Many exchanges permit large transactions to be privately negotiated and transacted “off exchange”. These transactions are known as “block trades”. Upon being reported to the relevant exchange, the transaction becomes centrally cleared, and the parties to the transaction no longer have counterparty exposure. Block trading allows a party with a desire to engage in a large sized transaction to access a different and often deeper pool of liquidity than regular pit and electronic trading. Vertical Group has been able to provide parties interested in block transactions with competitive, deep and timely markets.