R.J. O'Brien Taps Experienced Metals Team to Spearhead New Strategic Partnership with Sucden Financial on the LME

Janet Mirasola, Stacy Winters Join RJO New York Office

NEW YORK, February 16, 2010 - R.J. O'Brien & Associates (RJO), the largest independent futures
brokerage firm in the United States, announced today that the highly
successful metals brokerage team of Janet Mirasola and Stacy Winters has
joined the firm's New York office. The team will spearhead RJO's newly
announced strategic partnership with Sucden Financial Limited designed to
significantly grow RJO's client business conducted on the London Metal
Exchange (LME). RJO said last week it had formed the arrangement with Sucden
Financial, a leading "ring-dealing member" of the LME.

Mirasola was named RJO Managing Director, Metals, reporting to Joseph
Murphy, Executive Vice President and President of the Americas. Winters is
Vice President, Metals, reporting to Mirasola. Both have decades of
experience with metals futures.

Said Murphy: "We're very excited to bring on this talented team in New
York. Janet's pre-market commentary on metals is a must-read and a great
value-added service for interested RJO clients. The team's strong
relationship with Sucden Financial, unparalleled experience with the metals
markets and hands-on customer service are terrific assets, reinforcing our
commitment to serving the risk management and investment needs of our
commercial and institutional client base."

Mirasola specializes in bringing clients unique research and custom
brokerage services, earning her a loyal following over the years. As she has
in previous roles, Mirasola will open each day with sophisticated analysis of
the global metals market, disseminated to clients before the market opens.

Mirasola said: "Stacy and I are thrilled to join RJO and to leverage the
firm's growth in the LME markets. The firm has a tremendous opportunity to be
a leader in this sector, and we look forward to helping grow the business and
participating in the firm's international expansion this year."

About R.J. O'Brien

Founded in 1914, RJO is the largest independent futures brokerage firm in
the United States. A privately owned, full-service futures commission
merchant (FCM), RJO is a full clearing member of the CME Group (including the
Chicago Board of Trade and New York Mercantile Exchange); ICE Futures U.S.;
ICE Futures Europe; Eurex AG; EuronextLIFFE and Chicago Climate Exchange. The
firm offers state-of-the-art electronic trading technology and 24-hour trade
execution on every futures exchange worldwide. Clearing more than 80,000
client accounts, RJO services a global network of more than 290 introducing
brokers and many of the world's largest financial, industrial and
agricultural institutions.

For more information, please visit www.rjobrien.com.

Ellen G. Resnick, Crystal Clear Communications, +1-773-929-9292, +1-312-399-9295 (cell), eresnick at crystalclearPR.com