Labaton Sucharow LLP Announces Amended Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Action for Record Holders and Beneficial Owners of (1) Snap Inc. Common Stock, as of December 15, 2023, and (2) Snap Inc. Class A Common Stock, as of July 19, 2022
Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP) announced the filing of a Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, related to an Amended Stipulation of Compromise and Settlement executed in December 2023. The lawsuit in question was Greater Pennsylvania Carpenters’ Pension Fund v. Snap Inc. et al., Docket No. 2022-0679-PAF. The company is publishing an amended summary notice of pendency and proposed settlement of action.
The filing of a Form 8-K by Snap Inc. in relation to a settlement of a class-action lawsuit represents a significant legal development for the company and its stakeholders. From a legal perspective, this indicates that Snap has potentially resolved litigation that may have been hanging over the company's operations and financial planning. Settlements can lead to significant financial outlays and the terms of such settlements often include provisions that can impact a company's future governance or operational practices.
Furthermore, the involvement of high-level executives and board members as defendants highlights the importance of corporate governance and the fiduciary duties owed to shareholders. The settlement may also involve corporate governance reforms, which could potentially improve oversight and reduce the likelihood of future litigation. However, such reforms can also present challenges as they may require changes to internal processes and controls.
In assessing the impact of this legal outcome, one must consider the size of the settlement, the nature of the alleged wrongdoing and the extent to which the settlement resolves the underlying issues. It is also important to analyze the potential impact on the company's reputation and on investor confidence, as these can have long-term effects on the company's stock performance and market valuation.
When a company like Snap Inc. announces a settlement of a lawsuit, it is an event of financial significance. The settlement may involve substantial payments that can affect the company's cash reserves and consequently, its financial health. Investors and analysts closely watch such developments, as they can lead to material changes in the company's financial statements and future financial outlook.
The cost of the settlement will likely be reflected in Snap's financial results for the period in which the settlement is finalized. If the settlement amount is large, it could potentially impact the company's earnings per share (EPS) and could lead to a reevaluation of the company's valuation by the market. The announcement of the settlement could also lead to short-term volatility in the company's stock price as investors digest the news and its implications.
In the long term, the resolution of legal uncertainties can be positive for a company's financial prospects, as it removes a potential liability from the balance sheet and allows management to focus on core business operations without the distraction of ongoing litigation. However, if the settlement includes ongoing obligations, such as corporate governance reforms, these could lead to increased operational costs.
From a market research standpoint, the settlement of a lawsuit involving Snap Inc. provides insight into the company's risk profile and management's ability to navigate legal challenges. The market's reaction to such news can be indicative of investor sentiment and confidence in the company's leadership. A swift and favorable settlement could be interpreted as a sign of competent risk management, which can enhance the company's image among investors and analysts.
Additionally, the details of the settlement could influence the perception of Snap's corporate governance practices. If the settlement is seen as addressing the root causes of the lawsuit effectively, it could lead to improved investor relations and potentially attract more institutional investors who are often concerned with governance and sustainability issues.
It is also essential to monitor the reaction of Snap's peers in the tech industry to this settlement. If the lawsuit pertained to issues that are industry-wide, the settlement could have broader implications, potentially setting precedents or leading to industry-wide changes in governance or operational standards. Such shifts could impact competitive dynamics and market positioning within the tech sector.
01/08/2024 - 10:00 AM
WILMINGTON, Del. --(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Snap Announces Filing of Form 8-K and Publishes Summary Notice
SANTA MONICA , Calif.—Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP) announced today the filing of a Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to an Amended Stipulation of Compromise and Settlement executed on December 15, 2023 by the parties to the lawsuit in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware captioned Greater Pennsylvania Carpenters’ Pension Fund v. Snap Inc. et al. , Docket No. 2022-0679-PAF (formerly captioned City of Warwick v. Snap Inc. et al.). The complete Form 8-K filing is available at www.sec.gov or on the Investor Relations section of Snap Inc.’s website.
Pursuant to that Amended Stipulation of Compromise and Settlement, Snap Inc. is publishing an amended summary notice of pendency and proposed settlement of action. The full text follows below.
AMENDED SUMMARY NOTICE OF PENDENCY
AND PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF ACTION
TO: (1) ALL RECORD HOLDERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF SHARES OF CLASS A, CLASS B OR CLASS C COMMON STOCK OF SNAP INC. AS OF THE DATE OF THE AMENDED STIPULATION (“CURRENT STOCKHOLDERS ”) AND (2) ALL RECORD HOLDERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK OF SNAP INC. AS OF JULY 19, 2022, TOGETHER WITH THEIR HEIRS, ASSIGNS, TRANSFEREES, AND SUCCESSORS-IN-INTEREST, IN EACH CASE SOLELY IN THEIR CAPACITY AS HOLDERS OR OWNERS OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK OF SNAP INC. (THE “CLASS ”).
PLEASE READ THIS AMENDED NOTICE CAREFULLY. THIS AMENDED NOTICE RELATES TO A PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF A LAWSUIT AND CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHTS OF CLASS MEMBERS AND CURRENT STOCKHOLDERS OF SNAP INC.
Any capitalized terms used herein that are not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Amended Stipulation of Compromise and Settlement dated December 15, 2023 (the “Amended Stipulation ”).
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to an Order of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court ”), that the above-captioned action (the “Action ”), which was brought by a stockholder of Snap Inc. (“Snap ” or the “Company ”) asserting claims on behalf of itself and a Class and/or derivatively on behalf of the Company, is pending in the Court.
YOU ARE ALSO NOTIFIED, pursuant to Delaware Court of Chancery Rules 23(a), 23(b)(1), 23(b)(2), and 23.1 and an Order of the Court, that the Action has been preliminarily certified for the purposes of settlement as a non-opt out class action on behalf of the Class, as set forth in the full printed Amended Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Action (the “Amended Long-Form Notice ”). The Class is defined in the Amended Stipulation as all record and beneficial holders of shares of Snap Class A common stock that were issued and outstanding as of July 19, 2022, together with their heirs, assigns, transferees, and successors-in-interest, in each case solely in their capacity as holders or owners of such shares, except for certain persons and entities who are excluded from the Class by definition.
YOU ARE ALSO NOTIFIED that, after arms-length negotiations, Plaintiff Greater Pennsylvania Carpenters’ Pension Fund (“Plaintiff ”), on behalf of itself, Snap, and the Class, has reached a proposed settlement with Defendants. The Defendants are Snap, Evan Spiegel, Robert Murphy, Kelly Coffey, Joanna Coles, Liz Jenkins, Michael Lynton, Stanley Meresman, Scott Miller, Poppy Thorpe, and Fidel Vargas.
This Amended Summary Notice advises Snap stockholders and potential members of the Class of information about the Action and the proposed Settlement. You may obtain a copy of the Amended Long-Form Notice by contacting the Settlement Administrator at A.B. Data, Ltd. at 1-877-495-0883 or info@snapstockholderlitigation.com . A copy of the Amended Long-Form Notice can also be downloaded from the Settlement website, www.snapstockholderlitigation.com . The Amended Stipulation is on file with the Office of the Register in Chancery for the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware , Leonard L. Williams Justice Center, 500 North King Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801.
If approved by the Court, the Settlement will resolve all claims in the Action as against Defendants. If you are a Snap stockholder and/or a member of the Class, your rights will be affected by the pending Action and the Settlement.
A settlement hearing (the “Settlement Hearing ”) will be held on February 26, 2024 at 3:15 p.m., before the Court at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center, 500 North King Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 for the Court to: (a) determine whether the provisional class action certification should be made final; (b) determine whether Plaintiff should be finally certified as class representative and Plaintiff’s counsel finally certified as class counsel, and whether Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s counsel have adequately represented the interests of the Class in the Action; (c) determine whether the proposed Settlement, on the terms and conditions provided for in the Amended Stipulation, is fair, reasonable, and adequate and in the best interests of Snap, the Class, and the Current Stockholders; (d) determine whether the Court should finally approve the Settlement and enter the Judgment as provided in the Amended Stipulation, finally certifying the Class, dismissing the Action against Defendants with prejudice, and extinguishing and releasing the Released Claims; and (e) consider Plaintiff’s counsel’s application for an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses (the “Fee and Expense Application ”). The Court will also hear and consider any objections to the proposed Settlement, the class action determination, and Plaintiff’s counsel’s Fee and Expense Application. Any objections must be filed with the Register in Chancery and delivered to counsel for the parties such that they are received no later than February 11, 2024, in accordance with the instructions in the Amended Long-Form Notice.
The Court has reserved the right to change the date or time of the Settlement Hearing, including consideration of Plaintiff’s counsel’s Fee and Expense Application, without further notice to Current Stockholders or the Class other than by announcement at the Settlement Hearing or any adjournment thereof, or notation on the docket in the Action.
The Action and Settlement address Plaintiffs’ claims (i) that Snap violated Section 242(b)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law by not obtaining a separate vote of Class A shares on an amendment to its certificate of incorporation (the “Charter Amendment ”), and (ii) that Snap’s board of directors (the “Board”) and its Co-Founders breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the Charter Amendment, the Stock Dividend (as defined in the Amended Stipulation), and the related agreements. Defendants deny any and all allegations of wrongdoing, liability, violations of law, or damages arising out of or related to any of the conduct, statements, acts, or omissions alleged in the Action, and maintain that their conduct was at all times proper, in the best interests of Snap and its stockholders, and in compliance with applicable law. Defendants have nevertheless determined to settle the Action on the terms and conditions set forth in the Amended Stipulation to eliminate the uncertainty, risk, burden, and expense of further litigation, and to permit the operation of Snap without further distraction and diversion of its Board and personnel with respect to the Action.
The terms of the Settlement are stated in the Amended Stipulation between Plaintiff and Defendants, dated December 15, 2023. For a more detailed statement of the matters involved in the Action and the terms of the Settlement, Snap stockholders and members of the Class should review the Amended Long-From Notice that may be obtained from the Settlement Administrator or downloaded from the Settlement website: www.snapstockholderlitigation.com . You may also inspect the pleadings, the Amended Stipulation, the Orders entered by the Court, and other papers filed in the Action at the Office of the Register in Chancery for the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware , Leonard L. Williams Justice Center, 500 North King Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, during regular business hours of each business day.
If the Settlement is approved by the Court and the Effective Date occurs, the Action will be dismissed with prejudice and the Releasees (including Defendants and other Defendant Releasees) will be released by Plaintiffs, Defendants, Snap, the members of the Class, and Snap’s stockholders (solely with respect to derivative claims), on behalf of themselves and any other person or entity who could assert any of the Released Claims on their behalf, in such capacity only, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Amended Stipulation.
Please do not contact the Court or the Office of the Register in Chancery regarding this notice. All questions about this Amended Notice or the proposed Settlement should be directed to Plaintiff’s Counsel.
Requests for the Amended Long-Form Notice should be made by contacting A.B. Data, Ltd., at 1-877-495-0883 or info@snapstockholderlitigation.com , or you can download a copy of the Amended Long-Form Notice from the Settlement website, www.snapstockholderlitigation.com . Inquiries, other than requests for the Amended Long-Form Notice, may be made to following Plaintiff’s Counsel:
Mark Richardson
Wilmington, DE 19801
delawaresettlements@labaton.com
Dated: December 19, 2023
BY ORDER OF THE COURT OF
DELAWARE
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240104788294/en/
Mark Richardson
delawaresettlements@labaton.com
Source: Labaton Sucharow LLP
The filing is related to an Amended Stipulation of Compromise and Settlement executed in December 2023.
The lawsuit in question was Greater Pennsylvania Carpenters’ Pension Fund v. Snap Inc. et al., Docket No. 2022-0679-PAF.
The notice contains important information regarding the rights of class members and current stockholders of Snap Inc.
Plaintiff Greater Pennsylvania Carpenters’ Pension Fund reached a proposed settlement with Defendants Snap, Evan Spiegel, Robert Murphy, Kelly Coffey, Joanna Coles, Liz Jenkins, Michael Lynton, Stanley Meresman, Scott Miller, Poppy Thorpe, and Fidel Vargas.
