UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934(1)
ACORDA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Name of Issuer)
COMMON STOCK, $0.001 PAR VALUE PER SHARE
(Title of Class of Securities)
00484M106
(CUSIP Number)
SEPTEMBER 25, 2006
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed:
|_| Rule 13d-1(b)
|X| Rule 13d-1(c)
|_| Rule 13d-1(d)
_________
1 The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would
alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, SEE the
NOTES).
CUSIP NO. 00484M106 13G Pages 2 of 10 Pages
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1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Ridgeback Capital Investments Ltd. 00-0000000
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2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP** (a) | |
(b) |X|
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3. SEC USE ONLY
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4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Cayman Islands
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NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES -0-
-------- ------------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIALLY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY 3,328,762
-------- ------------------------------------------------------
EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING -0-
-------- ------------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,328,762
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9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
3,328,762
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10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 9 EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES** |_|
--------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
17.0%
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12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON**
OO
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** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT
CUSIP NO. 00484M106 13G Pages 3 of 10 Pages
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1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Ridgeback Capital Investments LLC 42-1684320
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2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP** (a) | |
(b) |X|
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3. SEC USE ONLY
--------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
--------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES -0-
-------- ------------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIALLY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY 3,328,762
-------- ------------------------------------------------------
EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING -0-
-------- ------------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,328,762
--------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
3,328,762
--------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 9 EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES** |_|
--------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
17.0%
--------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON**
OO
--------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT
CUSIP NO. 00484M106 13G Pages 4 of 10 Pages
--------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Wayne Holman
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2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP** (a) | |
(b) |X|
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3. SEC USE ONLY
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4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
USA
--------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES -0-
-------- ------------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIALLY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY 3,328,762
-------- ------------------------------------------------------
EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING -0-
-------- ------------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,328,762
--------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
3,328,762
--------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 9 EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES** |_|
--------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
17.0%
--------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON**
IN
--------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT
CUSIP NO. 00484M106 13G Pages 5 of 10 Pages
ITEM 1(A). NAME OF ISSUER.
Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company").
ITEM 1(B). ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES.
The Company's principal executive offices are located at 15 Skyline Drive,
Hawthorne, New York 10532.
ITEMS 2(A). NAME OF PERSON FILING.
This statement is filed on behalf of the following persons with respect to
shares of common stock of the Company acquired by such persons privately from
existing holders (the "Shares"):
(i) Ridgeback Capital Investments Ltd., a Cayman limited company ("RCI"),
with respect to Shares beneficially owned by it;
(ii) Ridgeback Capital Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
("RCM"), with respect to Shares beneficially owned by it; and
(iii) Wayne Holman, an individual and owner of RCM, with respect to Shares
beneficially owned by him.
The foregoing persons are hereinafter are referred to collectively as the
"Reporting Persons." Any disclosures herein with respect to persons other than
the Reporting Persons are made on information and belief after making inquiry to
the appropriate party.
ITEM 2(B). ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE, RESIDENCE.
The address of the principal business office of each of the Reporting
Persons is 430 Park Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10022.
ITEM 2(C). CITIZENSHIP.
RCI is a Cayman Island limited company. RCM is a Delaware limited liability
company. Wayne Holman is a United States citizen.
ITEM 2(D). TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES.
Common stock, $0.001 par value per share.
ITEM 2(E). CUSIP NUMBER.
00484M106
CUSIP NO. 00484M106 13G Pages 6 of 10 Pages
ITEM 3.
If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b) or 13d- 2(b) or (c),
check whether the person filing is a:
(a) |_| Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the
Act,
(b) |_| Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act,
(c) |_| Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of
the Act,
(d) |_| Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940,
(e) |_| Investment Adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1
(b)(1)(ii)(E),
(f) |_| Employee Benefit Plan or Endowment Fund in accordance
with 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(F),
(g) |_| Parent Holding Company or control person in accordance
with Rule 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(G),
(h) |_| Savings Association as defined in Section 3(b) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act,
(i) |_| Church Plan that is excluded from the definition of an
investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940,
(j) |_| Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
If this statement is filed pursuant to 13d-1(c), check this box: |X|
ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP.
The percentages used herein are calculated based upon 19,630,636 shares
issued and outstanding, as of August 14, 2006, based upon the Company's Form
10-Q for the quarterly period ending June 30, 2006. As of the close of business
on October 5, 2006, the Reporting Persons beneficially owned shares of the
Company's common stock in the amounts and percentages listed below:
A. RIDGEBACK CAPITAL INVESTMENTS LTD.
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 3,328,762
(b) Percent of class: 17.0%
(c) (i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 3,328,762
CUSIP NO. 00484M106 13G Pages 7 of 10 Pages
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 3,328,762
B. RIDGEBACK CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 3,328,762
(b) Percent of class: 17.0%
(c) (i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 3,328,762
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 3,328,762
C. WAYNE HOLMAN
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 3,328,762
(b) Percent of class: 17.0%
(c) (i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 3,328,762
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 3,328,762
Wayne Holman and RCM do not own any Shares directly. Pursuant to an
investment management agreement, RCM maintains investment and voting power with
respect to the securities held by RCI. Wayne Holman controls RCM. By reason of
the provisions of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
Wayne Holman and RCM may be deemed to own beneficially all of the Shares
(constituting approximately 17.0% of the shares outstanding). Both Wayne Holman
and RCM disclaim beneficial ownership of any of the securities covered by this
statement, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.
ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS.
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date
hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than
five percent of the class of securities, check the following. |_|
CUSIP NO. 00484M106 13G Pages 8 of 10 Pages
ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON.
To the knowledge of the Reporting Persons, no other person has the right to
receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds
from the sale of, a number of the Shares which represents more than five percent
of the number of outstanding shares of the Shares.
ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED
THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY.
Not Applicable.
ITEM 8.IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.
Not Applicable.
ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP.
Not Applicable.
ITEM 10. CERTIFICATIONS.
Each of the Reporting Persons hereby makes the following certification:
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the
purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the
issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection
with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.
CUSIP NO. 00484M106 13G Pages 9 of 10 Pages
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.
DATED: October 5, 2006
*
By: ---------------------------------
Wayne Holman, individually
RIDGEBACK CAPITAL INVESTMENTS LTD.
*
By: ---------------------------------
Name: Wayne Holman
Title: Director
RIDGEBACK CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
*
By: ---------------------------------
Name: Wayne Holman
Title: Managing Member
*By: /s/ Bud Holman
-----------------------------
Bud Holman, Attorney-in-Fact
Power of attorney filed as an exhibit hereto
CUSIP NO. 00484M106 13G Pages 10 of 10 Pages
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NUMBER EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
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24.1 Power of Attorney
99.1 Joint Filing Agreement