LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC (Form: 8-K, Received: 09/12/2019 06:01:42)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

______________

FORM 8-K

______________

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 11, 2019

LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)



Delaware	001-33093	77-0160744
(State or other jurisdiction of	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)		Identification No.)



3911 Sorrento Valley Boulevard, Suite 110
San Diego
CA		92121
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(858) 550-7500

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:



Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share	LGND	The Nasdaq Global Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933(§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 8.01 Other Events.

Stock Repurchase Program

On September 11, 2019, the Board of Directors of the Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (“Ligand” or the “Company”) approved a stock repurchase program authorizing, but not obligating, the repurchase of up to $500 million of the Company’s common stock from time to time over the next three years. The Company expects to acquire shares primarily through open-market transactions and may enter into a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan to facilitate open-market repurchases. The timing and amount of repurchase transactions will be determined by the Company’s management based on its evaluation of market conditions, share price, legal requirements and other factors.

The Company’s prior $350 million stock repurchase program was terminated in connection with the approval of the new stock repurchase program. As of September 11, 2019, the Company had acquired 2,968,124 shares of common stock for a total of approximately $350 million under the prior stock repurchase program.

Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements by the Company that involve risks and uncertainties and reflect the Company’s judgment as of the date of this report. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s plans with respect to stock repurchases, including the timing and manner of any purchases under the stock repurchase program. Actual events or results may differ from the Company’s expectations. For example, the stock repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time. The failure to meet expectations with respect to any of the foregoing matters may reduce the Company's stock price. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors affecting the Company can be found in the Company’s public periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission available at www.sec.gov. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements beyond the date of this report. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



	LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

Date: September 12, 2019	By: /s/ Charles S. Berkman Name: Charles S. Berkman Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary