NYSE DMM GTS Making Markets Better: Aligns With Boutique Investment Bank Mischler

Posted on November 19, 2018November 17, 2018 by admin

NYSE DMM GTS in pact with veteran-owned broker-dealer mischler

NYSE’s Top DMM – GTS – Takes Stake in Boutique Investment Bank Mischler Financial Group

– GTS and Veteran-Owned Mischler Financial Group Forge High-Tech, High-Touch Alliance to Serve Corporate Issuers, Investment Managers and Other Market Participants –

New York, NY – November 19, 2018 – GTS, the New York Stock Exchange’s largest Designated Market-Maker (“DMM”) and a leading electronic trading firm, and Mischler Financial Group, Inc. (“Mischler”), the financial services industry’s oldest minority broker-dealer owned and operated by service-disabled veterans, today announced a strategic alliance that will establish a best-in-class offering for primary debt and equity market underwriting as well as secondary market best execution across the capital markets.

The partnership, which is anchored by a technology-powered offering for public companies and a broad universe of capital markets participants, will yield a low-cost, more efficient and more effective trade execution experience. Mischler will become a “forward operating base” for the growing GTS capital markets franchise, affording clients access to technology and sources of liquidity that are generally only available to the world’s most sophisticated investors.

(l)Ari Rubenstein,GTS co-founder & CEO (r) Dean Chamberlain (SDV),CEO,Mischler Financial Group

Founded in 2006 as a proprietary, quantitative trading firm, GTS is now a recognized leader in market structure and proudly oversees trading for more than one-third of NYSE-listed companies. The firm has an extensive track record developing and deploying proprietary, industry-best technology to bring better price discovery, trade execution and transparency to the markets.

“This is a high-tech, high-touch partnership designed to meet the needs of a new generation of issuers, asset managers, and trading and investment professionals seeking low-impact market liquidity and best-in-class execution,” said Ari Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GTS. “Clients are rightfully demanding innovation in the marketplace, and this alliance is uniquely designed to provide that and much more.”

Mischler, established in 1994, is an active underwriter across global equities, corporate and municipal debt, government securities and structured products. In the last three years alone, Mischler has played a role in almost 700 primary debt and equity market transactions. The firm also provides conflict-free share repurchase services for corporate treasurers as well as secondary market trade execution in equities and fixed income for a discrete universe of public plan sponsors and institutional investment managers.

Dean Chamberlain, Mischler’s Chief Executive Officer and a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army Officer, added: “The combined GTS-Mischler offering holistically provides a powerful arsenal of primary and secondary market solutions for the most demanding capital markets constituents. Mischler’s pedigree, capital markets expertise and front-line position – where we engage with a discrete network of corporate treasury executives and investment managers – is now further strengthened by the unrivaled technology and multi-asset trade facilitation platform that GTS has pioneered.”

Mischler is a fully-certified Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVOBE) and FINRA’s oldest veteran-owned investment bank and institutional brokerage. “For issuers and investment managers focused on retaining truly expert capabilities while fulfilling their Diversity & Inclusion goals, the combined GTS-Mischler platform will not merely meet, but will exceed all expectations,” added Mr. Chamberlain.

Mr. Rubenstein concluded: “This partnership is another trans-formative moment for the build-out of our capital markets business and reflects the next phase of an evolution in which GTS and Mischler constituents can more easily access and benefit from quantitative, algorithmic, and next generation AI applications. The current environment and the landscape of the future will reward market participants who responsibly leverage technology. If we can arm all investment professionals with these assets, they can thrive in new ways.”

To read the entire story, please visit www.mischlerfinancial.com/mischler-gts-connection

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Veteran-Owned Broker-Dealer’s Memorial Day Month Pledge

Posted on May 3, 2018 by admin

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Since its inception in 1995, boutique investment bank and institutional brokerage Mischler Financial Group (“MFG”) has been devoted to meeting the capital market needs of the nation’s leading corporations, municipal issuers and a broad spectrum of the industry’s most demanding investment managers and public plan sponsors. Positioned as a firm that ‘punches above its weight class in every metric’, Mischler is viewed by corporate treasurers and 6-pack banks as a ‘pure complement’ to the role played by lead underwriters. The firm’s highly-coveted middle-markets investor base, comprised of public plan sponsors and investment managers are notoriously ‘under-covered’ by the big Wall Street banks, and Mischler’s ability to bring these relationships to primary market offerings floated by Fortune corporations is a noticeable value add. The firm is also known for being the sell-side’s first and arguably, most foremost minority broker-dealer owned and operated by Service-Disabled Veterans.

Of equal importance, throughout its history, the firm has committed resources and year-round financial support to veteran-centric legislative initiatives, career building and mentoring veterans. This includes support of philanthropic programs focused on improving the quality of SDVs and their families’ lives as well as charitable programs that concentrate on supporting the families of military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the course of serving our country.

Mischler Financial Group CEO Dean Chamberlain

In connection with the firm’s year-round philanthropic mission, the months of May and November are specifically dedicated to honoring Memorial Day and Veterans Day. During these two months, Mischler contributes a percentage of the firm’s profit to select organizations that according to Chief Executive Officer Dean Chamberlain, a West Point grad and certified SDV, “We deploy support to organizations that have a positive impact on the lives of vets, SDVs and Gold Star family members who simply do not have the depth of resources that so many of us take for granted.”

In honor of “Memorial Day Month 2018,” Mischler announced its annual pledge to the Semper Fi Fund, one of the country’s highest-rated charities. Formed in 2004, “SFF” is committed to providing immediate financial assistance, education scholarships, career transition programs and life-time support to post-9/11 combat wounded, critically ill and catastrophically injured members of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. Since its inception, Semper Fi Fund has distributed over $167 million to more than 20,000 service members and their families and MFG is therefore privileged to continue our support of SFF.

Stated Chamberlain, “On behalf of the entire Mischler Financial Group family, we are grateful and honored that clients of our firm will be supporting our Memorial Day Month 2018 pledge via our trading and capital markets desks and/or direct contribution to SFF.

As Fortune CEOs Take Unequivocable Stand -This BD Bids On

Posted on August 15, 2017 by admin

August 15 2017-A Special Editorial from BrokerDealer.com: Most Fortune CEOs, as well as leaders of Investment Banks and Broker-Dealers (aka BD) are typically loathe to take a political stand. For the former, making pronouncements that will raise the ire of the current president are likely to be met by “injury by twitter,” or worse still, federal agency scrutiny of the company, which could prove devastating for public company shareholders. For the universe of corporate leaders with a conscience and also recognized thought-leaders, only a few have yet to prove unequivocal when reacting to the equivocal comment made by President Trump when framing his first view of what US Attorney General Sessions labeled as a”domestic terror event.” We’re referring to the white supremacist rally that led to 3 deaths and multiple injuries in Charlottesville, VA this past weekend.

For investment banks and broker-dealers, let’s face it-politics and business mix best with each other when done over cocktails or discrete ‘off-site’ meetings to discuss new capital market initiatives, deal issuance and/or asset management mandates. After all, most traditional broker-dealers eschew taking a political stand that opposes the federal government administration, simply out of fear that the long lips of the current WH CEO will whisper to administration-appointed SEC bureaucrats with a message akin to ‘the right industry regulator might want to make this [firm] go away..” Most, but not all is the catchphrase that compels a re-distribution of a capital markets desk commentary that focuses on fixed income markets and along with a smidgen of geopolitical observations and delivered to a captive group of leading Fortune 500 corporate treasurers, as well as a select group of sell-side syndicate desk ‘book-runners’. Here’s the extract of the day’s piece, titled Risk On, Risk Off, US-NOKO Tensions Subside; Ugly Heads of Racism Take Top Headline…

Investment Grade Corporate Debt New Issue Re-Cap – A View About Charlottesville and the Aftermath

Risk was clearly back on in the financial markets today, as U.S./NOKO tensions fell to the wayside. Unfortunately prejudice and racism reared their ugly heads in the Charlottesville, Virginia riot over the weekend. On Monday, Fortune 500 thought leaders Ken Frazier, CEO of Merck & C0., Brian Krzanich, CEO of Intel, and Kevin Plank, CEO of Under Armour each took a stand by protesting the ‘equivocal’ comments made by President Trump in his first response to the domestic terrorism acts in Charlottesvile, which were advanced by self-proclaimed alt-right and white supremacist neo-Nazis. Our firm stands with every corporate executive who stays true to their own right-minded beliefs and their company’s dedication to doing right and doing good, many of whom also maintain proactive Diversity & Inclusion initiatives. For those corporate executives who spent all of their undergrad time in finance and accounting classes, and perhaps not as familiar with the history of the United States as they could be, racism and bigotry are diseases, and cancers that every generation of this country has been working to eradicate.

To the above point, one only need to re-read the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to appreciate that D&I is actually part of our country’s DNA. It is also part of the cultural foundation of many Fortune 500 corporations, including Intel, including Merck, including Under Armour and including many others! D&I means respect for and appreciation of differences in ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, education, and religion. But it’s more than this. We all bring with us diverse perspectives, work experiences, life styles and cultures and we presumably all share a disdain for anyone and any group that attempts to dismantle, disrupt and or destroy. Kudos to Mssrs. Frazier, Krzanich and Plank for putting themselves in harm’s way and risk of “injury by Twitter” for being true leaders and staying true to their convictions and their constituents. Kudos also to the many Fortune executives who have raised their own voices and to those who, like Jamie Dimon, have opted to protest by remaining that much more proactive in the WH-appointed roles in which they serve as volunteers.

Today’s VIX closed 3 bps tighter versus Friday’s close. Also a reminder that tomorrow is August 15^th – “mid-August” – that’s when North Korea’s illustrious “bad boy” proclaimed that he’d have his master plan ready to bomb Guam developed by. One week from today on Monday, August 21^st begin joint U.S-South Korean military exercises referred to as Ulchi-Freedom Guardian. The exercise began in our Bicentennial year of 1976. North Korea has annually perceived the joint exercise as “preparation for war.” It is the world’s largest computerized command control implementation. Up to 80,000 American and South Korean troops have participated in this exercise in the recent past. The game will go on for two weeks before concluding on Thursday August 31^st. Enjoy the show Mr. Jong-Un. You’ll have front row seats though I recommend binoculars. Here’s lookin’ at you kid!

If you ask me this is the perfect time for corporations to issue bonds. Not a bad thing will really happen, risk is back on and summer vacations are quickly approaching. My prediction – expect Amazon to the hit the tapes first thing tomorrow morning. Free market enterprise at work. Ya gotta love it!

Today’s IG Corporate dollar DCM finished with 5 issuers that priced 7 tranches between them totaling $4.10b

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Boutique Broker-Dealer Makes Veterans Day Month Pledge

Posted on November 1, 2016 by admin

Mischler Financial Group Annual Veterans Day Month Pledge: Three Philanthropic Missions;

Securities Industry’s Oldest SDV-Owned Firm Gives Back and Pays Forward

(AP Newswire) Stamford, CT & Newport Beach, CA –November 1, 2016 —Veterans Day is observed by Americans each year on November 11; the day that is dedicated to honoring and extending our gratitude to the millions of men and women who have served within the US military. At Mischler Financial Group (“Mischler”), the financial industry’s oldest institutional brokerage and investment bank owned and operated by service-disabled veterans, Veterans Day is observed every day, and each November Mischler pledges a percentage of the entire month’s profits to carefully-vetted charitable organizations that support veterans and their families in recognition of this national holiday.

To honor Veterans Day Month 2016, Mischler Financial Group has made a financial pledge to three separate organizations that go above and beyond the call of duty to support military veteran families and local communities. Those 501c3 organizations are Bob Woodruff Foundation, The Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund and Buildon.org.

Stated Dean Chamberlain, Chief Executive of Mischler Financial, a 20-year veteran of the securities industry and a U.S. Military Academy at West Point alumni, “There are now more than 20 million Americans who have served with integrity and honor in the US Armed Forces, yet when transitioning back to civilian roles, too many are encountering challenges as they seek higher ground. The Mischler Financial year-round philanthropic mission is dedicated to the military veteran community at large, and Veterans Day Month provides a special opportunity for our trading desk and our clients to work together to give back and pay forward to the veteran community in ways that can truly help change lives for the better.”

Added Chamberlain, “This past May, we made our Memorial Day Month pledge to crowdfund campaign Veterans Education Challenge, as we believe that advanced education is a core component to both personal and professional success. The organizations that we have pledged our Veterans Day Month support to provide equally unique runways by which veterans can further bolster their knowledge base and self-confidence, and in turn, help them to more easily target and capture opportunities as they advance forward.”

About The Bob Woodruff Foundation (501c3)

Mission Statement: Founded in 2006 by ABC News reporter Bob Woodruff and his wife Lee after Bob was hit by a roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq. The Bob Woodruff Foundation has led an enduring call to action for people to stand up for heroes and meet the merging and long-term needs of today’s veterans. To date, BWF has invested more than $33 million to find, fund and shape programs that have empowered more than 2.5 million impacted veterans, service members and their families. To learn more, visit their website

About The Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund (501c3)

Mission Statement: Committed to providing support to those most affected by the Global War on Terror. Assistance includes: College scholarships and grants; Financial aid for professional certification programs and non-degree programs; Educational career counseling and mentorship. To learn more, visit their website.

About Buildon.org (501c3)

Mission Statement: To break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and low expectations through service learning programs in many of America’s most under-resourced high schools. Buildon.org is dedicated to engaging and training high school students in the country’s most challenging urban areas by providing those students with the tools to proactively advance programs that can better the quality of life for members of their communities who are in need. To learn more, visit their website.

About Mischler Financial Group Inc.

Established in 1994, Mischler Financial Group, Inc. (“Mischler”) was the first broker-dealer certified as a Service-Disabled Veteran owned Business Enterprise (SDVOBE).Since that time, Mischler has become widely-recognized by Fortune corporate treasurers, public pension sponsors and the industry’s leading institutional investment managers for “punching above its weight class” while serving as a boutique investment bank and conflict-free institutional brokerage. Mischler is unique among its peers for its capital markets capabilities, as well as the firm’s year-round advocacy and support of veteran-centric causes. Mischler maintains offices in 8 major cities and is staffed by more than 55 securities industry veterans whose expertise extends across virtually all primary and secondary debt and equity capital market silos. In addition to traditional DCM and ECM services and secondary market best execution, Mischler administers corporate share repurchase programs for leading Fortune companies, cash management for government entities and corporations, and asset management programs for liquid and alternative investment strategies. The firm’s website is www.mischlerfinancial.com

For Additional Information:

Attn: Office of the Chief Executive

Email: [email protected]

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Chicago Politico & Owner of Cabrera Capital Mrkts in 4mil Loan Default

Posted on August 17, 2016August 17, 2016 by admin

chicago-politico-owner-cabrera-capital-loan-default

(Crains Chicago Business)-Martin Cabrera, Jr, the chairman of the Chicago Plan Commission, who’s also on the city’s Public Building Commission and who’s also owner/founder of minority broker-dealer Cabrera Capital Markets, has been hit with a lawsuit alleging he has defaulted on a $3.3 million loan.

Martin Cabrera Jr., founder and CEO of Cabrera Capital Markets, positioned as a minority-owned broker-dealer, hasn’t paid anything on the loan since March 2015 and now owes a total of $4.1 million, including accrued interest and attorney fees, according to the complaint, filed last month in Cook County Circuit Court. Cabrera, a broker-dealer that seeks to leverage their diversity profile to win contracts from cities and states that have diversity and inclusion mandates has also been subject to Finra disciplinary actions.

Martin Cabrera, Jr.

Cabrera, a leader in Chicago’s Hispanic business community, borrowed the money from a venture led by a man named Ventura Carlos Rojas Cardona. Court documents did not state the purpose of the loan, which Cabrera took out in April 2014.

“It’s unfortunate that it got this far, but it’s a complicated matter, and we hope to resolve it soon,” Cabrera said. He declined to comment further, saying he shouldn’t discuss pending litigation.

Cabrera Capital is a financial services firm that offers investment banking and sales and trading and is often involved in underwriting government bond offerings. Martin Cabrera also is part of the well-connected group in line to manage a $248 million redevelopment of Midway International Airport.

Ventura Carlos Rojas Cardona wound up in the national news about four years ago, when it came out that he and his brother, Alberto Rojas Cardona, were major fundraisers and donors for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign. The Obama campaign returned more than $200,000 in donations from them after the New York Times reported that their brother was Juan Jose Rojas Cardona, also known as Pepe, a Mexican casino owner who had fled drug and fraud charges in the United States.

Efforts to reach Ventura Carlos Rojas Cardona directly were not successful. An attorney representing him did not return calls. Alberto Rojas Cardona, who signed the loan to Cabrera in April 2014, said he was no longer involved in that investment.

Cook County property records show that Cabrera provided the Cardona venture a $3.3 million mortgage in May on a Pilsen apartment building he owns, a sign that he may have offered the property to secure the defaulted loan.

In 2012 Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed Cabrera chairman of the Plan Commission, a panel that reviews zoning change requests. Cabrera has served since 2011 on the board of the Public Building Commission, a city-county agency that approves public building projects. Cabrera also is past chairman of the board of the City Colleges of Chicago and a board member of Museum of Science and Industry. Full story from Chicago Crains here