The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Announces the Filing of a Securities Class Action on Behalf of Eastman Kodak Company (KODK) Investors
Shareholders with $150,000 in losses or more are encouraged to contact the firm
Sep 30, 2020, 11:00 ET
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Eastman Kodak Company ("Kodak" or the "Company") (NYSE: KODK) securities between July 27, 2020 and August 7, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Kodak investors have until October 13, 2020 to file a lead plaintiff motion.
If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.
On July 27, 2020, Kodak issued a statement to media outlets based in Rochester, New York, where it is headquartered, on the imminent public announcement of a "new manufacturing initiative" involving the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation ("DFC") and the response to COVID-19. Following media publication of Kodak's initial statement about the deal, the Company claimed this information was released inadvertently.
On July 28, 2020, media reported that Company had won a $765 million government loan from the DFC under the Defense Production Act ("DPA") to produce pharmaceutical materials, including ingredients for COVID-19 drugs.
On August 1, 2020, Reuters reported new details of an "unusual" 1.75 million option grant to Kodak's Chief Executive Officer, Jim Continenza, which "occurred because of an understanding" between Continenza and Kodak's Board of Directors "that had previously neither been listed in his employment contract nor made public."
On this news, Kodak's shares fell $6.91 per share, or 32%, to close at $14.94 per share on August 3, 2020, thereby injuring investors.
Over the next several days, several articles reported the Congressional and regulatory scrutiny regarding the option grants and the DFC loan.
On August 7, 2020, after the market closed, the DFC announced, "On July 28, we signed a Letter of Interest with Eastman Kodak. Recent allegations of wrongdoing raise serious concerns. We will not proceed any further unless these allegations are cleared."
On this news, the Company's stock price declined $4.15, or 28%, to close at $10.73 per share on August 10, 2020, 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 that the Company had granted its Executive Chairman, James Continenza, and several other Company insiders millions of dollars' worth of stock options immediately prior to the Company publicly disclosing that it had received the $765 million loan, which Defendants knew would cause Kodak's stock to immediately increase in value once the deal was announced. In addition, while in possession of this material non-public information, Continenza and other Company insiders purchased tens of thousands of the Company's shares immediately prior to the announcement, again at prices that they knew would increase exponentially once news of the loan became public.
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If you purchased Kodak securities during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than October 13, 2020 to ask the Court to appoint you as lead plaintiff. To be a member of the Class 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. If you purchased Kodak securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
SOURCE The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, Los Angeles
