Parmalat S.p.A., a producer and distributor of dairy products and fruit-based beverages based in Milan, Italy, has announced the preliminary settlement of the securities class action pending against the company in the S.D. of New York. The case, originally filed in January 2004, stems from allegations that Parmalat and its bankers, lawyers, and auditors engaged in a massive and complex scheme to overstate Parmalat’s assets and profits for more than a decade. Under the terms of the settlement, Parmalat will issue to class members 10.5 million shares of stock, valued at approximately $37 million at the current market price.
The 10b-5 Daily has frequently posted about the Parmalat case, especially on the issue of scheme liability. But it all started with a post in 2004 entitled “You’re No Martha.”
The 10b-5 Daily 