425

 

Filed by NYSE Group, Inc.

Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,

and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12 of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

 

Subject Companies:

 

New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

Archipelago Holdings, Inc.

(Commission File No. 001-32274)

 

Date: November 1, 2005

 

On November 1, 2005, the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. issued the following press release:

 

*    *    *

 

LOGO

 

Release: November 1, 2005

Contact: Rich Adamonis

Phone: 212.656.2140

Email: radamonis@nyse.com

 

NYSE Announces Third-Quarter 2005 Financial Results

Net Income Increased $19.9 Million Over Year-Ago Quarter

 

NEW YORK, November 1, 2005 – The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today reported net income of $22.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2005, compared to $2.1 million in the year-ago quarter and $13.0 million for the second quarter of 2005. These results reflect the restatement of NYSE’s financial earnings dating back to fiscal year 2002 that were announced in the NYSE Group’s Amendment No. 2 S-4 Registration Statement filed with the SEC on October 24, 2005.

 

Year-Over-Year Financial Highlights

 

Revenues, less Section 31 fees1, for third-quarter 2005 were $277.5 million, up $6.8 million or 2.5% versus the third-quarter of 2004. Regulatory fees increased $4.6 million or 15.9% to $33.8 million due to higher gross FOCUS (Financial and Operational Combined Uniform Single Report) revenues reported for the period. Investment and other income was $24.5 million, an increase of $11.6 million or 90.4% versus the year-ago quarter. The increase in investment and other income was the result of a portfolio restructuring in December 2004 to higher-yielding investments combined with a higher-interest-rate environment, additional fine income and non-recurring insurance claims received during the third-quarter 2005. Listing fee revenue was $85.4 million, an increase of $2.6 million or 3.2% due to additional shares outstanding. Declines in data-processing fees of $9.6 million or 17.8% were the result of decreased third-party usage of services provided by SIAC.2 Trading fees decreased by $3.1 million or 8.7%, even as NYSE average daily volume increased 14.7%. The decrease in trading fees is due to a one-time reimbursement of $2.4 million during the third quarter of 2005 and certain pricing caps being met by members.

 

Expenses were $240.6 million, down $27.9 million or 10.4% from third-quarter 2004. The decreases were due to reductions in professional services of $6.9 million or 18.2%, systems and related support of $4.1 million or 12.5%, and compensation costs of $11.4 million or 8.6%. These decreases were driven by cost-savings initiatives within NYSE including reduced spending in general and administrative

 


1 The NYSE pays SEC fees pursuant to Section 31 of the Exchange Act. These fees are designed to recover the costs of the government for the supervision and regulation of securities markets and securities professionals. The NYSE collects activity assessment fees from members and pays Section 31 fees (formerly named “SEC Activity Remittance”) to the SEC based on fee schedules determined by the SEC. The NYSE records activity assessment revenue and Section 31 fee expense on its condensed consolidated statement of income
2 SIAC operates on a cost-recovery model driven by its customers' demands. Under this model, any increases or decreases in SIAC's expenses result in a corresponding change in its revenue.


expenses, down $11.1 million or 42.9%. In addition to the costs savings initiatives, professional services were impacted by the reduction in legal expenses of $5.7 million for the quarter. Somewhat offsetting these decreases of expenses was an increase in depreciation and amortization expense of $5.2 million or 25.1% to $25.9 million primarily due to the acceleration of certain useful lives following a fourth-quarter 2004 review of depreciation policies.

 

Quarter-Over-Quarter Financial Highlights

 

Compared to the second quarter of 2005, third-quarter revenues, less Section 31 fees1, increased 0.4% or $1.2 million. Investment and other income increased by $10.6 million or 76.9% primarily due to additional fine income recognized during third-quarter 2005. Trading fees decreased by $5.2 million or 13.7% to $32.6 million as NYSE average daily volume decreased by 2.0%. In addition, a one-time reimbursement during the third quarter 2005 and certain pricing caps being met by members resulted in the decrease in trading fees. Data-processing fees decreased by $3.7 million or 7.7% to $44.1 million as a result of decreased third-party usage of services provided by SIAC. A decline in market-information fees of $3.3 million or 7.1% to $43.0 million was due to a decrease in NYSE share of trades from 89.0% to 86.7%.

 

Expenses decreased by $14.1 million or 5.5% quarter over quarter. While expenses were down generally, professional services, systems and related support and general and administrative costs were the main drivers of the decrease. Professional services decreased by $4.6 million or 12.8% as a result of a $4.5 million reduction in legal expenses. Systems and related support decreased by $2.9 million or 9.2% due to continued cost-savings initiatives across the organization. General and administrative expenses decreased by $3.1 million or 17.5% during the third quarter 2005 as compared to the second quarter primarily due to reduced advertising spending. Fourth quarter expenses, however, are expected to increase, primarily due to increased legal expenses.

 

Income Taxes

 

The effective consolidated income tax rate for the third quarter ended September 30, 2005 was 38.1%, up from 34.3% from the previous quarter. The increase is a result of the items that impact the effective tax rate, such as municipal interest, having a reduced effect on the increase of income before taxes for the quarter. For the third quarter of 2004, the NYSE had a tax benefit of $71 thousand as a result of the elimination of non-taxable items from income before taxes.

 

Capital

 

As of September 30, 2005, total members’ equity was $825.2 million and equity per member having distributive rights equaled $604,000.

 

About the NYSE

 

The New York Stock Exchange is the world’s leading equities market and home to 2,777 companies whose total global market capitalization is $21.0 trillion, including $7.6 trillion for 447 non-U.S. companies from 47 countries. Buyers and sellers meet directly in a fair, open and orderly market to realize the best possible price through the interplay of supply and demand. On an average day, 1.58 billion shares, valued at $55.0 billion, are traded on the NYSE. The NYSE provided the most competitive quotes in its listed stocks creating the National Best Bid and Offer more than 89% of the time. For more information please visit http://www.nyse.com.

 

2


New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(unaudited)

 

     Three months ended

    % of Change From

 

(Amounts in Thousands)


   September 30,
2005


   June 30,
2005


   September 30,
2004


    June 30,
2005


    September 30,
2004


 
               (Restated)              

Revenues:

                                  

Activity assessment fees

   $ 198,660    $ 141,773    $ 66,661     40.1     198.0  

Listing fees

     85,428      85,465      82,793     (0.0 )   3.2  

Data processing fees

     44,086      47,745      53,657     (7.7 )   (17.8 )

Market information fees

     42,989      46,290      42,148     (7.1 )   2.0  

Trading fees

     32,633      37,806      35,754     (13.7 )   (8.7 )

Regulatory fees

     33,831      32,185      29,188     5.1     15.9  

Facility and equipment fees

     12,209      12,286      12,132     (0.6 )   0.6  

Membership fees

     1,834      715      2,191     156.5     (16.3 )

Investment and other income

     24,488      13,844      12,861     76.9     90.4  
    

  

  


           

Total revenues

   $ 476,158    $ 418,109    $ 337,385     13.9     41.1  

Section 31 fees

     198,660      141,773      66,661     40.1     198.0  
    

  

  


           

Revenues, less Section 31 fees

   $ 277,498    $ 276,336    $ 270,724     0.4     2.5  

Expenses:

                                  

Compensation

     122,005      125,551      133,439     (2.8 )   (8.6 )

Systems and related support

     28,974      31,895      33,117     (9.2 )   (12.5 )

Professional services

     31,106      35,663      38,035     (12.8 )   (18.2 )

Depreciation and amortization

     25,903      26,446      20,704     (2.1 )   25.1  

Occupancy

     17,861      17,285      17,396     3.3     2.7  

General and administrative

     14,750      17,870      25,827     (17.5 )   (42.9 )
    

  

  


           

Total expenses

   $ 240,599    $ 254,710    $ 268,518     (5.5 )   (10.4 )

Income before taxes and minority interest

     36,899      21,626      2,206     70.6     1,572.7  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     14,064      7,415      (71 )   89.7     (19,908.5 )

Minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiary

     835      1,225      175     (31.8 )   377.1  
    

  

  


           

Net Income

   $ 22,000    $ 12,986    $ 2,102     69.4     946.5  
    

  

  


           

* NYSE revenues and expenses include the results of its two thirds- owned subsidiary, Securities Industry Automation Corp.
** Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with current period presentation.

 

3


New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(unaudited)

 

     Nine months ended

  

%

of Change


 

(Amounts in Thousands)


   September 30,
2005


   September 30,
2004


  
          (Restated)       

Revenues:

                    

Activity assessment fees

     433,373      291,265    48.8  

Listing fees

     256,888      247,808    3.7  

Data processing fees

     136,731      163,090    (16.2 )

Market information fees

     133,429      124,951    6.8  

Trading fees

     108,392      115,477    (6.1 )

Regulatory fees

     95,057      85,244    11.5  

Facility and equipment fees

     37,080      37,378    (0.8 )

Membership fees

     4,693      6,533    (28.2 )

Investment and other income

     70,090      33,201    111.1  
    

  

      

Total revenues

   $ 1,275,733    $ 1,104,947    15.5  

Section 31 fees

     433,373      291,265    48.8  
    

  

      

Revenues, less Section 31 fees

   $ 842,360    $ 813,682    3.5  

Expenses:

                    

Compensation

     374,108      394,188    (5.1 )

Systems and related support

     92,611      104,458    (11.3 )

Professional services

     94,819      107,015    (11.4 )

Depreciation and amortization

     78,522      64,871    21.0  

Occupancy

     52,182      50,387    3.6  

General and administrative

     47,629      62,459    (23.7 )
    

  

      

Total expenses

   $ 739,871    $ 783,378    (5.6 )

Income before taxes and minority interest

     102,489      30,304    238.2  

Provision for income taxes

     40,288      9,028    346.3  

Minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiary

     1,195      1,003    19.1  
    

  

      

Net Income

   $ 61,006    $ 20,273    200.9  
    

  

      

* NYSE revenues and expenses include the results of its two thirds- owned subsidiary, Securities Industry Automation Corp.
** Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with current period presentation.

 

4


New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

 

(Amounts in Thousands)


   September 30,
2005


    December 31,
2004


     (Unaudited)     (Restated)
Assets               

Current Assets:

              

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 46,009     $ 15,456

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     43,431       55,209

Investment securities, at fair value

     904,470       914,845

Accounts receivable, net

     188,926       102,941

Taxes receivable

     3,486       26,906

Deferred tax asset

     67,848       83,039

Other assets

     51,574       46,230
    


 

Total current assets

     1,305,744       1,244,626

Property and equipment, at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization

     332,019       343,424

Investments and affiliates, at cost

     2,662       2,652

Non-current deferred tax asset

     305,706       291,639

Other non-current assets

     98,432       99,910
    


 

Total assets    $ 2,044,563     $ 1,982,251
    


 

Liabilities and equity of members:               

Current liabilities:

              

Accounts payable

   $ 58,321     $ 99,165

Accrued expenses

     208,016       208,031

Deferred tax liability

     9,050       11,264

Deferred revenue

     148,807       85,955

Section 31 fees payable

     71,087       82,482
    


 

Total current liabilities

     495,281       486,897

Liabilities due after one year:

              

Accrued employee benefits

     322,717       311,831

Non- current deferred tax liability

     8,551       17,413

Deferred revenue

     331,560       335,509

Other long-term liabilities

     26,600       29,927
    


 

Total liabilities

     1,184,709       1,181,577

Minority interest

     34,611       33,206

Commitments and contingencies

              

Member’s equity:

              

Equity of members

     828,037       767,032

Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)

     (2,794 )     436
    


 

Total equity of 1,366 members

     825,243       767,468
    


 

Total liabilities and members’ equity

   $ 2,044,563     $ 1,982,251
    


 

Equity per member having distributive rights

   $ 604     $ 562
    


 

 

5


     Three Month Period Ended

    Nine Month Period Ended

 

Operating Data


   September 30,
2005


   

June 30,

2005


    September 30,
2004


    September 30,
2005


   

September 30,

2004


 
Company Listings                               

NYSE Listed Companies (1)

   2,777     2,780     2,747     2,777     2,747  

No. of New Listings (2)

   35     36     31     108     96  

NYSE Share (%) of Domestic Qualified New Listings Proceeds (IPOs) (3)

   89.0     96.1     76.2     93.9     88.8  

NYSE Share (%) of International Qualified New Listings Proceeds (IPOs) (4)

   86.2     100.0     100.0     92.2     97.0  
Trading Activity: NYSE-Listed Common Stocks and Warrants (5)                               

Consolidated Average Daily Volume (millions of shares) (6)

   1,936.8     1,918.7     1,576.9     1,946.5     1,755.4  

% change from the same period in the prior year or quarter

   22.8 %   9.1 %   -4.4 %   10.9 %   2.6 %

NYSE Listed Average Daily Volume (millions of shares) (6)

   1,464.0     1,494.7     1,276.2     1,507.3     1,389.5  

% change from the same period in the prior year or quarter

   14.7 %   6.2 %   -2.5 %   8.5 %   2.1 %

NYSE Share of Trading - Full Day (%) (7)

   75.6 %   77.9 %   80.9 %   77.4 %   79.2 %

NYSE Share of Trading - Trading Hours (%) (8)

   77.8 %   79.9 %   83.0 %   79.5 %   81.3 %
Trading Activity : Other (9)                               

NYSE ETF Average Daily Volume (millions of shares) (10)

   5.2     5.1     8.2     5.1     8.3  

Average Daily Volume in Crossing Sessions,

                              

Preferred Stocks and other issues (11)

   55.9     64.7     39.3     58.0     40.6  
Market Information                               

Tape A Share of Trades (%) (12)

   86.7     89.0     91.8     88.4     90.9  

Professional Subscribers

   431,757     423,447     406,777     431,757     406,777  
Regulatory Fees                               

Gross FOCUS Revenues ($ billions) (13)

   49.2     47.0     39.4     134.0     109.3  
Data Processing                               

% SIAC Revenues from Non-NYSE Customers

   44.8     40.8     40.4     41.0     44.6  

(1) Number of listed companies as of period end.
(2) Includes initial public offerings and transfers from other markets.
(3) Proceeds raised by NYSE-listed domestic IPOs/Total proceeds raised by qualified domestic IPOs.
(4) Proceeds raised by NYSE-listed international IPOs/Total proceeds raised by qualified international IPOs. The initial capital-raising event in the United States involving a listing of a non-U.S. issuer is deemed an IPO for international purposes.
(5) This trading activity includes only trades executed in NYSE-listed common stocks and warrants, as defined by the NYSE, and it excludes any trading activity in NYSE’s preferred stocks, rights, structured products (including NYSE-listed exchange traded funds) and the NYSE’s four crossing sessions (which are periods during which trading takes place after the close of regular trading sessions).
(6) Consolidated average daily volume includes the trading volume executed across all exchanges as reported to the consolidated tape between 4:00 am to 8:00 pm EST. NYSE-listed average daily volume includes the trading volume executed at the NYSE during the NYSE’s normal business hours of operation, or 9:30 am to 4:00 pm EST. Each of these figures is then divided by the appropriate number of trading days in the period.
(7) In computing the NYSE’s full day share of trading, the numerator is the NYSE average daily volume executed during normal NYSE business hours (currently 9:30 am to 4:00 pm EST) and the denominator is the consolidated average daily volume executed full day or between 4:00 am to 8:00 pm EST.
(8) The NYSE’s trading hours share of trading is calculated by taking the same NYSE numerator in (7) and dividing it by the amount of consolidated average daily volume executed during NYSE business hours.
(9) This trading activity includes any volume executed at the NYSE that was not included in the NYSE’s previously calculated share of trading. It includes NYSE unlisted trading privilege trading in specific exchange-traded funds and in the NYSE’s crossing sessions, preferred stocks and other issues not previously included. (The unlisted trading privilege (“UTP”) is a right, provided by the Exchange Act, that permits securities listed on any national securities exchange and Nasdaq to be traded by other such exchanges.)
(10) The NYSE first began trading exchange-traded funds on a UTP basis on 7/31/2001. The NYSE now trades 59 exchange-traded funds on a UTP basis, including the Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts® (SPY) and the Dow Industrials DIAMONDS® (DIA).
(11) This is the amount of trading volume executed at the NYSE in NYSE-listed issues not currently included in our share of trading calculations. It includes preferred stocks, rights, structured products (including NYSE-listed exchange-traded funds) and the NYSE’s four crossing sessions.
(12) Number of NYSE-listed shares traded on the NYSE trading floor / Total number of NYSE-listed shares traded.
(13) Revenue reported by member broker-dealers on the “FOCUS” report, the regulatory requirement for member broker-dealers to report their financial condition. NYSE records revenue on a six-month lag; the data is provided on that basis.

 

# # # #

 

6


Important Acquisition Information with Respect to the Merger

 

In connection with the proposed merger of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (“NYSE”) and Archipelago Holdings, Inc. (“Archipelago”), NYSE Group, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a registration statement on Form S-4 (File no: 333-126780), containing a preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction. The registration statement has not yet become effective. The parties will file other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction with the SEC.

 

Such final documents, however, are not currently available. NYSE MEMBERS AND ARCHIPELAGO STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE FINAL JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/ PROSPECTUS ‘REGARDING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. NYSE members and Archipelago stockholders can obtain a free copy of the final joint proxy statement/ prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about NYSE and Archipelago without charge, at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the final joint proxy statement/ prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, once they are filed with the SEC, by directing a request to the Office of the Corporate Secretary, NYSE, 11 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, 212-656-2061 or to Archipelago, Attention: Investor Relations, 100 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 1800, Chicago, Illinois 60606 or calling (888) 514-7284.

 

The NYSE, Archipelago and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Archipelago stockholders in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding Archipelago’s directors and executive officers is available in Archipelago’s proxy statement for its 2005 annual meeting of stockholders, dated March 31, 2005.

 

Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available. This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain statements in this document may contain forward-looking information regarding the NYSE and Archipelago and the combined company after the completion of the transactions that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, the benefits of the business combination transaction involving the NYSE and Archipelago, including future financial and operating results, the new company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the NYSE’s and Archipelago’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

 

7


The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the ability to obtain governmental approvals of the transaction on the proposed terms and schedule; the failure of the NYSE members or Archipelago shareholders to approve the transaction; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; competition and its effect on pricing, spending, third party relationships and revenues; social and political conditions such as war, political unrest or terrorism; general economic conditions and normal business uncertainty. Additional risks and factors are identified in Archipelago’s filings with the Securities Exchange Commission, including its Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004 which is available on Archipelago’s website at http://www.Archipelago.com, and the registration statement on Form S-4 (File no: 333-126780) filed by NYSE Group, Inc. with the SEC.

 

You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document. Except for any obligation to disclose material information under the federal securities laws, none of the NYSE, Archipelago or the combined company after the completion of the transactions undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document.

 

The NYSE, Archipelago and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Archipelago stockholders in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding Archipelago’s directors and executive officers is available in Archipelago’s proxy statement for its 2005 annual meeting of stockholders, dated March 31, 2005. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available.

 

This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

8