LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Sept. 7, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Law Firm of Cauley Geller Bowman & Coates, LLP announced today that a class action has been filed in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska on behalf of purchasers of ConAgra Foods Inc. ("ConAgra" or the "Company") (NYSE:CAG) publicly traded securities during the period between August 28, 1998 and May 23, 2001, inclusive (the "Class Period"). A copy of the complaint filed in this action is available from the Court, or can be viewed on the firm's website at http://www.classlawyer.com/pr/conagra.pdf.
The complaint charges ConAgra and certain of its officers and directors with violating the federal securities laws by issuing a series of material misrepresentations to the market during the Class Period concerning its financial performance for the Company's fiscal years 1998, 1999 and 2000. Throughout the Class Period, defendants issued press releases reporting ConAgra's quarterly and year-end financial performance, and filed reports confirming such performance with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). These statements, as alleged in the complaint, were materially false and misleading because United Agri Products, a ConAgra subsidiary, engaged in improper accounting throughout the Class Period, including improperly recognizing revenue and insufficiently reserving for bad debt. On May 23, 2001 ConAgra issued a press release announcing that the Company will restate its financial results for the fiscal years 1998, 1999 and 2000. The press release revealed that ConAgra will restate revenues for the Company's fiscal years 1998-2000, inclusive, which will be reduced by an estimated total of $349 million. The press release further revealed that the Company estimated that, upon restatement, earnings per share will be reduced from $1.35 to $1.32 for 1998, from $1.46 to $1.41 for 1999, and from $1.67 to $1.60 for 2000. In addition, according to the press release, the Company is cooperating with an ongoing investigation by the SEC into the matter.
If you bought the publicly traded securities of ConAgra between August 28, 1998 and May 23, 2001, inclusive, you may, no later than October 9, 2001, request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. A lead plaintiff is a representative party that acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member's claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Under certain circumstances, one or more class members may together serve as "lead plaintiff." Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. You may retain Cauley Geller Bowman & Coates, LLP, or other counsel of your choice, to serve as your counsel in this action. If you are a member of this class, you can join this class action online at http://www.classlawyer.com/sign_up.html.
Cauley Geller Bowman & Coates, LLP has substantial experience representing investors in securities fraud class action lawsuits such as this. The firm has offices in Florida, Arkansas and California, but represents shareholders from throughout the nation. If you have any questions about how you may be able to recover for your losses, or if you would like to consider serving as one of the lead plaintiffs in this lawsuit, you are encouraged to call or e-mail the Firm or visit the Firm's website at www.classlawyer.com.
CAULEY GELLER BOWMAN & COATES, LLP Client Relations Department: Jackie Addison, Sue Null or Charlie Gastineau P.O. Box 25438 Little Rock, AR 72221-5438 Toll Free: 1-888-551-9944 E-mail: info@classlawyer.com
More information on this and other class actions can be found on the Class Action Newsline at www.primezone.com/ca