Company Remains Well-Capitalized with No Impact to Client Funds
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2008--MF Global (NYSE: MF), a leading broker of exchange-traded futures and options, announced that during the early hours of Wednesday morning, February 27, a registered representative in one of its U.S. branch offices, trading in the wheat futures market in his personal account, substantially exceeded his authorized trading limit. The registered representative concerned has been terminated effective immediately.
A failure in one of the company's retail order entry systems permitted the representative to establish significant positions in his own account which were liquidated later that morning. The unauthorized activity resulted in him incurring a loss of $141.5 million, which the company, as a clearing member, is responsible to settle at the clearinghouse. As a result, the company recorded a bad debt provision for the full amount.
The company believes it has made the appropriate adjustments to its order entry systems to prevent a recurrence of unauthorized trading of this type in the future. In addition, MF Global has engaged a third-party risk technology consultant to review its relevant order entry systems.
Client funds are not at all impacted by this event.
The company's capital and liquidity position remain strong. The loss represents approximately six percent of the company's equity, in addition to which it has close to $1.5 billion in undrawn committed credit facilities.
In the company's fourth fiscal quarter to date, net revenues are exceeding all comparable prior periods of this fiscal year. MF Global remains confident in its business prospects and long-term financial performance.
The company will hold a conference call at 11:00 a.m. EST today to discuss the matter.
Dial-in information: U.S. (800) 659-2056
International (617) 614-2714
Participant Passcode: 47046771
A live audio webcast of the presentation will be available on the investor relations section of the MF Global Web site and will be available for replay shortly after the event.
ABOUT MF GLOBAL
MF Global Ltd. (NYSE: MF), formerly Man Financial, is the leading broker of exchange-listed futures and options in the world. It provides execution and clearing services for exchange- traded and over-the counter derivative products as well as for non-derivative foreign exchange products and securities in the cash market. MF Global is uniquely diversified across products, trading markets, customers and regions. Its worldwide client base of more than 130,000 active accounts ranges from financial institutions, industrial groups, hedge funds and other asset managers to professional traders and private/retail clients. MF Global operates in 12 countries on more than 70 exchanges, providing access to the largest and fastest growing financial markets in the world. It is the leader by volume on many of these markets and on a single day averages six million lots, more than most of the world's largest derivatives exchanges. For more information, please visit mfglobal.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: Forward-looking statements in this press release, including statements relating to the Company's future revenues and earnings, plans, strategies, objectives, expectations and intentions, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy, and some of which might not be anticipated. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We refer you to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a description of the risks and uncertainties the Company faces.
CONTACT: MF Global Ltd.
Media:
Diana DeSocio, 212-589-6282
ddesocio@mfglobal.com
or
Investors:
Lisa Kampf, 212-589-6592
lkampf@mfglobal.com
or
Media or Investors:
Jeremy Skule, 212-319-1253
jskule@mfglobal.com
SOURCE: MF Global Ltd.
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