# WOLVERINE SECURITIES, LLC X-17A-5 (2019-03-01) — Broker-dealer annual report - Company: WOLVERINE SECURITIES, LLC - Form: X-17A-5 - Filed: 2019-03-01 - Period: 2018-12-31 - Accession: 0001616345-19-000001 - CIK: 1616345 - File #: 8-69522 - Material weakness: No - Auditor: Bradford R. Dooley & Associates - Auditor location: Chicago, IL - Contact: Judy Kula - Phone: 3128843724 - Signed by: Judy Kula (Chief Financial Officer) Original filing: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1616345/000161634519000001/ws18pu.pdf --- {0}------------------------------------------------ # **Report Pursuant to SEC Rule 17a-5 and Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm** # Wolverine Securities, LLC **(An** Illinois Limited Liability Company) **December 31, 2018** Filed as public pursuant to Rule 17a-S(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. {1}------------------------------------------------ UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0123 Expires: August 31, 2020 Estimated average burden hours per response ...... 12.00 # ANNUAL AUDITED REPORT FORM X-17A-5 PART Ill | SEC FILE NUMBER | |-----------------| | 8-69522 | FACING PAGE Information Required of Brokers and Dealers Pursuant to Section 17 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 17a-5 Thereunder | REPORT FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING 01/01/2018 | | AND ENDING 12/31/2018 | | | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------------------|--| | | MM/DD/YY | | ---------------------
MM/DD/YY | | | | A. REGISTRANT IDENTIFICATION | | | | | NAME oF BROKER-DEALER: Wolverine Securities, LLC | | | OFFICIAL USE ONLY | | | ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS: (Do not use P.O. Box No.)
175 W Jackson Boulevard, Suite 200 | | | FIRM 1.0. NO. | | | | (No. and Street) | | | | | Chicago | Illinois | | 60604 | | | (City) | (State) | | (Zip Code) | | | NAME AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF PERSON TO CONTACT IN REGARD TO THIS REPORT
Judy Kula | | | (Area Code- Telephone Number) | | | | B. ACCOUNTANT IDENTIFICATION | | | | | | | | | | | INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNT ANT whose opinion is contained in this Report*
Bradford R. Dooley & Associates | | | | | | | (N arne - if individual, state last, first, middle name) | | | | | 209 W Jackson Blvd., Suite 404 Chicago | | Illinois | 60606 | | | (Address) | (City) | (State) | (Zip Code) | | | CHECK ONE:
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Certified Public Accountant
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Public Accountant | Accountant not resident in United States or any of its possessions.
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | | | | | | | | | | *\*Claims for exemption from the requirement that the annual report be covered by the opinion of an independent public accountant must be supported by a statement offacts and circumstances relied on as the basis for the exemption. See Section 240.17a-5(e)(2)* > Potential 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 OMB control number. SEC 141 0 (06-02) {2}------------------------------------------------ # OATH OR AFFIRMATION | I, Judy Kula | , swear (or affirm) that, to the best of | | | |------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--|--| | my knowledge and belief the accompanying financial statement and supporting schedules pertaining to the firm of
Wolverine Securities, LLC | | | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
of December 31 | , as | | | | neither the company nor any partner, proprietor, principal officer or director has any proprietary interest in any account
classified solely as that of a customer, except as follows: | | | | | | Signature | | | | | | | | | | Chief Financial Officer
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his report** c ains (check all applicable boxes):
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0 (a) Facing Page.
(b) Statement of Financial Condition.
(c) Statement of Income (Loss). | | | | | (d) Statement of Changes in Financial Condition.
(e) Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity or Partners' or Sole Proprietors' Capital.
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(f) Statement of Changes in Liabilities Subordinated to Claims of Creditors.
(g) Computation of Net Capital.
(h) Computation for Determination of Reserve Requirements Pursuant to Rule 15c3-3.
(i) Information Relating to the Possession or Control Requirements Under Rule 15c3-3.
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Computation for Determination of the Reserve Requirements Under Exhibit A of Rule 15c3-3. | A Reconciliation, including appropriate explanation ofthe Computation ofNet Capital Under Rule 15c3-1 and the | | | | 0 (k) A Reconciliation between the audited and unaudited Statements of Financial Condition with respect to methods of
consolidation.
0 (1) An Oath or Affirmation.
D (m) A copy of the SIPC Supplemental Report.
D (n) A report describing any material inadequacies found to exist or found to have existed since the date of the previous audit. | | | | *\*\*For conditions of confidential treatment of certain portions of this filing, see section 240.17a-5 (e)(3).* {3}------------------------------------------------ # Contents | Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 4 | |---------------------------------------------------------|---| | Financial Statement | | | Statement of financial condition | 5 | | Notes to the financial statement | 6 | **Page** {4}------------------------------------------------ BRADFORD R. DOOLEY & ASSOCIATES *Jlccountants antf}luditors* 209 WEST JACKSON BLVD- SUITE 404 CIDCAGO, ILLINOIS 60606 ~em6er AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNT ANTS OFFICE (312) 939-0477 FAX (312) 939-8739 #### REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Member of Wolverine Securities, LLC #### Opinion on the Financial Statement We have audited the accompanying statement of financial condition of Wolverine Securities, LLC as of December 31, 2018, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statement'). In our opinion, the statement of financial condition presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Wolverine Securities, LLC as of December 31, 2018 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. #### Basis for Opinion This financial statement is the responsibility of Wolverine Securities, LLC's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on Wolverine Securities, LLC'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 Wolverine Securities, LLC in accordance with the 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 statement is free of material misstatement, 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 statement. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statement. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. We have served as Wolverine Securities, LLC's auditor since 2015. Chicago, Illinois March 1, 2019 {5}------------------------------------------------ #### **Wolverine Securities, LLC (an Illinois limited liability company) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION Year ended December 31,2018** #### **ASSETS** | Cash | \$114,986 | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Receivables from clearing broker | 10,150,428 | | Trading securities owned, at fair value | 24,308,092 | | Property and equipment, at cost (net of accumulated depreciation of \$153,388) | 48,175 | | Other assets | 10.000 | | TOTAL ASSETS | \$34 631 681 | #### **LIABILITIES AND MEMBER'S EQUITY** Liabilities | Trading securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value | \$24,489,689 | |-----------------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Due to affiliates | 61,366 | | Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 1.165.788 | | | | | Total liabilities | 25,716,843 | | | | | Member's equity | 8~914.838 | | TOTAL LIABILITIES AND MEMBER'S EQUITY | \$34 631 681 | The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement. {6}------------------------------------------------ #### **Wolverine Securities, LLC (an Illinois limited liability company) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT December 31,2018** # **NOTE A- ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF BUSINESS** Wolverine Securities, LLC (the Company) was organized under the State of Illinois Revised Limited Liability Company Act on July 9, 2014. On March 16,2015, the Company was approved by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA). The Company conducts business as a wholesale market maker in Reg NMS equity securities. The Company solicits business primarily from order sending ftrms, providing execution services to clients while committing firm capital in a principal capacity. The Company interacts with equity markets both on and off exchange as a means of sourcing liquidity and managing risk. The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wolverine Trading, LLC (the Parent). ## **NOTE B - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES** # *Use of Estimates* The process of preparing fmancial 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, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. #### *Cash* The Company is exposed to concentrations of credit risk. The Company maintains cash at a fmancial institution where the total cash balance is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to \$250,000 per depositor, per bank. At times, the Company may maintain balances in excess of FDIC limits. The Company monitors this credit risk and has not experienced any losses related to these risks. #### *Property and Equipment* Property and equipment items are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed over the estimated useful lives of the underlying assets using straight-line and accelerated depreciation methods. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Expenditures, which materially extend the original lives of assets, are capitalized and amortized over their useful lives. #### *Fair Value Measurements* Fair value is defmed as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price), in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In determining fair value, the Company may use various valuation approaches, including market, income and/ or cost approaches. The fair value hierarchy requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. {7}------------------------------------------------ #### **Wolverine Securities, LLC (an Illinois limited liability company) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT- CONTINUED December 31, 2018** Fair value is based upon quoted market prices. If listed prices or quotes are not available, fair value is based upon internally developed models that primarily use, as inputs, market-based or independently sourced market parameters, including but not limited to yield curves, interest rates, volatilities, equity or debt prices, and credit curves. Observable inputs are those that market participants would use in pricing assets or liabilities based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. The fair value hierarchy is categorized in three levels based on the inputs as follows. Level 1 - Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Level2 - Valuations based on inputs, other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted active market prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in inactive markets, and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets. Level 3 - Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable in the market place and significant to the overall fair value measurement. A fmancial instrument's categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of inputs that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company assesses the level of the fmancial instruments at each measurement date, and transfers between levels are recorded on the actual date of the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer in accordance with the Company's accounting policy regarding the recognition of transfers between levels of the fair values hierarchy. There were no transfers during the year. The Company's assets and liabilities recorded at fair value have been categorized based upon the fair value hierarchy, see Note D. #### *Income Taxes* The Company has elected to be treated as a disregarded entity for federal and state income tax purposes. Consequently, no provision or credit has been recorded for federal income taxes as the Company's income Ooss) is directly taxable to the individual member. #### *Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements* In February 2016, the F ASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which increases transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. Lessor accounting remains substantially similar to current U.S. GAAP. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company has determined that this standard has no impact on the financial statements as the Company maintains no lease obligations. Any future lease agreements would be subject to this standard. {8}------------------------------------------------ # **NOTE C - RECEIVABLE FROM AND EQUITY WITH OTHER BROKERS** ABN Alv(RO Clearing Chicago LLC (ABN Alv(RO) acts as a clearing broker for the Company under an agreement. Cash on deposit with the clearing broker satisfy any existing margin requirements. Balances at clearing broker consist of cash on deposit as of December 31, 2018. In the event that a clearing broker becomes insolvent, recovery of the Company's funds might be limited to the equity capital of the respective clearing broker. In such an instance, the Company could incur losses to the extent that the recovered amount is less than the total cash and other property deposited with the clearing broker. Receivable from clearing broker at December 31, 2018 consists of cash on deposit. Securities owned, cash and fmancial instruments held at the Company's clearing broker collateralize securities sold, not yet purchased and amounts due to clearing broker, if any, and may serve to satisfy regulatory capital or margin requirements. #### **NOTE D - FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS** The Company engages in proprietary trading of equity securities, acting mainly as a market maker. As such, the Company holds itself out as willing to buy and sell securities for its own account on a regular and continuous basis in amounts specified by each respective exchange. All trading instruments are subject to market risk, the risk that future changes in market conditions may make an instrument less valuable. As the instruments are carried at market value, those changes directly affect income. Exposure to market risk is managed in accordance with risk limits set by management by buying or selling instruments or entering into offsetting positions. The fair market value of the Company's equity security assets and liabilities are \$24,308,092 and \$24,489,689, respectively, as of December 31, 2018, and deemed Levell investments. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had no Level2 or Level3 assets or liabilities. # **NOTE E- RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS** At December 31, 2018, the Company had payable balances of \$26,348 to Wolverine Trading, LLC, the Parent, \$33,120 to Wolverine Execution Services, LLC, and \$1,898 to Wolverine Trading Technologies, LLC, each of which is an affiliated entity, and recorded as due to affiliates on the statement of fmancial condition. There is no interest expense provided on these unsecured advances, and repayments are to be made at the discretion of the Parent and affiliate as appropriate. The Parent provides administrative support to the Company. {9}------------------------------------------------ #### **Wolverine Securities, LLC (an Illinois limited liability company) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT- CONTINUED December 31,2018** # **NOTE F - PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT** Property and equipment as of December 31, 2018, consists of computer hardware and software of \$201,563 with accumulated depreciation of \$153,388. # **NOTE G- NET CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS** The Company, acting as a dealer and market maker is subject to the Securities and Exchange Commission Uniform Net Capital Rule (Rule15c3-1). The Company has elected to operate under the alternative net capital rule and is therefore required to maintain, "adjusted net capital" equal to or greater than \$250,000 as defined. Adjusted net capital changes from day to day, but at December 31, 2018, the Company had adjusted net capital and excess net capital of \$8,834,593 and \$8,584,593 respectively, as calculated under Rule 15c3-1. The net capital rule may effectively restrict the payment of member withdrawals. #### **NOTE H - CONTINGENT LIABILITIES** In the normal course of business, the Company may be subject to various litigation and arbitration matters. \Xlhen such matters arise, they are vigorously defended and numerous meritorious defenses tend to exist. As of December 31, 2018, there is no outstanding litigation, individually or in the aggregate, that would have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations. #### **NOTE** I - **SUBSEQUENT EVENTS** In accordance with the provisions set forth by the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 855, *Subsequent Events,* management has evaluated subsequent events through March 1, 2019, the date the fmancial statements were available for issuance. Management has determined that there are no material events that would require adjustment to or additional disclosure in the Company's fmancial statements. {10}------------------------------------------------ Source: SEC EDGAR via Adviser Search (https://search.stillhousedata.com). Agents: see https://search.stillhousedata.com/llms.txt.