Dada Nexus Limited (DADA) False Revenue Numbers Settlement

C.D. California

Court

2:24-cv-00239

Case number

09 Mar 2023

Class period Start

22 Apr 2024

Class period End

Dada Nexus reached a settlement with $DADA investors over claims that it overstated its 2023 revenues and costs related to online advertising and marketing services.

Outline

Dada Nexus overstated its revenue by 568 million RMB (about 79 million USD) from online advertising and marketing services in 2023. It also hid the true costs of its operations, which led investors to make financial decisions based on misleading information. When the truth came to light, the stock price dropped by 45.9%, resulting in significant financial losses for shareholders.

Timeline
March, 2023: Dada Nexus engaged in fraudulent financial activities by inflating revenues through fictitious transactions, known as "roundtripping." This scheme was designed to meet revenue targets and present a stronger financial position to investors.
December 19, 2023: Dada’s Chairman, Lijun Xin, and CFO, Beck Zhaoming Chen, both resigned unexpectedly.
January 8, 2024: Dada Nexus admitted that it had inflated its revenue by 500 million RMB and that 500 million RMB in support costs had also been misreported, making the company's financial position appear stronger than it was. This caused the stock price to drop by 45.9%.
January 2024: Investors file class-action lawsuits, accusing the company of fraudulent reporting.
September 13, 2024: Dada agrees to settle with investors
Background

Dada Nexus, a Chinese company that operates an on-demand retail and delivery platform, inflated its revenue by 500 million RMB during the first three quarters of 2023. The company misrepresented its advertising revenue and support costs, making its financial situation look healthier than it was. Dada did not properly oversee its financial reporting, leading to these misleading numbers. After an internal audit in January 2024, the company admitted to these issues. The sudden resignation of its Chairman and CFO in December 2023 raised concerns, and by January, Dada had to publicly admit that its 2023 financial statements couldn’t be trusted. This news caused the stock to lose nearly 46% of its value, wiping out $378 million in market value and triggering investor lawsuits.

What Investors Should Expect

Dada has agreed to settle the lawsuit to resolve all claims related to misleading statements made in connection with the IPO. The parties will now work to finalize the terms of the settlement and submit it to the court for approval.
If you were damaged due to this situation, you can file for a payout and get your share of the settlement. You can check if you are eligible and other details in the FAQ section below.

Case Status

Tentative Settlement

Alleged Offence

Misleading Statements,

Financial Misrepresentation,

Failure to Disclose,

Omissions

Suspected Party

Directors,

Management

Security Type

Stocks

Trade Direction

Long

Filing date

10 January 2024

Lead Plaintiff Deadline

11 March 2024

Plaintiffs

Yan Wang

Attorneys

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. (Los Angeles, CA)

Defendants

Jeff Huijian He, Beck Zhaoming Chen

Judge

Stephen V. Wilson

Trades matching type

FIFO