Peter G. Grabler

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

LITIGATION RELEASE NO. 21522 / May 11, 2010

SEC v. Peter G. Grabler, Civ. Action No. 1:10-cv-10798

SEC FILES SETTLED ACTION AGAINST PETER G. GRABLER FOR VIOLATING RULE 105 IN CONNECTION WITH NUMEROUS SECONDARY OFFERINGS

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that it filed a settled civil action against Peter G. Grabler for committing multiple violations of Rule 105 of Regulation M.  The complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, alleges that Grabler violated Rule 105 in connection with at least 119 offerings between February 2006 and November 2008 resulting in gains of $636,123.  Without admitting or denying the allegations of the complaint, Grabler agreed to pay a civil money penalty in the amount of $318,061. 

Rule 105 helps prevent abusive short selling and market manipulation by ensuring that offering prices are set by natural forces of supply and demand for the securities in a secondary offering rather than by manipulative activity.  Short selling ahead of offerings can reduce the proceeds received by public companies and their shareholders by artificially depressing the market price shortly before the company prices its offering.  The SEC amended Rule 105 effective October 2007 to prevent this trading practice known as "shorting into the deal."  The revised rule generally prohibits the purchase of offering shares by any person who sold short the same securities within five business days before the pricing of the offering.

The Commission today also instituted settled cease-and-desist proceedings against Grabler concerning the same conduct.  In connection with these proceedings, Grabler, without admitting or denying the Commission's findings, agreed to an order requiring him to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and any future violations of Rule 105 of Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and to pay disgorgement of $636,123 and prejudgment interest in the amount of $35,232.

See Also: SEC Complaint