Precedo Capital Group Inc. v. Twitter Inc.
Precedo Capital Group Inc. v. Twitter Inc.
Opinion of the Court
OPINION AND ORDER
I. INTRODUCTION
Plaintiffs, two financial services companies, bring this suit against Twitter Inc.
Twitter moves to dismiss the complaint with prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). For the reasons set forth below, Twitter’s motion is granted.
II. BACKGROUND
A. Facts
1. The Parties
Precedo Capital Group Inc. (“Precedo”) and Continental Advisors SA (“Continental”) are both in the financial services industry.
The Complaint’s allegations relate to events that began in early 2012 and ended in October 2012, a year before the IPO.
2. The Alleged Fraud
On an unspecified date, plaintiffs met GSV Asset’s managing partner, Matthew Hanson.
Precedo entered into a Mandate Agreement with GSV Asset on May 6, 2012.
The Complaint alleges that Twitter never intended to consent to the sale of Twitter stock.
“Twitter cancelled the GSV Asset Offering on October 5, 2012. GSV Asset then sent a formal letter of cancellation to [Continental] on October 22, 2012.”
3. The Alleged Agency Relationship
The Complaint identifies several grounds for plaintiffs’ belief that GSV Asset was Twitter’s agent.
Beginning in April 2012, GSV Asset told Precedo that Twitter wanted GSV Asset to sell third-party Twitter stock “and that GSV Asset was directly authorized by Twitter to offer up to 18 million secondary shares of Twitter stock and that GSV Asset had the exclusive right.”
On August 10, 2012, Hanson told plaintiffs that the pre-IPO sale of Twitter shares was approved by Twitter, GSV Asset, and Wilson Sonsini.
On September 4, 2012, Hanson sent an email to Mark Porcelli of Continental indicating that “we will move our closing date or at least append the closing date to indicate we’ll have to get through a [right of first refusal] period with Twitter” and that “the fund can’t close till Twitter signs off ”
On September 10, 2012, Hanson sent Mark Porcelli an email stating that:
GSV is an investor in Twitter — we’ve known Twitter for 3 years now. Twitter is GSVC’s largest position (12% of our Fund). GSV is one of the few approved buyers of Twitter, being approved directly by Twitter’s Board of Directors. Twitter also gave GSV special permission to form this fund. GSV knows Twitter as an investment intimately— we’ve built our GSVC position over the last 2 years. GSV also has regular conversations with Twitter’s management.35
Hanson represented “on all telephone calls and at investor meetings that GSV Asset was ‘1 of 7 approved buyers’ and the only entity to have an allocation of Twitter shares.”
On September 12, 2012, Hanson showed plaintiffs a third-party shareholder list which indicated that thirty shareholders were going to sell over fourteen million shares of Twitter stock
On September 15, 2012, Hanson told Continental that if it had a large buyer, GSV Asset could arrange an inspection of Twitter’s financial documents in a data
Beginning on September 7, 2012 and ending on September 25, 2012, Hanson participated in twenty-seven road shows throughout Europe.
Hanson used what plaintiffs believed to be non-public information regarding Twitter’s business model in slide shows.
On October 2, 2012, several potential investors, but not the plaintiffs, took part in a teleconference.
Erdmann indicated that Twitter was working with five funds which had right of first refusal status, and that Twitter was also working with other funds.
B. Procedural History
Plaintiffs commenced this law suit by filing a complaint on October 20, 2013. They filed their first amended complaint on November 25, 2013, which Twitter moved to dismiss. In response to this motion, plaintiffs filed an opposition brief and a number of affidavits. They also argued that were the Court inclined to grant Twitter’s motion, they should be permitted to amend the amended complaint pursuant to Rule 15(a).
At a conference on February 19, 2014, I permitted the plaintiffs to amend their complaint over Twitter’s objection. I also entered an Order denying Twitter’s motion to dismiss without prejudice. Twitter filed the instant motion to dismiss after plaintiffs filed their Second Amended Complaint.
A. Motion to Dismiss
In deciding a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), the court must “accept[ ] all factual allegations in the complaint as true, and draw[ ] all reasonable inferences in the plaintiffs favor.”
A claim is facially plausible “when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.”
In considering a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), a district court may consider “only the complaint, ... any documents attached thereto or incorporated by reference and documents upon which the complaint relies heavily.”
B. Pleading Requirements
1. Rule 8
Rule 8(a)(2) requires “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.”
2. Rule 9(b)
All claims sounding in fraud must comply with Rule 9(b)’s heightened pleading standard.
To comply with the requirements of Rule 9(b), a plaintiff must: “(1) specify the statements that the plaintiff contends were fraudulent, (2). identify the speaker, (3) state where and when the statements were made, and (4) explain why the statements were fraudulent.”
IV. APPLICABLE LAW
A. Agency Under New York Law
“‘New York common law provides that an agency relationship results from a manifestation of consent by one person to another that the other shall act on his behalf and subject to his control, and the consent by the other to act.’ ”
1. Actual Authority
The “consent for actual authority may be either express or implied from' the parties’ words and conduct as construed in light of the surrounding circumstances.”
2. Apparent Authority
Where a putative agent lacks actual authority, a principal may be liable for that party’s fraudulent conduct if the “principal has created the appearance of authority, leading ... [another] party to reasonably believe that actual authority exists.”
3. Ratification
Under the doctrine of ratification:
Even in the absence of actual or apparent authority, a person may still be liable as a principal if he affirms or ratifies an act done by one who purports to be acting for the ratifier. Under New York law, it is possible to imply ratification if the principal retains the benefit of an unauthorized transaction with knowledge of the material facts. Thus, ratification is a form of retroactive activity that occurs when the principal, having knowledge of the material facts, accepts the benefits of the agent’s action already made on his behalf.79
“Key to the concept of ratification is intent, express or implied, to affirm or adopt the acts of another.”
B. Fraud
A fraud claim under New York law has five elements. To state a claim for fraud a plaintiff must adequately plead “(1) a misrepresentation or omission of material fact; (2) which the defendant knew to be false; (3) which the defendant made with the intention of inducing reliance; (4) upon which the plaintiff reasonably relied; and (5) which caused injury to the plaintiff.”
V. DISCUSSION
A. The Conduct Alleged.in the Complaint Does Not Give Rise to a Plausible Inference of an Agency Relationship
1. Actual Authority
Plaintiffs’ arguments touch on, and often confuse, various theories of agency.
2. Apparent Authority
To plead apparent authority, the Complaint must contain allegations that Twitter’s statements to or interactions with plaintiffs gave rise to a reasonable belief that GSV Asset had authority to act as Twitter’s agent.
Instead, plaintiffs argue that they “reasonably believed” that GSV Asset was Twitter’s agent because GSV Asset used the same attorneys as Twitter and GSV Asset had access to Twitter’s highly confidential information.
Plaintiffs make two related arguments to overcome this defect. Relying on Property Advisory Group v. Bevona,
Property Advisory Group does not support plaintiffs’ arguments. In that case, the agent was given express authority by the principal. However, contrary to customary practice in the industry, the principal limited the scope of that authority to exclude entering into union contracts.
By contrast, the Complaint here does not plausibly allege that Twitter granted GSV Asset express authority to act as its agent for any purpose. Moreover, the Complaint does not allege that Twitter secretly limited that authority contrary to the standard practice in the securities industry.
3. Ratification
Plaintiffs next claim that the Complaint supports a ratification theory of agency.
The Complaint states that Twitter knew that plaintiffs entered into the Mandate Agreements with GSV Asset.
Plaintiffs also state that various documents shown to them and third-parties by GSV Asset could only have come from
Finally, plaintiffs point to the October 2, 2012 teleconference, during which Nils Erdmann, Twitter’s head of Investor Relations, Corporate Finance and Merger & Acquisitions, indicated that Twitter was “aware of the GSV presentations, and that GSV had been promoting the Third-Party shareholder Twitter stock, but maintained that only lOak had a right of first refusal.”
Plaintiffs’ entry into the Mandate Agreements occurred months before the October 2, 2012 teleconference. The Complaint does not support an inference that Twitter failed to act upon learning that GSV Asset was holding itself out as its agent. Plaintiffs argue that “[e]ven after being contacted by accredited investors [on October 2, 2012], Twitter did not contact GSV Asset and require them to stop, offering the Twitter stock.”
In sum, the Complaint does not successfully plead an agency relationship between GSV Asset and Twitter by actual authority, apparent authority, or ratification. As plaintiffs concede, the viability of their fraud claim hinges upon the agency theory just rejected.
VI. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Twitter’s motion to dismiss is GRANTED with prejudice.
SO ORDERED.
. Jurisdiction is premised on diversity of citizenship.
. Unless otherwise indicated, the facts are drawn frqm the Second Amended Complaint ("Complaint”). Well-pleaded factual allegations are presumed true for the purposes of this motion. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). However, allegations in the Complaint that consist of conclusory statements or threadbare recitals of causes of action are not entitled to the presumption of truth. See Kirkendall v. Halliburton, 707 F.3d 173, 175 n. 1 (2d Cir. 2013); Bigio v. Coca-Cola Co., 675 F.3d 163, 173 (2d Cir. 2012) (citing Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937).
. See Complaint ¶¶ 16, 17.
. See id. ¶¶ 1, 2.
. See id. ¶¶ 7, 45, 51.
. See id. ¶ 9 ("It is standard practice in the securities industry to deal directly with the lead underwriter and seller of securities, so that there was only communication with GSV Asset during the offering in which Plaintiffs relied on Twitter’s representations through GSV Asset and not directly with Twitter.”).
. See id. ¶¶ 21-45.
. See id. ¶ 5.
. See id.
. Id. ¶ 6.
. See id. ¶ 23.
. See id. ¶ 44.
. See id.
. See id. Precedo was to sell Twitter stock through a carve out of @GSV, as the Precedo Opportunity Fund. See id. Continental agreed "to sell @GSV which would hold 100% Twitter stock....” Id.
. See id. ¶¶ 11, 43, 47-48, 52, 58, 65, 67-68.
. See id. ¶ 11.
.Id. ¶ 14.
. Id. ¶ 13.
. Id. ¶ 45.
. See id.
. See id. ¶ 21.
. See id. ¶¶ 22, 51.
. See, e.g., id. ¶¶ 24, 30.
. See, e.g., id. ¶¶ 42, 48.
. Id. 148.
. Id. ¶ 48, 49-51.
. IdA 50.
. See id. ¶ 51.
. See id. ¶ 12.
. See id. ¶¶ 52, 53.
. See id. ¶ 52.
.See id. ¶¶ 53, 55.
. Id. ¶ 23.
. Id. ¶ 32.
. Id. 1142.
. Id.
. See id. ¶ 30.
. See id.
. See id.
. See id. ¶ 39.
. See id.
. See id. ¶ 54.
. See id. ¶¶ 53, 54.
. See id. ¶ 43.
. See id. ¶¶ 24-29.
.See id. ¶ 24.
. See id.
. See id. ¶ 67.
. See id. ¶¶ 34-37.
. Id. ¶ 34.
. Id.
. See id. ¶ 36.
. Id. ¶ 37.
. Freidus v. Barclays Bank PLC, 734 F.3d 132, 137 (2d Cir. 2013) (citing Gorman v. Consolidated Edison Corp., 488 F.3d 586, 591-92 (2d Cir. 2007)).
. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679, 129 S.Ct. 1937.
. Bigio, 675 F.3d at 173 (citing Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937).
. Id.
. Taveras v. UBS AG, 513 Fed.Appx. 19, 22 (2d Cir. 2013) (citing Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679, 129 S.Ct. 1937).
. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 556, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)).
. Id.
. Building Indus. Elec. Contractors Ass’n v. City of New York, 678 F.3d 184, 187 (2d Cir. 2012) (citing In re Citigroup ERISA Litig., 662 F.3d 128, 135 (2d Cir. 2011) (quotation marks omitted)).
. Kirkendall, 707 F.3d at 175 n. 1 (citing L-7 Designs, Inc. v. Old Navy, LLC, 647 F.3d 419, 422 (2d Cir. 2011)).
. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 677-78, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (citing Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2)). .
. See id. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955).
. See Spool v. World Child Int'l Adoption Agency, 520 F.3d 178, 184-185 (2d Cir. 2008).
. ATSI Commc’ns, Inc. v. Shaar Fund, Ltd., 493 F.3d 87, 99 (2d Cir. 2007).
. Nakahata v. New York-Presbyterian Healthcare Sys., Inc., 723 F.3d 192, 197 (2d Cir. 2013) (citing Mills v. Polar Molecular Corp., 12 F.3d 1170, 1175 (2d Cir. 1993)).
. ATSI, 493 F.3d at 99.
. "The law of the forum state governs where, as here, no party alleges that the law of a different state controls and differs from that of the forum.” In re Parmalat Sec. Litig., 594 F.Supp.2d 444, 451 n. 43 (S.D.N.Y. 2009).
. Bigio, 675 F.3d at 175 (quoting N.Y. Marine & Gen. Ins. Co. v. Tradeline (L.L.C), 266 F.3d 112, 122 (2d Cir. 2001)). Accord Elbit Systems, Ltd. v. Credit Suisse Group, 917 F.Supp.2d 217, 225 (S.D.N.Y. 2013) ("Agency reflects mutual consent: the agent must consent to act subject to the principal’s direction and control, and the principal must consent to exercising control over the agent.”) (quotation marks omitted).
. Star Energy Corp. v. RSM Top-Audit, No. 08 Civ. 00329, 2008 WL 5110919, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 26, 2008) (quoting Morgan Guar. Trust Co. of N.Y. v. Republic of Palau, 657 F.Supp. 1475, 1481 n. 2 (S.D.N.Y. 1987)).
. Anwar v. Fairfield Greenwich Ltd., 728 F.Supp.2d 372, 435 (S.D.N.Y. 2010) (quotation marks omitted). Accord Highland Capital Mgmt. LP v. Schneider, 607 F.3d 322, 327 (2d Cir. 2010) ("Actual authority is created by direct manifestations from the principal to the agent, and the extent of the agent’s actual authority is interpreted in the light of all circumstances attending those manifestations, including the customs of business, the subject matter, any formal agreement between the parties, and the facts of which both parties are aware.’ ” (quoting Peltz v. SHB Commodities, Inc., 115 F.3d 1082, 1088 (2d Cir. 1997))).
. See, e.g., Nationwide Life Ins. Co. v. Hearst/ ABC-Viacom Entm't Servs., No. 93 Civ. 2680, 1996 WL 263008, at *8 (S.D.N.Y. May 17, 1996).
. Hidden Brook Air, Inc. v. Thabet Aviation Int’l Inc., 241 F.Supp.2d 246, 260-61 (S.D.N.Y. 2002) (quotation marks omitted). Implied authority may also refer to “a kind of authority arising solely from the designation by the principal of a kind of agent who ordinarily possesses certain powers.” Songbird Jet Ltd., Inc. v. Amax, Inc., 581 F.Supp. 912, 919 (S.D.N.Y. 1984). "The general rule in New York with regard to implied authority is
. Manchester Equip. Co., Inc. v. American Way, 60 F.Supp.2d 3, 8 (E.D.N.Y. 1999). Accord Itel Containers Int'l Corp. v. Atlantrafik Express Serv. Ltd., 909 F.2d 698, 702 (2d Cir. 1990).
. Highland, 607 F.3d at 328: Accord Peltz, 115 F.3d at 1088 ("Apparent authority exists when a principal, either intentionally or by lack of ordinary care, induces [a third party] to believe that an individual has been authorized to act on its behalf.") (quotation marks omitted).
. See Spagnola v. Chubb Corp., 264 F.R.D. 76, 90 (S.D.N.Y. 2010) ("The core principle that underlies the theory of apparent authority is that a third party must have relied on the misrepresentations of the agent because of some misleading conduct on the part of the principal — not the agent.”) (quotation marks omitted) (emphasis in original).
. Id. (quoting Cromer Finance Ltd. v. Berger, 137 F.Supp.2d 452, 486 (S.D.N.Y. 2001)) (emphasis in original).
. Dover Ltd. v. A.B. Watley, Inc., 423 F.Supp.2d 303, 318 (S.D.N.Y. 2006) (quotation marks, alterations, and citations omitted).
. Orix Credit Alliance v. Phillups-Mahnen, Inc., No. 89 Civ. 8376, 1993 WL 183766, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. May 26, 1993).
. Banque Arabe et Internationale d’lnvestissement v. Maryland Nat’l Bank, 850 F.Supp. 1199, 1213 (S.D.N.Y. 1994). Accord Monarch Ins. Co. of Ohio v. Ins. Corp. of Ireland Ltd., 835 F.2d 32, 36 (2d Cir. 1987) ("Ratification requires acceptance by the principal of the benefits of an agent’s acts, with full knowl
. Chemical Bank v. Affiliated FM Ins. Co., 169 F.3d 121, 128 (2d Cir. 1999).
. Solow v. Citigroup, Inc., 507 Fed.Appx. 81, 83 (2d Cir. 2013) (citing Wynn v. AC Rochester, 273 F.3d 153, 156 (2d Cir. 2001)).
. Another problem is that plaintiffs "draw no distinction between (1) whether GSV Asset had a right of first refusal (i.e. had "authority” to acquire Twitter stock) and (2) authority to act as Twitter's agent.” Twitter’s Reply Memorandum of Law in Further Support of Defendant's Motion to Dismiss the Second Amended Verified Complaint at 2 n. 2.
. See Plaintiffs' Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss ("Opp. Mem.”), at 10 ("Twitter authorized GSV Asset to act as its agent through its actions and omissions while the sale of Twitter shareholders’ stock was being promoted.... Twitter did not need to expressly state that they authorized GSV Asset to act as its agent.”). In addition, the Complaint alleges that on October 2, 2012, Twitter denied that GSV Asset had a right of first refusal to sell Twitter third-party stock. See Complaint ¶ 34.
. For example, plaintiffs use the term "implied authority” but cite to cases addressing apparent authority. See Opp. Mem. at 11, 12. While plaintiffs do seem to suggest that providing the shareholder list and other confidential information is a basis for implied actual authority (see id. at 13-14), merely providing a non-agent with confidential information neither transforms that party into an agent nor provides a basis for another party to reasonably infer that he is dealing with an agent of the principal.
. See Spagnola, 264 F.R.D. at 90.
. While the Complaint alleges that GSV Asset told plaintiffs that it was Twitter's agent, "[a]n 'agent cannot confer authority upon himself or make himself an agent merely by saying that he is one.' ” Star Energy Corp., 2008 WL 5110919, at *5 (quoting Nuevo Mundo Holdings v. Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP,
. See Complaint ¶¶ 9, 34-38; Opp. Mem. at 8-9.
. See Opp. Mem. at 11.
. 718 F.Supp. 209, 211 (S.D.N.Y. 1989).
. See Opp. Mem. at 9-12.
. See id. at 17-19.
. See Property Advisory Group, 718 F.Supp. at 211 ("An express agency relationship did not exist between Cooper Hill and Fidelity because their contract specifically limited the power of the manager to bind the owner to any type of union contract or collective bargaining agreement.”).
. See ¿¿at 211.
. See id. ("Where a principal by his voluntary act placed an agent in such a situation that a person of ordinary prudence conversant with business usages and the nature of the particular businesses is justified in assuming that such agent has authority to perform a particular act and deals with the agent upon that assumption, the principal is estopped as against such third person from denying the agent’s authority.”) (quotation marks omitted). Thus, in these circumstances, ”[t]he appointment of a person to a position with generally recognized duties may create apparent authority.” Id. (citing First Fidelity Bank, N.A. v. Government of Antigua & Barbuda, 877 F.2d 189, 193 (2d Cir. 1989)).
. See, e.g., Opp. Mem. at 14-15.
. See Municipality of Bremanger v. Citigroup Global Mkt. Inc., No. 99 Civ. 7058, 2013 WL 1294615, at *21 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 28, 2013), aff'd, 555 Fed.Appx. 85 (2d Cir. 2014); Musicians & Emps. Pension Fund v. Steven Scott Enters., 40 F.Supp.2d 503, 511 (S.D.N.Y. 1999) ("[T]he court concludes that the Pension Fund’s acts of continually cashing all fifteen settlement checks while failing to repudiate Moriarity’s unauthorized actions after receiving notice of at least seven settlement agreements created the appearance of authority that Steven Scott reasonably relied on.... Thus, the Pension Fund’s silence may be construed as an affirmation of Moriarity’s exercise of apparent authority.").
. See infra Part V.A.3.
. See Fennell v. TLB Kent Co., 865 F.2d 498, 502 (2d Cir. 1989) (“Second Circuit case law supports the view that apparent authority is created only by the representations of the principal to the third party, and explicitly rejects the notion that an agent can create apparent authority by his own actions or representations.”).
. See Opp. Mem. at 14-17.
. Municipality of Bremanger, 2013 WL 1294615, at *21.
. See Complaint ¶¶ 9, 44.
. See id. ¶¶ 21-45.
. See, e.g., Opp. Mem. at 15.
. See, e.g., In re Perle, 725 F.3d 1023, 1028 (9th Cir. 2013) ("Perle has identified no case, nor are we able to find one, that imputes to a client knowledge that his lawyer gained while representing a different client.’’).
. Banque Arabe, 850 F.Supp. at 1213.
. Complaint ¶ 34.
. Opp. Mem. at 16.
. See Complaint ¶ 64. The Complaint states that on September 4, 2012, Hanson informed a principal of Continental that "Twitter had no problem being contacted directly regarding the sale of stock....” Id. ¶ 32. However, the Complaint does not claim that plaintiffs ever contacted Twitter directly after September 4, 2012. The only direct contact with Twitter alleged in the Complaint was on October 2, 2012, and even that was by third-parties, not plaintiffs.
. See Opp. Mem. at 19-20.
. I gave plaintiffs the opportunity to amend the First Amended Complaint with the understanding that it would be plaintiffs’ last opportunity to attempt to state a claim. Plaintiffs have not requested permission to make a third amendment, and there is no reason to believe that granting leave to amend the complaint a third time would be productive.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- PRECEDO CAPITAL GROUP INC. and Continental Advisors SA v. TWITTER INC.
- Cited By
- 12 cases
- Status
- Published