City of Dearborn Heights Act 345 Police & Fire Retirement System v. Waters Corp.

LYNCH, Chief Judge.

This securities fraud class action raises one type of question under the category of questions about whether plaintiff investors have pled facts supporting a strong inference that defendants acted with scienter under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA), Pub.L. 104-67, 109 Stat. 737.

The dispute here is not about whether the facts alleged support the inference that the defendants knew of certain undisclosed facts during the class period. We addressed that type of scienter question in New Jersey Carpenters Pension & Annuity Funds v. Biogen Idec Inc., 537 F.3d 35, 44 (1st Cir.2008). Rather, the question here is whether there is a strong inference that the defendants’ failure to disclose certain facts was a result of wrongful intent, or scienter, even assuming defendants knew of those facts. Answering this question involves an inquiry into the relationship between scienter and the materiality of the undisclosed information. We affirm the district court’s dismissal of this action for failing to meet the “strong inference” of scienter standard set forth in the PSLRA.

I.

To set the stage, we describe the complaint (and theory of liability) brought against Waters Corporation (‘Waters”) and two of its senior executives, Douglas A. Berthiaume and John A. Ornell, under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b), 78t, and Securities Exchange Commission Rule 10b-5, 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5. Plaintiff-Appellant is Inter-Local Pension Fund GCC/IBT.

The complaint alleges that during the class period of July 24, 2007 to January 22, 2008, defendants intentionally or recklessly failed to disclose a March 2007 change in Japanese regulations that predictably reduced demand for Waters’ products and services in Japan, a significant market for the company. The omission of this government regulatory change was, plaintiff alleges, material and misleading, both in its own right and because disclosure was needed to ensure that defendants’ other statements about sales and the Japanese market would not mislead investors. Building on this, plaintiff contends that there is a strong inference of scienter, one which is further strengthened by the fact that Berthiaume and Ornell, along with other insiders, collectively sold 637,500 shares of stock for gross proceeds in excess of $42 million during the class period. When defendants eventually disclosed the change in Japanese regulations with their fourth quarter results on January 22, 2008, the price of the stock dropped by approximately 20%.

The district court dismissed the suit under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). City of Dear-born Heights Act 345 Police & Fire Ret. Sys. v. Waters Corp., 699 F.Supp.2d 331, 346 (D.Mass.2010). We agree, albeit on different reasoning.

II.

The appellate court, like the district court, must accept all well-pleaded factual allegations in the complaint as true. ACA Fin. Guar. Corp. v. Advest, Inc., 512 F.3d 46, 58 (1st Cir.2008).

Waters, a publicly traded company, designs, manufactures, sells, and services high performance liquid chromatography, ultra performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry instrument systems, as well as support products. During the class period, defendant Douglas A. Berthiaume was the company’s Chairman, CEO, and President, and defendant John A. Ornell was the company’s CFO, Principal Accounting Officer, and Vice President of Finance and Administration. Berthiaume and Ornell are alleged to have been “controlling persons” within the meaning of Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Waters sells its products primarily in the United States, Europe, and Asia. In 2006, sales to the Japanese market accounted for approximately 10% of the company’s global sales. These sales were, in part, generated by stringent Japanese government water testing regulations that had, for the past several years, created a strong demand for Waters’ products and services.

In March 2007, Japanese authorities issued amendments easing these regulations, which presumably reduced the demand for Waters’ goods. Plaintiff alleges that defendants were aware of this change, that the change was material to investors, and that defendants intentionally or recklessly misled investors by failing to disclose the change during the class period and by issuing statements that were misleading in light of this omission. 1 We identify and add emphasis to those statements made by defendants that are said to be misleading or otherwise indicative of defendants’ scienter.

On July 24, 2007, the first day of the class period, Waters announced its second quarter results in a press release and held a conference call with analysts and investors. The press release included the following statement from Berthiaume commenting on the quarter:

The generally broad-based growth that we experienced in the first quarter accelerated with continued rapid uptake of our new products and strengthening demand from life science customers, including our large pharmaceutical accounts. Our first half results are very encouraging and we are optimistic that our new system offerings will continue to stimulate demand going forward.

In the conference call, Ornell likewise stated that the company’s “business prospects continue to look very positive with most of our end markets and geographies enjoying strong customer demand.” Plaintiff argues that these statements are false or misleading, alleging that in Japan sales were already “dwindling” and that defendants knew that these sales would continue to do so. However, Berthiaume did in fact acknowledge in the conference call that the company was “seeing some finalization of investments in places like Japan, where the drinking water regulations ... spurred a great deal of investment ... up through 2006,” and that the company was “seeing that begin to tail itself off.” Other than this statement, the level of sales in Japan was not specifically mentioned in the company’s earnings press release or conference call. In the conference call, Ornell issued general guidance for the third quarter, forecasting quarterly sales growth of 14% and earnings per share in the range of $0.56-$0.60.

In the following months, before the release of the third quarter results, company insiders sold 475,000 shares of Waters common stock for just over $80 million in proceeds. Berthiaume sold 180,000 shares. Ornell sold 20,000 shares. Both had acquired the shares that they sold through the simultaneous exercise of options, and they sold these shares at a price of approximately $63. During this period, Waters repurchased 402,000 shares of its stock, at a cost of over $24.2 million.

On October 23, 2007, Waters announced its third quarter results, which exceeded the July forecasts as to both sales and earnings. Waters reported sales growth of 17% (compared to the forecast of 14%) and earnings per share of $0.62 (compared to the forecast of $0.56-$0.60). Waters did not separate out sales in Japan for the third quarter, but the topic came up in the quarterly conference call. During that call, Berthiaume stated:

Outside the United States, the only really major market where we saw some softness in demand was in Japan. I think this weakness appeared related to general economic conditions and we are confident that our competitive position in Japan remains strong and that our sales there are likely to pick up as general spending conditions improve.

Plaintiff alleges that the failure to disclose the change in water testing regulations made it misleading for Berthiaume to state that the “softness in Japan” was related to general economic conditions and that sales would likely improve with better spending conditions.

In the same conference call, Ornell issued guidance for the fourth quarter, forecasting sales growth of 12% and earnings per share in a range of $1.04-$1.08. Following the company’s earnings announcement and forecasts, which were issued on the morning of October 23, the price of Waters’ stock rose 9%, closing at $73.92 per share in the afternoon.

In the following months, before the release of fourth quarter results, company insiders at Waters collectively sold 162,500 shares of stock for more than $12.3 million in gross proceeds. Ornell sold 60,000 shares at approximately $76 a share. During this time period, Waters repurchased 250,000 shares of its stock, at a cost of over $19.8 million.

On January 22, 2008, Waters reported its fourth quarter results. It reported that sales were higher than had been expected, up 13% for the quarter (compared to the October forecast of 12%) and up 15% for the full year (compared to the July forecast of 14%). Indeed, the company reported record high yearly sales of $1.47 billion.

Reported earnings, however, were lower than had been forecast in October. Earnings per share were $0.98 for the fourth quarter (compared to the forecasted range of $1.04-$1.08) and $2.75 for the year (compared to the forecasted range of $2.82-$2.86). In a conference call the same day, Berthiaume discussed these results. Explaining why the company had not met its earnings predictions, he stated:

While our fourth quarter results reflect strong operating income performance, ... our earnings per share growth in the fourth quarter did not materialize quite as we had anticipated, as an unexpected increase in our annual tax rate, among other factors, adversely affected our bottom-line performance.

On the earnings side, this statement identified increased costs, such as taxation, among other factors, as the cause of the earnings falling short of defendants’ forecast. Berthiaume noted that “sales growth was in line with our October outlook,” but explained that

foreign currency translation was a larger factor than we expected. In addition, our sales in Japan were weaker than anticipated due to a combination of a sluggish economic condition and a change in the testing protocols for drinking water analysis in Japan.

On the income side, though income was greater than forecast, this statement acknowledged the role of foreign currency “translation” and weaker Japanese sales due to sluggish economic conditions and the regulatory change in Japan. This was the first time that defendants expressly stated that there had been a change in Japan’s drinking water regulations.

In response to a question regarding the slowdown in the Japanese market, which amounted to a 12% decline in sales for the quarter, Berthiaume further discussed the regulatory change:

[W]hat happened last year is that the Japanese government substantially reduced the sampling requirements and as a result we saw a reduction in our business. We had a leading share in this marketplace. And we saw a reduction in both the consumable side of the business because of the samples, as well as the instruments that were required to run it.

He stated that he needed to “take a little bit of the blame,” explaining:

We probably should have seen this a little earlier. We knew that the slope wasn’t going to be as strong forever in these applications, but the down turn came much faster than we anticipated. So the slope in the fourth quarter was a pretty significant one and that’s what caught us up by a little bit of a surprise.

Plaintiff alleges these statements are an admission that the change in testing regulations was at least partly responsible for the decline in Japanese sales, that the defendants had been aware of the regulatory change, and that they had known it would cause a decline in the Japanese market.

After the release of these fourth quarter results, with Waters’ report that earnings had failed to meet its predictions, the price of its stock dropped $14.65 per share, or approximately 20%.

However, defendants’ optimistic statements about Waters’ future sales in the Japanese market eventually proved to be well founded. In 2008, Waters’ sales in Japan increased to about $151.7 million, up from $134.8 million in 2007 and $135.7 million in 2006.

III.

We review de novo whether plaintiffs complaint has met the pleading requirements imposed by the PSLRA. ACA Fin., 512 F.3d at 58. A complaint must plead six elements to state a claim for securities fraud under Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5: (1) a material misrepresentation or omission; (2) scienter, or a wrongful state of mind; (3) a connection with the purchase or sale of a security; (4) reliance; (5) economic loss; and (6) loss causation. Dura Pharm., Inc. v. Broudo, 544 U.S. 336, 341-42, 125 S.Ct. 1627, 161 L.Ed.2d 577 (2005). This case turns on scienter, but we also set forth the requirements for materiality, which are relevant here.

A fact is material when there is “a substantial likelihood” that a reasonable investor would have viewed it as “significantly altering] the ‘total mix’ of information made available.” Basic Inc. v. Levinson, 485 U.S. 224, 231-32, 108 S.Ct. 978, 99 L.Ed.2d 194 (1988) (quoting TSC Indus., Inc. v. Northway, Inc., 426 U.S. 438, 449, 96 S.Ct. 2126, 48 L.Ed.2d 757 (1976)) (internal quotation mark omitted). A state ment can be “false or incomplete” but not actionable “if the misrepresented fact is otherwise insignificant.” Id. at 238, 108 S.Ct. 978. Materiality is most often a mixed question of fact and law. TSC Indus., 426 U.S. at 450, 96 S.Ct. 2126.

Scienter is a “mental state embracing intent to deceive, manipulate, or defraud.” Ernst & Ernst v. Hochfelder, 425 U.S. 185, 193 n. 12, 96 S.Ct. 1375, 47 L.Ed.2d 668 (1976); see also ACA Fin., 512 F.3d at 58. The scienter element may be satisfied by showing that the defendant engaged in “intentional or willful conduct designed to deceive or defraud investors by controlling or artificially affecting the price of securities.” Hochfelder, 425 U.S. at 199, 96 S.Ct. 1375. A plaintiff can also demonstrate scienter by showing that defendants “acted with a high degree of recklessness.” Aldridge v. AT. Cross Corp., 284 F.3d 72, 82 (1st Cir.2002). Under the recklessness standard, a defendant can be held liable for “a highly unreasonable omission, involving not merely simple, or even inexcusable, negligence, but an extreme departure from the standards of ordinary care, and which presents a danger of misleading buyers or sellers that is either known to the defendant or is so obvious the actor must have been aware of it.” Greebel v. FTP Software, Inc., 194 F.3d 185, 198 (1st Cir.1999) (quoting Sundstrand Corp. v. Sun Chem. Corp., 553 F.2d 1033, 1045 (7th Cir.1977)) (internal quotation mark omitted); see also SEC v. Ficken, 546 F.3d 45, 47-48 (1st Cir.2008); SEC v. Fife, 311 F.3d 1, 9-10 (1st Cir.2002).

The PSLRA mandates “a special standard for measuring whether allegations of scienter survive a motion to dismiss.” Greebel, 194 F.3d at 195. A complaint alleging securities fraud must, with respect to each alleged act or omission, “state with particularity facts giving rise to a strong inference that the defendant acted with the required state of mind.” 15 U.S.C. § 78u-4(b)(2) (emphasis added). A plaintiff must allege facts that make an inference of scienter “more than merely plausible or reasonable — it must be cogent and at least as compelling as any opposing inference of nonfraudulent intent.” Tellabs, Inc. v. Makor Issues & Rights, Ltd., 551 U.S. 308, 314, 127 S.Ct. 2499, 168 L.Ed.2d 179 (2007). When there are equally strong inferences for and against scienter, the draw is awarded to the plaintiff. ACA Fin., 512 F.3d at 59.

The question of whether a plaintiff has pled facts supporting a strong inference of scienter has an obvious connection to the question of the extent to which the omitted information is material. A plaintiff must provide evidence showing not only that a statement or omission “was false or misleading,” but also “that it was made in reference to a matter of material interest to investors.” Geffon v. Micrion Corp., 249 F.3d 29, 35 (1st Cir.2001); see also Jackvony v. RIHT Financial Corp., 873 F.2d 411, 415 (1st Cir.1989) (Breyer, J.) (finding that the fact that a hospital received general expressions of interest in acquisition from time to time had no special significance). “[T]he question of whether Defendants recklessly failed to disclose [a fact] is ... intimately bound up with whether Defendants either actually knew or recklessly ignored that the [fact] was material and nevertheless failed to disclose it.” City of Philadelphia v. Fleming Cos., 264 F.3d 1245, 1265 (10th Cir. 2001). If it is questionable whether a fact is material or its materiality is marginal, that tends to undercut the argument that defendants acted with the requisite intent or extreme recklessness in not disclosing the fact. See In re Carter-Wallace, Inc., Sec. Litig., 220 F.3d 36, 42 (2d Cir.2000). 2

A. Defendants’ Revenues and Earnings Statements

Plaintiff makes a two-part argument. The first part is that the inferences drawn in its favor require the conclusion that defendants knew, during the class period, that Japan had relaxed its water testing regulations and that this change would ultimately lead to less demand for Waters’ products and services in Japan. The second part is that the fact of this knowledge alone provides a sufficient basis for a cogent and compelling inference that defendants acted with scienter in failing to disclose earlier the regulatory change.

The first is based on Berthiaume’s January 2008 statements that the “Japanese government substantially reduced the sampling requirements and as a result we saw a reduction in our business” and that the company “knew the slope wasn’t going to be as strong forever in these applications.” These statements, plaintiff argues, establish that the decline in revenues in Japan was in part attributable to the change in testing regulations and that defendants knew much earlier that there would likely be such a decline. This is a fair inference, and defendants do not themselves dispute that they had knowledge of the regulatory change at least at some time earlier in the class period. However, this is not sufficient to meet plaintiffs burden on scienter.

Plaintiffs argument that defendants’ “actual knowledge of the facts withheld amply establishes the necessary degree of scienter ... misconstrues the relevant inquiry.” Schlifke v. Seafirst Corp., 866 F.2d 935, 946 (7th Cir.1989). The key question in this case is not whether defendants had knowledge of certain undisclosed facts, cf. id., but rather whether defendants knew or should have known that their failure to disclose those facts “presented] a danger of misleading buyers or sellers.” Greebel, 194 F.3d at 198 (quoting Sundstrand, 553 F.2d at 1045). That is, the danger must be “either known to the defendant or ... so obvious the actor must have been aware of it.” Id; see also SEC v. Platforms Wireless Int’l Corp., 617 F.3d 1072, 1092-93 (9th Cir. 2010) (adopting this formulation of the question); City of Philadelphia, 264 F.3d at 1260, 1264 (same); In Re Advanta Corp. Sec. Litig., 180 F.3d 525, 535 (3rd Cir.1999) (same); Schlifke, 866 F.2d at 946 (same).

This evaluation of the inference of scienter involves “an objective test.” Platforms Wireless, 617 F.3d at 1093; Sundstrand, 553 F.2d at 1045. 3 And here, the inference of a nonculpable explanation for the lack of disclosure is much stronger than the inference of scienter, even viewing scienter as involving either intentionality or extreme recklessness. That is, viewed objectively, the inferences are stronger that defendants did not knowingly or recklessly risk misleading the reasonable investor, as de fendants reasonably did not expect that the change in Japanese drinking water testing regulations would itself have a significant impact on Waters’ overall worldwide sales during 2007, such as to require disclosure.

It is true that the entire Japanese market constituted 10% of Waters’ global sales. Yet in considering the significance of an event that impacts sales, management must weigh “the anticipated magnitude of the event in light of the totality of the company activity.” City of Philadelphia, 264 F.3d at 1265 (quoting SEC v. Fehn, 97 F.3d 1276, 1291 (9th Cir.1996)) (internal quotation mark omitted); see also Greebel, 194 F.8d at 206 (“At best, plaintiffs’ additional evidence supports an inference that FTP improperly recognized from $416,000 to $1.55 million in revenue.... Because FTP reported overall revenue ... of $37.1 million, these transactions do not support a strong inference of scienter.”).

Here, the third and fourth quarters’ overall global sales were not below projected figures, but rather above them. Waters reported that in the third quarter total sales grew 17% (compared to a forecasted 14%) and that in the fourth quarter they grew 13% (compared to a forecasted 12%), despite the decline in Japanese sales. For 2007 overall, the company reported record high yearly sales of $1.47 billion. Plaintiff does not argue that these figures are themselves inaccurate or misleading. That the decline in Japanese sales caused by the regulatory change was not inconsistent with the forecasted increase in overall sales — which were the focus of defendants’ quarterly reports— weighs against plaintiffs attempts to draw a strong inference of scienter. Cf. Ronconi v. Larkin, 253 F.3d 423, 432 (9th Cir. 2001).

Although there was a drop of 12% in Japanese sales for the fourth quarter of 2007 — and defendants admit that the change in water testing was, among the variety of causes, the “most significant”— it is far from evident what fraction of this decline was predictably due to the regulatory change itself. Cf. Ezra Charitable Trust v. Tyco Int’l, Ltd., 466 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir.2006) (“Pleading ‘fraud by hindsight,’ essentially making general allegations ‘that defendants knew earlier what later turned out badly,’ is not sufficient.”) (quoting Gross v. Summa Four, Inc., 93 F.3d 987, 991 (1st Cir.1996)). Moreover, sales in Japan rebounded in 2008, as defendants had predicted.

Nor, contrary to plaintiffs arguments, can a strong inference of scienter be drawn from Berthiaume’s July 24 statement that he was “optimistic” about future sales, or his October 23 statement explaining that the “softness in demand” in Japan was due to “general economic conditions” and forecasting increased sales as “general spending conditions improve.” 4 An inference of scienter is especially unwarranted here, given that Berthiaume also stated in the July 24 conference call that the company saw “some finalization of investments” in Japan, “where drinking water regulations ... spurred a great deal of investment ... up through 2006,” and this had “beg[un] to tail itself off.” “[Attempts to provide investors with warnings of risks generally weaken the inference of scienter.” Ezra Charitable Trust, 466 F.3d at 8; see also Micrion Corp., 249 F.3d at 37. At the end of the fourth quarter, when it was clear that sales in the Japanese market had to some extent suffered a downturn, defendants identified the decline. Their characterization of the downturn as “modest” is accurate given the increase in global sales that beat forecasts and the record aggregate earnings.

The inferences as to scienter also run in defendants’ favor from the fact that it was higher costs and expenses, not lower sales, that caused earnings to be below expectations. The report of below expected earnings could well have caused the share price to drop as it did. Plaintiffs allegations, though, go to revenues, not higher costs and expenses.

Defendants admitted that they should have caught the trend earlier and that it might well have been more prudent for them to have disclosed the change in the Japanese regulations sooner. These admissions do not, however, establish scienter. Cf. Micrion Corp., 249 F.3d at 37 (finding that although the defendant “could have provided still more information” regarding the alleged omission, “absent the type of evidence we have previously found probative of scienter, its failure to do so does not mean that the omission was purposely deceptive in a manner actionable under Rule 10b — 5”). A company does not commit securities fraud merely by failing to disclose all non-public material information that it knows. ACA Fin., 512 F.3d at 61. Allegations of corporate mismanagement are not actionable under Rule 10b-5. Santa Fe Indus., Inc. v. Green, 430 U.S. 462, 479, 97 S.Ct. 1292, 51 L.Ed.2d 480 (1977); Stevelman v. Alias Research Inc., 174 F.3d 79, 85 (2d Cir.1999). Nor are allegations of mere negligence. Platforms Wireless, 617 F.3d at 1093; Greebel, 194 F.3d at 198-99.

It would have been easy enough for management to have disclosed the change in the regulations. It was not unreasonable for plaintiff to have been suspicious of why that was not done. But mere suspicion is not enough.

B. Defendants’ Insider Trading As Support for Scienter

We consider all of the allegations in plaintiffs complaint. Tellabs, 551 U.S. at 322, 127 S.Ct. 2499; Biogen Idec, 537 F.3d at 51. Our conclusion as to scienter does not change when we add to the mix plaintiffs insider trading allegations. Cf. Biogen Idec, 537 F.3d at 55-57.

Depending on context, allegations of insider trading may offer some support for inferences of scienter. Mississippi Pub. Emps.’ Ret. Sys. v. Boston Scientific Corp., 523 F.3d 75, 92 (1st Cir.2008) (“Insider trading in suspicious amounts or at suspicious times may be probative of scienter.”); see also In re Cabletron Sys., Inc., 311 F.3d 11, 39-40 (1st Cir.2002); Shaw v. Digital Equip. Corp., 82 F.3d 1194, 1224 (1st Cir.1996). “The vitality of the inference to be drawn depends on the facts, and can range from marginal to strong.” Greebel, 194 F.3d at 197-98 (citations omitted).

Plaintiff alleges that during the class period, Berthiaume sold 6.08% of his stock holdings and Ornell sold 83.24% of his holdings, and that these sales support a strong inference of scienter. In calculating the percent of holdings sold, however, it is appropriate to consider not only the shares of stock that Berthiaume and Ornell held prior to their sales, but also the shares that they could have sold through the exercise of options, which plaintiff did not do. See Ronconi, 253 F.3d at 435 n. 25 (“Stock options should be considered in calculating the percentage of shares sold unless the insider could not have exercised them.”); In re Silicon Graphics Inc. Sec. Litig., 183 F.3d 970, 986-87 (9th Cir.1999) (“Actual stock shares plus exercisable stock options represent the owner’s trading potential more accurately than the stock shares alone”); see also Cozzarelli v. Inspire Pharm. Inc., 549 F.3d 618, 628 (4th Cir.2008) (considering both shares and vested stock options in determining the significance of a sale); Cornelia I. Crowell GST Trust v. Possis Med., Inc., 519 F.3d 778, 783 (8th Cir.2008) (same); Acito v. IMCERA Grp., Inc., 47 F.3d 47, 54 (2d Cir.1995) (same). The consideration of options is especially warranted here, as Berthiaume and Ornell sold shares that were acquired through the simultaneous exercise of options.

Berthiaume’s sales during the class period, calculated to include options, amounted to only 4.82% of the shares that he could have sold. He sold these shares entirely in the third quarter at a price of approximately $63 per share. His sales price was less than 10% above the low of $58.58 to which the price dropped after the release of fourth quarter results, and substantially lower than the high of $80.77 that it reached during the fourth quarter. These facts offer, as to Berthiaume, little support for a strong inference of scienter. Cf. Ronconi, 253 F.3d at 435 (“[S]elling stock for $54, when the price subsequently rises to $74 and then sinks to $49, does not support an inference of knowing falsehood.”).

The facts of Ornell’s trades are different: he sold approximately 7% of the shares that he could have sold in the third quarter, and approximately 22% of the remainder in the fourth quarter. While his third quarter sales were at a price of approximately $63 per share, his much more significant fourth quarter sales were at $76, only slightly lower than the fourth quarter high of $80.77. The fact that Ornell sold this significant percentage of his holdings, and that he made many of these sales near the high price, could lend some support to plaintiffs inference of scienter. See Greebel, 194 F.3d at 197-98.

Plaintiff failed to allege any facts that these sales were unusual. “At a minimum, the trading must be ... unusual, well beyond the normal patterns of trading by those defendants.” Greebel, 194 F.3d at 198. Here, plaintiffs complaint provided no information about Ornell’s trading history that would support such a determination. This is in marked contrast to In re Cabletron Systems, where the complaint detailed stock sales by defendants in the months prior to the class period. See In re Cabletron Systems, 311 F.3d at 27; see also Nursing Home Pension Fund, Local 144 v. Oracle Corp., 380 F.3d 1226, 1232 (9th Cir.2004) (“[T]he Complaint alleges that Ellison had not sold any of his Oracle stock for five years. This makes Ellison’s January 2001 trades highly inconsistent with his prior trading history.”); In re Apple Computer Sec. Litig., 886 F.2d 1109, 1117-18 (9th Cir.1989) (comparing the 10 months preceding the 10 month class period to determine whether the alleged insider trading was consistent with the prior pattern of sales). Trading histories are not a sine qua non of an allegation of unusual insider trading. Some trades may, from the face of things, be unusual. But Ornell’s trades do not fit into this category, and no context is provided. Cf. Ronconi, 253 F.3d at 436 (“[T]he plaintiffs have not alleged sufficient trading history for us to conclude that [the] trading was ‘dramatically out of line with prior trading practices.’ ”).

The stock sales by Berthiaume and Ornell do not, under these circumstances, offer the requisite support for a strong inference of scienter, either standing alone or in combination with the other evidence. 5

Finally, the fact that Waters repurchased its own stock during the third and fourth quarters of 2007 does not, on these facts, have much weight one way or another. Given our conclusion that there is no strong inference of scienter from the other facts, even considering insider trading, we do not think it a fair inference that the stock repurchases were fraudulently motivated to augment market demand and thereby mask the insider sales.

IV.

The district court properly dismissed the plaintiffs Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 claims. Because the plaintiffs Section 20(a) claim was derivative of the Rule 10b-5 claim, it was properly dismissed as well. See 15 U.S.C. §§ 78t(a), 78t—1; Biogen Idec, 537 F.3d at 58; ACA Fin., 512 F.3d at 67-68; In re Stone & Webster, Inc., Sec. Litig., 424 F.3d 24, 27 (1st Cir.2005).

The judgment of the district court is affirmed.

Notes

1

. Although the complaint also alleged that certain of Ornell’s statements as to predicted tax rates made on October 23, 2007 were misleading, those allegations have been abandoned on appeal.

2

. In this case, we do not decide the question of the materiality of the Japanese change in regulations, only that of whether there is a strong inference of scienter. Cf. New Jersey Carpenters Pension & Annuity Funds v. Biogen Idec, Inc., 537 F.3d 35, 44 (1st Cir.2008) ("We discuss materiality only insofar as it is relevant to the pleading of omissions said to be relevant to scienter.”).

3

. Given our disposition of this case, we need not engage in an additional inquiry that involves a "subjective test,” requiring that "the omission derive from something more egregious than even ‘white heart/empty head’ good faith.” Sundstrand Corp. v. Sun Chem. Corp., 553 F.2d 1033, 1045 & n. 20 (7th Cir. 1977); see also SEC v. Platforms Wireless Int’l Corp., 617 F.3d 1072, 1093 (9th Cir. 2010) (discussing the two part — objective and subjective — test for scienter); Bachman v. Polaroid Corp., 893 F.2d 1405, 1418 (1st Cir. 1990) (discussing the good faith defense).

4

. There is no need to reach defendants’ alternative argument that their future guidance statements are protected by the PSLRA’s safe harbor provisions, under which a "forward-looking” statement, such as an earnings forecast, is not actionable under Section 10(b) if it is either (a) "identified as a forward-looking statement, and is accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statement,” or (b) the plaintiff fails to prove that it was made "with actual knowledge ... that the statement was false or misleading.” 15 U.S.C. § 78u-5(c)(1).

5

. Plaintiff also alleges that seven non-defendant insiders sold 377,500 shares for proceeds of $25,119,276 during the class period. This court has considered stock sales by non-defendant insiders when evaluating the sufficiency of a pleading of scienter. See Shaw v. Digital Equipment Corp., 82 F.3d 1194, 1224 (1st Cir.1996). However, listing only bare facts about the shares sold, plaintiff here does not provide any information about the trades indicating that they were unusual. Under these circumstances, it was not error for the district court to conclude that these sales were not probative.

Case Details

Case Name: City of Dearborn Heights Act 345 Police & Fire Retirement System v. Waters Corp.

Court Name: Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Date Published: Jan 20, 2011

Citation: 632 F.3d 751

Docket Number: 10-1514

Court Abbreviation: 1st Cir.