In re SEAWOLF CAPITAL
Seawolf Capital, LLC violated Rule 105 of Regulation M by short-selling 105,600 shares of CommonWealth REIT during the restricted period and buying 50,000 shares in the subsequent follow-on offering, illegally profiting $192,730, and agreed to a cease-and-desist order, disgorgement, interest, and a civil penalty totaling $296,937.28 without admitting guilt.
Seawolf Capital, LLC, a New York-based SEC-registered investment firm, violated Rule 105 of Regulation M by selling short 105,600 shares of CommonWealth REIT (CWH) during the restricted period and purchasing 50,000 shares in a follow-on offering priced at $19.00, generating $192,730 in illicit profits. The SEC found the violation clear under Rule 105’s strict liability standard, regardless of intent, and ordered Seawolf to cease and desist, disgorge $192,730 in profits, pay $7,842.28 in prejudgment interest, and a civil penalty of $96,365, totaling $296,937.28. Seawolf consented to the order without admitting or denying the findings, but cooperated with the SEC and implemented remedial measures, which were considered mitigating factors.
Seawolf Capital, LLC, a New York-based investment firm registered with the SEC and managing over $474 million in assets, violated Rule 105 of Regulation M by selling short 105,600 shares of CommonWealth REIT (CWH) during the restricted period, which began five business days before the pricing of a follow-on offering. On February 27, 2013, CWH priced its offering at $19.00 per share, and Seawolf subsequently purchased 50,000 shares from the underwriter, realizing a profit of $192,730 from the price differential between its short sale and purchase. Rule 105 prohibits such conduct regardless of intent, as it distorts market pricing in public offerings, and the SEC determined Seawolf’s actions clearly breached this rule. In settlement, Seawolf consented to a cease-and-desist order without admitting or denying the allegations, but acknowledged the SEC’s jurisdiction and the factual findings. The SEC ordered Seawolf to disgorge $192,730 in illicit profits, pay $7,842.28 in prejudgment interest, and a civil penalty of $96,365, totaling $296,937.28. The Commission noted Seawolf’s prompt cooperation and remedial efforts as mitigating factors in determining the penalty. Payment and a copy of the cover letter were required to be sent to the SEC’s Division of Enforcement in Washington, D.C., authorized by Assistant Secretary Jill M. Peterson.
Extracted insights
- $474.00M $474 million $100M–$1B
- $1.00M $1,000,000 $1M–$10M
- $297K $296,937 $100K–$1M
- $193K $192,730 $100K–$1M
- $96K $96,365 $10K–$100K
- $8K $7,842 <$10K
- location delaware
- company seawolf capital, llc
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- company two foreign funds and one domestic fund
- Seawolf Capital, LLC violated Rule 105 of Regulation M of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
- Seawolf Capital, LLC bought offering shares from underwriter or broker or dealer participating in follow-on public offering
- Seawolf Capital, LLC sold short same security during Rule 105 restricted period
- Seawolf Capital, LLC generated profits of $192,730
- Seawolf Capital, LLC is incorporated in Delaware
- Seawolf Capital, LLC has principal place of business in New York, New York
- Seawolf Capital, LLC registered with SEC since January 2012
- Seawolf Capital, LLC has total assets under management of excess of $474 million
- Seawolf Capital, LLC provides advisory services to two foreign funds and one domestic fund
- SEC instituted cease-and-desist proceedings against Seawolf Capital, LLC
- Violation occurred in February 2013
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Release No. 73107 / September 16, 2014
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-16111
In the Matter of
SEAWOLF CAPITAL, LLC
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 Seawolf Capital, LLC (“Seawolf” 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 violations of Rule 105 of Regulation M of the
Exchange Act by Seawolf, a New York-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 February 2013, Seawolf 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 $192,730.
Respondent
3. Seawolf Capital, LLC is a limited liability company incorporated in Delaware
with its principal place of business in New York, New York. Seawolf Capital, LLC has been
registered with the SEC since January 2012 and provides advisory services to two foreign funds
and one domestic fund. Seawolf Capital, LLC has total assets under management in excess of
$474 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.
Seawolf’s Violation of Rule 105 of Regulation M
6. On February 27, 2013, Seawolf sold short 105,600 shares of CommonWealth REIT
(“CWH”) during the restricted period at a price of $22.8546 per share. On February 27, 2013,
CWH announced the pricing of a follow-on offering of its common stock at $19.00 per share.
Seawolf received an allocation of 50,000 shares in that offering. The difference between Seawolf’s
proceeds from the restricted period short sales of CWH shares and the price paid for the 50,000
3
shares received in the offering was $192,730. Thus, Seawolf’s participation in the CWH offering
resulted in total profits of $192,730.
7. In total, Seawolf’s violations of Rule 105 resulted in profits of $192,730.
Violation
8. As a result of the conduct described above, Seawolf violated Rule 105 of
Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
Seawolf’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 Seawolf’s Offer.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that:
A. Pursuant to Section 21C of the Exchange Act, Respondent Seawolf cease and desist
from committing or causing any violations and any future violations of Rule 105 of Regulation M of
the Exchange Act;
B. Seawolf shall within fourteen (14) days of the entry of this Order, pay disgorgement
of $192,730, prejudgment interest of $7,842.28, and a civil money penalty in the amount of
$96,365 (for a total of $296,937.28) 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:
Enterprise Services Center
Accounts Receivable Branch
HQ Bldg., Room 181, AMZ-341
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
6500 South MacArthur Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73169
Payments by check or money order must be accompanied by a cover letter identifying
Seawolf 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. 73107 / September 16, 2014
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-16111
In the Matter of
SEAWOLF CAPITAL, LLC
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 Seawolf Capital, LLC (“Seawolf” 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 violations of Rule 105 of Regulation M of the
Exchange Act by Seawolf, a New York-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 February 2013, Seawolf 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 $192,730.
Respondent
3. Seawolf Capital, LLC is a limited liability company incorporated in Delaware
with its principal place of business in New York, New York. Seawolf Capital, LLC has been
registered with the SEC since January 2012 and provides advisory services to two foreign funds
and one domestic fund. Seawolf Capital, LLC has total assets under management in excess of
$474 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.
Seawolf’s Violation of Rule 105 of Regulation M
6. On February 27, 2013, Seawolf sold short 105,600 shares of CommonWealth REIT
(“CWH”) during the restricted period at a price of $22.8546 per share. On February 27, 2013,
CWH announced the pricing of a follow-on offering of its common stock at $19.00 per share.
Seawolf received an allocation of 50,000 shares in that offering. The difference between Seawolf’s
proceeds from the restricted period short sales of CWH shares and the price paid for the 50,000
3
shares received in the offering was $192,730. Thus, Seawolf’s participation in the CWH offering
resulted in total profits of $192,730.
7. In total, Seawolf’s violations of Rule 105 resulted in profits of $192,730.
Violation
8. As a result of the conduct described above, Seawolf violated Rule 105 of
Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
Seawolf’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 Seawolf’s Offer.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that:
A. Pursuant to Section 21C of the Exchange Act, Respondent Seawolf cease and desist
from committing or causing any violations and any future violations of Rule 105 of Regulation M of
the Exchange Act;
B. Seawolf shall within fourteen (14) days of the entry of this Order, pay disgorgement
of $192,730, prejudgment interest of $7,842.28, and a civil money penalty in the amount of
$96,365 (for a total of $296,937.28) 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:
Enterprise Services Center
Accounts Receivable Branch
HQ Bldg., Room 181, AMZ-341
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
6500 South MacArthur Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73169
Payments by check or money order must be accompanied by a cover letter identifying
Seawolf 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