Patti B. Saris, Chief United States District Judge
INTRODUCTION
This case involves an alleged short-and-distort scheme. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) alleges that Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Lemelson and his private investment firm Lemelson Capital Management, LLC (collectively, Lemelson) publicized false information about biopharmaceutical company Ligand Pharmaceuticals (Ligand) after Lemelson took a short position in Ligand in May 2014 on behalf of The Amvona Fund - a hedge fund Lemelson advises and partly owns. During 2014, Lemelson allegedly used written reports, interviews, and social media to spread false claims about the financial health of Ligand to drive down the price of Ligands stock. Throughout this period, Lemelson publicly disclosed that he had taken a short position in Ligand. The SEC claims that Ligands stock lost more than one-third of its value during Lemelsons scheme.
The SEC asserts that Lemelson violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) and Rule 10b-5 thereunder (Count I) and violated Section 206(4) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 206(4)-8 thereunder (Count II). The SEC also brings a claim for unjust enrichment or other equitable relief against Relief Defendant The Amvona Fund, LP (Count III). See Docket No. 1 (Compl.) at 17-19. After hearing, the Court DENIES the motion to dismiss (Docket No. 10) except with respect to one false statement.
DISCUSSION
In a civil enforcement action under § 10(b), the SEC must sufficiently plead that Defendants (1) made a false statement or omission (2) of material fact (3) with scienter (4) in connection with the purchase or sale of securities. McConville v. SEC, 465 F.3d 780, 786 (7th Cir. 2006). Unlike private litigants, the SEC need not prove the additional elements of reliance or loss causation. SEC v. Pirate Invr LLC, 580 F.3d 233, 239 n.10 (4th Cir. 2009).
The SEC alleges that Lemelson intentionally or recklessly made four material misstatements of fact about the company. First, on June 19, 2014, Lemelson was interviewed on Benzingas Pre-Market Prep show, during which he stated: I had discussions with [Ligand] management just yesterday - excuse me, their [Ligands] IR [investor relations] firm. And they basically agreed. They said, Look, we understand Promactas going away. Compl. ¶ 37 (alternations in original). Second, in May 2014, Ligand and another company, Viking Therapeutics, signed a Master License Agreement in which Ligand would become the owner of 49.8% of Vikings common stock when Viking went public. Lemelson stated that Viking had yet to consult with [its auditors] on any material issues and that the financial statements provided in the [Form S-1] accordingly are unaudited. Compl. ¶ 46 (first alteration in original). Third, Lemelson asserted that Viking does not intend to conduct any preclinical studies or trials. Compl. ¶ 46. Fourth, in an August 22, 2014 report, Lemelson asserted that Ligand had issued 245 million in new debt, against tangible equity of just $21,000, giving rise to a debt to tangible equity ratio of 11,667 to 1 (that is $11,667 dollars [sic] in debt for every $1 in tangible common shareholder equity) and that shareholders have only the protection of $21,000 in tangible equity to shield them from $245 million in debt (the Tangible Equity Statement). Compl. ¶ 51.
For the reasons stated in Court, I hold the SEC has plausibly alleged that the first three of the four statements are materially false or misleading, and I deny the motion to dismiss Count I. The only statement this Court addresses here is the Tangible Equity Statement.
In the August 22, 2014 report, entitled Ligand Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: LGND) - Institutional Holders waste no time dumping stock in response to Insolvency and bankruptcy risk, Lemelson asserted that Ligand was in critical financial trouble. Compl. ¶ 28. To support this opinion, Lemelson made the Tangible Equity Statement. The SEC argues that Lemelson intentionally or recklessly misstated Ligands debt-to-equity ratio and that the statement is material because it goes to the heart of Ligands overall financial viability and supported Lemelsons argument that Ligands stock was worth $0. Compl. ¶ 53. The Complaint focuses on how Lemelson intentionally misstated Ligands debt-to-equity ratio. Compl. ¶ 52 (emphasis added). Defendants argue that Lemelsons statement concerned the debt-to-tangible-equity ratio and therefore is demonstrably true. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b), the SEC has failed to plead with particularity how a statement about Ligands debt-to-tangible-equity ratio is materially false or misleading to a reasonable investor.
Additionally, because the claimed violations of Section 206(4) and Rule 206(4)-8 and the claim of unjust enrichment depend on the viability of the Commissions § 10(b) claim, the Court denies Defendants motion as to Counts II and III.
ORDER
The Court DENIES Defendants motion to dismiss except with respect to the Tangible Equity Statement (Docket No. 10). The Court will allow the SEC leave to amend its complaint as to the allegation. Any such amendment shall be made within 60 days.
Defendant was formerly known as Gregory Lemelson.