Firm58 CSA/Soft Dollar Demo

Nearly One Billion Trades Processed by Firm58 Last Year

CHICAGO — January 30, 2013 — Firm58, Inc. (http://www.firm58.com), an independent financial management software company, announced today that during 2012 it processed an incredible 910.5 million trades for its clients.  That volume more than doubles the previous year.  In addition, Nick Fera, CEO of Firm58 announced record revenues again in 2012.  “Once again our revenue run-rate continues to grow and exceed our expectations,” said Fera.  “New business activity among broker dealers and exchanges continue to fuel company growth.”

During 2012 Firm58 continued to see a common theme among its existing and new subscribers of its services.  “Cost reduction and better visibility throughout these organizations,” said Fera “are the leading drivers for clients.”  With continued downward pressure on overall trade volume and heightened focus on profitability, Firm58’s clients are actively engaged in reducing their cost structure through outsourced services like Billing and Commission Share/Soft Dollar Solution, while enhancing their client relationships through greater access and transparency.

One initiative by Firm58 that embodies both of these concerns was the 3^rd Quarter release of its new rapid-deployment CSA/Soft Dollar Solution.  This new solution brought a professional interface to many brokerage’s loyalty programs while at the same time reducing the cost of implementing and managing these solutions.  Firm58 successfully offered a ‘freemium’-pricing pricing model to make it easy for broker dealers to sign up and get their Soft Dollar programs active, while greatly enhancing the functionality offered to their clients.  Many new brokerages continue to take advantage of this unique Firm58 offer.

Following on the successful roll out of the CSA/Soft Dollar Solution, in early 2013 Firm58 will release a new Compliance Reporting & Surveillance Solution targeted to assist the broker dealer community keep pace with regulatory guidance from the SEC and FINRA.  This new solution will also be ready for rapid deployment and allow brokerages to enhance their own trade surveillance to avoid punitive actions resulting from a failure to supervise their trading activity.  Firm58 will announce availability and pricing shortly.

Fera stated, “since 2005 we have worked to address the most complex middle and back office needs of the world’s most demanding broker dealers and exchanges.  As those needs expand in response to both customer requirements and new regulation, Firm58 will continue to adapt and innovate as we have in the past to meet our clients’ needs and improve both their operational and financial performance.”

Added Fera, “we’re excited that the industry continues to look to Firm58 to address the growing and complex demands of capital markets companies.  We look forward to staying on the leading edge of innovative client focused solutions..”

About Firm58, Inc.

Firm58 simplifies trade operations for capital markets firms. The company’s web-based financial management software manages the processes associated with fees, commissions and payouts to help increase revenue and operational efficiency, and reduce costs. The Software as a Service

(SaaS) platform automates middle- and back-office processes across asset classes to provide insight into daily profitability and protect revenue.  Firm58 offers solutions for billing, profitability analysis, commission sharing arrangements/soft dollar management, and compliance. Clients include global market exchanges and execution venues, leading institutional brokerages, clearing and non-clearing broker-dealers, and proprietary trading firms. Founded in 2005, Firm58 is based in Chicago, and is backed by New World Ventures and North Bridge Venture Partners. For more information, visit www.firm58.com.

Contacts:

Sam Mele, sam.mele@firm58.com
Firm58, Inc.
888-434-7658 x200

CHICAGO — July 24, 2012 — Firm58, Inc. (http://www.firm58.com), an independent financial management software company, announced today that it is introducing a new commission sharing agreement (CSA) solution focused on the needs of small and medium sized broker dealers and is offering it free of charge to those broker dealers who have 10 or less clients under CSA/Soft Dollar management.

Through Chicago-based Firm58′s new CSA product, SMB broker dealers who have struggled with their decision to automate their CSA/Soft Dollar programs due to implementation complexity and exorbitant fees of current vendor solutions, now have a cost-effective, rapidly deployed alternative. Although CSA programs are intended to increase the size and loyalty of a broker’s business, most small broker dealers can’t afford the time or costs to implement an automated, on-line system.  As a result they resort to managing their programs with spreadsheets; however, spreadsheet based solutions lack the security, auditability, version control, operational efficiency and data transparency buy side clients now demand, further driving the need for a highly functional, economical, turnkey solution.

“We’re excited to offer SMB broker dealers a new alternative to automate their CSA/Soft Dollar programs,” said Nick Fera, Firm58′s CEO. “We have taken the knowledge acquired in serving some of the largest financial institutions over the past three years to build a solution for the SMB market providing enterprise functionality yet implemented in a fraction of the time.  With our new Fast Start Program, SMB Brokers will now be able to offer the very same capabilities as their much larger counterparts for free.”

Over the past several years CSA offerings have become a necessity for broker dealers to stave off customer attrition and attract new business.   Firm58 is perfectly positioned to help the SMB market overcome those challenges by taking advantage of our new rapidly deployed, software-as-a-service offering.

Starting immediately, Broker Dealers with 10 (or less) CSA/Soft Dollar clients can sign up for free CSA services from Firm58.  “We can’t think of a better way to help the Broker Dealer community reinvigorate its trading business during these difficult economic times.  Long term this Fast Start Program is a win-win for both Firm58 and the Broker Dealer community,” said Fera.  Access to Firm58’s CSA Fast Start Program ends December 31, 2012.

Firm58′s solutions have been adopted by financial institutions to manage fees, commissions and payouts, including billing, daily profitability reporting, and soft dollar program management. The company manages the billing function for many of the top bulge bracket firms as well as global exchanges, including the CBOE Stock Exchange (CBSX), the Boston Options Exchange, and ELX Futures. Prominent institutional brokerages, broker-dealers, and proprietary trading firms including Lightspeed, and Hamilton Executions also employ Firm58′s solutions. Founded in 2005, Firm58 is based in Chicago, and is backed by New World Ventures and North Bridge Venture Partners.

For more information please visit our website at www.firm58.com or call us at 1-888-4FIRM58 and ask for Sales to schedule a demonstration.

About Firm58, Inc.

Firm58 simplifies trade operations for capital markets firms. The company’s web-based financial management software manages the processes associated with fees, commissions and payouts to help increase revenue and operational efficiency, and reduce costs. The Software as a Service

(SaaS) platform automates middle- and back-office processes across asset classes to provide insight into daily profitability and protect revenue.  Firm58 offers solutions for billing, profitability analysis, commission sharing arrangements/soft dollar management, compensation, and accounting. Clients include global market exchanges and execution venues, leading institutional brokerages, clearing and non-clearing broker-dealers, and proprietary trading firms. Founded in 2005, Firm58 has offices in Chicago and New York, and is backed by New World Ventures and North Bridge Venture Partners. For more information, visit www.firm58.com.

Today we are proud to recognize the effort and success of our employees in 2011.  The attached release highlights some of the successes for 2011.  We’re looking forward to an even more exciting and interesting 2012 as we get ready to release new products in the Compliance and Reporting space, as well as team up with new strategic partners for future growth and possibilities for our clients.

Best wishes to all for a prosperous 2012!