Ackman Caught With Shorts Down as Loeb Gets Long on Herbalife

Updated to include Third Point comments and report of SEC inquiry.

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Dan Loeb's Third Point Capital said on Wednesday it has bought nearly 9 million shares in Herbalife(HLF) , in a move that cuts against a short position in the embattled supplements seller by Bill Ackman of Pershing Square Capital Management.

Third Point's long position amounts to over 8% of Herbalife's stock, while Ackman holds a short position over double in size.

The disclosure by Third Point, which is also a top investor in Yahoo!(YHOO) and AIG(AIG) comes a day before the supplements seller with a multi-level marketing arrangement will publicly respond to Ackman's short position, which was disclosed on Dec. 19, 2012.

A 13-D filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission shows that Third Point has acquired 8,900,000 Herbalife shares, representing an 8.24% economic interest in the company. The filing does not state intent by Third Point in its large position. (The hedge fund is often an activist investor)

In a letter sent to Third Point investors obtained by the New York Times, Loeb writes that allegations of a Herbalife pyramid scheme are without merit and are unlikely to to warrant a closer look by regulators.

"The pyramid scheme is a serious accusation that we have studied closely with our advisors. We do not believe it has merit," writes Loeb.

According to Wall Street Journal reports citing sources, the SEC has opened an inquiry into Herbalife

Shares in Los Angeles-based Herbalife initially surged 9% on the disclosure, but have faded to near 4% gains that put the stock at $39.87 in late afternoon trading.

Ackman, who unveiled his bet against Herbalife to CNBC on Dec. 19, subsequently told Bloomberg News that part of his intent in detailing the short trade just ahead of the New Year was to undermine confidence among Herbailife's distributors prior to their 2013 re-up, potentially toppling a pyramid scheme he alleges the company orchestrates.

A more than three hour long presentation made at the Ira Sohn Conference a day later detailed Ackman's reasoning behind his short trade and a web site created by the Pershing Square lists a 300-page plus powerpoint presentation made by the hedge fund.