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For Immediate Release
February 16, 2023

For more information contact:

Christie von Ohlen, 312-781-1497, cvonohlen@nfa.futures.org
Karen Wuertz, 312-781-1335, kwuertz@nfa.futures.org

NFA orders Sioux Falls, S.D. introducing broker VBI Company to pay a $135,000 fine

February 16, Chicago—NFA has ordered Sioux Falls, S.D. introducing broker Member VBI Company (VBI) to pay a $135,000 fine. Peter Mark Vanden Berge, an associated person and principal of VBI, shares liability with the firm jointly and severally for the fine.

The Decision, issued by an NFA Hearing Panel, is based on a Complaint issued by NFA's Business Conduct Committee (BCC) and a settlement offer submitted by VBI and Vanden Berge. In the settlement offer, the firm and Vanden Berge neither admitted nor denied the allegations in the Complaint.

The BCC's Complaint alleged that VBI violated NFA Compliance Rule 2-10 by failing to maintain required oral and written pre-trade communications. The Complaint also alleged that VBI and Vanden Berge violated NFA Compliance Rule 2-2(f) by providing NFA with a number of excuses for the firm's communication recordkeeping deficiencies and, in doing so, provided NFA with materially false or misleading information regarding whether VBI ever complied with its recordkeeping obligations. The Complaint also alleged that VBI and Vanden Berge violated NFA Compliance Rule 2-9(a) by failing to supervise the firm's operations.

In its Decision, the Panel found that VBI violated NFA Compliance Rule 2-10, and that VBI and Vanden Berge violated NFA Compliance Rules 2-2(f) and 2-9(a).

The complete text of the Complaint and Decision can be viewed on NFA's website.

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