LOS ANGELES, Oct. 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP (“GPM”) reminds investors of the upcoming December 2, 2019 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the class action filed on behalf of Altria Group, Inc. (“Altria” or the “Company”) (NYSE: MO) investors who purchased securities between December 20, 2018 and September 24, 2019, inclusive (the “Class Period”).
If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.
If you wish to learn more about this action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Lesley Portnoy, Esquire, at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or by email to shareholders@glancylaw.com, or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com.
On December 20, 2018, Altria acquired a 35% stake in investment in JUUL Labs, Inc. (“JUUL”), the purported U.S. leader in electronic vapor products, including e-cigarettes.
On April 3, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) announced its investigation into nearly three dozen cases of people suffering from seizures after vaping.
On this news, the Company’s stock price fell $2.71, or nearly 5%, to close at $53.98 per share on April 3, 2019, thereby injuring investors.
Then, on August 29, 2019, The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) was investigating whether JUUL used influencers and other marketing practices to appeal e-cigarettes to minors.
On this news, the Company’s stock price fell $1.60, or over 3%, to close at $44.25 per share on August 29, 2019, thereby injuring investors further.
Then, on September 25, 2019, Altria announced that Philip Morris International had called off discussions of a $200 billion merger with Altria due to scrutiny of the vaping industry and the Company’s 35% stake in market leader JUUL.
On this news, the Company’s stock price fell an additional $0.17 per share, or 0.42%, to close at $40.56 per share on September 25, 2019, thereby injuring investors further.
The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Altria had conducted insufficient due diligence into JUUL prior to the company’s $12.8 billion investment in JUUL; (2) that Altria consequently failed to inform investors, or account for, material risks associated with JUUL’s products and marketing practices, and the true value of JUUL and its products; (3) that all of the foregoing, as well as mounting public scrutiny, negative publicity, and governmental pressure on e-vapor products and JUUL made it reasonably likely that Altria’s investment in JUUL would have a material negative impact on the company's reputation and operations; and (4) that as a result, the company’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
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If you purchased or otherwise acquired Altria securities during the Class Period you may move the Court no later than December 2, 2019 to request appointment as lead plaintiff in this putative class action lawsuit. To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact Lesley Portnoy, Esquire, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, by email to shareholders@glancylaw.com, or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased.
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Contacts
Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, Los Angeles
Lesley Portnoy, 310-201-9150 or 888-773-9224
shareholders@glancylaw.com
www.glancylaw.com