Penson Worldwide Inc., once a securities clearing broker that has since divested most of its operations, filed for chapter 11 protection, Reuters reported on Friday. Last year the company sold its futures division to Knight Capital Group Inc. and its broker-deal subsidiary to Apex Clearing Corp. The company said in court filings that it was unable to successfully streamline is business after the asset sales. It was also dogged by questions from the Securities and Exchange Commission about its accounting and a class action lawsuit by shareholders. The company listed both assets and liabilities of between $100 million and $500 million.
