology relating to operating segments. The segment information that follows has been restated to reflect the internal
reorganization. The CBOT evaluates segment performance based on revenues and income from operations. Intercompany transactions between segments have been eliminated. A summary by operating segment follows (in thousands):
|
|
Exchange Floor Trading
|
|
Electronic Trading
|
|
|
Real Estate Operations
|
|
|
Eliminations
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Year Ended December 31, 2001 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange fees |
|
$ |
88,072 |
|
$ |
40,958 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
129,030 |
|
Market data |
|
|
53,074 |
|
|
13,435 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
66,509 |
|
Building |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,828 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,828 |
|
CBOT space rent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,802 |
|
|
|
(17,802 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Services |
|
|
12,629 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,629 |
|
Members dues |
|
|
9,027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,027 |
|
Other |
|
|
1,909 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,909 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues |
|
|
164,711 |
|
|
54,393 |
|
|
|
42,630 |
|
|
|
(17,802 |
) |
|
|
243,932 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
15,062 |
|
|
14,108 |
|
|
|
14,367 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
43,537 |
|
Income (loss) from operations |
|
|
57,336 |
|
|
(40,908 |
) |
|
|
(7,962 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,466 |
|
Total assets |
|
|
114,459 |
|
|
17,300 |
|
|
|
227,302 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
359,061 |
|
Capital expenditures |
|
|
3,320 |
|
|
8,675 |
|
|
|
4,363 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,358 |
|
Year Ended December 31, 2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange fees |
|
$ |
83,789 |
|
$ |
18,192 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
101,981 |
|
Market data |
|
|
57,000 |
|
|
4,060 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
61,060 |
|
Building |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,530 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,530 |
|
CBOT space rent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,400 |
|
|
|
(16,400 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Services |
|
|
17,848 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,848 |
|
Members dues |
|
|
5,484 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,484 |
|
Other |
|
|
3,258 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,258 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues |
|
|
167,379 |
|
|
22,252 |
|
|
|
40,930 |
|
|
|
(16,400 |
) |
|
|
214,161 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
17,092 |
|
|
9,013 |
|
|
|
13,908 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,013 |
|
Income (loss) from operations |
|
|
53,300 |
|
|
(52,020 |
) |
|
|
(9,438 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8,158 |
) |
Total assets |
|
|
102,173 |
|
|
35,321 |
|
|
|
236,342 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
373,836 |
|
Capital expenditures |
|
|
8,248 |
|
|
26,963 |
|
|
|
3,286 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38,497 |
|
Year Ended December 31, 1999 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange fees |
|
$ |
83,913 |
|
$ |
18,632 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
102,545 |
|
Market data |
|
|
51,662 |
|
|
2,366 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
54,028 |
|
Building |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,653 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,653 |
|
CBOT space rent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,400 |
|
|
|
(16,400 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Services |
|
|
13,920 |
|
|
6,359 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,279 |
|
Members dues |
|
|
389 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
389 |
|
Other |
|
|
4,054 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,054 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues |
|
|
153,938 |
|
|
27,357 |
|
|
|
39,053 |
|
|
|
(16,400 |
) |
|
|
203,948 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
20,974 |
|
|
1,509 |
|
|
|
13,657 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,140 |
|
Income (loss) from operations |
|
|
33,578 |
|
|
(40,138 |
) |
|
|
(10,795 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(17,355 |
) |
Total assets |
|
|
118,327 |
|
|
10,356 |
|
|
|
244,696 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
373,379 |
|
Capital expenditures |
|
|
11,001 |
|
|
8,488 |
|
|
|
5,676 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,165 |
|
A-20
13. Fair value of financial instruments
Cash equivalents, accounts receivable and other current assets are carried at amounts which approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. Similarly,
liabilities including accounts payable and accrued liabilities, the current portion of long-term debt, funds held for deposit and membership transfers and other liabilities are carried at amounts approximating fair value. Based on a comparison of
the terms of the CBOTs existing long-term debt and the terms currently available for similar borrowings, management estimates the fair value of the long-term debt approximates the carrying value.
14. Subsequent events
In July of 2002, the CBOT entered into a license agreement, effective retroactively to April 1, 2002, with the Eurex Group for the continued use of the a/c/e system through December 2003. This license agreement modified the structure
of the CBOTs relationship with the Eurex Group from an alliance to an outsourcing arrangement. As a result, the CBOT relinquished co-ownership of the a/c/e system and has no further joint development obligations with the Eurex Group. In
accordance with the agreement, the CBOT is to pay a quarterly fixed fee of 2.5 million euros (equal to $2.2 million at December 31, 2001) and a quarterly variable fee denominated in euros, which, for contracts existing prior to the execution of the
license agreement, is a function of daily a/c/e system volume in excess of the minimum number of contracts specified in the license agreement and the rate that is determined based on the number of contracts traded on the a/c/e system in a single day
as specified in the license agreement. For a/c/e system contracts created subsequent to the execution of the license agreement, the variable fee is calculated as a fixed percentage of the exchange fees generated by these contracts. Such fees are
recorded as expense in the accounting period to which the fee relates.
On August 26, 2002, the CBOT entered
into a license agreement with the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (CBOE) for the use of computer software entitled CBOEdirect. In accordance with the license agreement, the CBOT is to pay $10.0 million over a
three year period after which the CBOT will be entitled to use the software for an indefinite period of time without additional payments. To reflect this arrangement, the CBOT at the commencement of the license agreement recorded its right to
CBOEdirect and an equal liability in the amount of approximately $9.6 million, which represented the present value of the future payments, calculated using a 4.7% discount rate. The liability will be accreted over its 3 year term, and the asset will
be amortized on a straight-line basis over 3 years.
On August 27, 2002, the CBOT announced an agreement to settle
a patent infringement lawsuit. In accordance with the settlement agreement, the CBOT is to pay $15.0 million over a five year period, which consists of an initial payment of $5.0 million, with five subsequent annual payments of $2.0 million. In
October of 2002, the CBOT obtained a favorable ruling on litigation that had alleged soybean antitrust violations. While this ruling has been appealed, the CBOT believes that no payments by the CBOT to the plaintiffs will be required as a result of
such appeal. The effect of the foregoing legal matters was recorded in the third quarter of 2002 and, net of amounts previously accrued, was approximately $10.7 million of expense ($6.3 million after tax). This amount is net of a discount of $1.3
million arising from the determination of the present value of the foregoing annual payments using a 4.7% discount rate.
On September 17, 2002, the Board of Directors approved a modification to the restructuring strategy, described in Note 1, to delay the reorganization of the electronic trading business until the termination of the CBOTs
arrangements with the Eurex Group, which is currently expected to occur in December 2003. See Note 1.
A-21
15. Separation Agreement (unaudited)
In November of 2002, the CBOT entered into a General Release and Separation Agreement, which terminated the employment of David J. Vitale,
the chief executive officer and president. In accordance with the agreement, the CBOT is to continue to pay Mr. Vitales base salary at a rate of $1.3 million per annum through December of 2004 as well as amounts for administrative support
services and certain health and 401(k) benefits. Additionally, the CBOT is obligated to pay a performance bonus to Mr. Vitale of $0.5 million. To reflect this arrangement, in November of 2002, the CBOT recorded severance expense and an equal
liability in the amount of approximately $3.3 million, which represented the present value of the future payments calculated using a 4.7% discount rate. The liability will be accreted over the term of the agreement.
A-22
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION (Unaudited) (in thousands)
ASSETS
|
|
September 30, 2002
|
|
December 31, 2001
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrestricted |
|
$ |
69,610 |
|
$ |
50,831 |
|
Held under deposit and membership transfers |
|
|
1,700 |
|
|
2,336 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
71,310 |
|
|
53,167 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
|
|
|
491 |
|
Accounts receivablenet of allowance of $3,874 and $3,908 in 2002 and 2001, respectively |
|
|
30,430 |
|
|
21,599 |
|
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
1,408 |
|
|
4,012 |
|
Other current assets |
|
|
2,267 |
|
|
3,205 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets |
|
|
105,415 |
|
|
82,474 |
|
Property and equipment: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Land |
|
|
34,234 |
|
|
34,234 |
|
Buildings and equipment |
|
|
308,518 |
|
|
306,971 |
|
Furnishings and fixtures |
|
|
153,939 |
|
|
150,467 |
|
Computer software and systems |
|
|
44,279 |
|
|
28,561 |
|
Construction in progress |
|
|
|
|
|
1,262 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total property and equipment |
|
|
540,970 |
|
|
521,495 |
|
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization |
|
|
289,150 |
|
|
259,485 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipmentnet |
|
|
251,820 |
|
|
262,010 |
|
Other assets |
|
|
13,567 |
|
|
14,577 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
370,802 |
|
$ |
359,061 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
19,687 |
|
$ |
16,787 |
|
Due to joint venture |
|
|
|
|
|
5,169 |
|
Funds held for deposit and membership transfers |
|
|
1,700 |
|
|
2,336 |
|
Current portion of long-term debt and license obligation |
|
|
16,339 |
|
|
18,398 |
|
Other current liabilities |
|
|
22,610 |
|
|
31,460 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
60,336 |
|
|
74,150 |
|
Long-term liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred income tax liabilities |
|
|
17,844 |
|
|
16,877 |
|
Long-term debt and license obligation |
|
|
46,041 |
|
|
58,324 |
|
Other liabilities |
|
|
16,785 |
|
|
13,637 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total long-term liabilities |
|
|
80,670 |
|
|
88,838 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
141,006 |
|
|
162,988 |
|
Members equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members equity |
|
|
229,690 |
|
|
196,124 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) |
|
|
106 |
|
|
(51 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total members equity |
|
|
229,796 |
|
|
196,073 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and members equity |
|
$ |
370,802 |
|
$ |
359,061 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited)
A-23
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (in thousands)
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
2001
|
|
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange fees |
|
$ |
155,617 |
|
$ |
91,747 |
|
Market data |
|
|
44,255 |
|
|
49,888 |
|
Building |
|
|
19,882 |
|
|
18,897 |
|
Services |
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
9,592 |
|
Dues |
|
|
|
|
|
6,830 |
|
Other |
|
|
2,640 |
|
|
1,439 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues |
|
|
234,394 |
|
|
178,393 |
|
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
|
|
44,002 |
|
|
44,337 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
29,579 |
|
|
32,810 |
|
Professional services |
|
|
19,991 |
|
|
11,966 |
|
General and administrative expenses |
|
|
8,010 |
|
|
10,001 |
|
Building operating costs |
|
|
17,364 |
|
|
16,724 |
|
Information technology services |
|
|
28,570 |
|
|
29,717 |
|
Contracted license fees |
|
|
7,621 |
|
|
|
|
Programs |
|
|
1,576 |
|
|
1,280 |
|
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets |
|
|
6,244 |
|
|
|
|
Interest |
|
|
3,704 |
|
|
5,280 |
|
Litigation |
|
|
10,735 |
|
|
3,000 |
|
Severance and related costs |
|
|
299 |
|
|
4,936 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
177,695 |
|
|
160,051 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations |
|
|
56,699 |
|
|
18,342 |
|
Income taxes (credit) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current |
|
|
19,813 |
|
|
13,034 |
|
Deferred |
|
|
3,571 |
|
|
(5,548 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total income taxes |
|
|
23,384 |
|
|
7,486 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle |
|
|
33,315 |
|
|
10,856 |
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principlenet of tax |
|
|
|
|
|
(51 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
$ |
33,315 |
|
$ |
10,805 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to condensed consolidated
financial statements (unaudited)
A-24
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF MEMBERS EQUITY (Unaudited) (in thousands)
|
|
Members Equity
|
|
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
|
|
|
Total
|
BalanceDecember 31, 2000 |
|
$ |
191,320 |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
191,320 |
Comprehensive income: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
|
10,805 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,805 |
Transition adjustment for adoption of new accounting pronouncement |
|
|
|
|
|
462 |
|
|
|
|
Unrealized gains and losses on foreign exchange forward contracts |
|
|
|
|
|
(1,223 |
) |
|
|
|
Reclass of foreign exchange forward contract gains and lossesnet |
|
|
|
|
|
928 |
|
|
|
|
Tax effect |
|
|
|
|
|
(67 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,905 |
Capital contributions |
|
|
293 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
293 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BalanceSeptember 30, 2001 |
|
$ |
202,418 |
|
$ |
100 |
|
|
$ |
202,518 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BalanceDecember 31, 2001 |
|
$ |
196,124 |
|
$ |
(51 |
) |
|
$ |
196,073 |
Comprehensive income: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
|
33,315 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,315 |
Unrealized gains and losses on foreign exchange forward contracts |
|
|
|
|
|
1,211 |
|
|
|
|
Reclass of foreign exchange forward contract gains and lossesnet |
|
|
|
|
|
(950 |
) |
|
|
|
Tax effect |
|
|
|
|
|
(104 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
|
157 |
|
|
|
157 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,472 |
Capital contributions |
|
|
251 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
251 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BalanceSeptember 30, 2002 |
|
$ |
229,690 |
|
$ |
106 |
|
|
$ |
229,796 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to condensed consolidated
financial statements (unaudited)
A-25
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (in thousands)
|
|
Nine Months Ended September
30,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2001
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
33,315 |
|
|
$ |
10,805 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle |
|
|
|
|
|
|
87 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
29,579 |
|
|
|
32,810 |
|
Allowance for bad debts |
|
|
(34 |
) |
|
|
1,546 |
|
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets |
|
|
6,244 |
|
|
|
|
|
Gain/loss on foreign currency translation |
|
|
(1,175 |
) |
|
|
378 |
|
Loss on sale or retirement of fixed assets |
|
|
136 |
|
|
|
1,345 |
|
Deferred income taxes (benefit) |
|
|
3,571 |
|
|
|
(5,548 |
) |
Changes in assets and liabilities |
|
|
(15,436 |
) |
|
|
3,178 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
56,200 |
|
|
|
44,601 |
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition of property and equipment |
|
|
(14,375 |
) |
|
|
(10,336 |
) |
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment |
|
|
28 |
|
|
|
68 |
|
Investment in joint ventures |
|
|
(683 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
491 |
|
|
|
(161 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash flows used in investing activities |
|
|
(14,539 |
) |
|
|
(10,429 |
) |
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Repayments of borrowings |
|
|
(23,769 |
) |
|
|
(32,137 |
) |
Proceeds from borrowings |
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,675 |
|
Capital contributions from members |
|
|
251 |
|
|
|
293 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash flows used in financing activities |
|
|
(23,518 |
) |
|
|
(13,169 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
18,143 |
|
|
|
21,003 |
|
Cash and cash equivalentsbeginning of period |
|
|
53,167 |
|
|
|
28,205 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalentsend of period |
|
$ |
71,310 |
|
|
$ |
49,208 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest |
|
$ |
4,825 |
|
|
$ |
5,744 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income taxes |
|
$ |
22,200 |
|
|
$ |
7,430 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non cash financing activity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Software license obligation |
|
$ |
9,559 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to condensed consolidated
financial statements (unaudited)
A-26
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiaries, and its controlled
subsidiary, Ceres Trading Limited Partnership (Ceres) (collectively, the CBOT) have been prepared in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 28 and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the SEC). The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the CBOT. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These condensed
consolidated financial statements do not include all of the necessary disclosures required for complete financial statements.
In the opinion of the CBOTs management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the
CBOTs financial position as of September 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001 and its results of operations and cash flows for the nine month interim periods ended September 30, 2002 and 2001. Interim period operating results may not be indicative
of the operating results for a full year. This information should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 and for each year in the three year period ended December
31, 2001.
For a summary of significant accounting policies (which have not significantly changed from December
31, 2001) and additional information, see note 1 to the audited December 31, 2001 consolidated financial statements.
Use of estimates
The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, hereafter referred to as generally accepted accounting principles, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to current period presentations.
A-27
2. Debt and License Obligation
Debt and license obligation at September 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001 consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
September 30, 2002
|
|
December 31, 2001
|
Private placement senior notes, due in annual installments through 2007, at an annual interest rate of
6.81% |
|
$ |
53,571 |
|
$ |
64,286 |
License obligation to CBOE |
|
|
8,809 |
|
|
|
Secured note payable, due in 2004, at an annual interest rate of 8.25% |
|
|
|
|
|
7,990 |
Note payable to the Eurex Group, due in April 2002, at an annual interest rate of 6.25% |
|
|
|
|
|
4,446 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
62,380 |
|
|
76,722 |
Less current portion |
|
|
16,339 |
|
|
18,398 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
46,041 |
|
$ |
58,324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In April 2002, the secured note payable, due 2004 and related
accrued interest was paid in full.
On August 26, 2002, the CBOT entered into a license agreement with the Chicago
Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (CBOE) for the use of computer software entitled CBOEdirect. In accordance with the license agreement, the CBOT is to pay $10.0 million over a three year period after which the CBOT will
be entitled to use the software for an indefinite period of time without additional payments. To reflect this arrangement, the CBOT at the commencement of the license agreement recorded its right to CBOEdirect and an equal liability in the amount of
approximately $9.6 million, which represented the present value of the future payments, calculated using a 4.7% discount rate. The liability will be accreted over its 3 year term, and the asset will be amortized on a straight-line basis over 3
years.
3. Commitments
The CBOT, through Ceres, has commitments with Deutsche Börse Systems for approximately $29.6 million (30.0 million euros) as of September 30, 2002 to fund the operations of the CBOTs current
electronic trading platform. These payments are due at various times through December 2003 as follows (in thousands):
In July of 2002, the CBOT entered into a license
agreement, effective retroactively to April 1, 2002, with the Eurex Group for the continued use of the a/c/e system through December 2003. This license agreement modified the structure of the CBOTs relationship with the Eurex Group from an
alliance to an outsourcing arrangement. As a result, the CBOT relinquished co-ownership of the a/c/e system and has no further joint development obligations. In accordance with the agreement, the CBOT is to pay a quarterly fixed fee of 2.5 million
euros (equal to $2.5 million at September 30, 2002) and a quarterly variable fee denominated in euros, which, for contracts existing prior to the execution of the license agreement, is a function of daily a/c/e system volume in excess of the minimum
number of contracts specified in the license agreement and the rate that is determined based on the number of contracts traded on the a/c/e system in a single day as specified in the license agreement. For a/c/e system contracts created subsequent
to the execution of the license agreement, the variable fee is calculated as a fixed percentage of the exchange fees generated by these contracts.
4. Foreign Currency Forward Contracts
At September 30, 2002, the CBOT had foreign exchange
forward contracts with a financial institution to hedge its risk of foreign currency fluctuations related to certain liabilities and commitments in euros with Eurex and related entities.
Foreign exchange forward contracts identified to liabilities and commitments as cash flow type hedges had notional amounts approximating $13.6 million (14.5 million euros)
at September 30, 2002. A gain before income taxes of approximately $0.2 million on these contracts was recorded as part of other comprehensive income at September 30, 2002, which is expected to be reclassified into earnings as the commitments are
recorded and as the foreign exchange forward contracts mature, which is expected to occur by March 31, 2003.
A-28
5. Litigation
On August 27, 2002, the CBOT announced an agreement to settle a patent infringement lawsuit. In accordance with the settlement agreement, the CBOT is to pay $15.0 million
over a five year period, which consists of an initial payment of $5.0 million, with five subsequent annual payments of $2.0 million. In October of 2002, the CBOT obtained a favorable ruling on litigation that had alleged soybean antitrust
violations. While this ruling has been appealed, the CBOT believes that no payments by the CBOT to the plaintiffs will be required as a result of such appeal. The effect of the foregoing legal matters was recorded in the third quarter of 2002 and,
net of amounts previously accrued, was approximately $10.7 million of expense ($6.3 million after tax). This amount is net of a discount of $1.3 million arising from the determination of the present value of the foregoing annual payments using a
4.7% discount rate.
6. Operating Segments
The CBOT evaluates segment performance based on revenues and income from operations. Intercompany transactions between segments have been eliminated. A summary by operating segment follows (in
thousands):
|
|
Exchange Floor Trading
|
|
Electronic Trading
|
|
|
Real Estate Operations
|
|
|
Eliminations
|
|
|
Total
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange fees |
|
$ |
78,455 |
|
$ |
77,162 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
155,617 |
Market data |
|
|
44,255 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
44,255 |
Building |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,882 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,882 |
CBOT space rent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,913 |
|
|
|
(12,913 |
) |
|
|
|
Services |
|
|
10,774 |
|
|
1,226 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,000 |
Other |
|
|
1,707 |
|
|
933 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,640 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues |
|
|
135,191 |
|
|
79,321 |
|
|
|
32,795 |
|
|
|
(12,913 |
) |
|
|
234,394 |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
9,270 |
|
|
9,569 |
|
|
|
10,740 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29,579 |
Income (loss) from operations |
|
|
55,420 |
|
|
4,587 |
|
|
|
(3,308 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
56,699 |
Total assets |
|
|
144,628 |
|
|
14,193 |
|
|
|
211,981 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
370,802 |
Capital expenditures |
|
|
18,320 |
|
|
4,717 |
|
|
|
897 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23,934 |
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2001 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange fees |
|
$ |
64,023 |
|
$ |
27,724 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
91,747 |
Market data |
|
|
49,888 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
49,888 |
Building |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,897 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,897 |
CBOT space rent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,352 |
|
|
|
(13,352 |
) |
|
|
|
Services |
|
|
8,396 |
|
|
1,196 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,592 |
Members dues |
|
|
6,830 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,830 |
Other |
|
|
1,191 |
|
|
248 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,439 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues |
|
|
130,328 |
|
|
29,168 |
|
|
|
32,249 |
|
|
|
(13,352 |
) |
|
|
178,393 |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
8,987 |
|
|
9,720 |
|
|
|
14,103 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32,810 |
Income (loss) from operations |
|
|
51,854 |
|
|
(25,950 |
) |
|
|
(7,562 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,342 |
Total assets |
|
|
107,137 |
|
|
37,731 |
|
|
|
227,770 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
372,638 |
Capital expenditures |
|
|
476 |
|
|
8,675 |
|
|
|
1,185 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,336 |
7. Separation Agreement
In November of 2002, the CBOT entered into a General Release and Separation Agreement, which terminated the employment of David J. Vitale,
the chief executive officer and president. In accordance with the agreement, the CBOT is to continue to pay Mr. Vitales base salary at a rate of $1.3 million per annum through December of 2004 as well as amounts for administrative support
services and certain health and 401(k) benefits. Additionally, the CBOT is obligated to pay a performance bonus to Mr. Vitale of $0.5 million. To reflect this arrangement, in November of 2002, the CBOT recorded severance expense and an equal
liability in the amount of approximately $3.3 million, which represented the present value of the future payments calculated using a 4.7% discount rate. The liability will be accreted over the term of the agreement.
A-29
PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
OF BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
B-1
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements give effect to the issuance of 39,802,650 shares of common stock, in connection with the
proposed demutualization as described elsewhere in this document as if it had occurred (a) as of September 30, 2002, for purposes of the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of financial condition, and (b) as of the beginning of the
year ended December 31, 2001 for purposes of the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of income and the condensed consolidated statement of members equity and stockholders equity.
The number of shares used in the calculation of net income (loss) per share is based on the shares to be issued to the members and are
assumed to be outstanding from the beginning of the period.
The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated
financial statements are based on available information and on assumptions management believes are reasonable and that reflect the effects of the transactions described above. These unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements are
provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed to be indicative of the CBOTs consolidated financial position or results of operations had these transactions been consummated on the dates assumed and do not in any way
represent a projection or forecast of the CBOTs consolidated financial position or results of operations for any future date or period. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the
audited consolidated financial statements of the CBOT, together with the related notes and report of independent auditors, and with the information set forth under our Capitalization, Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Our Business.
B-2
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
September 30, 2002
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
Issuance of Common Stock
|
ASSETS
|
|
Actual
|
|
Pro Forma Adjustments
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrestricted |
|
$ |
69,610 |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
69,610 |
Held under deposit and membership transfers |
|
|
1,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
71,310 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
71,310 |
Accounts receivablenet |
|
|
30,430 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,430 |
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
1,408 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,408 |
Other current assets |
|
|
2,267 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,267 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets |
|
|
105,415 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
105,415 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Land |
|
|
34,234 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
34,234 |
Buildings and equipment |
|
|
308,518 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
308,518 |
Furnishings and fixtures |
|
|
153,939 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
153,939 |
Computer software and systems |
|
|
44,279 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
44,279 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total property and equipment |
|
|
540,970 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
540,970 |
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization |
|
|
289,150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
289,150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipmentnet |
|
|
251,820 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
251,820 |
Other assets |
|
|
13,567 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,567 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
370,802 |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
370,802 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES, MEMBERS EQUITY AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
19,687 |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
19,687 |
Funds held for deposit and membership transfers |
|
|
1,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,700 |
Current portion of long-term debt and license obligation |
|
|
16,339 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,339 |
Other current liabilities |
|
|
22,610 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,610 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
60,336 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
60,336 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
17,844 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,844 |
Long-term debt and license obligation |
|
|
46,041 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
46,041 |
Other liabilities |
|
|
16,785 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,785 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total long-term liabilities |
|
|
80,670 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
80,670 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
141,006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
141,006 |
Members equity |
|
|
229,690 |
|
|
(229,690 |
) |
|
|
|
Preferred stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock |
|
|
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
40 |
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
|
|
|
229,650 |
|
|
|
229,650 |
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
|
106 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
106 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities, members equity and stockholders equity |
|
$ |
370,802 |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
370,802 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying introduction and notes are an integral part of this
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition.
B-3
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
For the Nine Months
Ended September 30, 2002
(in thousands, except per share data)
|
|
|
|
Issuance of Common Stock
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
Pro Forma Adjustments
|
|
Pro Forma
|
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange fees |
|
$ |
155,617 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
155,617 |
Market data |
|
|
44,255 |
|
|
|
|
|
44,255 |
Building |
|
|
19,882 |
|
|
|
|
|
19,882 |
Services |
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
12,000 |
Other |
|
|
2,640 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,640 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues |
|
|
234,394 |
|
|
|
|
|
234,394 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
|
|
44,002 |
|
|
|
|
|
44,002 |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
29,579 |
|
|
|
|
|
29,579 |
Professional services |
|
|
19,991 |
|
|
|
|
|
19,991 |
General and administrative expenses |
|
|
8,010 |
|
|
|
|
|
8,010 |
Building operating costs |
|
|
17,364 |
|
|
|
|
|
17,364 |
Information technology services |
|
|
28,570 |
|
|
|
|
|
28,570 |
Contracted license fees |
|
|
7,621 |
|
|
|
|
|
7,621 |
Programs |
|
|
1,576 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,576 |
Loss in impairment of long-lived assets |
|
|
6,244 |
|
|
|
|
|
6,244 |
Interest |
|
|
3,704 |
|
|
|
|
|
3,704 |
Litigation |
|
|
10,735 |
|
|
|
|
|
10,735 |
Other |
|
|
299 |
|
|
|
|
|
299 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
177,695 |
|
|
|
|
|
177,695 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations |
|
|
56,699 |
|
|
|
|
|
56,699 |
Total income taxes (credit) |
|
|
23,384 |
|
|
|
|
|
23,384 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
$ |
33,315 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
33,315 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.84 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares used in the calculation of net income per share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39,803 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying introduction and
notes are an integral part of
this Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income.
B-4
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
For the Year Ended December 31, 2001
(in thousands, except per share data)
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of Common Stock
|
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
Pro Forma Adjustments
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange fees |
|
$ |
129,030 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
129,030 |
|
Market data |
|
|
66,509 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
66,509 |
|
Building |
|
|
24,828 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,828 |
|
Services |
|
|
12,629 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,629 |
|
Dues |
|
|
9,027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,027 |
|
Other |
|
|
1,909 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,909 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues |
|
|
243,932 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
243,932 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
|
|
58,545 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
58,545 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
43,537 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
43,537 |
|
Professional services |
|
|
23,013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
23,013 |
|
General and administrative expenses |
|
|
12,840 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,840 |
|
Building operating costs |
|
|
22,961 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,961 |
|
Information technology services |
|
|
40,904 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,904 |
|
Programs |
|
|
1,847 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,847 |
|
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets |
|
|
15,210 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,210 |
|
Interest |
|
|
6,734 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,734 |
|
Severance and related costs |
|
|
9,875 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,875 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
235,466 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
235,466 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations |
|
|
8,466 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,466 |
|
Total income taxes (credit) |
|
|
4,002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle |
|
|
4,464 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,464 |
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principlenet of tax |
|
|
(51 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
(51 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
$ |
4,413 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
4,413 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares used in the calculation of net income per share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39,803 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying introduction and
notes are an integral part of
this Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income.
B-5
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT
OF MEMBERS EQUITY AND
STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002
(in thousands, except per share data)
|
|
|
|
Issuance of Common
Stock
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
Pro Forma Adjustments
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
Members equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members equity |
|
$ |
229,690 |
|
$ |
(229,690 |
) |
|
$ |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
|
106 |
|
|
(106 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total members equity |
|
|
229,796 |
|
|
(229,796 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, 10,000,000 authorized, none issued and outstanding |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 39,802,650 issued and outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
40 |
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
|
|
|
229,650 |
|
|
|
229,650 |
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
106 |
|
|
|
106 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders equity |
|
|
|
|
$ |
229,796 |
|
|
$ |
229,796 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying introduction and notes are an integral part of
this Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Members Equity and
Stockholders Equity.
B-6
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The
Unaudited Pro forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect such adjustments as necessary, in the opinion of management, to reflect the conversion of members equity to common stock of CBOT Holdings.
Pro forma adjustments reflect the issuance of common stock and the conversion of members equity into stockholders equity,
which is comprised of common stock and additional paid-in capital. Immediately following completion of the restructuring transactions, 39,802,650 shares of common stock, with a par value of $0.001 per share will be issued and outstanding.
Accordingly, common stock will have a value of $39,803 with the remaining equity balance of approximately $217,615,000 being transferred to additional paid-in capital. Accumulated other comprehensive income does not change.
The CBOT has estimated $18,857,000 for total expenses to be incurred in connection with the restructuring transactions. Through December
31, 2000, the CBOT recognized $11,600,000 of these expenses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and the year ended December 31, 2001, the CBOT recognized $2,244,000 and $4,567,000, respectively of these expenses in the Unaudited Pro forma
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. The balance of the estimated expenses to be incurred in connection with the restructuring transactions, which approximates $1,125,000, is expected to be expended in the remainder of 2002.
Net income per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and the year ended December 31, 2001 is calculated as follows
(in thousands, except per share amounts):
|
|
September 30, 2002
|
|
December 31, 2001
|
|
|
After Issuance of Common Stock
|
|
After Issuance of Common Stock
|
Net income |
|
$ |
33,315 |
|
$ |
4,413 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding |
|
|
39,803 |
|
|
39,803 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per common share |
|
$ |
0.84 |
|
$ |
0.11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B-7
FORM OF AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this Agreement) is made and entered into
as of , 2003, by and among (1) the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., a Delaware nonstock corporation (CBOT),
(2) CBOT Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware nonstock corporation (CBOT Merger Sub) and wholly owned subsidiary of CBOT Holdings, Inc., a Delaware stock corporation (CBOT Holdings) and a wholly owned subsidiary of
CBOT, and (3) CBOT Holdings. CBOT, CBOT Merger Sub and CBOT Holdings are referred to collectively herein as the Parties. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them in the
CBOTs Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, which includes the CBOTs Rules and Regulations (collectively, the CBOT Organization Documents), in each case, as may be amended
from time to time prior to the Effective Time (as hereinafter defined) in accordance with the terms of the CBOT Organization Documents and applicable law.
WHEREAS, CBOT is pursuing a strategic restructuring involving, among other things, (A) the demutualization of CBOT by creating CBOT Holdings as a stock, for-profit holding
company and (B) the modernization of CBOTs corporate governance structure, in each case as further described in the Registration Statement (as defined below) (collectively, the Restructuring Transactions);
WHEREAS, as part of, and in order to effectuate, the Restructuring Transactions, prior to the Merger
(hereinafter defined), the board of directors of CBOT shall declare a dividend to the members of CBOT, with such dividend consisting of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings (the Dividend);
WHEREAS, as part of, and in order to effectuate, the Restructuring Transactions, CBOT Merger Sub will merge with and into CBOT pursuant to
this Agreement, with CBOT surviving and becoming a subsidiary of CBOT Holdings (the Merger);
WHEREAS, immediately following the effective time of the Merger, the members of CBOT will receive payment of the Dividend consisting of shares of the common stock of CBOT Holdings;
WHEREAS, the boards of directors of CBOT, CBOT Merger Sub and CBOT Holdings have each determined that this Agreement and the Merger
are advisable and approved, adopted and authorized the Merger, this Agreement and their respective performance of their respective obligations hereunder.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual promises herein made, and in consideration of the representations, warranties, and covenants herein contained, and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby expressly acknowledged and agreed, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
BASIC TRANSACTION
A. The Merger.
(1) General. On the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, CBOT Merger Sub shall merge with and into CBOT (as of the Effective Time (as defined below)), with CBOT
as the surviving entity (sometimes referred to herein as the Surviving Corporation), and CBOT shall file a certificate of merger (the Certificate of Merger) with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware and make all other filings or recordings required by Delaware law in order to effectuate the Merger. The Merger shall become effective at
C-1
such time as CBOT files the Certificate of Merger or as is otherwise specified in the Certificate of
Merger (the Effective Time). The Surviving Corporation may, at any time after the Effective Time, take any action (including executing and delivering any document) in the name of and on behalf of
CBOT Merger Sub, CBOT or the members of the CBOT immediately prior to the Effective Time that the Surviving Corporation, in its sole and conclusive discretion, deems necessary or advisable in order to effect the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(2) Surviving
Entity. At the Effective Time, CBOT Merger Sub shall be merged with and into CBOT, whereupon the separate existence of the CBOT Merger Sub shall cease, and CBOT shall be the surviving entity of the Merger in accordance
with Section 255 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
(3) Closing. The closing of the Merger (the Closing) shall take place at the offices of Kirkland & Ellis, 200 East Randolph Drive, Chicago, Illinois, 60601,
or at such other place, date and time as CBOT may determine (the Closing Time), which time shall be on or after the time at which all conditions to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby are satisfied or waived by CBOT.
(4) Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws; Rules and Regulations;
Name. From and after the Effective Time, and until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation attached to this Agreement and set forth as Appendix H to the
proxy statement and prospectus (the Proxy Statement and Prospectus) contained in the Registration Statement (hereinafter defined) shall be the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation (the
Surviving Charter). From and after the Effective Time, and until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable law, the Bylaws attached to this Agreement and set forth as Appendix I to the Proxy Statement and Prospectus, which
shall include the Rules and Regulations of the CBOT in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation (the Surviving Bylaws and together with the Surviving Charter, the
Surviving Organization Documents).
(5) Name. The name of the Surviving Corporation shall remain Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.
(6) Directors and Officers. At the Effective Time, the directors and officers of CBOT in office immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall become the directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation and shall, in such capacity, retain their respective positions and terms of office and tenures held thereby immediately prior to the Effective Time.
B. Conversion and Exchange of Memberships. At the
Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of CBOT, CBOT Holdings, CBOT Merger Sub or any other Person:
(1) Each CBOT Full Membership issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and exchanged for one (1) Series B-1, Class B
membership and one (1) Class C membership in the Surviving Corporation with such rights, privileges and obligations as set forth in the Surviving Organization Documents.
(2) Each CBOT Associate Membership issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and exchanged for one
(1) Series B-2, Class B membership in the Surviving Corporation with such rights, privileges and obligations as set forth in the Surviving Organization Documents.
(3) Each CBOT one-half participation interest in an Associate Membership issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall
be converted into and exchanged for one (1) Series B-3, Class B membership in the Surviving Corporation with such rights, privileges and obligations as set forth in the Surviving Organization Documents.
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(4) Each CBOT GIM Membership issued and outstanding as of
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and exchanged for one (1) Series B-3, Class B membership in the Surviving Corporation with such rights, privileges and obligations as set forth in the Surviving Organization Documents.
(5) Each CBOT IDEM Membership issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be converted into and exchanged for one (1) Series B-4, Class B membership in the Surviving Corporation with such rights, privileges and obligations as set forth in the Surviving Organization Documents.
(6) Each CBOT COM Membership issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
converted into and exchanged for one (1) Series B-5, Class B membership in the Surviving Corporation with such rights, privileges and obligations as set forth in the Surviving Organization Documents.
(7) The sole membership in CBOT Merger Sub issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be converted into and exchanged for one (1) Class A membership in the Surviving Corporation with such rights, privileges and obligations as set forth in the Surviving Organization Documents.
Accordingly, from and after the Effective Time, the holder(s) of record of (i) CBOT Full Memberships immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be deemed to be the holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships and Class C memberships in the Surviving Corporation for and into which such CBOT Full Memberships are exchanged and converted, (ii) CBOT Associate Memberships immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be the holders of Series B-2, Class B memberships in the Surviving Corporation for and into which such CBOT Associate Memberships are exchanged and converted, (iii) CBOT one-half participation interests
in Associate Memberships immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be holders of Series B-3, Class B memberships in the Surviving Corporation for and into which such CBOT one-half participation interests in an Associate Membership,
are exchanged and converted, (iv) CBOT GIM Memberships immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be holders of Series B-3, Class B memberships in the Surviving Corporation for and into which such CBOT GIM Memberships are exchanged
and converted, (v) CBOT IDEM Memberships immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be the holders of Series B-4, Class B memberships in the Surviving Corporation for and into which such CBOT IDEM Memberships are exchanged and
converted, (vi) CBOT COM Memberships immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be the holders of Series B-5, Class B memberships in the Surviving Corporation for and into which such CBOT COM Memberships are exchanged and converted,
and (vii) the sole membership in CBOT Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be the holder of the Class A membership in the Surviving Corporation for and into which such membership in CBOT Merger Sub is exchanged and
converted, in each case, pursuant to the provisions of this Article I.B.
C. Closing of
Transfer Records. From and after the Effective Time, transfers of CBOT Full Memberships, Associate Memberships, one-half participation interests in Associate Memberships, GIM Memberships, IDEM Memberships and COM
Memberships outstanding prior to the Effective Time shall not be made on the books and records of the Surviving Corporation or otherwise.
ARTICLE II
CONDITIONS TO CLOSE
The obligation of the Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby is subject to (A) the approval and adoption by the CBOT membership in accordance with
applicable law of this Agreement and the Merger contemplated hereby, pursuant to a combined proxy statement and prospectus, dated
, 2002, contained in that certain Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No.
333-72184, filed by CBOT Holdings relating to the Restructuring Transactions (as amended, the Registration Statement), and (B) satisfaction (or waiver by CBOT) of all other conditions to CBOTs obligation to complete the
Restructuring Transactions as described in the Registration Statement.
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ARTICLE III
TERMINATION
A. Termination of Agreement. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, CBOT may, in its sole and exclusive discretion, terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the
Effective Time.
B. Effect of Termination. If CBOT terminates
this Agreement pursuant to Article III, A. above, all rights and obligations of the Parties shall terminate without any liability of any Party or Person to any other Party or Person.
ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS
A. No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall not confer
any rights or remedies upon any person or entity other than the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
B. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties and supersedes any prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or
between the Parties, written or oral, to the extent they related in any way to the subject matter hereof.
C. Succession and Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties named herein and their respective successors and permitted
assigns. No Party may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other Parties.
D. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by means of telecopied
signatures), each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
E. Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.
F. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the
application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.
G. Amendments and Waivers. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Parties may mutually amend any provision of this Agreement at any time prior to the
Effective Time with the prior authorization of their respective boards of directors. No amendment of any provision of this Agreement shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed by all of the Parties.
H. Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or
unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any
other jurisdiction.
I. Construction. Any reference to
any federal, state, local, or foreign statute or law shall be deemed also to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context otherwise requires. The term including shall mean including without
limitation and all variants shall have similarly inclusive, but not limiting, meanings.
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J. Further Assurances. From
time to time, as and when requested by either Party hereto, the other Party shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all such documents and instruments and shall take, or cause to be taken, all such further or other actions,
which documents, instruments or actions are consistent with, and customary and necessary for, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
* * * *
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this
Agreement as of the date first written above.
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
CBOT MERGER SUB, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
CBOT HOLDINGS, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
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OPINION OF WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.
September 17, 2002
The Independent Allocation Committee of the Board of Directors of
the Board of Trade of
the City of Chicago, Inc.
The Board of Directors of the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.
141 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
Gentlemen:
We understand that the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., a Delaware nonstock, not-for-profit corporation (the CBOT) intends to implement a series of
restructuring transactions, which are designed to restructure and demutualize the CBOT. In connection with the initial proposal for such restructuring and demutualization (Initial Restructuring Proposal), you previously requested, and we
delivered, our opinion dated May 5, 2000 (the May 5 Opinion) as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the allocation of ownership described below (the Allocation) among the members and holders of membership
interests (the Members) of the CBOT with respect to their respective memberships (the Memberships).
In August 2000, the Initial Restructuring Proposal was substantially revised (the Revised Restructuring Proposal). At your request, we updated our May 5 Opinion on November 21, 2000 and January 16, 2001 in light of the
Revised Restructuring Proposal. In September, 2001, you further modified and amended the Revised Restructuring Proposal to provide for the restructuring and demutualization of the CBOT by (i) creating a Delaware stock, for-profit holding company
(CBOT Holdings) that will own the Class A membership (described below) in a Delaware for-profit, non stock successor of the CBOT (the CBOT Subsidiary) and (ii) distributing shares of CBOT Holdings to those members of the CBOT
who were members immediately prior to completing such transactions (collectively the Restructuring Transactions). At your request we updated the January 16 Opinion on September 24, 2001 and December 18, 2001 (the December 18
Opinion) in connection with the Restructuring Transactions.
We understand that, as part of the
Restructuring Transactions, the CBOT will declare and pay a dividend of common stock of CBOT Holdings to each Member. The common stock of CBOT Holdings will consist of a single class (not divided into series) with customary voting, liquidation and
dividend rights, which, immediately following completion of the Restructuring Transactions, will represent all of the equity value and equity voting power of CBOT Holdings. Shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings will be issued to each member in
accordance with the Allocation ratio in respect of his or her Membership. In addition, we understand that the CBOT will become a Delaware nonstock, for-profit corporation and a subsidiary of CBOT Holdings, and issue new Class A, Class B and Class C
memberships. The sole Class A membership in the CBOT Subsidiary will be held by CBOT Holdings and will entitle CBOT Holdings to (a) receive all distributions, dividends and proceeds upon liquidation from the CBOT Subsidiary, and (b) the exclusive
right to vote on most matters requiring a vote of the members of the CBOT Subsidiary. Each Member of the CBOT will receive one of the five series of Class B memberships in the CBOT Subsidiary in respect of each Membership held by such Member (i.e.,
each Full Member, Associate Member, GIM, IDEM and COM will receive one Series B-1, Series B-2, Series B-3, Series B-4 and Series B-5, Class B membership in the CBOT Subsidiary, respectively). Each Class B membership will, subject to satisfaction of
applicable membership and eligibility requirements, entitle the holder to trading rights and privileges that correspond to such holders current class of membership in the CBOT. In addition, each Full Member will receive one Class C membership
in the CBOT Subsidiary, which, subject to satisfaction of certain requirements, will entitle the holder to become a member of the Chicago Board Options Exchange Incorporated (the CBOE) at no additional cost. The holders of Class B and
Class C memberships will generally not have voting rights with respect to matters requiring a vote of the members of the CBOT Subsidiary, except that
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holders of Series B-1 and Series of B-2, Class B memberships will have voting rights to amend the bylaws of the CBOT Subsidiary and to approve changes that would adversely affect certain core
rights of Class B memberships.
You have now advised us that you have added to the Restructuring Transactions
a restriction (the Restriction) against any transfer of common stock of CBOT Holdings or a Class B membership in the CBOT Subsidiary except (i) in a transfer of the Class B membership together with a transfer to the same transferee of
the number of shares issued with such Class B membership in the Restructuring Transactions; (ii) transfers by operation of law; or (iii) transfers with the consent of the board of directors of CBOT Holdings (for a separate transfer of stock) or the
board of directors of the CBOT Subsidiary (for a separate transfer of a Class B membership). The Restriction does not prevent separate sale of a Class C membership, although use of a Class C membership to trade on the CBOE requires ownership of a
Class B-1 membership and the number of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings issued with such Class B-1 membership in the Restructuring Transaction. As in the case of our previous opinions, the Allocation does not reflect a valuation, comparative
or otherwise, of the trading rights and privileges and the CBOE exercise right, either before or after the Restructuring Transactions.
You have asked us to update our December 18 Opinion in light of the Restriction. We have been advised by the Independent Allocation Committee of the Board of Directors of the CBOT in reliance upon the advice of the
Implementation Committee of the Board of Directors of the CBOT that, for purposes of rendering this opinion, we may assume that the Restructuring Transactions will not be effected by means of a liquidation. Please note that we have made such
assumption and that we have made such assumption without independent legal analysis.
In connection with our
review of the Restructuring Transactions and the preparation of our opinion herein, we have examined: (a) certain descriptive information concerning the Restructuring Transactions; (b) the draft dated September 13, 2002 of Amendment No. 2 to the
Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Form S-4) of CBOT Holdings relating to the proposed issuance of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings; (c) the drafts dated September 13, 2002 of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
and By-Laws of CBOT Holdings; (d) the drafts dated September 13, 2002 of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the for-profit CBOT Subsidiary; (e) various CBOT documents including the Chicago Board of Trade rules and
regulations; (f) various trading and financial statistics for the CBOT; (g) certain publicly available information regarding terms of certain transactions involving restructurings of exchanges comparable to the CBOT and the allocation of value; (h)
presentations provided to the CBOT by consultants and financial and legal advisors; (i) letters to the CBOT from various members regarding the restructuring and demutualization of the CBOT; (j) information regarding the historical trading prices of
Memberships; and (k) certain other information regarding the CBOT and its operations. We have also held discussions of the foregoing with current and former members of the senior management of the CBOT and of the various classes of Members, have
considered other matters which we have deemed relevant to our inquiry and have taken into account such accepted financial and investment banking procedures and considerations as we have deemed relevant.
Furthermore, in connection with our review of the Restructuring Transactions and the preparation of our opinion herein, we have assumed
that: (a) there will not be any transaction (including any business combination) with the CBOE or any other party; in this connection, we understand that prior discussions between the CBOT and the CBOE of a possible business combination have
terminated; and (b) all existing trading rights and privileges of each Membership class and the CBOE exercise right of Full Members will remain intact following the Restructuring Transactions; in this connection, we note the concerns raised by
disclosures within the Form S-4 with respect to possible future actions by the CBOE adverse to the CBOE exercise right, the effects of which are beyond the scope of this opinion.
In rendering our opinion, we have assumed and relied, without independent verification, upon the accuracy and completeness of all the information examined by or otherwise
reviewed or discussed with us (subject to any updating and/or correction by the parties supplying such information) for purposes of this opinion. In particular, we note and have relied upon the revisions to the contract volume data that have been
supplied by the CBOT. We
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have not made or obtained an independent valuation or appraisal of the assets, liabilities or solvency of the CBOT. We were not requested to, and did not, participate in the structuring of the
Restructuring Transactions nor were we asked to consider, and our opinion does not address, the relative merits of the Restructuring Transactions as compared to any alternative business strategies that might exist for the CBOT or the effect of any
other transaction in which the CBOT might engage. Our opinion herein is based upon economic, market, financial and other conditions existing on, and other information disclosed to us as of, the date of this letter. It should be understood that,
although subsequent developments may affect this opinion, we do not have any obligation to update, revise or reaffirm this opinion except as provided in the letter agreement between William Blair & Company and the Independent Allocation
Committee dated September 3, 2002.
William Blair & Company has been engaged in the investment banking
business since 1935. We have acted as the investment banker to the Independent Allocation Committee in connection with the Restructuring Transactions (and the Initial Restructuring Proposal and the Revised Restructuring Proposal) and have received
fees from the CBOT for our services. In addition, the CBOT has agreed to indemnify us against certain liabilities arising out of our engagement. Our investment banking services and our opinion were provided for the use and benefit of the Independent
Allocation Committee of the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors of the CBOT in connection with the Restructuring Transactions. Our opinion is limited to the fairness, from a financial point of view, to the Members of the CBOT of the
Allocation of shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings in respect of their Memberships in connection with the Restructuring Transactions, and we do not address the merits of the underlying decision by the CBOT to engage in the Restructuring
Transactions and this opinion does not constitute a recommendation to any Member as to how such Member should vote with respect to the Restructuring Transactions. It is understood that this letter may not be disclosed or otherwise referred to
without prior written consent, except that the opinion may be included in its entirety in a proxy statement and prospectus mailed to the Members by the CBOT in connection with the Restructuring Transactions.
In arriving at our conclusion, we have considered various methodologies for allocating the shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings. We
have concluded that an allocation methodology that takes into account a combination of factors rather than a single factor is appropriate, and that such combination of factors should include, with respect to each of the five classes of Members: (a)
relative liquidation rights; (b) relative voting rights; (c) the allocation made in respect of each class of Membership in connection with the formation of Ceres; (d) the market values of Memberships; and (e) the contract volumes for which each
class of Membership has been responsible on a historical basis. In arriving at our conclusion, we have attached greater importance to liquidation rights, voting rights and the allocation made in respect of each Membership in connection with the
formation of Ceres.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that the Allocation to Members of
shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings in respect of their Memberships in connection with the Restructuring Transactions in the ratio of 5.0 : 1.0 : 0.5 : 0.06 : 0.07 to each Full, Associate, GIM, IDEM and COM Membership, respectively, is fair,
from a financial point of view to each of the five classes of Members.
Very truly yours, |
|
/S/ WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.
|
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C. |
D-3
AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made and entered into this 7th day of August, 2001 (Effective Date) by and between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., a Delaware
non-stock corporation (the CBOT), and the Chicago Board Options Exchange Incorporated, a Delaware non-stock corporation (the CBOE).
WHEREAS, paragraph (b) of Article Fifth of CBOEs Certificate of Incorporation (Article Fifth(b)) provides, among other things, that every present and future member of the CBOT who
applies for membership in the Corporation and who otherwise qualifies shall, so long as he remains a member of the CBOT, be entitled to be a member of the CBOE (this right of members of the CBOT to become members of the CBOE is referred to herein as
the Exercise Right;
WHEREAS, the CBOT and the CBOE entered into an Agreement dated as of September 1,
1992 (the 1992 Agreement) for the purpose of resolving a dispute as to the meaning of certain terms as used in Article Fifth(b) and the nature and scope of the Exercise Right;
WHEREAS, the CBOT intends to pursue a strategic restructuring as specifically contemplated by that certain Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-54370);
WHEREAS, additional disputes have arisen between the CBOT and the CBOE regarding the Exercise Right in the
context of the CBOTs proposed strategic restructuring and the expanded operation of CBOTs electronic trading system proposed to be implemented in connection therewith; and
WHEREAS, the parties, in their own capacity and on behalf of their respective members, wish to resolve these additional disputes to their mutual benefit;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual promises and agreements contained herein (but subject to
Section 11 below), the parties, in their own capacity and on behalf of their respective members, pursuant to the authorization of their respective Boards of Directors, agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Agreement, the definitions set forth in this Section 1, including revised definitions of certain terms previously defined in the 1992 Agreement, shall apply. Capitalized terms used but not further defined in this
Agreement shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the 1992 Agreement.
(a)
Registration Statement means that certain Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by the CBOT with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 (Registration No. 333-54370).
(b) CBOT Restructuring Transactions means the proposed strategic restructuring of the CBOT and the related
expansion of its electronic trading operations described in the Registration Statement, as amended by Amendments No. 1 through 4, and as further amended subject to the provisions of Section 11(b).
(c) Exercise Right Coupon means the instrument to be issued to each of the 1,402 CBOT Full Members pursuant to
and as part of the CBOT Restructuring Transactions, which shall evidence and represent the Exercise Right and which shall, subject to satisfaction of the other conditions to being an Eligible CBOT Full Member as defined below, entitle the holder
thereof to become an Exerciser Member.
(d) Eligible CBOT Full Member has the meaning
set forth in the definition of that term in the 1992 Agreement, provided that upon consummation of the CBOT Restructuring Transactions and in the absence
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|
of any other material changes to the structure or ownership of the CBOT or to the trading rights and privileges appurtenant to a CBOT Full Membership not contemplated in the CBOT Restructuring
Transactions, an individual shall be deemed to be an Eligible CBOT Full Member if the individual: (i) is the owner of (A) 25,000 shares of Class A Common Stock of the CBOT (such number being subject to anti-dilution adjustment in the event the Class
A Common Stock is subject to a stock split, reverse split, stock dividend or other stock distribution made to existing shareholders, or the issuance of shares to existing shareholders at less than fair market value), and (B) one (1) share of Class B
Common Stock, Series B-1, of the CBOT, and (C) one (1) Exercise Right Coupon, (ii) has not delegated any of the rights or privileges appurtenant to such ownership, and (iii) meets the applicable membership and eligibility requirements of the CBOT
and is deemed to be a CBOT Full Member under the CBOTs Rules and Regulations then in effect. CBOT Class A Common Stock, CBOT Class B Common Stock and Exercise Right Coupons may be separately bought and sold, and may be unbundled
and rebundled, for purposes of qualifying the owner thereof as an Eligible CBOT Full Member. |
(e)Eligible CBOT Full Member Delegate has the meaning set forth in the definition of that term in the 1992 Agreement, provided that upon consummation of the CBOT Restructuring Transactions and in the absence of any other
material changes to the structure or ownership of the CBOT or to the trading rights and privileges appurtenant to a CBOT Full Membership not contemplated in the CBOT Restructuring Transactions, an individual shall be deemed to be an eligible CBOT
Full Member delegate if the individual (i) is in possession of (A) 25,000 shares of Class A Common Stock of the CBOT (such number being subject to anti-dilution adjustment in the event the Class A Common Stock is subject to a stock split, reverse
split, stock dividend or other stock distribution made to existing shareholders, or the issuance of shares to existing shareholders at less than fair market value), and (B) one (1) share of Class B Common Stock, Series B-1, of the CBOT, and (C) one
(1) Exercise Right Coupon, (ii) holds one or more of the items listed in (i) above through delegation rather than ownership, and (iii) meets the applicable membership and eligibility requirements of the CBOT and is deemed to be a CBOT Full
Member Delegate under the CBOTs Rules and Regulations then in effect. For the purposes of this provision, the words in possession of shall be deemed to include possession by ownership, lease, or, in the case of shares, by pledge or
assignment agreement relating to such shares whereunder the owner of such shares is precluded from selling or transferring them during the term of such pledge or assignment agreement.
2. THE CBOTS AGREEMENTS.
(a) The CBOT agrees, in its own capacity and on behalf of its members, that only an individual who is an Eligible CBOT Full Member or an Eligible CBOT Full Member Delegate is a member of the CBOT
within the meaning of Article Fifth(b) eligible to be an Exerciser Member, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and to the extent not inconsistent with this Agreement, the 1992 Agreement.
(b) The CBOT agrees that as part of the CBOT Restructuring Transactions it shall issue exactly 1,402 shares of Class B
Common Stock, Series B-1, and exactly 1,402 Exercise Right Coupons, and shall distribute one (1) such share of Class B Common Stock and one (1) such Exercise Right Coupon to each of the 1,402 CBOT Full Members, and will not issue any additional
shares of Class B Common Stock, Series B-1, or any additional Exercise Right Coupons. The CBOT shall also issue and distribute 25,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock to each of the 1,402 CBOT Full Members. CBOE for its own account and CBOE
members will be free to purchase and to hold, lease or sell the Class B shares and the Exercise Coupons without limitation, and may also purchase, hold, lease or sell the Class A shares subject to the same terms as other purchasers of Class A
shares.
(c) The CBOT agrees and represents that it has created and will maintain various
incentives to promote the continued value of CBOT membership, including meaningful member and delegate fee preferences (applicable to the floor and electronic trading platform) and pit closing provisions as described in the Registration Statement.
In addition, CBOT agrees to maintain seat ownership requirements for CBOT clearing firms. A schedule of such current fee preferences and incentives has been provided to CBOE by the
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CBOT and the CBOE has taken notice of the member and delegate fee preferences reflected in such schedule. These fee preferences and incentives are expected to serve the purpose of preventing mass
migration of CBOT exercisers to CBOE. Any questions that may subsequently arise as to the continued meaningfulness of such preferences and incentives for this purpose, as they may be amended from time to time, shall be submitted to binding
arbitration in accordance with Section 7 of this Agreement. The arbitration panel will have the authority: 1) to determine whether the member and delegate fee preferences and other incentives maintained by the CBOT remain meaningful for the purposes
set forth in this Section 2(c); 2) if that determination is unfavorable to CBOT, to specify a remedy for CBOTs failure to maintain meaningful fee preferences and incentives, including what CBOT must do to restore meaningful fee preferences and
incentives; and 3) to prescribe the consequences of any failure by the CBOT to take any action required under the remedy specified by the arbitrators, including any failure to restore meaningful fee preferences and incentives in the manner
specified, within thirty (30) days of the panels decision.
(d) The CBOT agrees that if a
CBOT Full Member delegates his or her membership rights to a CBOT Full Member Delegate who exercises to become an Exerciser Member, the CBOT Full Member/delegator relinquishes all member trading rights at both the CBOT and the CBOE, and may trade
only as a customer at customer rates at the CBOT unless the member/delegator owns another CBOT membership which entitles that member to member trading rights and transaction rates.
(e) The CBOT agrees that CBOT Full Member Delegates who are Exerciser Members of the CBOE may trade on the CBOTs electronic trading platform only at
customer rates. The CBOT agrees that CBOT Full Members who are Exerciser Members of the CBOE may trade on the CBOTs electronic trading platform as a CBOT member at member rates only if they are not physically present on the CBOE trading floor
and are not logged on to the CBOEs electronic trading platform. If a CBOT Full Member is present on the CBOE trading floor or is logged on to the CBOEs electronic trading platform at the time an order is entered or altered on the
CBOTs electronic trading platform by or on behalf of such member, then such member will be charged CBOT customer rates for trades resulting from the execution of such orders.
(f) The CBOT agrees to amend its rules, effective no later than the consummation of the CBOT Restructuring Transactions, to the extent necessary to
implement the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) Within five (5) dates following the Effective
Date of this Agreement, the CBOT will file a notice of voluntary dismissal of its amended complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief and damages, Civil Action No. 00CH1500, filed on February 16, 2001, in the Circuit Court of Cook County,
Illinois, Chancery Division.
3. THE CBOES AGREEMENTS.
(a) The CBOE agrees, in its own behalf and on behalf of its members, that an Eligible CBOT Full Member or an
Eligible CBOT Full Member Delegate is a member of the CBOT within the meaning of Article Fifth(b), and is eligible to be an Exerciser Member upon satisfaction of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and, to the extent not inconsistent with the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, the 1992 Agreement.
(b) The CBOE agrees to submit to
binding arbitration in accordance with Section 7 of this Agreement questions concerning the continued meaningfulness of member and delegate fee preferences or other incentives for the purpose of preventing mass migration of CBOT exercisers to CBOE
as described in Section 2(c).
(c) Within five (5) days following the Effective Date of this
Agreement, the CBOE will withdraw and terminate its proposed rulemaking request (File No. SR-CBOE-00-44), initially filed with the Commission on August 30, 2000 and further agrees that it shall take no action to amend, modify or otherwise limit, or
terminate or cause to expire, whether by interpretation or otherwise, the Exercise Right as a result of the completion of the CBOTs Restructuring Transactions, except as contemplated herein.
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4. ELECTRONIC TRADING. The CBOT and CBOE
are each free to develop, provide, maintain and use electronic trading platforms and to determine their respective trading hours and access policies for all their respective products without such action adversely affecting the Exercise Right except
as such action may be inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.
5. INFORMATION SHARING. The parties agree to provide full information regarding the status of all members including exercisers and delegate exercisers on a current and continuing basis.
6. FURTHER ASSURANCES. The CBOT and the CBOE shall take such further
steps toward ensuring that their respective memberships understand the implications of this Agreement as they shall reasonably agree, including, without limitation, the development of either a joint or separate question and answer
publications, in either case subject to the approval of both the CBOT and the CBOE, and other appropriate materials for distribution to the membership of the CBOT and the CBOE. In addition, the CBOE and the CBOT will actively pursue cost-sharing and
other mutually beneficial initiatives.
7. ARBITRATION. Questions subject
to arbitration in accordance with Sections 2(c) and 3(b) of this Agreement shall be submitted to arbitration in Chicago, Illinois under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration
Rules of the AAA in effect at the time arbitration is initiated. The arbitration panel shall consist of three arbitrators: one arbitrator selected by each of the parties within 15 days after receipt of the demand for arbitration, and a neutral
arbitrator selected by the two party-appointed arbitrators. If the two party-appointed arbitrators cannot agree upon a person to serve as the neutral arbitrator within 30 days after the parties have notified each other of the identity of the
party-appointed arbitrators, the neutral arbitrator shall be selected by the AAA.
8. GOVERNING LAW. Except to the extent that this Agreement is governed by any law of the United States or of a rule or regulation adopted by a regulatory agency pursuant to any such law, this
Agreement shall in all respects be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to its conflicts of law doctrine.
9. ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of each party
hereto, provided that no rights, obligations or liabilities hereunder shall be assignable by any party without the prior written consent of the other party. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties that the conversion of the CBOT from a
Delaware non-stock, not-for-profit corporation into a Delaware stock, for-profit corporation pursuant to the CBOT Restructuring Transactions shall have no effect whatsoever on the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the 1992 Agreement.
10. OTHER AGREEMENTS. The 1992 Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect, and the CBOT and the CBOE hereby reaffirm all of their respective rights and obligations thereunder except that if any provision of the 1992 Agreement conflicts with any provision of this Agreement the provisions of this Agreement shall
control. The CBOT and the CBOE agree that this Agreement and, to the extent consistent with this Agreement, the 1992 Agreement, reflect the complete and exclusive understanding and agreement of the parties concerning the Exercise Right, and
supersede all prior proposals and communications (oral or written) by or between the parties on the same subject. The CBOT and the CBOE agree to be bound by this Agreement and not to take any action inconsistent with this Agreement.
11. APPROVALS.
(a) The CBOT and CBOE mutually agree that it is appropriate, and within the meaning and spirit of Article Fifth(b), for the CBOE to interpret Article
Fifth(b) in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. The CBOT and the CBOE acknowledge that, as an interpretation of Article Fifth(b), this agreement must be filed with and approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) in order to become effective. The CBOE will submit any rule changes required to implement this Agreement to the
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SEC for its review and approval. The CBOE also intends to submit this Agreement to the approval of the CBOE membership. The CBOE will use its best efforts to obtain approval from its membership
and the SEC in the most expeditious manner possible. The CBOT intends to submit any rule changes required to implement this Agreement to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for its review and approval. The CBOT will use its
best efforts to obtain approval from the CFTC in the most expeditious manner possible. If the SEC, the CFTC, or both, refuse any of the above approvals unless certain changes are made, the parties agree to consider in good faith the adoption of the
necessary changes as expeditiously as possible. If the SEC, the CFTC or the CBOE membership thereafter refuse their approval, despite the parties good faith efforts, this Agreement shall be null and void, as if never executed, and neither
party shall be deemed to be in any way bound by any term or provision, including any agreement or acknowledgement, of this Agreement. |
(b) This Agreement shall be attached as an exhibit to the CBOTs Registration Statement and the material provisions of this Agreement shall be
summarized in that Registration Statement. This Agreement shall be null and void, as if never executed, and neither party shall be deemed to be in any way bound by any term or provision, including any agreement or acknowledgement, of this Agreement
if 1) the SEC does not declare the Registration Statement effective; 2) if the CBOE does not consent to amendments to the Registration Statement subsequent to Amendments No. 1 through 4 which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; 3) the CBOT
membership does not vote to approve the restructuring transactions described in the Registration Statement; 4) the CBOT does not receive a favorable ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in form and substance satisfactory to
the CBOTs Board of Directors, relating to the restructuring transactions described in the Registration Statement; 5) the CBOT does not receive any required approvals by the CFTC relating to the restructuring transactions described in the
Registration Statement; or 6) a court order or other government regulation prohibits or restricts the restructuring transactions described in the Registration Statement. The CBOT will use its best efforts to obtain approval from the SEC, the IRS and
the CFTC in the most expeditious manner possible. If the SEC, the IRS or the CFTC refuse their approval unless certain changes are made, the CBOT agrees to consult with the CBOE and to consider in good faith the adoption of the necessary changes as
expeditiously as possible.
CHICAGOBOARD OPTIONS EXCHANGE, INCORPORATED /s/ WILLIAM J. BRODSKY By:
Chairman and CEO Title:
/s/ MARK F.
DUFFY By:
Vice Chairman Title:
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BOARDOF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC. /s/ NICKOLAS J. NEUBAUER By:
Chairman Title:
/s/ DAVID J.
VITALE By:
President and CEO Title:
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APPENDIX E-2
LETTER AGREEMENT
CBOT HOLDINGS, INC.
141 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC.
141
West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604
October 24, 2001
Chicago Board Options Exchange Incorporated
400 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60605
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We refer to that certain Agreement dated August 7, 2001, (the
August 7, 2001 Agreement) by and between the Chicago Board Options Exchange Incorporated, a Delaware nonstock corporation (the CBOE) and the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., a Delaware nonstock, not-for-profit
corporation (the CBOT), which addressed the resolution of certain disputes that had arisen concerning the Exercise Right. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this letter agreement shall have the meanings set forth in the
August 7, 2001 Agreement and the 1992 Agreement as applicable.
The purpose of this letter agreement is to specify
the terms and conditions under which the August 7, 2001 Agreement will apply in the circumstances of the proposed restructuring of the CBOT revised to accommodate the proposed holding company structure as described in a new registration statement on
form S-4 to be filed by CBOT Holdings, Inc. (CBOT Holdings) on or shortly after October 24, 2001 (referred to herein as the Holdings Registration Statement). Under such holding company structure, the CBOT would be a
for-profit, nonstock Delaware corporation (referred to herein as the CBOT Subsidiary) and a subsidiary of a new stock, for-profit holding company, CBOT Holdings. Upon completion of the restructuring, each Existing Full Member of CBOT
would receive 25,000 shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings, which corresponds to the 25,000 shares of Class A Common Stock of CBOT referred to in the August 7, 2001 Agreement, and would receive one Class B-1 membership in the CBOT Subsidiary and
one Class C membership in the CBOT Subsidiary (which correspond to the Class B Common Stock, Series B-1, and the Exercise Right Coupon, respectively, referred to in the August 7, 2001 Agreement).
It is our understanding, with which we ask you to evidence your agreement by signing a copy of this letter agreement in the space provided below, that subject to the
conditions specified in this letter agreement, and in the absence of any other material changes to the structure or ownership of the CBOT Subsidiary or to the trading rights and privileges appurtenant to a CBOT Full Membership not contemplated in
the CBOT Restructuring Transactions as defined herein, the proposed restructuring of the CBOT as described in the Holdings Registration Statement will constitute CBOT Restructuring Transactions for the purposes of the August 7, 2001
Agreement, such that upon the consummation of the CBOTs restructuring as so described, Eligible CBOT Full Members and Eligible CBOT Full Member Delegates will continue to be entitled to become Exerciser Members of the CBOE in accordance with
Article Fifth(b), the 1992 Agreement, the August 7, 2001 Agreement and this letter agreement; provided that all references in the August 7, 2001 Agreement to shares of Class A Common Stock of the CBOT, shares of Class B Common Stock, Series
B-1, of the CBOT and the Exercise Right Coupon shall be deemed to refer to shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings, the Series B-1, Class B memberships of the CBOT Subsidiary and the Class C memberships of the CBOT Subsidiary, respectively. In
addition, all references in Sections 2 and 11 of the August 7, 2001 Agreement to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to the Holdings Registration Statement.
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The agreed-upon conditions to the extension of the August 7, 2001 Agreement to
the proposed holding company structure are the following:
A. CBOT Holdings shall cause the CBOT Subsidiary to
comply fully with each of the terms of the August 7, 2001 Agreement as modified by this letter agreement.
B.
CBOT Holdings will take no action, directly or indirectly, that, if taken by the CBOT Subsidiary itself, would amount to a violation of the terms of the August 7, 2001 Agreement as modified by this letter agreement, including but not limited to
action that would cause the various incentives to promote the continued value of CBOT membership, including member and delegate fee preferences and pit closing provisions and seat ownership requirements for CBOT clearing firms as described in
paragraph 2(c) of the August 7, 2001 Agreement, to no longer be meaningful for the purpose stated in said paragraph 2(c).
C. In the event questions arise as to whether CBOT Holdings has taken or proposes to take action that would have the effect of causing the various incentives to promote the continued value of CBOT membership, including member and
delegate fee preferences and pit closing provisions and seat ownership requirements for CBOT clearing firms to no longer be meaningful in violation of its obligation in paragraph B above, such questions shall be submitted to binding arbitration in
accordance with Sections 2(c) and 7 of the August 7, 2001 Agreement, and the arbitrators will have the same authority as provided in the August 7, 2001 Agreement to decide such questions, to specify a remedy for CBOT Holdings failure to honor
its obligation not to take any such action, and to prescribe the consequences of any failure by CBOT Holdings to take any action required under any such remedy specified by the arbitrators within thirty (30) days of the arbitrators decision.
The CBOE hereby consents to the filing with the SEC of the Holdings Registration Statement in a form
substantially the same as the draft of the Holdings Registration Statement dated October 23, 2001, previously provided to the CBOE.
It is understood that Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the August 7, 2001 Agreement as modified by this letter agreement shall be incorporated by reference herein, and that the provisions of those Sections shall be binding
upon CBOT Holdings to the same extent as upon CBOT, except where the context otherwise requires.
This letter
agreement supercedes in its entirety the letter agreement executed by the parties hereto on October 19, 2001, which upon the execution of this letter agreement shall cease to be of any force or effect.
Very truly yours,
CBOT Holdings, Inc.
/S/ NICKOLAS
J. NEUBAUER
By:
Nickolas J. Neubauer
Its Chairman
Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.
/S/ NICKOLAS J. NEUBAUER
By:
Nickolas J. Neubauer
Its Chairman
Accepted and Agreed to this 24th day of October, 2001
Chicago
Board Options Exchange Incorporated
/S/ WILLIAM J.
BRODSKY
By:
William J. Brodsky
Its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
E-2-2
APPENDIX E-3
LETTER AGREEMENT
CBOT HOLDINGS, INC.
141 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, INC.
141
West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604
September 13, 2002
Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated
400 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60605
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We refer to that certain Agreement dated August 7, 2001, (the
August 7, 2001 Agreement) by and between the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated, a Delaware nonstock corporation (the CBOE) and the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., a Delaware nonstock, not-for-profit
corporation (the CBOT), as amended by a letter agreement dated October 24, 2001, (the October 24, 2001 Letter Agreement) by and among CBOE, CBOT and CBOT Holdings, Inc, a Delaware stock, for-profit corporation (CBOT
Holdings), which embody certain agreed upon interpretations of Article Fifth(b) of CBOEs Certificate of Incorporation intended to resolve disputes that had arisen concerning the Exercise Right. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise
defined in this letter agreement shall have the meanings set forth in the August 7, 2001 Agreement, the October 24, 2001 Letter Agreement and the 1992 Agreement as applicable. The August 7, 2001 Agreement as amended by the October 24, 2001 Letter
Agreement is sometimes referred to herein as the August 7, 2001 Agreement as amended.
The purpose of this letter
agreement is to confirm the understanding of the parties that the interpretations of the Exercise Right embodied in the August 7, 2001 Agreement and the October 24, 2001 Letter Agreement will continue to apply in the circumstances whereby the 25,000
shares of common stock of CBOT Holdings and the Series B-1 Class B membership in the CBOT Subsidiary proposed to be issued to each of the 1,402 Existing Full Members of CBOT will generally be subject to a complete restriction on transfer, except
that holders of such shares and memberships may transfer them if they are transferred together, all as described in Amendment No. 2 to the Holdings Registration Statement. Class C memberships in the CBOT Subsidiary will continue to be freely
transferable without restriction, except for restrictions on transfer, if any, imposed under applicable law. This letter agreement also sets forth the understanding of the parties in respect of certain aspects of the definitions of Eligible
CBOT Full Member and Eligible CBOT Full Member Delegate as contained in the August 7, 2001 Agreement as amended.
It is our understanding that in the absence of any other material changes to the structure or ownership of the CBOT Subsidiary or to the trading rights and privileges appurtenant to a CBOT Full Membership not contemplated in
the CBOT Restructuring Transactions as defined herein, the proposed restructuring of the CBOT as described in the Holdings Registration Statement as amended by Amendment No. 2 thereto in a form substantially the same as the draft of said Amendment
No. 2 dated September 13, 2002, previously provided to the CBOE will constitute CBOT Restructuring Transactions for the purposes of the August 7, 2001 Agreement as amended, such that upon the consummation of the CBOTs restructuring
as so described, Eligible CBOT Full Members and Eligible CBOT Full Member Delegates will continue to be entitled to become Exerciser Members
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of the CBOE in accordance with Article Fifth(b), the 1992 Agreement, the August 7, 2001 Agreement, the October 24, 2001 Letter Agreement and this letter agreement.
Consistent with the foregoing, it is also our understanding that the last sentence in the definition of Eligible CBOT Full
Member set forth in Section 1(d) of the August 7, 2001 Agreement as amended, which states that CBOT Class A Common Stock, CBOT Class B Common Stock and Exercise Right Coupons (as amended in the October 24, 2001 Letter Agreement to refer to the
common stock of CBOT Holdings, the Series B-1 Class B memberships of the CBOT Subsidiary and the Class C memberships of the CBOT Subsidiary, respectively) may be separately bought and sold, is now to be read as being subject to the restrictions on
transferability of the common stock of CBOT Holdings and the Series B-1 Class B memberships of the CBOT Subsidiary described above and in Amendment No. 2 to the Holdings Registration Statement.
Finally, we wish to clarify the intent of the parties as reflected in Sections 2(a) and 3(a) of the August 7, 2001 Agreement as amended, which provide that in
determining who is an Eligible CBOT Full Member or an Eligible CBOT Full Member Delegate eligible to be an Exerciser Member, the terms of the 1992 Agreement will continue to apply to the extent they are not inconsistent with the August 7, 2001
Agreement as amended. It is our understanding that the parties intended this to mean that in order to be an Eligible CBOT Full Member or an Eligible CBOT Full Member Delegate as defined in Section 1(d) or 1(e) of the August
7, 2001 Agreement, in addition to satisfying the requirements of one or the other of those Sections, a person must also be in possession of all trading rights and privileges appurtenant to such CBOT Full Membership as that term is
defined in Section 1(c) of the 1992 Agreement.
We ask you to evidence your agreement with our understandings as
stated above, and to evidence your consent to the filing with the SEC of Amendment No. 2 to the Holdings Registration Statement in a form substantially the same as the draft of said Amendment No. 2 dated September 13, 2002, previously provided to
the CBOE, by signing a copy of this letter agreement in the space provided below.
Very truly
yours,
CBOT Holdings, Inc.
By: |
/S/ NICKOLAS J. NEUBAUER |
Nickolas J. Neubauer
Its Chairman
Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.
By: |
/S/ NICHOLAS J. NEUBAUER |
Nickolas J. Neubauer
Its Chairman
Accepted and Agreed to this 13th day of September, 2002
Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated
By: |
/S/ WILLIAM J. BRODSKY |
William J. Brodsky
Its Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer
E-3-2
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
CBOT HOLDINGS, INC.
(Originally incorporated in the State of Delaware on August 15, 2001)
(As first amended on January 22, 2002)
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is CBOT Holdings, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the Corporation).
ARTICLE II
REGISTERED AGENT
The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 9 Loockerman Street, in
the City of Dover, County of Kent, Delaware 19901. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at such address is National Registered Agents, Inc.
ARTICLE III
CORPORATE PURPOSES
The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation are to engage in any lawful act or activity for
which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (as amended from time to time, the DGCL).
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL STOCK
A. Authorized Shares.
The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is thirty nine million eight hundred two thousand six hundred and fifty
(39,802,650) shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the Common Stock).
B. Common Stock Voting Rights.
Each outstanding share of Common
Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation for their vote.
C. Restriction on Transfer.
The
Common Stock shall be subject to the following transfer restrictions, and no Common Stock shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, except as follows:
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Except as otherwise provided for in this Article IV.C.1, no share of Common Stock may be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of (excluding any hypothecation
of such Common Stock) except (a)
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by operation of law, (b) in a transaction specifically approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or a duly authorized committee thereof or (c) in a transaction consummated in
connection with and conditioned upon the sale, transfer or disposition of a Class B Membership in the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., a for-profit, nonstock corporation, which is a subsidiary of the Corporation (the CBOT
Subsidiary), that results in the number of shares of Common Stock associated with the series of such Class B Membership, as set forth hereinafter in this Section C.1, being simultaneously sold, transferred or disposed of to the same transferee
of such Class B Membership in the CBOT Subsidiary. The number of shares of Common Stock that may be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in accordance with the preceding sentence is as follows: twenty five thousand (25,000) shares of common
Stock with one (1) Series B-1, Class B Membership; five thousand (5,000) shares of Common Stock with one (1) Series B-2, Class B Membership; two thousand five hundred (2,500) shares of Common Stock with one (1) Series B-3, Class B Membership; three
hundred (300) shares of Common Stock with one (1) Series B-4, Class B Membership; and three hundred fifty (350) shares of Common Stock with one (1) Series B-5, Class B Membership. |
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Any purported sale, transfer or other disposition of Common Stock not in accordance with this Article IV.C shall be void and shall not be recorded on the books
of or otherwise recognized by the Corporation. In connection with any sale, transfer or other disposition subject to this Article IV.C, the transferor shall notify the Corporation and its transfer agent, as applicable, as to which provision of this
Article IV.C such sale, transfer or disposition is being effected in compliance with and shall furnish such documents or other evidence as the Corporation or its transfer agent may request to verify such compliance. The shares of Common Stock may be
represented by stock certificates which shall have a legend thereon with respect to the restrictions of this Article IV.C, which legend shall be removed by the Corporation or its transfer agent, as applicable, upon issuance of any stock certificates
representing shares not subject to the restrictions of this Article IV.C pursuant to the terms thereof. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, none of the foregoing restrictions on transfer shall apply to shares of Common Stock held by the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.
ARTICLE V
MANAGEMENT OF AFFAIRS
The following provisions are inserted for the management of the
business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and stockholders:
A. In accordance with Section 141(a) of the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the
direction of a governing body, which shall be known as the Board of Directors, and the composition of which shall be as set forth in Article VI of this Certificate of Incorporation. In addition to the powers and authority expressly
conferred upon them by statute or by this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all powers and do all acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation. In
addition, pursuant to Section 141(a) of the DGCL, effective upon appointment by the Board of Directors as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, and for so long as such person serves in such capacity, such person shall be a
director (the President Director) and shall not be entitled to any voting rights held by other directors according to the procedures set forth in Article VI.E of this Certificate of Incorporation.
B. The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so
provide.
C. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the
stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.
F-2
D. Special meetings of stockholders of the
Corporation may be called by the Chairman of the Board or by the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the members of the Whole Board having voting rights. For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, the
term Whole Board shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships. A special meeting shall be called by the Chairman of the Board or the Board of
Directors upon receipt by the Secretary of the Corporation of a written demand of stockholders entitled to cast 10% of the total number of votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Any such written demand shall specify the purpose of such special
meeting and the special meeting so called shall be limited to the purpose so set forth. The written demand shall also specify the date of such special meeting that shall be a business day not less than sixty (60) nor more than ninety (90) days from
the date of such written demand.
ARTICLE VI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. Subject to the qualifications set forth in Section B of this Article VI, the effectiveness of the amendment and restatement of this Certificate of Incorporation shall not change the size or composition of
the Board of Directors and the directorships thereon shall continue to have the same voting rights (or no voting rights) associated therewith as were associated with such directorships prior to the effective date of such amendment and restatement
(the Effective Date), and the terms of all directors in office prior to the first annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Date (the Initial Meeting) shall expire at the annual meeting of the Corporation
corresponding to the expiration year associated with such directorships prior to the Effective Date.
B. Qualifications for Directors.
1. For the period commencing on
the Effective Date through the date of the Initial Meeting, the following qualifications shall apply: one (1) director shall be the person who served as Chairman of the Board of Directors prior to the Effective Date, who shall continue to be
Chairman of the Board of Directors; one (1) director shall be the person who served as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors prior to the Effective Date, who shall continue to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors; nine (9) directors who held
full memberships in Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. prior to the Effective Date, shall be holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT Subsidiary; two (2) directors who held associate memberships in Board of Trade of the City
of Chicago, Inc. prior to the Effective Date, shall be holders of Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT Subsidiary; three (3) directors who were non-member directors of Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. prior to the Effective Date,
shall be independent directors as such term is defined in the Bylaws.
2. Commencing with the Initial
Meeting (or, with respect to any director in office prior to the Initial Meeting whose term does not expire until a subsequent meeting, commencing with such subsequent meeting), the following qualifications for directors shall apply: three (3)
directors, on the date of their first nomination or selection as nominees for the Board of Directors, shall be independent directors as such term is defined in the Bylaws (the Independent Directors); eight (8) directors, on
the date of their first nomination or selection as nominees for the Board of Directors, shall be holders of Series B-1, Class B memberships in the CBOT Subsidiary and shall satisfy the qualifications for and requirements of the applicable class and
series of membership as set forth in the Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the CBOT Subsidiary (the Series B-1 Directors); two (2) directors, on the date of their first nomination or selection as nominees for the Board of Directors, shall
be holders of Series B-2, Class B memberships in the CBOT Subsidiary and shall satisfy the qualifications for and requirements of the applicable class and series of membership as set forth in the Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the CBOT Subsidiary
(the Series B-2 Directors); one (1) director, on the date of his or her first nomination or selection as a nominee for the Board of Directors, shall be a holder of a Series B-1, Class B membership in the CBOT Subsidiary and shall satisfy
the qualifications for and requirements of the
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applicable class and series of membership as set forth in the Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the CBOT Subsidiary, and shall serve as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors (the Vice
Chairman Director); one (1) director, on the date of his or her first nomination or selection as a nominee for the Board of Directors, shall be a holder of a Series B-1, Class B membership in the CBOT Subsidiary and shall satisfy the
qualifications for and requirements of the applicable class and series of membership as set forth in the Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the CBOT Subsidiary, and shall serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors (the Chairman Director);
and the President Director.
3. Any director who, at any time during his or her term of office, fails to continue
to satisfy the qualifications under which he or she was last elected to the Board of Directors, shall thereupon cease to be qualified as a director and the term of office of such person shall automatically end. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
action of such unqualified director, the Board of Directors or any committee thereof shall be rendered invalid or otherwise affected solely because such director becomes or at the time of such action was not qualified.
C. Classification of Directors. Commencing with the election of directors at the Initial Meeting, the
number of directors constituting the Whole Board shall be sixteen (16) and the directors elected by the stockholders shall be divided into two classes, composed of eight directors and seven directors, respectively. In addition to those two classes,
the board of directors shall also include the President Director. The first class of directors (Class 1) shall be composed of two (2) Independent Directors, one (1) Series B-2 Director, the Chairman Director, and four (4) Series B-1
Directors. The second class of directors (Class 2) shall be composed of the Vice Chairman Director, one (1) Independent Director, one (1) Series B-2 Director and four (4) Series B-1 Directors.
D. Election of Directors.
1. Initial Meeting. At the Initial Meeting, the following directors shall be elected for the terms set forth in this Article VI.D.1:
A. Class 1: The term of three of the eight directors whose directorships correspond to Class 1, who shall be
one Series B-1 Director and two Independent Directors, shall expire at the Initial Meeting and a successor to each director shall be elected at the Initial Meeting. Each director duly elected shall be elected for a term of office of one year.
B. Class 2: The term of three directors whose directorships correspond to Class
2, who shall be one Independent Director one Series B-1 Director and the Vice Chairman Director, shall expire at the Initial Meeting, and a successor to each director shall be elected for a term of office of two years.
2. Second Annual Meeting of Corporation Following Effective Date; Successive Meetings. At the second annual
meeting of the Corporation following the Effective Date and each successive annual meeting of the Corporation occurring thereafter, directors shall be elected to succeed each director whose term, shall expire. Each director duly elected shall be
elected for a term of office of two years.
E. Pursuant to Section 141(a) of the
DGCL, the President Director shall not be entitled to any voting rights generally held by directors of the Corporation, and shall hold office for a term expiring upon the termination, for any reason, of his or her position as President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Corporation. Any vacancy arising from the termination of the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall automatically be filled upon the qualification of a successor President Director by appointment as
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and such successor President Director shall hold office for a term expiring upon the termination, for any reason, of his or her position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation.
F. Newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized
number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from
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office or other cause shall, unless otherwise required by law or by resolution of the Board of Directors, be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office, though less than a
quorum (and not by stockholders), and directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders. No decrease in the authorized number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
G. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business
to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.
H. Directors of the Corporation shall be removable by the stockholders only for cause; provided that the President Director may be removed from office only by the other directors
in accordance with Section E of this Article VI and may not be removed from office by the stockholders.
ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
The Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws by the Board of Directors shall require the
approval of a majority of the members of the Whole Board having voting rights. The holders of Common Stock shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for
breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (A) for any breach of the directors duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (B) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law, (C) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal
liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.
Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the
Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The Corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware and all rights conferred
upon stockholders are granted subject to this reservation.
ARTICLE X
SECTION 203
The Corporation hereby elects to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.
* * * *
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AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
CBOT HOLDINGS, INC.
These Bylaws shall take effect at the effective time (the Effective Time) of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as amended from time to
time, the Certificate of Incorporation) of CBOT Holdings, Inc. (the Corporation) to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in connection with the demutualization and restructuring of the Board of Trade
of the City of Chicago, Inc. (the Restructuring) as described in the Registration Statement filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Restructuring.
ARTICLE ISTOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Stockholder Meetings.
(1) An annual
meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, on such date, and
at such time as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Board of Directors) shall each year fix, which date shall be within thirteen (13) months of the last annual meeting of stockholders.
(2) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be transacted by the
stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (a) pursuant to the Corporations notice with respect to such meeting, (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (c) by any stockholder of record of the Corporation who
was a stockholder of record at the time of the giving of the notice provided for in the following paragraph, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this section.
(3) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (c)
of the foregoing paragraph, (1) the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, (2) such business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware (as amended from time to time, the DGCL), (3) if the stockholder, or the beneficial owner on whose behalf any such proposal or nomination is made, has provided the Corporation with a Solicitation Notice, as that term is defined
in subclause (c)(iii) of this paragraph, such stockholder or beneficial owner must, in the case of a proposal, have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporations voting shares required
under applicable law to carry any such proposal, or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of a percentage of the Corporations voting shares reasonably believed by such
stockholder or beneficial holder to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated by such stockholder, and must, in either case, have included in such materials the Solicitation Notice and (4) if no Solicitation Notice
relating thereto has been timely provided pursuant to this section, the stockholder or beneficial owner proposing such business or nomination must not have solicited a number of proxies sufficient to have required the delivery of such a Solicitation
Notice under this section. To be timely, a stockholders notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than twenty (20) or more than sixty (60) days prior to the first anniversary (the
Anniversary) of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials for the preceding years annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that for purposes of the first annual meeting of stockholders following
the Effective Time, or if the date of an annual meeting is advanced more than thirty (30) days prior to or delayed by more than thirty (30) days after the anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be
timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the 45th day prior to such annual meeting or (ii) the 10th day following the day on which public
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announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Such stockholders notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection
as a director (x) all information relating to such person as would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of such nominees as directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the Exchange Act), (y) whether the stockholder proposes to nominate such person to be an Independent Director (as defined in Section 1 of Article II of these Bylaws), a Series B-1 Director, a Series B-2 Director, the Vice-
Chairman Director or the Chairman Director (as such terms are defined in Section A of Article VI of the Certificate of Incorporation) and, if applicable, a statement that such person satisfies the applicable criteria for Independent Directors,
Series B-1 Directors, Series B-2 Directors, Vice-Chairman Director or Chairman Director, as applicable, and (z) such persons written consent to serve as a director if elected and, if applicable, a written undertaking to promptly provide to the
Secretary of the Corporation upon request any information that the Corporation deems to be relevant to the determination of whether such person satisfies the applicable criteria for Independent Directors, Series B-1 Directors, Series B-2 Directors,
Vice-Chairman Director or Chairman Director, as applicable; (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of such business, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any
material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal
is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporations books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder
and such beneficial owner, and (iii) whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a proposal, at least the percentage of the Corporations voting shares
required under applicable law to carry the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, a sufficient number of holders of the Corporations voting shares to elect such nominee or nominees (an affirmative statement of such intent, a
Solicitation Notice).
(4) In the event that (a) a stockholder proposes to nominate an
individual for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation; (b) such stockholder has satisfied each of the terms and conditions set forth in paragraph (3) of this Section 1 for the nomination of such nominee; and (c) such stockholder has
delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation a written petition executed by at least forty stockholders who are also holders of Series B-1, Class B Memberships in the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., a nonstock, for-profit subsidiary of
the Corporation (the CBOT Subsidiary) proposing to nominate such nominee, the Corporation shall, to the extent it prepares and delivers a proxy statement and form of proxy, at its own expense, use commercially reasonable efforts to
include the name of such nominee and all other information required as a matter of law in such proxy statement and form of proxy.
(5) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of the third paragraph of this Section 1 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and
there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least fifty-five (55) days prior to the Anniversary, a stockholders notice required
by this Bylaw shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close
of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(6) Only persons nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1 shall be eligible to be elected as directors at an annual meeting of stockholders, and only such business shall be conducted at an
annual meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power and the duty to determine whether a nomination or any business
proposed to be brought before the meeting has been made in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such defectively proposed
business or nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded.
(7) For purposes of these Bylaws, public announcement shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news service or in a document
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publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(8) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 1. Nothing in this Section 1 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporations proxy statement pursuant
to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
Section 2. Special Meetings.
(1) Special meetings of the stockholders, other than those required by statute, may be called by the Chairman of the
Board or by the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board. For purposes of these Bylaws, the term Whole Board shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there
exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships. The Board of Directors may postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled special meeting.
(2) A special meeting shall be called by the Chairman of the Board or the Board of Directors upon receipt by the Secretary of the Corporation of a written demand of stockholders entitled to
cast 10% of the total number of votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Any such written demand shall specify the purpose of such special meeting and the special meeting so called shall be limited to the purpose so set forth. The written demand
shall also specify the date of such special meeting that shall be a business day not less than sixty (60) nor more than ninety (90) days from the date of such written demand.
(3) Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporations
notice of meeting. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power and the duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting has been made in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws
and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such defectively proposed business or nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded. Nominations
of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (b)
by any stockholder of record of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this paragraph, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in
Section 1 of this Article I. Nominations by stockholders of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at such a special meeting of stockholders if the stockholders notice required by the third paragraph of Section 1 of this
Article I shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and not later than the close of business on
the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such
meeting.
(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2, a stockholder shall also
comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 2. Nothing in this Section 2 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request
inclusion of proposals in the Corporations proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
Section 3. Notice of Meetings.
Notice of the place, if any, date,
and time of all meetings of the stockholders, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, shall be given, not less than ten (10) nor more
than sixty (60) days before the date on which
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the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to
time by the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation).
When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place,
notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned
meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than thirty (30) days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record date
is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the place, if any, date, and time of the adjourned meeting and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such
adjourned meeting, shall be given in conformity herewith. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 4. Quorum.
At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of one-third of the voting power of all of the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or
except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by law.
If a quorum shall fail to
attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date or time.
Section 5. Organization.
Such person as the Board of Directors may
have designated or, in the absence of such a person, the Chairman of the Board or, in his or her absence, the President of the Corporation or, in his or her absence, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the voting power of
the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, shall call to order any meeting of the stockholders and act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the Secretary of the Corporation, the secretary of the meeting shall be
such person as the chairman of the meeting appoints.
Section 6. Conduct of
Business.
The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure
at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to him or her in order. The chairman shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date and time. The date and time of
the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting.
Section 7. Proxies and Voting.
At
any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting. Any
copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this paragraph may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the
original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.
The Corporation may, and to the extent required by law, shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors
to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may
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designate one or more alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting
may, and to the extent required by law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector
with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. Every vote taken by ballots shall be counted by a duly appointed inspector or inspectors.
All elections shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast, and except as otherwise required by law, all other matters shall be determined by a majority of the
votes cast affirmatively or negatively.
Section 8. Stock List.
A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order for each class
of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in his or her name, shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting in the manner
provided by law.
The stock list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of
the meeting as provided by law. This list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.
Section 9. Initial Meeting.
Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, with respect to stockholder nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at the Initial Meeting (as such term is defined in Section A of Article VI
of the Certificate of Incorporation), the Board of Directors may, in its sole and absolute discretion, establish stockholder nomination notice requirements and procedures to apply in lieu of all or part of the stockholder nomination notice
requirements and procedures set forth in Section 1 of this Article I and in the second paragraph of Section 2 of this Article I.
ARTICLE IIBOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. Number, Election,
Term and Qualifications of Directors.
The effectiveness of the amendment and restatement of these Bylaws
shall not change the size or composition of the Board of Directors and the directorships thereon shall continue to have the same voting rights (or no voting rights) associated therewith as were associated with such directorships prior to the
effectiveness of the amendment and restatement of these Bylaws. The directors shall serve for such terms and be subject to such qualifications and requirements as are set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.
For purposes of these Bylaws and the Certificate of Incorporation, independent director means a person other than an officer
or employee of the Corporation or it subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Board of Directors, or in the case of a nominee, the nominating committee of the Board of Directors,
would interfere with the exercise of independent judgement in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. The following persons shall not be considered independent:
(A) a director who is a member of the CBOT Subsidiary, or who is employed by the Corporation or the CBOT Subsidiary, or any of their
respective affiliates for the current year or any of the past three (3) years;
(B) a director who accepts any compensation from the Corporation or the CBOT Subsidiary, or any of their respective affiliates in excess of $60,000 during the previous fiscal year, other than compensation
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for board service, benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan, or non-discretionary compensation or who primarily performs services for the Corporation or the CBOT Subsidiary in a capacity
other than as a member of their respective boards of directors;
(C) a
director who is a member of the immediate family of an individual who is, or has been in any of the past three years, employed by the Corporation or the CBOT Subsidiary, or any of their respective affiliates as an executive officer. Immediate family
includes a persons spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and anyone who resides in such persons home;
(D) a director who is a partner in, or a controlling stockholder or an executive officer of, any
for-profit business organization to which the Corporation or the CBOT Subsidiary made, or from which the Corporation or the CBOT Subsidiary received, payments (other than those arising solely from investments in the Corporations securities or
the CBOT Subsidiarys memberships) that exceed 5% of the Corporations, the CBOT Subsidiarys, or the business organizations consolidated gross revenues for that year, or $200,000, whichever is more, in any of the past three
years;
(E) a director who is employed as an executive of another entity
where any of the Corporations or the CBOT Subsidiarys executives serve on that entitys compensation committee; and
(F) a director who is an officer, principal (as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and applicable Regulations promulgated thereunder) or employee of a firm, which holds a
membership in the CBOT Subsidiary either in its own name or through an employee on behalf of the firm.
Section
2. Chairman of the Board and Vice Chairman of the Board.
The Chairman of the Board
shall be the presiding officer at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors.
The Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as are delegated to him or her by the Board
of Directors.
Section 3. Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies.
Newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of
Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall, unless otherwise required by law or by resolution of the Board of Directors, be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then
in office, though less than a quorum (and not by stockholders), and directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders and until such directors successor shall have been duly elected and
qualified. No decrease in the number of authorized directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 4. Regular Meetings.
Regular meetings of the Board of
Directors shall be held at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors. A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.
Section 5. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called only by the Chairman of the Board or by a majority of the Whole Board and shall be held at such place, on such
date, and at such time as they or he or she shall fix. Notice of the place, date, and time of each such special meeting shall be given to each director by whom it is not waived by mailing written notice not less than five (5) days before the meeting
or by telephone or by telegraphing or telexing or by facsimile or electronic transmission of the same not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted
at a special meeting.
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Section 6. Quorum.
At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total number of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for all purposes. If a quorum shall fail to attend any
meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.
Section 7. Participation in Meetings By Conference Telephone.
Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board of Directors or committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 8. Conduct of Business.
At any meeting of the Board of
Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the directors present, except as otherwise provided herein
or required by law. Action may be taken by the Board of Directors without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed
with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Section 9. Compensation of Directors.
Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of the directors. The directors may
be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or paid a stated salary or paid other compensation as director. No such
payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed compensation for attending committee meetings.
ARTICLE IIICOMMITTEES
Section 1. Committees of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors may from time to time designate committees of the Board of Directors, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The Board of
Directors shall elect a director or directors to serve as the member or members of any such committee, designating, if it desires, other directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the
committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or
they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.
Section 2. Conduct of Business.
Each committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and conducting its business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law. Except as otherwise determined by the
Board of Directors, adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of all meetings; one-third ( 1/3) of
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the members shall constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one (1) or two (2) members, in which event one (1) member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be
determined by a majority vote of the members present. Action may be taken by any committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or
transmissions are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of such committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
ARTICLE IVOFFICERS
Section 1. Generally.
The officers
of the Corporation shall consist of a President (who shall also be Chief Executive Officer), one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers as may from time to time be appointed by the Corporation.
Section 2. President.
The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, he or she
shall have the responsibility to carry on the day to day activities of the Corporation, subject to the Boards authority to review the activities of the President and determine the policies of the Corporation, and for the general management and
control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of chief executive and which are delegated to him or her from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Vice President.
Each Vice President shall have such powers and duties as may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors. One (1) Vice President shall be designated by the
Board of Directors to perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President in the event of the Presidents absence or disability.
Section 4. Treasurer.
The Treasurer
shall have the responsibility for maintaining the financial records of the Corporation. He or she shall make such disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to time an account of all such transactions
and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall also perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 5. Secretary.
The Secretary
shall issue all authorized notices for, and shall keep minutes of, all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. He or she shall have charge of the corporate books and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from
time to time prescribe.
Section 6. Delegation of Authority.
The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or agents,
notwithstanding any provision hereof.
Section 7. Removal.
Any officer of the Corporation may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors.
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Section 8. Action with Respect to Securities of Other
Corporations.
Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the President or any officer of the
Corporation authorized by the President shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders of or with respect to any action of stockholders of any other corporation in which
this Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.
ARTICLE VSTOCK
Section
1. Certificates of Stock.
The shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be
represented by certificates unless the Board of Directors shall by resolution provide that some or all of any class or series of stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until
the certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of any resolution providing for uncertificated shares, every holder of stock represented by certificates and upon request every holder of uncertificated shares shall be
entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or the President or Vice President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary, representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. The form of such certificates and the signatures thereon shall comply with the requirements of the DGCL. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be by
facsimile.
Section 2. Transfers of Stock.
Transfers of stock shall be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation and shall be made only
upon the transfer books of the Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the stock of the Corporation. Except where a certificate is issued in accordance with Section 4 of Article V of
these Bylaws, an outstanding certificate for the number of shares involved shall be surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate is issued therefor.
Section 3. Record Date.
In order
that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or to exercise any rights in respect of any
change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law, fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing
the record date is adopted and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any meeting of stockholders, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the time for such other action as hereinbefore
described; provided, however, that if no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next
preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held, and, for determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other
distribution or allotment of rights or to exercise any rights of change, conversion or exchange of stock or for any other purpose, the record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts a resolution
relating thereto.
A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of
stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
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Section 4. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated or Destroyed
Certificates.
In the event of the loss, theft, mutilation or destruction of any certificate of stock, another
may be issued in its place pursuant to such regulations as the Board of Directors may establish concerning proof of such loss, theft, mutilation or destruction and concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity.
Section 5. Regulations.
The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.
ARTICLE VINOTICES
Section 1. Notices.
If mailed,
notice to stockholders shall be deemed given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholders address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Without limiting the manner by which notice
otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL.
Section 2. Waivers.
A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent
to the notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver. Attendance at any meeting shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance for the sole purpose of
objecting to the timeliness of notice.
ARTICLE VIIMISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. Facsimile Signatures.
In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the
Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.
Section
2. Corporate Seal.
The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing
the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or
Assistant Treasurer.
Section 3. Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records.
Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors and each officer of the
Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the
Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any other person as to matters which such director or committee member reasonably believes are within such other persons professional
or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
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Section 4. Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors from time to time.
Section 5. Time Periods.
In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a
period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.
ARTICLE VIIIINDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 1. Right to Indemnification.
Each person who was
or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a proceeding), by reason of the fact that he or
she is or was a director, officer, committee member or employee of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, trustee, committee member or employee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an indemnitee), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, trustee,
committee member or employee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, trustee, committee member or employee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same
exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such
amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith;
provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 3 of this Article VIII with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof)
initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Right to Advancement of Expenses.
In addition to the
right to indemnification conferred in Section 1 of this Article VIII, an indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its
final disposition (hereinafter an advancement of expenses); provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other
capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an undertaking), by
or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a final adjudication) that such indemnitee is
not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 2 or otherwise.
Section
3. Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit.
If a claim under Section 1 or 2 of this
Article VIII is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty
(20) days, the indemnitee may at any time
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thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an
advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification
hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an
undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including
its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in
the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors,
independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought
by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the
terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VIII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.
Section 4. Non-Exclusivity of Rights.
The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or
hereafter acquire under any statute, the Corporations Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or directors or otherwise.
Section 5. Insurance.
The
Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or
loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Section 6. Indemnification of Agents of the Corporation.
The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of
this Article with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.
Section 7. Nature of Rights.
The rights conferred upon indemnitees
in this Article VIII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer or trustee and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitees heirs, executors and administrators. Any
amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VIII that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit or eliminate any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any
occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.
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ARTICLE IXAMENDMENTS
The Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the
Corporation by the Board of Directors shall require the approval of a majority of the Whole Board. The stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that any adoption,
amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on any such properly presented proposal at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the
Corporation.
* * * *
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AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE
CITY OF CHICAGO, INC.
(Originally incorporated in the State of Delaware under the name
Delaware CBOT, Inc. on May 12, 2000)
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.
(hereinafter referred to as the Corporation).
ARTICLE II
REGISTERED AGENT
The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 9 Loockerman Street, in the City of Dover, County of Kent, Delaware 19901. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at such address is
National Registered Agents, Inc.
ARTICLE III
CORPORATE PURPOSES
The nature of the
business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation are to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (as amended from time to time, the
DGCL).
ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP
A. General.
The Corporation shall have no authority to issue capital stock. The terms and conditions of membership in the
Corporation shall be as provided in or pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Corporation (the Bylaws).
B. Classes and Series of Membership.
Membership in the Corporation shall be divided into classes and series as set forth in this Article IV.
1. Class A Membership.
There shall be one Class A Membership, which
Class A Membership shall be held by CBOT Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (including any successor thereto, CBOT Holdings) subject to any right to transfer such membership to the extent permitted by Article VI.E.1 of this
Certificate of Incorporation. Except to the extent (if any) expressly provided herein or required by law, CBOT Holdings, as the holder of the sole Class A
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Membership, shall have the right to vote on any matter to be voted on by the members of the Corporation other than on those matters expressly reserved to the vote of the holders of Series B-1 and
Series B-2, Class B memberships in the Corporation and shall have the exclusive right to receive any dividend or other distribution (including upon liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or otherwise) to be declared, paid or distributed by the
Corporation (except as provided in Section B(2) of this Article IV), and no other member of or class or series of membership in the Corporation shall be entitled to vote on any matter except as set forth below or to receive any such dividend or
other distribution (except as provided in Section B(2) of this Article IV).
2. Class B Membership.
Class B Memberships shall represent the
right to trade on and otherwise utilize the facilities of the Corporation in accordance with and to the extent permitted by this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the Rules and Regulations of the Corporation (collectively, the
Rules, which shall be incorporated into and made part of the Bylaws). There shall be authorized three thousand seven hundred two (3,702) Class B Memberships, which shall be divided into five (5) series (Series) as follows:
1,402 Series B-1, Class B Memberships;
867 Series B-2, Class B Memberships;
148 Series B-3, Class B
Memberships;
642 Series B-4, Class B Memberships; and
643 Series B-5, Class B Memberships.
Class B Memberships shall have no
right to receive any dividend or other distribution (including upon liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or otherwise) to be declared, paid or distributed by the Corporation with the sole exception of the dividend of shares of CBOT Holdings to be
declared and paid in connection with the restructuring of the Corporation and the creation of the Class B Memberships. The respective rights and privileges of each Series of Class B Membership shall be as provided in or pursuant to this Certificate
of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the Rules.
3. Class C Membership.
Class C Memberships shall represent the right, subject to satisfaction of certain requirements set forth in the Rules, to
become a member of the Chicago Options Exchange Incorporated (including any successor thereto, the CBOE) without having to purchase a membership on the CBOE pursuant to Article Fifth(b) of CBOEs certificate of incorporation. There
shall be one thousand four hundred two (1,402) Class C Memberships. Class C Memberships shall have no right to receive any dividend or other distribution (including upon liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or otherwise) to be declared, paid or
distributed by the Corporation. The holders of Class C Memberships shall not be entitled to vote on any matter. The respective rights and privileges of Class C Memberships shall be as provided in or pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation, the
Bylaws and the Rules.
C. Class B Voting Rights.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of Class B Memberships shall not be entitled to
vote on any matter. On any matter on which the holders of Series B-1, Class B Memberships and Series B-2, Class B Memberships are entitled to vote together as a single class pursuant to Section D(2) of this Article IV, each holder of Series B-1,
Class B Memberships shall be entitled to one (1) vote per such membership and each holder of Series B-2, Class B Memberships shall be entitled to one-sixth (1/6) of one (1) vote per such membership.
D. Special Rights of Class B Membership.
The holders of each Series of Class B Membership shall have the trading rights and other rights and privileges, and shall be subject to the restrictions, terms and
conditions, set forth below.
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1. Series Trading Rights.
(a) Series B-1. Each holder of a Series B-1, Class B Membership who
satisfies the qualifications for and requirements of Full Membership in the Corporation as set forth in the Rules shall be entitled to the rights and privileges of, and shall be subject to the restrictions, conditions and limitations on, a Full
Member as set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the Rules.
(b) Series B-2. Each holder of a Series B-2, Class B Membership who satisfies the qualifications for and requirements of Associate Membership in the Corporation as set forth in the
Rules shall be entitled to the rights and privileges of, and shall be subject to the restrictions, conditions and limitations on, an Associate Member as set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the Rules.
(c) Series B-3. (1) Each
holder of a Series B-3, Class B Membership who satisfies the qualifications for and requirements of being a holder of a one-half Associate Membership as set forth in clause (2) of Rule 296.00 of the Rules shall be entitled to the rights and
privileges of, and subject to the restrictions, conditions and limitations on, a holder of a one-half Associate Membership as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the Rules.
(2)
Each holder of a Series B-3, Class B Membership who satisfies the qualifications for and requirements of being a holder of a GIM Membership Interest in the Corporation as set forth in clause (1) of Rule 296.00 of the Rules shall be
entitled to the rights and privileges of, and shall be subject to the restrictions, conditions and limitations on, a holder of a GIM Membership Interest as set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the Rules.
(d) Series B-4. Each holder of a Series B-4,
Class B Membership who satisfies the qualifications for and requirements of being a holder of an IDEM Membership Interest in the Corporation as set forth in the Rules shall be entitled to the rights and privileges of, and shall be subject to the
restrictions, conditions and limitations on, a holder of an IDEM Membership Interest as set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the Rules.
(e) Series B-5. Each holder of a Series B-5, Class B Membership who satisfies the
qualifications for and requirements of being a holder of a COM Membership Interest in the Corporation as set forth in the Rules shall be entitled to the rights and privileges of, and shall be subject to the restrictions, conditions and limitations
on, a holder of a COM Membership Interest as set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the Rules.
(f) In addition to the rights and privileges set forth above, except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or the Rules, each holder of a Class B Membership
of any Series shall be entitled to all trading rights and privileges with respect to those products that such holder is entitled to trade on the open outcry exchange system of the Corporation or any electronic trading system maintained by the
Corporation or any of its affiliates or any of their respective successors or successors-in-interest.
2. Series B-1 and B-2, Class B Voting Rights.
(a) In addition to any approval of the Board of Directors required by this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes
cast by the holders of Series B-1, Class B Memberships and Series B-2, Class B Memberships, voting together as a class based on their respective voting rights at any annual or special meeting of the Corporation, shall be required to adopt any
amendment or make any change to this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or the Rules that, in the sole and absolute determination of the Board of Directors, adversely affects:
(1) the allocation of products that the holders of any Series of Class B Membership are permitted to trade on the exchange facilities
of the Corporation (including both the open outcry trading system and the electronic trading system),
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(2) the requirement that, except as
provided in that certain Agreement, dated August 7, 2001, between the Corporation and CBOE, as modified by those certain Letter Agreements, dated October 24, 2001, and September 13, 2002, between the Corporation, CBOT Holdings and the CBOE, in each
case, as may be amended from time to time in accordance with their respective terms, holders of Class B Memberships who meet the applicable membership and eligibility requirements will be charged transaction fees for trades of the Corporations
products for their accounts that are lower than the transaction fees charged to any participant who is not a holder of Class B Membership for the same products, whether trading utilizing the open outcry trading system or the electronic trading
system,
(3) the authorized number of any classes or series of
memberships,
(4) the membership qualifications or eligibility requirements
for holding any Series of Class B Membership or exercising any of the membership rights and privileges associated with such Series, or
(5) the Commitment to Maintain Open Outcry Markets set forth in Section F of Article IV of this Certificate of Incorporation.
For purposes of clause (1) of this Section, the allocation of products that the holders of any Series of Class B Membership are permitted
to trade on the exchange facilities of the Corporation shall be deemed to be adversely affected only if a product is eliminated from the allocation of products the holders of a particular Series of Class B Memberships are permitted to trade.
(b) In addition to their right to vote on the matters specified in the
preceding paragraph (a), holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B Memberships shall also be entitled, at any annual or special meeting of members, to (i) adopt, repeal or amend the Bylaws of the Corporation, or (ii) make non-binding
recommendations that the Board of Directors of the Corporation, including resolutions that the board consider a specific proposal, in each case subject to such requirements and conditions for the initiation of proposals by members as may be stated
in this Certificate of Incorporation or in the Bylaws. Any proposal brought pursuant to this Section D(2)(b) of Article IV shall require the affirmative vote the holders of a majority of the votes cast at any annual or special meeting of the Members
of the Corporation.
(c) In addition to any approval of the Board
of Directors required by this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of Series B-1, Class B Memberships and Series B-2, Class B Memberships,
voting together as a single class at any annual or special meeting of the Corporation shall be required to adopt any amendment or make any change to Section E of Article IV of this Certificate of Incorporation.
(d) On any matter on which holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B Memberships are entitled
to vote pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Article IV(D)(2), such holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B Memberships shall be the only members of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon. Holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2,
Class B Memberships shall have no other voting rights except as expressly set forth herein and shall not have the right to take action by written consent in lieu of a meeting. One-third of the total voting power of the Series B-1 and Series B-2,
Class B Memberships present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at any meeting to take action on the matters as to which such holders are entitled to vote pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Article IV(D)(2). Series B-3,
Series B-4 and Series B-5, Class B Memberships shall have no right to vote on any matters or to initiate any proposals at or for any meeting of members. For purposes of any vote of the holders of Series B-1, Class B Memberships and Series B-2, Class
B Memberships permitted by this Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall be entitled to fix a record date, and only holders of record as of such record date shall be entitled to vote on the matter to be voted on.
3. Conversion Rights of Series B-3.
(a) Conversion. Subject to, and upon compliance with, the provisions of this Section D(3) of Article
IV, any two (2) Series B-3, Class B Memberships shall be convertible at the option of the holder into one (1) Series B-2, Class B Membership.
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(b) Mechanics of
Conversion. A holder of Series B-3, Class B Memberships may exercise the conversion right specified in Section D(3)(a) of Article IV by delivering to the Corporation or any transfer agent of the Corporation written notice
stating that the holder elects to convert such memberships, accompanied by the certificates or other instruments, if any, representing the memberships to be converted. Conversion shall be deemed to have been effected on the date when delivery of
such written notice, accompanied by such certificate or other instrument, if any, is made, and such date is referred to herein as the Conversion Date. As promptly as practicable after the Conversion Date, the Corporation may issue and deliver to or
upon the written order of such holder a certificate or other instrument, if any, representing the number of Series B-2, Class B Memberships to which such holder is entitled as a result of the exercise of such conversion right. The person in whose
name the certificates or other instruments representing Series B-2, Class B Memberships are to be issued shall be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Series B-2, Class B Memberships on the applicable Conversion Date.
(c) Memberships Reserved for Issuance. The Corporation shall take all actions
necessary to reserve and make available at all times for issuance upon the conversion of Series B-3, Class B Memberships, such number of Series B-2, Class B Memberships as are issuable upon the conversion of all outstanding Series B-3, Class B
Memberships.
E. Restriction on Transfer.
1. The Class A Membership may not be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of except for the transfer of the Class A Membership from
CBOT Holdings to any entity which holds a controlling interest in, is controlled by or is under common control with (each, an affiliate) CBOT Holdings or any subsequent transfer by such affiliate to any affiliate thereof.
2. Except as otherwise provided in this Article IV.E, no Class B Membership may be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed
of (excluding any hypothecation thereof) except (a) by operation of law, (b) in a transaction specifically approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or a duly authorized committee thereof or (c) in a transaction consummated in connection
with and conditioned upon the sale, transfer or disposition of shares of common stock (including any successor interests, the Common Stock) of CBOT Holdings, that results in the number of shares of Common Stock of CBOT Holdings
associated with the series of such Class B Membership, as set forth hereinafter in this Section E, being simultaneously sold, transferred or disposed of to the same transferee of such Class B Membership. The number of shares of Common Stock of CBOT
Holdings that must be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in accordance with the preceding sentence is as follows: twenty five thousand (25,000) shares of Common Stock with one (1) Series B-1, Class B Membership; five thousand (5,000)
shares of Common Stock with one (1) Series B-2, Class B Membership; two thousand five hundred (2,500) shares of Common Stock with one (1) Series B-3, Class B Membership; three hundred (300) shares of Common Stock with one (1) Series B-4, Class B
Membership; and three hundred fifty (350) shares of Common Stock with one (1) Series B-5, Class B Membership.
3.
The restrictions contained in this Article IV.E shall be terms and conditions of membership in the Corporation and any purported sale, transfer or other disposition of a Class A Membership or Class B Membership not in accordance with this Article
IV.E shall be void and shall not be recorded on the books of or otherwise recognized by the Corporation.
F. Commitment to Maintain Open Outcry Markets. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section F of Article IV, the Corporation shall maintain open outcry markets operating as of the effective date
of the amendment and restatement of this Certificate of Incorporation creating Class B Memberships and provide financial support to each such market for technology, marketing and research, which the Board of Directors determines, in its sole and
absolute discretion, is reasonably necessary to maintain each such open outcry market.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Certificate of
Incorporation, the Board of Directors may discontinue any open outcry market at such time and in such manner as it may determine if (1) the Board of Directors determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that a market is no longer
liquid or (2) the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding Series B-1, Class B Memberships and Series B-2, Class B Memberships, voting together as a single class based on their respective voting rights, approve
the discontinuance of such open outcry market.
For purposes of the foregoing, an open outcry market will be
deemed liquid for so long as it meets either of the following tests, in each case as measured on a quarterly basis:
(a) if a comparable exchange-traded product exists, the open outcry market has maintained at least 30 percent (30%) of the average daily volume of such comparable product
(including for calculation purposes, volume from Exchange-For-Physicals transactions in such open outcry market); or
(b) if no comparable exchange-traded product exists, the open outcry market has maintained at least 40 percent (40%) of the average quarterly volume in that market as maintained by the Corporation in
2001 (including, for calculation purposes, volume from Exchange-For-Physicals transactions in such open outcry market).
ARTICLE V
MANAGEMENT OF AFFAIRS
The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further definition, limitation and
regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and stockholders:
A. In accordance with Sections 141(a) and 141(j) of the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a governing body, which shall be known as the Board
of Directors, and the composition of which shall be as set forth in Article VI of this Certificate of Incorporation. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by statute or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the
Bylaws or the Rules, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all powers and do all acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.
B. A special meeting of members shall be called by the Chairman of the Board or the Board of Directors upon receipt by the Chairman
of the Board or the Secretary of the Corporation of a written demand of the holders of Series B-1, Class B Memberships and Series B-2, Class B Memberships entitled to cast 10% of the total number of votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. For
purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, the term Whole Board shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships. Any such written demand shall
specify the purpose of such special meeting and the special meeting so called shall be limited to the purpose so set forth. The written demand shall also specify the date of such special meeting that shall be a business day not less than ten (10)
nor more than sixty (60) days from the date of such written demand. The purpose of any special meeting shall be stated in the notice thereof.
C. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the members of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special
meeting of members of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such members, provided that the holder of the Class A Membership shall have the right to effect by consent in writing any action which would require the
approval of the holder of the Class A membership at a duly called annual or special meeting of the members of the Corporation.
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ARTICLE VI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The holder of the
Class A Membership shall have the exclusive right to vote for and elect the members of the Board of Directors. To qualify for election to, and continued service on, the Board of Directors as of any particular time, a person must, as of such time, be
a member of the board of directors of CBOT Holdings. The Chairman of the Board of CBOT Holdings shall, whenever he or she is serving as a member of the Board of Directors, be Chairman of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
The Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or
repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation, provided that any change to the matters set forth in Section D(2)(a) of Article IV shall also require the approval of holders of Series B-1, Class B Memberships and Series B-2, Class B Memberships as specified
therein. The Series B-1, Class B Memberships and Series B-2, Class B Memberships shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws. The only members of the Corporation with any power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws or the Rules of the
Corporation shall be the holders of the Series B-1, Class B Memberships and Series B-2, Class B Memberships, as set forth in Article IV.D.2 of this certificate of incorporation, and no other member of, or class or series of membership in, the
Corporation shall have any such power.
ARTICLE VIII
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
A
director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its members for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (A) for any breach of the directors duty of loyalty to the
Corporation or its members, (B) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (C) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent
permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.
Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph shall not adversely
affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification. For purposes of this Article, the term director shall, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, include any person
who, pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation, is authorized to exercise or perform any of the powers or duties otherwise conferred upon a board of directors by the DGCL.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION
The Corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal any provision contained in this
Certificate of Incorporation in the manner prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware, and all rights conferred upon the members of the Corporation are granted subject to this reservation. Any amendment of, or repeal of any provision contained
in, this Certificate of Incorporation shall require the approval of the Board of Directors and the holder of the Class A Membership, provided that, on any such amendment or repeal as to which the holders of Series B-1, Class B Memberships and Series
B-2, Class B Memberships are entitled to vote under Section D(2) of Article IV hereof, the holder of the Class A Membership shall not be entitled to vote and such amendment or repeal shall require the approval of the holders of a majority votes cast
on any such properly presented proposal at any annual or special meeting of the members of the Corporation.
* * * *
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AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE
CITY OF
CHICAGO, INC.
These Bylaws shall take effect at the effective time (the Effective Time) of the
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as amended from time to time, the Certificate of Incorporation) of Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (the Corporation) to be filed with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware in connection with the merger of the Corporation and the restructuring thereof (the Restructuring) as described in the Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the
Restructuring; provided that, effective immediately upon the approval and adoption of these Bylaws by the membership of the Corporation at the meeting thereof called to vote upon the propositions relating to the Restructuring, for the avoidance of
doubt, any limitation or restriction heretofore contained in the Bylaws, Rules (the Rules) and Regulations (the Regulations) of the Corporation with respect to the rights of any holder of a Full Membership, Associate
Membership, one-half participation interest in an Associate Membership, which shall constitute a membership in the Corporation of the same class as a GIM Membership Interest, GIM Membership Interest, IDEM Membership Interest or COM Membership
Interest to receive the dividend to be declared and distributed in connection with the Restructuring shall be and hereby is eliminated and the holders of each of the foregoing classes of membership shall, until the Effective Time, be deemed to be
members of the Corporation (of their respective class) as that term is used in the Delaware General Corporation Law.
ARTICLE IRULES AND REGULATIONS
Section 1. Incorporation of
Rules and Regulations.
In accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, the Rules and
the Regulations, each as they may be amended from time to time, are hereby incorporated by reference into and made part of these Bylaws.
Section 2. Member Consent to Be Bound.
The Board of
Directors may adopt, amend or repeal the Regulations, which shall not be in conflict with the Rules, and which shall have the binding effect of Rules. By majority vote, the Board of Directors may delegate, to particular committees as designated by
the Board of Directors, the power to adopt, amend or repeal Regulations. Applicants for membership and any person or entity holding any membership in the Corporation shall be required to sign a written agreement to observe and be bound by the
Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Corporation, as each may be amended from time to time. In addition, the Board of Directors may adopt interpretations of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, Rules and
Regulations (Interpretations) which shall be incorporated into and deemed to be Regulations.
ARTICLE
IIMEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Terms and Conditions.
The terms and conditions of membership in the Corporation, including, without limitation, the rights and obligations of members, member firms and delegates, shall be as
provided herein, in the Certificate of Incorporation and in the Rules and Regulations. Without limiting the foregoing, requirements with respect to, and restrictions and limitations on, the ownership, use, purchase, sale, transfer or other
disposition of any membership
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or interest therein, or any other interest of or relating to the Corporation or membership therein, including the payment of proceeds from the sale, transfer or other disposition of any
membership or interest therein, shall be as provided herein, in the Certificate of Incorporation and in the Rules and Regulations, or as otherwise provided in accordance with applicable law.
Section 2. Voting Rights.
Members shall have such voting rights as are specified in the Certificate of Incorporation. To the extent authorized by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall be entitled to fix a record date for
purposes of determining the members entitled to vote on any matter. Except as expressly provided in the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, on any matter upon which the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the
Corporation are entitled to vote, such members shall have the authority to authorize such proposal on the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast at any annual or special meeting of the members of the Corporation.
Section 3. Annual and Special Meetings.
The directors of the Corporation shall be elected by the holder of the Class A Membership at an annual meeting to be held on a date designated by the Board of Directors,
provided that no annual meeting need be held if the holder of the Class A Membership has elected directors by written consent without a meeting. Special meetings of the members may be called only by those persons, and in the manner specified, in the
Certificate of Incorporation; provided that a special meeting shall be called by the Chairman of the Board or the Board of Directors upon receipt by the Chairman of the Board or the Secretary of the Corporation of a written demand of Class B Members
entitled to cast 10% of the total number of votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Any such written demand shall specify the purpose of such special meeting and the special meeting so called shall be limited to the purpose so set forth. The
written demand shall also specify the date of such special meeting that shall be a business day not less than ten (10) nor more than 60 (60) days from the date of such written demand. The purpose of any special meeting shall be stated in the notice
thereof.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings.
Written notice of the place, date, and time of all meetings of the members shall be given, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60)
days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each member entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to time by the Delaware General
Corporation Law or the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation). The notice of any special meeting of members shall also state the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is called.
When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date or time, written notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, date and time thereof are announced
at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than thirty (30) days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record date is fixed for the
adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, date, and time of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity herewith. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting without
regard to the presence of a quorum at such adjournment.
Section 5. Quorum.
The presence of the holder of the Class A membership, in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum
with respect to any matter on which the holder of the Class A Membership is entitled to vote pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, or any meeting called to vote on such matters.
With respect to any matter on which the holders of Class B Memberships are entitled to vote pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, or any meeting called to vote on
such matters, the presence of holders of Class B Memberships, in person or by proxy, representing one-third of the votes entitled to be cast on such matters, shall constitute a quorum. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman
of the meeting or, in
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his or her absence, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President, or the holder of the Class A Membership, may adjourn the meeting to a subsequent time.
Section 6. Organization.
Such person as the Board of Directors may have designated or, in the absence of such a person, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or, in his or her absence, such person
as may be chosen by the holder of the Class A Membership, shall call to order any meeting of the members and act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the Secretary of the Corporation, the secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the
chairman appoints.
Section 7. Conduct of Business.
The chairman of any meeting of members shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation
of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to him or her in order.
Section
8. Written Consent of Members in Lieu of Meeting.
Except as otherwise provided in
the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of members of the Corporation, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of the members, may be taken without a meeting,
without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the number of members that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all members
entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in
which proceedings of meetings of members are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporations registered office shall be made by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.
Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each member who signs the consent and no written consent shall be effective to
take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within sixty (60) days of the date the earliest dated consent is delivered to the Corporation, a written consent or consents signed by a sufficient number of members to take action are delivered
to the Corporation in the manner prescribed in the first paragraph of this Section.
ARTICLE IIIBOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Section 1. General. The Board of Directors
shall be comprised of such persons, who shall be subject to such qualifications, shall be appointed in such manner and shall have and exercise such powers, as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 2. Quorum. A majority of the total number of directors then in office shall
constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Attendance at Board Meetings.
Members of the Board of Directors or any committee who are physically present at a meeting of the Board of
Directors or any committee may adopt as the procedure of such meeting that, for quorum purposes or
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otherwise, any member not physically present but in continuous communication with such meeting shall be deemed to be present. Continuous communication shall exist only when, by conference
telephone or similar communications equipment, a member not physically present is able to hear and be heard by each other member deemed present, and to participate in the proceedings of the meeting.
Section 4. Regular Meetings.
The Board of Directors shall hold regular meetings at such times as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time.
Section 5. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President, and shall be called by the Secretary upon the written
request of three Directors. The Secretary shall give at least one hours notice of such meetings either by announcement on Change or by call letter.
Section 6. Certain Rights and Restrictions.
The right of any person to vote, participate or take any action in any capacity as a member of the Board of Directors or any committee, panel or other body shall be subject to such requirements and restrictions as may be provided
herein, in the Certificate of Incorporation and in the Rules and Regulations.
ARTICLE IVCOMMITTEES AND
DEPARTMENTS
Section 1. General.
To the fullest extent permitted by law and the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint, and
to delegate authority to, such committees of the Board of Directors as it determines to be appropriate from time to time.
Section 2. Additional and Standing Committees.
In addition to such
committees as may be authorized by the Board of Directors from time to time, the Corporation shall have such additional and standing committees, which shall be comprised of such persons having such powers and duties, as provided in the Rules and
Regulations. Any person may be disqualified from serving on or participating in the affairs of any committee to the extent provided in the Rules and Regulations.
Section 3. Departments.
The
Corporation shall have such departments as are authorized in or in accordance with the Rules and Regulations.
ARTICLE
VOFFICERS
Section 1. General.
The Corporation shall have such officers, with such powers and duties, as provided herein and in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 2. Chairman of the Board.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of CBOT Holdings, Inc. shall, whenever he or she is serving as a member of the Board of Directors
of the Corporation, be the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
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Section 3. President.
The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of
the Board of Directors, he or she shall have the responsibility to carry on the day to day activities of the Corporation, subject to the Boards authority to review the activities of the President and determine the policies of the Corporation,
and for the general management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of chief executive and which are delegated to him or her from time
to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Officers Other Than President.
The Board of Directors shall appoint such Vice Presidents as it may deem necessary or desirable for the
efficient management and operation of the Corporation. The Executive Vice President and any other Vice Presidents shall be responsible to the President. The Board of Directors shall also appoint such other officers as may be necessary. The Board of
Directors may prescribe the duties and fix the compensation of all such officers and they shall hold office during the will of the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Bonding of Employees.
The President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer shall be placed under bond of $50,000 each, premiums to be paid out of the general funds of the Corporation; and such other employees of the Office of
the Secretary, who handle funds of the Corporation, shall be bonded in the sum of $5,000 each, premiums to be paid out of the general funds of the Corporation.
Section 6. Secretary.
The Secretary
shall perform such duties as may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or the President. In addition he or she shall be charged with the following specific duties:
(a) To take charge of the books, papers, and corporate seal of the Corporation;
(b) To attend all meetings of the Corporation and the Board of Directors, and to keep official records thereof;
(c) To give notices when required of all Board of Directors and membership meetings;
(d) To conduct the correspondence of the Corporation under the direction of the proper officers;
(e) To furnish to the Chairman of every Special Committee a copy of the resolution whereby such Committee was created;
(f) To post all notices which may be required to be posted upon the bulletin board;
(g) To keep his or her office open during usual business hours;
(h) To see that the rooms and property of the Corporation are kept in good order;
(i) To attest, upon behalf of the Corporation, all contracts and other documents requiring authentication;
(j) To permit members to examine the records of the Corporation upon reasonable request; and
(k) To post on the bulletin board from time to time the names of all warehouses, the receipts of which are
declared regular for delivery, and also, upon direction of the Board of Directors, to post any fact tending to impair the value of receipts issued by such warehouses.
Section 7. Assistant Secretaries.
Assistant Secretaries shall perform such duties as the Secretary or the Board of Directors may require, and shall act as Secretary in the absence or disability of the Secretary.
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Section 8. Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall have general charge of all funds belonging to the Corporation, and shall be charged with the following specific
duties:
(a) The Treasurer shall receive from the Secretary deposit of
funds belonging to the Corporation. Checks in amounts over $10,000 shall be signed by either the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Secretary or the Assistant Secretary and countersigned by the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors or one (1) of the three (3) other elected members of the Executive Committee;
(b) To make an annual report to the Corporation of all receipts and disbursements; and
(c) To keep all of his or her accounts in permanent books of account belonging to the Corporation, which books shall at all times be
open to the examination of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof.
Section
8. Assistant Treasurer.
The Assistant Treasurer shall perform such duties as the
Treasurer or the Board of Directors may require, and shall act as Treasurer in the absence or disability of the Treasurer.
ARTICLE VINOTICES
Section 1. Notices.
Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law, all notices required to be given to any member, director,
committee member, officer, employee or agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails, postage paid, or by sending such notice by prepaid
telegram or mailgram. Any such notice shall be addressed to such member, director, committee member, officer, employee or agent at his or her last known address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. The time when such notice is
received, if hand delivered, or dispatched, if delivered through the mails or by telegram or mailgram, shall be the time of the giving of the notice.
Section 2. Waivers.
A written
waiver of any notice, signed by a member, director, committee member, officer, employee or agent, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such
member, director, committee member, officer, employee or agent. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver.
ARTICLE VIIMISCELLANEOUS
Section
1. Facsimile Signatures.
Facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the
Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.
Section
2. Corporate Seal.
The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing
the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or
Assistant Treasurer.
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Section 3. Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records.
Each director and each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, shall, in the
performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its
officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any other person as to matters which such director or committee member reasonably believes are within such other persons professional or expert competence and
who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
Section
4. Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board
of Directors from time to time.
Section 5. Time Periods.
Except as otherwise specifically provided, in applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a
specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be
included.
ARTICLE VIIIINDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 1. Right to Indemnification.
Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (hereinafter a proceeding), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, committee member or employee of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
Director, officer, trustee, committee member or employee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an indemnitee),
whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a Director, officer, trustee, committee member or employee or in any other capacity while serving as a Director, officer, trustee, committee member or employee, shall
be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such
amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys fees, judgments, fines, ERISA
excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 3 of this Article VIII with respect to proceedings to
enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors
of the Corporation.
Section 2. Right to Advancement of Expenses.
The right to indemnification conferred in Section 1 of this Article VIII shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation
the expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an advancement of expenses); provided, however, that, if the Delaware General Corporation Law
requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a Director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee,
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including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an undertaking), by or on behalf
of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a final adjudication) that such indemnitee is not entitled
to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 2 or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article VIII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to
an indemnitee who has ceased to be a Director, officer, committee member or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitees heirs, executors and administrators.
Section 3. Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit.
If a claim under Section 1 or 2 of this Article VIII is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a
claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty (20) days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in
part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i)
any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit brought by the
Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for
indemnification set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its members) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such
suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including
its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its members) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of
such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of
expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VIII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.
Section 4. Non-Exclusivity of Rights.
The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or
hereafter acquire under any statute, the Corporations Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of members or disinterested Directors or otherwise.
Section 5. Insurance.
The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any Director, officer, committee member or employee of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 6. Indemnification of Agents of the Corporation.
The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the
advancement of expenses to any agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.
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Section 7. Corporation Defense Expenses.
Any member or member firm who fails to prevail in a lawsuit or any other type of legal proceeding instituted
by that member or member firm against the Corporation or any of its officers, Directors, committee members, employees or agents must pay to the Corporation all reasonable expenses, including attorneys fees, incurred by the Corporation in the
defense of such proceeding. Any member or member firm required to compensate the Corporation pursuant to this section shall be assessed interest on such amount at the rate of Prime plus one percent (1%), which interest shall accrue from the date
such amount was demanded in writing after the member or member firm failed to prevail in a lawsuit or any other type of legal proceeding against the Corporation.
ARTICLE IXAMENDMENTS
The Board of Directors is
expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. The holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships in the Corporation shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation;
provided, however, that any adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the holders of Series B-1 and Series B-2, Class B memberships shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on any such
properly presented proposal at any annual or special meeting of the members of the Corporation.
* * * *
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STATUS OF CERTAIN CURRENT CBOT RULES AND REGULATIONS AS A RESULT OF THE
RESTRUCTURING TRANSACTIONS
The following summary provides the status of certain CBOT rules and regulations
that will either be amended and restated, restated in their entirety or repealed in connection with the completion of the restructuring transactions. Where an existing rule or regulation will be either modified and restated or restated in its
entirety, the location of the new provision in the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary, the form of which is attached to this document as Appendix H, and/or the bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary, the form of which is attached to this
document as Appendix I, has been identified for your information and reference. However, because changes are being made to many of the restated provisions, you should review and consider carefully the new provisions before voting on the propositions
relating to the restructuring transactions. In addition, the CBOTs current rules and regulations and, subject to changes to the rules and regulations occurring from time to time after the date of this document, the form of the rules and
regulations of the CBOT subsidiary immediately after the restructuring transactions have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this document is a part. We urge you to review carefully all of these materials in connection
with your consideration of the restructuring transactions.
We currently expect that these changes to our
rules and regulations, which will form part of the bylaws of the CBOT subsidiary, will take effect at the time that the certificate of incorporation of the CBOT subsidiary becomes effective and that the CBOT subsidiary will publish an amended and
restated Rulebook as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter. We currently plan to make copies of this new Rulebook available to holders of Class B and Class C memberships in the CBOT subsidiary in accordance with our past practice and procedures.
110.00 |
|
Petition Ballot Vote CommunicationsIn the event that a ballot vote is forced by petition, all official communications, either written or presented
at a Member meeting, will be accompanied by the views of both the Board and the petitioners. The Exchange will provide to the petitioners a minimum of 10 days from the receipt of notice to prepare written or presentation materials to accompany
Exchange official communications. The petitioners will be represented by a registered sponsor (an individual who submits the original petitions and who chooses to register as the sponsor) or his designee. If there is no registered sponsor for the
petition, the views of the Board and the petitioners should be equitably represented by the Chief Legal Counsel of the Exchange. (01/01/00) |
Rule 110.00 will be repealed.
134.00 |
|
Board Member Voting RecordsThe voting record (except those involving strategic planning or disciplinary issues) of each individual Board member
should be recorded and available the day following the vote at the Secretarys office to any interested Full or Associate Member. (01/01/00) |
Rule 134.00 will be repealed.
144.00 |
|
Assistant SecretariesAssistant Secretaries shall perform such duties as the Secretary or the Board may require, and shall act as Secretary in the
absence or disability of the Secretary. 78 (08/01/94) |
Rule 144.00 will be repealed.
162.01 |
|
Standing CommitteesStanding Committees may be made up of full and associate members of the Association and members of the staff of the Association,
unless otherwise specifically provided for in the Rules and Regulations. In addition, holders of GIM, IDEM or COM Membership Interests may be appointed by the Chairman of the Board to serve as non-voting advisors to any Committee. The Chairman of
the Board and the President shall be ex-officio (non-voting) members of all committees of which they are not regular members. The Chairman of the Board, with the approval of the Board of Directors, may appoint full or associate members to both
committees and subcommittees. (08/01/94) |
Regulation 162.01 will be repealed. See the
Bylaws; Article IV.
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162.05 |
|
Additional CommitteesIn addition to those appointed by the Chairman of the Board, the Board may appoint such committees as it sees fit and
prescribe the duties thereof. 1023 (08/01/94) |
Regulation 162.05 will be repealed. See the
Bylaws; Article IV; Section 2.
181.00 |
|
RetirementThe Board is authorized to adopt, maintain, amend, and terminate, from time to time, a plan or plans for the retirement of employees of
the Association and its wholly owned subsidiary corporations and for the payment of pensions to such retired employees; provided, however that no such plan or plans shall be applicable to employees who are covered by a collective bargaining
agreement pension plan; and provided, further, that no retired employee now receiving retirement compensation shall have his combined Government assistance and retirement compensation which was in effect prior to September 1, 1950, reduced as a
result of any such plan or plans. 76 (08/01/94) |
Rule 181.00 will be repealed.
184.00 |
|
AppropriationsThere shall be no appropriation of money or property of the Association except for the purpose of its legitimate business or to
promote the purposes of its organization. 601 (08/01/94) |
Rule 184.00 will be repealed.
185.00 |
|
Repealing ClauseThese Rules shall be effective upon such days as may be proclaimed by the Board. Upon the taking effect of these Rules, all former
Rules and Regulations shall be repealed, except as herein provided, and except that prior transactions shall be governed by the Rules previously in effect. 606 (08/01/94) |
Rule 185.00 will be repealed.
186.00 |
|
Liability Under Previous Rules and RegulationsThe provisions of the Rules and Regulations in force immediately prior to the adoption of these Rules
and Regulations shall be superseded hereby, except that such adoption shall not affect the liability of any member of the Association for any offense theretofore committed, or any rights or liabilities theretofore acquired or incurred. 607
(08/01/94) |
Rule 186.00 will be repealed.
190.00 |
|
Compensation InformationInformation enumerating all compensation and gifts (over a value of $1,000) from the Exchange of any kind and nature,
including, but not limited to, salaries, deferred payments, bonuses, retirement benefits, trusts, and potential severance payments to the President, Executive Vice-Presidents, members of the Board of Directors, or to any organizations, corporations,
partnerships, or associations with which the above individuals are associated either as shareholders, partners, or by other means will be made available on a quarterly basis at the Secretarys office to any interested Full or Associate Member
requesting this information. (01/01/00) FORMAL INTERPRETATION OF CBOT RULE 190.00-COMPENSATION INFORMATION (Adopted by Board of Directors February 15, 2000) |
Pursuant to Rule 190.00, the following information will be made available on a quarterly basis by the Secretarys Office to any Full or Associate member requesting
this information:
Compensation
Information enumerating all direct compensation and gifts (over a value of $1,000) from the Exchange of any kind and nature since the beginning of the CBOTs last
fiscal year, including but not limited to, salaries, deferred payments, bonuses, retirement benefits, trusts and potential severance payments to the President, Executive Vice-Presidents, and members of the Board of Directors.
J-2
Transactions
Information about any transaction or series of similar transactions to which the Exchange or any of its subsidiaries was or is a party, and in which the President, any
Executive Vice-President, any member of the Board of Directors, or any immediate family member of such persons, had or has a material interest. An interest shall not be deemed material within the meaning of this rule:
|
(a) |
Where the interest arises only (i) from such persons position as a director of another corporation or organization which is a party to the transaction; or
(ii) from the direct or indirect ownership by such person of less than a ten percent (10%) equity interest in another person (other than a partnership) which is a party to the transaction; or (iii) from both such position and ownership.
|
|
(b) |
Where the interest arises only from such persons position as a limited partner in a partnership in which the person and all other persons specified in the
above paragraph have an interest of less than ten percent (10%); or |
|
(c) |
Where the interest arises solely from the holding of an equity interest (including a limited partnership interest, but excluding a general partnership interest)
or a creditor interest in another person that is a party to the transaction with the Exchange or any of its subsidiaries, and the transaction in question represents five percent (5%) or less of the other entitys consolidated gross revenues for
its last full fiscal year. (04/01/00) |
Rule 190.00 will be repealed.
Rule 296.00 Elimination of GIM Membership
InterestsSubject to the exceptions set forth below, on the effective date of the Rule, each existing GIM Membership Interest shall automatically become a one-half participation in an Associate Membership; each unaccumulated one-quarter
participation in a GIM Membership Interest shall automatically become a one-eighth participation in an Associate Membership; and status as a GIM Membership Interest holder or nominee shall cease respectively for each individual who owns a GIM
Membership Interest or is a nominee of a firm-owned GIM Membership Interest. Fractional participations in an Associate Membership shall carry no privileges of a Membership or Membership Interest, including but not limited to trading and voting
privileges.
|
(1) |
With respect to individuals who own GIM Membership Interests, each individual who (a) applied for approval as a GIM Membership Interest holder prior to January
21, 1986, and whose application for such approval was pending as of January 21, 1986 and/or (b) acquired his current GIM Membership Interest as of January 21, 1986, or pursuant to a bid to purchase that was listed with the Exchange as of January 21,
1986, may continue as a GIM Membership Interest holder subject to all the privileges and obligations such Membership Interest entails. However, each GIM Membership Interest covered by this exception may only be sold or transferred as a one-half
participation in an Associate Membership. The limitations on transfers of a GIM Membership Interest described in this Rule 296.00(1) shall not apply when (i) the transferor is the estate of a deceased membership interest holder and the transferee is
the decedents spouse and (ii) the GIM Membership Interest has not already been transferred pursuant to this sentence. |
|
(2) |
With respect to nominees of firm-owned GIM Membership Interests, each nominee who has had this current GIM Membership Interest assigned to him as of January 21,
1986, may, at the assigning firms election, continue as a GIM Membership Interest nominee subject to all the privileges and obligations such Membership Interest entails. In addition, a firm shall be permitted to assign any GIM Membership
Interest it owns to two consecutive nominees following the nominee who was assigned such Membership Interest as of January 21, 1986. However, each firm-owned GIM Membership Interest covered by this exception may only be sold as a one-half
participation in an Associate Membership. |
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None of the foregoing shall preclude individuals covered by
paragraph (1) or firms covered by paragraph (2) from treating their GIM Membership Interests as one-half participations in Associate Memberships and combining them with the other fractional participations in Associate Memberships. (11/01/99).
Rule 296.00 will be amended and restated as follows:
Transfer Restrictions on GIM Memberships /One-Half Associate MembershipsAt the Effective Time, each GIM Membership and one-half Associate
Membership shall be subject to the restrictions, conditions and limitations set forth below.
|
(1) |
Non-Transferred GIM Memberships. Except as otherwise provided below, a holder of a GIM Membership that has not been sold or transferred prior to the
Effective Time (Non-Transferred GIM Memberships) may continue as a GIM Membership holder following the Effective Time with all the privileges and obligations such Membership entails. However, in the event that any Non-Transferred GIM
Membership is sold or transferred after the Effective Time, such Non-Transferred GIM Membership shall be treated as a Transferred GIM Membership (as defined in clause (2) below). This limitation shall not apply when (x) the transferor is the estate
of a deceased Non-Transferred GIM Membership holder and the transferee is the decedents spouse and (y) the Non-Transferred GIM Membership has not already been transferred pursuant to this sentence. |
|
|
|
Furthermore, a member firm may assign any GIM membership that it owns to two consecutive nominees following the nominee who was assigned such Membership as of
January 26, 1986, and still retain the status of such membership as a Non-Transferred GIM Membership. |
|
(2) |
Transferred GIM Memberships/One-Half Associate Memberships. One-half Associate Memberships and Non-Transferred GIM memberships that have been sold or
transferred after the Effective Time in a manner other than as permitted in clause (1) above (collectively, Transferred GIM Memberships) shall not be permitted to exercise the trading rights and privileges associated with the GIM
Memberships. |
None of the foregoing shall preclude the holders of Transferred
GIM Memberships or Non-Transferred GIM Memberships from exercising their right to convert their GIM Membership into an one-half Associate Membership and to exchange two one-half Associate Memberships in exchange for an Associate Membership in
accordance with the terms of Article IV D.3 of the Certificate of Incorporation.
InterpretationThe
Board of Directors adopted the following on April 17, 1990 as a formal rule interpretation which confirms established Exchange practice: For purposes of all petition provisions in Rules 102.00 Nominations for Elective Office and
107.00 Amendment of Rules, the signature of an Associate Member shall count for 1/6th of the
signature of a Full Member. (08/01/94)
The above Interpretation will be repealed.
We currently expect that Rules 210.00 and 221.00, which relate to the exercise right, will be amended to
reflect the interpretations set forth in the August 7, 2001 agreement and related October 24, 2001 letter agreement entered into by the CBOT, CBOT Holdings and the Chicago Board Options Exchange. In addition, we may, from time to time, adopt as part
of, and in connection with, the restructuring transactions, additions, deletions or other modifications to the rules and regulations as the board of directors may deem necessary, proper or advisable in order to implement the restructuring
transactions in a manner consistent with the disclosure set forth in this document.
* * * *
J-4
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 20. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Delaware General Corporation Law
Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, CBOT Holdings is empowered to indemnify its directors and officers in the circumstances therein provided. Certain portions of Section 145 are
summarized below:
Section 145(a) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation may
indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of
the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe such persons conduct was unlawful.
Section 145(b) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides
that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the
fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the
corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of
the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 145(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that to the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the
merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 145(a) and (b), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually
and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
Section 145(d) of the Delaware General
Corporation Law provides that any indemnification under Section 145(a) and (b) (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former
director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 145(a) and (b). Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or
officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such
directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
II-1
Section 145(e) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that expenses
(including attorneys fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit
or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in Section 145.
Such expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the board of directors deems appropriate.
Section 145(f) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or
granted pursuant to, Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or
otherwise.
Section 145(g) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation shall have the
power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such persons capacity as such, whether or not the
corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under Section 145.
Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
The amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended,
provides that a director of CBOT Holdings shall not be personally liable to CBOT Holdings or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the directors duty of
loyalty to CBOT Holdings or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL), or
(iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the
CBOT Holdings shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.
Bylaws
Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is
otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a proceeding), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of CBOT Holdings or is or
was serving at the request of CBOT Holdings as a director, officer or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an
indemnitee), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer or trustee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or trustee, shall be indemnified and held
harmless by CBOT Holdings to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits CBOT Holdings to provide broader
indemnification rights than such law permitted CBOT Holdings to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in
settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in the bylaws with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, CBOT Holdings shall
indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the board of directors.
II-2
In addition, an indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by CBOT Holdings
the expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an advancement of expenses); provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of
expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be
made only upon delivery to CBOT Holdings of an undertaking (hereinafter an undertaking), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which
there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a final adjudication) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses.
If a claim for indemnification is not paid in full by CBOT Holdings within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by CBOT Holdings, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of
expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty (20) days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against CBOT Holdings to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in
a suit brought by CBOT Holdings to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the
indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit brought by CBOT Holdings to recover an
advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, CBOT Holdings shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.
Neither the failure of CBOT Holdings (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that
indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by CBOT Holdings (including its directors who are not parties to
such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of
conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by CBOT Holdings to
recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under the bylaws or otherwise shall be on CBOT Holdings.
The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in the bylaws shall not be exclusive
of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, CBOT Holdings certificate of incorporation, agreement, vote of stockholders or directors or otherwise.
Insurance
CBOT Holdings
may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of CBOT Holdings or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or
not CBOT Holdings would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
II-3
Item 21. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) Exhibits
Exhibit Number
|
|
Description
|
2.1 |
|
Form of Agreement and Plan of Merger between Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. CBOT Holdings, Inc. and a
wholly owned subsidiary (Reference is hereby made to Appendix C of the Proxy Statement and Prospectus). |
|
3.1 |
|
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the not-for-profit Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 6, 2001).* |
|
3.2 |
|
Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the for-profit Board of Trade of the City of Chicago,
Inc. (Reference is hereby made to Appendix H of the Proxy Statement and Prospectus). |
|
3.3 |
|
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the not-for-profit Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 6, 2001).* |
|
3.4 |
|
Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of the for-profit Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reference is
hereby made to Appendix I of the Proxy Statement and Prospectus). |
|
4.4 |
|
Rules and Regulations of the not-for-profit Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.* |
|
4.5 |
|
Form of Rules and Regulations of the for-profit Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (subject to further
changes after the date of this Registration Statement).* |
|
4.7 |
|
Form of Common Stock certificate for CBOT Holdings, Inc.* |
|
4.8 |
|
Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of CBOT Holdings, Inc. (Reference is hereby made to
Appendix F of the Proxy Statement and Prospectus). |
|
4.9 |
|
Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of CBOT Holdings, Inc. (Reference is hereby made to Appendix G of the Proxy
Statement and Prospectus). |
|
4.10 |
|
Agreement, dated September 1, 1992, by and between Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and Chicago Board Options
Exchange Incorporated.* |
|
4.11 |
|
Agreement, dated August 7, 2001, by and between Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and Chicago Board Options
Exchange Incorporated (Reference is hereby made to Appendix E-1 of the Proxy Statement and Prospectus). |
|
4.12 |
|
Letter Agreement, dated October 24, 2001, by and between Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., CBOT Holdings,
Inc. and Chicago Board Options Exchange Incorporated (Reference is hereby made to Appendix E-2 of the Proxy Statement and Prospectus). |
|
4.13 |
|
Letter Agreement, dated September 13, 2002, by and between Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., CBOT
Holdings, Inc. and Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (Reference is hereby made to Appendix E-3 of the Proxy Statement and Prospectus). |
|
5 |
|
Form of Opinion of Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell as to legality of the securities being
registered. |
|
8.1 |
|
Form of Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis concerning certain tax matters.* |
|
8.2 |
|
Internal Revenue Service Private Letter Ruling, dated September 30, 2002. |
|
10.1 |
|
Agreement, dated April 14, 2000, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and Thomas R. Donovan
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
II-4
Exhibit Number
|
|
Description
|
10.2 |
|
Letter Agreement, dated April 18, 2000, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and Dennis A. Dutterer
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.3 |
|
Letter Agreement, dated April 18, 2000, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and Board of Trade Clearing
Corporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.4 |
|
Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 18, 1999, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and Patrick J.
Catania (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.5 |
|
Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement, dated February 28, 2001, between the Board of Trade of the City of
Chicago, Inc. and Patrick J. Catania (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.6 |
|
Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 18, 1999, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and Carol A.
Burke (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.7 |
|
Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement, dated February 28, 2001, between the Board of Trade of the City of
Chicago and Carol A. Burke (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.8 |
|
Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 1, 1997, among the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and each of the
purchasers limited in Schedule A attached thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.9 |
|
Credit Agreement, dated as of August 11, 2000, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and Bank One,
N.A. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.10 |
|
Security Agreement, dated as of August 11, 2000, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and Bank
One, N.A. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.11 |
|
Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Ceres Trading Limited Partnership, dated September 8,
1997 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.12 |
|
Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of February 20, 2001, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago,
Inc. and David J. Vitale (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.13 |
|
License Agreement, dated as of June 5, 1997, between Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and the Board of Trade of the City
of Chicago (certain confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).* |
II-5
Exhibit Number
|
|
Description
|
10.14 |
|
Amendment to License Agreement, dated as of September 9, 1997, between Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and the Board of
Trade of the City of Chicago (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.15 |
|
Second Amendment to License Agreement, dated as of February 18, 1998, between Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and the
Board of Trade of the City of Chicago (certain confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).* |
|
10.16 |
|
Third Amendment to License Agreement, dated as of May, 1998, between Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and the Board of
Trade of the City of Chicago (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.22 |
|
Second Amended and Restated License Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2000, between the Board of Trade of the City of
Chicago and Ceres (certain confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).* |
|
10.23 |
|
ISDA Master Agreement and related foreign exchange forward contracts, dated as of September 27, 2000, between Bank of
America, N.A. and Ceres (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.24 |
|
Promissory Note, dated March 30, 2001, given by the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. to Hitachi Credit
America Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on April 6, 2001).* |
|
10.25 |
|
Security Agreement, dated March 30, 2001, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and Hitachi Credit
America Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on April 6, 2001).* |
|
10.26 |
|
Letter Agreement, dated March 21, 2001, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and James P. Amaral.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on April 6, 2001).* |
|
10.27 |
|
Agreement, dated July 17, 2001, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and Patrick J.
Catania.* |
|
10.28 |
|
Fourth Amendment to License Agreement, dated December 19, 2001, between Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and the Board
of Trade of the City of Chicago (certain confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).* |
|
10.29 |
|
Credit Agreement, dated January 15, 2002, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and LaSalle Bank
National Association.* |
|
10.30 |
|
Executive Employment Letter Agreement dated as of February 19, 2002, between the Board of Trade of the City of
Chicago, Inc. and David J. Vitale.* |
|
10.31 |
|
Software Maintenance Agreement, dated July 10, 2002, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and Ceres
Trading Limited Partnership and Deutsche Börse AG, SWX Swiss Exchange, Eurex Zurich AG, and Eurex Frankfurt AG (certain confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential
treatment).* |
II-6
Exhibit Number
|
|
Description
|
10.32 |
|
Non-Exclusive Software License Agreement, dated July 10, 2002, between Deutsche Börse AG, SWX Swiss Exchange and
Ceres Trading Limited Partnership and the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago (certain confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).* |
|
10.33 |
|
Reorganization Agreement, dated July 10, 2002, among Deutsche Börse Aktiengesellschaft, SWX Swiss Exchange, the
Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Ceres Trading Limited Partnership, Electronic Chicago Board of Trade, Inc., Ceres Alliance L.L.C., CBOT/Eurex Alliance, L.L.C., Eurex Beteilegungen AG, Eurex Frankfurt AG, Eurex Zurich AG, Eurex Deutschland,
Eurex Clearing AG and Deutsche Börse Systems AG (certain confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).* |
|
10.34 |
|
New Systems Operations Agreement, dated July 10, 2002, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and Ceres
Trading Limited Partnership and Deutsche Börse AG, Eurex Zurich AG and Eurex Frankfurt AG (certain confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).* |
|
10.35 |
|
Third Amended and Restated License Agreement, dated as of July 10, 2002, between the Board of Trade of the City of
Chicago and Ceres.* |
10.36 |
|
General Release and Separation Agreement, between David J. Vitale and Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.
dated as of November 4, 2002.* |
|
10.37 |
|
Settlement Agreement, dated as of August 23, 2002 by and among Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., The
Chicago Mercantile Exchange, eSpeed, Inc. and Electronic Trading Systems Corporation.** |
|
10.38 |
|
Letters relating to the employment of Bernard W. Dan, dated May 11, 2001 and May 15, 2001, from the Board of Trade of
the City of Chicago, Inc. to Bernard W. Dan.* |
|
10.39 |
|
Letters relating to the employment of William M. Farrow III, dated May 11, 2001 and May 15, 2001, from the Board
of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. to William M. Farrow III.* |
|
21 |
|
Subsidiaries of CBOT Holdings.* |
|
23.1 |
|
Consent of Deloitte & Touche, LLP. |
|
23.2 |
|
Form of Consent of Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell (included in Exhibit 5). |
|
23.3 |
|
Form of Consent of Kirkland & Ellis (included in Exhibit 8).* |
|
23.4 |
|
Consent of William Blair & Company, L.L.C. |
|
24.1 |
|
Powers of Attorney (included in signature page).* |
|
99.1 |
|
Form of Proxy Card for Special Meeting of Members of the CBOT.* |
|
99.2 |
|
Consents of Persons to be Named as Directors of CBOT Holdings and the CBOT Subsidiary.* |
|
99.3 |
|
Update Letter of William Blair & Company, L.L.C., dated December 18, 2001.* |
**To be filed by amendment. |
|
|
(b)
Financial Statement Schedules
Schedules have been omitted because the information required
to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.
(c)
Report, Opinion or Appraisal Exhibits
1. Fairness Opinion of William Blair & Company,
L.L.C., dated January 16, 2001 (included in the Proxy Statement and Prospectus as Appendix C-1 that is part of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 initially filed by the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on January
26, 2001).
2. Update Letter of William Blair & Company, L.L.C., dated December 18, 2001
(filed as Exhibit 99.3 to Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 initially filed by CBOT Holdings, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-72184) on November 12, 2002).
II-7
3. Fairness Opinion of William Blair & Company, L.L.C., dated
September 17, 2002 (included in the Proxy Statement and Prospectus as Appendix D).
Item 22. Undertakings.
Insofar as the indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted as to directors,
officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 20, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payments 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for information that is incorporated by
reference into the document pursuant to Item 4, 10(b), 11 or 13 of this form, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information
contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request. The undersigned Registrant hereby further undertakes to supply by means of a post-effective amendment all
information concerning a transaction and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of or included in the registration statement when it became effective.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes as follows: that prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered hereunder through use of a prospectus which is a
part of this registration statement, by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c), the issuer undertakes that such reoffering prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable
registration form with respect to reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other Items of the applicable form.
The registrant undertakes that every prospectus (i) that is filed pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph, or (ii) that purports to meet the requirements of section
10(a)(3) of the Act and is used in connection with an offering of securities subject to Rule 415, will be filed as a part of an amendment to the registration statement and will not be used until such amendment is effective, and that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, 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.
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 document any facts or events arising after the
effective date of the 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 the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in
II-8
|
volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective Registration
Statement; |
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the 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.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrants annual report
pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans 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 thereof.
II-9
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this amendment no. 4 to the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, on December 27, 2002.
CBOT
HOLDINGS, INC.
/s/ Bernard W. Dan
By:
Bernard W. Dan
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this amendment no. 4 to the registration statement has been signed by the following persons on December 27, 2002 in the capacities
indicated.
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
/S/ Bernard W. Dan
Bernard W. Dan |
|
President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director |
|
/S/ *
Glen M. Johnson |
|
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
|
/S/ *
Jill A. Harley |
|
Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer) |
|
/S/ *
Nickolas J. Neubauer |
|
Chairman of the Board |
|
|
|
|
|
* By: /s/ Bernard W. Dan
Bernard W. Dan Attorney-in-Fact |
|
|
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number
|
|
Description
|
2.1 |
|
Form of Agreement and Plan of Merger between Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. CBOT Holdings, Inc. and a
wholly owned subsidiary (Reference is hereby made to Appendix C of the Proxy Statement and Prospectus). |
|
3.1 |
|
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the not-for-profit Board of Trade of the City of Chicago,
Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 6, 2001). |
|
3.2 |
|
Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the for-profit Board of Trade of the City of Chicago,
Inc. (Reference is hereby made to Appendix H of the Proxy Statement and Prospectus). |
|
3.3 |
|
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the not-for-profit Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 6, 2001).* |
|
3.4 |
|
Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of the for-profit Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reference is
hereby made to Appendix I of the Proxy Statement and Prospectus). |
|
4.4 |
|
Rules and Regulations of the not-for-profit Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.* |
|
4.5 |
|
Form of Rules and Regulations of the for-profit Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (subject to further
changes after the date of this Registration Statement).* |
|
4.7 |
|
Form of Common Stock certificate for CBOT Holdings, Inc.* |
|
4.8 |
|
Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of CBOT Holdings, Inc. (Reference is hereby made to
Appendix F of the Proxy Statement and Prospectus). |
|
4.9 |
|
Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of CBOT Holdings, Inc. (Reference is hereby made to Appendix G of the Proxy
Statement and Prospectus). |
|
4.10 |
|
Agreement, dated September 1, 1992, by and between Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and Chicago Board Options
Exchange Incorporated.* |
|
4.11 |
|
Agreement, dated August 7, 2001, by and between Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and Chicago Board Options
Exchange Incorporated (Reference is hereby made to Appendix E-1 of the Proxy Statement and Prospectus). |
|
4.12 |
|
Letter Agreement, dated October 24, 2001, by and between Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., CBOT Holdings,
Inc. and Chicago Board Options Exchange Incorporated (Reference is hereby made to Appendix E-2 of the Proxy Statement and Prospectus). |
|
4.13 |
|
Letter Agreement, dated September 13, 2002, by and between Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., CBOT
Holdings, Inc. and Chicago Board Options Exchange Incorporated (Reference is hereby made to Appendix E-3 of the Proxy Statement and Prospectus). |
|
5 |
|
Form of Opinion of Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell as to legality of the securities being
registered. |
|
8.1 |
|
Form of Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis concerning certain tax matters.* |
|
8.2 |
|
Internal Revenue Service Private Letter Ruling, dated September 30, 2002. |
|
10.1 |
|
Agreement, dated April 14, 2000, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and Thomas R. Donovan
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.2 |
|
Letter Agreement, dated April 18, 2000, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and Dennis A. Dutterer
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
Exhibit Number
|
|
Description
|
|
10.3 |
|
Letter Agreement, dated April 18, 2000, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and Board of Trade Clearing
Corporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.4 |
|
Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 18, 1999, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and Patrick J.
Catania (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.5 |
|
Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement, dated February 28, 2001, between the Board of Trade of the City of
Chicago, Inc. and Patrick J. Catania (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.6 |
|
Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 18, 1999, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and Carol A.
Burke (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.7 |
|
Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement, dated February 28, 2001, between the Board of Trade of the City of
Chicago and Carol A. Burke (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.8 |
|
Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 1, 1997, among the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and each of the
purchasers limited in Schedule A attached thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.9 |
|
Credit Agreement, dated as of August 11, 2000, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and Bank One,
N.A. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.10 |
|
Security Agreement, dated as of August 11, 2000, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and Bank
One, N.A. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.11 |
|
Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Ceres Trading Limited Partnership, dated September 8,
1997 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.12 |
|
Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of February 20, 2001, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago,
Inc. and David J. Vitale (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.13 |
|
License Agreement, dated as of June 5, 1997, between Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and the Board of Trade of the City
of Chicago (certain confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).* |
|
10.14 |
|
Amendment to License Agreement, dated as of September 9, 1997, between Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and the Board of
Trade of the City of Chicago (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.15 |
|
Second Amendment to License Agreement, dated as of February 18, 1998, between Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and the
Board of Trade of the City of Chicago (certain confidential portions have been omitted and filed sep arately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).* |
Exhibit Number
|
|
Description
|
10.16 |
|
Third Amendment to License Agreement, dated as of May, 1998, between Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and the Board of
Trade of the City of Chicago (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.22 |
|
Second Amended and Restated License Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2000, between the Board of Trade of the City of
Chicago and Ceres (certain confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).* |
|
10.23 |
|
ISDA Master Agreement and related foreign exchange forward contracts, dated as of September 27, 2000, between Bank of
America, N.A. and Ceres (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on March 26, 2001).* |
|
10.24 |
|
Promissory Note, dated March 30, 2001, given by the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. to Hitachi Credit
America Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on April 6, 2001).* |
|
10.25 |
|
Security Agreement, dated March 30, 2001, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and Hitachi Credit
America Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on April 6, 2001).* |
|
10.26 |
|
Letter Agreement, dated March 21, 2001, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and James P. Amaral.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (Reg. No. 333-54370) on April 6, 2001).* |
|
10.27 |
|
Agreement, dated July 17, 2001, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and
Patrick J. Catania.* |
|
10.28 |
|
Fourth Amendment to License Agreement, dated December 19, 2001, between Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and the Board
of Trade of the City of Chicago (certain confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).* |
|
10.29 |
|
Credit Agreement, dated January 15, 2002, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and LaSalle Bank
National Association.* |
|
10.30 |
|
Executive Employment Letter Agreement dated as of February 19, 2002, between the Board of Trade of the City of
Chicago, Inc. and David J. Vitale.* |
|
10.31 |
|
Software Maintenance Agreement, dated July 10, 2002, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and Ceres
Trading Limited Partnership and Deutsche Börse AG, SWX Swiss Exchange, Eurex Zurich AG, and Eurex Frankfurt AG (certain confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential
treatment).* |
|
10.32 |
|
Non-Exclusive Software License Agreement, dated July 10, 2002, between Deutsche Börse AG, SWX Swiss Exchange and
Ceres Trading Limited Partnership and the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago (certain confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).* |
|
10.33 |
|
Reorganization Agreement, dated July 10, 2002, among Deutsche Börse Aktiengesellschaft, SWX Swiss Exchange, the
Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Ceres Trading Limited Partnership, Electronic Chicago Board of Trade, Inc., Ceres Alliance L.L.C., CBOT/Eurex Alliance, L.L.C., Eurex Beteilegungen AG, Eurex Frankfurt AG, Eurex Zurich AG, Eurex Deutschland,
Eurex Clearing AG and Deutsche Börse Systems AG (certain confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).* |
Exhibit Number
|
|
Description
|
|
10.34 |
|
New Systems Operations Agreement, dated July 10, 2002, between the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago and Ceres
Trading Limited Partnership and Deutsche Börse AG, Eurex Zurich AG and Eurex Frankfurt AG (certain confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment).* |
|
10.35 |
|
Third Amended and Restated License Agreement, dated as of July 10, 2002, between the Board of Trade of the City of
Chicago and Ceres.* |
|
10.36 |
|
General Release and Separation Agreement, between David J. Vitale and Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.
dated as of November 4, 2002.* |
|
10.37 |
|
Settlement Agreement, dated as of August 23, 2002 by and among Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc., The
Chicago Mercantile Exchange, eSpeed, Inc. and Electronic Trading Systems Corporation.** |
|
10.38 |
|
Letters relating to the employment of Bernard W. Dan, dated May 11, 2001 and May 15, 2001, from the Board of Trade of
the City of Chicago, Inc. to Bernard W. Dan.* |
|
10.39 |
|
Letters relating to the employment of William M. Farrow III, dated May 11, 2001 and May 15, 2001, from the Board of
Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. to William M. Farrow III.* |
|
21 |
|
Subsidiaries of CBOT Holdings.* |
|
23.1 |
|
Consent of Deloitte & Touche, LLP. |
|
23.2 |
|
Form of Consent of Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell (included in Exhibit 5). |
|
23.3 |
|
Form of Consent of Kirkland & Ellis (included in Exhibit 8).* |
|
23.4 |
|
Consent of William Blair & Company, L.L.C. |
|
24.1 |
|
Powers of Attorney (included in signature page).* |
|
99.1 |
|
Form of Proxy Card for Special Meeting of Members of the CBOT.* |
|
99.2 |
|
Consents of Persons to be Named as Directors of CBOT Holdings and CBOT Subsidiary.* |
|
99.3 |
|
Update Letter of William Blair & Company, L.L.C., dated December 18, 2001.* |
**To be filed by amendment. |
|
|
Exhibit 5
[Letterhead of Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell]
(Date)
CBOT Holdings, Inc.
Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.
141 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
Re: Restructuring Transactions
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as special Delaware counsel to CBOT Holdings,
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("CBOT Holdings"), and Board of Trade of the City
of Chicago, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the
demutualization and restructuring of the Company (the "Restructuring
Transactions"). As described in the Registration Statement on Form S-4,
Registration No. 333-72184 (as amended and supplemented, the "Registration
Statement"), filed by CBOT Holdings, which is currently a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), the Restructuring Transactions include, inter alia: (i) the merger of the
Company with a wholly owned subsidiary of CBOT Holdings (the "Merger"), as a
result of which the outstanding memberships in the Company will be converted
into Class B and Class C memberships in the Company, (ii) the distribution by
the Company to the members of the Company of a dividend (the "Dividend") of
shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share, of CBOT Holdings (the "Common
Stock") to be distributed immediately following the effective time of the
Merger, and (iii) the adoption of an Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation (the "Restated Certificate") and Amended and Restated Bylaws (the
"Restated Bylaws") of the Company, as well as the adoption and amendment of
various Rules of the Company.
As described in the Registration Statement, the Class B
memberships will be issued in five separate series, designated Series B-1,
Series B-2, Series B-3, Series B-4 and Series B-5. A maximum of 1,402 Class C
memberships, 1,402 Series B-1, Class B memberships, 867 Series B-2, Class B
memberships, 150 Series B-3, Class B memberships, 642 Series B-4 , Class B
memberships and 643 Series B-5, Class B memberships will be issued in the Merger
(collectively, the "New Memberships"), and a total of 39,802,650 shares of
Common Stock will be issued in the Dividend to be paid immediately after the
Merger (the "Shares"). As described in the Registration Statement, the holders
of different classes of membership in the Company prior to the Merger will
receive different combinations of New Memberships and Shares as a result of the
Merger and Dividend. Specifically, members will receive:
Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.
(Date)
Page 2
1. For each Full Membership, a combination of interests consisting of
25,000 shares of Common Stock and one Series B-1, Class B membership and one
Class C membership;
2. For each Associate Membership, a combination of interests consisting of
5,000 shares of Common Stock and one Series B-2, Class B membership;
3. For each GIM Membership and for each one-half participation in an
Associate Membership, a combination of interests consisting of 2,500 shares of
Common Stock and one Series B-3, Class B membership;
4. For each IDEM Membership, a combination of interests consisting of 300
shares of Common Stock and one Series B-4, Class B membership; and
5. For each COM Membership, a combination of interests consisting of 350
shares of Common Stock and one Series B-5, Class B membership.
These five combinations of interests are referred to
collectively hereinafter as "Combinations of Interests." The offer and sale of
the Combinations of Interests and the Shares are being registered pursuant to
the Registration Statement.
For purposes of rendering the opinions expressed herein, we
have examined and relied upon the following documents in the forms provided to
us by the Company: the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws of the Company, and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
and Bylaws of CBOT Holdings, in effect as of the date hereof; the Restated
Certificate and the Restated Bylaws proposed to be adopted by the Company in the
Restructuring Transactions as set forth in the Registration Statement; the
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of CBOT Holdings (the "CBOT
Holdings Restated Certificate") and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of CBOT
Holdings (the "CBOT Holdings Restated Bylaws") proposed to be adopted by CBOT
Holdings in the Restructuring Transactions as set forth in the Registration
Statement; the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated __________ by and among the
Company, CBOT Merger Sub, Inc. and CBOT Holdings (the "Merger Agreement"); the
form of resolutions to be adopted by the board of directors of the Company (the
"Company Board") to declare the Dividend (the "Dividend Resolutions"); a
Certificate executed by the Secretary of the Company relating to certain factual
matters and representations made by the Company (the "Secretary's Certificate");
and the Registration Statement. In such examinations, we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures, the conformity to original documents of all
documents submitted to us as drafts or copies or forms of documents to be
executed and the legal capacity of natural persons to complete the execution of
documents. We have further assumed for purposes of this opinion that the
memberships of the Company and participation interests therein that were
outstanding prior to the issuance of the New Memberships were duly authorized
and are validly issued and outstanding; that the directors of the Company
satisfied their fiduciary duties in authorizing the Restructuring Transactions;
and that the restrictions on transfer set forth in the CBOT Holdings Restated
Certificate and in the Restated Certificate of the Company bear a reasonably
necessary relation to the best interests of CBOT Holdings and the Company,
respectively. No opinion is expressed with respect to the requirements of, or
compliance with,
Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.
(Date)
Page 3
federal or state securities or blue sky laws. We have not reviewed any documents
other than those identified above in connection with this opinion, and we have
assumed that there are no other documents that are contrary to or inconsistent
with the opinions expressed herein. As to any facts material to our opinion,
other than those assumed, we have relied without independent investigation on
the above-referenced documents and on the accuracy, as of the date hereof, of
the matters therein contained.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and limited in all
respects to matters of Delaware law, it is our opinion that when the New
Memberships and the Shares, respectively, are issued in the Dividend and the
Merger, respectively, as described in the Registration Statement and in
accordance with the documents referred to therein and herein, the Shares and the
New Memberships will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable and,
accordingly, the Combinations of Interests consisting of such New Memberships
and Shares will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Our opinion
with respect to the fully paid and nonassessable status of the New Memberships,
and of the Combinations of Interests to the extent comprised of New Memberships,
does not include dues, fees, fines, charges or other assessments or penalties
that may be imposed by the Company on holders of memberships in accordance with
and to the extent permitted by the Restated Certificate and Restated Bylaws of
the Company, including the rules and regulations of the Company as incorporated
into the Restated Bylaws, and we express no opinion concerning the validity or
enforceability of any particular right, power, privilege, or obligation of any
member of the Company or attaching to any New Membership issued by the Company.
We express no opinion whether the Combinations of Interests, apart from the New
Memberships and Shares of which they are comprised, constitute a separately
issued security for purposes of Delaware law.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as exhibit 5 to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus forming a part thereof. In giving this consent, we do
not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.
The opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no
opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. We
assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should the applicable
law be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise after the
date on which the Registration Statement is declared effective by the
Commission.
This opinion is furnished to you in connection with your filing of the
Registration Statement and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise
relied upon for any other purpose.
Very truly yours,
Exhibit 8.2
Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Index Number: 351.00-00 Washington, DC 20224
Glen M. Johnson Person to Contact:
Chief Financial Officer Douglas C. Bates, ID# 50-19577
Board of Trade of the City of Chicago Telephone Number:
141 W. Jackson Boulevard (202) 622-7550
Chicago, Illinois 60604 Refer Reply To:
CC:CORP:B05-PLR-163274-01
Date:
September 30, 2002
Re: Board of Trade of the City of Chicago
Taxpayer = Board of Trade of the City of Chicago
(Delaware)
E.I.N. 36-0819800
Business A = Commodities futures and options trading
Date B = August 28, 2000
Date C = September 30, 2000
Date D = August 15, 2001
Property M = Ceres limited partnership
n = 3,600
P = Trading
q = approximately one-half of one percent of its
value
State X = Delaware
State Y = Illinois
Entity Z = Chicago Board Options Exchange
Class 1 = Full Members (may trade in all listed contracts)
PLR-163274-01
Class 2 = Associate Members (may trade GIMs, COMs,
and IDEMs)
Class 3 = GIMs (Government Instrument Market only)
Class 4 = COMs (Commodity Options Market only)
Class 5 = IDEMs (Index, Debt, and Energy Market only)
Dear Glen M. Johnson:
We respond to your letter dated October 30, 2001, requesting rulings on the
federal income tax consequences of proposed transactions. Additional information
was submitted in letters dated December 5, 2001, January 28, 2002, March 7,
2002, June 3, 2002, August 13, 2002, August 15, 2002, September 4, 2002, and
September 23, 2002. The information submitted for consideration is summarized
below.
Taxpayer is a State X not-for-profit, nonstock membership corporation,
filing a consolidated federal income tax return as a Subchapter C corporation.
Taxpayer uses the calendar year as its annual accounting period and the accrual
method of accounting. Taxpayer derives its revenues primarily from Business A.
As a membership organization, Taxpayer's charter does not provide for the
issuance of stock. Rather, participation in Taxpayer is obtained through a
membership interest. Taxpayer currently has over n memberships outstanding.
Currently there are five classes of membership: Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, Class
4, and Class 5. Each of the five classes entitles a member to conduct business
in one or more of Taxpayer's product lines. Taxpayer's bylaws do not provide for
the distribution of dividends, but in the event of a liquidation, the proceeds
from the dissolultion would be shared among the members, in a ratio depending on
each member's class. Taxpayer's current voting rights are distributed between
Class 1 and Class 2 members in a ratio depending on each member's class. Class
3, Class 4, and Class 5 members presently have no voting rights. Taxpayer's
Class 1 members also have a legal right to become members of Entity Z. Nearly
all of the members own interests in Property M. These interests may not be
transferred separately from their corresponding memberships, according to the
agreement governing Property M.
Taxpayer intends to complete a series of transactions resulting in the
restructuring of Taxpayer into a State X for-profit, stock corporation. Taxpayer
has already completed several steps in this series of transactions. The
completed steps are as follows:
3
PLR-163274-01
(i) Taxpayer, previously incorporated in State Y, formed a new not-for-
profit nonstock State X corporation as a wholly owned subsidiary and
merged with and into the new subsidiary, with the members of State Y
Taxpayer becoming members in the surviving State X entity with nearly
identical terms and conditions of membership, effective as of
Date B;
(ii) Taxpayer formed a for-profit stock subsidiary and contributed some of
its assets (q) to the subsidiary, effective as of Date C; and
(iii) Taxpayer formed a for-profit, stock subsidiary ("Holdco"), which in
turn formed a for-profit, stock subsidiary ("Transitory Merger Sub"),
effective as of Date D;
Taxpayer represents that it will undertake the following additional steps:
(i) Taxpayer's members will contribute the Equity Rights portions of
their old memberships to Holdco, and will receive in exchange for
such Equity Rights shares of Holdco common stock, based upon a
specified number of shares for each class of members;
(ii) Transitory Merger Sub will merge with and into Taxpayer, with
Taxpayer surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco;
(iii) Taxpayer will change its status from not-for-profit to for-profit
while remaining a membership corporation; and
(iv) Taxpayer's members will exchange their old memberships for new
memberships which will not differ materially with respect to Non-
Equity P Rights (including the right to become a member of Entity Z,
where applicable), but which will have no Equity Rights.
As a result of these steps, Taxpayer proposes to convert the members'
Equity Rights in Taxpayer into shares of stock of Holdco, while allowing the
members to retain their respective Non-Equity P Rights.
Taxpayer represents that it has no plan or intent to acquire members'
interests in Property M, and that transfer of such interests by the members will
remain restricted in the same manner as before the restructuring transactions.
Thus, based solely on the information and representations submitted, and
the deemed separation of Equity Rights and Non-Equity P Rights, we hold as
follows:
(1) Taxpayer's reincorporation as a not-for-profit nonstock State X
membership corporation qualifies as a reorganization under
(S) 368(a)(1)(F);
(2) No gain or loss will be recognized to the members of State Y Taxpayer
upon the reincorporation into State X Taxpayer or upon the exchange
of State Y Taxpayer membership interests for State X Taxpayer
membership interests (S) 364(a)(1));
4
PLR-163274-01
(3) The Non-Equity P Rights held by Taxpayer's members prior to the
restructuring transactions are not materially different in kind and
extent from the Non-Equity P Rights that will be held by Taxpayer's
members subsequent to the restructuring transactions;
(4) No gain or loss will be recognized to the members of Taxpayer upon
the receipt of P rights in exchange for their old Non-Equity P Rights
((S) 1001);
(5) The transfer of Equity Rights to Holdco for Holdco stock in
conjunction with the merger of Transitory Merger Sub with and into
Taxpayer will be treated as a transaction described under
(S) 351 (a);
(6) The formation and merger of Transitory Merger Sub will be disregarded
for Federal income tax purposes;
(7) No gain or loss will be recognized to the members of Taxpayer upon
their receipt of Holdco stock in conjunction with the merger of
Transitory Merger Sub with and into Taxpayer ((S) 351 (a));
(8) No gain or loss will be recognized to Holdco upon the receipt of
Equity Rights in Taxpayer in exchange for its stock pursuant to the
merger of Transitory Merger Sub with and into Taxpayer ((S) 1032(a));
(9) The basis of the Non-Equity P Rights received by each member pursuant
to the restructuring transactions will equal such member's basis in
his or her Non-Equity P Rights immediately before the restructuring
transactions;
(10) The basis of the Holdco stock received by each member pursuant to the
restructuring transactions will equal such member's basis in his or
her Equity Rights immediately before the restructuring transactions
((S) 358(a)); and
(11) Provided the property exchanged was a capital asset or an asset
described in (S) 1231, the holding period of the Non-Equity P Rights
and the Holdco stock received by-each member pursuant to the
restructuring transactions will include the holding period of such
member's State Y Taxpayer membership ((S) 1223(l)).
This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer requesting it. Section
6110(k)(3) of the Code provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.
The rulings contained in this letter are based upon information and
representabons submitted by the taxpayer and accompanied by penalties of perjury
statements executed by an appropriate party. While this office has not verified
any of the material submitted in support of the request for rulings, it is
subject to verification on examination.
A copy of this letter must be attached to any income tax return to which it
is relevant.
5
PLR-163274-01
In accordance with the Power of Attorney on file with this office, a copy
of this letter is being sent to your authorized representative.
Sincerely,
/s/ Debra Carlisle
------------------
Debra Carlisle
Chief, Branch 5
Office of the Associate Chief Counsel
(Corporate)
EXHIBIT 23.1
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the use in this Amendment No. 4 to Registration Statement No.
333-72184 of CBOT Holdings, Inc. on Form S-4, of our report dated February 19,
2002 (October 10, 2002 as to Note 14) (which report expresses an unqualified
opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the adoption of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities") relating to the consolidated financial
statements of the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. and Subsidiaries,
appearing in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement. We
also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such
Prospectus.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Chicago, Illinois
December 26, 2002
Exhibit 23.4
[William Blair Letterhead]
CONSENT
We hereby consent to the use in the Registration Statement and Proxy of
CBOT Holdings, Inc. on Form S-4 of our opinion dated September 17, 2002,
appearing as Appendix D, to such Registration Statement and Proxy, to the
description therein of such opinion and to the references therein to our name.
In giving the foregoing consent, we do not admit that we come within the
category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any
part of such Registration Statement and Proxy within the meaning of the term
"experts" as used in the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
William Blair & Company, L.L.C.
--------------------------------------
/s/ William Blair & Company, L.L.C.
Chicago, Illinois
December 27, 2002