According to the Complaint, QuantumScape Corporation develops battery technology for electric vehicles and other applications. QuantumScape went public via business combination with Kensington Capital Acquisition Corp., which closed on November 25, 2020, with QuantumScape as the surviving public entity. Kensington was a special purpose acquisition company that was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination. Though Kensington was not limited to a particular industry or sector, it focused its search for a target business in the automotive and automotive-related sector.
The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, the Complaint alleges Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that the Company’s purported success related to its solid-state battery power, battery life, and energy density were significantly overstated; (2) that the Company is unlikely to be able to scale its technology to the multi-layer cell necessary to power electric vehicles; and (3) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
On April 20, 2021, the Court issued an Order consolidating cases and appointing Lead Plaintiff and Counsel. All future docketing was ordered to be done in the lead case 21-CV-00058.
On May 18, 2021, the Court issued an Order consolidating cases. Lead Plaintiff filed a consolidated Complaint on June 21. Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss the consolidated Complaint on August 20. On January 14, 2022, the Court issued an Order denying Defendants' Motion to Dismiss except in relation to one specific challenged statement.
Lead Plaintiff filed an amended consolidated Complaint on July 14, 2022. Lead Plaintiff filed a Motion for Class Certification on July 29. On December 19, the Court issued an Order certifying a Class and appointing Class Representatives and Class Counsel.
On June 11, 2024, the parties entered into a Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement. The Court granted preliminary approval of the Settlement on July 18.