In the Matter of Apex Fund Services (US), Inc.
Admin. Proc. File No. 3-17300

On June 16, 2016, the Commission instituted and simultaneously settled cease-and-desist proceedings (the “Order”) against Apex Fund Services (US), Inc. (“Apex”). The Commission found that, from May 2012 through June 2014, Apex served as the fund administrator providing accounting and fund administration services to two private funds managed by EquityStar Capital Management, LLC and Steven Zoernack (collectively, the “Managers”): the Momentum Growth Fund, LLC and the Global Partners Fund, LLC (collectively, the “Funds”). According to the Order, the Managers made undisclosed withdrawals of more than $1 million directly from the Funds in violation of Sections 206(2) and 206(4) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”) and Rule 206(4)-8 thereunder. The Commission found that Apex improperly classified these withdrawals as receivables without evidence that the Managers were able or willing to repay the withdrawals. The Commission further found that the improper classification of the withdrawals as assets resulted in the overstatement of the value of investor holdings in monthly statements sent by Apex to investors. The Commission determined that, by this conduct, Apex was a cause of the Managers’ violations of Sections 206(2) and 206(4) of the Advisers Act and Rule 206(4)-8 thereunder. The Commission ordered Apex to disgorge $89,050, and to pay prejudgment interest of $7,786, and a civil penalty of $75,000, for a total payment of $171,836. The Commission also created a Fair Fund, pursuant to Section 308(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, so the penalty, along with the disgorgement and interest, collected can be distributed to those harmed by the Respondent’s conduct described in the Order. See the Commission’s Order: Release No. IA-4429.

On April 30, 2018, the Commission published a notice of the proposed plan of distribution and opportunity for comment and simultaneously published the proposed plan of distribution (“Proposed Plan”). The notice provides the public with 30 days to submit their comments on the Proposed Plan. See the Commission’s Notice: Release No. 34-83131 and the Proposed Plan.

The Proposed Plan provides that the distribution of the Fair Fund shall be made to investors who purchased and/or held interest in the Momentum Global Growth Fund, LLC or the Global Partners Fund, LLC at relevant times, and who were harmed by the conduct described in the Order.

A comment was received on the Proposed Plan during the 30-day comment period. On June 22, 2018 the Commission issued an order extending the time to enter an order approving or disapproving the Proposed Plan to September 30, 2018 to allow for further evaluation and analysis to properly address the comment. See the Commission's Order: Release No. 34-83496.

On October 12, 2018, the Commission published a notice of amended proposed plan of distribution and opportunity for comment and simultaneously published the amended proposed plan of distribution (“Amended Proposed Plan”). The notice provides the public with 30 days to submit their comments on the Amended Proposed Plan. See the Commission’s Notice: Release No. 34-84415 and the Amended Proposed Plan.

On November 16, 2018, the Commission issued an order approving the amended plan of distribution and simultaneously posted the approved amended plan of distribution (the “Amended Plan”). See the Commission’s Order: Release No. 34-84609 and the Plan.

The Amended Plan provides that the distribution of the Fair Fund shall be made to those investors harmed by the Respondent’s conduct described in the Order in accordance with paragraph 28 of the Amended Plan.

On April 5, 2019, the Commission issued an order directing the disbursement of $162,007.35 from the Fair Fund for distribution to harmed investors in accordance with the Amended Plan. See the Commission’s Order: Release No. 34-85528.

A total of $162,007.35 was successfully distributed to harmed investors. The Commission has approved the final accounting of the distribution of the Fair Fund. On June 18, 2020, the Commission issued an order authorizing the transfer of the remaining $1,826.17, and any funds returned to the Fair Fund in the future, to the U.S. Treasury and terminated the Fair Fund. See the Commission’s Order: Release No. 34-89200.

The distribution in this matter is closed.