NEW YORK, July 20, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Brualdi Law Firm, P.C. announces that a lawsuit has been commenced in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington on behalf of purchasers of Ambassadors Group Inc. ("Ambassadors Group") (Nasdaq:EPAX) common stock during the period between February 8, 2007 and October 23, 2007 (the "Class Period") for violations of the federal securities laws.
No class has yet been certified in the above action. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. If you purchased shares of Ambassadors stock during the Class Period, and wish to move the court for appointment of lead plaintiff, you must do so by September 14, 2009. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff will be selected from among applicants claiming the largest loss from investment in the Company during the Class Period. You do not need to seek appointment as a lead plaintiff in order to share in any recovery.
To be a member of the class you need not take any action at this time, and you may retain counsel of your choice. If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this Notice or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Sue Lee at The Brualdi Law Firm, P.C. 29 Broadway, Suite 2400, New York, New York 10006, by telephone toll free at (877) 495-1187 or (212) 952-0602, by email to slee@brualdilawfirm.com or visit our website at http://www.brualdilawfirm.com.
The Complaint alleges that during the Class Period, defendants issued materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business prospects. Specifically, defendants misrepresented and/or failed to disclose the following adverse facts: (a) that the Company was experiencing a lower conversion rate from people attending its informational meetings to booking travel; (b) that there was a decrease in the number of enrolled participants for the Company's 2008 travel programs, especially in its international outbound programs; (c) that the Company had utilized a different database in order to promote its travel programs to prospective clients; and (d) as a result of the foregoing, defendants lacked a reasonable basis for their positive statements about the Company and its prospects. As a result of defendants' false and misleading statements, Ambassadors Group stock traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period, reaching a high of $40.99 per share on October 18, 2007.
Then, on October 22, 2007, Ambassadors Group announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2007, the period ending September 30, 2007. For the quarter, the Company reported net income of $22.5 million and $1.12 fully diluted earnings per share. The Company also announced that "as of October 16, 2007, its net enrolled participants for 2008 travel programs were 26,200 compared to 37,300 participants as of the same date last year for its 2007 programs" and that the "decrease in net enrollments for its 2008 programs will negatively impact its 2008 earnings." In response to this announcement, the price of Ambassadors Group common stock fell $17.73 per share, or approximately 44%, to close at $21.04 per share.