Paying greenmail to shorts is not exactly taught to business students but it does occur. When this theory was raised right after the offering my view of it was, if it works it may be a necessary evil. Shady, but potentially worth it. This short cartel was able to blow through any good news, it made no difference. They were going to persist until something gave. All of this is just an unsubstantiated theory. It is entirely possible that Jefferies simply received buying interest from short tutes and simply placed the shares with them.