HedgeCo.net ( New York ) —  December 5, 2006 — R.J. O’Brien and Associates, Inc. (“RJO”), the nation’s largest independent futures brokerage, announced today that it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Refco Commodity Management, Inc. (“RCMI”), which include the managing owner interest in the JWH Global Trust, a public commodity pool, with more than $125 million in customer assets under management (the “Fund”). The Fund’s assets are managed by John W. Henry & Company, Inc. (“JWH”), a long-established commodity trading advisor and will be diversified among four of its trading programs. The managing owner interest in the fund was purchased from RCMI in its bankruptcy process. 

            “This acquisition represents a key strategic initiative by RJO to build out its managed futures business, including product distribution and fund administration,” said Gerald F. Corcoran, chief executive officer of RJO.  “The opportunity to acquire the managing owner interest in a public commodity pool managed by John W. Henry & Company, a premier commodity trading advisor, is beneficial to RJO in every respect. The acquisition of the Fund diversifies and builds on RJO’s existing infrastructure.”

            In addition to the $125 million in customer assets, Mr. Corcoran said the acquisition brings a team of professionals and a sales network to RJO’s Chicago headquarters.  “Going forward, I am confident that this team, led by Annette Cazenave, has the talent and experience to continue to grow the assets of the current JWH Global Trust product and to develop additional innovative, customer-driven investment products,” said Mr. Corcoran. “RJO expects its managed assets unit will be accretive to earnings in 2007.”

“We are pleased that RJO has acquired the managing owner interest in this fund,” said Mark Rzepczynski, President and Chief Investment Officer at JWH.  “RJO is a long-standing independent and growing force in the futures industry with an excellent reputation for client service and innovation.”  

The managing owner interest in the JWH Global Trust fund was acquired by Refco Commodity Management, Inc. from Cargill Investor Services in September 2005.  The Fund trades in the U.S. and international futures and forward markets in currencies, interest rates, energy and agricultural products, metals and stock indices.  The Fund, which is registered in all 50 states, has been sold by over 40 broker dealers in the US.  

JWH has been the sole trading advisor for the Fund since inception in May 1997.  Founded in 1982, JWH manages capital in commodities, financial futures and foreign exchange markets for international banks, brokerage firms, pension funds, institutions and high net worth individuals.  JWH trades systematically on a 24-hour basis in a wide range of futures and forward contracts using diligent risk controls and incorporating the belief that trends last longer than most market participants expect. 

 RJO is the largest independent futures brokerage in the United States.  A privately owned futures commission merchant, RJO is also one of the oldest futures brokerage firms, dating to 1914.  RJO is a founding member of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and is a full clearing member of: the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT); the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX and COMEX divisions); the New York Board of Trade (NYBOT); Eurex AG; Eurex US; EuronextLIFFE; and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE).  RJO offers the latest in order entry technology coupled with 24-hour execution and clearing on every futures exchange worldwide. RJO services a nationwide network of more than 250 introducing brokers and some of the world’s largest financial, industrial and agricultural institutions.  For further information, please visit www.rjobrien.com. 

Colleen Mitchell
President
R.J. O’Brien
222 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 900
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(312) 373-5000
 
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