According to the law firm press release, Doral Financial Corporation ("Doral" or the Company) was organized in 1972 under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and operates as a bank holding company. Doral's principal operations are conducted in Puerto Rico, with growing operations in the United States, specifically in the New York City metropolitan area, as well as in northwest and south Florida.
The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants issued materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's financial performance and future prospects and failed to disclose adverse facts, including that: (a) the Company had a material weakness in its internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls, and that such controls were ineffective; (b) the Company had understated its loan reserves; and (c) as a result of having understated its loan loss reserves, the Company's assets were overstated, its expenses were understated, its net income was overstated, and Doral Bank did not meet its Tier I regulatory capital requirements as stated throughout the Class Period.
On March 18, 2014, Doral notified the SEC that it was unable to timely file its annual financial report for fiscal 2013. On this news, the price of Doral common stock dropped more than $1 per share, closing down at $11.17 per share on March 18, 2014, from its close the prior evening of $12.30 per share.
On Friday March 21, 2014, after the close of trading, Doral issued a press release and filed its annual financial report with the SEC on Form 10-K, for the period ended December 31, 2013. On this news, the price of Doral common stock declined from its close of $11.55 per share on the evening of March 21, to close at $10.76 per share on Monday, March 24th.
On May 1, 2014, the Company announced that it has been advised by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation that the bank could not include some or all of its tax receivables from the Puerto Rican government in its calculation of Tier 1 capital. Puerto Rico tax receivables accounted for $289 million of the bank's approximately $679 million of Tier 1 Capital as of December 31, 2013. On this news, shares of Doral fell $6.09, or more than 62%, on intraday trading to $3.73, on unusually heavy trading volume on May 2, 2014.
On August 1, 2014, the Court approved a Stipulation appointing lead Plaintiffs and lead Counsel. Lead Plaintiffs filed an amended Complaint on November 6.
On July 22, 2015, the Court issued an Order granting in part and denying in part Defendants' Motion to Dismiss.
On February 29, 2016, the parties entered into a Stipulation of Settlement. This Settlement was preliminarily approved by the Court on April 21. Final approval was granted on August 8.