# FORT GHENT BROKERAGE LLC X-17A-5 (2023-03-31) — Broker-dealer annual report

- Company: FORT GHENT BROKERAGE LLC
- Form: X-17A-5
- Filed: 2023-03-31
- Period: 2022-12-31
- Accession: 0001602135-23-000003
- CIK: 1602135
- File #: 8-69432
- Type: Broker-dealer
- Material weakness: No
- Auditor: Sanford Becker & Co, PC
- Auditor location: New York, NY
- Contact: Alexander Mack
- Phone: 917 923 1478
- Email: alexmack@ftghent.com
- Website: ftghent.com
- Signed by: John Gallagher (CEO)

Original filing: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1602135/000160213523000003/ftgsofc22.pdf

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#### **UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549**

0MB APPROVAL 0MB Number: 3235-0123 Expires: Oct. 31, 2023 Estimated average burden hours per response: 12

## **ANNUAL REPORTS FORM X-17A-5 PART Ill**

SEC FILE NUMBER

8-69432

**FACING PAGE** 

**Information Required Pursuant to Rules 17a-5, 17a-12, and 18a-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934** 

| FILING FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING                                                                                                       | 12_0_22 ____<br>___ 11<br>1_<br>_                          | AND ENDING ___ 1_                       | 12_0_22 __<br>2_<br>1_<br>13_<br>_         |  |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--|
|                                                                                                                                       | MM/DD/VY                                                   |                                         | MM/DD/VY                                   |  |
|                                                                                                                                       | A. REGISTRANT IDENTIFICATION                               |                                         |                                            |  |
| NAME OF FIRM: __ F_ort_G_h_e_n_t                                                                                                      | _B_ro_k_e_ra~g_e_L_L_C                                     |                                         | ___________________<br>_                   |  |
| TYPE OF REGISTRANT {check all applicable boxes):<br>lxl Broker-dealer<br>D Check here if respondent is also an OTC derivatives dealer | □ Security-based swap dealer                               | □ Major security-based swap participant |                                            |  |
| ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS: {Do not use a P.O. box no.)                                                                   |                                                            |                                         |                                            |  |
| 575 Madison Avenue, Suite 1006                                                                                                        |                                                            |                                         |                                            |  |
|                                                                                                                                       | (No. and Street)                                           |                                         |                                            |  |
| New York                                                                                                                              | NY                                                         |                                         | 10022                                      |  |
| (City)                                                                                                                                | (State)                                                    |                                         | (Zip Code)                                 |  |
| PERSON TO CONTACT WITH REGARD TO THIS FILING                                                                                          |                                                            |                                         |                                            |  |
| Alex Mack                                                                                                                             | 917-923-1478                                               |                                         | alexmack@ftghent.com                       |  |
| (Name)                                                                                                                                | (Area Code -Telephone Number)                              |                                         | (Email Address)                            |  |
|                                                                                                                                       | B. ACCOUNTANT IDENTIFICATION                               |                                         |                                            |  |
| INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT whose reports are contained in this filing*<br>Sanford Becker & Co, PC                                  |                                                            |                                         |                                            |  |
|                                                                                                                                       | (Name - if individual, state last, first, and middle name) |                                         |                                            |  |
| 1430 Broadway, Suite 605                                                                                                              | New York                                                   | NY                                      | 10018                                      |  |
| (Address)                                                                                                                             | (City)                                                     | (State)                                 | (Zip Code)                                 |  |
| 06/25/2009                                                                                                                            |                                                            |                                         | 3563                                       |  |
| rte<br>of Reg;stcafoo w;th PCAOB)(;f appUcable}                                                                                       |                                                            |                                         | (PCAOB Reg;w,uoo N"m bee, ;f appUcable I I |  |
|                                                                                                                                       | FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY                                      |                                         |                                            |  |
| * Claims for exemption from the requirement that the annual reports be covered by the reports of an independent public                |                                                            |                                         |                                            |  |

accountant must be supported by a statement of facts and circumstances relied on as the basis of the exemption. See 17 CFR 240.17a-5(e)(l)(ii), if applicable.

**Persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid 0MB control number.** 

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#### **OATH OR AFFIRMATION**

Jlohn Gallagher I,-------------------~ swear (01r affirm) that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the financial report pertaining to the firm of Fort Ghent Brokerage LLC • as of

December 31 2 022 , is true and correct. I further swear (or affirm) that neither the company nor any partn er, officer, ,director, or equivalent person, as ithe case may b e, has any propriietary int,erest 1in any account classified so!leiy ,,,, .. .,,,,, as that of a customer. ,,,,, '{ *OR€* ,,,,,, ~ ~ / "" . <sup>v</sup>*~OTA1y* **<sup>~</sup> --Y-** *\_vP~* 

<sup>~</sup>~--.••~ -**Exp\_** *()•••* <sup>~</sup>', <sup>~</sup>...... ~.-· ~~ 0~ •••••••• **6***(.<* **\:J\"t--~** ,, Signatur e: <sup>~</sup>\ *uauv .: :* CE **111 ,,1111\\\** 

/;~~ *<sup>1</sup> <sup>~</sup>* <sup>~</sup>: **t** *t* -· *I- <sup>~</sup> ,* = . J O \_\_\_,, 'j\_ : ; ,o - *-., :* : Title: • ~ ~ -i;.•~~-. <?353,A~••••••• *<sup>f</sup>*------------"------- --"-----'------'><..C-----lc-r-------- ~, '-''1,, •••••••• **.-:.--1.** , ...... Notary Public ,,,, **JERS~,,,** 

#### **This filling\*\* contains (check all app:licable box,es).:**

- [XI (a) Statement of financial condition.
- ~ (b) Notes to consolidated statement of financial condition.
- D ,(c) Statement of income (loss) or, if there is other comprehensive income in the period(s) preselilted, a statement of comprehensive income (as defined in§ 210.1-02 of Regulation S-X).
- D (d) Statement of cash flows.
- D {e) Statement of changes in stockholders' or partn ers' or sole proprietor's equity.
- D (f) Statement of changes in liabilities subordinated to claims of creditors.
- D (g) Notes to consolidated financial statements.
- D {hl Computation of net capita,! under 17 CFR 240.15c3-1 or 17 CIFIR 240.18a-1, as applicable.
- D (i) Computation of tangible net worth under 17 CFR 240.lSa-2.
- D (j) Computation for determination of customer reserve requirements pursuant to Exhibit A to 17 CFR 240.15c3-3.
- D (I<) Computation for determination of security-based swap reserve requirements pursuant to Exhibit B to 17 CFR 240.15c3-3 or Exhibit A to 17 CFR 240.18a-4, as applicable.
- D (I) Computation for Determination of PAB Requirements under Exhibit A to§ 240.15c3-3.
- D {m j Information relating to poss,ession or control! requirements for customers under 17 CFR 240.15c3-3.
- D (n) Information relating to possession or control requirements for security-based swap customers under 17 CFR 240.15c3-3(p)(2) or 17 CFR 240.18a-4, as applicable.
- D (o) Reconciliations, including appropriate explanations, of the FOCUS Report with computation of net capital or tangible net worth under 17 CFR 240.15c3-1, 17 CFR 240.18a-1, or 17 CFR 240.18a-2, as applicable, and the reserve requirements under 17 CfR 240.15c3-3 or 17 CFR 240.18a-4, as applicable, if material d!ifferences exist, or a statement t hat no material differences ex,ist.
- D (p) Summary of financia l data for subsidiaries not consolidated in the statement of financial condition.
- xJ (q) Oath or affirmation in accordance with 17 CFR 240.17a-5, 17 CFR 240.17a-12, or 17 CFR 240.18a-7, as applicable.
- D {r) Compliance report in accordance with 17 CFR 240.17a-5 or 17 CFR 240.18a-7, as applicab;le.
- D (s) Exemption report in accordance with 17 CFR 240.17a-5 or 17 CFR 240.18a-7, as applicable.
- l¼l (t) Independent public accountant's report based on an examination of the statement of financial condition.
- D {1.1) Independent p ublic accountant's report based on an examination of the financial report or fi nancial statements under 17 CFR 240.17a-5, 17 CFR 240.18a-7, or 17 CFR 240.17a-12, as applicable.
- D (v) ,Independent public accountant's report based on an examination of certain statements in the compliance report under 17 OFR 240.17a-5 01r 17 CFR 240.18a-7, as applicable.
- D (w) Independent public accountant's report based on a review of the exemption report under 17 CFR 240.17a-5 or 17 CFR 240.18a-7, as applicable.
- D (x) Supplemental! reports on applying agreed-upon procedures, in accordance w1ith 17 CFR 240.1Sc3-le or 17 CFIR 240.17a-12, as applicable.
- D (y) Report describing any material inadequacies found to exist or found to have existed since the date of the previous audit, or a statement that no material inadequacies exist, u nder 17 CFR 240.17a-12(k). <sup>D</sup>(z) Other:---- - ---------------------------------
- 
- \*\*To request confidential treatment of certain portions of this filing, see 17 CFR 240.17a-5{e){3) or 17 CFR 240.18a-7{d)(2), as applicable.

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Fort Ghent Brokerage LLC

Statement of Financial Condition

**DECEMBER 31, 2021** 

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# **Fort Ghent Brokerage LLC**

#### **CONTENTS**

| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |     |
|---------------------------------------------------------|-----|
| Financial Statements                                    |     |
| Statement of Financial Condition                        | 2   |
| Notes to Financial Statements                           | 3-5 |

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#### SANFORD BECKER & CO., P.C. CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS ADVISORS

1430 BROADWAY - SUITE 605 NEWYORK, **N.Y.** 10018

> TELEPHONE (212) 921 - 9000 FACSIMILE (212) 354-1822

## **Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm**

To the Members of Fort Ghent Brokerage, LLC

#### **Opinion on the Financial Statements**

We have audited the accompanying statement of financial condition of Fart Ghent Brokerage, LLC, as of December 31, 2022 and the related notes ( collectively referred to as the "financial statement"). In our opinion, the financial statement present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company, as of December 31, 2022 in conformity with the accompanying principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

#### **Basis for Opinion**

This financial statement is the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statement based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements is free of material misstatements, whether due to error or fraud. Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statement, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statement. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

We have served as the Company's auditors since 2017.

New York, NY March 31, 2023

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## **Fort Ghent Brokerage LLC**

#### **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION**

|                                       | December 31, 2022 |         |
|---------------------------------------|-------------------|---------|
| ASSETS                                |                   |         |
| Cash                                  | \$                | 46,792  |
| Accounts receivable                   |                   | 108,119 |
| Prepaid expense                       |                   | 4,509   |
| Total assets                          | \$                | 159 420 |
| LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS' EQUITY       |                   |         |
| Liabilities                           |                   |         |
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | \$                | 93,923  |
| Deferred revenue                      |                   | 14,770  |
| Total liabilities                     |                   | 108,693 |
| Members' equity                       |                   | 50,727  |
| Total liabilities and members' equity | \$                | 159 420 |

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### **NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION**

Fort Ghent Brokerage LLC (the "Company") is a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA"). The Company's primary business activities include providing investment banking, merger and acquisition, and consulting services to clients. The Company is a dual member limited liability company; the two members are active principals in the Firm. The Company was organized under the laws of the State of New York on November **1,** 2013. The Company became a registered broker-dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) on August 4, 2014. The Company exists as a separate legal entity, unless di the provisions of the operating agreement and the laws of New York State. To the fullest legal extent possible, the Members shall not have any liability for the losses, liabilities, or claims against the Company.

## **NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES**

#### Revenue Recognition

Revenue from contracts with clients are comprised of investment banking fees. Such fees are recognized at the point in time when the Company's performance under the terms of the contractual arrangement is completed, which is typically at the closing of the transaction. Reimbursed expenses related to these transactions are recorded as revenue.

In certain instances, for advisory contracts, the Company will receive amounts in advance of the deal's closing. In these instances, revenue is recognized over time in which the performance obligations are simultaneously provided by the Company and consumed by the client. At December 31, 2022, there was \$14,770 in such deferred revenue.

#### Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

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### **NOTE 3. CONCENTRATION OF BUSINESS AND CREDIT RISK**

All cash deposits of the Company are held by one financial institution and therefore are subject to credit risk at this financial institution. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and does not believe there to be any significant credit risk with respect to these deposits.

For purposes ofreporting the statement of cash flows, The Company considers all cash accounts which are not subject to withdrawal restrictions or penalties, and all highly liquid debt instruments with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash balances in excess of FDIC and similar insurance coverage are subject to the usual banking risks associated with funds in excess of those limits. At December 31, 2022, the Company had no uninsured cash balances.

The Company earned 85% of its fee revenues from three clients in 2021. 85% of the Company's accounts receivable at year end was from one account.

## **NOTE 4. RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS**

The Company shares office space with Compliance Matters, an affiliate under common control with the Company. During the year, the Company paid \$21,054 as its proportional share of the cost for the office space.

There are no other transactions with related parties of the firm.

#### **NOTE 5. INCOME TAXES**

The Company is a limited liability company and as such is not subject to Federal or state income taxes. Federal and State income taxes, if any, are the responsibilities of the individual members. The Company is subject to New York City Unincorporated Business Tax. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to tax examinations by taxing authorities for years before 2019.

The Company recognizes and measures its unrecognized tax benefits in accordance with F ASB ASC 740, *Income Taxes.* Under that guidance, the Company assesses the likelihood, based on their technical merit, that tax positions will be sustained upon examination based on the facts, circumstances and information available at the end of each period. With few exceptions, the measurement of unrecognized tax benefits is adjusted when new information is available, or when an event occurs that requires a change.

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## **Fort Ghent Brokerage LLC NOTES TO STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION DECEMBER 31, 2022**

#### **NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES**

The Company has a \$80,204 liability due to four representatives, contingent on collection of receivables from four clients. The Company has collected \$77,705 of these receivables and paid its representatives to date in 2023, and expects to collect and pay the balance in 2023.

#### **NOTE 7. NET CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS**

The Company is subject to the SEC's Uniform Net Capital Rule ("SEC Rule 15c3-1 "), which requires the maintenance of minimum net capital and that the ratio of aggregate indebtedness to net capital, both as defined, not exceed 15 to **1.** Net capital and aggregate indebtedness change from day to day. At December 31 , 2022, the Company had net capital of \$18,303, which exceeded the Company's minimum net capital requirement of \$7,246 by \$11,057. The Company's percentage of aggregate indebtedness to net capital was 594% at December 31, 2022.

#### **NOTE 8. GOING CONCERN**

Accounting Standards Update 2014-15 requires that management evaluate conditions or events that might raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Management has evaluated the Company's conditions and has determined that unless the Company generates revenue or continues to be funded by its members, there is doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The Members and their affiliates have pledged additional support to the Company to enable it to operate for the next year should that become necessary.


Source: SEC EDGAR via Adviser Search (https://search.stillhousedata.com). Agents: see https://search.stillhousedata.com/llms.txt.