Definitive Additional Materials

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934

 

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NYMEX Holdings, Inc.

 

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The following information should be read in conjunction with the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus on Form S-4 (the “Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus”), filed by CME Group Inc. with the SEC on July 21, 2008 and mailed to the stockholders of CME Group Inc. and NYMEX Holdings, Inc. and the owners of NYMEX Class A memberships on that same date and with reference to the specific sections noted below, each of which are contained in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

For your convenience, new proxy card(s) is(are) included with these supplemental materials. If you have not yet voted your shares and/or membership interests, please use the enclosed proxy card(s) to vote. If you have already voted your stock and/or membership interests and you do not wish to change your vote, no action is required. If you have previously voted and wish to change your vote, you may use the enclosed proxy card(s) for that purpose.

RISK FACTORS

On pages 38 and 39 of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the following risk factor is set forth: “Owners of NYMEX Class A memberships are entitled to receive potential revenue payments from electronic trading, some of which could be triggered or paid before completion of the merger. NYMEX’s interpretations with respect to these revenue payment rights is subject to challenge. These rights will be eliminated if the merger is completed.” In conjunction with this risk factor, the following should be considered:

The NYMEX Class A member plaintiff alleges that no calculations have been submitted to justify the $50 amount. The NYMEX Class A member plaintiff further alleges that numerous products, including uranium, are being traded solely electronically and no payments have been made to NYMEX Class A members as a result of such products being traded.

Proposal 1—Approval of the NYMEX Amended Charter

The following should be read in conjunction with the section “The Special Meeting of NYMEX Class A Members—Proposal 1—Approval of the NYMEX Amended Charter” which begins on page 54 of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus. In particular, the following should be read in conjunction with the list of new post-closing rights and privileges of the NYMEX Class A members beginning on page 55 of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

NYMEX shall not increase the number of NYMEX Class A memberships to a number greater than 816 and NYMEX shall not create any new class of memberships in NYMEX with any rights to trade or to broker trades of any futures and options products that were traded on NYMEX’s open outcry facility as of July 18, 2008 on such open outcry facility.

The NYMEX Amended Charter originally attached as Annex J to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus has been revised pursuant to the third amendment to the Amended Merger Agreement. The revised NYMEX Amended Charter is attached as Exhibit C to Annex A hereto.

Background of the Merger

The following should be read in conjunction with the section “The Merger—Background of the Merger” which begins on page 59 of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

On July 11, 2007, the Board of Directors of NYMEX Holdings created a Strategic Initiatives Committee, which was authorized to consider, review and evaluate all strategic alternatives available to the Company to enhance stockholder value, including a potential business combination. The Strategic Initiatives Committee considered indications of interest from potential acquirors of the Company, none of whom ever submitted a firm

 

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offer to acquire NYMEX Holdings. The last meeting of the Strategic Initiatives Committee was on August 9, 2007. Thereafter, the full Board considered potential strategic alternatives available to NYMEX Holdings, including the transaction with CME Group.

In the summer of 2007, representatives of one potential acquiror indicated to the management of NYMEX Holdings that, subject to approval of such acquiror’s board of directors, the acquiror might be interested in acquiring NYMEX Holdings for cash and stock with a combined value of $142 per share of NYMEX Holdings’ common stock, based on then-current stock prices. However, no bid was ever received.

At the conclusion of the meetings on January 24, 2008, Mr. Schaeffer and Dr. Newsome concluded that further attempts to negotiate price terms would create a significant risk that a deal would not be struck. At the Board meeting the next day, Mr. Schaeffer and Dr. Newsome explained their opinion to the Board and recommended that the Board not engage in further attempts to negotiate price at that time.

CME Group never offered a collar on the exchange ratio and the Board of NYMEX Holdings did not request a collar from CME Group.

At its June 30, 2008 meeting, the NYMEX Board discussed the issues which arose at the June 19, 2008 Special Meeting of Class A Members, including issues relating to Section 311(G). The NYMEX Board also directed the Executive Committee of the Board to review all such issues and report to the Board. Subsequently, members of the Executive Committee of the NYMEX Board had discussions with CME Group regarding such issues, including, without limitation, NYMEX Class A members’ concerns regarding the price being paid in respect of NYMEX Class A memberships, the retention of the current membership structure and NYMEX’s continued commitment to maintaining floor trading in the current location. The Executive Committee has not summarized its findings or presented them to the NYMEX Board or issued a report.

Notwithstanding the decline in the price for shares of common stock of CME Group, and the consequent decline in the value of the consideration being offered in the merger to the stockholders of NYMEX Holdings, the NYMEX Board concluded on numerous occasions that the transaction was still in the best interests of and fair to NYMEX’s stockholders.

The General Atlantic Parties, in their capacity as stockholders of NYMEX Holdings, have agreed to execute a waiver and release of any and all claims against NYMEX Holdings and CME Group similar to the waiver and release required to be executed by NYMEX Class A members, in their capacity as stockholders, in connection with the Membership Rights Payments.

On August 6, 2008, the transaction committee of the CME Group board of directors held a special meeting together with members of CME Group’s management and its legal advisors. At the meeting, the transaction committee reviewed the terms of the third amendment to the Amended Merger Agreement and the ancillary documents and determined by a unanimous vote that the Amended Merger Agreement, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Amended Merger Agreement were advisable, fair to and in the best interests of CME Group and its stockholders and then approved the Amended Merger Agreement, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Amended Merger Agreement and authorized management to enter into the Amended Merger Agreement.

On August 7, 2008, the NYMEX Holdings board of directors held a special meeting together with members of NYMEX Holdings’ management and its legal advisors. At the meeting, representatives of Weil, Gotshal reviewed with the board the terms of the third amendment to the Amended Merger Agreement and the ancillary documents and the board determined by a unanimous vote of those present that the Amended Merger Agreement, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Amended Merger Agreement were advisable, fair to and in the best interests of NYMEX Holdings and its stockholders and then approved the Amended Merger Agreement, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Amended Merger Agreement and authorized management to enter into the Amended Merger Agreement and the ancillary documents. The board

 

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then discussed the additional disclosures to be made to NYMEX Holdings’ stockholders and the NYMEX Class A members and to be mailed to each of them. After careful consideration, the board authorized management to file the additional disclosures as additional soliciting material and to mail such information to the NYMEX Holdings’ stockholders and the NYMEX Class A members.

In response to NYMEX Class A members’ requests for clarification, on August 7, 2008, CME Group, Merger Sub, NYMEX Holdings and NYMEX entered into a third amendment to the Amended Merger Agreement that provided for a revised certificate of incorporation of NYMEX and form of waiver and release to provide certain clarifying information regarding NYMEX Class A members’ new post-closing rights and privileges. The third amendment to the Amended Merger Agreement is included as Annex A to these supplemental materials.

Opinion of JPMorgan, Financial Advisor to NYMEX Holdings

Opinion of Merrill Lynch, Financial Advisor to NYMEX Holdings

The following should be read in conjunction with the sections “The Merger—Opinion of JPMorgan, Financial Advisor to NYMEX Holdings” and “The Merger—Opinion of Merrill Lynch, Financial Advisor to NYMEX Holdings” which begin on pages 107 and 115, respectively, of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

JPMorgan and Merrill Lynch coordinated certain of their work on the engagement.

The plaintiff in the shareholder lawsuit alleges that in their transactions analyses, JPMorgan and Merrill Lynch included two bids for CBOT that were not consummated. The plaintiff in the shareholder lawsuit further alleges that if those bids had been excluded, the ranges indicated for multiples of next twelve months earnings per share would have been higher, and would have indicated a higher value for NYMEX.

In their discounted cash flow analyses, JPMorgan and Merrill Lynch used perpetual revenue growth rates of 3.5% to 4.5%. Plaintiff in the shareholder lawsuit alleges that if JPMorgan and Merrill Lynch had used higher perpetual growth rates, which plaintiff alleges were warranted under the rationale provided by JPMorgan and Merrill Lynch, their discounted cash flow analyses would have indicated a higher value for NYMEX Holdings.

Opinion of Sandler O’Neill, Financial Advisor to NYMEX Holdings

The following should be read in conjunction with the section “The Merger—Opinion of Sandler O’Neill, Financial Advisor to NYMEX Holdings” which begins on page 123 of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

The Sandler O’Neill opinion does not address whether the proposed payment of $750,000 per NYMEX Class A membership is fair to the NYMEX Class A members from a financial point of view. Rather, the Sandler O’Neill opinion addresses whether the amount of the Membership Rights Payments is fair to NYMEX Holdings from a financial point of view.

Over the past two years, Sandler O’Neill has provided services (other than in connection with the present engagement), including investment banking services, to NYMEX Holdings and CME Group. Over the past two years, Sandler O’Neill has received approximately $1.8 million from NYMEX Holdings and $250,000 from CME Group in connection with such services rendered to each of them, respectively.

Plaintiff in the NYMEX Class A member lawsuit alleges that NYMEX management provided Sandler O’Neill with electronic growth assumptions, including a perpetual growth rate of 3%. Plaintiff in the NYMEX Class A member lawsuit further alleges that if Sandler O’Neill had used a higher perpetual growth rate, which plaintiff alleges was warranted, its discounted cash flow analysis would have indicated a higher value for the NYMEX Class A memberships.

In connection with delivery of its July 16, 2008 fairness opinion, Sandler O’Neill adjusted the upper range of the perpetuity growth assumption from 4% to 5% in its net present value analysis.

 

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In its analysis, Sandler O’Neill assumed that royalty payments to the NYMEX Class A members begin in January 2009. Section 311(G) provides, in pertinent part, that when “at least 90% of contract volume of such applicable NYMEX Division products is from electronic trading, then in such case the owners of Class A Memberships shall, at the time of the . . . shift to electronic trading, thereafter be entitled to receive in perpetuity (or until the Exchange no longer lists such NYMEX product to be electronically traded) the greater of the following:

(x) 10% of the gross Exchange revenue attributable to all revenue, but not including market data fees or revenue from bilateral transactions cleared through NYMEX ClearPort Clearing, or its successor, from the electronic trading of such applicable NYMEX Division product; or

(y) 100% of the revenue from any additional special fee or surcharge.”

NYMEX has determined that, for purposes of Bylaw Section 311(G)’s revenue payments to the NYMEX Class A members, a “shift” will have occurred for any applicable NYMEX Division product following the end of two consecutive fiscal quarters in which, during each quarter, the average quarterly electronic trading volume has equaled or exceeded 90% of the contract volume in such product (i.e., the “Shift Date”). Thereafter, revenues that are generated from the electronic trading of such product will begin to accrue under Bylaw Section 311(G) and will be paid to the NYMEX Class A members on a quarterly basis consistent with the financial reporting schedule of NYMEX’s parent, NYMEX Holdings. No applicable products have been electronically traded at levels of 90% or more for two consecutive quarters. All benchmark products (light sweet crude oil, heating oil, RBOB gasoline, natural gas, platinum, palladium) except one were electronically traded at levels of 90% or more on certain days in the years 2007 and 2008.

The plaintiff in the NYMEX Class A member lawsuit alleges that NYMEX’s determination of when a shift occurs is contrary to the language of Bylaw Section 311(G) and further alleges that NYMEX Class A members are already due Section 311(G) revenue payments accruing from 2007 to present. Further, plaintiff in the NYMEX Class A member lawsuit believes that as much as $68,500 is owed to each NYMEX Class A member in Section 311(G) revenues. It is NYMEX’s position that its determination is appropriate and no amount is presently owed to any NYMEX Class A member in respect of Bylaw Section 311(G).

The plaintiff in the NYMEX Class A member lawsuit alleges that Sandler O’Neill relied upon NYMEX’s formula as presented in NYMEX Holdings’ Form 8-K (dated June 4, 2008) to calculate the “total electronic volume,” i.e., when 90% trigger occurs. Plaintiff in the NYMEX Class A member lawsuit further alleges that, if electronic trading on Clearport is not included in the denominator of this formula, the trigger date would occur earlier than January 1, 2009.

Plaintiff in the NYMEX Class A member lawsuit alleges that in its analysis, Sandler O’Neill deducted an amount reflecting the NYMEX estimated corporate tax rate of approximately 41% from each year’s estimated royalties earned from applicable electronic trading volumes. Plaintiff in the NYMEX Class A member litigation further alleges that if taxes at the estimated corporate tax rate were not deducted from the estimated royalties earned by NYMEX Class A members, Sandler O’Neill’s analysis would have indicated a significantly higher value for the NYMEX Class A memberships.

Financial Projections

The following should be read in conjunction with the section “The Merger—Financial Projections” which begins on page 128 of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

NYMEX Holdings’ management provided JPMorgan, Merrill Lynch and Sandler O’Neill, its financial advisors, with projections of NYMEX Holdings’ operating performance for fiscal years 2008-2012 (the “NYMEX Holdings Projections”) for use in connection with JPMorgan’s, Merrill Lynch’s and Sandler O’Neill’s financial analyses. As a matter of general practice, NYMEX Holdings’ management does not prepare financial

 

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projections of the type presented in the NYMEX Holdings Projections, for internal use or otherwise, for periods beyond five fiscal years. Estimates of NYMEX Holdings’ operating performance for fiscal years 2013-2017, which were prepared and used by NYMEX Holdings’ financial advisors (and reviewed by NYMEX) in connection with their respective discounted cash flow analyses, were based on mathematical extrapolations of the financial information presented in the NYMEX Holdings Projections. NYMEX Holdings’ management has continued to forecast revenue, expenses, and income since March 17, 2008. NYMEX Holdings’ management’s forecasts have not changed in any material respect.

In connection with its consideration of a transaction with CME Group in early 2008, NYMEX Holdings management developed a set of projections for CME Group based upon public equity research and discussions with the management of CME Group. NYMEX Holdings provided JPMorgan and Merrill Lynch with these financial projections for the years 2008 through 2017. The projections were not prepared with a view to public disclosure and are included herein only because such projections were made available to JPMorgan and Merrill Lynch as part of NYMEX Holdings’ consideration of a transaction with CME Group. The projections were not prepared with a view to compliance with the published guidelines and auditing standards of the SEC. NYMEX Holdings’ independent registered public accounting firm has not examined, compiled or performed any procedures with respect to the projections and accordingly does not provide any form of assurance with respect to the projections. The final projections provided to JPMorgan and Merrill Lynch included the following estimates of CME Group’s future financial performance (in millions):

 

     2008E     2009E     2010E     2011E     2012E     2013E     2014E     2015E     2016E     2017E     ‘07-’17
CAGR
 

Total revenue

   $ 2,612     $ 3,203     $ 3,876     $ 4,706     $ 5,515     $ 6,187     $ 6,944     $ 7,483     $ 8,057     $ 8,458     15 %

% growth

     23 %     23 %     21 %     21 %     17 %     12 %     12 %     8 %     8 %     5 %  

Expenses (excl. D&A)

   $ 641     $ 690     $ 734     $ 781     $ 829     $ 879     $ 932     $ 986     $ 1,043     $ 1,091     5 %

% growth

     (0 )%     8 %     6 %     6 %     6 %     6 %     6 %     6 %     6 %     5 %  

EBITDA

   $ 1,971     $ 2,514     $ 3,142     $ 3,925     $ 4,685     $ 5,308     $ 6,012     $ 6,497     $ 7,014     $ 7,367     17 %

% margin

     75 %     78 %     81 %     83 %     85 %     86 %     87 %     87 %     87 %     87 %  

D&A

     199       196       226       241       256       248       243       243       243       243     2 %

EBIT

   $ 1,772     $ 2,318     $ 2,916     $ 3,684     $ 4,430     $ 5,060     $ 5,769     $ 6,254     $ 6,770     $ 7,123     19 %

% margin

     68 %     72 %     75 %     78 %     80 %     82 %     83 %     84 %     84 %     84 %  

Earnings per share

   $ 19.25     $ 25.43     $ 32.43     $ 41.23     $ 49.93       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A     N/A  

% growth

     29 %     32 %     27 %     27 %     21 %     N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A    

Capex

   $ 225     $ 180     $ 180     $ 180     $ 180     $ 180     $ 180     $ 180     $ 180     $ 180     2 %

The projections provided to JPMorgan and Merrill Lynch are subjective in many respects and thus susceptible to various interpretations based on actual experience and business developments. The projections were based on a number of assumptions that may not be realized and are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. The risk that these uncertainties and contingencies will cause the assumptions to fail to prove accurate (including based on CME Group’s actual 2008 performance) is further increased due to the length of time in the future over which these assumptions were made. The assumptions in early periods have a compounding affect on the projections shown for the later periods. Thus, any failure of an assumption to prove accurate in an early period (including based on CME Group’s actual 2008 performance) would have a greater affect of the projected results failing to prove accurate in the later periods. These projections were not prepared, reviewed or adopted by CME Group management.

Legal Proceedings Regarding the Merger

The following should be read in conjunction with the section “The Merger—Legal Proceedings Regarding the Merger” which begins on page 141 of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

On August 5, 2008, plaintiffs in both the putative class action brought by stockholders of NYMEX Holdings, Inc. (In re NYMEX Shareholders Litigation, C.A. No. 3621-VCN) and the putative class action brought by NYMEX Class A member Shelby Greene (Greene v. NYMEX Holdings, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 3835-VCN), each pending in the Delaware Court of Chancery, agreed not to pursue a preliminary injunction to enjoin

 

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the Special Meetings of the stockholders of NYMEX Holdings, Inc. and the NYMEX Class A members, each scheduled for August 18, 2008, and the Delaware Court of Chancery removed the hearing on plaintiffs’ previously anticipated motion for a preliminary injunction from the Court’s calendar.

Membership Rights Payment

The following should be read in conjunction with the section “The Amended Merger Agreement—Membership Rights Payment” which begins on page 159 of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

NYMEX Class A members are required to execute the waiver and release (attached as Annex L hereto) before they can collect the $750,000 payment. The waiver and release releases NYMEX Holdings and CME Group from any liability associated with the NYMEX Class A memberships and the closing of the contemplated merger, which, if executed, would preclude NYMEX Class A members from participating in the class action brought on behalf of the stockholders of NYMEX Holdings. Plaintiffs in both lawsuits challenge the enforceability of the waiver and release. The waiver and release originally attached as Annex L to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus has been revised pursuant to the third amendment to the Amended Merger Agreement. The revised waiver and release is attached hereto as Annex L. We encourage all NYMEX Class A members to carefully review the waiver and release attached hereto as Annex L.

By the terms of the waiver and release, the NYMEX Class A members are also required to forfeit their rights to any past, current, and future claims against NYMEX Holdings and CME Group with respect to the NYMEX Class A members’ Section 311(G) rights. Plaintiff in the NYMEX Class A member lawsuit challenges the enforceability of the waiver and release. Plaintiff in the NYMEX Class A member lawsuit alleges that she has retained a valuation expert that has determined that NYMEX Class A members may currently have a 311(G) claim for past-due revenue from electronic trading.

 

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NYMEX CLASS A MEMBERSHIP RIGHTS PAYMENT

The following should be read in conjunction with the section “NYMEX Class A Membership Rights Payment” on page 164 of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

In addition to the rights of NYMEX Class A members to enforce their rights to receive the Merger Consideration, if applicable, and to enforce their rights to receive the Membership Rights Payment under the Amended Merger Agreement, the waiver and release shall not apply to the rights of the NYMEX Class A members executing such release to enforce their new post-closing rights and privileges under Section (C) of Article IV of the certificate of incorporation of NYMEX.

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER

The following should be read in conjunction with the section “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger” which begins on page 169 of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

Membership Rights Payments

We believe the $750,000 payment made to a NYMEX Class A member in respect of such NYMEX Class A member’s surrender of its trading rights and privileges under the current certificate of incorporation and bylaws of NYMEX will constitute ordinary income to such NYMEX Class A member for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to such payment. However, alternative reporting positions may exist, and under such reporting positions some or all of the gain recognized by a NYMEX Class A member in connection with such payment may be characterized as capital gain for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Because of the inherently factual nature of the determination, as well as uncertainties regarding the proper application of existing law, no assurances can be given as to the proper tax treatment of the payments made to the NYMEX Class A members for surrendering their trading rights and privileges under the current certificate of incorporation and bylaws of NYMEX, nor can any assurances be given to the NYMEX Class A members regarding the likelihood that a particular reporting position will be sustained if challenged by the Internal Revenue Service. Accordingly, each NYMEX Class A member is urged to consult its own tax advisors regarding the proper tax treatment of such payment.

Forward Looking Statements

The above may contain forward-looking information regarding CME Group Inc. (“CME Group”) and NYMEX Holdings, Inc. (“NYMEX Holdings”) and the combined company after the completion of the merger that is intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, the benefits of the business combination transaction involving CME Group and NYMEX Holdings, including future financial and operating results, the new company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on current beliefs, expectations, forecasts and assumptions of CME Group’s and NYMEX Holdings’ management which are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual outcomes and result to differ materially from these statements. Other risks and uncertainties relating to the proposed transaction include, but are not limited to the satisfaction of conditions to closing; including receipt of shareholder, antitrust, regulatory and other approvals on the proposed terms and schedule; the proposed transaction may not be consummated on the proposed terms and schedule; uncertainty of the expected financial performance of CME Group following completion of the proposed transaction; CME Group may not be able to achieve the expected cost savings, synergies and other strategic benefits as a result of the proposed transaction or may take longer to achieve the cost savings, synergies and benefits than expected; the integration of NYMEX Holdings with CME Group’s operations may not be successful or may be materially delayed or may be more costly or difficult than expected; general industry and market conditions; general domestic and international economic conditions; and governmental laws and regulations affecting domestic and foreign operations.

 

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For more information regarding other related risks, see Item 1A of CME Group’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and Item 1A of NYMEX Holdings’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and additional updates to these risks contained in our Quarterly reports. Copies of said 10-Ks and 10-Qs are available online at http://www.sec.gov/ or on request from the applicable company. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof . Except for any obligation to disclose material information under the Federal securities laws, CME Group and NYMEX Holdings undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

Important Merger Information

In connection with the merger transaction involving CME Group and NYMEX Holdings, CME Group has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on July 21, 2008 containing a definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus. This material is not a substitute for the definitive joint proxy statement prospectus or any other documents the parties will file with the SEC. Investors and security holders are urged to read the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and any other such documents, when available, which will contain important information about the proposed transaction. The definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus is, and other documents filed or to be filed by CME Group with the SEC are or will be available free of charge at the SEC’s Web site (http://www.sec.gov/) or from CME Group Inc., Attention: Shareholder Relations, 20 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606 , (312) 930-1000 or NYMEX Holdings, Inc., Attention: Investor Relations, at One North End Avenue, World Financial Center, New York, New York 10282, (212) 299-2000.

CME Group and NYMEX Holdings and their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from CME Group and NYMEX Holdings shareholders in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding CME Group and NYMEX Holdings’ directors and executive officers is available in their respective proxy statements for their 2008 annual meeting of stockholders. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants is included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available. This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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ANNEX A

AMENDMENT NO. 3

TO

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

This AMENDMENT NO. 3, dated as of August 7, 2008 (this “Amendment”), to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 17, 2008 and amended as of June 30, 2008 and July 18, 2008 (the “Agreement”), is by and among CME Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CME Group”), CMEG NY Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly-owned Subsidiary of CME Group (“Merger Sub”), NYMEX Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“NYMEX Holdings”), and New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc., a Delaware non-stock corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of NYMEX Holdings (“NYMEX”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, CME Group, Merger Sub, NYMEX Holdings and NYMEX desire to amend and supplement certain terms of the Agreement as described in this Amendment; and

WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of CME Group, Merger Sub, NYMEX Holdings and NYMEX have each determined that the Amendment is consistent with, and will further, their respective business strategies and goals, and have deemed it advisable and in the best interests of their respective companies and stockholders that NYMEX Holdings merge with and into Merger Sub; and

WHEREAS, all capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein and in the Agreement, the Parties agree as follows:

1. Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of NYMEX. The Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of NYMEX attached to the Agreement as Exhibit C is hereby removed and replaced in its entirety with the Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of NYMEX attached hereto as Exhibit C.

2. Amendment of Bylaws of NYMEX. The Form of Waiver and Release contained in Annex A to the Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYMEX attached to the Agreement as Exhibit D is hereby removed and replaced in its entirety with the Form of Waiver and Release attached hereto as Exhibit D.

3. Form of Waiver and Release. The Form of Waiver and Release attached to the Agreement as Exhibit F is hereby removed and replaced in its entirety with the Form of Waiver and Release attached hereto as Exhibit F.

4. Interpretation. The Agreement shall not be amended or otherwise modified by this Amendment except as set forth in Sections 1 through 3 of this Amendment. The provisions of the Agreement that have not been amended hereby shall remain in full force and effect. The provisions of the Agreement amended hereby shall remain in full force and effect as amended hereby. In the event of any inconsistency or contradiction between the terms of this Amendment and the Agreement, the provisions of this Amendment shall prevail and control.

5. Reference to the Agreement. On and after the date hereof, each reference in the Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereof”, “herein”, “herewith”, “hereunder” and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to the Agreement as amended by this Amendment. No reference to this Amendment need be made in any instrument or document at any time referring to the Agreement, a reference to the Agreement in any such instrument or document to be deemed to be a reference to the Agreement as amended by this Amendment.

 

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6. Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Amendment may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Amendment shall become effective when each Party hereto shall have received counterparts thereof signed and delivered (by telecopy or otherwise) by the other Parties hereto.

7. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be deemed to be made in and in all respects shall be interpreted, construed and governed by and in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware without regard to its rules of conflicts of law.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of the parties hereto as of the date first written above

 

CME GROUP INC.
By:  

/S/    TERRENCE A. DUFFY      

Name:   Terrence A. Duffy
Title:   Executive Chairman

 

By:  

/S/    CRAIG S. DONOHUE        

Name:   Craig S. Donohue
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

CMEG NY INC.
By:  

/S/    KATHLEEN M. CRONIN        

Name:   Kathleen M. Cronin
Title:   Secretary

 

NYMEX HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/S/    RICHARD SCHAEFFER        

Name:   Richard Schaeffer
Title:   Chairman of the Board

 

By:  

/S/    JAMES E. NEWSOME        

Name:   James E. Newsome
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

 

NEW YORK MERCANTILE EXCHANGE, INC.
By:  

/S/    RICHARD SCHAEFFER        

Name:   Richard Schaeffer
Title:   Chairman of the Board

 

By:  

/S/    JAMES E. NEWSOME        

Name:   James E. Newsome
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 3 to the Merger Agreement]

 

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EXHIBIT C

AS AMENDED [], 2008

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

NEW YORK MERCANTILE EXCHANGE, INC.

New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the “Corporation”), which was originally incorporated in the State of Delaware on May 11, 2000, hereby certifies that this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation amends, restates and integrates the provisions of the Corporation’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation as hereby amended. The text of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation as heretofore amended is hereby restated to read in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the corporation is New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc.

ARTICLE II

REGISTERED AGENT

The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

ARTICLE III

CORPORATE PURPOSES

The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation are to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law (as amended from time to time, the “DGCL”).

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP

 

A. General.

The Corporation shall have no authority to issue capital stock. The terms and conditions of membership in the Corporation shall be as provided in or pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”) and the Rules and Regulations of the Corporation as in effect from time to time (the “Rules”).

 

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B. Classes and Series of Membership.

The membership interests that the Corporation shall have authority to issue shall consist of not more than 816 Class A Memberships (the “Class A Memberships” and the owners thereof, the “Class A Members”) and one Class B Membership (the “Class B Membership” and the owner thereof, the “Class B Member”). The terms, conditions, preferences and rights of the Class A Memberships and the Class B Membership shall be as set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the Rules. The Class A Members shall not have the right to vote on any matter, except as and to the extent provided in Article IX of this Certificate of Incorporation. The Class A Members shall have no interest in the profits of the Corporation and shall have no right to receive any dividend or other distribution (including upon liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or otherwise) to be declared, paid or distributed by the Corporation or the right to receive any consideration upon the merger or consolidation of the Corporation, which rights shall be vested solely in the Class B Member. Except to the extent (if any) required by law and Article IX of this Certificate of Incorporation, the Class B Member shall have the exclusive right to vote on any matter to be voted on by the members of the Corporation. The Class B Member shall have the exclusive right to receive any dividend or other distribution (including upon liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or otherwise) to be declared, paid or distributed by the Corporation or any consideration upon the merger or consolidation of the Corporation. The Class B Membership initially shall be held by CMEG NYMEX Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation. The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall have the authority to create additional classes of memberships with such rights and limitations as the Board of Directors determines. Each Class A Member shall be entitled to one vote for each Class A Membership on any matter on which such Class A Member is entitled to vote. Each Class B Member shall have one vote on any matter on which such Class B Member is entitled to vote.

 

C. Class A Member Trading Rights.

Holders of Class A Memberships who meet the applicable membership and eligibility requirements set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the Rules shall have (i) the rights to trade on the open outcry and electronic facilities of the Corporation (and owners thereof shall have the right to lease such rights) in each case in compliance with this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the Rules and (ii) the other rights set forth in this Section (C) of this Article IV of this Certificate of Incorporation.

 

  1. Classes of Memberships.

The Corporation shall not increase the number of Class A Memberships to a number greater than 816. The Corporation shall not create any new class of memberships in the Corporation with any rights to trade or to broker trades of any futures and options products that were traded on the Corporation’s open outcry trading system as of July 18, 2008, on the open outcry facility of the Corporation.

 

  2. Clearing Members.

In addition to any Rules or other qualifications set forth by the Corporation, a Member Firm, as so designated pursuant to the Rules, shall hold not fewer than two (2) Class A Memberships in order to qualify (a) as a Clearing Member, as such term is defined in the Rules, and (b) for member rates.

 

  3. Transaction Fees.

The transaction fee for Class A Members trading futures and options products that were traded on the Corporation’s open outcry trading system and/or electronic trading system as of July 18, 2008 for their accounts, whether utilizing the open outcry trading system or the electronic trading system, shall be lower than the transaction fees charged to any participant who is not a holder of a Class A Membership for the same product; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit the Board of Directors of the Corporation from establishing transaction fees on a non-permanent basis in connection with a market maker program or other programs designed to build market liquidity. This fee differential shall be maintained for so long as either Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. or Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. maintains a comparable fee differential.

 

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Each Member Firm, as so designated pursuant to the Rules, shall receive member rates on trades for any account wholly-owned by such Member Firm independent of the identity of the individual that executes the relevant trade.

Each Individual Member, as so designated pursuant to the Rules, shall receive member rates for trades on any account wholly owned by such Individual Member, or any account jointly owned if all owners of such account are holders of Class A Memberships; provided that a holder of a Class A Membership executes the relevant trade. Additionally, for each Class A Membership owned or leased by an Individual Member, such member shall receive member rates for products traded electronically in such account for no more than three (3) individuals (in addition to the owner) to whom such owner or for no more than one (1) individual (in addition to the lessee) to whom such lessee assigns power of attorney rights pursuant to the Rules.

 

  4. Open Outcry Facility.

The Corporation shall maintain facilities for an open outcry market for the trading (the “Trading Floor”) of futures and options contracts traded on the Trading Floor as of July 18, 2008 (the “Current Products”) until December 31, 2012. Following December 31, 2012, at any time following the end of the first full fiscal quarter as to which the Trading Floor does not satisfy the financial tests set forth below for such quarter (the “Quarterly Financial Tests”), the Corporation shall have the right to close the Trading Floor. Prior to closing the Trading Floor, the Corporation shall have the right to close any individual trading ring and terminate open outcry trading of any Current Products traded in such trading ring, if the Trading Floor would have satisfied the Quarterly Financial Tests for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter, on a pro forma basis, assuming that such trading ring was closed as of the first day of the testing period. The Corporation shall measure the Quarterly Financial Tests within sixty (60) days following each full fiscal quarter. The Corporation shall give the Class A Members at least thirty (30) days’ notice of the closing of the Trading Floor or any trading ring.

In the event that the Trading Floor does not satisfy both of the tests set forth below at the end of any fiscal quarter, it will be deemed to have failed the Quarterly Financial Tests for that fiscal quarter.

 

  (a) Revenue

The Revenue from the Trading Floor generated during the fiscal quarter for which the financial test is being measured and the immediately preceding quarter must exceed 50% of the Revenue from the Trading Floor for fiscal 2007 divided by two (2).

 

  (b) Profitability

The Trading Floor After-Tax Profit Margin for the fiscal quarter for which the financial test is being measured and the immediately preceding quarter must equal or exceed 50% of the CME Group Inc. After-Tax Profit Margin for that same period.

For purposes of this calculation:

Revenue from the Trading Floor” means the transaction fees, clearing fees (if separately charged), and other direct ancillary fees (e.g. booth rental) generated from open outcry trading on the Trading Floor.

Trading Floor Expenses” means the direct expenses incurred to operate the Trading Floor, including but not limited to facility costs including rent (or implied rent), utilities, taxes, security, insurance, telecommunications costs, amenities; trading expenses including market surveillance for Trading Floor trades, license fees, market maker fees, data vendor fees, and all computer software and hardware costs (including maintenance fees); depreciation on capital expenditures at the Trading Floor; staff and direct management of the staff for the Trading Floor; and all applicable city, state and federal taxes associated with the income or revenue generated from the Trading Floor.

Trading Floor After-Tax Profit Margin” means the percentage derived by dividing (1) Revenue from the Trading Floor net of Trading Floor Expenses by (2) Revenue from the Trading Floor for the applicable period.

 

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CME Group Inc. After-Tax Profit Margin” means the percentage derived by (1) multiplying (x) CME Group Inc.’s consolidated operating income for the applicable period by (y) the difference between 1 (one) and CME Group Inc’s effective corporate tax rate and (2) dividing that amount by CME Group Inc’s consolidated total revenues for the applicable period. The amounts shall be obtained or derived from the financial statements included in the applicable quarterly or annual reports filed by CME Group Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Trading Floor shall be the exclusive venue for the open outcry trading for Current Products for so long as such products are traded on the Trading Floor. The Corporation is under no obligation to provide a backup or alternative facility for open outcry trading if the Trading Floor is rendered inoperable for any reason. In the event that the Trading Floor is rendered inoperable for any reason, the electronic trading platform, if any, on which any Current Product then is traded shall serve as the venue for trading such Current Product.

 

  5. Moratorium on the Relocation of Current Products.

In the event that open outcry trading of any Current Product is terminated subject to Section (C)(4) of this Article IV, the Corporation will not, nor will it cause any subsidiary to, commence open outcry trading of such Current Product in the City of Chicago for a period of 540 days following such closure (the “540-Day Moratorium”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, open outcry trading of a Current Product may commence in the City of Chicago during the 540-Day Moratorium if the Board of Directors of the Corporation approves such action and within fifteen (15) days after given written notice of such action in reasonable detail to the holders of Class A Memberships and

(1) the owners of Class A Memberships entitled to cast 10% of the total number of votes entitled to be cast at a special meeting to approve the removal of the 540-Day Moratorium for such Current Product do not make written demand for a special meeting that complies with the requirements set forth below; or

(2) the owners of Class A Memberships entitled to cast 10% of the total number of votes entitled to be cast at a special meeting do make written demand for a special meeting that complies with the applicable requirements listed below and at such special meeting a majority of the voting power of the outstanding Class A Memberships approves the removal of such 540-Day Moratorium.

Any notice sent by the Corporation to Class A Members in connection with a special meeting under this Section (C)(5) of this Article IV shall be accompanied by a response form through which a Class A Member may request a special meeting and the 10% threshold shall be deemed met if such forms, by themselves or collectively with one or more other written demands or petitions (which may be delivered by fax or electronically to the Secretary of the Corporation), reflect that the owners of at least 10% of the Class A Memberships are requesting a special meeting to vote on the approval of the commencement of open outcry trading in the City of Chicago of a Current Product subject to the 540-Day Moratorium. Within three (3) business days after any Class A Member so requests such a special meeting, the Secretary of the Corporation shall confirm (by fax or electronically, in addition to regular mail), to each Class A Member submitting a response form, written demand or petition, receipt of such Class A Member’s request and whether the 10% threshold has, or has not, at that time been met. The written demand may also specify the date of such special meeting (in which case such meeting date shall be a business day which is not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days from the date of such written demand).

 

  6. Location of Open Outcry Trading Facility.

The Corporation shall maintain the Trading Floor at its existing location for so long as the Occupancy Agreement, dated as of May 18, 1995, among The City of New York, New York State Urban Development Corporation, New York City Economic Development Corporation, Battery Park City Authority and the Corporation, including its wholly-owned subsidiary, Commodity Exchange, Inc., remains in effect, and thereafter, at another location in the Borough of Manhattan.

 

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ARTICLE V

MANAGEMENT OF AFFAIRS

The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and members:

 

A. General.

In accordance with Sections 141(a) and 141(j) of the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors of the Corporation; such power to include, without limitation, to (i) adopt, from time to time, Rules relating to criteria for eligibility for membership and procedures for becoming a member and any requirements or procedures for the acquisition or transfer of a membership as it may determine; and (ii) establish the Rules applicable to Class A Members, including, without limitation, relating to fees, financial standards and obligations for dues, assessments and fines, subject in each case to Section (C) of Article IV of this Certificate of Incorporation. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by statute or by this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all powers and do all acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Certificate of Incorporation and any Bylaws; provided, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the Class B Member shall invalidate any prior act of the directors which would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.

 

B. Action by Written Consent.

The Class A Members shall not have the right to take action by written consent in lieu of a meeting and shall have no right to initiate any proposal, at or for any meeting of members.

The Class B Member shall have the right to effect by consent in writing any action which would require the approval of the Class B Member at a duly called annual or special meeting of the Class B Member.

ARTICLE VI

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The number of directors of the Corporation shall be as from time to time fixed by, the Board of Directors of the Corporation. Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.

ARTICLE VII

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS AND RULES

The Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws. The Class B Member shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws. The only member of the Corporation with any power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws shall be the Class B Member, and no other member of, or class or series of membership in, the Corporation shall have any such power. No member of, or class or series of membership in, the Corporation shall have any power to adopt, amend or repeal the Rules.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION

No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its members for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its members, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Any repeal or modification of this Article VIII of this Certificate of Incorporation by the Class B Member shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

The Corporation shall indemnify its directors to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by law, as now or hereafter in effect, and such right to indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives; provided, however, that, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any director (or his or her heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors. The right to indemnification conferred by this Article VIII of this Certificate of Incorporation shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition.

The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to officers, employees and agents of the Corporation similar to those conferred in this Article VIII of this Certificate of Incorporation to directors of the Corporation.

The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VIII of this Certificate of Incorporation shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Corporation, any statute, agreement, vote of the Class B Member or disinterested directors or otherwise.

Any repeal or modification of this Article VIII of this Certificate of Incorporation by the Class B Member shall not adversely affect any rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses of a director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

Except for the rights expressly provided in Section (C) of Article IV of this Certificate of Incorporation and as otherwise provided under Delaware law, the Board of Directors of the Corporation will have full and absolute discretion to manage the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall have the sole and absolute right, without any duty to any Class A Member, to set and establish the rules and regulations that govern the trading and operations of the Corporation and any of its subsidiaries.

 

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ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

The Corporation reserves the right to amend, modify or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware, and all rights conferred upon the members of the Corporation are granted subject to this reservation. Any amendment of, or modification or repeal of any provision contained in Section (C) of Article IV of this Certificate of Incorporation or this sentence of this Article IX of this Certificate of Incorporation shall require, first, the approval of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and second, the approval of a majority of the votes cast by the Class A Members. Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, any amendment of, or modification or repeal of any provision contained in, this Certificate of Incorporation shall require, first, the approval of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and, second, the approval of the Class B Member and no other member or series or class of membership shall have the right to vote on any such amendment or repeal.

* * * *

 

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EXHIBIT D

FORM OF WAIVER AND RELEASE

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement.

By executing this Waiver and Release, and effective upon acceptance of the Membership Rights Payment, the Class A Member, for itself and its past, present, and future direct and indirect subsidiaries, shareholders, members, equityholders, Affiliates, and its and their respective successors and assigns and, if the Class A Member is a natural person, for himself or herself, the Class A Member’s spouse, heirs, administrators, children, representatives, executors, successors and assigns, and any other person (natural or otherwise) acting or purporting to act on behalf of any of the foregoing (“Releasing Parties”), effective as of the Effective Time, hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably waives any right to and releases and forever discharges NYMEX Holdings, NYMEX, CME Group, Merger Sub, the CME Group Subsidiaries and each of their respective Affiliates, shareholders, related organizations, agents, employees, officers, directors, advisors, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any and all manner of causes of action, damages, liabilities, obligations, promises, judgments, claims and demands of any nature whatsoever, in law or in equity, of every kind and description, whether known or unknown, suspected, absolute or contingent (“Actions”), which such Releasing Parties (in any capacity whatsoever, including, without limitation, their capacities as stockholders of NYMEX Holdings) ever had, now have or hereafter can, shall or may have against any Released Party, including, without limitation, those Actions arising out of (i) the form and structure of the transactions relating to the Membership Rights Payments, (ii) the amount and form of consideration received by any Releasing Party in connection with the Membership Rights Payments, (iii) the transactions entered into in contemplation of or in connection with the Membership Rights Payments, including, without limitation, the Merger, and (iv) any such Releasing Parties’ ownership of the Class A Memberships, including, without limitation, any and all rights any Releasing Party may have under Section 311G of the Bylaws of NYMEX (the “Bylaws”); provided, however, that this waiver and release shall not apply to the respective rights and obligations of the Releasing Parties to receive the Merger Consideration, if applicable, to enforce their rights to receive the Membership Rights Payments under the Merger Agreement and to enforce their rights as provided under Section (C) of Article IV and under the second sentence of Article IX of the Certificate of Incorporation of NYMEX.

 

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EXHIBIT F

FORM OF WAIVER AND RELEASE

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement.

By executing this Waiver and Release, and effective upon acceptance of the Membership Rights Payment, the Class A Member, for itself and its past, present, and future direct and indirect subsidiaries, shareholders, members, equityholders, Affiliates, and its and their respective successors and assigns and, if the Class A Member is a natural person, for himself or herself, the Class A Member’s spouse, heirs, administrators, children, representatives, executors, successors and assigns, and any other person (natural or otherwise) acting or purporting to act on behalf of any of the foregoing (“Releasing Parties”), effective as of the Effective Time, hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably waives any right to and releases and forever discharges NYMEX Holdings, NYMEX, CME Group, Merger Sub, the CME Group Subsidiaries and each of their respective Affiliates, shareholders, related organizations, agents, employees, officers, directors, advisors, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any and all manner of causes of action, damages, liabilities, obligations, promises, judgments, claims and demands of any nature whatsoever, in law or in equity, of every kind and description, whether known or unknown, suspected, absolute or contingent (“Actions”), which such Releasing Parties (in any capacity whatsoever, including, without limitation, their capacities as stockholders of NYMEX Holdings) ever had, now have or hereafter can, shall or may have against any Released Party, including, without limitation, those Actions arising out of (i) the form and structure of the transactions relating to the Membership Rights Payments, (ii) the amount and form of consideration received by any Releasing Party in connection with the Membership Rights Payments, (iii) the transactions entered into in contemplation of or in connection with the Membership Rights Payments, including, without limitation, the Merger, and (iv) any such Releasing Parties’ ownership of the Class A Memberships, including, without limitation, any and all rights any Releasing Party may have under Section 311G of the Bylaws of NYMEX (the “Bylaws”); provided, however, that this waiver and release shall not apply to the respective rights and obligations of the Releasing Parties to receive the Merger Consideration, if applicable, to enforce their rights to receive the Membership Rights Payments under the Merger Agreement and to enforce their rights as provided under Section (C) of Article IV and under the second sentence of Article IX of the Certificate of Incorporation of NYMEX.

 

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Annex L

FORM OF WAIVER AND RELEASE

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement.

By executing this Waiver and Release, and effective upon acceptance of the Membership Rights Payment, the Class A Member, for itself and its past, present, and future direct and indirect subsidiaries, shareholders, members, equityholders, Affiliates, and its and their respective successors and assigns and, if the Class A Member is a natural person, for himself or herself, the Class A Member’s spouse, heirs, administrators, children, representatives, executors, successors and assigns, and any other person (natural or otherwise) acting or purporting to act on behalf of any of the foregoing (“Releasing Parties”), effective as of the Effective Time, hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably waives any right to and releases and forever discharges NYMEX Holdings, NYMEX, CME Group, Merger Sub, the CME Group Subsidiaries and each of their respective Affiliates, shareholders, related organizations, agents, employees, officers, directors, advisors, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any and all manner of causes of action, damages, liabilities, obligations, promises, judgments, claims and demands of any nature whatsoever, in law or in equity, of every kind and description, whether known or unknown, suspected, absolute or contingent (“Actions”), which such Releasing Parties (in any capacity whatsoever, including, without limitation, their capacities as stockholders of NYMEX Holdings) ever had, now have or hereafter can, shall or may have against any Released Party, including, without limitation, those Actions arising out of (i) the form and structure of the transactions relating to the Membership Rights Payments, (ii) the amount and form of consideration received by any Releasing Party in connection with the Membership Rights Payments, (iii) the transactions entered into in contemplation of or in connection with the Membership Rights Payments, including, without limitation, the Merger, and (iv) any such Releasing Parties’ ownership of the Class A Memberships, including, without limitation, any and all rights any Releasing Party may have under Section 311G of the Bylaws of NYMEX (the “Bylaws”); provided, however, that this waiver and release shall not apply to the respective rights and obligations of the Releasing Parties to receive the Merger Consideration, if applicable, to enforce their rights to receive the Membership Rights Payments under the Merger Agreement and to enforce their rights as provided under Section (C) of Article IV and under the second sentence of Article IX of the Certificate of Incorporation of NYMEX.

 

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