In re INDABA CAPITAL
Indaba Capital Management, L.P. violated Rule 105 of Regulation M by short-selling 50,906 shares of Endeavour International Corporation during a restricted period and purchasing shares in its follow-on offering, generating $194,797 in illicit profits, and agreed to pay $304,186.38 in disgorgement, interest, and a civil penalty to settle SEC charges.
Indaba Capital Management, L.P., a California-based SEC-registered investment firm with over $864 million in assets under management, violated Rule 105 of Regulation M by selling short 50,906 shares of Endeavour International Corporation (END) during the restricted period prior to a June 2012 follow-on offering, then purchasing shares in that offering. The violation yielded $194,797 in illicit profits—$124,439 from the price differential on the shorted shares and $70,357 from the discount on the remaining shares purchased. Without admitting or denying the findings, Indaba consented to a cease-and-desist order and agreed to pay $194,797 in disgorgement, $11,990.79 in prejudgment interest, and a $97,398.59 civil penalty, totaling $304,186.38.
Indaba Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware-based investment firm registered with the SEC since March 2012 and managing over $864 million in assets, violated Rule 105 of Regulation M by short-selling 50,906 shares of Endeavour International Corporation (END) during the restricted period from June 6, 2012, prior to the pricing of a follow-on offering on June 13, 2012. On June 13, Indaba purchased 200,000 shares in the offering at $7.50 per share, generating $194,797 in illicit profits: $124,439 from the difference between the short-sale price ($9.9445) and the offering price on the 50,906 shares, and an additional $70,357 from the discount on the remaining 149,094 shares purchased below market value. Rule 105 prohibits such conduct regardless of intent, as it undermines market integrity by allowing traders to profit from manipulative short-selling before public offerings. Indaba consented to a cease-and-desist order without admitting or denying the findings, but acknowledged the SEC’s jurisdiction and cooperated with the investigation, taking remedial actions. As part of the settlement, Indaba agreed to pay $194,797 in disgorgement, $11,990.79 in prejudgment interest, and a $97,398.59 civil penalty, totaling $304,186.38, all to be remitted to the U.S. Treasury. The SEC accepted the settlement in recognition of Indaba’s prompt remediation and cooperation.
Extracted insights
- $864.00M $864 million $100M–$1B
- $1.00M $1,000,000 $1M–$10M
- $304K $304,186 $100K–$1M
- $195K $194,797 $100K–$1M
- $124K $124,439 $100K–$1M
- $97K $97,398 $10K–$100K
- $70K $70,357 $10K–$100K
- $12K $11,990 $10K–$100K
- company indaba capital management, l.p.
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- Securities and Exchange Commission deems appropriate cease-and-desist proceedings
- Securities and Exchange Commission has determined to accept Respondent's Offer of Settlement
- Respondent consents to the entry of Order Instituting Cease-and-Desist Proceedings Pursuant to Section 21C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Making Findings, and Imposing a Cease-and-Desist Order and Civil Penalty
- Indaba Capital Management, L.P. bought offering shares from an underwriter or broker or dealer participating in a follow-on public offering
- Indaba Capital Management, L.P. sold short the same security during the Rule 105 restricted period
- Indaba Capital Management, L.P. has total assets under management in excess of $864 million
- Rule 105 makes it unlawful for a person to purchase equity securities in certain public offerings from an underwriter, broker, or dealer participating in the offering
- Rule 105 prohibits selling short an equity security that is the subject of certain public offerings and purchasing the offered security from an underwriter or broker or dealer participating in the offering
- Indaba Capital Management, L.P. has been registered with the SEC since March 2012
- Indaba Capital Management, L.P. provides advisory services to one foreign master fund and one domestic and two foreign feeder funds
- Indaba Capital Management, L.P. resulted in profits of $194,797
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Release No. 73121 / September 16, 2014
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-16125
In the Matter of
INDABA CAPITAL
MANAGEMENT, L.P.
Respondent.
ORDER INSTITUTING CEASE-AND-
DESIST PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO
SECTION 21C OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, MAKING
FINDINGS, AND IMPOSING A CEASE-
AND-DESIST ORDER AND CIVIL
PENALTY
I.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) deems it appropriate that cease-
and-desist proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted pursuant to Section 21C of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), against Indaba Capital Management, L.P. (“Indaba” or
“Respondent”).
II.
In anticipation of the institution of these proceedings, Respondent has submitted an Offer
of Settlement (the “Offer”) which the Commission has determined to accept. Solely for the
purpose of these proceedings and any other proceedings brought by or on behalf of the
Commission, or to which the Commission is a party, and without admitting or denying the findings
herein, except as to the Commission’s jurisdiction over it and the subject matter of these
proceedings, which are admitted, Respondent consents to the entry of this Order Instituting Cease-
and-Desist Proceedings Pursuant to Section 21C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Making
Findings, and Imposing a Cease-and-Desist Order and Civil Penalty (“Order”), as set forth below.
III.
On the basis of this Order and Respondent’s Offer, the Commission finds
1
that:
1
The findings herein are made pursuant to Respondent’s Offer of Settlement and are not binding on any other person
or entity in this or any other proceeding.
2
Summary
1. These proceedings arise out of a violation of Rule 105 of Regulation M of the
Exchange Act by Indaba, a California-based investment firm. Rule 105 prohibits selling short an
equity security that is the subject of certain public offerings and purchasing the offered security
from an underwriter or broker or dealer participating in the offering, if such short sale was effected
during the restricted period as defined therein.
2. In June 2012, Indaba bought offering shares from an underwriter or broker or dealer
participating in a follow-on public offering after having sold short the same security during the
Rule 105 restricted period. This violation resulted in profits of $194,797.
Respondent
3. Indaba Capital Management, L.P. is a limited partnership organized in Delaware
with its principal place of business in San Francisco, California. Indaba Capital Management,
L.P. has been registered with the SEC since March 2012 and provides advisory services to one
foreign master fund and one domestic and two foreign feeder funds. Indaba Capital
Management, L.P. has total assets under management in excess of $864 million.
Legal Framework
4. Rule 105 makes it unlawful for a person to purchase equity securities in certain
public offerings from an underwriter, broker, or dealer participating in the offering if that person
sold short the security that is the subject of the offering during the restricted period defined in the
rule, absent an exception. 17 C.F.R. § 242.105; see Short Selling in Connection with a Public
Offering, Rel. No. 34-56206, 72 Fed. Reg. 45094 (Aug. 10, 2007) (effective Oct. 9, 2007). The
Rule 105 restricted period is the shorter of the period: (1) beginning five business days before the
pricing of the offered securities and ending with such pricing; or (2) beginning with the initial
filing of a registration statement or notification on Form 1-A or Form 1-E and ending with the
pricing. 17 C.F.R. § 242.105(a)(1) and (a)(2).
5. The Commission adopted Rule 105 “to foster secondary and follow-on offering
prices that are determined by independent market dynamics and not by potentially manipulative
activity.” 72 Fed. Reg. 45094. Rule 105 is prophylactic and prohibits the conduct irrespective of
the short seller’s intent in effecting the short sale. Id.
Indaba’s Violation of Rule 105 of Regulation M
6. On June 6, 2012, Indaba sold short 50,906 shares of Endeavour International
Corporation (“END”) during the restricted period at a price of $9.9445 per share. On June 13,
2012, END announced the pricing of a follow-on offering of its common stock at $7.50 per share.
Indaba received an allocation of 200,000 shares in that offering. The difference between Indaba’s
proceeds received from the restricted period short sales of END shares and the price paid for the
3
50,906 shares received in the offering was $124,439.71. Respondent also improperly obtained a
benefit of $70,357.46 by purchasing the remaining 149,094 shares at a discount from END’s
market price. Thus, Indaba’s participation in the END offering resulted in total profits of
$194,797.
7. In total, Indaba’s violation of Rule 105 resulted in profits of $194,797.
Violation
8. As a result of the conduct described above, Indaba violated Rule 105 of Regulation
M under the Exchange Act.
Indaba’s Remedial Efforts & Cooperation
9. In determining to accept the Offer, the Commission considered remedial
acts promptly undertaken by Respondent and cooperation afforded to Commission staff.
IV.
In view of the foregoing, the Commission deems it appropriate to impose the sanctions
agreed to in Respondent Indaba’s Offer.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that:
A. Pursuant to Section 21C of the Exchange Act, Respondent Indaba cease and desist
from committing or causing any violations and any future violations of Rule 105 of Regulation M of
the Exchange Act;
B. Indaba shall within fourteen (14) days of the entry of this Order, pay disgorgement
of $194,797, prejudgment interest of $11,990.79, and a civil money penalty in the amount of
$97,398.59 (for a total of $304,186.38) to the United States Treasury. If timely payment is not
made on the disgorgement amount, additional interest shall accrue pursuant to SEC Rule of
Practice 600. If timely payment is not made on the civil money penalty, additional interest shall
accrue pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3717. Payments must be made in one of the following ways:
(1) Respondent may transmit payment electronically to the Commission, which will
provide detailed ACH transfer/Fedwire instructions upon request;
2
(2) Respondent may make direct payment from a bank account via Pay.gov through the
SEC website at http://www.sec.gov/about/offices/ofm.htm; or
(3) Respondent may pay by certified check, bank cashier’s check, or United States postal
money order, made payable to the Securities and Exchange Commission and hand-
delivered or mailed to:
2
The minimum threshold for transmission of payment electronically is $1,000,000. For amounts below the
threshold, respondents must make payments pursuant to options (2) or (3) above.
4
Enterprise Services Center
Accounts Receivable Branch
HQ Bldg., Room 181, AMZ-341
6500 South MacArthur Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73169
Payments by check or money order must be accompanied by a cover letter identifying
Indaba as a Respondent in these proceedings, and the file number of these proceedings; a copy of
the cover letter and check or money order must be sent to Gerald W. Hodgkins, Associate Director,
Division of Enforcement, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington,
DC 20549.
By the Commission.
Jill M. Peterson
Assistant Secretary
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Release No. 73121 / September 16, 2014
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-16125
In the Matter of
INDABA CAPITAL
MANAGEMENT, L.P.
Respondent.
ORDER INSTITUTING CEASE-AND-
DESIST PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO
SECTION 21C OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, MAKING
FINDINGS, AND IMPOSING A CEASE-
AND-DESIST ORDER AND CIVIL
PENALTY
I.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) deems it appropriate that cease-
and-desist proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted pursuant to Section 21C of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), against Indaba Capital Management, L.P. (“Indaba” or
“Respondent”).
II.
In anticipation of the institution of these proceedings, Respondent has submitted an Offer
of Settlement (the “Offer”) which the Commission has determined to accept. Solely for the
purpose of these proceedings and any other proceedings brought by or on behalf of the
Commission, or to which the Commission is a party, and without admitting or denying the findings
herein, except as to the Commission’s jurisdiction over it and the subject matter of these
proceedings, which are admitted, Respondent consents to the entry of this Order Instituting Cease-
and-Desist Proceedings Pursuant to Section 21C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Making
Findings, and Imposing a Cease-and-Desist Order and Civil Penalty (“Order”), as set forth below.
III.
On the basis of this Order and Respondent’s Offer, the Commission finds1 that:
1 The findings herein are made pursuant to Respondent’s Offer of Settlement and are not binding on any other person
or entity in this or any other proceeding.
2
Summary
1. These proceedings arise out of a violation of Rule 105 of Regulation M of the
Exchange Act by Indaba, a California-based investment firm. Rule 105 prohibits selling short an
equity security that is the subject of certain public offerings and purchasing the offered security
from an underwriter or broker or dealer participating in the offering, if such short sale was effected
during the restricted period as defined therein.
2. In June 2012, Indaba bought offering shares from an underwriter or broker or dealer
participating in a follow-on public offering after having sold short the same security during the
Rule 105 restricted period. This violation resulted in profits of $194,797.
Respondent
3. Indaba Capital Management, L.P. is a limited partnership organized in Delaware
with its principal place of business in San Francisco, California. Indaba Capital Management,
L.P. has been registered with the SEC since March 2012 and provides advisory services to one
foreign master fund and one domestic and two foreign feeder funds. Indaba Capital
Management, L.P. has total assets under management in excess of $864 million.
Legal Framework
4. Rule 105 makes it unlawful for a person to purchase equity securities in certain
public offerings from an underwriter, broker, or dealer participating in the offering if that person
sold short the security that is the subject of the offering during the restricted period defined in the
rule, absent an exception. 17 C.F.R. § 242.105; see Short Selling in Connection with a Public
Offering, Rel. No. 34-56206, 72 Fed. Reg. 45094 (Aug. 10, 2007) (effective Oct. 9, 2007). The
Rule 105 restricted period is the shorter of the period: (1) beginning five business days before the
pricing of the offered securities and ending with such pricing; or (2) beginning with the initial
filing of a registration statement or notification on Form 1-A or Form 1-E and ending with the
pricing. 17 C.F.R. § 242.105(a)(1) and (a)(2).
5. The Commission adopted Rule 105 “to foster secondary and follow-on offering
prices that are determined by independent market dynamics and not by potentially manipulative
activity.” 72 Fed. Reg. 45094. Rule 105 is prophylactic and prohibits the conduct irrespective of
the short seller’s intent in effecting the short sale. Id.
Indaba’s Violation of Rule 105 of Regulation M
6. On June 6, 2012, Indaba sold short 50,906 shares of Endeavour International
Corporation (“END”) during the restricted period at a price of $9.9445 per share. On June 13,
2012, END announced the pricing of a follow-on offering of its common stock at $7.50 per share.
Indaba received an allocation of 200,000 shares in that offering. The difference between Indaba’s
proceeds received from the restricted period short sales of END shares and the price paid for the
3
50,906 shares received in the offering was $124,439.71. Respondent also improperly obtained a
benefit of $70,357.46 by purchasing the remaining 149,094 shares at a discount from END’s
market price. Thus, Indaba’s participation in the END offering resulted in total profits of
$194,797.
7. In total, Indaba’s violation of Rule 105 resulted in profits of $194,797.
Violation
8. As a result of the conduct described above, Indaba violated Rule 105 of Regulation
M under the Exchange Act.
Indaba’s Remedial Efforts & Cooperation
9. In determining to accept the Offer, the Commission considered remedial
acts promptly undertaken by Respondent and cooperation afforded to Commission staff.
IV.
In view of the foregoing, the Commission deems it appropriate to impose the sanctions
agreed to in Respondent Indaba’s Offer.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that:
A. Pursuant to Section 21C of the Exchange Act, Respondent Indaba cease and desist
from committing or causing any violations and any future violations of Rule 105 of Regulation M of
the Exchange Act;
B. Indaba shall within fourteen (14) days of the entry of this Order, pay disgorgement
of $194,797, prejudgment interest of $11,990.79, and a civil money penalty in the amount of
$97,398.59 (for a total of $304,186.38) to the United States Treasury. If timely payment is not
made on the disgorgement amount, additional interest shall accrue pursuant to SEC Rule of
Practice 600. If timely payment is not made on the civil money penalty, additional interest shall
accrue pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3717. Payments must be made in one of the following ways:
(1) Respondent may transmit payment electronically to the Commission, which will
provide detailed ACH transfer/Fedwire instructions upon request;2
(2) Respondent may make direct payment from a bank account via Pay.gov through the
SEC website at http://www.sec.gov/about/offices/ofm.htm; or
(3) Respondent may pay by certified check, bank cashier’s check, or United States postal
money order, made payable to the Securities and Exchange Commission and hand-
delivered or mailed to:
2 The minimum threshold for transmission of payment electronically is $1,000,000. For amounts below the
threshold, respondents must make payments pursuant to options (2) or (3) above.
4
Enterprise Services Center
Accounts Receivable Branch
HQ Bldg., Room 181, AMZ-341
6500 South MacArthur Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73169
Payments by check or money order must be accompanied by a cover letter identifying
Indaba as a Respondent in these proceedings, and the file number of these proceedings; a copy of
the cover letter and check or money order must be sent to Gerald W. Hodgkins, Associate Director,
Division of Enforcement, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington,
DC 20549.
By the Commission.
Jill M. Peterson
Assistant Secretary