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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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SCHEDULE 13G
(RULE 13D-102)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED
PURSUANT TO RULES 13D-1(B), (C) AND (D) AND
AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-2(B)
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AETHER SYSTEMS, INC.
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(NAME OF ISSUER)
COMMON STOCK 00808V105
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES) (CUSIP NUMBER)
DECEMBER 31, 1999
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(DATE OF EVENT WHICH REQUIRES FILING OF THIS STATEMENT)
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX TO DESIGNATE THE RULE PURSUANT TO WHICH THIS SCHEDULE
IS FILED:
[ ] RULE 13D-1(B)
[ ] RULE 13D-1(C)
[X] RULE 13D-1(D)
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*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but
shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
Continued on Following Pages
Page 1 of 12 Pages
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NY2:\929941\02\JXJP02!.DOC\69812.0229
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CUSIP No. 00808V105 13G Page 2 of 12
- ------------------------------- ------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS: REUTERS GROUP PLC
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS N/A
(ENTITIES ONLY):
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:*
(A) [X]
(B) [ ]
- ------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION: ENGLAND & WALES
- ------------------------------- ----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER: 0
SHARES
----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIALLY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER: 2,828,055
OWNED BY
----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
EACH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER: 0
REPORTING
----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER: 2,828,055
- ------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH 2,838,055
REPORTING PERSON:
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES:*
[ ]
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9): 7.5%
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON: CO
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* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
2
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CUSIP No. 00808V105 13G Page 3 of 12
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS: REUTERS MARKETCLIP HOLDINGS SARL.
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS N/A
(ENTITIES ONLY):
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:*
(A) [X]
(B) [ ]
- ------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION: SWITZERLAND
- ------------------------------- ----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER: 0
SHARES
----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIALLY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER: 2,828,055
OWNED BY
----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
EACH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER: 0
REPORTING
----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER: 2,828,055
- ------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH 2,828,055.
REPORTING PERSON:
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES:*
[ ]
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9): 7.5%
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON: CO
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
3
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CUSIP No. 00808V105 13G Page 4 of 12
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS: REUTERS GROUP OVERSEAS HOLDINGS (UK) LIMITED.
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS N/A
(ENTITIES ONLY):
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:*
(A) [X]
(B) [ ]
- ------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION: ENGLAND & WALES
- ------------------------------- ----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER: 0
SHARES
----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIALLY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER: 2,828,055
OWNED BY
----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
EACH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER: 0
REPORTING
----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER: 2,828,055
- ------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH 2,828,055.
REPORTING PERSON:
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES:*
[ ]
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9): 7.5%
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON: CO
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
4
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CUSIP No. 00808V105 13G Page 5 of 12
- ------------------------------- ------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS: REUTERS GROUP OVERSEAS HOLDING BV
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS N/A
(ENTITIES ONLY):
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:*
(A) [X]
(B) [ ]
- ------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION: THE NETHERLANDS
- ------------------------------- ----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER: 0
SHARES
----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIALLY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER: 2,828,055
OWNED BY
----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
EACH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER: 0
REPORTING
----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER: 2,828,055
- ------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH 2,828,055.
REPORTING PERSON:
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES:*
[ ]
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9): 7.5%
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON: CO
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
5
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CUSIP No. 00808V105 13G Page 6 of 12
- ------------------------------- ------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS: REUTERS HOLDINGS SWITZERLAND SA
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS N/A
(ENTITIES ONLY):
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:*
(A) [X]
(B) [ ]
- ------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION: SWITZERLAND
- ------------------------------- ----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER: 0
SHARES
----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIALLY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER: 2,828,055
OWNED BY
----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
EACH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER: 0
REPORTING
----- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER: 2,828,055
- ------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH 2,828,055.
REPORTING PERSON:
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES:*
[ ]
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9): 7.5%
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON: CO
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
6
ITEM 1. NAME OF ISSUER AND ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES
(a) and (b). This Statement on Schedule 13G (the "Schedule
13G") relates to the Common Stock, par value $0.01 (the "Common Stock") of
Aether Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Issuer"). The address of the
principal executive offices of the Issuer is 11460 Cronridge Drive, Owings
Mills, Maryland, 21117.
ITEM 2. NAME OF PERSON FILING
(a) - (c). This Schedule 13G is being filed by Reuters Group
PLC, for and on behalf of itself, together with Reuters Market Clip Holdings
Sarl, Reuters Holdings Switzerland SA, Reuters Overseas Holdings B.V. and
Reuters Group Overseas Holdings (UK) Limited (together with Reuters Group PLC,
the "Reporting Persons"). Reuters Market Clip Holdings Sarl is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Reuters Holdings Switzerland SA, which is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Reuters Overseas Holdings BV, which is a wholly owned subsidiary
of Reuters Group Overseas Holdings (UK) Limited which is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Reuters Group PLC.
Reuters Group PLC is an English company with its principal
business office located at 85 Fleet Street, London EC4P 4AJ, England. Reuters
Market Clip Holdings Sarl is a Swiss company with its principal business office
located at 153 route Thonon, 1245 Collonge-Bellerive, Geneva, Switzerland.
Reuters Holdings Switzerland SA is a Swiss company with its principal business
office located at 153 route Thonon, 1245 Collonge-Bellerive, Geneva,
Switzerland. Reuters Overseas Holdings BV is a Netherlands company with its
principal business office located at Drentestraat 11, 1083 HK Amsterdam, The
Netherlands. Reuters Group Overseas Holdings (UK) Limited is an English company
with its principal business office located at 85 Fleet Street, London, EC4P 4AJ,
England.
(d) - (e). This statement relates to the Common Stock of the
Issuer, par value $.01 per share. The CUSIP Number for such shares is 00808V105.
ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-1(B), OR 13D-2(B) OR
(C), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS:
(a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15
of the Exchange Act;
(b) [ ] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the
Exchange Act;
(c) [ ] Insurance company as defined in Section
3(a)(19) of the Exchange Act;
(d) [ ] Investment company registered under Section 8
of the Investment Company Act;
(e) [ ] An investment adviser in accordance with Rule
13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
(f) [ ] An Employee benefit plan or endowment fund in
accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g) [ ] A Parent holding company or control person in
accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
7 of 12
(h) [ ] A Savings association as defined in Section
3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act;
(i) [ ] A Church plan that is excluded from the
definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of
the Investment Company Act;
(j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Rule
13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
Not applicable.
ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP
(a) - (c). The response of each of the Reporting Persons to
Items 5 through 11 of each of their respective Cover Sheets which relate to the
beneficial ownership of the Common Stock of the Issuer is incorporated herein by
reference. The percentage ownership of each of the Reporting Persons is based
upon 37,852,750 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 22, 2000 as
stated in the Issuer's Proxy Statement dated March 30, 2000.
ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of
the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of
more than five percent of the class of Securities, check the following |_|.
Not applicable.
ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON
Not applicable.
ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE
SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY
See item 2.
ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.
See item 2.
ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION
Not applicable.
[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]
8 of 12
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.
Date: September 6, 2000.
REUTERS GROUP PLC
By: /s/ R.E.S. Martin
------------------------
Name: R.E.S. Martin
Title: Secretary
REUTERS MARKET CLIP HOLDINGS SARL
By: /s/ Ian Kleinman
------------------------
Name: Ian Kleinman
Title: Director
REUTERS HOLDINGS SWITZERLAND SA
By: /s/ Ian Kleinman
------------------------
Name: Ian Kleinman
Title: Director
REUTERS OVERSEAS HOLDINGS BV
By: /s/ T.A.M. Hakvoort
--------------------------
Name: T.A.M. Hakvoort
Title: Director
REUTERS GROUP OVERSEAS HOLDINGS (UK)
LIMITED
By: /s/ R.E.S. Martin
-----------------------
Name: R.E.S. Martin
Title: Secretary
9 of 12
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Document Page No.
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1 Joint Filing Agreement, dated 11
September 6, 2000, among the Reporting
Persons to file joint statement on
Schedule 13G.
10 of 12
EXHIBIT 1
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JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
This will confirm the agreement by and among all the
undersigned that the Schedule 13G filed on or about this date with respect to
the beneficial ownership of the undersigned of shares of the Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share, of Aether System, Inc. is being filed on behalf of each of
the undersigned. This agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
Dated: September 6, 2000.
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REUTERS GROUP PLC
By: /s/ R.E.S. Martin
-----------------------
Name: R.E.S. Martin
Title: Secretary
REUTERS MARKET CLIP HOLDINGS SARL
By: /s/ Ian Kleinman
-----------------------
Name: Ian Kleinman
Title: Director
REUTERS HOLDINGS SWITZERLAND SA
By: /s/ Ian Kleinman
-----------------------
Name: Ian Kleinman
Title: Director:
11 of 12
REUTERS OVERSEAS HOLDINGS BV
By: /s/ T.A.M. Hakvoort
--------------------------
Name: T.A.M. Hakvoort
Title: Director
REUTERS GROUP OVERSEAS HOLDINGS (UK)
LIMITED
By: /s/ R.E.S. Martin
-----------------------
Name: R.E.S. Martin
Title: Secretary
12 of 12
