e424b3
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-155628
PROSPECTUS
4,199,999 Shares
Common Stock
This
prospectus relates to the resale of up to 4,199,999 shares of common stock of MarketAxess
Holdings Inc. that may be offered and sold from time to time by selling securityholders. We will
not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus.
The selling securityholders may offer their shares from time to time through public or private
transactions, including, without limitation, through any means described in the section hereof
entitled Plan of Distribution, at prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. The
timing and amount of any sale are within the sole discretion of the selling securityholders. The
selling securityholders may make sales directly to purchasers, through brokers, agents, dealers or
underwriters, or through a combination of these methods. The selling securityholders will bear all
commissions and other compensation, if any, paid in connection with the sale of their shares.
Our common stock
is listed on the NASDAQ
Global Select Market under the symbol MKTX. On
February 14, 2011, the closing sale price on the NASDAQ Global Select
Market of our common stock was $21.66 per share.
Investing in our common stock involves risks.
See Risk Factors beginning on page 2.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has
approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date
of this prospectus is February 15, 2011.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, or SEC, utilizing a shelf registration process. Under this shelf
registration process, the selling securityholders may, from time to time, offer and sell shares of
our common stock, as described in this prospectus, in one or more offerings. This prospectus
provides you with a general description of the shares of common stock that the selling
securityholders may offer hereunder. Each time the selling securityholders use this prospectus to
offer shares of common stock, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific
information about the terms of that offering, including the names of the selling securityholders.
The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.
You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional
information described under the heading Where You Can Find More Information.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and in any prospectus
supplements. We have not, and the selling securityholders have not, authorized anyone to provide
you with information different from that contained in this prospectus and in any prospectus
supplements. The selling securityholders are not making an offer to sell or seeking offers to buy
these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information
contained in this prospectus is complete and accurate as of the date of this prospectus, but the
information may have changed since that date.
Unless the context otherwise indicates, references in this prospectus to the terms
MarketAxess, we, our and us refer to MarketAxess Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Throughout this prospectus, we refer to various trademarks, service marks and trade names that
we use in our business. MarketAxess® name and logo, Auto-Spotting®, BondLink®, Actives®,
FrontPage® and DealerAxess® are some of our registered trademarks. We also have a number of other
registered trademarks, service mark applications and trademark applications related to our products
that we refer to throughout this prospectus. Other trademarks and service marks appearing in this
prospectus are the property of their respective holders.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information
that you should consider before investing in our common stock. You should read carefully the entire
prospectus, including Risk Factors and the other information contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus, before making an investment decision.
Throughout
this prospectus, we refer to our audited fiscal years ended December 31, 2009,
2008 and 2007 as our 2009, 2008 and 2007 fiscal years, respectively.
Our Business
MarketAxess
operates a leading electronic platform that allows investment
industry professionals to efficiently trade corporate
bonds and other types of fixed-income instruments. Our 730 active
institutional investor clients (firms that executed at least one trade in U.S. or European
fixed income securities through our electronic trading during 2009)
include investment advisers, mutual funds, insurance companies, public and private
pension funds, bank portfolios and hedge funds. Our 67 broker-dealer
market-maker clients provide liquidity on the platform and include
most of the leading broker-dealers in global fixed-income trading. Our DealerAxess® trading service allows dealers to
trade fixed-income securities and credit default swaps with each other on our platform. Through our
Corporate BondTicker service, we provide fixed-income market data, analytics and compliance tools
that help our clients make trading decisions. In addition, we provide FIX (Financial Information Exchange) message management tools,
connectivity solutions and ancillary technology services that facilitate the electronic
communication of order information between trading counterparties. Our revenues are primarily
generated from the trading of U.S. and European high-grade corporate bonds.
Our multi-dealer
trading platform allows our institutional investor
clients to simultaneously request competing, executable bids or offers from our broker-dealer
clients and execute trades with the broker-dealer of their choice from among those that choose to
respond. We offer our broker-dealer clients a solution that enables them to efficiently reach our
institutional investor clients for the distribution and trading of bonds. In addition to U.S.
high-grade corporate bonds, European high-grade corporate bonds and emerging markets bonds,
including both investment-grade and non-investment grade debt, we also offer our clients the
ability to trade crossover and high-yield bonds, agency bonds and credit default swaps (CDS).
The majority of our revenues are derived from monthly distribution fees and commissions for
trades executed on our platform that are billed to our broker-dealer clients on a monthly basis. We
also derive revenues from technology products and services,
information and user access fees, investment income and other income. Our expenses consist of employee compensation and benefits,
depreciation and amortization, technology and communication expenses, professional and consulting
fees, occupancy, marketing and advertising and general and administrative expenses.
Our principal executive offices are
located at 299 Park Avenue, New York, New York
10171. Our telephone number is (212) 813-6000.
The address of our website is www.marketaxess.com. Information contained on our website does
not constitute part of this prospectus.
1
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should consider
carefully the risks described below and the specific risks set forth under the caption Risk
Factors in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the other
information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before
deciding to invest in our common stock. These risks could have a material and adverse impact on our
business, results of operations and financial condition. If that were to happen, the trading price
of our common stock could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock and this Offering
Market volatility may cause our stock price and the value of your investment to decline.
The market price of our common stock may be significantly affected by volatility in the
markets in general. The market price of our common stock likely will continue to fluctuate in
response to factors including the following:
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the other risk factors described in or incorporated by reference into this
prospectus; |
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prevailing interest rates; |
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the market for similar securities; |
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additional issuances of common stock; |
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general economic conditions; and |
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our financial condition, performance and prospects, including our ability or
inability to meet analyst expectations. |
Most of these factors are beyond our control. In addition, the stock markets in general, including
the NASDAQ Global Select Market, have experienced and continue to experience significant price and
volume fluctuations. These fluctuations have resulted in volatility in the market prices of
securities for companies such as ours that often has been unrelated or disproportionate to changes
in the operating performance of the affected companies. These broad market and industry
fluctuations may affect adversely the market price of our common stock regardless of our operating
performance.
Holders of our common stock will experience dilution of their ownership interests due to
registration for resale of the common stock issuable upon conversion and/or exercise of securities
held by the selling securityholders and any future issuance of additional shares of our common
stock.
We
registered for resale 4,199,999 shares of our common stock, including 3,500,000 shares
that are issuable upon conversion of our Series B Preferred Stock and 700,000 shares that are
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. We may also in the future issue additional shares of our
authorized and unissued common stock in connection with future acquisitions, future private
placements of our securities for capital raising purposes, or for other business purposes, all of
which would result in the dilution of the ownership interests of holders of our common stock.
Issuance of additional shares of common stock also may create downward pressure on the trading
price of our existing common stock that may in turn require us to issue additional shares to raise
funds through sale of our securities. This would dilute further the ownership interests of holders
of our common stock.
The selling securityholders could sell large blocks of securities under this prospectus, which
could cause the price of our common stock to decline.
The selling securityholders may sell all or any portion of their securities in the public
market through any means described in the section hereof entitled Plan of Distribution. Sale of
substantial amounts of common stock by the selling securityholders or the perception that those
sales could occur may affect adversely the market price of our common stock.
We may not pay dividends on our common stock in the future.
We initiated a dividend on our common stock in 2009. However, there is no assurance that we
will continue to pay any dividends to holders of our common stock in the future. If we were to
cease paying dividends, investors would need to rely on the sale of their common stock after price
appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any future gains on their
investment.
2
If securities analysts do not publish research or reports about our business or if they downgrade
our common stock, the price of our common stock could decline.
The trading market for our common stock relies in part on the research and reports that
industry or financial analysts publish about us or our business.
These analysts work independently of us. If one or more analysts who cover us downgrade our stock, our stock price could decline rapidly.
If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company, we could lose visibility in the
market, which in turn could cause our stock price to decline.
Provisions in our stockholders
rights plan, organizational documents and Delaware law might discourage, delay or prevent a change of control
of our company or changes in our management, and therefore, depress the trading price of our common
stock.
Our Board of Directors has adopted a stockholders rights plan, commonly referred to as a
poison pill. This plan entitles existing stockholders to rights, including the right to purchase
shares of common stock, in the event of an acquisition of 20% or more of our outstanding common
stock. Our stockholders rights plan could prevent stockholders from profiting from an increase in
the market value of their shares as a result of a change of control of us by delaying or preventing
a change of control.
In addition,
provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may make it substantially more
difficult for a third party to acquire control of us and may prevent changes in our management,
including provisions that:
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prevent stockholders from calling special meetings; |
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allow the directors to amend the bylaws without stockholder approval; and |
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set forth advance notice procedures for nominating directors and submitting proposals for
consideration at stockholders meetings. |
Provisions of Delaware law may also inhibit potential acquisition bids for us or prevent us
from engaging in business combinations. In addition, we have severance agreements with several
employees and a change of control severance plan that could require an acquiror to pay a higher
price. Either collectively or individually, these provisions may prevent holders of our common
stock from benefiting from what they may believe are the positive aspects of acquisitions and
takeovers, including the potential realization of a higher rate of return on their investment from
these types of transactions.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking
statements, in accordance with Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that reflect our current estimates,
expectations and projections about future events. Forward-looking statements include statements
about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, intentions and assumptions and other statements
that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as
expects, intends, anticipates, plans, believes, seeks, estimates, will, or words of
similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for our
future business and financial performance, but the absence of these words does not necessarily mean
that a statement is not forward-looking. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to, certain statements in the sections entitled Prospectus Summary and Risk
Factors.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are
based on potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ
materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the
factors described in the section entitled Risk Factors in this prospectus. It is routine for our
internal projections and expectations to change as the year or each quarter in the year progresses,
and therefore it should be clearly understood that the internal projections and beliefs upon which
we base our expectations may change prior to the end of each quarter or the year. Our company
policy is generally to provide our expectations only once per quarter, and not to update that
information until the next quarter. Actual future events or results may differ, perhaps materially,
from those contained in the projections or forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the
date of this prospectus. We undertake no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking
statement to reflect circumstances or events after the date of this prospectus or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events. You should, however, review the factors and risks we describe
in the reports we will file from time to time with the SEC after the date of this prospectus.
Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include those discussed below and
elsewhere in this report, particularly in the section entitled Risk Factors in this prospectus.
3
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock offered
and sold pursuant to this prospectus. The selling securityholders will pay any and all underwriting
discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes, if any, attributable to sales of the
shares. We will bear all other costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration and
sale of the shares covered by this prospectus, including up to $25,000 for the fees and expenses of
one counsel to the selling securityholders in connection with the registration of their shares.
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
We originally issued (i) an aggregate of 35,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, par value
$0.001 per share (the Series B Preferred Stock), which were initially convertible into an
aggregate of 3,500,000 shares of common stock and (ii) warrants (the Warrants) to purchase an
aggregate of 700,000 shares of common stock, in a private placement to TCV VI, L.P. (TCV VI) and
TCV Member Fund, L.P. (TCV Member Fund), or the selling securityholders, in two tranches on June
3, 2008 and July 14, 2008. Pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Designation of Series B Preferred Stock, all of the
outstanding shares of the Series B Preferred Stock converted into 3,499,999 shares of common stock
on January 24, 2011 (the selling securityholders received cash in lieu of fractional shares).
Robert Trudeau, a director of MarketAxess, is a member of Technology Crossover Management VI,
L.L.C. (TCM VI), which is a general partner of TCV Member Fund and the sole general partner of
TCV VI. The investment activities of TCM VI are managed by Mr. Trudeau and five other individuals
(collectively, the TCM Members) who share voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares
beneficially owned by TCV VI and TCV Member Fund. TCM VI and the TCM Members have disclaimed
beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of their pecuniary interest in them.
The selling
securityholders may from time to time offer and sell pursuant to this prospectus
any or all of the offered securities listed in the table below and any and all of the shares of
common stock issued upon conversion of the Series B Preferred
Stock and issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants. When we refer to the selling securityholders in this prospectus, we mean the persons
listed in the table below, as well as the pledgees, donees, assignees, transferees, distributees,
successors and others who later hold any of the selling securityholders interests.
The table below sets forth the name of each of the selling securityholders, the number of
shares of common stock that the Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into that may be offered
pursuant to this prospectus by each selling securityholder, the number of shares of common stock
that may be purchased under the Warrants by each selling securityholder, the number of shares of
our common stock beneficially owned by such securityholders and the number that may be offered
pursuant to this prospectus. In the below table, the number of shares of our common stock that may
be offered pursuant to this prospectus is calculated based on the initial conversion rate of 100
shares of common stock per share of Series B Preferred Stock. The number of shares of common stock
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants are subject to adjustment under certain circumstances.
Accordingly, the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and
the number of shares beneficially owned and offered by the selling securityholders pursuant to this
prospectus may increase or decrease from that set forth in the below table.
The information set forth below is based on information provided by or on behalf of the
selling securityholders prior to the date hereof. Information concerning the selling
securityholders may change from time to time. The selling securityholders may from time to time
offer and sell any or all of the securities under this prospectus. Because the selling
securityholders are not obligated to sell the offered securities, we cannot state with certainty
the amount of our securities that the selling securityholders will hold upon consummation of any
such sales. In addition, since the date on which the selling securityholders provided this
information to us, such selling securityholders may have sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of
all or a portion of the offered securities.
Except for the transactions referred to herein and in documents filed by us with the SEC
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, none of the selling
securityholders has or within the last three years has had any
position, office, contract, arrangement, understanding or other
material relationship (legal or
otherwise) with us or any of our affiliates.
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Ownership of Shares Prior to Offering |
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Ownership After Offering |
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Number of shares |
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Number of shares |
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being offered for sale |
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Number of shares |
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beneficially owned |
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in this offering (3) |
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beneficially owned (4) |
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Percentage |
TCV VI, L.P. |
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4,167,182 |
(1) (5) |
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4,167,182 |
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0 |
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* |
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TCV Member Fund,
L.P. |
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32,817 |
(2) (5) |
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32,817 |
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0 |
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* |
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* |
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Less than 1% |
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(1) |
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Includes (i) 3,472,652 shares of common stock issued upon
conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock, and (ii) 694,530 shares of common stock issuable upon
exercise of the Warrants, assuming exercise of all of the selling
securityholders Warrants at an initial exercise price of $10.00 per
share, each of which is subject to adjustment, plus cash in lieu of
fractional shares, subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments. |
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(2) |
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Includes (i) 27,347 shares of common stock issued upon
conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock, and (ii) 5,470 shares of common stock issuable upon
exercise of the Warrants, assuming exercise of all of the selling
securityholders Warrants at an initial exercise price of $10.00 per
share, each of which is subject to adjustment, plus cash in lieu of
fractional shares, subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments. |
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Unless otherwise indicated, the selling securityholders may offer any
or all of the common stock issued upon conversion of the Series B
Preferred Stock, the common stock issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants, and the common stock each beneficially owns. |
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Assumes that (i) all of the Warrants are exercised for shares of
common stock and sold, (ii) all of the Series B Preferred Stock
converted into shares of common stock are sold and (iii) the selling
securityholder acquires no additional shares of common stock before
completion of this offering. |
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(5) |
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Robert Trudeau, a director of MarketAxess, is a member of TCM VI,
which is a general partner of TCV Member Fund and the sole general
partner of TCV VI. The investment activities of TCM VI are managed by
the TCM Members who share voting and dispositive power with respect to
the shares beneficially owned by TCV VI and TCV Member Fund. TCM VI
and the TCM Members have disclaimed beneficial ownership of these
shares except to the extent of their pecuniary interest in them. |
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The selling securityholders, including their pledgees, donees, transferees, distributees,
beneficiaries or other successors in interest, may from time to time offer some or all of the
shares of common stock covered by this prospectus. To the extent required, this prospectus may be
amended and supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.
The selling securityholders will not pay any of the costs, expenses and fees in connection
with the registration and sale of the shares covered by this prospectus, but they will pay any and
all underwriting discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes, if any, attributable to
sales of the shares. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares of our common
stock covered hereby.
The selling securityholders may sell the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus
from time to time, and may also decide not to sell all or any of the shares that they are allowed
to sell under this prospectus. The selling securityholders will act independently of us in making
decisions regarding the timing, manner and size of each sale. The selling securityholders may sell
shares at fixed prices, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such
prevailing market prices, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at privately
negotiated prices. Sales may be made by the selling securityholders in one or more types of
transactions, which may include:
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purchases by underwriters, dealers and agents who may receive compensation in
the form of underwriting discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling
securityholders and/or the purchasers of the shares for whom they may act as agent; |
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one or more block transactions, including transactions in which the broker or
dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares of common stock as agent but may
position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction, or
in crosses, in which the same broker acts as an agent on both sides of the trade; |
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ordinary brokerage transactions or transactions in which a broker solicits
purchases; |
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purchases by a broker-dealer or market maker, as principal, and resale by the
broker-dealer for its account; |
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the pledge of shares as security for any loan or obligation, including pledges
to brokers or dealers who may from time to time effect distributions of the shares or
other interests in the shares; |
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short sales or transactions to cover short sales relating to the shares; |
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one or more exchanges or over the counter market transactions; |
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through distribution by a selling stockholder or its successor in interest to
its members, general or limited partners or shareholders (or their respective members,
general or limited partners or shareholders); |
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privately negotiated transactions; |
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the writing of options, whether the options are listed on an options exchange or
otherwise; |
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distributions to creditors and equity holders of the selling securityholders;
and |
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any combination of the foregoing, or any other available means allowable under
applicable law. |
A selling stockholder may also resell all or a portion of its securities in open market
transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act provided it meets the criteria and
conforms to the requirements of Rule 144.
The selling securityholders may enter into sale, forward sale and derivative transactions with
third parties, or may sell shares not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately
negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with
those sale, forward sale or derivative transactions, the third parties may sell shares covered by
this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions and
by issuing securities that are not covered by this prospectus but are exchangeable for or represent
beneficial interests in the common stock. The third parties also may use shares received under
those sale, forward sale or derivative arrangements or shares pledged by the selling securityholder
or borrowed from the selling securityholders or others to settle such third-party sales or to close
out any related open borrowings of common stock. The third parties may deliver this prospectus in
connection with any such transactions. Any third party in such sale transactions will be an
underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective
amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part).
In addition, the selling securityholders may engage in hedging transactions with
broker-dealers in connection with distributions of shares or otherwise. In those transactions,
broker-dealers may engage in short sales of shares in the course of hedging the positions they
assume with selling securityholders. The selling securityholders may also sell shares short and
redeliver shares to close out such short positions. The selling securityholders may also enter into
option or other transactions with broker-dealers which require the delivery of shares to the
broker-dealer. The broker-dealer may then resell or otherwise transfer such shares pursuant to this
prospectus. The selling securityholders also may loan or pledge shares, and the borrower or pledgee
may sell or otherwise transfer the shares so loaned or pledged pursuant to this prospectus. Such
borrower or pledgee also may transfer those shares to investors in our securities or the selling
securityholders securities or in connection with the offering of other securities not covered by
this prospectus.
To the extent necessary, we may amend or supplement this prospectus from time to time to
describe a specific plan of distribution. We will file a supplement to this prospectus, if
required, upon being notified by the selling securityholders that any material arrangement has been
entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of shares through a block trade, offering or a
purchase by a broker or dealer. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the specific
terms of the offering of securities, including:
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the number of shares of common stock offered; |
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the price of such shares of common stock; |
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the proceeds to the selling securityholders from the sale of such shares; |
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the names of the underwriters or agents, if any; |
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any underwriting discounts, agency fees or other compensation to underwriters or
agents; and |
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any discounts or concessions allowed or paid to dealers. |
The selling securityholders may, or may authorize underwriters, dealers and agents to, solicit
offers from specified institutions to purchase shares of common stock from the selling
securityholders at the public offering price listed in the applicable prospectus supplement. These
sales may be made under delayed delivery contracts or other purchase contracts that provide for
payment and delivery on a specified future date. Any contracts like this will be described in and
be subject to the conditions listed in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Broker-dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of commissions, discounts or
concessions from the selling securityholders. Broker-dealers or agents may also receive
compensation from the purchasers of shares for whom they act as agents or to whom they sell as
principals, or both. Compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary
commissions and will be in amounts to be negotiated in connection with transactions involving
shares. In effecting sales, broker-dealers engaged by the selling securityholders may arrange for
other broker-dealers to participate in the resales.
In connection with sales of our common stock covered hereby, the selling securityholders and
any underwriter, broker-dealer or agent and any other participating broker-dealer that executes
sales for the selling securityholders may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). Accordingly, any profits realized by
the selling securityholders and any compensation earned by such underwriter, broker-dealer or agent
may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. Because the selling securityholders may
be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act, the selling securityholders must deliver
this prospectus and any prospectus supplement in the manner required by the Securities Act. This
prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied through the facilities of the NASDAQ Global Select
Market in accordance with Rule 153 under the Securities Act.
We and the selling securityholders have agreed to indemnify each other against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In addition, we or the selling
securityholders may agree to indemnify any underwriters, broker-dealers and agents against or
contribute to any payments the underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be required to make with
respect to, civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters,
broker-dealers and agents and their affiliates are permitted to be customers of, engage in
transactions with, or perform services for us and our affiliates or the selling securityholders or
their affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
The selling securityholders will be subject to applicable provisions of Regulation M of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder, which provisions may
limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares of our common stock by the selling
securityholders. Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the
distribution of the shares of common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to
the shares of common stock. These restrictions may affect the marketability of such shares.
In order to comply with applicable securities laws of some states, the shares may be sold in
those jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain
states the shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the
applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirements is available.
In addition, any shares of a selling securityholder covered by this prospectus that qualify for
sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold in open market transactions under
Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.
In connection with an offering of common stock under this prospectus, the underwriters may
purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include short sales,
stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales
involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of securities than they are required to
purchase in an offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the
purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities while an
offering is in progress.
The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter
repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the
underwriters have repurchased securities sold by or for the account of that underwriter in
stabilizing or short-covering transactions.
These activities by the underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market
price of the common stock offered under this prospectus. As a result, the price of the common stock
may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are
commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be
effected on the NASDAQ Global Select Market or another securities exchange or automated quotation
system, or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
7
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for
us by Proskauer Rose LLP, New York, New York.
EXPERTS
The financial statements and managements assessment of the effectiveness of internal control
over financial reporting (which is included in Managements Report on Internal Control over
Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the
authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the
SEC. You may read and copy these reports, proxy statements and other information at the SECs
Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on
the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains
a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding
issuers that file electronically with the SEC, located at http://www.sec.gov.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it, which means
that we can disclose important information to you by referring to those documents. The information
incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file
later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by
reference the following documents we filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act):
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our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2009; |
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our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended March 31,
2010, June 30, 2010 and September 30, 2010; |
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our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on March 10, 2010, April 22, 2010, June 4, 2010, June 14, 2010 and January 20, 2011; and |
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the description of our common stock in our Registration Statement on Form S-1
(File No. 333-112718) under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. |
In addition, all documents filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act (1) after the date of filing of this registration statement and prior to
effectiveness of this registration statement or (2) before the offering of the common stock offered
hereby is completed shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We are
not, however, incorporating by reference any documents or portions thereof, whether specifically
listed above or filed in the future, that are not deemed filed with the SEC, including our
compensation committee report and performance graph (included in our Definitive Proxy Statement),
or any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K, or certain exhibits
furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K.
Any statement contained herein or in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to
the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also
is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or replaces such statement. Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this
prospectus, except as so modified or superseded.
We will provide to you at no cost a copy of any or all of the information incorporated by
reference into this prospectus. You may make a request for a copy of this information in writing or
by telephone. Requests should be directed to:
MarketAxess Holdings Inc.
Attention: Investor Relations Department
299 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10171
(212) 813-6000
8
4,199,999 Shares
Common Stock
PROSPECTUS
February 15, 2011