UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.     )

 

Filed by the Registrant þ

 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

o  Preliminary Proxy Statement

o  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

þ  Definitive Proxy Statement

o  Definitive Additional Materials

o  Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

MarketAxess Holdings Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

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o  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

(1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

(2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

(4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

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(1)  Amount Previously Paid:

 

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Persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.

 

 

 

MarketAxess Holdings Inc.
140 Broadway, 42nd Floor
New York, New York 10005

 

May 4, 2009

 

To the Stockholders of MarketAxess Holdings Inc.:

 

You are invited to attend the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (the “Company”) scheduled for Thursday, June 4, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, at The New York Marriott Downtown Hotel, 85 West Street, New York, New York 10006. The Company’s Board of Directors and management look forward to seeing you.

 

Details of the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting are given in the attached Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, which you are urged to read carefully.

 

Enclosed you will find a Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders containing a description of the items of business expected to be covered at the Annual Meeting, our proxy statement, a proxy card and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Your vote is important to us. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person, your shares should be represented and voted. After reading the enclosed proxy statement, please cast your vote via the Internet or telephone or complete, sign, date and return the proxy in the pre-addressed envelope that we have included for your convenience. If you hold your shares in a stock brokerage account, please check your proxy card or contact your broker or nominee to determine whether you will be able to vote via the Internet or by telephone.

 

On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you for your continued support.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Richard M. McVey
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

MarketAxess Holdings Inc.
140 Broadway, 42nd Floor
New York, New York 10005

 

NOTICE OF
2009 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

To the Stockholders of MarketAxess Holdings Inc.:

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of MarketAxess Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, at The New York Marriott Downtown Hotel, 85 West Street, New York, New York 10006.

 

At the Annual Meeting we will:

 

1. vote to elect the ten nominees named in the attached Proxy Statement as members of the Company’s Board of Directors for terms expiring at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;

 

2. vote to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2009;

 

3. vote to approve the adoption of the MarketAxess Holdings Inc. 2009 Code Section 162(m) Executive Performance Incentive Plan;

 

4. vote to ratify the adoption of the Stockholders Rights Agreement; and

 

5. transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

These items are more fully described in the Company’s Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice.

 

The record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, was the close of business on April 7, 2009. You have the right to receive this Notice and vote at the Annual Meeting if you were a stockholder of record at the close of business on April 7, 2009. Please remember that your shares cannot be voted unless you cast your vote by one of the following methods: (1) vote via the Internet or call the toll-free number as indicated on the proxy card; (2) sign and return a paper proxy card; or (3) vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

Charles Hood
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

New York, New York

May 4, 2009

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

MarketAxess Holdings Inc.
140 Broadway, 42nd Floor
New York, New York 10005

PROXY STATEMENT for the
2009 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held On June 4, 2009

 

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with a solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the “Board” or “Board of Directors”) of MarketAxess Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (“MarketAxess,” the “Company,” “we” or “our”), to be used at our 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) scheduled for Thursday, June 4, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time (“EDT”), at The New York Marriott Downtown Hotel, 85 West Street, New York, New York 10006.

 

This Proxy Statement and the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and proxy card are first being mailed to stockholders on or about May 6, 2009. Whenever we refer in this Proxy Statement to the “Annual Meeting,” we are also referring to any meeting that results from any postponement or adjournment of the June 4, 2009 meeting.

 

Holders of record of our common stock, par value $0.003 per share (“Common Stock”), and Series B preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Series B Preferred Stock”), at the close of business on April 7, 2009 (the “Record Date”), are entitled to notice of, and to vote at the Annual Meeting. On that date, there were 35,209,004 shares entitled to be voted, consisting of 31,709,004 shares of Common Stock outstanding and 3,500,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the 35,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock outstanding.

 

We encourage you to vote your shares, either by voting in person at the Annual Meeting or by granting a proxy (i.e., authorizing someone to vote your shares). If you vote via the internet or telephone or execute the attached paper proxy card, the individuals designated will vote your shares according to your instructions. If any matter other than Proposals 1, 2, 3 or 4 listed in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders is presented at the Annual Meeting, the designated individuals will, to the extent permissible, vote all proxies in the manner that the Board may recommend or, in the absence of such recommendation, in the manner they perceive to be in the best interests of the Company.

 

If you indicate when voting via the Internet that you wish to vote as recommended by the Board or if you execute the enclosed paper proxy card but do not give instructions, your proxy will be voted as follows: FOR the election of the nominees for director named herein, FOR ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2009, FOR the approval of the adoption of the MarketAxess Holdings Inc. 2009 Code Section 162(m) Executive Performance Incentive Plan (the “2009 Incentive Plan”), FOR the ratification of the adoption of the Stockholders Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”), and in accordance with the best judgment of the persons appointed as proxies with respect to any other matters which properly come before the Annual Meeting. If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee see the information under the heading “Voting — Broker authority to vote.”

 

Information on how you may vote at the Annual Meeting (such as granting a proxy that directs how your shares should be voted, or attending the Annual Meeting in person), as well as how you can revoke a proxy, is contained in this Proxy Statement under the headings Solicitation of Proxies and Voting.

 

The rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) require us to notify all stockholders, including those stockholders to whom we have mailed proxy materials, of the availability of our proxy materials through the Internet.

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials

for the Stockholder Meeting to be held on June 4, 2009

 

Our Proxy Statement and 2008 Annual Report to Stockholders are available at

https://materials.proxyvote.com/57060D

 

General

 

The attached proxy card allows you to instruct the designated individuals how to vote your shares. You may vote in favor of, against, or abstain from voting on any proposal. In addition, with respect to Proposal 1 (the election of directors), you may, if you desire, indicate on the proxy card that you are not authorizing the designated individuals to vote your shares for one or more of the nominees.

 

Solicitation

 

We will bear the entire cost of solicitation, including the preparation, assembly, printing and mailing of this Proxy Statement, the proxy card and any additional soliciting materials furnished to stockholders. Copies of solicitation materials will be furnished to brokerage houses, fiduciaries and custodians holding shares in their names that are beneficially owned by others so that they may forward the solicitation materials to such beneficial owners. In addition, we may reimburse such persons for their costs of forwarding the solicitation materials to such beneficial owners. The original solicitation of proxies by mail may be supplemented by solicitation by telephone or other means by our directors, officers, employees or agents. No additional compensation will be paid to these individuals for any such services. Except as described above, we do not presently intend to solicit proxies other than by mail.

 

Stockholders entitled to vote and shares outstanding

 

Each stockholder is entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held on each matter submitted to a vote at the Annual Meeting. As of the Record Date, 31,709,004 shares of Common Stock were outstanding and entitled to be voted at the Annual Meeting.

 

As of the Record Date, the 35,000 outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock were convertible into 3,500,000 shares of Common Stock. Holders of Series B Preferred Stock will vote together with the holders of Common Stock as a single class on all matters which are voted upon by the stockholders. Each holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock is entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of shares of Common Stock into which all shares of Series B Preferred Stock held by such holder could then be converted at the Record Date.

 

As of the Record Date, there were 35,209,004 shares entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

 

How to vote

 

Submitting a proxy via mail, the Internet or telephone

 

If you hold your shares through a stock broker, nominee, fiduciary or other custodian, you may vote by calling the toll-free telephone number listed on the proxy card or visiting the website address listed on the proxy card. If you choose to submit your proxy with voting instructions by telephone or through the Internet, you will be required to provide your assigned control number noted on the notice before your proxy will be accepted. In addition to the instructions that appear on the notice, step-by-step instructions will be provided by recorded telephone message or at the designated website on the Internet. Votes submitted by telephone or via the Internet must be received by 11:59 p.m., EDT, on June 3, 2009 in order for them to be counted at the Annual Meeting.

 

If you are a stockholder of record, or otherwise received a printed copy of the proxy materials, you may submit your proxy with voting instructions by mail by following the instructions set forth on the proxy card included with the proxy materials. Specifically, if you are a stockholder of record on the Record Date, you may vote by mailing your proxy card, with voting instructions, to the address listed on your proxy card.

Voting your shares in person at the Annual Meeting

 

For Shares Directly Registered in the Name of the Stockholder:  You may vote in person at the Annual Meeting; however, we encourage you to vote by proxy card or the Internet even if you plan to attend the meeting. If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, you will need to bring proof of your ownership of our Common Stock or Series B Preferred Stock as of the close of business on April 7, 2009, the Record Date.

 

For Shares Registered in the Name of a Brokerage Firm or Bank:  You may vote in person at the Annual Meeting; however, you will need to bring an account statement or other acceptable evidence of ownership of Common Stock as of the close of business on April 7, 2009. Alternatively, in order to vote, you may contact the person in whose name your shares are registered and obtain a proxy from that person and bring it to the Annual Meeting.

 

Revoking a proxy

 

A proxy that was submitted via the Internet or by telephone may be revoked at any time before it is exercised by (1) executing a later-dated proxy card via the Internet or by telephone or (2) attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person by ballot.

 

A proxy that was submitted by mail may be revoked at any time before it is exercised by (1) giving written notice revoking the proxy to our General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at MarketAxess Holdings Inc., 140 Broadway, 42nd Floor, New York, NY 10005, (2) subsequently filing another proxy bearing a later date or (3) attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person by ballot.

 

If your shares are registered in the name of a brokerage firm or bank, you must contact your brokerage firm or bank to change your vote or obtain a proxy to vote your shares if you wish to cast your vote in person at the meeting.

 

Your attendance at the Annual Meeting in and of itself will not automatically revoke a proxy that was submitted via the Internet, by telephone or by mail.

 

Broker authority to vote

 

If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered to be the beneficial owner of shares held in street name. These proxy materials are being forwarded to you by your broker or nominee, who is considered to be the holder of record with respect to your shares. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or nominee how to vote by filling out the voting instruction form provided by your broker or nominee. Telephone and Internet voting options may also be available to beneficial owners. As a beneficial owner, you are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting, but you must obtain an account statement or other acceptable evidence of ownership of our Common Stock or a proxy from the holder of record of your shares in order to vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

 

If your shares are held in street name, your broker or nominee will ask you how you want your shares to be voted. If you provide voting instructions, your shares must be voted as you direct. If you do not furnish voting instructions, one of two things can happen, depending upon whether a proposal is “routine.” Under the rules that govern brokers that have record ownership of shares beneficially owned by their clients, brokers have discretion to cast votes on routine matters, such as the election of directors and ratification of the appointment of independent registered public accounting firms, without voting instructions from their clients. Brokers are not permitted, however, to cast votes on “non-routine” matters, such as approval of the adoption of the 2009 Incentive Plan and ratification of the adoption of the Rights Agreement, without such voting instructions. A “broker non-vote” occurs when a broker holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the broker does not have discretionary voting power for that proposal and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.

Quorum

 

A quorum is required for the conduct of business at the meeting. The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of shares having a majority of the voting power represented by all outstanding shares entitled to vote on the Record Date will constitute a quorum, permitting us to conduct the business of the meeting. Proxies received but marked as abstentions, if any, and broker non-votes (as described above) will be included in the calculation of the number of shares considered to be present at the meeting for quorum purposes. If we do not have a quorum, we will be forced to reconvene the Annual Meeting at a later date.

 

Votes necessary to approve each proposal

 

Election of Directors.  The affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting, either in person or by proxy, is required for the election of directors. This means that the ten individuals who receive the highest number of votes will be elected as directors.

 

Other Items.  For each other item, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the item will be required for approval.

 

Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be voted either in favor of or against any of the proposals. For the election of directors, which requires a plurality of the votes cast, votes withheld from one or more nominees will be excluded entirely from the vote and will have no effect on the outcome. For the ratification of our independent registered public accounting firm, the approval of the adoption of the 2009 Incentive Plan and the ratification of the adoption of the Rights Agreement, each of which proposals will be decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast, abstentions will be counted for purposes of determining the number of votes cast on the proposal and will have the same effect as negative votes, but broker non-votes will not be counted as shares present and entitled to vote.

 

Certain stockholder-related matters

 

We have not received notice of any stockholder proposals that may be properly presented at the Annual Meeting. For information regarding inclusion of stockholder proposals in our 2010 Annual Meeting, see the information in this Proxy Statement under the section heading Other Matters — Stockholder proposals for 2010 Annual Meeting.

 

Householding of Annual Meeting materials

 

Some banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may participate in the practice of “householding” proxy statements and their accompanying documents. This means that only one copy of our Proxy Statement is sent to multiple stockholders in your household. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of these documents to you upon written or oral request to our Investor Relations Department at MarketAxess Holdings Inc., 140 Broadway, 42nd Floor, New York, NY 10005 or 212-813-6000. If you want to receive separate copies of our proxy statements in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy per household, you should contact your bank, broker or other nominee record holder, or you may contact us at the above address and phone number.

 

Additional information

 

We are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other reports with the SEC. Copies of these filings are available through our Internet website at www.marketaxess.com or the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. We will furnish copies of our SEC filings (without exhibits), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, without charge to any stockholder upon written or oral request to our Investor Relations Department at MarketAxess Holdings Inc., 140 Broadway, 42nd Floor, New York, NY 10005 or 212-813-6000.

 

The first proposal to be voted on at the Annual Meeting is the election of directors. Our Board currently consists of 11 directors, nine of whom are not our employees. Each of the nominees for director was elected by the Company’s stockholders on June 5, 2008. The directors will be elected for a term which begins at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and ends at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Each director will hold office until such director’s successor has been elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier resignation or removal.

 

Pursuant to the Certificate of Designation of Series B Preferred Stock of the Company, for so long as 17,500 shares of Series B Preferred Stock remain outstanding, one member of the Board of Directors is subject to election and removal by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock voting as a separate class. On July 15, 2008, the holders of Series B Preferred Stock elected Robert W. Trudeau to the Board of Directors, who will remain in office as a director until his successor has been elected by the holders of Series B Preferred Stock, or his earlier resignation or removal by such holders.

 

Your vote

 

If you sign the enclosed proxy card and return it to the Company, your proxy will be voted FOR all directors, for terms expiring in 2010, unless you specifically indicate on the proxy card that you are withholding authority to vote for one or more of the nominees.

 

A plurality of the votes cast by stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required for the election of directors. Accordingly, the directorships to be filled at the Annual Meeting will be filled by the nominees receiving the highest number of votes. In the election of directors, votes may be cast in favor of or withheld with respect to any or all nominees. Votes that are withheld will be excluded entirely from the vote and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.

 

Board recommendation

 

The Board unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of each of the following nominees:

 

Richard M. McVey

Roger Burkhardt

Stephen P. Casper

David G. Gomach

Carlos M. Hernandez

Ronald M. Hersch

Jerome S. Markowitz

T. Kelley Millet

Nicolas S. Rohatyn

John Steinhardt

 

Each of these nominees is currently serving as a director on our Board, and each nominee has agreed to serve on the Board if he is elected. If any nominee is unable (or for whatever reason declines) to serve as a director at any time before the Annual Meeting, proxies may be voted for the election of a qualified substitute designated by the current Board, or else the size of the Board will be reduced accordingly. Biographical information about each of the nominees is included under Director information below.

Director information

 

At the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board has nominated the persons named below to serve as directors of the Company for a term beginning at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and ending at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

 

In addition to the foregoing ten nominees for director, as discussed above, Mr. Trudeau was elected to the Board of Directors by the holders of Series B Preferred Stock and will remain in office as a director until his successor has been elected by the holders of Series B Preferred Stock, or his earlier resignation or removal by such holders. Certain biographical information about Mr. Trudeau follows.

 

 

Director independence

 

The Board of Directors has determined that seven of our nominees for director, Messrs. Burkhardt, Casper, Gomach, Hersch, Markowitz, Rohatyn, and Steinhardt, as well as Mr. Trudeau, who was elected to the Board of Directors by the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms thereof, currently meet the independence requirements contained in the NASDAQ listing standards and applicable tax and securities rules and regulations. None of these directors has a relationship with the Company or its subsidiaries which would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.

Each of these directors is “independent” as defined within the meaning of the NASDAQ listing standards. In compliance with the NASDAQ listing standards, we have a Board of Directors comprised of a majority of independent directors.

 

The NASDAQ listing standards have both objective tests and a subjective test for determining who is an “independent director.” The objective tests state, for example, that a director is not considered independent if he is an employee of the Company or is a partner in or executive officer of an entity to which the Company made, or from which the Company received, payments in the current or any of the past three fiscal years that exceed 5% of the recipient’s consolidated gross revenue for that year. The subjective test states that an independent director must be a person who lacks a relationship that, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.

 

None of the non-employee directors were disqualified from “independent” status under the objective tests. In assessing independence under the subjective test, the Board took into account the standards in the objective tests, and reviewed and discussed additional information provided by the directors and the Company with regard to each director’s business and personal activities as they may relate to MarketAxess’ management. Based on all of the foregoing, as required by the NASDAQ listing standards, the Board made a substantive determination as to each of the eight independent directors that no relationship exists which, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. After reviewing the relationship between the Company and Mr. Hernandez’s employer, JP Morgan Chase & Co. (“JPMorgan”), the Company has decided not to treat Mr. Hernandez as an independent director for purposes of the NASDAQ listing standards and applicable SEC rules. In making this determination, the Board considered that JPMorgan represented less than 10% of the Company’s annual revenue in each of 2008, 2007 and 2006, and has from time to time provided certain investment banking services to the Company, including acting as an underwriter of our initial public offering in 2004.

 

The Board has not established categorical standards or guidelines to make these subjective determinations, but considers all relevant facts and circumstances.

 

In addition to Board-level standards for director independence, the directors who serve on the Audit Committee each satisfy standards established by the SEC providing that to qualify as “independent” for purposes of membership on the Audit Committee, members of audit committees may not accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the Company other than their director compensation. Also, each of the directors who serve on the Compensation Committee has been determined to be a “non-employee director” for purposes of the applicable SEC rules and regulations and an “outside director” for purposes of the applicable tax rules.

 

In making its independence determinations, the Board considered transactions occurring since the beginning of 2006 between the Company and entities associated with the independent directors or members of their immediate family. In each case, the Board determined that, because of the nature of the director’s relationship with the entity and/or the amount involved, the relationship did not impair the director’s independence. The Board’s independence determinations included reviewing the following relationships:

 

 

How nominees to our Board are selected

 

Candidates for election to our Board of Directors are nominated by our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and ratified by our full Board of Directors for nomination to the stockholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operates under a charter, which is available on our corporate website at www.marketaxess.com.

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will give due consideration to candidates recommended by stockholders. Stockholders may recommend candidates for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s consideration by submitting such recommendations directly to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee by mail or electronically. In making recommendations, stockholders should be mindful of the discussion of minimum qualifications set forth in the following paragraph. However, just because a recommended individual meets the minimum qualification standards does not imply that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will necessarily nominate the person so recommended by a stockholder. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may engage outside search firms to assist in identifying or evaluating potential nominees. In 2008, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee retained an outside search firm to identify and assist in evaluating potential nominees.

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that the minimum qualifications for serving on our Board are that a nominee have substantial experience working as an executive officer for, or serving on the board of, a public company, or that he or she demonstrates by significant accomplishment in another given field of endeavor, an ability to make a meaningful contribution to the oversight and governance of a company having a scope and size similar to our Company. A director must have an exemplary reputation and record for honesty in his or her personal dealings and business or professional activity. All directors should possess a basic understanding of financial matters; have an ability to review and understand the Company’s financial and other reports; and be able to discuss such matters intelligently and effectively. He or she also needs to exhibit qualities of independence in thought and action. A candidate should be committed first and foremost to the interests of the stockholders of the Company. Persons who represent a particular special interest, ideology, narrow perspective or point of view would not, therefore, generally be considered good candidates for election to our Board.

 

Board committees

 

The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors reviews, acts on and reports to our Board of Directors with respect to various auditing and accounting matters, including the recommendation of our independent registered public accounting firm, the scope of the annual audits, the fees to be paid to the independent registered public accounting firm, the performance of the independent registered public accounting firm and our accounting practices. The Audit Committee currently consists of Messrs. Gomach (Chair), Casper and Hersch. The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is an independent director in accordance with NASDAQ listing standards and that Mr. Casper and Mr. Gomach are both Audit Committee financial experts, as defined by SEC guidelines and as required by the applicable NASDAQ listing standards.

 

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors recommends, reviews and oversees the salaries, benefits and stock option plans for our employees, consultants, directors (other than non-employee directors) and other individuals whom we compensate. The Compensation Committee also administers our compensation plans. The Compensation Committee currently consists of Messrs. Steinhardt (Chair), Burkhardt and Trudeau. The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is an “independent director” in accordance with NASDAQ listing standards, a “non-employee director” under the applicable SEC rules and regulations and an “outside director” under the applicable tax rules.

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors selects nominees for director positions to be recommended by our Board of Directors for election as directors and for any vacancies in such positions, develops and recommends for our Board of Directors the Corporate Governance Guidelines of the Company and oversees the annual review of the performance of the Board of Directors, each director and each committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently consists of

Messrs. Casper (Chair), Hersch and Rohatyn. The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is an independent director in accordance with NASDAQ listing standards.

 

Mr. Rohatyn serves as the Board’s Lead Independent Director. The Lead Independent Director is responsible for coordinating the activities of the non-management directors, including presiding over the executive sessions of non-management directors.

 

Meetings and attendance

 

During the year ended December 31, 2008, the full Board held ten meetings; the Audit Committee held seven meetings; the Compensation Committee held three meetings; and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held five meetings. The non-management directors met in executive session without management directors or employees present at each full meeting of the Board during 2008. We expect each director to attend each meeting of the full Board and of the committees on which he serves and to attend the annual meeting of stockholders. All directors, other than Mr. Hernandez, attended at least 75% of the meetings of the full Board and the meetings of the committees on which they served. Messrs. McVey, Millet, Burkhardt, Casper, Gomach, Hersch, Markowitz, Rohatyn and Steinhardt attended our 2008 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Code of Conduct, Code of Ethics and other governance documents

 

The Board has adopted a Code of Conduct that applies to all officers, directors and employees, and a Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers. Both the Code of Conduct and the Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers, as well as any amendments to, or waivers under, the Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers, can be accessed in the Investor Relations — Corporate Governance section of our website at www.marketaxess.com.

 

You may also obtain a copy of these documents by writing to MarketAxess Holdings Inc., 140 Broadway, 42nd Floor, New York, New York 10005, Attention: Investor Relations.

 

Copies of the charters of our Board’s Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, as well as copies of the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, certificate of incorporation and bylaws, can be accessed in the Investor Relations — Corporate Governance section of our website.

 

Communicating with our Board members

 

Although our Board of Directors has not adopted a formal process for stockholder communications with the Board, we make every effort to ensure that the views of stockholders are heard by the Board or by individual directors, as applicable, and we believe that this has been an effective process to date. Stockholders may communicate with the Board by sending a letter to the MarketAxess Holdings Inc. Board of Directors, c/o General Counsel, 140 Broadway, 42nd Floor, New York, New York 10005. The General Counsel will receive the correspondence and forward it to the Chairman of the Board or to any individual director or directors to whom the communication is directed, as appropriate. Notwithstanding the above, the General Counsel has the authority to discard or disregard any communication that is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or otherwise inappropriate or to take any other appropriate actions with respect to such communications.

 

In addition, any person, whether or not an employee, who has a concern regarding the conduct of the Company or our employees, including with respect to our accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing issues, may, in a confidential or anonymous manner, communicate that concern in writing by addressing a letter to the Chairman of the Audit Committee, c/o Corporate Secretary, at our corporate headquarters address, which is 140 Broadway, 42nd Floor, New York, New York 10005, or electronically, at our corporate website, www.marketaxess.com under the heading Investor Relations — Board of Directors — Confidential Ethics Web Form.

Director compensation

 

Each non-employee director receives an annual retainer of $50,000. The Lead Independent Director receives a supplemental annual retainer of $10,000 and the chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee receives a supplemental annual retainer of $7,500. The supplemental annual retainer for the chairman of the Audit Committee is $15,000 and the supplemental annual retainer for the chairman of the Compensation Committee is $10,000. In addition, each non-employee director receives $1,500 for each meeting of our Board of Directors, $2,000 for each meeting of the Audit Committee, and $1,000 for each meeting of the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee that the director attends. In August 2008, we granted 4,225 shares of restricted stock and options to purchase 4,225 shares of our Common Stock to each non-employee director, other than Mr. Hernandez. One-half of these awards vested on November 30, 2008 and the balance vests on May 31, 2009. The exercise price of the stock options is equal to the fair market value of the stock ($9.72 per share) on the date of grant. These awards were made under the Company’s 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (Amended and Restated Effective April 28, 2006) (the “Stock Incentive Plan”). The Board of Directors recommends, reviews and oversees the stock option plans for our non-employee directors. We expect to continue to compensate our non-employee directors with a combination of cash and equity awards.

 

Mr. Trudeau has informed the Company of his obligation to transfer to TCV VI Management, L.L.C. (“TCM VI”) any and all cash and equity compensation paid to him by the Company in his capacity as a director of the Company. Mr. Trudeau is a member of TCM VI. Mr. Trudeau has the sole voting and dispositive power over the shares of restricted stock and options granted to him; however, TCM VI owns 100% of the pecuniary interest therein. Mr. Trudeau disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

 

Prior to April 2009, Mr. Hernandez’ employer, JPMorgan, did not permit Mr. Hernandez to receive compensation for his service as a director and therefore he received no cash payments or grants of restricted stock or stock options from us prior to such date. Effective April 2009, Mr. Hernandez receives compensation for his services as a director on the same terms as our other non-employee directors.

 

The Company and the Board of Directors believe that equity-based awards are an important factor in aligning the long-term financial interest of the non-employee directors and stockholders. As such, in October 2007 the Board of Directors adopted stock ownership guidelines for the non-employee directors requiring that they hold not less than a number of shares of Common Stock equal in value to two times the annual base cash retainer payable to a director, calculated as of the October 24, 2007 effective date of the policy. All non-employee directors must be in compliance within the later of three years from the effective date of the policy or three years after the director becomes a Board member, and the designated level of ownership must be maintained throughout the non-employee director’s service with the Company. Only shares of Common Stock owned outright in any form, including shares purchased and held personally and vested restricted shares, count toward the minimum ownership requirement; unvested stock options and unvested restricted shares are excluded. Currently, all non-employee directors are in compliance, other than Mr. Burkhardt, who joined the Board in July 2007, Mr. Hernandez, who did not receive director compensation from the Company prior to April 2009, and Mr. Trudeau, who joined the Board in July 2008. Messrs. Burkhardt, Hernandez and Trudeau are expected to be in compliance within the required timeframe.

Director Compensation for Fiscal 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Audit Committee of our Board has appointed the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as our independent registered public accounting firm to audit our consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2009, and the Board is asking stockholders to ratify that selection. Although current law, rules and regulations, as well as the charter of the Audit Committee, require our independent registered public accounting firm to be engaged, retained and supervised by the Audit Committee, the Board considers the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm to be an important matter of stockholder concern and considers a proposal for stockholders to ratify such selection to be an important opportunity for stockholders to provide direct feedback to the Board on an important issue of corporate governance. In the

event that stockholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain PwC, but may ultimately determine to retain PwC as our independent registered public accounting firm. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its sole discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

 

Your vote

 

Unless proxy cards are otherwise marked, the persons named as proxies will vote FOR the ratification of PwC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2009. Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the proposal.

 

Board recommendation

 

The Board unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2009.

 

Information about our independent registered public accounting firm

 

PwC has audited our consolidated financial statements each year since our formation in 2000. Representatives of PwC will be present at our Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.

 

Audit and other fees

 

The aggregate fees billed by our independent registered public accounting firm for professional services rendered in connection with the audit of our annual financial statements set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 and the audit of our broker-dealer subsidiaries’ annual financial statements, as well as fees paid to PwC for tax compliance and planning and other services, are set forth below.

 

Except as set forth in the following sentence, the Audit Committee, or a designated member thereof, pre-approves 100% of all audit, audited-related, tax and other services rendered by PwC to the Company or its subsidiaries. The Audit Committee has authorized the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer to purchase permitted non-audit services rendered by PwC to the Company or its subsidiaries up to and including a limit of $10,000 per service and an annual limit of $20,000.

 

Immediately following the completion of each fiscal year, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm shall submit to the Audit Committee (and the Audit Committee shall request from the independent registered public accounting firm), as soon as possible, a formal written statement describing: (i) the independent registered public accounting firm’s internal quality-control procedures; (ii) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review or peer review of the independent registered public accounting firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the independent registered public accounting firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and (iii) all relationships between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Company, including at least the matters set forth in Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussion with Audit Committees), in order to assess the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence.

 

Immediately following the completion of each fiscal year, the independent registered public accounting firm also shall submit to the Audit Committee (and the Audit Committee shall request from the independent registered public accounting firm), a formal written statement of the fees billed by the independent registered public accounting firm to the Company in each of the last two fiscal years for each of the following categories of services rendered by the independent registered public accounting firm: (i) the audit of the Company’s

annual financial statements and the reviews of the financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or services that are normally provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements; (ii) assurance and related services not included in clause (i) that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements, in the aggregate and by each service; (iii) tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning services, in the aggregate and by each service; and (iv) all other products and services rendered by the independent registered public accounting firm, in the aggregate and by each service.

 

Set forth below is information regarding fees paid by the Company to PwC during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of our previous or future filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that might incorporate this Proxy Statement or future filings with the SEC, in whole or in part, the following report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any such filing.

 

 

The Audit Committee currently consists of Messrs. Gomach (Chair), Casper, and Hersch. Each member of the Audit Committee is independent, as independence is defined for purposes of Audit Committee membership by the listing standards of NASDAQ and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC. The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate, in other words, is able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including the Company’s balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement, as required by NASDAQ rules. In addition, the Board has determined that both Mr. Gomach and Mr. Casper satisfy the NASDAQ rule requiring that at least one member of our Board’s Audit Committee have past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background that results in the member’s financial sophistication, including being or having been a chief executive officer, chief financial officer or other senior officer with financial oversight responsibilities. The Board has also determined that both Mr. Gomach and Mr. Casper are “financial experts” as defined by the SEC.

 

The Audit Committee appoints our independent registered public accounting firm, reviews the plan for and the results of the independent audit, approves the fees of our independent registered public accounting firm, reviews with management and the independent registered public accounting firm our quarterly and annual financial statements and our internal accounting, financial and disclosure controls, reviews and approves transactions between the Company and its officers, directors and affiliates and performs other duties and responsibilities as set forth in a charter approved by the Board of Directors. A copy of the Audit Committee charter is available in the Investor Relations — Corporate Governance section of the Company’s website.

 

During fiscal year 2008, the Audit Committee met seven times. The Company’s senior financial management and independent registered public accounting firm were in attendance at such meetings.

Following at least one meeting during each calendar quarter during 2008, the Audit Committee conducted a private session with the independent registered public accounting firm, without the presence of management.

 

The management of the Company is responsible for the preparation and integrity of the financial reporting information and related systems of internal controls. The Audit Committee, in carrying out its role, relies on the Company’s senior management, including particularly its senior financial management, to prepare financial statements with integrity and objectivity and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and relies upon the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to review or audit, as applicable, such financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).

 

We have reviewed and discussed with senior management the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008, included in the Company’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Management has confirmed to us that such financial statements (i) have been prepared with integrity and objectivity and are the responsibility of management and (ii) have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

In discharging our oversight responsibility as to the audit process, we have discussed with PwC, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit Committees, as amended (“SAS 61”). SAS 61 requires our independent registered public accounting firm to provide us with additional information regarding the scope and results of their audit of the Company’s financial statements, including: (i) their responsibilities under generally accepted auditing standards, (ii) significant accounting policies, (iii) management judgments and estimates, (iv) any significant accounting adjustments, (v) any disagreements with management and (vi) any difficulties encountered in performing the audit.

 

We have received the written disclosures and the letter from PwC required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding PwC’s communications with us concerning independence, and have discussed with PwC their independence.

 

Based upon the foregoing review and discussions with our independent registered public accounting firm and senior management of the Company, we have recommended to our Board that the financial statements prepared by the Company’s management and audited by its independent registered public accounting firm be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, for filing with the SEC. The Committee also has appointed PwC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2009.

 

As specified in its Charter, it is not the duty of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Company’s financial statements are complete and accurate and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. These are the responsibilities of the Company’s management and independent registered public accounting firm. In discharging our duties as a Committee, we have relied on (i) management’s representations to us that the financial statements prepared by management have been prepared with integrity and objectivity and in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and (ii) the report of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm with respect to such financial statements.

 

Submitted by the Audit Committee of the
Board of Directors:

 

David G. Gomach — Chair

Stephen P. Casper

Ronald M. Hersch

 

On March 30, 2009, the Board of Directors adopted the MarketAxess Holdings Inc. 2009 Code Section 162(m) Executive Performance Incentive Plan (the “2009 Incentive Plan”), subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company. The purpose of the 2009 Incentive Plan is to attract, retain and motivate key employees of the Company by providing performance awards (“Performance Awards”) to designated key employees of the Company or its subsidiaries, including employees whose compensation may be subject to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”).

 

Code Section 162(m) generally disallows a Federal income tax deduction to any publicly held corporation for compensation paid in excess of $1,000,000 in any taxable year to the chief executive officer or any of the three other most highly compensated executive officers employed on the last day of the taxable year, other than the chief financial officer. The 2009 Incentive Plan is designed to provide, and the Company intends to structure awards under the 2009 Incentive Plan so that, compensation paid pursuant to the 2009 Incentive Plan will qualify under the “performance-based compensation” exception under Code Section 162(m) and be eligible for continued tax deductibility. To preserve the tax deductibility of such compensation, the Company is seeking approval of the 2009 Incentive Plan, including the criteria upon which the performance goals applicable to the 2009 Incentive Plan may be based and the maximum amount that may be paid during any performance period to any participant.

 

The following summary describes the principal provisions of the 2009 Incentive Plan. The summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the 2009 Incentive Plan attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.

 

Description of the 2009 Incentive Plan

 

Administration.  The 2009 Incentive Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee or such other committee appointed by the Board of Directors to administer the 2009 Incentive Plan whose members are all “outside directors” as defined under Code Section 162(m) (the “Committee”). The Committee will have the authority to, among other things: (i) select the executives who will be eligible to receive Performance Awards; (ii) set the performance goals and the performance period during which a Performance Award is measured; (iii) certify the attainment of the performance goals and other material terms; (iv) reduce amounts payable under Performance Awards; and (v) make all other determinations and take all other actions necessary or desirable for the 2009 Incentive Plan’s administration.

 

Eligibility.  For each period of not less than one fiscal year of the Company (as specified by the Committee) over which the attainment of the performance goals is measured (the “Performance Period”), the Committee will select the executives of the Company or its subsidiaries who will participate in the 2009 Incentive Plan. The Committee may generally add or remove designated participants at any time and from time to time, in its sole discretion. Currently, only three executives of the Company are eligible to participate in the 2009 Incentive Plan.

 

Maximum Performance Award.  The maximum Performance Award payable to a participant with respect to any one fiscal year of the Company in a Performance Period is $5,000,000. For any Performance Period that is more than one fiscal year of the Company, the maximum Performance Award limit will be increased on a pro rata basis.

 

Performance Awards.  A participant will be eligible to receive a Performance Award based on the achievement of specified performance goals established by the Committee for a Performance Period. A Performance Award may be a percentage of a participant’s Individual Target Award (as described below) for the Performance Period based on the level of attainment of performance goals established for the Performance Period. Generally, no Performance Award is payable unless the minimum performance goals for the Performance Period are attained.

 

A Performance Award will be paid in whole or in part in cash or shares of Common Stock (if permitted under another plan approved by stockholders), as determined by the Committee, as soon as administratively

feasible in the calendar year after the calendar year in which the Performance Period with respect to which the payment relates, but only after the Committee certifies that the performance goals were, in fact, satisfied.

 

The Committee may provide prior to a Performance Period that payment of any Performance Award will be deferred. Any deferred Performance Award will not increase (between the date on which it is credited to any deferred compensation program and the payment date) by an amount that would result in such deferral being deemed as an “increase in the amount of compensation” under Code Section 162(m). To the extent applicable, any deferral under the 2009 Incentive Plan will be made in a manner intended to comply with the applicable requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

Individual Target Awards.  For any participant the Committee may specify a targeted Performance Award for a Performance Period (an “Individual Target Award”) which may be expressed as a fixed dollar amount, a percentage of a participant’s base pay, as a percentage of a bonus pool funded by a formula as determined by the Committee based on achievement of performance goals, or an amount determined pursuant to an objective formula or standard. The Committee will also prescribe a formula to determine the maximum and minimum percentages (which may be greater or less than 100%, as applicable) of an Individual Target Award that may be earned or payable based on the degree of attainment of the performance goals during the Performance Period. The Committee may elect to pay a participant an amount that is less than an Individual Target Award (or the attained percentage) regardless of the degree of attainment of the performance goals; except that, unless otherwise specified by the Committee, no discretion to reduce a Performance Award based on achievement of performance goals is permitted for any Performance Period in which a “change of control” (as defined in the 2009 Incentive Plan) occurs or during such Performance Period with regard to the prior Performance Periods if the Performance Awards for the prior Performance Periods have not been paid by the time of the change of control, with regard to individuals who were Participants at the time of the change of control.

 

Performance Goals.  Code Section 162(m) requires that Performance Awards be based upon objective performance measures. The performance goals (“Performance Goals”) will be based on one or more of the following criteria with regard to the Company (or any subsidiary, division, other operational unit or of the Company) as specified by the Committee:

 

 

The Performance Goals also may be based upon the attainment of specified levels of Company (or subsidiary, division or other operational unit of the Company) performance under one or more of the measures described above relative to the performance of other corporations. To the extent permitted under Code

Section 162(m), the Committee may designate additional business criteria on which the Performance Goals may be based or adjust, modify or amend the aforementioned business criteria. In addition, Performance Goals may incorporate, if and only to the extent permitted under Code Section 162(m), provisions for disregarding (or adjusting for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including, without limitation, dispositions and acquisitions) and other similar type events or circumstances.

 

Change of Control.  In the event of a “change of control” (as defined in the 2009 Incentive Plan) of the Company, any unpaid portion of any Performance Award that has been earned and certified, but is being deferred in accordance with the 2009 Incentive Plan, will immediately be vested and paid within 90 days following the consummation of the change of control.

 

Partial Awards.  Generally, Performance Awards will not be paid to any participant who is not actively employed on the date the Performance Award is payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may make a full, pro rata or other award (not to exceed the maximum achievable Performance Award for the participant for the Performance Period) to a participant for a Performance Period with or without regard to the actual achievement of the Performance Goals in the event of the participant’s termination of employment due to death or disability, or a full or pro rata Performance Award to a participant for a Performance Period based on actual achievement of the Performance Goals established for the Performance Period in the event that the participant’s employment is terminated without “cause” (as defined in the Company’s 2004 Stock Incentive Plan or any successor plan thereto approved by the Company’s stockholders) or the participant resigns for “good reason.” The term “Good Reason” will have the meaning assigned to such term in the participant’s individual employment agreement or similar agreement in effect at the time of the grant of the Performance Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, if the participant does not have an individual employment agreement or similar agreement, or “Good Reason” is not defined therein, the participant will not have the right to a pro rated portion of the participant’s Performance Award for a Performance Period upon any voluntary termination by the participant during the Performance Period.

 

If a change of control is consummated during a Performance Period, the Committee must make, to each participant who is a participant at the time of such change of control, at least a pro rata Performance Award based on actual achievement of the Performance Goals established for the Performance Period and pro rated for the portion of the Performance Period completed through the change of control. If a change of control of the Company is consummated during a Performance Period, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, make a Performance Award to a participant who is a participant at the time of such change of control that is greater than a pro rata Performance Award but not in excess of the maximum achievable Performance Award for the participant for such Performance Period, with or without regard to actual achievement of the Performance Goals.

 

Partial awards not based on the actual achievement of the Performance Goals will be paid within 90 days following the event pursuant to which the award is payable. Partial awards based on the actual achievement of the Performance Goals will be paid when the Performance Award would have otherwise been paid.

 

Term; Amendment or Termination.  The 2009 Incentive Plan, if approved by the stockholders of the Company, will be effective for calendar years commencing on or after January 1, 2009. While the 2009 Incentive Plan has no specified term, the Board of Directors may amend, suspend or terminate the 2009 Incentive Plan or adopt a new plan in place of the 2009 Incentive Plan at any time. However, stockholder approval is required for any amendment that alters the Performance Goals, changes the class of eligible employees or otherwise requires stockholder approval under Code Section 162(m). No amendment, suspension or termination may, without a participant’s consent, alter or impair a participant’s right to receive payment of a Performance Award otherwise payable under the 2009 Incentive Plan.

 

The 2009 Incentive Plan is not subject to any of the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, nor is it intended to be qualified under Code Section 401(a).

Description of Awards Granted For 2009 Under the 2009 Incentive Plan

 

Subject to approval of the 2009 Incentive Plan by the Company’s stockholders, the Committee has determined that for the fiscal year 2009 Performance Period, a bonus pool will be established pursuant to the 2009 Incentive Plan in an amount equal to 32.5% of 27% of the Company’s 2009 pre-tax operating income before cash bonus expense, if any (the “Bonus Pool”).

 

Except as set forth below, subject to their continued employment through the date the award is payable, the named executive officers set forth below (the “2009 Participants”) will be entitled to receive a payment from the Bonus Pool equal to the maximum percentage of the Bonus Pool set forth beside their name below:

 

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee has the discretion to pay a 2009 Participant an amount from the Bonus Pool that is less than, but in no event greater than, the percentage set forth above. Any amount of the Bonus Pool not paid to a 2009 Participant will revert to the general funds of the Company.

 

A 2009 Participant will be entitled to a pro rata payment based on actual results for the full year if his employment is terminated during fiscal year 2009 due to (i) his death; (ii) a termination by the Company without cause; or (iii) the 2009 Participant’s resignation for good reason if the Participant has an individual employment agreement that defines “good reason.”

 

If the performance criteria set forth above had been in effect during 2008, the amounts that would have been payable to Messrs. McVey, Millet and Themelis, before any reduction by the Committee, would have been $658,889, $658,889 and $564,762, respectively.

 

Your vote

 

Unless proxy cards are otherwise marked, the persons named as proxies will vote FOR the approval of the adoption of the MarketAxess Holdings Inc. 2009 Code Section 162(m) Executive Performance Incentive Plan. Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast with respect to the proposal at the Annual Meeting.

 

Board recommendation

 

The Board unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” approval of the adoption of the MarketAxess Holdings Inc. 2009 Code Section 162(m) Executive Performance Incentive Plan.

 

 

The Company’s stockholders are being asked to ratify the stockholders rights agreement entered into between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “Rights Agent”) on June 2, 2008 (the “Rights Agreement”). None of the Company’s Bylaws, other governing documents or applicable law require stockholder ratification of the adoption of the Rights Agreement. However, the Board considers a proposal for stockholders to ratify the adoption of the Rights Agreement to be an important opportunity for stockholders to provide direct feedback to the Board on an important issue of corporate governance. If the stockholders do not ratify the adoption of the Rights Agreement, the Board will consider whether or not to terminate the Rights Agreement by redeeming the Rights or otherwise. Although the Board will consider the stockholders’ vote as expressed at the Annual Meeting, because the Board owes fiduciary duties to all stockholders, it must make an independent decision in the exercise of its fiduciary duties whether it is in the best interests of the Company and all of its stockholders to terminate the Rights Agreement, and may not rely solely on the stockholder vote in making this decision. Accordingly, the Board may decide that its fiduciary duties require it to leave the Rights Agreement in place notwithstanding the failure of stockholders to ratify its adoption. Likewise, even if the adoption of the Rights Agreement is ratified by stockholders, the Board may at any time during the term of the Rights Agreement. determine, in the exercise of its fiduciary duties, that the Rights Agreement should be terminated.

On June 2, 2008, the Board of Directors declared a distribution of one right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of Common Stock, to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 20, 2008 (the “Rights Record Date”) and for each share of Common Stock issued (including shares of Common Stock issued from the Company’s treasury) by the Company thereafter and prior to the Distribution Date (as defined below). Each Right entitles the registered holder, subject to the terms of the Rights Agreement, to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share (a “Unit”) of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), at a price of $40.00 per Unit, subject to adjustment (the “Purchase Price”).

 

Reasons for the Rights Agreement

 

The Board believes that the Rights Agreement is in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders for several reasons:

 

 

 

Description of the Rights Agreement

 

The following is a summary of certain material terms of the Rights Agreement. A copy of the Rights Agreement is set forth in Appendix B to this Proxy Statement, and this discussion is qualified in its entirety by reference to Appendix B. All terms not defined below have the meanings given to them in the Rights Agreement.

 

Initially, the Rights are attached to all certificates representing shares of Common Stock outstanding, and no separate Rights Certificates have been distributed. The Rights will separate from the shares of Common Stock and the “Distribution Date” will occur upon the earlier of (i) ten business days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has become an “Acquiring Person” or (ii) ten business days (or such later date as may be determined by the Board of Directors prior to such time as any person becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of a tender or exchange offer that would result in a person or group of affiliated and associated persons beneficially owning an aggregate of 20% or more of the total voting power represented by all the then outstanding shares of Common Stock and other voting securities of the Company (the “Voting Securities”) if, upon consummation thereof, such person would be the beneficial owner of Voting Securities representing 20% or more of the total Voting Securities then outstanding. Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by certificates for shares of Common Stock and will be transferred with and only with such share certificates, (ii) new certificates for shares of Common Stock issued after the Rights Record Date (including shares of Common Stock distributed from the Company’s Treasury) will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates representing outstanding shares of Common Stock will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such certificates.

 

An “Acquiring Person” is a person or group of affiliated or associated persons that has acquired, obtained the right to acquire, or otherwise obtained beneficial ownership of an aggregate of 20% or more of the total voting power represented by all the then outstanding shares of Voting Securities. The following, however, are not considered Acquiring Persons: (1) the Company, its subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any entity holding shares of Voting Securities pursuant to the terms of any such plan; (2) any person or group that becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the total voting power represented by all the then outstanding Voting Securities solely as a result of the acquisition of Voting Securities by the Company, unless such person or group thereafter acquires beneficial ownership of additional Voting Securities; (3) subject to certain conditions set forth in the Rights Agreement, a person or group that otherwise would have become an Acquiring Person as a result of an inadvertent acquisition of 20% or more of the total voting power represented by all the then outstanding Voting Securities; and (4) subject to certain conditions set forth in the Rights Agreement, any person or group that would otherwise be deemed an Acquiring Person upon adoption of the Rights Agreement (a “Grandfathered Stockholder”). Except as provided in the Rights Agreement, a person or group that is a Grandfathered Stockholder will cease to be a Grandfathered Stockholder and will become an Acquiring Person if after adoption of the Rights Agreement such Grandfathered Stockholder acquires beneficial ownership of additional Voting Securities in excess of one percent of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of June 2, 2008.

 

The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at the close of business on the third anniversary of the Rights Agreement unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below.

As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of shares of Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights.

 

If a person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, then each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, shares of Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, Units of Series A Preferred Stock, other securities, cash, property or a combination thereof) having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. The exercise price is the Purchase Price multiplied by the number of Units of Series A Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of a Right prior to the events described in this paragraph.

 

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the time any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, all Rights that are, or under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or its Affiliates or Associates will be null and void.

 

In the event that, at any time after a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, (i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination with another company and the Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii) another company consolidates or merges with the Company and all or part of the shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged for other securities, cash or property or (iii) 50% or more of the consolidated assets or earning power of the Company and its subsidiaries is sold or transferred to another company, then each holder of a Right (except Rights that previously have been voided as described above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock or other equity interest of the ultimate parent of such other company having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right.

 

The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Series A Preferred Stock (or other securities, as applicable) issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Series A Preferred Stock, (ii) if holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are granted certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Series A Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than the current market price of the Series A Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness, cash or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends or dividends payable in the Series A Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

 

With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least one percent of the Purchase Price. The Company is not required to issue fractional shares of Series A Preferred Stock (other than fractional shares that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share). In lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash may be made based on the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock prior to the date of exercise.

 

At any time prior to such time as any person or group or affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board of Directors may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.0001 per Right, rounded up to the nearest whole cent (subject to adjustment in certain events) (the “Redemption Price”). Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of such Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right held.

 

Between 90 and 120 days after the commencement of a Qualified Offer (as such term is defined below), the holders of 10% or more of the Common Stock then outstanding (excluding Common Stock beneficially owned by the Person making the Qualified Offer and such Person’s Affiliates and Associates) may, by notice (a “Special Meeting Notice”), require the Company to call a special meeting of the stockholders to vote on a resolution authorizing the redemption of all, but not less than all, of the then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price (the “Redemption Resolution”). The Board of Directors must cause the Rights to be redeemed or otherwise prevent the Rights from interfering with the consummation of the Qualified Offer if the special meeting of the stockholders is not held within 90 days of the Special Meeting Notice (which period may be extended to permit the stockholders to vote on a definitive acquisition agreement) or if such meeting is held and the holders of a majority of the outstanding Common Stock (excluding Common Stock beneficially

owned by the Person making the Qualified Offer and such Person’s Affiliates and Associates) vote in favor of the Redemption Resolution, in each case as long as at such time no Person has become an Acquiring Person and as long as the Qualified Offer continues to be a Qualified Offer prior to the last day of the period in which the special meeting of the stockholders must be held.

 

A “Qualified Offer” is an offer determined by a majority of the independent directors of the Company to have each of the following characteristics:

 

(i) a fully-financed, all-cash tender offer, or an exchange offer offering shares of common stock of the offeror, or a combination thereof, in each such case for all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock at the same per-share consideration;

 

(ii) an offer that has commenced within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) under the Exchange Act;

 

(iii) an offer whose per-share offer price is greater than the highest reported market price for the Common Stock in the immediately preceding twenty-four months, with, in the case of an offer that includes shares of common stock of the offeror, such per-share offer price being determined using the lowest reported market price for common stock of the offeror during the five trading days immediately preceding and immediately following the commencement of such offer within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) under the Exchange Act;

 

(iv) an offer that does not result in a nationally recognized investment banking firm retained by the Board of Directors rendering an opinion to the Board of Directors that the consideration being offered to the stockholders of the Company is either unfair or inadequate;

 

(v) if the offer includes shares of common stock of the offeror, (A) the offeror must allow the Company’s investment bank, legal counsel and accountants to perform appropriate due diligence on the offeror and (B) such investment bank must not render an opinion to the Board of Directors that the consideration being offered to the stockholders of the Company is either unfair or inadequate and must not later render an opinion to the Board of Directors that the consideration being offered to the stockholders of the Company has become either unfair or inadequate based on a subsequent disclosure or discovery of a development or developments that have had or are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the value of the common stock of the offeror;

 

(vi) an offer that is subject to only the minimum tender condition described in Section 1(v)(ix) of the Rights Agreement and other customary terms and conditions, which conditions shall not include any financing, funding or similar conditions or any requirements with respect to the offeror or its agents being permitted any due diligence with respect to the books, records, management, accountants or other outside advisors of the Company;

 

(vii) an offer pursuant to which the Company has received an irrevocable written commitment of the offeror that the offer will remain open for at least 120 Business Days and, if a Special Meeting is duly requested, for at least fifteen Business Days after the date of the Special Meeting or, if no Special Meeting is held within ninety Business Days following receipt of the Special Meeting Notice, for at least fifteen Business Days following such ninety Business Day period;

 

(viii) an offer pursuant to which the Company has received an irrevocable written commitment of the offeror that, in addition to the minimum time periods specified, the offer, if it would otherwise expire, will be extended for at least twenty Business Days after any increase in the consideration being offered or after any bona fide alternative offer is commenced within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that such offer need not remain open beyond (A) the time that any other offer satisfying the criteria for a Qualified Offer is then required to be kept open, (B) the expiration date of any other tender offer for the Common Stock with respect to which the Board of Directors has agreed to redeem the Rights immediately prior to acceptance for payment of the Common Stock thereunder or (C) one Business Day after the stockholder vote with respect to approval of any definitive acquisition agreement has been officially determined and certified by the inspectors of elections;

 

(ix) an offer that is conditioned on a minimum of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock not held by the Person making such offer (and such Person’s Affiliates and Associates) being tendered and not withdrawn as of the offer’s expiration date, which condition shall not be waivable;

(x) an offer pursuant to which the Company has received an irrevocable written commitment of the offeror to consummate, as promptly as practicable upon successful completion of the offer, a second step transaction whereby all shares of the Common Stock not tendered into the offer will be acquired at the same consideration per share actually paid pursuant to the offer, subject to stockholders’ statutory appraisal rights;

 

(xi) an offer pursuant to which the Company and its stockholders have received an irrevocable written commitment of the offeror that no amendments will be made to the offer to reduce the consideration being offered or to otherwise change the terms of the offer in a way that is adverse to a tendering stockholder;

 

(xii) an offer (other than an offer consisting solely of cash consideration) pursuant to which the Company has received the written representation and certification of the offeror and, in their individual capacities, the written representations and certifications of the offeror’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, that (A) all facts about the offeror that would be material to making an investor’s decision to accept the offer have been fully and accurately disclosed as of the date of the commencement of the offer, (B) all such new facts will be fully and accurately disclosed during the entire period which the offer remains open, and (C) all required Exchange Act reports will be filed by the offeror in a timely manner during such period; and

 

(xiii) if the offer includes non-cash consideration, (A) the non-cash portion of the consideration offered must consist solely of common stock of a Person that is a publicly-owned United States corporation, (B) such common stock must be freely tradable and listed or admitted to trading on either the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ, (C) no stockholder approval of the issuer of such common stock is required to issue such common stock, or, if required, such approval has already been obtained, (D) no Person (including such Person’s Affiliates and Associates) beneficially owns more than 15% of the voting stock of the issuer of such common stock at the time of commencement or at any time during the term of the offer, (E) no other class of voting stock of the issuer of such common stock is outstanding and (F) the issuer of such common stock meets the registrant eligibility requirements for use of Form S-3 for registering securities under the Securities Act.

 

For the purposes of the definition of “Qualified Offer,” “fully financed” shall mean that the offeror has sufficient funds for the offer and related expenses, which shall be evidenced by (1) firm, unqualified, written commitments from responsible financial institutions having the necessary financial capacity, accepted by the offeror, to provide funds for such offer subject only to customary terms and conditions, (2) cash or cash equivalents then available to the offeror, set apart and maintained solely for the purpose of funding the offer with an irrevocable written commitment being provided by the offeror to the Board of Directors to maintain such availability until the offer is consummated or withdrawn or (3) a combination of the foregoing; which evidence has been provided to the Company prior to, or upon, commencement of the offer. If an offer becomes a Qualified Offer in accordance with this definition, but subsequently ceases to be a Qualified Offer as a result of the failure at a later date to continue to satisfy any of the requirements of this definition, such offer shall cease to be a Qualified Offer and the applicable provisions of the Rights Agreement shall no longer be applicable to such offer, provided that the actual redemption of the Rights shall not have already occurred.

 

At any time after any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person and before any such Acquiring Person becomes the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the total voting power of the aggregate of all shares of Voting Securities then outstanding, the Board of Directors, at its option, may exchange each Right (other than Rights that previously have become void as described above) in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock (or under certain circumstances one Unit of Series A Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock) per Right (subject to adjustment in certain events).

 

Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become exercisable for Units of Series A Preferred Stock (or other consideration).

Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended without the approval of the holders of Rights in order to cure any ambiguity, defect, or inconsistency or to make any other changes that the Board of Directors may deem necessary or desirable. After any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may not be amended in any manner that would adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights (excluding the interests of any Acquiring Person).

 

Description of Series A Preferred Stock

 

On June 2, 2008, the Company also filed a Certificate of Designation for the Series A Preferred Stock (the “Series A Certificate of Designation”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Series A Certificate of Designation authorizes the Company to issue 110,000 of its 5,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock as shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

The Units of Series A Preferred Stock that may be acquired upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable and will rank junior to any other shares of preferred stock that may be issued by the Company with respect to the payment of dividends and as to distribution of assets in liquidation.

 

Each share of Series A Preferred Stock will have a minimum preferential quarterly dividend of the greater of $1.00 per share or 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount of any cash dividend declared on the shares of Common Stock, subject to certain adjustments. In the event of liquidation, the holder of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash preferred liquidation payment per share equal to the greater of $1.00 (plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon) or 1,000 times the amount paid in respect of a share of Common Stock, subject to certain adjustments.

 

Generally, each share of Series A Preferred Stock will vote together with the shares of Common Stock and any other class or series of capital stock entitled to vote on such matter, and will be entitled to 1,000 votes per share, subject to certain adjustments. The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class, shall be entitled to elect two directors if dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears in an amount equal to six quarterly dividends thereon.

 

In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which shares of Common Stock are exchanged, each share of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount of stock, securities, cash or other property paid in respect of each share of Common Stock, subject to certain adjustments.

 

The rights of holders of the Series A Preferred Stock to dividend, liquidation and voting rights are protected by customary anti-dilution provisions.

 

Because of the nature of the Series A Preferred Stock’s dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the economic value of one Unit of Series A Preferred Stock is expected to approximate the economic value of one share of Common Stock.

 

Amendment of Rights

 

The terms of the Rights generally may be amended by the Board of Directors without the approval of the holders of the Rights, except that from and after such time as the Rights are distributed, no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights (excluding any interests of any Acquiring Person).

 

Your vote

 

Unless proxy cards are otherwise marked, the persons named as proxies will vote FOR the ratification of the Stockholders Rights Agreement. Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast with respect to the proposal at the Annual Meeting.

 

Board recommendation

 

The Board unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the ratification of the Stockholders Rights Agreement.

 

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock as of April 7, 2009 by (i) each person or group of affiliated persons known by us to beneficially own more than five percent of our Common Stock, (ii) each of our named executive officers, (iii) each of our directors and nominees for director and (iv) all of our directors and executive officers as a group.

 

The following table gives effect to the shares of Common Stock issuable within 60 days of April 7, 2009 upon the exercise of all options and other rights beneficially owned by the indicated stockholders on that date. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and includes voting and investment power with respect to shares. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 31,709,004 shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on April 7, 2009. Except as otherwise noted below, each person or entity named in the following table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our Common Stock that he, she or it beneficially owns.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner listed below is c/o MarketAxess Holdings Inc., 140 Broadway, 42nd Floor, New York, New York 10005.

 

 

 

 

Set forth below is information concerning our executive officers as of April 7, 2009.

 

 

Richard M. McVey has been Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our Board of Directors since our inception. See Proposal 1 — Election of Directors — Director information for a discussion of Mr. McVey’s business experience.

 

T. Kelley Millet has been President since September 2006. See Proposal 1 — Election of Directors — Director information for a discussion of Mr. Millet’s business experience.

 

James N.B. Rucker has been Chief Financial Officer since June 2004. From our formation in April 2000 through June 2004, Mr. Rucker was Head of Finance and Operations, with responsibility for finance and certain client and dealer services. From January 1995 to April 2000, Mr. Rucker was Vice President and Head of International Fixed Income Operations at Chase Manhattan Bank, where he was responsible for the settlement of international securities and loan, option and structured trades. He also was a Director of the Emerging Markets Clearing Corporation from 1999 to 2000. Mr. Rucker received a B.S. in Economics and Politics from Bristol University, England.

 

Nicholas Themelis has been Chief Information Officer since March 2005. From June 2004 through February 2005, Mr. Themelis was Head of Technology and Product Delivery. From March 2004 to June 2004, Mr. Themelis was Head of Product Delivery. Prior to joining us, Mr. Themelis was a Principal at Promontory Group, an investment and advisory firm focused on the financial services sector, from November 2003 to March 2004. From March 2001 to August 2003, Mr. Themelis was a Managing Director, Chief Information Officer for North America and Global Head of Fixed Income Technology at Barclays Capital. From March 2000 to March 2001, Mr. Themelis was the Chief Technology Officer and a member of the board of

directors of AuthentiDate Holdings Corp., a start-up focused on developing leading-edge content and encryption technology. Prior to his tenure at AuthentiDate, Mr. Themelis spent nine years with Lehman Brothers, ultimately as Senior Vice President and Global Head of the E-Commerce Technology Group.

 

Overview of compensation objectives and strategy for our Named Executive Officers

 

The compensation program for our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Mr. McVey, our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), Mr. Rucker, and our two other executive officers who were serving as executive officers at the end of fiscal year 2008, our President, Mr. Millet, and our Chief Information Officer (“CIO”), Mr. Themelis (the named executive officers or “NEOs”), is designed to attract and retain the caliber of executives needed to ensure our continued growth and profitability. The primary objectives of the program are to:

 

 

We are a hybrid company whose NEOs must combine an expertise of the fixed-income securities market with the knowledge and ability to create, implement and deliver technology-driven market solutions. Further, as we are a small firm with little overhead in support positions and maintain a relatively flat organization, our NEOs must have the ability and desire to manage tactical details, they are expected to effectively communicate to and lead broad teams of employees across all levels of the organization and they must be able to think strategically and broadly. We have discovered that our business is particularly demanding on senior executives and those who can flourish in this environment are not easily found due to the unique and distinct competencies that are required for success. Accordingly, because of the challenges presented by the current market conditions and the potential impact of these market conditions on our ongoing operating results, and despite what may be more limited employment opportunities due to the downturn in the financial services industry, the Compensation Committee believes that our ability to retain our current high-performing team of seasoned NEOs to manage our business is critical to the Company’s success.

 

The compensation programs for our NEOs are administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Working with management and our independent outside compensation advisors, the Compensation Committee has developed and continually reviews and revises a compensation and benefits strategy that rewards performance and behaviors to reinforce a culture that will drive our Company’s long-term success.

 

We have a formal semi-annual planning and goal-setting process that is fully integrated into the compensation program, creating alignment between individual efforts, our results, and the financial awards that are realized by our NEOs as well as our general employee population.

 

In addition, the NEOs and other senior managers meet regularly in order to update corporate goals and initiatives based on corporate performance, changes in market conditions and potential emerging market opportunities. Individual strategic goals and objectives will change as a result of new or changed corporate initiatives.

 

To reflect the hybrid nature of our Company, our compensation structure has traditionally fused the high leverage cash model typical of the financial services industry (where base salaries are a smaller percentage of

total cash income and annual incentives may easily exceed 100% of base salary) with the high risk/high reward equity model, characteristic of the technology industry that relies heavily on the use of equity-based awards. In addition to our base pay and annual incentive opportunities, we seek to promote a long-term commitment to the Company from our NEOs, as we believe that there is great value to the Company from the continuity that results in maintaining the same team of seasoned managers. Our team-focused culture and management processes are designed to foster this commitment. To support these objectives, long-term incentives for our NEOs have traditionally been granted as equity incentives, predominantly in the form of stock options and restricted stock. In addition, fiscal year 2008 was the first year that we granted our NEOs equity incentives in the form of performance shares.

 

The value realized from the equity incentive awards is dependent upon our performance and growth in our stock price. The vesting schedules and performance goals attached to these equity awards reinforce this long-term, performance-based orientation.

 

Role of the Compensation Committee

 

General

 

The Compensation Committee establishes our compensation policies, provides guidance for the implementation of those policies and determines the amounts and elements of compensation for our NEOs. The Compensation Committee’s function is more fully described in its charter, which has been approved by our Board of Directors. The charter is available for viewing or download on our corporate website at www.marketaxess.com under the Investor Relations-Corporate Governance caption.

 

The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is an “independent director” in accordance with NASDAQ listing standards, a “non-employee director” under the applicable SEC rules and regulations and an “outside director” under the applicable tax rules.

 

The Compensation Committee consults with the compensation consultant when considering decisions concerning the compensation of the CEO. When considering decisions concerning the compensation of our NEOs other than the CEO, the Compensation Committee generally seeks the recommendations of both the CEO and the compensation consultant. All compensation decisions for our NEOs are ultimately made in the Compensation Committee’s sole discretion.

 

No NEO has a role in determining or recommending compensation for outside directors.

 

Use of Outside Advisors

 

In making its determinations with respect to compensation of our NEOs, the Compensation Committee retains the services of an independent outside compensation consultant. Through May 2008, the Compensation Committee had retained the services of Pearl Meyer & Partners (“PM&P”). The Compensation Committee’s primary contact at PM&P left that firm in March 2008 and shortly thereafter joined Grahall Partners, LLC (“Grahall”). Effective in June 2008, the Compensation Committee ended its retention of PM&P and retained Grahall so that it could continue to receive the guidance of its lead consultant. Both Grahall and PM&P were retained directly by, and report directly to, the Compensation Committee.

 

With respect to 2008 compensation for our NEOs, the Compensation Committee retained PM&P to review and benchmark competitive market pay levels. In addition, PM&P assisted in the preparation of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis included in the proxy statement for our 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and at the Compensation Committee’s request commenced an analysis in relation to potential revisions to our peer group (as discussed in “Pay Levels and Benchmarking” below). In 2008, Grahall provided consulting services to the Compensation Committee with respect to compensation for, and the retention of, our NEOs and also completed the peer group review that was commenced by PM&P. In addition, Grahall provided the Board of Directors with recommendations for cash and equity compensation for our Non-Employee Directors.

 

The Compensation Committee annually reviews competitive compensation data, recent compensation trends, and any other relevant market data prepared by the compensation consultant.

The Compensation Committee has the authority to retain, terminate and set the terms of the relationship with any outside advisors who assist the Compensation Committee in carrying out its responsibilities.

 

Pay Levels and Benchmarking

 

We seek to provide competitive compensation that is commensurate with performance. The compensation consultant works with our CEO and other managers of the Company to gather pertinent Company information, including but not limited to employee and officer listings, corporate financial performance, and the budget for the expensing of equity grants. The compensation consultant independently researches the performance and pay philosophy of our peer group and benchmarks executive and management positions using applicable survey data. The compensation consultant presents to the Compensation Committee the recommended compensation ranges for Total Direct Compensation (“TDC”), being comprised of base salary, cash bonus and long term equity incentives, for all of our NEOs. Corporate financial performance (year-over-year growth), individual performance, completion of corporate strategic goals, and the ability to incur the suggested compensation expenses factor heavily into the Compensation Committee’s decision of where to position the executives in relation to the benchmark data and in relation to each other. Additionally, retention concerns are considered when making pay decisions.

 

At the end of 2007 for fiscal year 2008, we benchmarked our NEO base salaries with a peer group of financial technology companies. This was supplemented, as appropriate, with other pertinent survey data provided by several different applicable survey sources, including surveys conducted by McLagan Partners, Watson Wyatt and PM&P. As discussed below, we have not increased the base salaries of our NEOs since 2006. At the end of 2008 for fiscal year 2009, Grahall reviewed each NEO’s benchmark data for variable compensation (both cash and equity) and developed an appropriate range of TDC for each individual that was presented to the Compensation Committee. Grahall used our peer group of financial technology companies and, as applicable, survey data from McLagan Partners, Mercer and CHiPS. The TDC range for each NEO was determined based on a number of factors, including: the NEO’s role, responsibilities and expertise; the pay level for peers within the Company and in the market for similar positions; the level of competition that exists within the market for a given position; individual performance; and contribution to corporate financial performance, including the development and achievement of our long-term strategic goals and the enhancement of our franchise value. The Compensation Committee also considered the general economic climate and indications of pay levels from their colleagues in the financial services and technology industries.

 

After consideration of the foregoing data and the internal relationships within the group of NEOs at the Company, corporate financial performance, general individual performance of the individual’s duties and responsibilities and the need to attract, motivate and retain an experienced and effective management team, the Compensation Committee determined the TDC levels for each NEO within the appropriate range. The Compensation Committee then determined which portion of the TDC for each NEO should consist of base salary, annual cash incentives and long-term equity incentive awards.

 

Given the Company’s unique position in its industry, we believe the benchmark data is extremely important in guiding the Compensation Committee in determining relevant pay levels and pay mix (the allocation of total pay among the different elements). The Compensation Committee uses the competitive data to help strike a favorable balance among cost management, wealth creation opportunity and retention, without creating undesirable and unnecessary incentives for executives to take risks that might inappropriately place the stockholders’ investment at risk.

 

We generally target our NEOs’ individual target total compensation level to be around the median of the market data for accomplishment of target performance. However, as discussed below, the base salary for each NEO is below market median.

 

The Compensation Committee assesses “competitive market” compensation using a number of sources. As mentioned above, one of the data sources used in setting competitive market levels for the NEOs is the information publicly disclosed by a “peer group” of financial technology companies (listed below), the composition of which is reviewed annually with the compensation consultant. While these companies may

differ from us in terms of exact size and revenues, they are the closest matches available to us in terms of a comparable business model.

 

In 2008, the Compensation Committee updated our peer group by making the following changes: we replaced eSpeed with BGC Partners after the merger of those two companies; we removed International Securities Exchange after its acquisition by Deutsche Boerse (as public information regarding this company’s pay levels and practices will no longer be available); and we no longer use TD Ameritrade, as that organization currently has substantially higher revenues and franchise value (as measured by market capitalization) than ours. The firms that were removed from the peer group were replaced by GFI Group Inc. and Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., as these firms’ annual revenues are more in line with ours than firms such as TD Ameritrade. However, while TD Ameritrade is no longer included as a peer for purposes of determining pay levels for our NEOs, the Compensation Committee continued to consider TD Ameritrade’s pay practices for purposes of providing reference points for how pay is delivered by competitors in our industry.

 

Our peer group of companies in the financial services technology marketplace currently includes:

 

 

As our business model is unique — we are the only publicly-traded company whose core business is providing a multi-dealer electronic trading platform for credit products for client-to-dealer trading — this peer group data is supplemented and blended with data from different compensation surveys. These surveys are selected based on their relevance to the specific position being evaluated.

 

In addition, the Compensation Committee also applies other factors in determining the level of incentive pay for our NEOs. For example, if the Company’s ratio of compensation expense to gross revenues is greater than that of other companies in our peer group, the Compensation Committee may choose to reduce the amount of the annual incentive opportunity for our NEOs accordingly. The Compensation Committee believes this approach is typical in the financial services industry, and this comparison provides an additional data point regarding how our ratio of aggregate compensation expense as a proportion of overall expense compares to our own internal guidelines as well as the industry in which we compete. Since the NEOs’ incentive payments are a part of the aggregate compensation expense, the Compensation Committee may reduce the NEOs’ incentives in order to reduce this ratio or to allow for additional incentive payments to the non-NEO employee population.

 

As noted above, notwithstanding our overall pay positioning objectives, pay opportunities for specific individuals vary based on a number of factors, such as scope of duties, tenure, institutional knowledge, individual performance, market conditions and the ability to retain the NEO, and/or the difficulty in recruiting a new executive who has the skill set required to be successful with the Company. Actual total compensation in a given year will vary above or below the target compensation levels based on the attainment of corporate strategic and operating goals, individual performance, the creation of stockholder value and competitive threats.

 

Details of the Company’s compensation structure for our NEOs

 

Pay Elements — Overview

 

We utilize four main components of compensation for our NEOs:

 

 

 

In addition to the foregoing elements, we have entered into employment agreements with the CEO and the President that provide for certain payments and benefits in the event of certain terminations of their employment or a change in control of the Company. See “Executive Compensation — Potential termination or change in control payments and benefits” for additional detail on potential payments under specific events of termination or upon a change of control.

 

Pay Elements — Details

 

Base Salary

 

The Company does not automatically increase base salary each year. Rather, the Compensation Committee reviews all components of remuneration and decides which, if any, elements of compensation should be adjusted or paid based on corporate and individual performance results and competitive benchmark data. This approach is in line with the Company’s intention of offering compensation that is highly correlated with each executive’s individual responsibilities and performance and with corporate financial performance.

 

The Compensation Committee performed its annual review of base salaries in 2007 and determined not to make any upwards adjustments in the base salaries for our NEOs for 2008. This reflects the Company’s recognition of the challenging operating conditions in the current credit markets and the potential impact of these market conditions on our on-going operating results. It is also consistent with our compensation policy to carefully manage fixed expense. The Compensation Committee has also determined that the base salaries of our NEOs will not be increased for 2009.

 

Prior to 2007, the base salary for our NEOs was historically positioned at or above the median salary of the benchmarked data. However, as we have not adjusted NEO base salary since January 2006 and as the benchmark data has increased over time, our NEOs’ base salaries are now generally lower than the applicable median base pay levels suggested by the benchmark data. We believe this offers the Company improved cost control, as lower base salaries permit us to manage fixed compensation costs, reduce benefits costs and emphasize variable pay, so that our compensation is more fully aligned with performance outcomes. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee believes that keeping base salaries constant is an effective method to reinforce our pay-for-performance philosophy.

 

Annual Variable Performance Awards Payable in Cash

 

Section 162(m) of the Code generally prohibits any publicly-held corporation from taking a Federal income tax deduction for compensation paid in excess of $1 million in any taxable year to the CEO and any other executive officer (other than the CFO) employed on the last day of the taxable year whose compensation is required to be disclosed to stockholders under SEC rules, unless the plan and awards pursuant to which any portion of the compensation is paid meet certain requirements.

 

To ensure the tax deductibility of any performance-based cash compensation awarded to the NEOs (other than our CFO) in 2008, the Compensation Committee adopted the 2008 Code Section 162(m) Performance Incentive Program (the “2008 162(m) Incentive Program”) which was approved by stockholders at the 2008 Annual Meeting. The 2008 162(m) Incentive Program was structured in a manner intended to qualify any performance-based cash compensation awarded to the NEOs (other than our CFO) as “performance-based compensation” eligible for deductibility under Code Section 162(m).

 

In 2008, the Company’s aggregate bonus pool accrual for all employees (in which our CFO participated) (the “Employee Bonus Pool”) was equal to a minimum guaranteed accrual of $3,000,000 (the “Minimum Accrual”) plus 30% of the Company’s 2008 pre-tax operating income before cash bonus expense (the “Variable Accrual”). This accrual methodology differed from the methodology used in 2007. The 2007 minimum accrual was $5,000,000 and the 2007 variable accrual rate was 25.1%. It was determined that the Minimum Accrual, which is guaranteed and not performance-based, should be lower and the Variable Accrual should be higher so that a higher percentage of the bonus accrual would be performance-based. By having a

higher Variable Accrual and a lower Minimum Accrual, the bonus accrual would be lower if the Company does not meet its target performance goals and higher if the Company exceeds those targets. The mix was determined to create a fair balance between (a) the goal of creating appropriate annual performance incentives in order to retain and reward high performers and (b) expense management where any incremental cash bonus expense is only borne by the Company if financial performance is exceeded.

 

The bonus pool accrual under the 2008 162(m) Incentive Program (in which our NEOs other than our CFO participated) was equal to 32.5% of the Variable Accrual (the “NEO Bonus Pool”). There was no minimum guaranteed accrual under the 2008 162(m) Incentive Program. The NEOs who participated in the 2008 162(m) Incentive Program were not eligible to receive any portion of the Minimum Accrual or any portion of the remaining 67.5% of the Variable Accrual. This formula had two objectives: to align employee bonuses with operating income, which correlates to earnings per share, and to use the operating leverage of our business to motivate employees. The percentages for the Employee Bonus Pool were determined by the Compensation Committee at the beginning of the year based on our target financial plan and the aggregate median of competitive cash bonus levels. The percentage for the NEO Bonus Pool was determined by the Compensation Committee based on the aggregate median benchmark data for the NEOs.

 

The maximum amount that could be earned from the NEO Bonus Pool by the NEOs who participated in the 2008 162(m) Incentive Program was established as a percentage of the NEO Bonus Pool and was determined based on the NEO’s role, responsibilities, and expertise; comparable pay levels for peers within the Company, and in other companies for similar positions; the level of competition that exists within the market for a given position; and the NEO’s ability to contribute to our financial performance and/or realization of our on-going strategic initiatives. The percentage of the NEO Bonus Pool that could be earned by Messrs. McVey and Millet was 35% each and the percentage for Mr. Themelis was 30%. Any amount of the NEO bonus not paid to the NEOs reverted to the general funds of the Company and the Employee Bonus Pool was increased by such amount.

 

In 2008, we did not set individual financial performance goals for the NEOs for achievement of incentive compensation, and there were no specific quantitative individual-level financial goals used to determine compensation. However, the Compensation Committee is apprised of the overall individual performance for each of the NEOs except the CEO, who reports to and is assessed by the full Board, and considers individual performance when determining where to position each NEO along the compensation data continuum that is developed for each position as part of its benchmarking exercise.

 

The actual level of cash bonus awards for each of the NEOs was determined in the context of our financial performance in 2008, each officer’s individual strategic and qualitative accomplishments (as discussed below), comparative market data and all other components of the NEO’s TDC. At the conclusion of the 2008 performance period, the Compensation Committee determined the actual amount to be paid to each NEO and exercised its discretion to pay each executive an amount that was lower than the maximum amount permitted. A further discussion regarding the Compensation Committee’s use of negative discretion appears below.

 

The CEO, President and CIO comprise the three individuals who participated in the Company’s 2008 162(m) Incentive Program, and are the participants under the MarketAxess Holdings Inc. 2009 Code Section 162(m) Executive Performance Incentive Plan (the “2009 Incentive Plan”) (as discussed below) for the 2009 performance period. To determine participants in the 2008 162(m) Incentive Program and the 2009 Incentive Plan, the Company relied on Notice 2007-49 issued by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), which provides that the “covered employee” group for tax years ending on or after December 15, 2006 consists only of the principal executive officer of the Company (the “PEO”) (which, in the case of the Company, is the Company’s CEO) and the three most highly compensated officers for the tax year other than the PEO and the principal financial officer of the Company (the “PFO”) (which is our CFO). The PFO, therefore, is no longer a “covered employee” for purposes of determining compliance with Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code and thus our CFO has not been included as a participant in either the 2008 162(m) Incentive Program or the 2009 Incentive Plan. Besides the CEO and CFO, the Company has only two other NEOs: Mr. Millet (our President) and Mr. Themelis (our CIO). Despite his exclusion from the 2008 162(m) Incentive Program and the 2009 Incentive Plan, our CFO’s incentive opportunities and actual bonus pay determinations remain subject to the Compensation Committee’s discretion.

The table below shows the actual payout amounts for each of the NEOs who participated in the 2008 162(m) Incentive Program in relation to the maximum they were allowed to receive from the NEO Bonus Pool. While $1.95 million was accrued under the funding formula for the NEO Bonus Pool, the Compensation Committee reduced these potential payouts to an aggregate of $1.45 million. A detailed discussion of the actual bonus payments awarded to each NEO, including the CFO, appears later in this section.

 

 

 

Beginning with the 2009 performance year, the Board of Directors adopted the 2009 Incentive Plan, which remains subject to stockholder approval at the 2009 Annual Meeting. The 2009 Incentive Plan is structured in a manner that is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 162(m) in order to preserve our ability to take compensation expense deductions for annual cash bonuses that qualify as performance-based compensation. For 2009, the Compensation Committee has adopted a program under the 2009 Incentive Plan for our NEOs (other than our CFO) that is identical to the 2008 162(m) Incentive Program, except that the 2009 NEO Bonus Pool will be funded based on 32.5% of a variable accrual of 27% of the Company’s 2008 pre-tax operating income before cash bonus expense, as opposed to a variable accrual of 30% in 2008. Please see “Proposal 3” of this Proxy Statement for more information regarding the 2009 Incentive Plan and the 2009 NEO Bonus Pool.

 

In addition, in 2009 the Board of Directors adopted the 2009 Employee Performance Incentive Plan (the “Employee Plan”) in which our CFO participates. The Employee Plan is not subject to stockholder approval and is substantially similar to the 2009 Incentive Plan except that awards granted under the Employee Plan are not intended to, and will not, comply with the “performance-based” compensation exception under Section 162(m) of the Code. The employee bonus pool for 2009 was implemented under the Employee Plan.

 

In light of the current global economic downturn and our understanding of current cash bonus trends, for 2009 the Compensation Committee decided to lower the Minimum Accrual to $2,000,000 (from $3,000,000 in 2008) and the Variable Accrual to 27% (from 30% in 2008).

 

We believe the decrease in the cash bonus accrual is appropriate given the market uncertainty, and we believe that NEOs will be motivated to adopt a long-term perspective that aligns with their equity holdings. A detailed discussion regarding equity holdings appears in the “Pay Mix” section below. While the portion of the Variable Accrual that is allocated to the NEOs subject to the 2009 Incentive Plan (32.5%) has not changed, the Compensation Committee intends to continue to review the NEO incentive compensation program design for future years.

 

The maximum percentage of the NEO Bonus Pool that may be earned by an NEO also remains subject to the discretion of the Compensation Committee to reduce the amount allocated to an individual NEO on an annual basis. The Compensation Committee believes that the allocation of bonus pools among our NEOs for

2008 was appropriate, and for 2009 is appropriate, based upon the individual and aggregate data it has reviewed.

 

The achievement of year-over-year pre-tax operating income growth is moderately difficult to achieve, especially in the context of the current unprecedented turmoil in the credit markets, and requires revenue growth and prudent expense management. While we managed our expenses well in 2008, we did not achieve our targeted revenue growth in our core business, and therefore we did not achieve the year-over-year growth in operating income that we believed was possible. As such, the 2008 Employee Bonus Pool, and consequently the 2008 NEO Bonus Pool, was significantly lower than 2007 accrual levels. Specifically, the Employee Bonus Pool for 2008 was $9 million as compared to $13.4 million in 2007 (a 33% decrease). The Employee Bonus Pool for 2008 did not include the bonus obligations assumed by the Company in conjunction with its acquisition of Greenline Financial Technologies, Inc. (“Greenline”) in March 2008. Prior to our acquisition, Greenline, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of our wholly-owned subsidiary MarketAxess Technologies Inc., had established its own bonus pool and accruals were continued throughout 2008 separately from the Employee Bonus Pool. In 2009, Greenline will continue to maintain a bonus pool that will accrue separately from the Company’s 2009 Employee Bonus Pool. No employees of Greenline are currently NEOs nor is it anticipated that any employee of Greenline will become an NEO.

 

For the 2008 fiscal year, the Compensation Committee had to balance our 2008 operating results, which were directly and negatively impacted by the unprecedented dislocation of the financial credit markets, with the accomplishment of our corporate and individual strategic goals and initiatives. In addition, the Compensation Committee focused on retention of the executive management team as continuity in leadership is critical during this difficult time and this team is well-suited to lead the Company through the financial crisis.

 

A summary of cash bonuses awarded to the NEOs for 2007 and 2008, and the relationship between the NEOs’ cash bonus growth and stockholder value measured as earnings per share (“EPS”), is as follows:

 

 

As the above chart illustrates, and consistent with the Compensation Committee’s intention, the decrease in the percentage change of cash bonus payments for the NEOs for 2008 was generally greater than the percentage reduction in the Company’s 2008 earnings when compared to 2007. With the exception of the CFO, our NEOs have the most influence of any of our employees over growing the revenues and profits of the Company. Revenues in our core business decreased as a result of the turbulent market conditions; however, the increased revenue from our technology services business and our acquisition of Greenline off-set this revenue decline so that year-over-year revenues were essentially flat ($93.1 million in 2008 vs. $93.6 million in 2007). Despite cutting expenses in our core business, expenses increased 5% overall, largely as a result of the Greenline acquisition. As such, without revenue growth, profits decreased, and the Compensation Committee exercised its discretion so that the cash performance bonuses of the NEOs, other than the CFO, were reduced accordingly. In the CFO’s case, while his cash bonus was reduced year-over-year, it was not reduced to the same extent as the bonuses paid to the other NEOs, as the Compensation Committee felt that the CFO’s performance is not linked to revenue generation and wanted to recognize the CFO’s role in achieving significant cost reductions in a difficult operating environment.

In determining the CEO’s cash bonus for 2008, the Compensation Committee primarily focused on corporate financial performance. While operating income, and as a result EPS, decreased from 2007, we were able to maintain revenues and strong free cash flow. In addition, the Compensation Committee factored in qualitative achievements, such as implementation of the Company’s strategic initiatives. In 2008, the CEO was credited with the following achievements:

 

 

In determining the President’s cash bonus, the Compensation Committee and CEO focused primarily on corporate financial performance. In addition to the financial successes outlined above, the President was credited with the following accomplishments:

 

 

In determining the cash bonus compensation for the CFO, the Compensation Committee and CEO focused on corporate financial performance, which includes the metrics noted above as well as an increase in the free cash flow/net income multiple to 3.0 in 2008 from 2.3 in 2007. In addition, the CFO was credited with:

 

 

In addition to contributing to the financial performance of the Company through the revenues attributed to our technology services business and prudent expense management, our CIO was credited with:

 

 

 

The Compensation Committee also reviewed each NEO’s market benchmark data and then determined where, within the appropriate range, each NEO should be positioned. The role, responsibilities, individual contributions, and expertise of each NEO were considered in determining pay positioning relative to the benchmark data.

 

Finally, as stated above, retention and continuity of leadership also factored into the compensation decisions for all NEOs.

 

Long-term Incentives — Equity-based Awards

 

The Company and the Compensation Committee believe that equity-based awards are an important factor in aligning the long-term financial interest of our NEOs and our stockholders. As such, on October 24, 2007, our Board adopted stock ownership guidelines for our executive officers that currently require our NEOs to own not less than a number of shares of Common Stock equal to or greater than the value set forth beside their names below, which equates to three times the CEO’s base salary and two times the base salary of the other NEOs as calculated on the effective date of the policy:

 

 

Currently, all NEOs are in compliance with these guidelines and must remain in compliance throughout the NEO’s employment with the Company. Newly-appointed executives will be subject to the same guidelines and will be required to be in compliance within five years of commencement of service. Importantly, under our ownership guidelines, only shares of Common Stock owned outright in any form, including shares purchased and held personally and vested restricted shares, count toward the minimum ownership requirement. All stock options, irrespective of whether they are vested or in the money, are specifically excluded, as are any unvested restricted shares. Compliance with the stock ownership guidelines is reviewed by the Compensation Committee on an annual basis.

 

Equity awards to our NEOs are determined in the same manner as cash bonuses: the budget for equity-related expenses, corporate financial performance, group and individual performance, benchmark data and retention requirements are factors in determining the equity award. Additionally, total planned cash compensation vs. benchmark data is considered when determining the size and type of equity grant.

 

The Compensation Committee uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to value stock options and option expense in determining the financial impact of equity awards on the Company.

 

For performance year 2008, after having reduced the cash bonus amounts for the NEOs due to corporate financial performance, the Compensation Committee used equity as a retention and long-term reward tool. By doing so, the Compensation Committee was able to balance short-term repercussions (i.e., a reduction in 2008 cash incentives due to lower 2008 corporate financial performance) with long-term motivation and incentives. Specifically, due to the vesting periods attached to the equity, retention increases because a NEO only profits if he continues his employment with the Company, and value is derived from the award only if the NEO is able to produce long-term profits for the Company. In addition, these rewards are tied to stockholder returns as the NEO only profits from the equity when stockholders profit from the Company’s financial performance.

 

The Compensation Committee evaluates the use of equity-based awards and intends to continue to use such awards as part of designing and administering the Company’s compensation program. Our NEOs have

been granted stock options, restricted stock and performance shares (in 2008, as discussed below). Awards are generally granted to our NEOs at the time of hire and then annually at the end of each fiscal year for corporate, unit and individual performance.

 

Since 2006, our equity award policy has been to grant all year-end equity awards on January 15^th of the following year (or the preceding business day if January 15th is not a business day). This insures that the timing of any option grants and the setting of the exercise price, which is the closing price per share of our Common Stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market on the date of grant, will not be arbitrary or subject to manipulation. However, the restricted stock awarded to the NEOs in January 2009 was actually granted on January 22, 2009, as the Compensation Committee had delayed the award so that it could evaluate certain tax issues regarding the potential issuance of the shares as restricted stock units, which could permit executives the opportunity to defer portions of their stock awards to a date later than the originally scheduled vesting date. After completing its review, the Compensation Committee determined that due to restrictions on the timing of deferral elections and certain other tax law requirements, the participants would not have sufficient flexibility in deferring income (which was the original intent) upon vesting of restricted stock units and opted to continue its practice of granting restricted stock without any deferral features. This delay in the grant date had no impact on the size of the grant or the value of the award, as the size and value were determined on January 15, 2009, consistent with our policy.

 

The expected value of the year-end equity award to each NEO is approved by the Compensation Committee prior to grant and is part of the process in determining TDC for each NEO. The actual grant amount (i.e., number of shares or options) is approved by the Compensation Committee on or before the grant date. Grants to new executive officers are made on the date of hire and are approved by the Compensation Committee prior to hire.

 

In connection with commencement of his employment in 2006, our President received an incentive stock option award and a restricted stock award. A portion of the options vest in equal annual installments over a five-year period beginning on October 1, 2007. Additional options were subject to the achievement of certain performance metrics in calendar years 2007 and 2008. The performance metrics for these options, which were considered by the Compensation Committee to be “stretch” goals, were not satisfied, and therefore all of the options subject to both 2007 and 2008 performance were forfeited. The restricted stock award vests in equal annual installments over a five-year period beginning on October 1, 2007. As discussed elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, certain portions of the stock option award and the restricted stock award may also vest upon certain terminations of the President’s employment.

 

Beginning in 2008, the Compensation Committee also utilized performance shares in order to tie the long-term equity component of compensation more closely to stockholder returns. Specifically, the Compensation Committee implemented the use of performance shares to:

 

 

The performance shares were structured in a manner intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” eligible for deductibility under Code Section 162(m).

 

The Compensation Committee has approved two forms of performance share award agreements. One form is for use in connection with grants of performance share awards to the CEO and the President, and a second form is for use in connection with grants of performance share awards to all other performance award recipients, including our other NEOs. Each performance share award agreement provides for the grant of a target number of performance shares that will vest or be forfeited based on the level of our achievement, during the applicable performance period, of a level of pre-tax operating income per share of our Common Stock before payment of (a) cash bonuses for performance during the performance period and (b) expenses incurred in connection with the grant of all performance share awards for the performance period.

For each performance share earned, a participant will receive one share of restricted stock. Any restricted stock awarded to a participant will vest and become freely tradable in equal 50% installments on each of the second and third anniversaries of the grant date of the applicable performance share award. Certain portions of the performance shares or the restricted stock may also vest upon certain terminations of a participant’s employment, or after the occurrence of a qualifying change in control.

 

In connection with their 2007 performance, in January 2008 the Compensation Committee approved grants for an aggregate of 122,120 performance shares to our NEOs for the 2008 performance period. As the performance target for 2008 was not achieved, all such performance shares expired and were unvested at the conclusion of 2008.

 

In January 2009 the NEOs were granted performance shares with respect to the 2009 performance period. These grants are 20% of the aggregate equity grant value granted to each NEO in January 2009 (the remaining percentage was granted as described below). The target performance metric under these awards is the Company’s achievement during 2009 of pre-tax operating income of $0.43 per share of the Company’s Common Stock before payment of (a) cash bonuses for performance during 2009 and (b) expenses incurred in connection with the grant of all performance share awards for performance in 2009, based on the Board-approved 2009 financial plan of the Company. The actual amount that may be earned is based on the level of our achievement of the performance goal during 2009, as follows:

 

 

Payout results are interpolated on a straight-line basis between 80% and 120% achievement of performance goals, and maximum payouts are capped at 150% of target. If the minimum percentage is not achieved, no portion of the performance share awards will be earned by the executives.

 

Set forth below is the target number of performance shares that may be awarded to our NEOs (i.e., the number of performance shares that would be earned based upon achievement of 100% of the performance goal) and their value as of the date of grant:

 

 

For the remaining 80% of the equity award grants made to the NEOs in January 2009, the NEOs were given the choice under the Company’s “Flex Grant” program to choose between the following two alternatives: (1) a 50%/50% split between options and restricted stock or (2) 100% in restricted stock. The trade-off of restricted stock to stock options was determined at an appropriate level at which the accounting expense charged to the Company was unaffected by the executive’s reward selection. The ratio of restricted stock to stock options granted was one to 1.6.

 

The “Flex Grant” program was implemented by the Compensation Committee to permit executives to have appropriate input into the composition of their reward structure, within appropriate limits designated by the Company. This equity program recognizes the unavoidable individual risk preferences that exist among executives and permits the Company to deliver more individualized awards with greater perceived value to the individual recipients without incurring additional actual expense or accounting cost to the Company.

 

The “Flex Grant” program gives the Compensation Committee the ability to control the alternatives made available to executives based on any criteria the Compensation Committee deems appropriate. In 2008, the Compensation Committee required that at least 50% of each NEO’s equity award (excluding performance shares) be designated in restricted stock because the Compensation Committee wanted to increase the retentive

nature of the NEOs’ current equity holdings. This is in part due to the fact that a significant portion of stock option awards from previous years is currently significantly “underwater,” meaning the options have strike prices well above the Company’s current share price, and thus provide little if any real retention of our NEOs.

 

By requiring NEOs to receive at least 50% of their 2009 equity grant (after the 20% allocation to performance shares) in restricted stock, the Compensation Committee believes their compensation is tied closely and appropriately to stockholder returns. In addition, the Compensation Committee believes that restricted stock promotes a long-term outlook on success vs. stock options, which recent research suggests may promote excessive risk-taking in search of potential short-term results at the expense of long-term price appreciation. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee seeks to balance the equity held by our NEOs. In 2009, all of the NEOs elected 100% of their equity award in restricted stock (after the allocation of performance shares) with time-based vesting of three years.

 

Further details on the 2008 year-end equity grants made in January 2009 and a discussion of TDC are included in the Pay Mix section below.

 

The Compensation Committee will continue to evaluate the mix of performance shares, restricted stock, stock options and other stock-based awards to align rewards for personal performance with stockholder value creation.

 

Pay Mix

 

For performance year 2008, the variable compensation portion of our NEOs’ TDC was no less than 80%, except for the CFO, whose variable compensation was just below 70% of his TDC. The slightly lower percentage of variable compensation for our CFO is a function of his variable cash and incentive equity value being lower than that of the other NEOs. Therefore, on a percentage basis, his base, or fixed compensation, makes up a higher percentage of his TDC. His lower variable compensation is in line with market data for the CFO position. A summary of 2008 payments (comprised of 2008 base salary, 2008 year-end cash bonus and January 2009 equity grants for performance year 2008), with the percentages that are variable and fixed, is as follows:

 

 

 

 

As stated in the section above titled Annual Variable Performance Awards Payable in Cash, the Compensation Committee considered the financial performance of the Company during a difficult market environment that existed during 2008, individual contributions of each NEO (listed above) and retention concerns in making a determination as to the size of the equity grant and in targeting each NEO’s TDC. The guidance for TDC was based on the benchmark data obtained from our peer group and other compensation surveys (see Pay Levels and Benchmarking above). The data selected for each NEO was individualized based on the NEO’s position, role within the organization, scope of responsibilities and relative size of the Company. After adding the annualized value of previous multi-year grants, the CEO’s and President’s TDC fell above the benchmark median, but below the 75th percentile, and their TDCs dropped 21% and 20%, respectively, from 2007 levels. The TDCs for the CFO and CIO were generally at the benchmark median, and declined 21% and 15%, respectively, from 2007 levels.

 

As a significant portion of each NEO’s compensation is awarded in equity and our NEOs are subject to stock ownership guidelines, we believe the NEOs are motivated to align personal performance and decision-

making with stockholder value creation, and they are motivated to improve the financial results for the Company on a long-term basis. As such, and given the current market environment, we believe that the change in the 2009 cash bonus accrual methodology (i.e., lower Minimum Accrual and lower Variable Accrual) is not a detriment to our NEOs and that it will not result in unnecessary short-term risk taking.

 

Other Benefits

 

We provide our NEOs with the same benefits offered to all other employees. The cost of these benefits constitutes a small percentage of each NEO’s total compensation. In the U.S., key benefits include paid vacation; premiums paid for life insurance and short-term and long-term disability policies; a matching contribution to the NEO’s 401(k) plan; and the payment of 80% of the NEO’s healthcare premiums. We review these other benefits and perquisites on an annual basis and make adjustments as warranted based on competitive practices and our performance.

 

Risk Mitigation

 

We do not believe that the performance-based nature of our NEO compensation encourages excessive risk-taking by our NEOs that would potentially threaten the economic viability of the Company. Each component of performance-based compensation is subject to a cap on cash or the number of shares delivered. The performance criteria are designed to focus on performance metrics that deliver value to our stockholders and that focus on the health of our business. Further, as noted above, we have instituted stock ownership guidelines that require our NEOs to maintain a substantial ownership interest in the Company, further aligning their interests with those of our other stockholders while mitigating the chance of excessive risk-taking.

 

Compensation Committee Discretion

 

The Compensation Committee retains the discretion to decrease or eliminate all forms of incentive payouts based on its performance assessment, whether individual or Company-based. Likewise, the Compensation Committee retains the discretion to provide additional payouts and/or consider special awards for significant achievements, including but not limited to achieving superior operating results, strategic accomplishments and/or consummation of partnerships, acquisitions or divestitures.

 

Severance and change in control arrangements

 

In hiring and retaining executive level talent, the Compensation Committee believes that providing the executive with a level of security in the event of an involuntary termination of employment or in the event of a change in control is an important and competitive part of the executive’s compensation package. We have entered into employment agreements with our CEO and President that provide for severance payments and benefits in the event of certain terminations of their employment. In addition, the terms of our equity grant award agreements with our CEO and President provide for accelerated vesting of their equity awards in the event of certain terminations of their employment or upon a change in control of the Company. The other NEOs are entitled to severance payments and benefits in the event of certain terminations of their employment under the MarketAxess Severance Pay Plan. Please see “Executive Compensation — Potential termination or change in control payments and benefits” below, for information regarding these payments and benefits.

 

Impact of Tax and Accounting

 

As a general matter, the Compensation Committee reviews and considers the tax and accounting implications of using the various forms of compensation employed by the Company.

 

When determining the size of grants to our NEOs and other employees under the Company’s stock incentive plans, the Compensation Committee examines the accounting cost associated with the grants. Under FAS 123R, grants of stock options, restricted stock, performance shares and other share-based payments result in an accounting charge for the Company. The accounting charge is equal to the fair value of the instruments being issued. For restricted stock and performance shares, the cost is equal to the fair value of the stock on the date of grant times the number of shares or units granted. For stock options, the cost is equal to the fair value

determined using an option pricing model. This expense is amortized over the requisite service or performance period.

 

Code Section 162(m) generally prohibits any publicly-held corporation from taking a Federal income tax deduction for compensation paid in excess of $1 million in any taxable year to the chief executive officer and any other executive officer (other than the chief financial officer) employed on the last day of the taxable year whose compensation is required to be disclosed to stockholders under SEC rules. Exceptions include qualified performance-based compensation, among other things. It is the Compensation Committee’s policy to maximize the effectiveness of our executive compensation plans in this regard. Nonetheless, the Compensation Committee retains the discretion to grant awards (such as restricted stock with time-based vesting) that will not comply with the performance-based exception of 162(m) if it is deemed in the best interest of the Company to do so.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of our previous or future filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that might incorporate this Proxy Statement or future filings with the SEC, in whole or in part, the following report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any such filing.

 

 

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis to be included in this Proxy Statement. Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

 

Submitted by the Compensation Committee of
the Board of Directors:

 

John Steinhardt — Chair
Roger Burkhardt
Robert W. Trudeau

 

Summary compensation table

 

The following table sets forth all compensation received during the last fiscal year by (i) our Chief Executive Officer, (ii) our Chief Financial Officer and (iii) our two other executive officers who were serving as executive officers at the end of the last fiscal year. These executives are referred to as our “named executive officers” elsewhere in this Proxy Statement.

 

 

 

 

Grants of plan-based awards

 

The following table summarizes the grants of restricted stock and option awards we made to the named executive officers in 2008 as well as future payouts pursuant to certain performance-based equity compensation arrangements. There can be no assurance that the Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards will ever be realized.

 

 

 

 

Outstanding equity awards at fiscal year end

 

The following table summarizes unexercised stock options, performance-based stock options with performance conditions that have not yet been satisfied and shares of restricted stock that have not vested and related information for each of our named executive officers as of December 31, 2008. The market value of restricted stock awards is based on the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on December 31, 2008 of $8.16.

 

 

 

 

Option exercises and stock vested

 

The following table summarizes each exercise of stock options, each vesting of restricted stock and related information for each of our named executive officers on an aggregated basis during 2008.

 

 

 

 

Employment agreements and severance arrangements with our named executive officers

 

Richard M. McVey Employment Agreement

 

In May 2004, we entered into an employment agreement with Richard M. McVey. The employment agreement provides that Mr. McVey will be employed by us as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, and his employment may be terminated by him or by us at any time. Mr. McVey’s annual base salary under the agreement is $300,000 per year, which amount was increased in 2006 to $400,000. Mr. McVey is also eligible to receive an annual bonus in accordance with the Company’s annual performance incentive plan as in effect from time to time and is entitled to participate in all benefit plans and programs available to our other senior executives, at a level commensurate with his position. In connection with the hiring of Mr. Millet, Mr. McVey agreed to waive his right to serve as President of the Company.

 

Mr. McVey’s employment agreement provides for severance payments and benefits if his employment is terminated under various conditions. See “Executive Compensation — potential termination or change in control payments and benefits” below for a description of such payments and benefits.

 

For the purposes of Mr. McVey’s agreements, “Cause” generally means his:

 

 

For purposes of Mr. McVey’s employment agreement, “Good Reason” generally means:

 

 

Mr. McVey elected not to exercise his right to resign for Good Reason for no longer holding the title of President in connection with Mr. Millet’s appointment as President.

 

For the purposes of Mr. McVey’s agreements, “Change in Control” generally means:

 

 

T. Kelley Millet Employment Agreement

 

In September 2006, T. Kelley Millet commenced employment with us pursuant to an employment agreement entered into in August 2006. The agreement provides that Mr. Millet will be employed by us as President, and his employment may be terminated by him or by us at any time. Mr. Millet’s base salary under the agreement is $300,000 per year. Mr. Millet is also eligible to receive an annual bonus in accordance with the 2004 Annual Performance Plan. He is also entitled to participate in all benefit plans and programs available to our other senior executives, at a level commensurate with his position.

 

Mr. Millet’s employment agreement provides for severance payments and benefits if his employment is terminated under various conditions. See “Executive Compensation — potential termination or change in control payments and benefits” below for a description of such payments and benefits.

 

For the purposes of Mr. Millet’s agreement, “Cause” and “Change in Control” have the same meaning as provided above for Mr. McVey.

 

For purposes of Mr. Millet’s agreement, “Good Reason” generally means:

 

 

Severance Pay Plan

 

Messrs. Rucker and Themelis do not have employment agreements with us but are entitled to severance payments and benefits under the Company’s Severance Pay Plan (the “Severance Plan”) in the event their employment is terminated by us for any reason other than a termination for Cause. The Severance Plan

provides for up to 24 weeks of continued base salary and continued healthcare coverage based on the number of years of an employee’s consecutive service with us prior to termination. On September 22, 2008, the Severance Plan was amended to include an additional bonus payments for any employee whose employment terminates between September 22, 2008 and January 15, 2009, equal to 50% of the employee’s 2007 year-end bonus, prorated for the number of full calendar months (rounded up for service of at least one-half month) worked in calendar year 2008.

 

“Cause” is generally defined in the Severance Plan as (i) an employee’s act or omission resulting or intended to result in personal gain at our expense; (ii) an employee’s misconduct; (iii) performance of duties by an employee in a manner we deem to be materially unsatisfactory; (iv) “cause” (or words of like import) as defined in an agreement between us and the employee; or (v) an employee’s improper disclosure of proprietary or confidential information or trade secrets, or intellectual property that we are under a duty to protect.

 

As of December 31, 2008, Mr. Rucker had completed eight years of consecutive service with us and Mr. Themelis had completed four years of consecutive service with us. Had we terminated them without Cause on December 31, 2008, they would have been entitled to 24 and 16 weeks of continued base salary and continued healthcare coverage, respectively.

 

Proprietary Information and Non-Competition Agreements

 

Each of the named executive officers has entered into, and is subject to the terms of, a Proprietary Information and Non-Competition Agreement with us that contains, among other things, (i) certain provisions prohibiting disclosure of our confidential information without our prior written consent, (ii) certain non-competition provisions that restrict their engaging in certain activities that are competitive with us during their employment and for one year thereafter, and (iii) certain non-solicitation provisions that restrict their recruiting, soliciting or hiring our nonclerical employees or consultants, or soliciting any person or entity to terminate, cease, reduce or diminish their relationship with us, during their employment and for two years thereafter.

 

Loans to executive officers of the Company

 

Prior to enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in July 2002, we made two loans to Richard M. McVey, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our Board of Directors. We entered into restricted stock purchase agreements with Mr. McVey on June 11, 2001 and July 1, 2001, respectively, in connection with his compensation package. Pursuant to these agreements, we sold an aggregate of 289,581 shares of our Common Stock to Mr. McVey at a purchase price of $3.60 per share. We loaned an aggregate of approximately $1,042,488 to Mr. McVey to finance his purchase of these shares. Mr. McVey executed secured promissory notes with us to document these loans. These promissory notes bear interest at an average rate of 5.69% per annum. The principal and accrued interest on each of these promissory notes is due and payable as follows: (1) 20% of the principal and accrued interest is due on the sixth anniversary of the issuance date; (2) an equal amount is due on each of the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth anniversaries of the issuance date; and (3) the balance is due on the eleventh anniversary of the issuance date. Mr. McVey may prepay all or any part of any note at any time without paying a premium or penalty. A portion of the promissory notes, representing 80% of the aggregate purchase price, is non-recourse and the remaining portion of the promissory notes, representing 20% of the aggregate purchase price, is full-recourse. As security for his obligations under the promissory notes, Mr. McVey has pledged the 289,581 shares of our Common Stock acquired by him under the restricted stock purchase agreements described above. During 2008, Mr. McVey made principal and interest payments aggregating $293,400.

 

The loans described in the preceding paragraph were entered into prior to the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Because of the prohibitions against certain loans under Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we will not modify any of these outstanding loans, nor will we enter into new loans with any of our directors or executive officers, other than as permitted by applicable law at the time of the transaction.

Potential termination or change in control payments and benefits

 

Messrs. McVey and Millet are entitled to certain payments and benefits pursuant to their employment agreements and other agreements entered into between us and them upon a termination of their employment in certain circumstances or in the event of a Change in Control of the Company. Messrs. Rucker and Themelis do not have employment agreements with us but are entitled to severance payments and benefits under the Severance Plan and pursuant to certain equity grants.

 

The following tables estimate the payments we would be obligated to make to each of our named executive officers as a result of his termination or resignation under the circumstances shown or, in the case of Mr. McVey and Mr. Millet, because of a Change in Control, in each case assuming such event had occurred on December 31, 2008. We have calculated these estimated payments to meet SEC disclosure requirements. The estimated payments are not necessarily indicative of the actual amounts any of our named executive officers would receive in such circumstances. The table excludes (i) compensation amounts accrued through December 31, 2008 that would be paid in the normal course of continued employment, such as accrued but unpaid salary, and (ii) vested account balances under our 401(k) Plan that are generally available to all of our salaried employees. Where applicable, the information in the table uses a price per share for our Common Stock of $8.16, the closing price on December 31, 2008. In addition, where applicable, the amounts reflected for bonuses reflect the actual amounts paid to the named executive officers for 2008, since the hypothetical termination or Change in Control date is the last day of the fiscal year for which the bonus is to be determined.

 

Certain of the stock options granted to our named executive officers would have become vested under certain circumstances; however, the tables below do not reflect any value for such vesting, as the exercise prices of the stock options held by our named executive officers are greater than the market value of the Common Stock on December 31, 2008 and therefore would not have had any value on December 31, 2008. The performance share award agreements entered into between us and each of our named executive officers in January 2008 provided for vesting of the performance shares under certain circumstances; however, the tables below do not reflect any value for such vesting as the performance metrics for the 2008 performance share grants were not achieved and therefore such shares were forfeited.

Payments and Benefits for Mr. McVey