Stourbridge Investments Llc V. Robert A. Chapek Et Al
Improved Summary: Stourbridge Investments LLC has initiated a lawsuit on behalf of The Walt Disney Company against several of its current and former officers and directors. The defendants stand accused of contravening sections of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and breaching fiduciary duties. The alleged misconduct includes issuing misleading statements, omitting crucial information in public filings and proxy statements from December 10, 2020, to the present, insider trading, unjust enrichment, and misuse of corporate assets. The lawsuit pertains to Disney's reorganization into two reporting segments: Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution (DMED) and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products (DPEP). The defendants are alleged to have deceived investors about the success of the Disney+ platform by hiding the true costs and challenges of sustaining strong subscriber growth. They are also accused of improperly transferring costs from the Disney+ platform to legacy platforms, resulting in significant losses and damages due to the decrease in Disney’s securities' market value. The defendants, identified as the "Director Defendants" and the "Securities Action Defendants", are alleged to have violated their fiduciary duties of trust, loyalty, good faith, and due care to the company and its shareholders. They stand accused of mismanaging Disney and failing to provide accurate and truthful information about the company's financial and business prospects. The lawsuit also implicates the Audit Committee, alleging it failed to uphold the integrity of the company's financial statements, ensure the adequacy of the company's internal control system, and ensure the company's adherence to legal and regulatory requirements. The directors are accused of breaching the company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors by accepting potentially conflicting gifts, using company property and information for personal gain, and failing to comply with relevant laws, rules, and regulations, including insider trading laws. The lawsuit aims to hold the directors accountable for these alleged violations.
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