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 (Amendment No. ) Filed by the Registrant [X] Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_] Check the appropriate box: [_] Preliminary Proxy Statement [_] CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE COMMISSION ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY RULE 14A-6(E)(2)) [X] Definitive Proxy Statement [_] Definitive Additional Materials [_] Soliciting Material Pursuant to (S) 240.14a-11(c) or (S) 240.14a-12 NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): [X] No fee required. [_] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11. (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (5) Total fee paid: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [_] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. [_] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount Previously Paid: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) Filing Party: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Date Filed: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: Notice and Proxy Statement Annual Meeting of Stockholders NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY Three Commercial Place, Norfolk, Virginia 23510-2191 Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be Held on Tuesday, May 23, 2000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Norfolk Southern Railway Company will be held on the 19th Floor of the Norfolk Southern Tower, Three Commercial Place, Norfolk, Virginia, on Tuesday, May 23, 2000, at 11 o'clock A.M., Eastern Daylight Time, for the following purposes: 1. Election of one director to the class whose term will expire in 2003. 2. Transaction of such other business as properly may come before the meeting. Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 23, 2000, will be entitled to vote at such meeting. By order of the Board of Directors, DEZORA M. MARTIN, Assistant Corporate Secretary. Dated: April 14, 2000 If you do not expect to attend the meeting, you are urged to mark, date and sign the enclosed proxy card and return it in the accompanying envelope. NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY THREE COMMERCIAL PLACE NORFOLK, VIRGINIA 23510-2191 April 14, 2000 PROXY STATEMENT On March 10, we began mailing to you and other stockholders the Company's Annual Report for 1999, which contains important financial and narrative information. On April 14, 2000, we expect to begin mailing to you and other stockholders this Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card, both of which relate to the Board of Directors' solicitation of your proxy for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 23, 2000 ("2000 Annual Meeting"). Only stockholders of record on March 23, 2000, are entitled to vote at the 2000 Annual Meeting. As of February 29, 2000, the Company had issued and outstanding 1,197,027 shares of $2.60 Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A ("Preferred Stock"), and 16,668,997 shares of Common Stock. Of these shares, 1,096,907 shares of Preferred Stock (this total excludes 100,120 shares held by Company subsidiaries and/or in a fiduciary capacity), and all shares of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share. All the Common Stock is owned directly by Norfolk Southern Corporation ("NS"). If you properly sign the enclosed proxy card and timely return it to The Bank of New York, the shares represented by that proxy card will be voted in accordance with its terms. Any stockholder may revoke a signed and returned proxy card at any time before the proxy is voted by: (a) giving prior notice of revocation in any manner to the Company; (b) executing and delivering a subsequent proxy; or (c) attending the 2000 Annual Meeting and voting in person. The cost of soliciting these proxies will be paid by the Company, including the reimbursement, upon request, of brokerage firms, banks and other institutions, nominees and trustees for the reasonable expenses they incur to forward proxy materials to beneficial owners. Officers and other regular employees of the Company may solicit proxies by telephone, telegram or personal interview; they receive no additional compensation for doing so. CONFIDENTIALITY We have put policies in place to safeguard the confidentiality of proxies and ballots. The Bank of New York, New York, N.Y., which has been retained at an estimated cost of $2,200 to assist in soliciting proxies, directly or through others, and to tabulate all proxies and ballots cast at the 2000 Annual Meeting, is contractually bound to maintain the confidentiality of the voting process. In addition, each Inspector of Election will have taken the oath required by Virginia law to execute duties faithfully and impartially. Members of the Board of Directors and employees of the Company do not have access to proxies or ballots and therefore do not know how individual stockholders vote on any matter. However, when a stockholder writes a question or comment on the proxy card or ballot, or when there is need to determine the validity of a proxy or ballot, Management and/or its representatives may be involved in providing the answer to the question or in determining such validity. BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING FOR WHICH YOUR PROXY IS SOUGHT 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTOR James C. Bishop, Jr., a member of the Class of 2000, and Jon L. Manetta, a member of the Class of 2002, resigned as directors effective March 21, 2000, as a consequence of their retirement as officers of NS. The Board of Directors amended the Bylaws of the Company to decrease the number of directors from six to four. As a result the term of only one director, L. I. Prillaman, will expire at the 2000 Annual Meeting. Unless you instruct otherwise on the enclosed proxy card, your proxy will be voted in favor of the reelection of Mr. Prillaman as a director for a three-year term that expires in 2003. If Mr. Prillaman becomes unable to serve--something we have no reason to believe will occur--your proxy will be voted for a substitute nominee to be designated by the Board of Directors, or the Board of Directors will reduce the number of directors. So that you have information concerning the independence of the process by which nominees and directors whose terms will continue after the 2000 Annual Meeting were selected, we confirm, as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, that (1) there are no family relationships among any of the nominees or directors or among any of the nominees or directors and any officer and (2) that there is no arrangement or understanding between any nominee or director and any other person pursuant to which the nominee or director was selected. Vote Required to Elect a Director: Under Virginia law and under the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, directors are elected at a meeting, so long as a quorum exists, if the votes cast favoring the election of that director exceed the votes cast opposing the election. Abstentions or shares that are not voted, such as those held by a broker or other nominee who does not vote in person or return a proxy card, are not "cast" for this purpose. The following information relates to the nominee and the directors whose terms of office will continue after the 2000 Annual Meeting. 2 Shares of Norfolk Southern Corporation Common Stock Name, Age, Business Experience Current Beneficially Owned during past 5 Years, Directorships Term Expires/ as of in Other Public Corporations A Director Since February 29, 2000/1/,/2/,/3/ - ---------------------------------- ---------------- ---------------------------- Nominees (for term expiring in 2003) L. I. PRILLAMAN, 56, Norfolk, Va.; Vice Chairman and Chief Marketing Officer of Norfolk Southern Corporation and Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Norfolk Southern Railway Company since August 1, 1998, having served prior thereto as Executive Vice President--Marketing of Norfolk Southern Corporation and Vice President and Chief Traffic Officer of Norfolk Southern Railway Company. Director of several Norfolk Southern Railway Company subsidiaries. 2000/1996 441,141 Other Directors DAVID R. GOODE, 59, Norfolk, Va.; Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norfolk Southern Corporation and President and Chief Executive Officer of Norfolk Southern Railway Company since September 1, 1992. Director of Norfolk Southern Corporation, Conrail Inc., Consolidated Rail Corporation and several Norfolk Southern Railway Company subsidiaries. Also a director of Caterpillar, Inc., Delta Air Lines, Inc., Georgia-Pacific Corporation and Texas Instruments Incorporated. 2001/1992 1,708,922 STEPHEN C. TOBIAS, 55, Norfolk, Va.; Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Norfolk Southern Corporation and Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Norfolk Southern Railway Company since August 1, 1998, having served prior thereto as Executive Vice President--Operations of Norfolk Southern Corporation and Vice President--Operations of Norfolk Southern Railway Company. Director of Conrail Inc., Consolidated Rail Corporation and several Norfolk Southern Railway Company subsidiaries. 2001/1994 435,367 HENRY C. WOLF, 57, Norfolk, Va.; Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Norfolk Southern Corporation and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Norfolk Southern Railway Company since August 1, 1998, having served prior thereto as Executive Vice President--Finance of Norfolk Southern Corporation and Vice President--Finance of Norfolk Southern Railway Company. Director of Conrail Inc., Consolidated Rail Corporation and several Norfolk Southern Railway Company subsidiaries. 2002/1994 460,795 - -------- Notes begin on page 4. 3 /1/For each named individual, the shares owned are less than 1% of the total outstanding shares of Norfolk Southern Corporation. No director or nominee owns shares of the Company's Preferred Stock. /2/Unless otherwise indicated by footnote, all shares are held by the named individuals with sole voting and investment powers. /3/Includes shares credited to individual accounts under the NS Thrift and Investment Plan and shares held by NS under share retention agreements pursuant to the NS Long-Term Incentive Plan (for Mr. Prillaman, this amounts, respectively, to 21,274 and 57,809 shares; for Mr. Goode, 10,961 and 237,753 shares; for Mr. Tobias, 13,472 and 59,059 shares; and for Mr. Wolf, 10,652 and 67,978 shares). The individual possesses voting power over shares held under share retention agreements but has no investment power until the shares are distributed. Also includes shares subject to stock options granted pursuant to the NS Long-Term Incentive Plan and with respect to which the optionee has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days (for Mr. Prillaman, this amounts to 297,000 shares; for Mr. Goode, 1,342,500 shares; for Mr. Tobias, 319,500 shares; and for Mr. Wolf, 342,000 shares); and includes Deferred Stock Units credited pursuant to the NS Long-Term Incentive Plan (for Mr. Prillaman, this amounts to 12,667 units; for Mr. Goode, 46,902 units; for Mr. Tobias, 12,667 units; and for Mr. Wolf, 12,667 units). 2. OTHER MATTERS The Board of Directors does not know of any matters to be presented at the 2000 Annual Meeting other than as noted elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. If any other matters come before the meeting, the proxies received pursuant to this solicitation will be voted thereon in accordance with the judgment of the holders of such proxies. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission require that we furnish you the following information relating to the oversight and management of your Company and of Norfolk Southern Corporation and to certain matters concerning the Board of Directors, the directors and the officers. SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's directors and executive officers, and any persons beneficially owning more than 10 percent of a class of the Company's stock, to file certain reports of beneficial ownership and changes in beneficial ownership (Forms 3, 4 and 5) with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange. Based solely on its review of copies of Forms 3, 4 and 5 available to it, or written representations that no Forms 5 were required, the Company believes that all required Forms concerning 1999 beneficial ownership were filed on time. BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF NS AND COMPANY STOCK As of February 29, 2000, 100,120 shares, or approximately 8.4%, of the Company's Preferred Stock were held by Company subsidiaries and/or in a fiduciary capacity. NS held 176,705 shares, or approximately 15%, of the Company's Preferred Stock. 4 To the knowledge of the Company, no other person beneficially owns more than 5% of the Company's Preferred Stock. NS held 16,668,997 shares, or 100%, of the Company's Common Stock on February 29, 2000. As of February 29, 2000, all officers and directors of the Company as a group beneficially owned 7,471,430 shares of NS Common Stock and 70 shares (in which beneficial ownership is disclaimed) of the Company's Preferred Stock, or less than 1% of the total shares of each class of stock outstanding. The NS Common Stock figure includes: 245,395 shares credited to individual accounts under the NS Thrift and Investment Plan; 982,213 shares held by NS under share retention agreements pursuant to the NS Long-Term Incentive Plan over which the individual possesses voting power but has no investment power until the shares are distributed; 5,667,500 shares subject to stock options granted pursuant to the NS Long-Term Incentive Plan with respect to which optionees have the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days; and 211,613 Deferred Stock Units, which ultimately will be satisfied in cash, credited pursuant to the NS Long-Term Incentive Plan. Also included are 36,234 shares in which beneficial ownership is disclaimed. The shares held individually by directors whose terms of office will continue after the 2000 Annual Meeting and by the nominee for reelection are reported under the caption "Election of Director," beginning on page 2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES On December 31, 1999, the Board of Directors of the Company consisted of six members and, effective March 21, 2000, consisted of four members. The Board is divided into three classes; the members of each class are elected for a term of three years, and each class contains as nearly as possible one third of the total number of directors. The Board of Directors has no Audit, Nominating or Compensation committees. In 1999, the Board of Directors acted by unanimous written consent on eighteen separate occasions. The Executive Committee took no action in 1999; its members were David R. Goode, Chair, James C. Bishop, Jr. and Henry C. Wolf. This committee is empowered to exercise, to the extent permitted by Virginia law, all the authority of the Board of Directors when the Board is not in session. All actions taken by the Committee are to be reported to the Board at its meeting next succeeding such action and are subject to revision or alteration by the Board. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS Each director was also an officer of the Company and an officer of NS; no such director is paid a retainer, meeting fees or other compensation for service as a director. NS COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION The members of the NS Compensation and Nominating Committee during 1999 were L. E. Coleman, Chair, T. Marshall Hahn, Jr. (who was a member of the Committee until his retirement from the NS Board effective the date of the 1999 Annual Meeting), Landon Hilliard, Steven F. Leer (who became a member of the Committee following the 1999 Annual Meeting) and Harold W. Pote. Other than Mr. Leer's relationship with Arch Coal, Inc. and Mr. Pote's relationship with Beacon Group and Alliance Coal Company, which are reported in the Proxy Statement for the 2000 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Norfolk Southern Corporation, there were no reportable business relationships between NS and such individuals. 5 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS None. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION Summary of Cash and Certain Other Compensation The following table sets forth the cash compensation paid, as well as certain other compensation accrued or paid, to the Chief Executive Officer and to each of the other four most highly compensated executive officers of NS in 1999 ("Named Executive Officers"), for service in all capacities to both NS and its subsidiaries by the Named Executive Officers in the fiscal years ending December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997. SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE Long-Term Annual Compensation Compensation ------------------------------- -------------------- Awards Payouts ---------- --------- Other Securities Annual Underlying LTIP All Other Name and Principal Salary/1 Bonus/1 Compensation/2 Options/3 Payouts/4 Compensation/5 Position Year / ($) / ($) / ($) / (#) / ($) / ($) - ------------------ ---- -------- ------- -------------- ---------- --------- -------------- David R. Goode 1999 950,000 0 337,490/6/ 365,000 597,047 88,315 Chairman, President and 1998 900,000 887,400 739,809 250,000 1,615,566 82,083 Chief Executive Officer 1997 850,000 850,000 287,972 120,000 2,472,690 85,304 L. I. Prillaman 1999 375,000 0 265,636 90,000 191,055 29,722 Vice Chairman and 1998 360,417 274,231 280,085 60,000 516,981 25,719 Chief Marketing Officer 1997 320,000 240,000 24,411 36,000 309,086 25,619 Stephen C. Tobias 1999 500,000 0 247,076 90,000 191,055 44,448 Vice Chairman and 1998 485,417 382,897 219,885 60,000 516,981 35,877 Chief Operating Officer 1997 400,000 320,000 68,611 36,000 772,715 37,788 Henry C. Wolf 1999 500,000 0 109,030 90,000 191,055 50,359 Vice Chairman and 1998 485,417 382,897 321,915 60,000 516,981 38,425 Chief Financial Officer 1997 400,000 320,000 130,907 36,000 772,715 40,636 R. Alan Brogan 1999 320,000 0 233,561 75,000 191,055 50,524 President Norfolk 1998 320,000 236,640 585,111 60,000 516,981 48,671 Southern Intermodal* 1997 300,000 225,000 143,093 36,000 772,715 51,926 *Mr. Brogan was Executive Vice President--Corporate until December 1, 1999. - -------- /1/Includes portion of any salary or bonus award elected to be received on a deferred basis. /2/Includes amounts reimbursed for the payment of taxes on personal benefits. Also includes the amount by which the interest accrued on salary and bonuses deferred under the Officers' Deferred Compensation Plan exceeds 120% of the applicable Federal long-term rate provided under Section 1274(d) of the Internal Revenue Code; for 1999, these amounts were: for Mr. Goode, $109,784; Mr. Prillaman, $16,107; Mr. Tobias, $72,661; Mr. Wolf, $84,850; and Mr. Brogan, $219,679. Includes a tax absorption payment in 1997 on the "earn out" pursuant to the performance share feature of the Corporation's Long-Term Incentive Plan and for the gain realized upon exercise of certain stock options (in 1997, for Mr. Wolf; in 1998, for each of the Named Executive Officers; and in 1999 for Messrs. Prillaman and Tobias). 6 /3/Options were granted without tandem SARs. /4/Represents the value of the "earn out" pursuant to the performance share feature of the Corporation's Long-Term Incentive Plan for periods ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 (for 1999, performance shares were earned for achievements in the three-year period 1997-1999; for 1998, for achievements in the three-year period 1996-1998; and for 1997, for achievements in the three- year period 1995-1997). /5/Includes for 1999 (i) contributions of $4,800 to the Corporation's 401(k) plan on behalf of each of the Named Executive Officers; and (ii) total premium payments (out-of-pocket cash cost) on "split dollar" life insurance policies for Mr. Goode, $83,515; Mr. Prillaman, $24,922; Mr. Tobias, $39,648; Mr. Wolf, $45,559; and Mr. Brogan, $45,724. /6/Includes personal use in 1999, as directed by resolution of the Board of Directors, of the Corporation's aircraft valued at approximately $152,865-- calculated on the basis of the aggregate incremental cost of such use to the Corporation. Long-Term Incentive Plan The NS Long-Term Incentive Plan, as last approved by stockholders in 1995, provides for the award of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and performance share units to officers and other key employees of both NS and certain of its subsidiaries (including the Company). The Compensation and Nominating Committee of the NS Board of Directors ("Committee") administers the Plan and has the sole discretion, subject to certain limitations, to interpret the Plan; to select Plan participants; to determine the type, size, terms and conditions of awards under the Plan; to authorize the grant of such awards; and to adopt, amend and rescind rules relating to the Plan. Stock Options The following table sets forth certain information concerning the grant in 1999 of stock options under the NS Long-Term Incentive Plan to each Named Executive Officer: Option/SAR* Grants in Last Fiscal Year Grant Date Individual Grants Value - ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------- Number of Securities % of Total Grant Underlying Options Exercise or Date Options Granted to Base Price/2 Present Granted/1 Employees in / Expiration Value/3 Name / (#) Fiscal Year ($ Per Share) Date / ($) - ---- ---------- ------------ ------------- ---------- --------- D. R. Goode 365,000 7.04% 27.6875 01/31/2009 2,967,450 L. I. Prillaman 90,000 1.74% 27.6875 01/31/2009 731,700 S. C. Tobias 90,000 1.74% 27.6875 01/31/2009 731,700 H. C. Wolf 90,000 1.74% 27.6875 01/31/2009 731,700 R. A. Brogan 75,000 1.45% 27.6875 01/31/2009 609,750 *No SARs were granted in 1999. - -------- /1/These options (of which the first 3,611 granted to each Named Executive Officer are Incentive Stock Options and the remainder are Non-qualified Stock Options) were granted as of February 1, 1999, and are exercisable one year after the date of grant. They earn dividend equivalents in an 7 amount equal to, and commensurate with, dividends as paid on the Common Stock; the dividend equivalents are converted into Deferred Stock Units, the aggregate fair market value of which is payable in cash to the optionee on the earliest of (a) the five-year anniversary of the date of option grant; (b) the exercise of the option (exercises of less than the full option grant result in a prorated cash payment); and (c) the optionee's death, disability or retirement. /2/The exercise price (fair market value on the date of grant) may be paid in cash or in shares of Common Stock (previously owned by the optionee for at least one year next preceding the date of exercise) valued at fair market value on the date of exercise. /3/In accordance with regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the present value of the option grant on the date of grant was determined using the Black-Scholes statistical model. The actual amount, if any, a Named Executive Officer may realize upon exercise depends on the stock price on the exercise date; consequently, there is no assurance the amount realized by a Named Executive Officer will be at or near the monetary value determined by using this statistical model. In the case of Common Stock, the Black-Scholes model used the following measures and assumptions: (a) a stock volatility factor of 0.208: volatility was determined by an independent compensation consultant using monthly data averaged over the 60-month period January 1, 1994, through December 31, 1998; (b) a dividend yield of 2.5%: yield was determined monthly and averaged over the 60-month period January 1, 1994, through December 31, 1998; (c) a 1998 risk-free rate of return of 5.75%: this represents the monthly average 10-year Treasury strip rate during 1998, the year prior to the issuance of these options; and (d) that the option will be exercised during its ten-year term. The foregoing produces a Black-Scholes factor of 0.2936 and a resulting present value of $8.13 for each share of NS Common Stock subject to the 1999 option grant; that factor and resulting present value have not been adjusted to reflect that options cannot be exercised during the first year of their 10- year term, the payment of dividend equivalents on unexercised options or the deferral of receipt of such dividend equivalents until the related Deferred Stock Units actually are paid out. The following table sets forth certain information concerning the exercise of options by each Named Executive Officer during 1999 and the number of unexercised options held by each as of December 31, 1999: Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and FY-End Option/SAR Values Number of Securities Underlying Value of Unexercised Unexercised Options/SARs at In-the-Money Options/Sars Shares FY-End at FY-End/1 Acquired on Value (#) / ($) Exercise Realized ----------------------------------- ---------------------------- Name (#) ($) Exercisable* Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable/4/ - ---- ----------- -------- --------------- ---------------- ----------- ---------------- D. R. Goode 0 0 977,500 365,000 $311,244 0 L. I. Prillaman 14,274/2/ 305,359/2/ 207,000 90,000 111,561 0 S. C. Tobias 13,368/3/ 202,609/3/ 229,500 90,000 111,561 0 H. C. Wolf 0 0 252,000 90,000 111,561 0 R. A. Brogan 0 0 274,500 75,000 111,561 0 * Reports, for each Named Executive Officer, the total number of unexercised options that have passed the first anniversary of their grant date. - -------- 8 /1/Equal to the mean ($20.25) of the high and low trading prices on the New York Stock Exchange-Composite Transactions of the Common Stock on December 31, 1999, less the exercise prices of in-the-money options, multiplied by the number of such options. /2/Mr. Prillaman surrendered 5,286 shares of stock already owned in full satisfaction of the exercise price of options on 14,274 shares. /3/Mr. Tobias surrendered 6,059 shares of stock already owned in full satisfaction of the exercise price of options on 13,368 shares. /4/Because the market price of the Common Stock on December 31, 1999, was below the exercise price of options granted in 1999 ($27.6875 per share) and in a number of earlier years, they are "out-of-the money" and have no reportable value. Performance Share Units ("PSUs") The following table sets forth certain information concerning the grant in 1999 of PSUs under the NS Long-Term Incentive Plan to each Named Executive Officer. These PSU grants entitle a recipient to "earn out" or receive performance compensation at the end of a three-year performance cycle (1999- 2001) based on NS' performance during that three-year period. Under the 1999 award, corporate performance will be measured using three predetermined and equally weighted standards; that is, each of the following performance areas will serve as the basis for "earning out" up to one third of the total number of PSUs granted: (1) three-year average return on average invested capital ("ROAIC"), (2) three-year average NS operating ratio and (3) three-year total return to NS stockholders. A more detailed discussion of these performance criteria can be found in the Compensation and Nominating Committee Report under the caption, "Long-Term Incentive Plan," beginning on page 11. Long-Term Incentive Plan--Awards in Last Fiscal Year (Performance Share Units) Number of Performance Estimated Future Payouts under Shares, or Other Non-Stock Price-Based Plans Units of Period Until ----------------------------------- Other Rights/1 Maturation Threshold Target/2 Maximum Name / (#) or Payout (#) / (#) (#) - ---- -------------- ------------ ----------- ---------- ----------- D. R. Goode 120,000 01/01/99- 0 93,360 120,000 12/31/01 L. I. Prillaman 30,000 01/01/99- 0 23,340 30,000 12/31/01 S. C. Tobias 30,000 01/01/99- 0 23,340 30,000 12/31/01 H. C. Wolf 30,000 01/01/99- 0 23,340 30,000 12/31/01 R. A. Brogan 25,000 01/01/99- 0 19,450 25,000 12/31/01 - -------- /1/"Earn outs" may be satisfied in cash or in shares of Common Stock (or in some combination of the two), with the stock portion being held by the Corporation for up to 60 months pursuant to a share retention agreement, unless such requirement is waived by the Committee in its sole discretion. /2/The Long-Term Incentive Plan does not provide a performance target for an "earn out" under this feature of the Plan; consequently, this column represents 77.8% of the maximum potential "earn out," which, in accordance with applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, is the percentage actually "earned out" under the Plan at the end of the most recently completed performance cycle. 9 Pension Plans The following table sets forth the estimated annual retirement benefits payable on a qualified joint-and-survivor-annuity basis in specified remuneration and years of creditable service classifications under NS' qualified defined benefit pension plans, as well as non-qualified supplemental pension plans that provide benefits otherwise denied participants because of certain Internal Revenue Code limitations on qualified plan benefits. It is assumed, for purposes of the table, that an individual retired in 1999 at age 65 (normal retirement age) with the maximum allowable Railroad Retirement Act annuity. The benefits shown are in addition to amounts payable under the Railroad Retirement Act. PENSION PLAN TABLE Estimated Annual Retirement Benefits For Years of Service Indicated Years of Creditable Service ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Remuneration 25 30 35 40 - ------------ -------- ---------- ---------- ---------- $ 300,000 $ 94,482 $ 115,782 $ 137,083 $ 158,383 400,000 131,982 160,782 189,583 218,383 500,000 169,482 205,782 242,083 278,383 600,000 206,982 250,782 294,583 338,383 700,000 244,482 295,782 347,083 398,383 800,000 281,982 340,782 399,583 458,383 900,000 319,482 385,782 452,083 518,383 1,000,000 356,982 430,782 504,583 578,383 1,100,000 394,482 475,782 557,083 638,383 1,200,000 431,982 520,782 609,583 698,383 1,300,000 469,482 565,782 662,083 758,383 1,400,000 506,982 610,782 735,000 818,383 1,500,000 544,482 655,782 767,083 878,383 1,600,000 581,982 700,782 819,583 938,383 1,700,000 619,482 745,782 872,083 998,383 1,800,000 656,982 790,782 924,583 1,058,383 1,900,000 694,482 835,782 977,083 1,118,383 2,000,000 731,982 880,782 1,029,583 1,178,383 2,100,000 769,482 925,782 1,082,083 1,238,383 2,200,000 806,982 970,782 1,134,583 1,298,383 2,300,000 844,482 1,015,782 1,207,500 1,358,383 Under the pension plans, covered compensation includes salary and bonus; each officer can expect to receive an annual retirement benefit equal to average annual compensation for the five most highly compensated consecutive years out of the last ten years of creditable service multiplied by the number that is equal to 1.5% times total years of creditable service, but not in excess of 60% of such average compensation, less an offset for the annual Railroad Retirement Act annuity. The respective last five-year average compensation and approximate years of creditable service, as of January 1, 2000, for each Named Executive Officer were: Mr. Goode, $1,456,931 and 34 years; Mr. Prillaman, $526,867 and 30 years; Mr. Tobias, $692,288 and 30 years; Mr. Wolf, $692,288 and 27 years; and Mr. Brogan, $507,765 and 36 years. 10 Change-in-Control Arrangements In May 1996, the Compensation and Nominating Committee recommended, and the NS Board of Directors approved, NS' entering into new change-in-control compensation agreements ("Agreements") with each of the Named Executive Officers and with certain other key employees. These Agreements, the terms of which were reviewed by outside counsel, were filed as an exhibit to NS' Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 1996, and provide certain economic protections in the event of an involuntary or other specified Termination (each term with an initial capital letter is defined in the Agreements) of a covered individual during a period of twenty-four months next following a Change in Control of NS. As consideration for these Agreements and to help encourage management continuity, covered individuals agreed not to engage in Competing Employment for a period of (a) three years, in most cases, from the date they execute a new Agreement and (b) one year from their Termination Date, if they accept benefits payable or provided under the Agreements. These Agreements are terminable by either NS or a covered employee on twenty-four months' notice; however, the term of the prohibition on engaging in Competing Employment is not affected by an Agreement's being terminated. Generally, these Agreements provide for (a) severance compensation payments (not continued employment) equal, in the case of each Named Executive Officer, to three times the sum of their Base Pay and Incentive Pay (most other covered employees are entitled to receive a lower multiple of Base Pay and Incentive Pay); (b) redemption of outstanding Performance Share Units and of outstanding, exercisable options (subject to restrictions, if any, in the case of persons, such as each Named Executive Officer, imposed under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and payment of dividend equivalents foregone as a result of the redemption of such options; (c) payment of an amount equal to the present value of the projected value of amounts deferred under the NS Officers' Deferred Compensation Plan; (d) eligibility for certain Benefits (principally medical, insurance and death benefits) for up to three years following Termination; and (e) certain additional service credit under NS' retirement plans (in the case of any NS Board-elected officer, such service credit may not exceed the creditable service that officer would have had upon reaching mandatory retirement age). The Agreements also provide for payment of any Federal excise tax that may be imposed on payments made pursuant to these Agreements. COMPENSATION AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT CONCERNING THE 1999 COMPENSATION OF CERTAIN NS EXECUTIVE OFFICERS This Report describes Norfolk Southern Corporation's officer compensation strategy, the components of its compensation program and the manner in which 1999 compensation determinations were made for the Corporation's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, David R. Goode, and for the other officers (collectively, including Mr. Goode, also referred to in this report as the "Named Executive Officers") whose 1999 compensation is reported in the Summary Compensation Table of this Proxy Statement. 11 The Compensation and Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors ("Committee") is composed entirely of non-employee directors and met six times during 1999. Among other things, the Committee is responsible for: (1) recommending to the Board the salaries of Board-elected officers and (2) administering the Corporation's Executive Management Incentive Plan, as approved by the stockholders at their May 1995 Annual Meeting, its Management Incentive Plan (in which certain non-Board-elected officers participate) and its Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and approved by stockholders at their May 1995 Annual Meeting, which authorizes, as more particularly described below, awards of stock options and performance share units. BASE SALARY: While the Committee believes that a substantial portion of each Named Executive Officer's total compensation should be "performance- based," the Committee also seeks to assure that the base salaries of Named Executive Officers are competitive with those earned by individuals in comparable positions. Specifically, the Committee compares Mr. Goode's base salary with salaries paid to chief executive officers of other holding companies of Class I railroads (the same companies comprising the S&P Railroad Index included in the Stock Performance Graph) and of other American corporations of comparable revenue size. The base salaries of the other Named Executive Officers--as well as all Board-elected officers of the Corporation--are evaluated, principally by Mr. Goode, relative to survey data of base salaries for comparable positions at a large number of American corporations of comparable revenue size, including but not limited to those identified in the Stock Performance Graph. These data are compiled by the Corporation's Human Resources Department and by an outside compensation consultant. The Committee's general intention is to set the base salaries of Named Executive Officers at approximately the 50th percentile of their peers in the respective groups with which they are compared. Mr. Goode discusses with the Committee the specific contributions and performance of each of the other Named Executive Officers. Based on such evaluations, comparative salary data and each Executive Officer's length of service in current position, Mr. Goode makes base salary recommendations which are submitted for Committee and Board approval. Mr. Goode makes no recommendation concerning, nor does he play any role in determining, his base salary (or other compensation), which is set by the Board. As noted, the Committee customarily seeks to set the NS Chairman, President and CEO's base salary at approximately the 50th percentile of the base salaries paid to CEOs of other American corporations of comparable revenue size and competitively (within the mid-range of compensation practice) with those of the chairmen of the other holding companies of Class I railroads. Mr. Goode's base salary in 1999 approximated the 25th percentile; the average 1999 base salaries of three of the four other Named Executive Officers, who have position counterparts in corporations with comparable revenues, approximated the 34th percentile. For 1999, Mr. Goode's annual base salary was increased by $50,000, or 5.6%. This increase, not tied to or reflecting application of any specific formula, reflects the Corporation's performance in 1998, including its total operating revenues and net income, as well as the Board's confidence in Mr. Goode's leadership. The base salaries of each of the other Named Executive Officers remained at the same level as in effect at the time of the Committee's meeting. 12 EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN ("EMIP"): The Corporation's EMIP is designed and administered to ensure that a significant portion of each Named Executive Officer's total annual cash compensation is based on the Corporation's annual financial performance. Awards to Named Executive Officers and other Board-elected officers and to participants in the Corporation's Management Incentive Plan (MIP) are paid from an annual incentive fund equal to a percentage (from 0.75% to 1.5%) of the Corporation's adjusted pretax net income, provided the Corporation's annual return on average invested capital ("ROAIC") equals or exceeds 10%. It is the Committee's philosophy that, when the Corporation achieves EMIP goals, the total of the Named Executive Officers' base salaries and EMIP awards should be competitive with the total annual cash compensation paid by comparable organizations. In years in which those goals are not realized, the Named Executive Officers will receive less (or, as is the case with respect to 1999, no) incentive pay. Specifically, incentive pay opportunities for Mr. Goode are determined annually by the Committee by comparing Mr. Goode's total annual cash compensation with that paid to the chief executive officers of all other holding companies of Class I railroads (the same companies comprising the S&P Railroad Index included in the Stock Performance Graph) and of other American corporations of comparable revenue size. Incentive pay opportunities for the other Named Executive Officers are determined annually by the Committee based on its review of the annual cash compensation of comparable positions at companies of comparable revenue size, including but not limited to those identified in the Stock Performance Graph. Using those criteria, in November of 1998 the Committee set Mr. Goode's maximum 1999 incentive opportunity at 120% of his 1999 base salary, Mr. Prillaman's, Mr. Tobias' and Mr. Wolf's at 80% of 1999 base salary and Mr. Brogan's at 75% of 1999 base salary. Actual payments, if any, are based on the total amount in the annual incentive fund. For 1999, none of Mr. Goode, the other Named Executive Officers, or all other officers earned an EMIP award, nor did any of 348 key employees earn an MIP award. As a result, total 1999 cash compensation (1999 base salary and the 1999 EMIP award that would have been payable in 2000) earned by Mr. Goode, and by three of the four other Named Executive Officers who have position counterparts in corporations with comparable revenues, fell below the 25th percentile. LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN ("LTIP"): The Committee believes that a substantial component of the Named Executive Officers' total compensation should be based on and reflect the Corporation's efficient use of assets, its profitability and the total returns (stock price appreciation and dividends) to its stockholders. This is achieved by making annual grants of stock options and performance share units and through share retention agreements entered into with the Named Executive Officers. These LTIP arrangements are intended to ensure that the longer-term financial interests of the Named Executive Officers are directly aligned with those of the Corporation's stockholders and to provide the Named Executive Officers with the opportunity to acquire a meaningful beneficial stock ownership position in the Corporation. 13 In determining current LTIP awards, the size of prior grants is analyzed within a current total compensation framework predicated on a review of both the long-term awards and the total compensation (base salary, bonus and long-term awards) of comparable positions in U.S. companies with comparable revenues. The mix of options and performance share units may vary from year to year to reflect an analysis of the relative value of each type of award and other considerations. The number of stock options and performance share units granted in any year is determined so as to place the total compensation of Mr. Goode and the other Named Executive Officers, when corporate performance warrants, above the 75th percentile of total compensation for their respective peer groups. At its January 1999 meeting, the Committee granted stock options to each of the Named Executive Officers and to 328 other key employees with an exercise price equal to the market value of the shares on the date of grant. These options are exercisable during a ten-year period following the date of grant, after a one-year period has elapsed. At the same meeting, the Committee granted performance share units which provide the Named Executive Officers and other recipients the opportunity to earn awards (that will be paid either in cash or in shares of the Corporation's Common Stock, or in some combination thereof) during the first quarter of 2002. The number of performance share units actually earned by recipients is based on criteria approved by stockholders at their May 1995 Annual Meeting--specifically, the Corporation's three-year (i.e., 1999-2001) Total Stockholder Return, average Return on Average Invested Capital and average Operating Ratio evaluated relative to performance measures established by the Committee and set out in the schedules below. One third of the performance share units granted in 1999 are available to be earned based on each of the three performance criteria. Total Stockholder Return ("TSR") Return on Average Invested vs. S&P 500 Capital ("ROAIC") ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ Percentage of Percentage of Three-Year Performance Three-Year Performance Average TSR Share Units Average Share Units vs. S&P 500 Earned Out ROAIC Earned Out ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ 90th percentile and 20% 100% above 100% 19% 90% 80th 90% 18% 80% 70th 85% 17% 70% 60th 80% 16% 60% 50th 75% 15% 50% 40th 50% 14% 40% 30th 30% 13% 20% 25th and below 0% Below 13% 0% 14 Operating Ratio ("OpR") --------------------------------- Percentage of Three-Year Performance NS Average Share Units OpR Earned Out --------------------------------- 70% 100% 75% 75% 80% 50% 85% 25% Above 85% 0% All stock options granted in 1999 to Named Executive Officers were subject to the following terms: For the first five (5) years following the date stock options are granted, the Corporation credits dividend equivalents on unexercised options to a separate memorandum account maintained for each Named Executive Officer, and--based on the fair market value of the Corporation's Common Stock on the dividend payment date--the dollar amount of that dividend equivalent is converted into Deferred Stock Units (one such unit is equal in value to one share of Common Stock). The value of such Deferred Stock Units is paid in cash to each Named Executive Officer based on the then-fair market value of the Corporation's Common Stock on the earliest to occur of (a) the five-year anniversary of the date of grant; (b) the exercise of the option (exercises of less than the full option grant result in a prorated cash payment); and (c) the officer's death, disability or retirement. All Named Executive Officers have entered into share retention agreements with the Corporation whereby they have agreed to have the Corporation hold shares of the Corporation's Common Stock actually earned pursuant to the performance share feature of the LTIP for a period of five years following the date such shares are earned. For 1999, Mr. Goode was granted options (including 3,611 incentive stock options that may receive capital gains treatment) on 365,000 shares of Common Stock and the opportunity to earn up to 120,000 performance shares; the other Named Executive Officers as a group were awarded options (including in the case of each such officer, 3,611 incentive stock options that may receive capital gains treatment) on a total of 345,000 shares of Common Stock and the opportunity to earn up to 115,000 performance shares. In summary, the Committee believes that the compensation of Named Executive Officers is competitive with that of similar positions at comparable American corporations. More important, the Committee believes each Named Executive Officer's compensation has been appropriately structured and administered so that a substantial component of total compensation is dependent upon, and directly related to, the Corporation's efficient use of assets, its profitability and the total returns to its stockholders. Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission require the Committee to report to stockholders on the Committee's policy concerning the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993 which amended Section 162 of the Internal Revenue Code regarding the deductibility of certain executive compensation over $1 million. Based on the requirements of this new legislation and on then-current 15 interpretive regulations and transition rules, the Committee recommended to the Board, the Board approved and recommended to the stockholders, and at their 1995 Annual Meeting the stockholders approved, modifications to the LTIP and establishment of the Executive Management Incentive Plan (which was effective as of January 1, 1996, for certain Board-elected officers), all as more particularly described in the Corporation's 1995 Proxy Statement. The Committee will continue to seek to offer its Named Executive Officers and other personnel competitive compensation and, to the extent practicable, to structure such compensation arrangements to entitle the Corporation to take appropriate related tax deductions. L. E. Coleman, Chair T. Marshall Hahn, Jr., Member (retired effective the date of the 1999 Annual Meeting) Landon Hilliard, Member (appointed May 1999 to succeed Mr. Hahn; did not participate in the compensation decisions described) Steven F. Leer, Member Harold W. Pote, Member PERFORMANCE GRAPH The performance graph comparing the yearly percentage change in the cumulative total stockholder return on the Company's Common Stock with the cumulative total return of the S&P Composite 500 Stock Index and a published industry index has been omitted because the Company's Common Stock is owned entirely by NS and is not publicly traded. APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS The Board of Directors has appointed the firm of KPMG LLP, independent public accountants, to audit the books, records and accounts of the Company for the year 2000. This firm has acted as auditors for the Company since June 1, 1982, and also provides services to NS. Representatives of KPMG LLP are expected to be present at the 2000 Annual Meeting, with the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and available to respond to appropriate questions. STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS Stockholders are entitled to submit proposals on matters appropriate for stockholder action consistent with regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In order for a stockholder proposal for the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be eligible for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement and form of proxy, it must be received by the Corporate Secretary, Norfolk Southern Railway Company, Three Commercial Place, Norfolk, Virginia 23510- 9219, no later than December 15, 2000. By order of the Board of Directors, DEZORA M. MARTIN, Assistant Corporate Secretary. 16 NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY THREE COMMERCIAL PLACE, NORFOLK, VIRGINIA 23510-2191 This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors The undersigned hereby appoints Dezora M. Martin, Stephen C. Tobias or Henry C. Wolf, and each or any of them, proxy for the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote with the same force and effect as the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Norfolk Southern Railway Company to be held at Three Commercial Place, Norfolk, Virginia, on Tuesday, March 23, 2000, and any adjournments, postponements or reschedulings thereof, upon the matters more fully set forth in the Proxy Statement, dated April 14, 2000, and to transact such other business as properly may come before such meeting(s). THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED ON THE OTHER SIDE BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF DIRECTOR. (Continued, and to be MARKED, DATED AND SIGNED on the other side) NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY P.O. BOX 11139 NEW YORK, N.Y. 10203-0139 [__] Please mark boxes [_] or [X] in blue or black ink. (1) Election of a Director FOR the nominee listed [X] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote [X] below, except as marked for the nominee listed below. to the contrary. L.I. Prillaman Address Change and/or [X] Comments-Mark Here Sign exactly as name appears hereon. Attorneys-in-fact, executors, trustees, guardians, corporate officers, etc., should give full title. Dated: __________________________, 2000 (SIGNATURE) _______________________________________ (SIGNATURE) | - Votes MUST be indicted [X] (x) in Black or Blue ink. - ---------------------------------------------------------- | PLEASE MARK, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY | - ----------------------------------------------------------