NEW YORK, Oct. 18, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz Haudek Grossman & Gross LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Penson Worldwide, Inc. ("Penson" or the "Company") who purchased Penson shares from February 10, 2011 through August 4, 2011. Such investors are advised to contact Rachelle R. Boyle at rrboyle@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 350.
Penson, through its subsidiaries, provides securities and futures processing infrastructure products and services to the financial services industry. The investigation concerns whether Penson concealed from investors that by at least the end of 2010: (1) the Company had approximately $96-97 million in receivables, of which approximately $43 million were collateralized by illiquid securities and therefore unlikely to be collected; (2) the Company's assets (Nonaccrual Receivables) were materially overstated and should have been written down at least by the end of 2010; (3) as a result, the Company's reported income and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation, and excluding certain non-operating expenses) were materially overstated; and (4), the Company's financial statements were not prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
On May 9, 2011, Penson disclosed it held Nonaccrual Receivables of approximately $97 million of which approximately $43 million were collateralized by illiquid securities issued by a troubled horse track and real estate project in Texas. Between May 9 and May 11, 2011, Penson shares declined from a close on May 9, 2011 of $5.45 per share to close at $3.93 per share on May 11, 2011, a decline of approximately 28%, on heavy volume.
Then, on May 12, 2011, Penson disclosed the resignation of Company director Thomas R. Johnson, stating "[b]ased on Mr. Johnson's position as chief executive officer of Call Now, Inc, a holder of a portion of the Retama related collateral, both Mr. Johnson and the Company felt it appropriate for him to resign his position at this time." On May 12, 2011, Penson shares declined $0.81 per share further, or approximately 21%, to close at $3.12 per share, on heavy volume.
Finally, on August 4, 2011, after the close of trading, Penson disclosed that "the Company recorded a non-cash write down of $43.0 million, equal to $26.7 million or ($0.94) per share net of tax, against $96.6 million of nonaccrual receivables. The write down was recorded in conjunction with Penson's initiation of foreclosure proceedings on the majority of the collateral underlying these receivables, including, but not solely related to, certain assets associated with the Retama Development Corporation, and shares of Penson Worldwide stock." On August 5, 2011, Penson shares declined $0.49 per share or approximately 19% to close at $2.12 per share.
The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 70 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.