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LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time, the Company becomes involved in various legal and administrative proceedings, which include product liability, intellectual property, commercial, antitrust, governmental and regulatory investigations, related private litigation and ordinary course employment-related issues. From time to time, the Company also initiates actions or files counterclaims. The Company could be subject to counterclaims or other suits in response to actions it may initiate. The Company believes that the prosecution of these actions and counterclaims is important to preserve and protect the Company, its reputation and its assets. Certain of these proceedings and actions are described below.
On a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates developments in legal proceedings, potential settlements and other matters that could increase or decrease the amount of the liability accrued. As of June 30, 2017, the Company's consolidated balance sheet includes accrued loss contingencies of $162 million related to matters which are both probable and reasonably estimable. For all other matters, unless otherwise indicated, the Company cannot reasonably predict the outcome of these legal proceedings, nor can it estimate the amount of loss, or range of loss, if any, that may result from these proceedings. An adverse outcome in certain of these proceedings could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations, and could cause the market value of its common shares and/or debt securities to decline.
Governmental and Regulatory Inquiries
Letter from the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
The Company has received a letter dated September 10, 2015 from the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania stating that they are investigating potential violations of the False Claims Act arising out of Biovail Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s treatment of certain service fees under agreements with wholesalers when calculating and reporting Average Manufacturer Prices in connection with the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. The letter requests that the Company voluntarily produce documents and information relating to the investigation. The Company produced certain documents and clarifying information in response to the government’s request and is cooperating with the government’s investigation. The Company cannot predict the outcome or the duration of this investigation or any other legal proceedings or any enforcement actions or other remedies that may be imposed on the Company arising out of these investigations.
U.S. Department of Justice Investigation
On September 15, 2015, Bausch & Lomb International, Inc. (“B&L International”) received a subpoena from the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice regarding agreements and payments between Bausch & Lomb Holdings Incorporated and its subsidiaries (“B&L”) and medical professionals related to its surgical products Crystalens® IOL and Victus® femtosecond laser platform. The government has indicated that the subpoena was issued in connection with a criminal investigation into possible violations of Federal health care laws. B&L International produced certain documents in response to the subpoena and is cooperating with the investigation. The Company cannot predict with certainty the outcome or the duration of this investigation or any other legal proceedings or any enforcement actions or other remedies that may be imposed on the Company arising out of this investigation; however, the Company believes that this matter will be resolved in the near future.
Investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts
In October 2015, the Company received a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts, and, in June 2016, the Company received a follow up subpoena. The materials requested, pursuant to the subpoenas and follow-up requests, include documents and witness interviews with respect to the Company’s patient assistance programs and contributions to patient assistance organizations that provide financial assistance to Medicare patients taking products sold by the Company, and the Company’s pricing of its products. The Company is cooperating with this investigation. The Company cannot predict the outcome or the duration of this investigation or any other legal proceedings or any enforcement actions or other remedies that may be imposed on the Company arising out of this investigation.
Investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York
In October 2015, the Company received a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. The materials requested, pursuant to the subpoena and follow-up requests, include documents and witness interviews with respect to the Company’s patient assistance programs; its former relationship with Philidor and other pharmacies; the Company’s accounting treatment for sales by specialty pharmacies; information provided to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; the Company’s pricing (including discounts and rebates), marketing and distribution of its products; the Company’s compliance program; and employee compensation. The Company is cooperating with this investigation. The Company cannot predict the outcome or the duration of this investigation or any other legal proceedings or any enforcement actions or other remedies that may be imposed on the Company arising out of this investigation.
SEC Investigation
Beginning in November 2015, the Company has received from the staff of the Los Angeles Regional Office of the SEC subpoenas for documents, as well as various document, testimony and interview requests, related to its investigation of the Company, including requests concerning the Company's former relationship with Philidor, its accounting practices and policies, its public disclosures and other matters. The Company is cooperating with the SEC in this matter. The Company cannot predict the outcome or the duration of the SEC investigation or any other legal proceedings or any enforcement actions or other remedies that may be imposed on the Company arising out of the SEC investigation.
Investigation by the State of North Carolina Department of Justice
In the beginning of March 2016, the Company received an investigative demand from the State of North Carolina Department of Justice. The materials requested relate to the Company's Nitropress®, Isuprel® and Cuprimine® products, including documents relating to the production, marketing, distribution, sale and pricing of, and patient assistance programs covering, such products, as well as issues relating to the Company's pricing decisions for certain of its other products. The Company is cooperating with this investigation. The Company cannot predict the outcome or the duration of this investigation or any other legal proceedings or any enforcement actions or other remedies that may be imposed on the Company arising out of this investigation.
Request for Information from the AMF
On April 12, 2016, the Company received a request letter from the Autorité des marchés financiers (the “AMF”) requesting documents concerning the work of the Company’s ad hoc committee of independent directors (the “Ad Hoc Committee”) (established to review certain allegations regarding the Company’s former relationship with Philidor and related matters), the Company’s former relationship with Philidor, the Company's accounting practices and policies and other matters. The Company is cooperating with the AMF in this matter. The Company has not received any notice of investigation from the AMF, and the Company cannot predict whether any investigation will be commenced by the AMF or, if commenced, whether any enforcement action against the Company would result from any such investigation.
Investigation by the California Department of Insurance
On or about September 16, 2016, the Company received an investigative subpoena from the California Department of Insurance. The materials requested include documents concerning the Company’s former relationship with Philidor and certain California-based pharmacies, the marketing and distribution of its products in California, the billing of insurers for its products being used by California residents, and other matters. The Company is cooperating with this investigation. The Company cannot predict the outcome or the duration of this investigation or any other legal proceedings or any enforcement actions or other remedies that may be imposed on the Company arising out of this investigation.
Investigation by the State of Texas
On May 27, 2014, the State of Texas served Bausch & Lomb Incorporated (“B&L Inc.”) with a Civil Investigative Demand concerning various price reporting matters relating to the State's Medicaid program and the amounts the State paid in reimbursement for B&L products for the period from 1995 to the date of the Civil Investigative Demand. The Company and B&L Inc. have cooperated fully with the State's investigation and have produced all of the documents requested by the State. In April 2016, the State sent B&L Inc. a demand letter claiming damages in the amount of $20 million. The Company and B&L Inc. have evaluated the letter and disagree with the allegations and methodologies set forth in the letter. The Company and B&L Inc. have responded to the State and are awaiting further response from the State. 
California Department of Insurance Investigation
On May 4, 2016, B&L International received from the Office of the California Insurance Commissioner an administrative subpoena to produce books, records and documents. On September 1, 2016, a revised and corrected subpoena, issued to B&L Inc., was received naming that entity in place of B&L International and seeking additional books records and documents. The requested books, records and documents are being requested in connection with an investigation by the California Department of Insurance and relate to, among other things, consulting agreements and financial arrangements between B&L and healthcare professionals in California, the provision of ocular equipment, including the Victus® femtosecond laser platform, by B&L to healthcare professionals in California and prescribing data for prescriptions written by healthcare professionals in California for certain of B&L’s products, including the Crystalens®, Lotemax®, Besivance® and Prolensa®. B&L Inc. and the Company are cooperating with the investigation. The Company cannot predict the outcome or the duration of this investigation or any other legal proceedings or any enforcement actions or other remedies that may be imposed on the Company arising out of this investigation.
Securities and Other Class Actions
Allergan Shareholder Class Actions
On December 16, 2014, Anthony Basile, an alleged shareholder of Allergan filed a lawsuit on behalf of a putative class of Allergan shareholders against the Company, Valeant, AGMS, Pershing Square, PS Management, GP, LLC, PS Fund 1 and William A. Ackman in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (Basile v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., et al., Case No. 14-cv-02004-DOC). On June 26, 2015, lead plaintiffs the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System and Patrick T. Johnson filed an amended complaint against the Company, Valeant, J. Michael Pearson, Pershing Square, PS Management, GP, LLC, PS Fund 1 and William A. Ackman. The amended complaint alleges claims on behalf of a putative class of sellers of Allergan securities between February 25, 2014 and April 21, 2014, against all defendants contending that various purchases of Allergan securities by PS Fund were made while in possession of material, non-public information concerning a potential tender offer by the Company for Allergan stock, and asserting violations of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and rules promulgated by the SEC thereunder and Section 20A of the Exchange Act. The amended complaint also alleges violations of Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act against Pershing Square, various Pershing Square affiliates, William A. Ackman and J. Michael Pearson. The amended complaint seeks, among other relief, money damages, equitable relief, and attorneys’ fees and costs. On August 7, 2015, the defendants moved to dismiss the amended complaint in its entirety, and, on November 9, 2015, the Court denied that motion. On March 15, 2017, the Court entered an order certifying a plaintiff class comprised of persons who sold Allergan common stock contemporaneously with purchases of Allergan common stock made or caused by defendants during the period February 25, 2014 through April 21, 2014. On March 28, 2017, defendants filed a motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit requesting permission to appeal from the class certification order and on June 12, 2017, the Ninth Circuit denied that request. On July 10, 2017, the plaintiffs moved for partial summary judgment, and the defendants cross-moved for summary judgment. Those motions remain pending. Trial has been scheduled to start on January 30, 2018 in this matter. The Company intends to vigorously defend these matters.
On June 28, 2017, Timber Hill LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company that allegedly traded in Allergan derivative instruments, filed a lawsuit on behalf of a putative class of derivative traders against the Company, Valeant, AGMS, Michael Pearson, Pershing Square, PS Management, GP, LLC, PS Fund 1 and William A. Ackman in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (Timber Hill LLC v. Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P., et al., Case No. 17-cv-04776-DOC). The complaint alleges claims on behalf of a putative class of investors who sold Allergan call options, purchased Allergan put options and/or sold Allergan equity forward contracts between February 25, 2014 and April 21, 2014, against all defendants contending that various purchases of Allergan securities by PS Fund were made while in possession of material, non-public information concerning a potential tender offer by the Company for Allergan stock, and asserting violations of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and rules promulgated by the SEC thereunder and Section 20A of the Exchange Act. The complaint also alleges violations of Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act against Pershing Square, various Pershing Square affiliates, William A. Ackman and Michael Pearson. The complaint seeks, among other relief, money damages, equitable relief, and attorneys’ fees and costs. On July 25, 2017, the Court decided not to consolidate this lawsuit with the Basile action described above. Trial has been scheduled for October 2018 in this matter.
On February 10, 2017, the Company, Valeant (together, the “Valeant Co Parties”) and J. Michael Pearson (together, the “Valeant Parties”) and Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P., Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd., Pershing Square International, Ltd., Pershing Square, L.P., Pershing Square II, L.P., PS Management GP, LLC, PS Fund 1, LLC, Pershing Square GP, LLC (together, “Pershing Square”), and William A. Ackman (“Ackman” and, together with Pershing Square, the “Pershing Square Parties”) entered into a litigation management agreement (the “Litigation Management Agreement”), pursuant to which the parties agreed to certain provisions with respect to the management of this litigation, including all cases currently consolidated with the Basile action described above and any opt-out litigation or individual actions brought by members of the putative class in the consolidated Basile action asserting the same or similar allegations or claims (collectively, the “Allergan Litigation”), including the following:
In respect of any settlement relating to the Allergan Litigation that receives the mutual consent of both the Valeant Parties and the Pershing Square Parties, the payments in connection with such settlement will be paid 60% by the Valeant Co Parties and 40% by the Pershing Square Parties. The agreement does not provide for any allocation of costs in a settlement that is not consented to by both parties;
The first $10 million in legal fees and litigation expenses incurred by the Valeant Parties and the Pershing Square Parties after the date of the Litigation Management Agreement in connection with the Allergan Litigation will be paid 50% by the Valeant Co Parties and 50% by the Pershing Square Parties; and
The Litigation Management Agreement will terminate on November 1, 2017 if a stipulation of settlement with regards to the current consolidated Basile action has not been executed by that date (unless the Litigation Management Agreement is extended by mutual written agreement of the Valeant Parties and the Pershing Square Parties).
In addition to the agreements set out above with respect to the Allergan Litigation, the Litigation Management Agreement includes an undertaking by the Pershing Square Parties to forbear from commencing any action or actions that arise out of, or relate to, the claims alleged or facts asserted in the Allergan Litigation or to the purchase or acquisition of, or transactions with respect to, the Company’s securities against any of the Valeant Parties from February 3, 2017 until the date that is thirty days after the termination of the Litigation Management Agreement. Any statute of limitations applicable to such actions or tolled claims is suspended during this period. If the Litigation Management Agreement is terminated pursuant to its terms, the parties will meet and discuss whether any tolled claims should be submitted to confidential arbitration or mediation.
Furthermore, in connection with the entrance into the Litigation Management Agreement, on February 10, 2017, the Valeant Parties and the Pershing Square Parties entered into a mutual release of claims (the “Mutual Release”). The Mutual Release will go into effect upon the later of satisfaction of the payment obligations that each party would have in connection with any settlement of the current consolidated Basile action pursuant to the Litigation Management Agreement described above and the date of entry of final judgment, and will not occur if the Litigation Management Agreement is terminated. If the Mutual Release becomes effective, each party will release the other parties and their respective attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, lenders and securities underwriters (in their capacities as such and to the extent they provide a mutual release) from any and all claims relating to or arising out of (a) any purchase of any security of Valeant, (b) any one or more of the claims asserted in and/or the facts alleged in (i) the Allergan Litigation, (ii) a putative class action on behalf of purchasers of Valeant securities captioned In re Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. Securities Litigation, Case 3:15-cv-07658- MAS-LHG, currently pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (the “U.S. Class Action”), (iii) certain enumerated individual actions and/or (iv) certain enumerated actions in Canada, or (c) the Valeant business. In addition, each party covenants not to sue the other parties with respect to any claims covered by the Mutual Release upon the effectiveness of the Mutual Release. Each party also covenants not to sue the other parties’ attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, lenders and securities underwriters (in their capacities as such) with respect to any of the claims covered by the Mutual Release from the date of the signing of the Mutual Release, except to the extent that (i) a claim has been asserted against such party by any such attorney, accountant, financial advisor, lender and/or securities underwriter or (ii) the Litigation Management Agreement has been terminated in accordance with its terms.
Valeant U.S. Securities Litigation
From October 22, 2015 to October 30, 2015, four putative securities class actions were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against the Company and certain current or former officers and directors. Those four actions, captioned Potter v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. et al. (Case No. 15-cv-7658), Chen v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. et al. (Case No. 15-cv-7679), Yang v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. et al. (Case No. 15-cv-7746), and Fein v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. et al. (Case No. 15-cv-7809), all asserted securities fraud claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) on behalf of putative classes of persons who purchased or otherwise acquired the Company’s stock during various time periods between February 28, 2014 and October 21, 2015. The allegations relate to, among other things, allegedly false and misleading statements and/or failures to disclose information about the Company’s business and prospects, including relating to drug pricing, the Company’s use of specialty pharmacies, and the Company’s relationship with Philidor.
On May 31, 2016, the Court entered an order consolidating the four actions under the caption In re Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Securities Litigation, Case No. 3:15-cv-07658, and appointing a lead plaintiff and lead plaintiff’s counsel. On June 24, 2016, the lead plaintiff filed a consolidated complaint naming additional defendants and asserting additional claims based on allegations of false and misleading statements and/or omissions similar to those in the initial complaints. Specifically, the consolidated complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act against the Company, and certain current or former officers and directors, as well as claims under Sections 11, 12(a)(2) and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) against the Company, certain current or former officers and directors, and certain other parties. The lead plaintiff seeks to bring these claims on behalf of a putative class of persons who purchased the Company’s equity securities and senior notes in the United States between January 4, 2013 and March 15, 2016, including all those who purchased the Company’s securities in the United States in the Company’s debt and stock offerings between July 2013 to March 2015. On September 13, 2016, the Company and the other defendants moved to dismiss the consolidated complaint. Briefing on the Company's motion was completed on January 13, 2017. On April 28, 2017, the Court dismissed certain claims arising out of the Company's private placement offerings and otherwise denied the motions to dismiss. Defendants' answers to the consolidated complaint were filed on June 12, 2017.
In addition to the consolidated putative class action, ten groups of individual investors in the Company’s stock and debt securities have filed securities actions in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against the Company and certain current or former officers and directors. These actions are captioned: T. Rowe Price Growth Stock Fund, Inc. v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (Case No. 16-cv-5034); Equity Trustees Limited as Responsible Entity for T. Rowe Price Global Equity Fund v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. (Case No. 16-cv-6127); Principal Funds, Inc. v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (Case No. 16-cv-6128); BloombergSen Partners Fund LP v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (Case No. 16-cv-7212); Discovery Global Citizens Master Fund, Ltd. v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (Case No. 16-cv-7321); MSD Torchlight Partners, L.P. v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (Case No. 16-cv-7324); BlueMountain Foinaven Master Fund, L.P. v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (Case No. 16-cv-7328); Incline Global Master LP v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (Case No. 16-cv-7494); VALIC Company I v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (Case No. 16-cv-7496); and Janus Aspen Series v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (Case No. 16-cv-7497) (“Janus Aspen”). These individual shareholder actions assert claims under Sections 10(b), 18, and 20(a) of the Exchange Act, Sections 11, 12(a)(2), and 15 of the Securities Act, and negligent misrepresentation under state law, based on alleged purchases of Valeant stock, options, and/or debt at various times between January 4, 2013 and August 10, 2016. The allegations in the complaints are similar to those made by plaintiffs in the putative class action.
Plaintiffs in the Janus Aspen action amended the complaint on April 28, 2017. Defendants filed motions for partial dismissal in the ten individual actions on June 16, 2017. Briefing of those motions is expected to be completed on August 25, 2017.
The Company believes the individual complaints and the consolidated putative class action are without merit and intends to defend itself vigorously.
Canadian Securities Class Actions
In 2015, six putative class actions were filed and served against the Company in Canada in the provinces of British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. These actions are captioned: (a) Alladina v. Valeant, et al. (Case No. S-1594B6) (Supreme Court of British Columbia) (filed November 17, 2015); (b) Kowalyshyn v. Valeant, et al. (CV-15-540593-00CP) (Ontario Superior Court) (filed November 16, 2015); (c) Kowalyshyn et al. v. Valeant, et al. (CV-15-541082-00CP (Ontario Superior Court) (filed November 23, 2015); (d) O’Brien v. Valeant et al. (CV-15-543678-00CP) (Ontario Superior Court) (filed December 30, 2015); (e) Catucci v. Valeant, et al. (Court File No. 540-17-011743159) (Quebec Superior Court) (filed October 26, 2015); and (f) Rousseau-Godbout v. Valeant, et al. (Court File No. 500-06-000770-152) (Quebec Superior Court) (filed October 27, 2015). The Alladina, Kowalyshyn, O’Brien, Catucci and Rousseau-Godbout actions also name, among others, certain current or former directors and officers of the Company. The Rosseau-Godbout action was subsequently stayed by the Quebec Superior Court by consent order.
Each of the five remaining actions alleges violations of Canadian provincial securities legislation on behalf of putative classes of persons who purchased or otherwise acquired securities of the Company for periods commencing as early as January 1, 2013 and ending as late as November 16, 2015. The alleged violations relate to, among other things, alleged misrepresentations and/or failures to disclose material information about the Company’s business and prospects, relating to drug pricing, the Company’s policies and accounting practices, the Company’s use of specialty pharmacies and, in particular, the Company’s relationship with Philidor. The Alladina, Kowalyshyn and O’Brien actions also assert common law claims for negligent misrepresentation, and the Alladina claim additionally asserts common law negligence, conspiracy, and claims under the British Columbia Business Corporations Act, including the statutory oppression remedies in that legislation. The Catucci action asserts claims under the Quebec Civil Code, alleging the Company breached its duty of care under the civil standard of liability contemplated by the Code.
The Company is aware of two additional putative class actions that have been filed with the applicable court but which have not yet been served on the Company. These actions are captioned: (i) Okeley v. Valeant, et al. (Case No. S-159991) (Supreme Court of British Columbia) (filed December 2, 2015); and (ii) Sukenaga v Valeant et al. (CV-15-540567-00CP) (Ontario Superior Court) (filed November 16, 2015), and the factual allegations made in these actions are substantially similar to those outlined above. The Company has been advised that the plaintiffs in these actions do not intend to pursue the actions.
The Company expects that certain of these actions will be consolidated or stayed prior to proceeding to motions for leave and certification and that no more than one action will proceed in any jurisdiction. In particular, on June 10, 2016, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice rendered its decision on carriage motions (motions held to determine who will have carriage of the class action) heard on April 8, 2016, provisionally staying the O'Brien action, in favor of the Kowalyshyn action. On September 15, 2016, in response to an arrangement between the plaintiffs in the Kowalyshyn action and the O’Brien action, the court ordered both that the Kowalyshyn action be consolidated with the O’Brien action and that the consolidated action be stayed in favor of the Catucci action pending either the further order of the Ontario court or the determination of the motion for leave in the Catucci action.
In the Catucci action, motions for leave under the Quebec Securities Act and for authorization as a class proceeding were heard the week of April 24, 2017, with the motion judge reserving her decision. Prior to that hearing, the parties resolved applications by the defendants concerning jurisdiction and class composition, with the plaintiffs agreeing to revise the definition of the proposed class to exclude claims in respect of Valeant securities purchased in the United States.
The Company believes that it has viable defenses in each of these actions. In each case, the Company intends to defend itself vigorously.
RICO Class Actions
Between May 27, 2016 and September 16, 2016, three virtually identical actions were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against the Company and various third parties, alleging claims under the federal Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) on behalf of a putative class of certain third party payors that paid claims submitted by Philidor for certain Valeant branded drugs between January 2, 2013 and November 9, 2015 (Airconditioning and Refrigeration Industry Health and Welfare Trust Fund et al. v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International. Inc. et al., No. 3:16-cv-03087, Plumbers Local Union No. 1 Welfare Fund v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. et al., No. 3:16-cv-3885 and N.Y. Hotel Trades Council et al v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International. Inc. et al., No. 3:16-cv-05663).  On November 30, 2016, the Court entered an order consolidating the three actions under the caption In re Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Third-Party Payor Litigation, No. 3:16-cv-03087. A consolidated class action complaint was filed on December 14, 2016. The consolidated complaint alleges, among other things, that the Defendants committed predicate acts of mail and wire fraud by submitting or causing to be submitted prescription reimbursement requests that misstated or omitted facts regarding (1) the identity and licensing status of the dispensing pharmacy; (2) the resubmission of previously denied claims; (3) patient co-pay waivers; (4) the availability of generic alternatives; and (5) the insured’s consent to renew the prescription.  The complaint further alleges that these acts constitute a pattern of racketeering or a racketeering conspiracy in violation of the RICO statute and caused plaintiffs and the putative class unspecified damages, which may be trebled under the RICO statute.  The Company moved to dismiss the consolidated complaint on February 13, 2017. Briefing of the motion was completed on May 17, 2017. That motion remains pending. On March 14, 2017, other defendants filed a motion to stay the RICO class action pending the resolution of criminal proceedings against Andrew Davenport and Gary Tanner. The Company did not oppose the motion to stay. The Company believes these claims are without merit and intends to defend itself vigorously.
Antitrust
Solodyn® Antitrust Class Actions
Beginning in July 2013, a number of civil antitrust class action suits were filed against Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation (“Medicis”), Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (“VPII”) and various manufacturers of generic forms of Solodyn, alleging that the defendants engaged in an anticompetitive scheme to exclude competition from the market for minocycline hydrochloride extended release tablets, a prescription drug for the treatment of acne marketed by Medicis under the brand name, Solodyn. The plaintiffs in such suits alleged violations of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1, 2, and of various state antitrust and consumer protection laws, and further alleged that the defendants have been unjustly enriched through their alleged conduct. The plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief and, where applicable, treble, multiple, punitive and/or other damages, including attorneys’ fees. By order dated February 25, 2014, the Judicial Panel for Multidistrict Litigation (‘‘JPML’’) centralized the suits in the District of Massachusetts, under the caption In re Solodyn (Minocycline Hydrochloride) Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 1:14-md-02503-DJC, before U.S. District Judge Denise Casper. After the Direct Purchaser Class Plaintiffs and the End-Payor Class Plaintiffs each filed a consolidated amended class action complaint on September 12, 2014, the defendants jointly moved to dismiss those complaints. On August 14, 2015, the Court granted the Defendants' motion to dismiss with respect to claims brought under Sherman Act, Section 2 and various state laws but denied the motion to dismiss with respect to claims brought under Sherman Act, Section 1 and other state laws. VPII was dismissed from the case, but the litigation continues against Medicis and the generic manufacturers as to the remaining claims. A subsequent effort to re-plead claims under Sherman Act, Section 2 was denied on September 20, 2016. Plaintiffs have reached a settlement with two of three generic manufacturer defendants, and, on April 14, 2017, the Court granted the Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs' and End-Payor Plaintiffs' motions for preliminary approval of those settlements. Fact discovery in these actions has concluded. The remaining parties are currently engaged in expert discovery and class certification briefing; the Court will hear oral argument on class certification on September 14, 2017. On March 26, 2015, and on April 6, 2015, while the motion to dismiss the class action complaints was pending, two additional non-class action complaints were filed against Medicis by certain retail pharmacy and grocery chains ("Individual Plaintiffs") making similar allegations and seeking similar relief to that sought by Direct Purchaser Class Plaintiffs. Those suits have been centralized with the class action suits in the District of Massachusetts. Following the Court's August 14, 2015 decision on the motion to dismiss, the Individual Plaintiffs each filed amended complaints on October 1, 2015, and Medicis answered on December 7, 2015. A third non-class action was filed by another retail pharmacy against Medicis on January 26, 2016, and Medicis answered on March 28, 2016. The Company intends to vigorously defend all of these actions.
Contact Lens Antitrust Class Actions
Beginning in March 2015, a number of civil antitrust class action suits were filed by purchasers of contact lenses against B&L Inc., three other contact lens manufacturers, and a contact lens distributor, alleging that the defendants engaged in an anticompetitive scheme to eliminate price competition on certain contact lens lines through the use of unilateral pricing policies. The plaintiffs in such suits alleged violations of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1, and of various state antitrust and consumer protection laws, and further alleged that the defendants have been unjustly enriched through their alleged conduct. The plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief and, where applicable, treble, punitive and/or other damages, including attorneys’ fees. By order dated June 8, 2015, the JPML centralized the suits in the Middle District of Florida, under the caption In re Disposable Contact Lens Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 3:15-md-02626-HES-JRK, before U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger. After the Class Plaintiffs filed a corrected consolidated class action complaint on December 16, 2015, the defendants jointly moved to dismiss those complaints. On June 16, 2016, the Court granted the Defendants' motion to dismiss with respect to claims brought under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act, but denied the motion to dismiss with respect to claims brought under Sherman Act, Section 1 and other state laws. The actions are currently in discovery. On March 3, 2017, the Class Plaintiffs filed their motion for class certification. On June 15, 2017, defendants filed a motion to oppose the plaintiffs' class certification motion, as well as motions to exclude plaintiffs' expert reports. Defendants likewise have requested an evidentiary hearing on the motions. The Company intends to vigorously defend all of these actions.
Intellectual Property
Patent Litigation/Paragraph IV Matters
The Company (and/or certain of its affiliates) is also party to certain patent infringement proceedings in the United States and Canada, including as arising from claims filed by the Company (or that the Company anticipates filing within the required time periods) in connection with Notices of Paragraph IV Certification (in the United States) and Notices of Allegation (in Canada) received from third party generic manufacturers respecting their pending applications for generic versions of certain products sold by or on behalf of the Company, including Onexton®, Relistor®, Apriso®, Uceris®, Carac®, Locoid® and Cardizem® in the United States and Wellbutrin® XL in Canada, or other similar suits. These matters are proceeding in the ordinary course.
In addition, on or about February 16, 2016, the Company received a Notice of Paragraph IV Certification dated February 11, 2016, from Actavis Laboratories FL, Inc. (“Actavis”), in which Actavis asserted that the following U.S. patents, each of which is listed in the FDA’s Orange Book for Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s (“Salix Inc.”) Xifaxan® tablets, 550 mg, are either invalid, unenforceable and/or will not be infringed by the commercial manufacture, use or sale of Actavis’ generic rifaximin tablets, 550 mg, for which an Abbreviated New Drug Application (“ANDA”) has been filed by Actavis: U.S. Patent No. 8,309,569 (the “‘569 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 8,642,573 (the “‘573 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 8,829,017 (the “‘017 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 8,946,252 (the “‘252 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 8,969,398 (the “‘398 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 7,045,620 (the “‘620 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 7,612,199 (the “‘199 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 7,902,206 (the “‘206 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 7,906,542 (the “‘542 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 7,915,275 (the “‘275 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 8,158,644 (the “‘644 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 8,158,781 (the “‘781 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 8,193,196 (the “‘196 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 8,518,949 (the “‘949 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 8,741,904 (the “‘904 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 8,835,452 (the “‘452 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 8,853,231 (the “‘231 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 6,861,053 (the “‘053 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 7,452,857 (the “‘857 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 7,605,240 (the “‘240 patent”), U.S. Patent No. 7,718,608 (the “‘608 patent”) and U.S. Patent No. 7,935,799 (the “‘799 patent”) (collectively, the “Xifaxan® Patents”). Salix Inc. holds the NDA for Xifaxan® and its affiliate, Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (“Salix Ltd.”), is the owner of the ‘569 patent, the ‘573 patent, the ‘017 patent, the ‘252 patent and the ‘398 patent. Alfa Wassermann S.p.A. (“Alfa Wassermann”) is the owner of the ‘620 patent, the ‘199 patent, the ‘206 patent, the ‘542 patent, the ‘275 patent, the ‘644 patent, the ‘781 patent, the ‘196 patent, the ‘949 patent, the ‘904 patent, the ‘452 patent and the ‘231 patent, each of which has been exclusively licensed to Salix Inc. and its affiliate, Valeant Pharmaceuticals Luxembourg S.à r.l. (“Valeant Luxembourg”) to market Xifaxan® tablets, 550 mg. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (“Cedars-Sinai”) is the owner of the ‘053 patent, the ‘857 patent, the ‘240 patent, the ‘608 patent and the ‘799 patent, each of which has been exclusively licensed to Salix Inc. and its affiliate, Valeant Luxembourg, to market Xifaxan® tablets, 550 mg. On March 23, 2016, Salix Inc. and its affiliates, Salix Ltd. and Valeant Luxembourg, Alfa Wassermann and Cedars-Sinai (the “Plaintiffs”) filed suit against Actavis in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 1:16-cv-00188), pursuant to the Hatch-Waxman Act, alleging infringement by Actavis of one or more claims of each of the Xifaxan® Patents, thereby triggering a 30-month stay of the approval of Actavis’ ANDA for rifaximin tablets, 550 mg. On May 24, 2016, Actavis filed its answer in this matter. On June 14, 2016, the Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding US patent 9,271,968 (the “‘968 patent”) to this suit. Alfa Wassermann is the owner of the ‘968 patent, which has been exclusively licensed to Salix Inc. and its affiliate, Valeant Luxembourg to market Xifaxan® tablets, 550 mg. On December 6, 2016, the Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding US patent 9,421,195 (the “‘195 patent”) to this suit. Salix is the owner of the ‘195 patent. A seven-day trial was scheduled to commence on January 29, 2018, but has been indefinitely removed.
However, on May 17, 2017, the Company and Actavis announced that, at Actavis' request, the parties had agreed to stay this litigation and extend the 30-month stay regarding Actavis’ ANDA for its generic version of Xifaxan® (rifaximin) 550 mg tablets. This action is stayed through April 30, 2018 and cannot be lifted prior to October 31, 2017. All scheduled litigation activities, including the January 2018 trial date, have been indefinitely removed from the Court docket. Further, the parties agreed and the Court ordered that Actavis' 30-month regulatory stay shall be extended from August 12, 2018 until no earlier than February 12, 2019 and potentially longer if the litigation stay lasts for more than six months. The Company remains confident in the strength of the Xifaxan patents and believes it will prevail in this matter should it move forward. The Company also continues to believe the allegations raised in Actavis’ notice are without merit and will defend its intellectual property vigorously.
Product Liability
Shower to Shower Products Liability Litigation
The Company has been named in over eighty lawsuits involving the Shower to Shower body powder product acquired in September 2012 from Johnson & Johnson. The Company has been successful in obtaining dismissals as to the Company and/or its subsidiary, Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America LLC (“VPNA”), in some of these cases. The Company continues to seek dismissals in these cases and to pursue agreements from plaintiffs to not oppose the Company’s motions for summary judgment.
These lawsuits include one case originally filed on December 30, 2016 in the In re Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Litigation, Multidistrict Litigation 2738, pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The Company and VPNA were first named in a lawsuit filed directly into the MDL alleging that the use of the Shower to Shower product caused the plaintiff to develop ovarian cancer. On March 24, 2017, the plaintiff agreed to a dismissal of all claims against the Company and VPNA without prejudice, and neither the Company nor VPNA have been named in any further lawsuits in the MDL.
These lawsuits also include a number of matters filed in the Superior Court of Delaware alleging that the use of Shower to Shower caused the plaintiffs to develop ovarian cancer. The Company has been voluntarily dismissed from nearly all of these cases, and only claims against VPNA remain. These lawsuits also include allegations against Johnson & Johnson, directed primarily to its marketing of and warnings for the Shower to Shower product prior to the Company’s acquisition of the product in September 2012. The allegations in these cases specifically directed to VPNA include failure to warn, design defect, negligence, gross negligence, breach of express and implied warranties, civil conspiracy concert in action, negligent misrepresentation, wrongful death, and punitive damages. Plaintiffs seek compensatory damages including medical expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish anxiety and discomfort, physical impairment, loss of enjoyment of life. Plaintiffs also seek pre- and post-judgment interest, exemplary and punitive damages, treble damages, and attorneys’ fees.
These lawsuits also include a number of cases filed in certain state courts in the United States (including the California Superior Courts, the Superior Courts of Delaware, the New Jersey Superior Courts, the District Court of Louisiana, the Supreme Court of New York (County of Niagara) and the District Court of Oklahoma City) alleging use of Shower to Shower and other products resulted in the plaintiffs developing mesothelioma. The Company has been successful in obtaining voluntarily dismissals in some of these cases or the plaintiffs have not opposed summary judgment. The allegations in these cases generally include design defect, manufacturing defect, failure to warn, negligence, and punitive damages, and in some cases breach of express and implied warranties, misrepresentation, and loss of consortium. The plaintiffs seek compensatory damages for loss of services, economic loss, pain and suffering, and, in some cases, lost wages or earning capacity and loss of consortium, in addition to punitive damages, interest, litigation costs, and attorneys’ fees.
Finally, two proposed class actions have been filed in Canada against the Company and various Johnson & Johnson entities (one in the Supreme Court of British Columbia and one in the Superior Court of Quebec). The Company also acquired the rights to the Shower to Shower product in Canada from Johnson & Johnson in September 2012. In the British Columbia matter, the plaintiff seeks to certify a proposed class action on behalf of persons in British Columbia and Canada who have purchased or used Johnson’s Baby Powder or Shower to Shower, including their estates, executors and personal representatives, and is alleging that the use of this products increases certain health risks. In the Quebec matter, the plaintiff seeks to certify a proposed class action on behalf of persons in Québec who have used Johnson’s Baby Powder or Shower to Shower, as well as their family members, assigns and heirs, and is alleging negligence in failing to properly test, failing to warn of health risks, and failing to remove the products from the market in a timely manner. The plaintiffs in these actions are seeking awards of general, special, compensatory and punitive damages. The likelihood of the authorization or certification of these claims as class actions cannot be assessed at this time.
The Company intends to defend itself vigorously in each of the remaining actions that are not voluntarily dismissed or subject to a grant of summary judgment. The Company believes that its potential liability (including its attorneys’ fees and costs) arising out the Shower to Shower lawsuits filed against the Company is subject to certain indemnification obligations of Johnson & Johnson owed to the Company. The Company has provided Johnson & Johnson with notice that the lawsuits filed against the Company relating to Shower to Shower are, in whole or in part, subject to indemnification by Johnson & Johnson.
General Civil Actions
Afexa Class Action
On March 9, 2012, a Notice of Civil Claim was filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia which seeks an order certifying a proposed class proceeding against the Company and a predecessor, Afexa Life Sciences Inc. ("Afexa") (Case No. NEW-S-S-140954). The proposed claim asserts that Afexa and the Company made false representations respecting Cold-FX® to residents of British Columbia who purchased the product during the applicable period and that the proposed class has suffered damages as a result. On November 8, 2013, the Plaintiff served an amended notice of civil claim which sought to re-characterize the representation claims and broaden them from what was originally claimed. On December 8, 2014, the Company filed a motion to strike certain elements of the Plaintiff’s claim for failure to state a cause of action. In response, the Plaintiff proposed further amendments to its claim. The hearing on the motion to strike and the Plaintiff’s amended claim was held on February 4, 2015. The Court allowed certain amendments, while it struck others. The hearing to certify the class was held on April 4-8, 2016 and, on November 16, 2016, the Court issued a decision dismissing the plaintiff’s application for certification of this action as a class proceeding. On December 15, 2016, the plaintiff filed a notice of appeal in the British Columbia Court of Appeal appealing the decision to dismiss the application for certification. The plaintiff filed its appeal factum on March 15, 2017 and the Company filed its appeal factum on April 19, 2017. The appeal hearing has been scheduled for September 19, 2017. The Company denies the allegations being made and is continuing to vigorously defend this matter.
Mississippi Attorney General Consumer Protection Action
The Company and VPNA are named in an action brought by James Hood, Attorney General of Mississippi, in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi (Hood ex rel. State of Mississippi, Civil Action No. G2014-1207013, filed on August 22, 2014), alleging consumer protection claims against both Johnson & Johnson, the Company and VPNA related to the Shower to Shower body powder product and its alleged causal link to ovarian cancer. As indicated above, the Company acquired the Shower to Shower body powder product in September 2012 from Johnson & Johnson. The State seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, injunctive relief requiring warnings for talc-containing products, removal from the market of products that fail to warn, and to prevent the continued violation of the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act. The State also seeks disgorgement of profits from the sale of the product and civil penalties. The State has not made specific allegations as to the Company or VPNA. The Company intends to defend itself vigorously in this action, which the Company believes will also fall, in whole or in part, within the indemnification obligations of Johnson & Johnson owed to the Company, as indicated above.
Sprout Litigation
On or about November 2, 2016, the Company and Valeant were named as defendants in a lawsuit filed by the shareholder representative of the former shareholders of Sprout in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (C.A. No. 12868). The plaintiff in this action is alleging, among other things, breach of contract with respect to certain terms of the merger agreement relating to the Sprout Acquisition, including a disputed contractual term respecting the use of certain diligent efforts to develop and commercialize the Addyi® product (including a disputed contractual term respecting the spend of no less than $200 million in certain expenditures). The plaintiff in this action is seeking unspecified compensatory and other damages and attorneys’ fees, as well as an order requiring Valeant to perform its obligations under the merger agreement. On December 27, 2016, the Company and Valeant filed (i) an answer directed to the claim for breach of contract and (ii) a partial motion to dismiss the other claims. The Court held a hearing on the partial motion to dismiss on March 10, 2017, and the Court subsequently granted that motion in part, dismissing plaintiff’s intentional misrepresentation and declaratory judgment claims in their entirety and narrowing plaintiff’s implied covenant claim. The action is now in discovery as to the remaining claims. The Company is vigorously defending this matter.
Uceris® Arbitration
On or about December 5, 2016, Cosmo Technologies Ltd. and Cosmo Technologies III Ltd. (collectively, “Cosmo”), the licensor of certain intellectual property rights in, and supplier of, the Company’s Uceris® extended release tablets, commenced arbitration against certain affiliates of the Company, Santarus Inc. (“Santarus”) and Valeant Pharmaceuticals Ireland (“Valeant Ireland”), under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (No. 22453/GR, Cosmo Technologies Ltd. et al. v. Santarus, Inc. et al.). In the arbitration, Cosmo is alleging breach of contract with respect to certain terms of the license agreement, including the obligations on Santarus to use certain commercially reasonable efforts to promote the Uceris® extended release tablets. Cosmo is seeking a declaration that both the license agreement and a supply agreement with Valeant Ireland have been terminated, plus audit and attorney fees. Santarus and Valeant Ireland submitted their Answer in the arbitration on January 10, 2017 denying each of Cosmo’s allegations and making certain counterclaims. A hearing on liability issues is scheduled to begin on October 5, 2017. The Company is vigorously defending this matter.
Arbitration with Alfa Wasserman
On or about July 21, 2016, Alfa Wasserman S.p.A. (“Alfa Wasserman”) commenced arbitration against the Company and its subsidiary, Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Salix Inc.”) under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (No. 22132/GR, Alfa Wasserman S.p.A. v. Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. et al.), pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated License Agreement between Alfa Wasserman and Salix Inc. (the “ARLA”). In the arbitration, Alfa Wasserman has made certain allegations respecting a development project for a formulation of the rifaximin compound (not the Xifaxan® product) that is being conducted under the terms of the ARLA, including allegations that Salix Inc. has failed to use the required efforts with respect to this development and that the Company’s acquisition of Salix resulted in a change of control under the ARLA, which entitled Alfa Wasserman to assume control of this development. Alfa Wasserman is seeking, among other things, a declaration that the provisions of the ARLA relating to the development product and the rights relating to the rifaximin formulation being developed have been terminated and such development and rights shall be returned to Alfa Wasserman, an order requiring the Company and Salix Inc. to pay for the costs of such development (in an amount of at least $80 million), and alleged damages in the amount of approximately $285 million plus arbitration costs and attorney fees. The Company and Salix Inc. have submitted their initial response to the request for arbitration and a three-member arbitration tribunal was selected. The Company is vigorously defending this matter.
The Company’s Xifaxan® products (and Salix Inc.'s rights thereto under the ARLA) are not the subject of any of the allegations or relief sought in this arbitration.
Mimetogen Litigation
In November 2014, B&L Inc. filed a lawsuit against Mimetogen Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“MPI”) in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York (Bausch & Lomb Incorporated v. Mimetogen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Case No. 6:14-06640 (FPG-JWF) (W.D.N.Y.)) relating to the Development Collaboration and Exclusive Option Agreement between B&L Inc. and MPI dated July 17, 2013 (the “MIM-D3 Agreement”) for MIM-D3, a compound created by MPI to treat dry eye syndrome. In particular, B&L Inc. sought a declaratory judgment that the Initial Phase III Trial regarding the safety and efficacy of MIM-D3 conducted pursuant to the MIM-D3 Agreement was “Not Successful” as defined in the MIM-D3 Agreement and, as a result, B&L Inc. had no further obligation to MPI when B&L Inc. elected not to exercise or extend its option to obtain an exclusive license to the MIM-D3 Technology to develop and commercialize certain products pursuant to the MIM-D3 Agreement before the end of the applicable option period.  MPI filed a counterclaim against B&L Inc., in which it contended that the result of the clinical trial did not meet the definition of “Not Successful” under the MIM-D3 Agreement and that, as a result, a $20 million termination fee was due by B&L Inc. to MPI under the terms of the MIM-D3 Agreement and that B&L Inc. had breached the MIM-D3 Agreement by failing to pay this termination fee. MPI also contended that B&L Inc. acted intentionally and consequently was entitled to additional damages. MPI also brought certain third-party claims against the Company, alleging that the Company intentionally interfered with the MIM-D3 Agreement with the intent to harm MPI.  MPI also asserted a claim against the Company for unfair and deceptive acts under Massachusetts law, and sought recovery of the $20 million fee, as well as additional damages related to this claimed delay and injury to the value of its developmental product.  On March 12, 2015, the Company moved to dismiss all of the claims against the Company and the claims for extra-contractual damages. In May 2016, the Court dismissed all claims against the Company, other than the claim for tortious interference, and declined to dismiss the claims against B&L Inc. and the Company for extra-contractual damages.  On August 19, 2016, MPI filed a motion for summary judgment on its contract claim against B&L Inc. On September 22, 2016, B&L Inc. responded to MPI’s motion for summary judgment, and, along with the Company, filed a cross-motion for judgment in their favor, dismissing the contract claims against B&L Inc., as well as the remaining third-party claim against the Company for tortious interference. On June 30, 2017, the Court issued a Decision and Order granting MPI’s motion for partial summary judgment, awarding MPI the amount of $20 million (based on a finding that the termination fee was due based on the outcome of the clinical trial) and denying the cross-motion for summary judgment filed by B&L Inc. and the Company. The Decision and Order is not yet appealable and the Company believes that that the Decision and Order cannot be enforced, as it is a partial summary judgment and not yet a final order of the Court. B&L Inc. and the Company intend to appeal this decision at the soonest possible time and will continue to vigorously defend the remainder of the suit.
Salix Legal Proceedings
The Salix legal proceeding matter set out below, as well as each of those Salix matters described under the sub-heading “Completed Matters” below, were commenced prior to the Company’s acquisition of Salix. The estimated fair values of the potential losses regarding these matters, along with other matters, are included as part of contingent liabilities assumed in the Salix Acquisition and updated regularly as needed.
Salix SEC Investigation
In the fourth quarter of 2014, the SEC commenced a formal investigation into possible securities law violations by Salix relating to disclosures by Salix of inventory amounts in the distribution channel and related issues in press releases, on analyst calls and in Salix’s various SEC filings, as well as related accounting issues. In April 2017, the SEC staff indicated that it had substantially completed its investigation and will be making recommendations to the Commission in the near future. Salix continues to cooperate with the SEC staff. The Company cannot predict the outcome of the SEC investigation or any other legal proceedings or any enforcement actions or other remedies that may be imposed on Salix or the Company arising out of the SEC investigation.
Philidor Matters
As mentioned above in this section, the Company is involved in certain investigations, disputes and other proceedings related to the Company’s now terminated relationship with Philidor. These include the putative class action litigation in the U.S. and Canada, the purported class actions under the federal RICO statute and the investigations by certain offices of the Department of Justice, the SEC and the California Department of Insurance and the request for documents and other information received from the AMF. There can be no assurances that governmental agencies or other third parties will not commence additional investigations or assert claims relating to the Company’s former relationship with Philidor or Philidor’s business practices, including claims that Philidor or its affiliated pharmacies improperly billed third parties or that the Company is liable, directly or indirectly, for such practices. The Company is cooperating with all existing governmental investigations related to Philidor and is vigorously defending the putative class action litigations. No assurance can be given regarding the ultimate outcome of any present or future proceedings relating to Philidor.
Completed Matters
The following matters have concluded, settled or otherwise been closed or the Company anticipates that no further material activity will take place with respect thereto. The Company plans to remove these matters from the next Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, absent new developments:
Voluntary Request Letter from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission
On October 16, 2015, the Company received a voluntary request letter from the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") with respect to its non-public investigation into the Company's acquisition of Paragon Holdings I, Inc. (“Paragon”). In the letter, the FTC requested that the Company provide, on a voluntary basis, certain information and documentation relating to its acquisition of Paragon. The Company produced certain documents and information in response to the request and cooperated with the FTC in connection with this investigation. On November 7, 2016, the FTC announced that it had accepted for public comment a consent agreement in connection with this investigation.  Pursuant to the consent agreement, the Company agreed to divest Paragon, which divestiture was completed on November 9, 2016. The consent agreement, together with an accompanying Decision and Order, was approved in final form by the FTC on February 8, 2017. The final approval of the Decision and Order by the FTC brings this matter to a close.
Congressional Inquiries
Beginning in November 2015, the Company has received from the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging various document requests, as well as subpoenas for documents, depositions and a hearing which was held on April 27, 2016. Certain directors, officers and other employees of the Company have also received from the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging subpoenas for depositions and/or hearings. In January 2016, the Company received from the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform a document request and an invitation for the Company’s then interim CEO to testify at a hearing, at which he testified on February 4, 2016. Most of the materials requested to date relate to the Company’s pricing decisions on particular drugs, as well as revenue, expense and profit information, and also include requests relating to financial support provided by the Company for patients and financial data related to the Company’s research and development program, Medicare and Medicaid. On December 21, 2016, the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging issued a report on its drug pricing investigation entitled “Sudden Price Spikes in Off-Patent Prescription Drugs: The Monopoly Business Model that Harms Patients, Taxpayers, and the U.S. Health Care System”. The Company has cooperated with these inquiries and cannot predict with certainty their outcome or duration; however, the Company currently believes that there will be no further material developments with respect to these inquiries.
Investigation by the State of New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Securities
On April 20, 2016, the Company received a document subpoena from the New Jersey State Bureau of Securities. The materials requested include documents concerning the Company’s former relationship with Philidor, its accounting treatment for sales to Philidor, its financial reporting and public disclosures and other matters. The Company has cooperated with this investigation. On May 12, 2017, the Company was notified that the New Jersey Bureau of Securities was closing this investigation.
Salix Shareholder Class Actions
Following the announcement of the execution of the Salix Merger Agreement with Salix, between February 25, 2015 and March 12, 2015, six purported stockholder class actions were filed challenging the Salix Acquisition. All of the actions were filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery, and alleged claims against some or all of the board of directors of Salix (the “Salix Board”), the Company, Salix, Valeant and Sun Merger Sub. On March 17, 2015, the Court consolidated the actions under the caption Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. Shareholder Litigation, Consolidated C.A. No.10721-CB. On September 25, 2015, Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint. The operative complaint alleges generally that the members of the Salix Board breached their fiduciary duties to stockholders, and that the other defendants aided and abetted such breaches, by seeking to sell Salix through an allegedly inadequate sales process and for allegedly inadequate consideration and by agreeing to allegedly preclusive deal protections. The complaint also alleges that the Schedule 14D-9 filed by Salix in connection with the Salix Acquisition contained inaccurate or materially misleading information about, among other things, the Salix Acquisition and the sales process leading up to the Salix Merger Agreement. The complaint seeks, among other things, money damages and unspecified attorneys’ and other fees and costs. Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss were fully briefed as of February 19, 2016.  In an oral ruling given on May 19, 2016, the Court dismissed the consolidated action against all defendants. On June 17, 2016, the Plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal in the Delaware Supreme Court appealing the decision to dismiss the consolidated action against all defendants. The appeal was fully briefed as of October 7, 2016. Oral argument was held on January 25, 2017 and, on January 26, 2017, the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of all claims.
Salix Securities Litigation
Beginning on November 7, 2014, three putative class action lawsuits were filed by shareholders of Salix, each of which generally alleges that Salix and certain of its former officers and directors violated federal securities laws in connection with Salix’s disclosures regarding certain products, including with respect to disclosures concerning historic wholesaler inventory levels, business prospects and demand, reserves and internal controls. Two of these actions were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and are captioned: Woburn Retirement System v. Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., et al. (Case No: 1:14-CV-08925 (KMW)), and Bruyn v. Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., et al. (Case No. 1:14-CV-09226 (KMW)). These two actions have been consolidated under the caption In re Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (Case No. 14-CV-8925 (KMW)). Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss were fully briefed as of August 3, 2015. The Court denied the Motions to Dismiss in an order dated March 31, 2016 for the reasons stated in an opinion dated April 22, 2016. Defendants’ Answers to the operative Complaint were filed on May 31, 2016. On October 10, 2016, Plaintiffs’ filed a motion for class certification.  A third action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina under the caption Grignon v. Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. et al. (Case No. 5:14-cv-00804-D), but was subsequently voluntarily dismissed. On February 8, 2017, the parties reached an agreement in principle to settle the consolidated action, pursuant to which Salix will make a payment of $210 million and, on April 5, 2017, the court granted preliminary approval of the settlement.  A hearing to grant final approval of the settlement was heard on July 28, 2017 and the settlement was approved by the Court. The settlement amount has been fully accrued for in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2016 and a payment of $210 million was made in the second quarter of 2017 (in total, the Company expects to receive a total of $60 million of insurance refund proceeds related to this matter, a portion of which has already been received by the Company). Included in Other expense (income) in the statement of loss for 2016 is a $90 million charge in the fourth quarter for this matter.
AntiGrippin® Litigation
A suit was brought against the Company’s subsidiary, Natur Produkt International, JSC ("Natur Produkt") seeking lost profits in connection with the registration by Natur Produkt of its AntiGrippin® trademark. The plaintiff in this matter alleged that Natur Produkt violated Russian competition law by preventing plaintiff from producing and marketing its products under certain brand names. The matter (Case No. A-56-23056/2013, Arbitration Court of St. Petersburg) was accepted for proceedings on June 24, 2013 and a hearing was held on November 28, 2013. In a decision dated December 4, 2013, the Court found in favor of the plaintiff (AnviLab) and awarded the plaintiff lost profits in the amount of approximately RUB 1,660 million (being approximately $50 million at the December 4, 2013 decision date). This charge was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2013 in Other expense (income) in the consolidated statements of operations. Natur Produkt appealed this decision, and a hearing in the appeal proceeding was held on March 16, 2014. The Appeal Court found in favor of Natur Produkt and dismissed the plaintiff’s claim in full. Following this decision, the Company concluded that the potential loss was no longer probable, and therefore the reserve was reversed in the first quarter of 2014 in Other expense (income) in the consolidated statements of operations. AnviLab appealed the Appeal Court's decision and the IP Court found in favor of the plaintiff and ruled to send the case for the second review to the court of the first instance, indicating that the court of the first instance should decide on the amount of damages suffered by AnviLab. Natur Produkt appealed the decision of the IP Court to the Supreme Court on September 15, 2014, but, on October 22, 2014, the Supreme Court denied that appeal and the matter was sent back to the court of first instance for the second review. Following the April 9, 2015 hearing, the court of first instance ruled in favor of the plaintiff and awarded the plaintiff lost profits in the amount of approximately RUB 1,660 million. Natur Produkt filed an appeal against this decision, both as to the merits and the quantum of damages, to the Appeal Court on May 15, 2015. The hearing before the Appeal Court was held on July 28, 2015 and the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff. Subsequently, Natur Produkt filed an appeal to the IP Court. At a hearing held on October 6, 2015, the IP Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff and upheld the decision of the Appeal Court. Natur Produkt appealed to the Supreme Court for review of the IP Court’s decision and, on December 30, 2015, the Supreme Court rejected Natur Produkt’s request for appeal. As Natur Produkt’s appeal to the IP Court did not delay enforcement of the Appeal Court’s decision, Natur Produkt was required to pay the claimed amount of RUB 1,660 million (being approximately $25 million as of the payment date) to the plaintiff, via bailiffs’ account, on September 28, 2015. The Company recognized the $25 million charge in the third quarter of 2015 in Other (income) expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
Following the decision of the IP Court, AnviLab filed two more claims against Natur Produkt relating to the matter described above (the “Original AnviLab Matter”). The first claim by AnviLab was filed on December 3, 2015 with the Saint Petersburg Arbitration Tribunal (Case No. A-56-89244/2015) and sought an amount in respect of the interest payable on the amount awarded by the Appeal Court in the Original AnviLab Matter for the period between the date the amount was awarded by the Appeal Court (August 4, 2015) and the date AnviLab received the payment (September 29, 2015). A hearing in this matter was held on March 24, 2016 and a subsequent hearing was held on April 14, 2016. The second claim by AnviLab was filed on December 15, 2015 with the Saint Petersburg Arbitration Tribunal (Case No.A-56-23056/2013) and sought an amount in respect of litigation costs related to Original AnviLab Matter. A hearing in this matter was held on February 25, 2016 and a subsequent hearing was held on April 14, 2016. The Court awarded amounts to AnviLab with respect to each of these claims. For both of these claims, the amount awarded to AnviLab was insignificant. On May 25, 2016, Natur Produkt appealed both of these decisions. The hearing for Natur Produkt’s appeal respecting the claim for interest was held on August 16, 2016 and the Appeal Court decreased the amount awarded to Anvilab. The hearing for Natur Produkt’s appeal respecting the claim for litigation costs was held on August 31, 2016 and the Appeal Court decreased the amount awarded to Anvilab. Natur Produkt has paid both amounts (each of which were insignificant) to Anvilab. The period for either party to appeal the decision of the court in the claim for interest expired on November 7, 2016. Natur Produkt did not appeal the decision and it has not yet received any notice as to whether Anvilab has appealed. In the claim for litigation costs, Anvilab filed an appeal for to change the venue from the Cassation Court to the IP Court and the Appeal Court accepted this appeal. Consequently, Anvilab filed a cassation appeal in the IP Court seeking annulment of the decision of the Appeal Court and demanded that the decision of the court of the first instance be upheld. The hearing before the IP Court was held on January 31, 2017 and the intellectual property court upheld the decision of the Appeal Court and the Anvilab claim was rejected. The period for Anvilab to appeal that decision to the Supreme Court expired on April 6, 2017 and Natur Produkt received no notice of any such appeal by Anvilab.