Form 8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 8-K

 


CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) 01/31/2007 (01/31/2007)

 


NYMEX Holdings, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   333-30332   13-4098266

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

One North End Avenue, World Financial Center,

New York, NY

  10282-1101
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (212) 299-2000

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 



Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

The information in this Item is furnished to, but not filed with, the Securities and Exchange Commission solely under Item 2.02 of Form 8-K, “Results of Operations and Financial Condition.”

On January 31, 2007, NYMEX Holdings, Inc. issued a press release announcing financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2006. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits

 

99.1    Press release, dated January 31, 2007

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

NYMEX Holdings, Inc.
By:  

/s/ RICHARD D. KERSCHNER

Name:   Richard D. Kerschner
Title:   SVP – Corporate Governance and Strategic Initiatives

Date: January 31, 2007

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.  

Description

99.1   Press release, dated January 31, 2007

 

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Press Release, dated January 31, 2007

Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

 

Investor Contact:    Keil Decker
   (212) 299-2209
Media Contact:    Anu Ahluwalia
   (212) 299-2439

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NYMEX HOLDINGS, INC. REPORTS RECORD FOURTH QUARTER

AND FULL YEAR 2006 RESULTS

 

    Full Year Operating Revenues Increase 49%, Net Income Increases 118%

 

    Fourth Quarter Operating Revenues Rise 40%, Net Income Increases 105%

 

    Results Driven by Record Volume and Expansion of Electronic Trading

New York, N.Y., January 31, 2007 — NYMEX Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NMX) (“NYMEX”), parent company of the New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc., today reported that total operating revenues for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2006, rose 40 percent to $124.8 million compared to $88.9 million for the fourth quarter 2005. Net income for the fourth quarter 2006 increased 105 percent to $42.3 million compared to $20.7 million for the fourth quarter 2005. Diluted earnings per share rose for the fourth quarter 2006 to $0.48, based on 87.8 million shares outstanding, compared to $0.28, based on 73.4 million shares outstanding for the fourth quarter 2005.

The Company’s 2006 fourth quarter results include a one-time pretax gain of $2.9 million related to the sale of marketable securities. Excluding this one-time gain, pro forma diluted earnings per share would have been $0.46 for the 2006 fourth quarter, an increase of 64 percent over the 2005 fourth quarter.

For the year ended December 31, 2006, NYMEX reported record total operating revenues of $497.2 million, a 49 percent increase from $334.1 million for 2005. Net income rose 118 percent to a record $154.8 million, versus $71.1 million in 2005. Diluted earnings per share increased 96 percent to $1.90 from $0.97 per diluted share in 2005, based on 81.5 million and 73.4 million shares outstanding, respectively.

 

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“NYMEX achieved a number of significant milestones in 2006 which strengthened our position as the world’s leading marketplace for energy and metals,” said NYMEX Chairman, Richard Schaeffer. “The most noteworthy achievement was our transition from a private, member-owned exchange of 135 years, to a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. This was a major success for us and confirms the confidence the Board, management and the investing public has in the long-term prospects of our business. We also expanded our relationship with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”) to list our energy contracts on the CME Globex® electronic trading platform, giving our customers added speed, flexibility and worldwide distribution. Importantly, the 201 percent increase in electronic volume since the June listing on Globex demonstrates the competitive strengths of our hybrid, side by side trading formula. In addition, following our transaction with COMEX in September, we successfully launched all of the COMEX metals contracts, as well as new metals contracts, electronically on Globex.”

Mr. Schaeffer continued, “Strategically, we continue to explore untapped markets and product areas to expand the NYMEX presence as part of our growth strategy. We recently announced our forthcoming strategic investment in Optionable, Inc., a leading provider of natural gas and other energy derivatives brokerage services, which will enhance our position in the options trading space. We will continue to explore additional acquisitions and strategic investments. As we move into 2007, we remain focused on continuing to capitalize on the strength of our hybrid platform, expanding our distribution internationally, developing new product offerings, and streamlining our cost structure.”

“We are very pleased with our financial and operating performance in the fourth quarter and full year 2006, as we continued to execute on our strategy,” commented James E. Newsome, NYMEX President and Chief Executive Officer. “Strong increases in operating revenues and net earnings were driven by record volume growth and the continued expansion of electronic trading. We believe the volume growth in electronic trading of our products on the Globex platform represents a clear validation of our hybrid, side by side trading strategy. We also

 

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introduced more than 100 new products over the course of the year, most recently launching the first iPort energy futures index contracts and six new soft commodity futures contracts on CME Globex and the NYMEX ClearPort® clearing and trading platform.”

Fourth-Quarter Results

Clearing and transaction fees rose 41 percent for the fourth quarter 2006 to $104.8 million compared to $74.1 million for the year ago period. Market data fees were $16.4 million for the fourth quarter 2006, versus $11.5 million for the fourth quarter 2005, an increase of 43%.

Average daily volume was 1.2 million contracts during the fourth quarter 2006, a 36 percent increase over the fourth quarter of 2005. NYMEX electronic volume on CME Globex was 368,000 contracts per day and represented 378 percent increase over fourth quarter 2005 electronic volume. NYMEX floor traded energy futures and options averaged 362,000 contracts, a decrease of 20 percent over the fourth quarter of 2005. COMEX electronic volume averaged 16,000 per day (this includes 666,000 trades on CME Globex in December the first month COMEX traded on that platform). COMEX metals floor trading average daily volume was 76,000, a decrease of 36% over the fourth quarter of 2005. Average daily volume on NYMEX ClearPort Clearing increased 68 percent in the fourth quarter of 2006 to 302,000, from 180,000 in the comparable period of 2005. The remaining volume of 75,000 trades per day consisted of other transactions which includes position transfers and exchanges.

Total operating expenses, excluding direct transaction costs of $18.2 million, were $38.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2006. This represents a 16 percent decrease from $45.9 million for the same period in 2005, driven primarily by closure of the London trading floor operations, and the reduction in the accrued annual bonus and other accruals for the fourth quarter.

Income before provision for income taxes was $72.5 million for the fourth quarter 2006, compared to $38.4 million for the fourth quarter 2005. Pretax margin, defined as income before provision for income taxes divided by operating and non-operating income (net of interest expense/fees from securities lending and direct transaction costs), was 64 percent in the fourth quarter 2006, compared to 44 percent in fourth quarter 2005.

 

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The Company reported net income of $42.3 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, for fourth quarter 2006, compared with $20.7 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the year ago quarter based on 87.8 million and 73.4 million shares outstanding, respectively. Results for the 2006 fourth quarter, as previously noted, included a one-time pretax gain of $2.9 million related to the sale of marketable securities, resulting in pro forma net income of $40.7 million, or $0.46 per diluted share for the year.

Full-Year 2006 Results

Revenues from clearing and transaction fees increased 51 percent, to $419.7 million, from $277.6 million for 2005. Market data fees were $63.6 million, versus $44.5 million for 2005, an increase of 43%.

Average daily volume was 1.2 million contracts for 2006, a 40 percent increase from 857,000 contracts in 2005. NYMEX electronic volume averaged 194,000 contracts per day in 2006, an increase of 208 percent over 2005. Electronic trading of COMEX metals contracts had an average daily volume of 13,000 contracts, up 86 percent from the 2005 level. NYMEX began migrating electronic trading to CME Globex in June, COMEX followed in December. For 2006, total electronic trading on CME Globex was 38.4 million contracts or 13 percent of total trading. Total NYMEX energy futures and options traded on the floor for 2006 was 122.5 million, or 492,000 contracts per day, as compared to a total of 120.5 million, or 480,000 contracts per day for 2005. COMEX floor traded futures and options totaled 26.8 million contracts in 2006, for an average daily volume of 108,000 contracts, as compared to total of 27.6 million and 110,000 contracts per day, for the year ago period. Average daily volume on NYMEX ClearPort Clearing increased 101 percent in 2006 to 314,000 contracts. A remaining volume of 62,000 trades per day consisted of other transactions including position transfers and exchanges.

Total operating expenses, excluding direct transaction costs of $49.7 million, were $174.4 million for 2006, compared with $178.1 million for 2005. This decrease was driven primarily by closure of the London trading floor operations and a reduction in professional fees as the prior year included significant costs related to our international expansion initiatives. This was offset in part by an increase in compensation expense which included $4.5 million of severance related costs. Direct transaction costs in 2006 were $49.7 million, compared to $29.2 million in 2005.

 

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Income before provision for income taxes was $278.9 million for 2006, compared to $131.0 million for 2005. Pretax margin was 60 percent for 2006, compared to 41 percent during 2005. Net income for 2006 was $154.8 million, or $1.90 per diluted share, compared with $71.1 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, for 2005. Results for the year, as previously noted, included a one-time pretax gain of $2.9 million related to the sale of marketable securities, resulting in pro forma net income of $153.2 million, or $1.88 per diluted share for the year.

Investor Conference Call / Webcast Details

NYMEX will hold a conference call to discuss 2006 fourth-quarter and year-end results today, January 31, 2007 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time. Those wishing to participate in the conference call can dial (888) 211-1382 (U.S. and Canada) or (706) 643-3090 (International), using the confirmation code ‘NMX’. A live audio webcast of the call will also be available on the Investor Relations section of NYMEX’s website at http://investor.nymex.com. Additionally, an archived version of the conference call will also be available within approximately 90 minutes of the conclusion of the call.

About NYMEX Holdings, Inc.

NYMEX Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:NMX) is the parent company of the New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc., the world’s largest physical commodity futures and options exchange. NYMEX offers futures and options trading in energy, metals and soft commodities contracts and clearing services for more than 250 off-exchange energy contracts.

Through a hybrid model of open outcry floor trading and electronic trading on CME Globex® and NYMEX ClearPort®, NYMEX offers crude oil, petroleum products, natural gas, coal, electricity, gold, silver, copper, aluminum, platinum group metals, and soft commodities contracts for trading and clearing virtually 24 hours a day.

 

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Further information about NYMEX Holdings, Inc. and the New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. is available on the NYMEX website at http://www.nymex.com.

###

Forward Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to our future performance, operating results, strategy, and other future events. Such statements generally include words such as could, can, anticipate, believe, expect, seek, pursue, and similar words and terms, in connection with any discussion of future results. Forward-looking statements involve a number of assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, any of which may cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated, estimated, or projected results referenced in forward-looking statements. In particular, the forward-looking statements of NYMEX Holdings, Inc., and its subsidiaries are subject to the following risks and uncertainties: the success and timing of new futures contracts and products; changes in political, economic, or industry conditions; the unfavorable resolution of material legal proceedings; the impact and timing of technological changes and the adequacy of intellectual property protection; the impact of legislative and regulatory actions, including without limitation, actions by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and terrorist activities and international hostilities, which may affect the general economy as well as oil and other commodity markets. We assume no obligation to update or supplement our forward-looking statements.

(Tables Follow)

 

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NYMEX HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except for share data)

 

    

Three Months Ended

December 31,

   

Year Ended

December 31,

 
      2006     2005     2006     2005  

Operating Revenues

        

Clearing and transaction fees

   $ 104,765     $ 74,067     $ 419,731     $ 277,632  

Market data fees

     16,416       11,469       63,637       44,533  

Other, net

     3,589       3,366       13,881       11,943  
                                

Total operating revenues

     124,770       88,902       497,249       334,108  
                                

Operating Expenses

        

Direct transaction costs

     18,160       6,747       49,742       29,158  

Salaries and employee benefits

     16,726       17,103       76,772       62,419  

Occupancy and equipment

     5,788       6,964       28,255       28,482  

Depreciation and amortization, net of deferred credit amortization

     3,597       3,416       15,167       15,221  

General and administrative

     4,470       6,006       19,670       22,517  

Professional services

     3,729       5,659       14,540       27,379  

Telecommunications

     1,350       1,825       6,104       6,929  

Marketing

     1,019       2,111       5,439       5,207  

Other expenses

     1,785       2,839       8,501       9,918  
                                

Total operating expenses

     56,624       52,670       224,190       207,230  
                                

Operating income

     68,146       36,232       273,059       126,878  

Non-Operating Income and Expenses

        

Investment income

     7,129       3,165       12,879       8,895  

Interest income from securities lending

     32,270       27,615       130,184       68,782  

Interest expense/fees from securities lending

     (31,819 )     (26,559 )     (127,254 )     (66,114 )

Interest expense

     (1,620 )     (1,673 )     (6,620 )     (6,852 )

Losses from unconsolidated investments

     (1,562 )     (392 )     (3,329 )     (588 )
                                

Total non-operating income and expenses

     4,398       2,156       5,860       4,123  
                                

Income before provision for income taxes

     72,544       38,388       278,919       131,001  

Provision for income taxes

     30,233       17,734       124,118       59,873  
                                

Net income

   $ 42,311     $ 20,654     $ 154,801     $ 71,128  
                                

Proforma weighted average common shares outstanding and earnings per share retroactively adjusted to reflect the 90,000-for-1 recapitalization on March 14, 2006:

        

Earnings per Share

        

Basic

   $ 0.48     $ 0.28     $ 1.90     $ 0.97  
                                

Diluted

   $ 0.48     $ 0.28     $ 1.90     $ 0.97  
                                

Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding

        

Basic

     87,603,000       73,440,000       81,504,000       73,440,000  

Diluted

     87,764,000       73,440,000       81,544,000       73,440,000  

In order to provide greater transparency, NYMEX has modified its income statement presentation. The modification consists of a non-operating category, which includes investment income, securities lending interest income and expense/fees, interest expense, and losses of unconsolidated subsidiaries.

 

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NYMEX HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except for share data)

 

     December 31,
2006
   December 31,
2005

Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 18,631    $ 35,664

Collateral from securities lending program

     2,547,312      2,314,618

Marketable securities, at market value

     485,581      100,993

Clearing and transaction fees receivable, net of allowance for member credits

     32,853      23,747

Prepaid expenses

     7,009      5,768

Margin deposits and guaranty funds

     17,052      92,555

Other current assets

     10,238      15,777
             

Total current assets

     3,118,676      2,589,122

Property and equipment, net

     183,193      190,036

Goodwill and indefinite life intangible assets

     307,125      16,329

Other assets

     14,937      13,260
             

Total assets

   $ 3,623,931    $ 2,808,747
             

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

     

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   $ 14,854    $ 17,627

Accrued salaries and related liabilities

     13,688      9,893

Payable under securities lending program

     2,547,312      2,314,618

Margin deposits and guaranty funds

     17,052      92,555

Income tax payable

     4,984      5,250

Other current liabilities

     35,019      36,281
             

Total current liabilities

     2,632,909      2,476,224

Grant for building construction deferred credit

     106,166      108,311

Long-term debt

     80,281      83,098

Retirement obligation

     12,367      12,121

Other liabilities

     17,286      19,211
             

Total liabilities

     2,849,009      2,698,965

Total stockholders’ equity

     774,922      109,782
             

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 3,623,931    $ 2,808,747
             

 

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NYMEX HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

The Company evaluates its financial performance using various measures. One measure is to exclude one-time gains and losses from its results to arrive at a pro forma earnings per share amount. Pro forma earnings per share is a non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) performance measure, however, the Company believes that it is useful to assist investors in gaining an understanding of the trends and operating results of the Company’s business. Pro forma earnings per share should be viewed in addition to, and not in lieu of, the Company’s reported results under U.S. GAAP.

During the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company recorded a gain related to the sale of marketable securities of approximately $2.9 million that was recorded in investment income under the caption “Non-Operating Income and Expenses” on its consolidated statements of income. The following is a reconciliation of U.S. GAAP results to pro forma results for the periods presented:

 

     (in thousands, except for share data)
     Three Months Ended
December 31,
   Year Ended
December 31,
     2006     2005    2006     2005

Total operating revenues

   $ 124,770     $ 88,902    $ 497,249     $ 334,108

Total operating expenses

     56,624       52,670      224,190       207,230
                             

Operating income

     68,146       36,232      273,059       126,878

Total non-operating income and expenses

     4,398       2,156      5,860       4,123

Less: Non-recurring investment income

     (2,855 )     —        (2,855 )     —  
                             

Pro forma total non-operating income and expenses

     1,543       2,156      3,005       4,123

Income before provision for income taxes

     72,544       38,388      278,919       131,001

Effect of pro forma adjustment

     (2,855 )     —        (2,855 )     —  
                             

Pro forma income before provision for income taxes

     69,689       38,388      276,064       131,001

Provision for income taxes

     30,233       17,734      124,118       59,873

Tax effect of pro forma adjustment

     (1,270 )     —        (1,270 )     —  
                             

Pro forma provision for income taxes

     28,963       17,734      122,848       59,873

Net income

     42,311       20,654      154,801       71,128

Net effect of pro forma adjustment

     (1,585 )     —        (1,585 )     —  
                             

Pro forma net income

   $ 40,726     $ 20,654    $ 153,216     $ 71,128
                             

Proforma earnings per share retroactively adjusted to reflect the 90,000-for-1 recapitalization on March 14, 2006:

         

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.48     $ 0.28    $ 1.90     $ 0.97

Net effect of pro forma adjustment

   $ (0.02 )   $ —      $ (0.02 )   $ —  
                             

Pro forma diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.46     $ 0.28    $ 1.88     $ 0.97
                             

 

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     Q4 2006    Q3 2006    Q2 2006    Q1 2006    Q4 2005

Trading Days

     62      62      63      62      62
Average Daily Volume (round turns, in thousands, difference is due to rounding)
     Q4 2006    Q3 2006    Q2 2006    Q1 2006    Q4 2005

NYMEX Floor

     362      528      537      541      453

NYMEX Electronic

     368      197      112      102      77

COMEX Floor

     76      88      128      139      118

COMEX Electronic

     16      8      17      12      10

ClearPort

     302      436      276      242      180

Other

     75      65      64      46      44
                                  

Total

     1,199      1,324      1,132      1,082      882
                                  
Clearing and Transaction Revenue (in thousands)
     Q4 2006    Q3 2006    Q2 2006    Q1 2006    Q4 2005

NYMEX Floor

   $ 24,497    $ 36,097    $ 37,453    $ 33,918    $ 30,427

NYMEX Electronic

     24,953      18,260      13,035      12,088      10,021

COMEX Floor

     5,795      6,711      10,136      11,211      7,924

COMEX Electronic

     2,000      1,736      3,508      2,432      1,956

ClearPort

     38,837      48,326      32,029      26,748      17,903

Other

     8,683      8,069      7,185      6,023      5,837
                                  

Total

   $ 104,765    $ 119,200    $ 103,346    $ 92,420    $ 74,067
                                  
Net Rates Per Contract
     Q4 2006    Q3 2006    Q2 2006    Q1 2006    Q4 2005

NYMEX Floor

   $ 1.10    $ 1.10    $ 1.11    $ 1.01    $ 1.04

NYMEX Electronic

     0.70      1.07      1.85      1.92      1.86

COMEX Floor

     1.23      1.22      1.26      1.30      1.08

COMEX Electronic

     1.99      3.35      3.36      3.29      3.21

ClearPort

     1.58      1.36      1.42      1.35      1.20

Other

     1.88      2.00      1.81      2.10      2.14

Total Net RPC

     1.17      1.25      1.33      1.28      1.23
                                  

Direct Cost

     0.24      0.20      0.12      0.10      0.12
                                  

Gross RPC

   $ 1.41    $ 1.45    $ 1.45    $ 1.38    $ 1.35
                                  

 

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