253 F.R.D. 607 | S.D. Cal. | 2008
ORDER GRANTING JOINT MOTION, PRELIMINARILY APPROVING SETTLEMENT, CERTIFYING CLASS FOR SETTLEMENT PURPOSES ONLY, CONDITIONALLY APPROVING FORM AND MANNER OF NOTICE AND SETTING DATE FOR FINAL FAIRNESS APPROVAL HEARING
Lead Plaintiff Washington-Idaho Laborers-Employers Pension Trust Fund (Laborers Fund) and Defendants Wireless Facilities, Inc., Masood K. Tayebi, Massih Tayebi, Terry Ashwill, Daniel G. Stokely, Eric M. DeMarco Scott I. Anderson, Bandel L. Cara-no, William A. Hoglund, Scot Jarvis, Laura L. Siegal, Deanna H. Lund and Thomas Munro filed a joint motion requesting (1) preliminary approval of the proposed settlement, (2) certification of the Settlement Class for settlement purposes only; (3) approval of the form and manner of giving notice of the proposed settlement to the Settlement Class; and (4) a date for the final fairness approval hearing (Joint Motion). This Court has reviewed all papers filed in support of the Joint Motion, and GRANTS the Joint Motion and LIFTS the stay on proceedings.
Procedural History.
Plaintiffs filed a securities class action against Defendants alleging violations of §§ 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. They allege Defendants improperly backdated stock option grants to officers of the Company, improperly accounted for goodwill and issued false and misleading statements that artificially inflated Wireless’ stock price from March 19, 2002 to March 12, 2007, the Settlement Class Period. A total of three putative securities class action lawsuits were filed in this Court on behalf of the purchasers of publicly traded securities of Wireless in violation of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. On May 21, 2007 the Court ordered the lawsuits consolidated for all purposes under case no. 07cv482 BTM (NLS), and allowed a consolidated complaint to be filed. On August 8, 2007, the Court appointed the Laborers Fund as Lead Plaintiff and Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP (Coughlin Stoia) and Johnson & Perkinson as co-lead counsel.
On November 19, 2007, Lead Plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint. [Doe. No. 29.] The Court granted several joint requests for extensions of time for Defendants to respond to the Amended Complaint. Defendants have not answered, moved to dismiss or otherwise responded to the Amended Complaint.
The Amended Complaint alleges that before and throughout the Settlement Class Period, Defendants engaged in a stock option backdating scheme where they granted themselves and their colleagues millions of under-priced options to purchase Wireless stock. H 2.
According to Lead Plaintiff, Wireless admitted that from March 1998 through December 2003, executives at Wireless granted undisclosed stock options at extremely low prices to themselves and others, by backdating the stock option grants to dates where the Company’s stock price was traded at a lower value than the date upon which the option was actually granted. 1Í 6. In the September 11, 2007 Restatement, Wireless admitted that a substantial number of its 1998-2003 stock options grants were backdated and that certain of its former executive officers and employees intentionally engaged in the backdating scheme. H 7.
Lead Plaintiff alleges that by granting backdated options, Defendants materially understated its expenses and falsely overstated its income by $48.6 million. 118. In total, Plaintiff alleges that the backdating scheme caused Wireless to overstate its net income from 1995-2005 by more than 51%. 118. Lead Plaintiff also alleges the lack of proper accounting procedures required by GAAP allowed Defendants to inflate the Company’s assets, income, financial performance and stock price during the Settlement Class Period.
Discovery and Settlement Negotiations.
In investigating the prosecution of this case, Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel (1) reviewed Wireless’ SEC filings, annual reports and other public statements; (2) consulted with experts; (3) interviewed and communicated with confidential witnesses; and (4) researched the law applicable to the asserted claims and defenses in this ease. On January 10, 2008, the parties participated in a mediation with the Honorable Daniel L. Weinstein (Ret.). The parties exchanged mediation briefs and presented their respective views regarding the merits of the action, including the claims, defenses and damages sought. The parties did not reach a settlement during the mediation. One week later, however, Judge Weinstein issued a mediator’s proposal to settle the case for $4.5 million in cash. On March 17, 2008, both sides agreed to the material terms of the Settlement, including class certification for settlement purposes, payment of $4.5 million in cash in exchange for a mutually agreeable
Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel concluded that the substantial expense and time necessary to prosecute the action through trial, appeals and other potential proceedings, the significant uncertainties in predicting the outcome of the litigation, and the substantial likelihood the Settlement Class would not recover more than the recovery in the settlement, lead them to conclude that the settlement was fair, reasonable and adequate, and in the best interests of Lead Plaintiff and the Settlement Class.
Discussion
Rule 23 and Class Action Settlement.
Parties may settle a class action before class certification and stipulate that a defined class be conditionally certified for settlement purposes. See, e.g., Molski v. Gleich, 318 F.3d 937 (9th Cir.2003). A conditionally-certified class must still satisfy Rule 23(a) and (b) requirements. See id.
Deciding whether to approve a proposed class action settlement is generally a two-step process. At the preliminary approval stage, the court “should make a preliminary determination that the proposed class satisfies the criteria set out in Rule 23(a) and at least one of the subsections of Rule 23(b).” Fed. Judicial Ctr., Manual for Complex Litigation, § 21.633 (4th ed.2004). The court then approves the form and manner of notice and sets a final fairness hearing, where it will make a final determination on the fairness of the class settlement. See id.
A court may approve a settlement that would bind class members only after a final fairness hearing and finding that the settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate. Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 23(e)(2); see Class Plaintiffs v. Seattle, 955 F.2d 1268, 1276 (9th Cir. 1992). When approving a settlement, a court must ensure that notice is made in a “reasonable manner to all class members who would be bound by the proposal.” Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 23(e)(1).
To make the ultimate determination of whether a settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate requires evaluating several factors, including:
strength of plaintiffs case; the risk, expense[,] complexity, and likely duration of further litigation; the risk of maintaining class action status throughout the trial; the amount offered in settlement; the extent of discovery completed, and the stage of the proceedings; the experience and views of counsel; the presence of a governmental participant; and the reaction of the class members to the proposed settlement.
Torrisi v. Tucson Elec. Power Co., 8 F.3d 1370, 1375 (9th Cir.1993). Settlements that follow sufficient discovery and genuine arms-length negotiation are presumed fair. Nat’l Rural Telcoms. Coop. v. Directv, Inc., 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25375, *13 (C.D.Cal.2004).
Settlement Class Certification.
A court must look at these factors when considering class certification and preliminary approval:
(1) the class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable;
(2) there are questions of law or fact common to the class;
(3) the claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of the claims or defenses of the class; and
(4) the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class.
Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 23(a).
In addition, the plaintiffs must establish one of the following: (1) there is a risk of inconsistent or unfair adjudication if parties proceed with separate actions; (2) the defendant acted or refused to act on grounds generally applicable to the class, making injunctive or declaratory relief appropriate to the class as a whole; or (3) common questions of law or fact predominate and class resolution is superior to other available methods for fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy. Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 23(b).
For the purpose of conditionally certifying the class for settlement purposes, the Court evaluates the relevant factors under Rule 23.
The parties define the Settlement Class in the Stipulation as follows:
Lead Plaintiffs and all Persons who purchased or otherwise acquired Wireless Securities during the period from and including March 19, 2002 to March 12, 2007 and who were damaged thereby. Excluded from the Settlement Class are Defendants, any entity in which the Defendants have a controlling interest or that is a parent or subsidiary of or is controlled by the Defendants, Defendants’ officers and directors, including any person who was an officer or director during the Settlement Class Period, affiliates, legal representatives, heirs, predecessors, successors and/or assigns, and immediate family. Also excluded from the Settlement Class are those Persons who timely and validly request exclusion from the Settlement Class.
Stipulation of Settlement, 1.29. The parties assert that millions of shares of Wireless common stock were traded on the NASDAQ National Exchange during the Settlement Class Period. They estimate the number of potential class members to be in the thousands, spread geographically throughout the U.S.
With the large potential number of claimants and their varied locations, the Court finds that joinder of all these members would be impracticable, and that the numerosity requirement is satisfied.
2. Commonality.
The predominant questions here concern:
(i) whether the federal securities laws were violated by Defendants’ alleged acts;
(ii) whether the Company’s publicly disseminated releases and statements during the Settlement Class Period omitted and/or misrepresented material facts;
(iii) whether the market prices of Wireless common stock during the Settlement Class Period were artificially inflated due to the material nondisclosures and/or misrepresentations complained of herein; and
(iv) whether the members of the Settlement Class have sustained damages and, if so, what is the appropriate measure of damages.
Joint Motion, p. 10. The Court finds the core issue here regards the acquisition of Wireless common stock at artificially inflated prices. The predominant questions listed above all relate to the core issue. These questions appear to be common to the proposed Settlement Class, which includes those damaged by the purchase or acquisition of Wireless common stock during the Class Period. Because these questions are common to the whole class, the Court finds that the commonality requirement is satisfied.
3. Typicality.
Lead Plaintiff claims he purchased and/or acquired Wireless common stock at artificially inflated prices due to Defendants’ conduct. As defined in the Stipulation, the parties define the proposed Settlement Class to include those who purchased and/or acquired Wireless common stock at artificially inflated prices due to Defendants’ conduct. The proof Lead Plaintiff would need to establish its claims would also prove the claims of the proposed Settlement Class. Lead Plaintiffs injury would be common to the injury suffered by the class. There is no indication that Lead Plaintiff has any unique defenses that could make it an atypical member of the proposed Settlement Class. Because the claims of Lead Plaintiff are typical of the claims of the proposed Settlement Class, the Court finds the typicality requirement satisfied.
4. Adequacy.
To determine whether Lead Plaintiff will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the proposed Settlement Class, courts must consider: “(1) Do the representative plaintiffs and their counsel have any conflicts of interest with other class members, and (2) will the representative plaintiffs and their counsel prosecute the action vigorously on behalf of the class?” Staton v. Boeing Co., 327 F.3d 938, 958 (9th Cir.2003). Here, it
5. Rule 23(b).
Lead Plaintiff must establish one of the subparts listed in Rule 23(b). Here, common questions of law or fact predominate this action. The same set of operative facts and a single proximate cause applies to each proposed class member, because each class member purchased and/or acquired Wireless common stock during the Settlement Class Period at alleged artificially-inflated prices. They allege Defendants’ false and misleading statements and/or omissions inflated the prices, and that class members were harmed as a result of Defendants’ conduct. If Lead Plaintiff and class members each brought individual actions, they would each be required to prove the same wrongdoing to establish Defendants’ liability. Further, should different courts determine these questions in separate suits, they would likely interpret the facts and law differently, resulting in inconsistent and/or unfair rulings. This Court finds that class resolution of this action is superior to other available methods of adjudication of the controversy because the claims of many individuals will be efficiently resolved at one time, eliminating the possibility of repetitious litigation that would waste the parties’ and the Court’s resources.
The Court GRANTS a conditional certification of the class for the purpose of settlement.
Preliminary Approval of Settlement.
As explained above, the parties have shown that the proposed class satisfies the criteria of Rule 23(a) and at least one of subsection of Rule 23(b). Further, they arrived at this proposed settlement after litigating this action since March 2007. Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel investigated the claims in the Amended Complaint by way of interviews with multiple former Wireless employees and consulted with liability and damages experts. Armed with this information, the parties engaged in settlement negotiations spanning several months. They participated in a formal mediation with retired Judge Daniel L. Weinstein.
Without making any determination of liability, it appears to the Court that plaintiffs have a viable claim regarding the alleged securities fraud and Defendants have a viable defense against such claims. Liability remains uncertain. In light of this uncertainty, and based on the parties’ perceived strengths and weaknesses of the case, the parties have agreed to a settlement amount of $4,500,000 for the estimated potential Settlement Class.
The Court finds that the proposed settlement did not result from collusion by the parties’ counsel, but from a thorough investigation and consideration of strengths and weaknesses in the case. Both parties’ counsel are experienced in class actions, engaged in arms-length negotiations, weighed the strengths and weaknesses of the case and examined the risks associated with litigation. Both parties’ counsel consider the settlement fair and reasonable in light of the case’s complexities, the state of the law, uncertainties inherent in litigation and the positive result for the potential class members. At this preliminary approval stage, the Court finds that the proposed settlement is fair, adequate and reasonable.
The Court GRANTS preliminary approval of the proposed settlement.
Proposed Form and Manner of Notice.
Notice must be provided to a class in the best way practicable under the circumstances. Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 23(c)(2)(B). The notice must clearly and concisely identify:
(i) the nature of the action;
(ii) the definition of the class certified;
(iii) the class claims, issues, or defenses;
(iv) that a class member may enter an appearance through an attorney if the member so desires;
(v) that the court will exclude from the class any member who requests exclusion;
*613 (vi) the time and manner for requesting exclusion; and
(vii) the binding effect of a class judgment on members under Rule 23(c)(3).
Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 23(c)(2)(B). The notice must also include an explanation of class counsel’s interest in the settlement. Staton v. Boeing Co., 327 F.3d 938, 963 (9th Cir. 2003).
Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA), every settlement notice must include a statement explaining a plaintiffs recovery:
‘The amount of the settlement proposed to be distributed to the parties to the action, determined in the aggregate and on an average per share basis.’ 15 U.S.C. § 78u-4(a)(7)(A). The notice must also include a statement of ‘the average amount of damages per share that would be recoverable if the plaintiff prevailed on each claim alleged.’ 15 U.S.C. § 78u-M(a)(7)(B).
In re Veritas Software Corp. Sec. Litig., 496 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir.2007).
Here, the proposed form of notice attached as Exhibit A1 to the to the Stipulation of Settlement summarizes the parties’ claims and contentions and explains the proposed settlement and plan of allocation, including the recovery amount to each class member if 100% of the Settlement Class submits a claim. It explains the amount of the Settlement—$4,500,000—to be distributed to the Settlement Class, less Court-approved fees and expenses; the average distribution per share; attorneys fees (sought at 25% of the Settlement Fund) and expenses (capped at $150,000) sought; the name, telephone number and address of representatives of Plaintiffs Lead Counsel who will be reasonably available to answer questions from Settlement Class Members regarding the notice; the Settlement Class Members’ right to object to the Settlement or seek exclusion from the Settlement Class; and the reasons why the parties propose the Settlement. Plaintiffs Lead Counsel will also use reasonable efforts to give notice to nominee holders such as brokerage firms and other persons or entities who purchased and/or acquired Wireless Securities during the Settlement Class Period as record owners but not as beneficial owners. This notice is to be mailed to potential class members and a summary notice is to be published in the national edition of Investor’s Business Daily.
The Court notes that one element is missing from the proposed notice, a statement of “the average amount of damages per share that would be recoverable if the plaintiff prevailed on each claim alleged,” as required by the PSLRA in 15 U.S.C. § 78u-4(a)(7)(B). See Veritas, 496 F.3d 962. The Court ORDERS the parties to include a statement in the notice regarding the average amount of damages per share that would be recoverable if the plaintiff prevailed on each alleged claim, so that the potential claimants can compare the damages per share if the class prevailed at trial to the proposed settlement recovery. See id. at 969. Including such information complies with the notice requirements of the PSLRA and provides potential class members with the information necessary to make an informed decision regarding the proposed settlement.
Order
WHEREAS, a consolidated action is pending before this Court styled In re Wireless Facilities, Inc. Securities Litigation II, Master File No. 07-CV-00482-BTM(NLS) (the “Action”);
WHEREAS, the parties having made application, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(e), for an order approving the Settlement of this Action, in accordance with a Stipulation of Settlement dated as of May 6, 2008 (the “Stipulation”), which, together with the exhibits annexed thereto set forth the terms and conditions for a proposed Settlement of the Action and for dismissal of the
WHEREAS, all defined terms herein have the same meanings as set forth in the Stipulation.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
1. The Court does hereby preliminarily approve the Stipulation and the Settlement set forth therein, subject to further consideration at the Final Approval Hearing described below.
2. A hearing (the “Final Approval Hearing”) shall be held before this Court on December 3, 2008, at 2:30 p.m., in Courtroom F of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Edward J. Schwartz U.S. Courthouse, 940 Front Street, San Diego, CA 92101 to determine whether the proposed Settlement of the Action on the terms and conditions provided for in the Stipulation is fair, reasonable, and adequate to the Settlement Class and should be approved by the Court; whether a Judgment as provided in 1.16 of the Stipulation should be entered; whether the proposed Plan of Allocation should be approved; and to determine any amount of fees and expenses that should be awarded to Plaintiffs Lead Counsel.
3. Pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court certifies solely for purposes of effectuating this Settlement a Settlement Class defined as Lead Plaintiff, all Persons who purchased or otherwise acquired Wireless Securities during the period from and including March 19, 2002 to March 12, 2007 and who were damaged thereby. Excluded from the Settlement Class are Defendants, any entity in which the Defendants have a controlling interest or that is a parent or subsidiary of or is controlled by the Defendants, Defendants’ officers and directors, including any person who was an officer or director during the Settlement Class Period, Defendants’ affiliates, legal representatives, heirs, predecessors, successors and/or assigns, and immediate family. Also excluded from the Settlement Class are those Persons who timely and validly request exclusion from the Settlement Class.
4. The Court finds, solely for the purposes of the Settlement, that the prerequisites for a class action under Rules 23(a) and (b) (3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure have been satisfied in that: (a) the Members of the Settlement Class are so numerous that joinder of all Settlement Class Members in the class action is impracticable; (b) there are questions of law and fact common to the Settlement Class that predominate over any individual question; (c) the claims of the Lead Plaintiff are typical of the claims of the Settlement Class; (d) Lead Plaintiff and its counsel have fairly and adequately represented and protected the interests of Settlement Class Members; and (e) a class action is superior to other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy.
5. Certification of the Settlement Class for purposes of the Settlement shall not constitute certification of the Settlement Class for any other purposes.
6. Pursuant to Rule 53(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court appoints the firm of Gilardi & Co. LLC, 3301 Kerner Boulevard, San Rafael, CA 94901 (“Claims Administrator”)' to supervise and administer the notice procedure as well as the processing of claims as more fully set forth below:
(a) Not later than September 22, 2008 (the “Notice Date”), the Claims Administrator shall cause a copy of the Notice and the Proof of Claim and Release, substantially in the forms annexed as Exhibits A-l and A-2 hereto, to be mailed by first class mail to all Settlement Class Members who can be identified with reasonable effort and to be posted on its website at www. gilardi.com;
(b) Not later than October 2, 2008, the Claims Administrator shall cause the Summary Notice substantially in the form annexed as Exhibit A-3 hereto, to be published once in the national edition of Investor’s Business Daily; and
(e) Not later than October 7, 2008, Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel shall serve on Defendants’ Counsel and file with the Court*615 proof, by affidavit or declaration, of such mailing and publishing.
7. Nominees who purchased Wireless Securities for the benefit of another Person during the period March 19, 2002 to March 12, 2007, inclusive, shall be requested to send the Notice and the Proof of Claim and Release to all such beneficial owners of Wireless Securities within ten (10) days after receipt thereof, or send a list of the names and addresses of such beneficial owners to the Claims Administrator within ten (10) days of receipt thereof, in which event the Claims Administrator shall promptly mail the Notice and Proof of Claim and Release to such beneficial owners.
8. All fees, costs, and expenses incurred in identifying and notifying Members of the Settlement Class shall be paid from the Settlement Fund and in no event shall Defendants bear any responsibility for such fees, costs, or expenses.
9. All Members of the Settlement Class shall be bound by all determinations and judgments in the Action concerning the Settlement, whether favorable or unfavorable to the Settlement Class.
10. Settlement Class Members who wish to participate in the Settlement shall complete and submit the Proof of Claim and Release in accordance with the instructions contained therein. Unless the Court orders otherwise, all Proof of Claim and Release forms must be submitted no later than ninety (90) days from the Notice Date. Any Settlement Class Member who does not timely submit a Proof of Claim and Release within the time provided shall be barred from sharing in the distribution of the proceeds of the Settlement Fund, unless otherwise ordered by the Court, but shall nevertheless be bound by any Final Judgment entered by the Court. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel shall have the discretion to accept late-submitted claims for processing by the Claims Administrator so long as distribution of the Settlement Fund is not materially delayed thereby.
11. Any Member of the Settlement Class may enter an appearance in the Action, at his, her, or its own expense, individually or through counsel of their own choice. If they do not enter an appearance, they will be represented by Plaintiffs Lead Counsel.
12. Any Person falling within the definition of the Settlement Class may, upon request, be excluded or “opt out” from the Settlement Class. Any such Person must submit to the Claims Administrator a request for exclusion (“Request for Exclusion”), postmarked no later than November 7, 2008. A Request for Exclusion must be signed and state: (a) the name, address, and telephone number of the Person requesting exclusion; (b) the Person’s purchases and sales of Wireless Securities during the Settlement Class Period, including the dates, the number of shares of Wireless stock purchased, and price paid or received for each such purchase or sale; and (c) that the Person wishes to be excluded from the Settlement Class. All Persons which submit valid and timely Requests for Exclusion in the manner set forth in this paragraph shall have no rights under the Stipulation, shall not share in the distribution of the Settlement Fund, and shall not be bound by the Stipulation or the Final Judgment.
13. Plaintiffs Lead Counsel shall cause to be provided to Defendants’ Counsel copies of all Requests for Exclusion, and any written revocation of Requests for Exclusion, as expeditiously as possible and in any event within no more than five (5) days after the postmark deadline for submitting Requests for Exclusion.
14. Any Member of the Settlement Class may appear and show cause, if he, she, or it has any reason why the proposed Settlement of the Action should not be approved as fair, reasonable and adequate, or why a Judgment should not be entered thereon, why the Plan of Allocation should not be approved, why attorney fees and expenses should not be awarded to counsel for the Lead Plaintiff; provided, however, that no Settlement Class Member or any other Person shall be heard or entitled to contest the approval of the terms and conditions of the proposed Settlement, or, if approved, the Judgment to be entered thereon approving the same, or the order approving the Plan of Allocation, or any attorney fees and expenses to be award
15. In the event that a Settlement Class Member timely and properly files and serves a written objection, Plaintiffs Lead Counsel and/or Defendants’ Counsel may file and serve materials responding to any such objection on or before November 17, 2008.
16. All funds held by the Escrow Agent(s) shall be deemed and considered to be in custodia legis, and shall remain subject to the jurisdiction of the Court, until such time as such funds shall be distributed pursuant to the Stipulation and/or further order(s) of the Court.
17. All initial papers in support of the Settlement, the Plan of Allocation, and the application by Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel for attorney fees or expenses shall be filed and served no later than October 7,2008.
18. Neither Defendants nor their Related Parties shall have any responsibility for the Plan of Allocation or any application for attorney fees or expenses submitted by Plaintiffs Lead Counsel, and such matters will be considered separately from the fairness, reasonableness, and adequacy of the Settlement.
19. At or after the Final Approval Hearing, the Court shall determine whether the Plan of Allocation proposed by Plaintiffs Lead Counsel, and any application for attorney fees or expenses should be approved.
20. All reasonable expenses incurred in identifying and notifying Settlement Class Members as well as administering the Settlement Fund shall be paid as set forth in the Stipulation. In the event the Court does not approve the Settlement, or it otherwise fails to become effective, neither Lead Plaintiff nor any of its counsel shall have any obligation to repay any amounts actually and properly incurred or disbursed pursuant to 2.8 or 2.9 of the Stipulation.
21. Neither the Stipulation, nor any of its terms or provisions, nor any of the negotiations or proceedings connected with it, shall be construed as an admission or concession by Defendants of the truth of any of the allegations in the Action, or of any liability, fault, or wrongdoing of any kind.
22. The Court reserves the right to adjourn the date of the Final Approval Hearing without further notice to the Members of the Settlement Class, and retains jurisdiction to consider all further applications arising out of or connected with the proposed Settlement. The Court may approve the Settlement, with such modifications as may be agreed to by the Settling Parties, if appropriate, without further notice to the Settlement Class.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
Exhibit Exhibit No.
Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Class Action A-l
Proof of Claim and Release A-2
Summary Notice A-3
NOTICE OF PENDENCY AND PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION
EXHIBIT A-l
If you purchased or acquired Wireless Facilities, Inc. (now known as Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.) (“Wireless”) securities duriny the period from March 19, 2002 to and includiny March 12, 2007 (the “Settlement Class Period”) and are not otherwise excluded from the Settlement Class, you could yet a payment from a class action settlement.
A federal court authorized this Notice. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer.
Security and Time Period: Wireless Securities purchased or acquired between March 19, 2002 and March 12, 2007, inclusive.
Settlement Fund: $4,500,000 in cash. Your recovery will depend on the type and amount of Wireless Securities purchased or acquired and the timing of your purchases, acquisitions and any sales. Based on the information currently available to Lead Plaintiff and the analysis performed by its damage consultants, it is estimated that if Settlement Class Members submit claims for 100% of the shares eligible for distribution under the Plan of Allocation (described below), the estimated average distribution per share will be approximately $0.09 before deduction of Court-approved fees and expenses. Historically, actual claims rates are less than 100%, which result in higher distributions per share. A Settlement Class Member’s actual recovery will be a proportion of the net Settlement Fund determined by that claimant’s recognized claim as compared to the total recognized claims of all Settlement
Deadlines:
Submit Claim: , 2008
Request Exclusion: , 2008
File Objection: , 2008
Court Hearing on Fairness of Settlement: _, 2008
More Information: www.gilardi.com or
Class Members who submit acceptable Proof of Claim forms.
Reasons for Settlement: Avoids the costs and risks associated with continued litigation, including danger of no recovery.
If the Case Had Not Settled: Continuing with the case could have resulted in dismissal or loss at trial. The two sides vigorously disagree on both liability and the amount of money that could have been won if Lead Plaintiff prevailed at trial. The parties disagree about: (1) the method for determining whether Wireless Securities were artificially inflated during the relevant period; (2) the amount of any such inflation; (3) that there was any wrongdoing on the part of Defendants, including whether Defendants acted recklessly or intentionally in reporting Wireless’s financial results during the relevant period; (4) the extent that various facts alleged by Lead Plaintiff influenced the trading price of Wireless Securities during the relevant period; and (5) whether the facts alleged were material, false, misleading or otherwise actionable under the federal securities laws.
Attorney Fees and Expenses: Court-appointed Plaintiffs Lead Counsel will ask the Court for attorney fees of 25% of the Settlement Fund and expenses not to exceed $150,000 to be paid from the Settlement Fund. If the above amounts are requested and approved by the Court, the average cost per share will be $0.02. Plaintiffs Lead Counsel have not received any payment for their work investigating the facts, conducting this Action and negotiating this settlement on behalf of the Lead Plaintiff and the Settlement Class.
*618 Claims Administrator:
Wireless Facilities Securities Litigation Claims Administrator
c/o Gilardi & Co. LLC
P.O. Box 8040
San Rafael, CA 94912-8040
Representatives of Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel:
Rick Nelson Shareholder Relations Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP 655 West Broadway, Suite 1900 San Diego, CA 92101
Benjamin J. Sweet Schiffrin Barroway Topaz & Kessler, LLP 280 King of Prussia Road Radnor, PA 19087
• Your legal rights are affected whether you act, or don’t act. Read this Notice carefully. YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THIS SETTLEMENT:
SUBMIT A CLAIM FORM The only way to get a payment.
EXCLUDE YOURSELF Get no payment. This is the only option that allows you to participate in another lawsuit against the Defendants and the other Released Parties relating to the legal claims in this case.
OBJECT You may write to the Court if you don’t like this settlement.
GO TO A HEARING You may ask to speak in Court about the fairness of the settlement.
DO NOTHING Get no payment. Give up rights.
• These rights and options—and the deadlines to exercise them—are explained in this Notice.
• The Court m charge of this case must decide whether to approve the settlement. Payments will be made if the Court approves after appeals are resolved. Please be patient. the settlement and, if there are any appeals,
BASIC INFORMATION
1. Why did I get this notice package?
You or someone in your family may have purchased or acquired Wireless Securities between March 19, 2002 and March 12, 2007, inclusive.
The Court directed that you be sent this Notice because you have a right to know about a proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit, and about all of your options, before the Court decides whether to approve the settlement. If the Court approves it and after any objections or appeals (if there are any) are resolved, the Claims Administrator appointed by the Court will make the payments that the settlement allows.
This package explains the lawsuit, the settlement, your legal rights, what benefits are available, who is eligible for them, and how to get them.
The Court in charge of the ease is the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, and the case is known as In re Wireless Facilities, Inc. Securities Litigation II, Master File No. 07-CV-00482-BTM(NLS). The pension fund that sued is called Lead Plaintiff and the company and the individuals it sued are called Defendants.
This Action alleges that Wireless and certain individual defendants violated the federal securities laws by backdating employee stock options so that the options were granted at less than fair market value causing Wireless Securities (i.e., all of the publicly traded securities of Wireless) to trade at artificially inflated levels during the Settlement Class Period.
Defendants deny all of Lead Plaintiffs allegations and that they did anything wrong. Defendants also deny that Lead Plaintiff or the Settlement Class suffered damages or that the prices of Wireless Securities were artificially inflated by reasons of alleged misrepresentations, non-disclosures or otherwise.
3. Why is this a Class Action?
In a class action, one or more people called class representatives (in this case, the Court-appointed Lead Plaintiff, Washington-Idaho Laborers-Employers Pension Trust Fund) sue on behalf of people who have similar claims. All of these people and/or entities are called a class or class members. One court resolves the issues for all class members, except for those who exclude themselves from the class. United States Magistrate Judge Nita L. Stormes is in charge of this case.
4. Why is there a settlement?
The Court did not decide in favor of Lead Plaintiff or Defendants. Instead, the lawyers for both sides of the lawsuit have negotiated a settlement, with the assistance of a highly respected mediator Honorable Daniel L. Weinstein (Ret.), that they believe is in the best interests of their respective clients. The settlement allows both sides to avoid the risks and cost of lengthy and uncertain litigation and the uncertainty of a trial and appeals, and permits Settlement Class Members to be compensated without further delay. The Lead Plaintiff and its attorneys think the settlement is best for all Settlement Class Members.
WHO IS IN THE SETTLEMENT
To see if you will get money from this settlement, you first have to determine if you are a Settlement Class Member.
5. How do I know if I am part of the settlement?
The Settlement Class includes all persons who purchased or acquired Wireless Securities between March 19, 2002 to and including March 12, 2007, and were damaged thereby.
6. Are there exceptions to being included in the Settlement Class?
Yes. Excluded from the Settlement Class are Defendants, any entity in which the Defendants have a controlling interest or that is a parent or subsidiary of or is controlled by the Defendants, Defendants’ officers and directors, including any person who was an officer or director during the Settlement Class Period, Defendants’ affiliates, legal representatives, heirs, predecessors, successors and/or assigns, and immediate family. Also excluded from each Settlement Class are those Persons who timely and validly request exclusion from the Settlement Class.
7. I’m still not sure if I am included.
If you still are not sure whether you are included, you can ask for free help. You can call 1-800-945-9431 or visit www.gilardi.com for more information; or, you can call Rick Nelson at 1-800-449-4900 for more information; or you can fill out and return the claim form described in Question 10 to see if you qualify.
THE SETTLEMENT BENEFITS— WHAT YOU GET
8. What does the settlement provide?
Defendants have agreed to pay $4,500,000 in cash (the “Settlement Fund”) to be divided among all eligible Settlement Class Members who send in valid claim forms (“Authorized Claimants”), after payment of Court-approved attorney fees and expenses, and the costs of claims administration, including the costs of printing and mailing this Notice and
9. How much will my payment be?
Your share of the Net Settlement Fund will depend on the number of valid claim forms that Settlement Class Members send in and how many shares of stock you purchased or acquired during the relevant period and when you bought and sold them.
In the unlikely event there are sufficient funds in the Net Settlement Fund, each Authorized Claimant will receive an amount equal to the Authorized Claimant’s claim, as defined below. If, however, the amount in the Net Settlement Fund is not sufficient to permit payment of the total claim of each Authorized Claimant, then each Authorized Claimant shall be paid the percentage of the Net Settlement Fund that each Authorized Claimant’s claim bears to the total of the claims of all Authorized Claimants. Payment in this manner shall be deemed conclusive against all Authorized Claimants.
A “Claim” will be calculated as follows:
COMMON STOCK
1. For shares of Wireless common stock purchased from March 19, 2002 through March 12, 2007, and
(a) sold prior to March 13, 2007, the claim per share is $0;
(b) retained at the end of March 12, 2007, the claim per share is the lesser of (i) the purchase price less $1.36 (90 day average closing price following the Settlement Class Period), or (ii) the alleged inflation amount of $0.65.
CALL OPTIONS
1. For Call Options on Wireless common stock purchased between March 19, 2002 through March 12, 2007, and
(a) owned at the end of March 12, 2007, the claim per Call Option is the difference between the price paid for the Call Option less the proceeds received upon the settlement of the Call Option contract;
(b) not owned at the end of March 12, 2007, the claim per Call Option is $0.
2. For Call Options on Wireless common stock written between March 19, 2002 through March 12, 2007, the claim per Call Option is $0.
PUT OPTIONS
1. For Put Options on Wireless common stock written between March 19, 2002 through March 12, 2007, and
(a) owned at the end of March 12, 2007, the claim per Put Option is the difference between the amount paid upon settlement of the Put Option contract less the initial proceeds received upon the sale of the Put Option contract.
(b) not owned at the end of March 12, 2007, the claim per Put Option is $0.
2. For Put Options on Wireless common stock purchased between March 19, 2002 through March 12, 2007, the claim per Put Option is $0.
Note: In the case the option was exercised for Wireless common stock, the amount paid, or proceeds received, upon the settlement of the option contract equals the intrinsic value of the option using Wireless common stock’s closing price on the date the option was exercised. For the purposes of this allocation, the aggregate amount allocated to option holders shall not exceed 3% of the Net Settlement Fund.
The date of purchase or sale is the “contract” or “trade” date as distinguished from the “settlement” date.
For Settlement Class Members who held Wireless Securities at the beginning of the Settlement Class Period or made multiple purchases or other acquisitions or sales during the Settlement Class Period, the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method will be applied to such holdings, purchases and sales for purposes of calculating a claim. Under the FIFO method, sales of Wireless Securities during the Settlement Class Period will be matched against the same type of security, in chronological order, first against securities held at the beginning of the Settlement Class Period. The remaining sales of securities during the Settlement Class Period will then
An Authorized Claimant will be eligible to receive a distribution from the Net Settlement Fund only if a Settlement Class Member had a net loss, after all profits from transactions in Wireless Securities during the Settlement Class Period are subtracted from all losses. However, the proceeds from sales of securities which have been matched against securities held at the beginning of the Settlement Class Period will not be used in the calculation of such net loss. No distributions will be made to Authorized Claimants who would otherwise receive a distribution of less than $10.00.
The Court has reserved jurisdiction to allow, disallow or adjust the claim of any Settlement Class Member on equitable grounds.
Payment pursuant to the Plan of Allocation set forth above shall be conclusive against all Authorized Claimants. No Person shall have any claim against Lead Plaintiff, Plaintiffs Lead Counsel or any claims administrator or other Person designated by Plaintiffs Lead Counsel or Defendants and/or the Related Parties and/or their counsel based on distributions made substantially in accordance with the Stipulation and the settlement contained therein, the Plan of Allocation, or further orders of the Court. All Settlement Class Members who fail to complete and file a valid and timely Proof of Claim form shall be barred from participating in distributions from the Net Settlement Fund (unless otherwise ordered by the Court), but otherwise shall be bound by all of the terms of the Stipulation, including the terms of any judgment entered and the releases given.
HOW YOU GET A PAYMENT-SUBMITTING A CLAIM FORM
10. How will I get a payment?
To qualify for a payment, you must send in a claim form. A claim form is enclosed with this Notice. Read the instructions carefully, fill out the form, include all the documents the form asks for, sign it, and mail it in the enclosed envelope postmarked no later than _, 2008.
11. When would I get my payment?
The Court will hold a hearing on_, 2008, at_, to decide whether to approve the settlement. If Judge Stormes approves the settlement, there may be appeals. It is always uncertain whether these appeals can be resolved favorably, and resolving them can take time, perhaps more than a year. It also takes time for all the claim forms to be processed. If there are no appeals and depending on the number of claims submitted, the Claims Administrator could distribute the Net Settlement Fund as early as nine months after the fairness hearing. Please be patient.
12. What am I giving up to get a payment or stay in the Settlement Class?
Unless you exclude yourself, you are staying in the Settlement Class, and that means that you cannot sue, continue to sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against the Defendants about the same issues in this case or that could have been asserted in this case. It also means that all of the Court’s orders will apply to you and legally bind you and you will release your Released Claims in this case against the Defendants. “Released Claims” shall collectively mean all claims or causes of action (including Unknown Claims), demands, rights, liabilities, suits, debts, obligations and causes of action of every nature and description whatsoever, known or unknown, contingent or absolute, mature or unmature, discoverable or undiscoverable, whether concealed or hidden, asserted or that might have been asserted against the Defendants and Released Parties based upon, arising out of, or related to both: (i) any of the facts, transactions, events, occurrences, disclosures, statements, acts, omissions or failures to act which were or could have or might have been alleged in or embraced or otherwise referred to or encompassed by the Action; and (ii) which arise out of the purchase or other acquisition of Wireless Securities during the Settlement Class Period, regardless of upon what legal theory
EXCLUDING YOURSELF FROM THE SETTLEMENT
If you don’t want a payment from this settlement, but you want to keep the right to sue or continue to sue the Defendants on your own about the same issues in this case, then you must take steps to get out of the Settlement Class. This is called excluding yourself or is sometimes referred to as opting out of the Settlement Class.
13. How do I get out of the Settlement Class?
To exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you must send a letter by mail stating that you want to be excluded from In re Wireless Facilities, Inc. Securities Litigation II, Master File No. 07-CV-00482-BTM(NLS). You must include your name, address, telephone number, your signature, and the number and type of Wireless Securities you purchased or acquired between March 19, 2002 and March 12, 2007, inclusive, the number and type of Wireless Securities sold during this time period, if any, and the dates and prices of such purchases and sales. You must mail your exclusion request postmarked no later than_, 2008 to:
Wireless Facilities Securities Litigation II
EXCLUSIONS
Claims Administrator
e/o Gilardi & Co. LLC
P.O. Box 8040
San Rafael, CA 94912-8040
You cannot exclude yourself on the phone or by e-mail. If you ask to be excluded, you are not eligible to get any settlement payment, and you cannot object to the settlement. You will not be legally bound by anything that happens in this lawsuit.
14. If I don’t exclude myself, can I sue Defendants for the same thing later?
No. Unless you exclude yourself, you give up any right to sue Defendants for the claims that this settlement resolves. Remember, the exclusion deadline is_, 2008.
15. If I exclude myself, can I get money from this settlement?
No. If you exclude yourself, do not send in a claim form to ask for any money. Once you exclude yourself, you will receive no cash payment even if you also submit a claim form, unless you withdraw your notice of exclusion before the deadline.
THE LAWYERS REPRESENTING YOU
16. Do I have a lawyer in this case?
The Court appointed the law firms of Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP and Johnson & Perkinson to represent you and other Settlement Class Members. These lawyers are called Plaintiffs Lead Counsel. You will not be charged for these lawyers’ work. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.
17. How will the lawyers be paid?
At the fairness hearing, Plaintiffs Lead Counsel will request the Court to award at
OBJECTING TO THE SETTLEMENT
You can tell the Court that you don’t agree with the settlement or some part of it.
18. How do I tell the Court that I don’t like the settlement?
If you’re a Settlement Class Member (and you have not excluded yourself), you can object to the settlement if you do not like any part of it. You can give reasons why you think the Court should not approve the settlement. The Court will consider your views. To object, you must send a signed letter saying that you object to the proposed settlement in In re Wireless Facilities, Inc. Securities Litigation II, Master File No. 07-CV-00482-BTM(NLS). Be sure to include your name, address, telephone number, your signature, the number and type of shares of Wireless Securities purchased or acquired and sold between March 19, 2002 and March 12, 2007, and the reasons you object to the settlement. Any objection to the settlement must be mailed or delivered such that it is received by each of the following no later than_, 2008:
Clerk of the Court United States District Court Southern District of California Edward J. Schwartz U.S. Courthouse 880 Front Street, Suite 4290 San Diego, CA 92101
COUGHLIN STOIA GELLER RUDMAN & ROBBINS LLP KEITH F. PARK 655 West Broadway, Suite 1900 San Diego, CA 92101
MORRISON & FOERSTER, LLP TYSON E. MARSHALL 12531 High Bluff Drive, Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92130
19. What is the difference between objecting to the settlement and excluding myself from the settlement?
Objecting is telling the Court that you do not like something about the proposed settlement. You can object only if you stay in the Settlement Class. Excluding yourself is telling the Court that you do not want to be part of the Settlement Class. If you exclude yourself, you have no basis to object because the case no longer applies to you.
THE COURT’S FAIRNESS HEARING
The Court will hold a hearing to decide whether to approve the proposed settlement. You may attend, but you don’t have to.
20. When and where will the Court decide whether to approve the settlement?
The Court will hold a hearing at_, on _, 2008, at the United States District Court for the Southern District of California,
21. Do I have to come to the hearing?
No. Plaintiffs Lead Counsel will answer questions Judge Stormes may have. But, you are welcome to come at your own expense. If you send an objection, you don’t have to come to Court to talk about it. As long as you mailed your written objection on time, the Court will consider it. You may also pay your own lawyer to attend, but it is not necessary.
22. May I speak at the hearing?
You may ask the Court for permission to speak at the hearing. To do so, you must send a letter saying that it is your intention to appear in In re Wireless Facilities, Inc. Securities Litigation II, Master File No. 07-CV-00482-BTM(NLS). Be sure to include your name, address, telephone number, your signature, and the number and type of shares of Wireless Securities purchased or acquired between March 19, 2002 and March 12, 2007, inclusive. Your notice of intention to appear must be received no later than __, 2008 by the Clerk of the Court, Plaintiffs Lead Counsel, and Defendants’ Counsel, at the addresses listed in Question 18. You cannot speak at the hearing if you exclude yourself from the Settlement Class.
IF YOU DO NOTHING
23. What happens if I do nothing at all?
If you do nothing, you’ll get no money from this settlement. But, unless you ex-elude yourself, you won’t be able to start a lawsuit, continue with a lawsuit, or be part of any other lawsuit against the Defendants about the same issues in this case.
GETTING MORE INFORMATION
24. Are there more details about the settlement?
This Notice summarizes the proposed settlement. More details are in the Stipulation of Settlement dated May 6, 2008, which has also been filed with the Court. You can get a copy of the Stipulation of Settlement from the Clerk’s office at the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Edward J. Schwartz U.S. Courthouse, 880 Front Street, Suite 4290, San Diego, California 92101, during regular business hours, or at umw.gilardi.com.
25. How do I get more information?
You can call 1-800-449-4900 or write to a representative of Plaintiffs Lead Counsel, Rick Nelson, Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP, 655 West Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101 or visit the Claims Administrator’s website at umw. gilardi.com. Please do not call the Court or the Clerk of the Court for additional information about the settlement.
26. Special notice to nominees
If you hold any Wireless Securities purchased or acquired between March 19, 2002 and March 12, 2007, inclusive as a nominee for a beneficial owner, then, within ten (10) days after you receive this Notice, you must either: (1) send a copy of this Notice by first class mail to all such Persons; or (2) provide a list of the names and addresses of such Persons to the Claims Administrator:
Wireless Facilities Securities Litigation II
Claims Administrator
c/o Gilardi & Co. LLC
P.O. Box 8040
San Rafael, CA 94912-8040
If you choose to mail the Notice and Proof of Claim yourself, you may obtain from the Claims Administrator (without cost to you) as many additional copies of these documents as you will need to complete the mailing.
DATED: __, 2008
S:\Settlement\Wireless 07.set\V4 A1 00051895.doc
CLASS ACTION
PROOF OF CLAIM AND RELEASE
EXHIBIT A-2
I. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
1. To recover as a Member of the Settlement Class based on your claims in the action entitled In re Wireless Facilities, Inc. Securities Litigation II, Master File No. 07-CV-00482-BTM(NLS) (the “Action”), you must complete and, on page __hereof, sign this Proof of Claim and Release. If you fail to file a properly addressed (as set forth in paragraph 3 below) Proof of Claim and Release, your claim may be rejected and you may be precluded from any recovery from the Settlement Fund created in connection with the proposed settlement of the Action.
2. Submission of this Proof of Claim and Release, however, does not assure that you will share in the proceeds of the settlement of the Action.
3. YOU MUST MAIL YOUR COMPLETED AND SIGNED PROOF OF CLAIM AND RELEASE POSTMARKED ON OR BEFORE _, 2008 ADDRESSED AS FOLLOWS:
Wireless Facilities Securities Litigation II
Claims Administrator
c/o Gilardi & Co. LLC
P.O. Box 8040
San Rafael, CA 94912-8040
If you are NOT a Member of the Settlement Class (as defined in the Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Class Action curred or expected to be incurred in connection with forwarding the Notice and which would not have been incurred but for the obligation to forward the Notice, upon submission of appropriate documentation to the GlaimsMm^st^
BY ORDER OF THE COURT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
(“Notice”)) DO NOT submit a Proof of Claim and Release form.
4. If you are a Member of the Settlement Class and you did not timely request exclusion in connection with the proposed settlement, you are bound by the terms of any judgment entered in the Action, including the releases provided therein, WHETHER OR NOT YOU SUBMIT A PROOF OF CLAIM AND RELEASE.
II. DEFINITIONS
1. “Defendants” means Wireless Facilities, Inc. (now known as Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.), Masood K. Tayebi, Massih Tayebi, Terry Ashwill, Daniel G. Stokely, Erie M. DeMarco, Scott I. Anderson, Bandel L. Carano, William A. Hoglund, Scot Jarvis, Laura L. Siegal, Deanna H. Lund and Thomas Munro.
2. “Wireless” means Wireless Facilities, Inc. and any of its predecessors, successors, parents, subsidiaries, divisions or affiliates.
3. “Individual Defendants” means Masood K. Tayebi, Massih Tayebi, Terry Ash-will, Daniel G. Stokely, Eric M. DeMarco, Scott I. Anderson, Bandel L. Carano, William A. Hoglund, Scot Jarvis, Laura L. Siegal, Deanna H. Lund and Thomas Munro.
4. “Wireless Securities” means the publicly traded securities of Wireless.
III. CLAIMANT IDENTIFICATION
If you purchased or acquired Wireless Securities and held the certificate(s) in your name, you are the beneficial purchaser as well as the record purchaser. If, however, you purchased Wireless Securities and the eertificate(s) were registered in the name of a third party, such as a nominee or broker
Use Part I of this form entitled “Claimant Identification” to identify each purchaser of record (“nominee”), if different from the beneficial purchaser of Wireless Securities which forms the basis of this claim. THIS CLAIM MUST BE FILED BY THE ACTUAL BENEFICIAL PURCHASER OR PURCHASERS, OR THE LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE OF SUCH PURCHASER OR PURCHASERS, OF THE WIRELESS SECURITIES UPON WHICH THIS CLAIM IS BASED.
All joint purchasers must sign this claim. Executors, administrators, guardians, conservators and trustees must complete and sign this claim on behalf of persons represented by them and their authority must accompany this claim and their titles or capacities must be stated. The Social Security (or taxpayer identification) number and telephone number of the beneficial owner may be used in verifying the claim. Failure to provide the foregoing information could delay verification of your claim or result in rejection of the claim.
IV. CLAIM FORM
Use Part II of this form entitled “Schedule of Transactions in. Wireless Securities” to supply all required details of your transaction(s) in Wireless Securities. If you need more space or additional schedules, attach separate sheets giving all of the required information in substantially the same form.
Sign and print or type your name on each additional sheet.
On the schedules, provide all of the requested information with respect to all of your purchases and all of your sales of Wireless Securities which took place at any time between March 19, 2002 and March 12, 2007, inclusive (the “Settlement Class Period”), whether such transactions resulted in a profit or a loss. You must also provide all of the requested information with respect to all of the Wireless Securities you held at the beginning of trading on March 19, 2002, and at the close of trading on March 12, 2007. Failure to report all such transactions may result in the rejection of your claim.
List each transaction in the Settlement Class Period separately and in chronological order, by trade date, beginning with the earliest. You must accurately provide the month, day and year of each transaction you list.
The date of covering a “short sale” is deemed to be the date of purchase of Wireless Securities. The date of a “short sale” is deemed to be the date of sale of Wireless Securities.
Copies of broker confirmations or other documentation of your transactions in Wireless Securities should be attached to your claim. Failure to provide this documentation could delay verification of your claim or result in rejection of your claim.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
In re Wireless Facilities, Inc. Securities Litigation II
Master File No. 07-CV-00482-BTM (NLS)
PROOF OF CLAIM AND RELEASE
Must Be Postmarked No Later Than:
_, 2008
Please Type or Print
Beneficial Owner’s Name (First, Middle, Last)
Street Address
City State or Province
Zip Code or Postal Code Country
Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number Individual Corporation/Other
Area Code Telephone Number (work)
Area Code Telephone Number (home)
Record Owner’s Name (if different from beneficial owner listed above) PART II: SCHEDULE OF TRANSACTIONS IN WIRELESS SECURITIES
A. Number and type of shares of Wireless Securities held at the beginning of trading on March 19, 2002: _
B. Purchases (March 19, 2002-March 12, 2007, inclusive) of Wireless Securities:
Trade Date Number of Shares Type of Security Total Purchase Mo. Day Year_Purchased_Purchased_Price_
1--1__1__1__
2--2--2__2__
3.. . 3. 3. _ 3-
IMPORTANT: Identify by number listed above all purchases in which you covered a “short sale”: _
C. Sales (March 19, 2002-March 12, 2007, inclusive) of Wireless Securities:
Trade Date Number of Type of Mo. Day Year_Shares Sold_Security Sold_Total Sales Price
1--1__1__1__
2__2__2__2__
3........ 3. 3__3__
If you require additional space, attach extra schedules in the same format as above. Sign and print your name on each additional page.
YOU MUST READ THE RELEASE AND YOUR SIGNATURE ON PAGE_WILL CONSTITUTE YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE RELEASE.
V. SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION OF COURT AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I submit this Proof of Claim and Release under the terms of the Stipulation of Settlement described in the Notice. I also submit to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, with respect to my claim as a Settlement Class Member and for purposes of enforcing the release set forth herein. I further acknowledge that I am bound by and subject to the terms of any judgment that may be entered in the Action. I agree to furnish additional information to the Claims Administrator to support this claim if requested to do so. I have not submitted any other claim covering the same purchases or sales of Wireless Securities during the Settlement Class Period and know of no other person having done so on my behalf.
VI. RELEASE
1. I (We) hereby acknowledge full and complete satisfaction of, and do hereby fully, finally and forever settle, release and discharge from the Released Claims each and all of the “Released Parties,” defined as each and all of the Defendants, their past, present, or future directors, officers, employees, partners, insurers, co-insurers, reinsurers, principles, agents, controlling shareholders, attorneys, accountants or auditors, advisors, investment advisors, personal or legal representatives, predecessors, successors, parents, subsidiaries, divisions, joint ventures, assigns, spouses, heirs, related or affiliated entities, members of the Individual Defendants’ immediate family, and any trust of which any Defendant is the settler or which is for the benefit of any Individual Defendant and/or members of his/her immediate family, and any entity in which a Defendant and/or any member of Defendants’ immediate family has or have a controlling interest (directly or indirectly).
2. “Released Claims” shall collectively mean all claims or causes of action (including Unknown Claims), demands, rights, liabilities, suits, debts, obligations and causes of action of every nature and description whatsoever, known or unknown, contingent or absolute, mature or unmature, discoverable or undiscoverable, whether concealed or hidden, asserted or that might have been asserted against the Defendants and Released Parties based upon, arising out of, or related to both: (i) any of the facts, transactions, events, occurrences, disclosures, statements, acts, omissions or failures to act which were or could have or might have been alleged in or embraced or otherwise referred to or encompassed by the Action; and (ii) which arise out of the purchase or other acquisition of Wireless Securities during the Settlement Class Period, regardless of upon what legal theory based, whether legal or equitable, including without limitation, claims for negligence, gross negligence, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of the duty of care or loyalty or violations of the common law, administrative rule or regulation, tort, contract, equity, or otherwise or of any state or federal statutes, rules or regulations. Released Claims does not include any of the claims asserted in In re Wireless Facilities Securities Litigation, Master File No. 04CV1589-JAH (NLS) (S.D.Cal.) (‘Wireless 2004 Action”); In re Wireless Facilities, Inc. Deriv. Litig, GIC 834253 (San Diego Super.Ct.); In re Wireless Facilities, Inc. Deriv. Litig, 04CV1663-JAH (NLS) (S.D.Cal.); Hameed v. Tayebi 07CV0680-BTM (RBB) (S.D.Cal.). Also excluded from the Released Claims are any and all claims that have been asserted or could be asserted against the Defendants under the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any other laws, for any conduct complained of in In re Wireless Facilities, Inc. Initial Public Offering Securities Litigation, 01 Civ. 4779(SAS)(MBM), as coordinated for pretrial purposes in In re Initial Public Offering Securities Litigation, Master File No. 21 MC 92(SAS), pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
3. “Wireless Securities” means the publicly traded securities of Wireless.
5. I (We) hereby warrant and represent that I(we) have not assigned or transferred or purported to assign or transfer, voluntarily or involuntarily, any matter released pursuant to this release or any other part or portion thereof.
6. I (We) hereby warrant and represent that I(we) have included information about all of my (our) transactions in Wireless Securities which occurred during the Settlement Class Period as well as the number of shares of Wireless Securities held by me (us) at the beginning of trading on March 19, 2002 and at the close of trading on March 12, 2007.
7. I (We) certify that I am (we are) not subject to backup withholding under the provisions of Section 3406(a)(1)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Note: If you have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that you are subject to backup withholding, please strike out the language that you are not subject to backup withholding in the certification above.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing information supplied by the undersigned is true and correct.
Executed this_day of
in
(Month/Year)
(City) (State/Country)
(Sign your name here)
(Type or print your name here)
(Capacity of person(s) signing, e.g., Beneficial Purchaser or Acquirer, Executor or Administrator)
ACCURATE CLAIMS PROCESSING TAKES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
Reminder Checklist:
1. Please sign the above release and declaration.
2. Remember to attach supporting documentation, if available.
3. Do not send original stock certificates.
4. Keep a copy of your claim form for your records.
5. If you desire an acknowledgment of receipt of your claim form, please send it Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested.
6. If you move, please send us your new address.
S:\Settlement\Wireless 07.setW3 A2 00051896.doc
CLASS ACTION
SUMMARY NOTICE
EXHIBIT A-3
TO: ALL PERSONS (“SETTLEMENT CLASS MEMBERS”) WHO PURCHASED WIRELESS FACILITIES, INC. (“WIRELESS”) SECURITIES BETWEEN MARCH 19, 2002 AND MARCH 12, 2007, INCLUSIVE
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that pursuant to an Order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, a hearing will be held on _, at_:___m., before the Honorable Nita L. Stormes, at the Edward J. Schwartz U.S. Courthouse, United States District Court for the Southern District of California, 940 Front Street, San Diego, CA
If you purchased Wireless Securities (ie., any publicly traded security of Wireless Facilities, Inc. (now known as Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.,)) between March 19, 2002 and March 12, 2007, inclusive, your rights may be affected by this Action and the settlement thereof. If you have not received a detailed Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Class Action and a copy of the Proof of Claim and Release, you may obtain copies by writing to Wireless Facilities Securities Litigation II, Claims Administrator, c/o Gilardi & Co. LLC, P.O. Box 8040, San Rafael, CA 94912-8040, or by downloading this information at www.gilardi.com. If you are a Settlement Class Member, in order to share in the distribution of the Settlement Fund, you must submit a Proof of Claim and Release no later than_, 2008, establishing that you are entitled to a recovery. You will be bound by any judgment rendered in the Action unless you request to be excluded, in writing, to the above address, postmarked by _, 2008.
Any objection to the settlement must be filed with the Clerk of the Court no later than_, 2008 and received by the following no later than_, 2008:
COUGHLIN STOIA GELLER RUDMAN & ROBBINS LLP KEITH F. PARK 655 West Broadway, Suite 1900 San Diego, CA 92101
Counsel for Lead Plaintiff
MORRISON & FOERSTER, LLP TYSON E. MARSHALL 12531 High Bluff Drive, Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92130
Counsel for Defendants
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT OR THE CLERK’S OFFICE REGARDING THIS NOTICE.
DATED:_, 2008 BY ORDER OF THE COURT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
. These facts are based on the statement of facts in the Joint Motion and the docket sheet.
. All paragraph references are to the Amended Complaint.
. In the final approval papers, the Court also expects to see how counsel calculated the plan of allocation and illustrate the calculation using the number of damaged shares and final settlement amount so that the Court will be able to determine whether the plan of allocation is fair, reasonable and adequate. Counsel should also include supporting information from their damages consultant(s).
