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Case Status:    SETTLED
On or around 06/30/2017 (Date of order of final judgment)

Filing Date: April 15, 2011

Universal Travel Group Inc. ("Universal Travel" or the Company) is a Chinese travel services company that focuses on the domestic tourism market for leisure and corporate travel.

The Complaint asserts violations of the federal securities laws against Universal Travel and its officers and directors for issuing false and misleading information to investors about the financial and business condition of the Company. The Complaint alleges that the Universal Travel misstated (a) the nature and quality of the companies it acquired during the Class Period; and (b) the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls. As a result, the Complaint alleges that the Company’s periodic reports filed with the SEC and public statements were materially false and misleading.

On March 8, 2011 a firm called Glaucus Research Group issued a report (the “Report”) setting forth numerous red flags of fraud, ranging from alleged misstatements concerning the Company’s online travel business, cash balances, and the Company’s purported relationship with a large online travel company. The Report also revealed that the financial statements of the companies Universal Travel acquired in 2010 that were filed with authorities in China showed only a fraction of the revenue, asset value and income, contrary to the statements Universal Travel made to investors about the acquired companies. On March 29, 2011 the Company announced that it would postpone its earnings announcement for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

On April 12, 2011 trading in the Company’s stock was halted. On April 14, 2011, the Company filed an 8-K with the SEC announcing that the Company’s auditor had resigned. According to the 8-K, the auditors believed that the Company and/or its Audit Committee was “being non-responsive, unwilling or reluctant to proceed in good faith and imposing scope limitations on [the auditors’] audit procedures.” The auditors also noted that they “had lost confidence in the Board of Directors’ and the Audit Committee commitment to sound corporate governance and reliable financial reporting.”

On June 24, 2011, the Court entered an order transferring this case to Judge Susan D. Wigenton.

On July 19, 2012, the Court entered an order appointing lead Plaintiff and approving the selection of lead Counsel.

On September 7, 2012, the Plaintiffs filed their amended Complaint.

On May 1, 2014, the Plaintiffs filed a second amended Complaint.

On January 14, 2015, the parties entered into a Stipulation of Settlement for a portion of the case.

On November 11, 2015, the Plaintiffs filed a third amended Complaint.

In June, 2016, the parties entered into a Stipulation of Settlement. The Court issued an Order preliminarily approving the Settlement on December 29. On June 26, 2017, the Court issued an Order granting final approval of the Settlement and awarding Attorneys' Fees. The Court entered Final Judgment on June 30. On January 26, 2018, the Court issued an Order authorizing Distribution of Class Settlement Funds.

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