Statement from Velocity:
Due to the liquidity issues that have been discussed in the press recently, Velocity feels that it is important to reassure our customers and potential customers of Velocityâs continued health and financial stability. The situation regarding Sentinel Management Group (âSentinelâ) affects up to 20 Futures Commission Merchants (âFCMsâ), of which Velocity is one. Sentinel is a registered FCM, approved by the CFTC to manage the customer funds of other FCMs. This approval can be found at the following link on the CFTC's website:
www.cftc.gov/tm/letters/04letters/tm04-06.htm. It specifies the unique nature and safety afforded to FCM clients who placed funds with Sentinel.
Citing a liquidity crisis, Sentinel halted redemptions last Monday, August 13th. Velocity then revoked its investment advisory agreement with Sentinel and instructed Sentinel not to liquidate or trade any securities in Velocity's accounts with Sentinel. Sentinel nonetheless attempted to sell the assets of its clients (including Velocity) to Citadel, a hedge fund, at less than market value. Velocity attempted to block this purported sale by getting a Temporary Restraining Order from Judge Guzman in the Federal District Court in Chicago to protect its interests and the interests of its customers.
Velocity has approximately $15 million of customer segregated funds under management at Sentinel. Approximately $1 million was received from Sentinel on Friday, August 17, and another wire is expected on Monday, August 20. Any loss in customer segregated funds resulting from the Sentinel transaction will be borne by Velocity, not its customers.
We are experiencing record volumes, and most of our funds are with other FCMs for trading or on deposit with banks. In particular, Velocity has approximately $18 million of customer segregated funds with Fortis Clearing US, Fortis Bank London, FIMAT, and Bank of America.
If any Velocity customers wish to withdraw funds, Velocity is offering free wire transfers to all its customers this week to show our confidence and good faith. We hope our customers will continue to do business with Velocity. We thank all of our customers for their continued support.
VELOCITY MANAGEMENT