PHILADELPHIA, March 15, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- On March 13, 2002, the law firm of Berger & Montague, P.C. (http://www.bergermontague.com) filed a class action suit against Actrade Financial Technologies Ltd. ("Actrade") (Nasdaq:ACRT) and certain of its principal officers and directors in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased Actrade securities between March 11, 1999 and February 8, 2002 the ("Class Period").
The complaint alleges that defendants violated the federal securities laws by issuing materially false and misleading statements throughout the Class Period that had the effect of artificially inflating the market price of the Company's securities.
The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants stated that the Company provided short-term loans to businesses to finance commercial transactions. The complaint alleges that these statements were false and misleading because defendants knew, or recklessly disregarded, that the Company had also loaned millions of dollars to individuals for non-commercial purposes, defrauded its sureties into providing coverage for these loans, and had overstated its financial results based on these fraudulent lending practices.
If you purchased Actrade securities during the period from March 11, 1999 through February 8, 2002, inclusive, you may, no later than April 16, 2002, move to be appointed as a Lead Plaintiff. A Lead Plaintiff is a representative party that acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 directs Courts to assume that the class member(s) with the "largest financial interest" in the outcome of the case will best serve the class in this capacity. Courts have discretion in determining which class member(s) have the "largest financial interest," and have appointed Lead Plaintiffs with substantial losses in both absolute terms and as a percentage of their net worth. If you have sustained substantial losses in Actrade securities during the Class Period, please contact Berger & Montague, P.C. at investorprotect@bm.net for a more thorough explanation of the Lead Plaintiff selection process.
The law firm of Berger & Montague, P.C. has over 50 attorneys, all of whom represent plaintiffs in complex litigation. The Berger firm has extensive experience representing plaintiffs in class action securities litigation and has played lead roles in major cases over the past 25 years which have resulted in recoveries of several billion dollars to investors. The firm is currently representing investors as lead counsel in actions against Rite Aid, Sotheby's, Waste Management, Inc., Sunbeam, Boston Chicken and IKON Office Solutions, Inc. The standing of Berger & Montague, P.C. in successfully conducting major securities and antitrust litigation has been recognized by numerous courts. For example:
"Class counsel did a remarkable job in representing the class interests." In Re: IKON Offices Solutions Securities Litigation. Civil Action No. 98-4286(E.D.Pa.) (partial settlement for $111 million approved May, 2000).
"...[Y]ou have acted the way lawyers at their best ought to act. And I have had a lot of cases...in 15 years now as a judge and I cannot recall a significant case where I felt people were better represented than they are here ... I would say this has been the best representation that I have seen." In Re: Waste Management, Inc. Securities Litigation, Civil Action No. 97-C 7709 (N.D. Ill.) (settled in 1999 for $220 million).
If you purchased Actrade securities during the Class Period, please visit our website at www.bergermontague.com to view the complaint and join the class action or if you have any questions concerning this notice or your rights with respect to this matter, please contact:
Sherrie R. Savett, Esquire
Douglas M. Risen, Esquire
Kimberly A. Walker, Investor Relations Manager
Berger & Montague, P.C.
1622 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 888-891-2289 or 215-875-3000
Fax: 215-875-5715
Website: http://www.bergermontague.com
e-mail: InvestorProtect@bm.net
More information on this and other class actions can be found on the Class Action Newsline at www.primezone.com/ca