BALTIMORE, Oct. 28, 2003 (PRIMEZONE)- - The law firm of Law Offices Of Charles J. Piven, P.A. announces that it has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of the securities of the Janus Funds family of funds (the "Funds") owned and operated by Janus Capital Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries and other affiliates, between October 1, 1998 and July 3, 2003, inclusive, (the "Class Period"), seeking to pursue remedies under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The deadline for Janus Mutual Fund investors to move for lead plaintiff in a securities fraud class action recently brought against Janus Capital Group Inc., Janus Capital Corporation, Janus Capital Management, LLC, and Janus Investment Fund (collectively, the "Janus Funds") is rapidly approaching. If you purchased any of the Janus Funds listed below between October 1, 1998 and July 3, 2003, inclusive (the "Class Period"), and you wish to be a lead plaintiff in the case, you must move to serve as lead plaintiff by filing motions by November 4, 2003.
The following funds are subject to the above class action lawsuit:
-- Janus Mercury Fund (Nasdaq:JAMRX) -- Janus High-Yield Fund (Nasdaq:JAHYX) -- Janus Fund (Nasdaq:JANSX) -- Janus Enterprise Fund (Nasdaq:JAENX) -- Janus Olympus Fund (Nasdaq:JAOLX) -- Janus Global Technology Fund (Nasdaq:JAGTX) -- Janus Orion Fund (Nasdaq:JORNX) -- Janus Twenty Fund (Nasdaq:JAVLX) -- Janus Venture Fund (Nasdaq:JAVTX) -- Janus Global Life Sciences Fund (Nasdaq:JAGLX) -- Janus Global Value Fund (Nasdaq:JGVAX) -- Janus Overseas Fund (Nasdaq:JAOSX) -- Janus Worldwide Fund (Nasdaq:JAWWX) -- Janus Balanced Fund (Nasdaq:JABAX) -- Janus Core Equity Fund (Nasdaq:JAEIX) -- Janus Growth and Income Fund (Nasdaq:JAGIX) -- Janus Special Equity Fund (Nasdaq:JSVAX) -- Janus Risk-Managed Stock Fund (Nasdaq:JRMSX) -- Janus Mid Cap Value Fund (Nasdaq:JMCVX) (Nasdaq:JMIVX) -- Janus Small Cap Value Fund (Nasdaq:JSCVX) (Nasdaq:JSIVX) -- Janus Federal Tax-Exempt Fund (Nasdaq:JATEX) -- Janus Flexible Income Fund (Nasdaq:JAFIX) -- Janus Short-Term Bond Fund (Nasdaq:JASBX) -- Janus Money Market Fund (Nasdaq:JAMXX) -- Janus Government Money Market Fund (Nasdaq:JAGXX) -- Janus Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund (Nasdaq:JATXX)
The wrongful conduct alleged in and which is the subject of one or more of these complaints relates to "timing." As used, "timing" is an investment technique involving short-term, "in and out" trading of mutual fund shares designed to take advantage of inefficiencies in the way mutual fund companies price their shares, particularly shares of international funds. It is alleged, further, that while the mutual fund companies purported to guard against timing, they allowed select investors to time their trades to the detriment of other mutual fund investors and for the benefit of the mutual fund companies.
No class has yet been certified in the above actions. Until a class is certified, you are not represented unless you retain an attorney. If you are a member of any of the proposed classes, meaning, you are one who purchased, redeemed and/or held of any of the mutual funds referenced herein during the period that the conduct complained of occurred, you may be eligible to serve as a plaintiff. To be a member of one or more of the classes, if certified, you need not take any action at this time. You may retain counsel of your choice.
If you are one who purchased, redeemed and/or held any of the mutual funds referenced above during the period that the conduct complained of occurred and want to discuss your legal rights, or if you have information or questions about other mutual fund companies being investigated for improper conduct, you may e-mail or call Law Offices Of Charles J. Piven, P.A. who will, without obligation or cost to you, attempt to answer your questions. Law Offices Of Charles J. Piven has been involved in securities litigation for over ten years. You may contact Law Offices Of Charles J. Piven, P.A. at The World Trade Center-Baltimore, 401 East Pratt Street, Suite 2525, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, by email at hoffman@pivenlaw.com or by calling 410/332-0030.