Micron Technology Securities Class Action
Micron Technology Securities Class Action
DISTRICT OF IDAHO
Plaintiff alleges the following based upon the investigation of his counsel, which
included, among other things, a review of the Defendants’ public documents, conference calls
and announcements, United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings, wire
and press releases published by and regarding Micron Technologies, Inc. (“Micron” or the
“Company”) securities analysts’ reports and advisories about the Company, and information
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INTRODUCTION
traded securities during the period from February 24, 2001 to February 13, 2003 (the “Class
Period”), seeking relief under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).
world. Micron’s product line includes a series of dynamic random access memory products
(hereinafter “DRAM”), which provide data storage and retrieval. Micron's products are utilized
servers, mobile phones, flash memory cards, USB storage devices, digital still cameras, MP3
players, and other consumer electronics products. These products are offered to original
equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) through a network of direct sales forces, independent sales
3. At the beginning of the Class Period, without the knowledge of investors, Micron
and its employees (along with others in its industry) were engaged in a scheme to manipulate the
price of their computer memory semiconductor chip, DRAM. Throughout 2001, while the
market for personal computers was plummeting, the prices for DRAM and double data rate
DRAM - the type of memory found in the vast majority of personal computers - were soaring. In
fact, some types of DRAM tripled in price in only a few months. Micron and various other
4. In June of 2002, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) charged Rambus
Inc. (“Rambus”), a Los Altos, California-based company, with violating federal antitrust laws by
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“deliberately engaging in a pattern of anticompetitive acts and practices that served to deceive an
consumers.” Specifically, the FTC charged that Rambus “fail[ed] to make required patent
related disclosures, convey[ing] a materially false and misleading impression that Rambus was
not seeking patents related to proposed standards upon which is could later base infringement
claims.” The FTC charged that by its silence, while a member of a chip industry standards-
setting body, Rambus, by its silence, tricked the other DRAM makers into including technology
5. Once those standards were adopted, Rambus made moves to either collect on
royalties or sue those companies that refused to comply, which included other DRAM industry
companies such as Toshiba, Samsung, Hitachi, NEC, Infineon, Hyundai and Micron. It has
recently come to light that Micron, along with its co-conspirators, engaged in a retaliatory price-
fixing scheme. Each company denied their complicity in the DRAM price-fixing scheme
6. The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued a federal grand jury subpoena to
Micron in June of 2002 seeking information concerning pricing and sales of DRAM chips. In
January of 2004, Micron employees plead guilty and admitted to withholding and altering
fix DRAM prices. Infineon’s $160 million fine, one of the largest in the DOJ Antitrust
Division’s history, was the product of a one count charge for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act
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by conspiring with other DRAM manufacturers, between July 1999 and June 2002, to fix prices
investigations into DRAM price fixing charges and that Micron’s cooperation was given in
return for prosecutorial leniency pursuant to DOJ policy. Following this disclosure, Defendant
Steven R. Appleton (“Appleton”), Micron's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, publicly
withdrew his earlier statements that it was “not possible to control prices in this industry” and
that the DOJ’s investigation was merely “theoretical”; admitting that “neither [was] the case.”
Instead, Appleton conceded that the “DOJ's investigation revealed evidence of price fixing by
Micron employees and its competitors on DRAM sold to certain computer and server
manufacturers.”
9. During the Class Period, Defendant Micron concealed from the public, by
falsifying public statements and financial reports, the following material information:
a. That Micron and its co-conspirators agreed to, conspired to, and did carry
out a combination and conspiracy in the United States and abroad to fix prices of DRAM, which
b. That the combination and conspiracy agreed to, conspired to, and carried
out by Micron and its co-conspirators constituted an unreasonable restraint of interstate and
foreign trade and commerce in violation of § I of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. § 1).
c. That the combination and conspiracy agreed to, conspired to, and carried
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understanding, and concert of action among Micron and its co-conspirators, the substantial
terms of which were to agree to fix the prices for DRAM to be sold to certain OEMs.
d. That in furtherance of the combination and conspiracy, Micron and its co-
conspirators undertook those certain actions that they combined and conspired to do, including,
meetings and conversations in the United States and abroad to discuss the prices of DRAM to be
DRAM to certain OEMs for the purpose of monitoring and enforcing adherence to the agreed-
inflated due to their involvement, participation, and activity in an illegal price-fixing scheme
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illegal price-fixing activities, Micron's sales and earnings reports and forward-looking stock
price forecasts issued during the Class Period were false and misleading.
10. During the Class Period, the Company’s shares traded at inflated prices as a result
of Defendants' false and misleading statements, enabling the Company to issue more than $632
million worth of debt, and sell over $480 million worth of warrants and complete numerous
addition to these transactions, during the Class Period insiders sold approximately $4.5 million
11. The claims asserted herein arise under and pursuant to §§ 10 (b) and 20(a) of the
Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. §§78j(b) and 78t(a)) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the
12. The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action pursuant to 28
U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1337, and §27 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. §78aa).
13. Venue is proper in this District pursuant to §27 of the Exchange Act and 28 U.S.C.
§1391 (b). Many of the acts alleged herein occurred and/or are occurring in substantial part in
this District.
14. In connection with the acts alleged in this Complaint, Defendants, directly or
indirectly, used the means and instrumentalities of interstate commerce, including, but not
limited to, the mails, interstate telephone communications and the facilities of the national
securities markets.
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THE PARTIES
15. Plaintiff Arthur S.K. Fong purchased Micron publicly traded securities as detailed
devices throughout the United States and the world. Micron's principal place of business is
located at 8000 S. Federal Way, Boise, Idaho. Micron has approximately 617 million shares of
17. Defendant Steven R. Appleton is, and was at all relevant times during the Class
18. Defendant Michael W. Sadler (“Sadler”) is, and was at all relevant times during
the Class Period, Micron's Vice President of Worldwide Sales. During the Class Period, Sadler
sold approximately 22,000 shares of Micron stock at inflated prices receiving approximately
$936,000 in proceeds.
19. Defendant Wilbur G. Stover, Jr. (“Stover”) is, and was at all relevant times during
the Class Period, Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Vice President of
Finance of Micron. During the Class Period, Stover sold approximately 110,000 shares of
20. Defendants Appleton, Sadler and Stover are referred to hereinafter as the
“Individual Defendants.” The Individual Defendants, because of their positions within the
Company, possessed the power and authority to control the contents of Micron’s quarterly
reports, press releases and presentations to securities analysts, money and portfolio managers
and institutional investors, i.e., the market. Each Defendant was provided with copies of the
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Company’s reports and press releases alleged herein to be misleading prior to or shortly after
their issuance and had the ability and opportunity to prevent their issuance or cause them to be
corrected. Because of their positions and access to material non-public information available to
them, each of these Defendants knew that the adverse facts specified herein had not been
disclosed to and were being concealed from the public and that the positive representations
which were being made were materially false and misleading. The Individual Defendants are
liable for the false statements pleaded herein, as those statements were each “group-published”
21. Plaintiff brings this action as a class action pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure on behalf of all persons who purchased Micron publicly traded
securities on the open market during the Class Period (the “Class”). Excluded from the Class are
Defendants, directors and officers of Micron and their families and affiliates.
22. The members of the Class are so numerous that joinder of all members is
impracticable. The disposition of their claims in a class action will provide substantial benefits to
the parties and the Court. During the Class Period, Micron had more than 617 million shares
23. There is a well-defined community of interest in the questions of law and fact
involved in this case. Questions of law and fact common to the members of the Class which
predominate over questions which may affect individual Class members include:
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the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
and
24. Plaintiff’s claims are typical of the claims of the other members of the Class.
Plaintiff and all members of the Class purchased Micron securities at artificially inflated prices
established by the actions of Defendants in connection with the acts described herein. Plaintiff
and the members of the Class have all sustained damage in that they paid inflated prices for the
herein.
25. Plaintiff will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the member of the Class
and has retained counsel competent and experienced in class action, antitrust and securities
litigation.
26. A class action is superior to all other available methods for the fair and efficient
the damages suffered by individual Class members may be relatively small, the expense and
burden of individual litigation make it impossible for members of the Class to individually
redress the wrongs done to them. There will be no difficulty in the management of this action as
a class action.
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FACTUAL BACKGROUND
27. Prior to and during 1998, the semiconductor business was unstable and prone to
large market swings. During this time the vast majority, over 90%, of semiconductor sales were
for memory chips for personal computers. Seeking market expansion for their business, in 1998,
Appleton expended $800 million of Micron's common stock, a 10% stake at the time, to buyout
Texas Instruments' then money-losing memory unit. This acquisition took place shortly
following one of the periodic downward swings in the DRAM industry market. Following this
activity, Appleton secured additional cash from one of Micron’s main clients, Intel, who gave
Micron $500 million in exchange for ensuring Intel would have access to the memory chips it
needed for its microprocessors. Micron’s market share increased from 7%-22% virtually
overnight.
28. In the late 1990’s, Rambus was a small firm which claimed to own critical
memory chip bit retrieval technology. Rambus charged Micron and others in the DRAM
industry royalties for use of this technology. Micron and others claimed that these royalty
payments cut deeply into their profits and they accused Rambus of illegally obtaining the
intellectual “rights,” to the technology at issue. Micron and others argued the rights asserted by
Rambus were improperly derived from Rambus' earlier involvement in an industry standards-
setting group.
29. Micron filed a lawsuit against Rambus on August 28, 2000, alleging violations of
federal antitrust laws, and invalidity, non-infringement and non-enforceability of certain Rambus
patents. Hyundai Electronics (“Hyundai”) also filed a lawsuit, one day later, seeking a
declaratory judgment that Hundai’s products did not infringe on certain patents owned by
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Germany and France against Hyundai and Micron. Rambus also requested that the U.S.
products which Rambus said were covered by its patents. Those lawsuits sought to halt the sale,
manufacture and use of Micron and Hyundai memory devices which Rambus said infringed
their posture, a meaningful network and a coordinated response by others in the DRAM industry
developed. Defendants began conspiring with others in the DRAM industry in an effort to offset
cyclical price declines by agreeing to set DRAM prices -- the major motivation for this action
was to offset the royalty demands made by Rambus, which in times of price and sales decline
31. Beginning by at least 1999 and continuing until at least 2002, Defendants, along
with others in the DRAM industry, engaged in a continuing agreement, understanding and
conspiracy in restraint of trade, to artificially raise, fix, maintain or stabilize prices for computer
memory products in the United States in violation of § 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § I.
32. The Defendants intentionally agreed to and did fix, raise and maintain, or stabilize
fruition, Micron and its co-conspirators did those things that they combined and conspired to do,
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the United States and abroad to discuss the prices of DRAM to be sold to certain OEMs;
certain OEM customers for the purpose of monitoring and enforcing adherence to the agreed-
upon prices -- and artificially inflating the Company's revenue and profits.
fraudulently concealed this unlawful conduct from Plaintiff and the investing public in violation
35. Defendants' illegal activities were effective. For the fiscal year ending August 31,
2000, the Company posted a significant earning, reporting $1.5 billion in earnings on sales of
$7.3 billion after two consecutive annual losses. These earning were made in spite of losses
36. In Micron’s first quarter of 2001 reporting, made on December 20, 2000, President
and CEO Appleton acknowledged declining DRAM prices and increasing inventory levels, but
in spite of this stated that he was “very pleased with the Company's performance,” commenting
that “[d]espite declining market conditions, Micron had a very strong quarter” and added that
Micron was “well positioned with leading edge process technology, low-cost manufacturing
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37. Throughout the Class Period, Micron, issued various false and misleading
statements to the public and investors regarding the Company’s profitability, including failing to
Division.
38. On March 29, 2001, the Company issued a press release entitled “Micron
Technology, Inc. Reports Consolidated Results for Second Quarter of Fiscal 2001.” The release
Micron Technology, Inc., today confirmed its March 21, 2001, announcement
that the pretax results of its Semiconductor Operations were slightly profitable for
the second fiscal quarter ended March 1, 2001, on net sales of $1,051 million. The
Company's consolidated net loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2001 was $88
million (or $0.15 per diluted share) which includes the effects of the net loss from
the Micron Electronics, Inc. (MEI), discontinued PC operations of $84 million (or
$0.14 per diluted share) and the net loss from MEI's continuing Web hosting
operation. The Company's consolidated financial information presents the net
effect of discontinued operations separate from the results of the Company's
continuing operations. Historical financial information of the Company has been
restated to present consistently the discontinued operations.
The Company's loss from continuing operations, net of taxes, for the second
quarter of fiscal 2001 was $4 million (or $0.01 per diluted share) on consolidated
net sales of $1,066 million. Income from continuing operations, net of taxes, for
the first quarter of fiscal 2001 was $359 million (or $0.59 per diluted share) on
net sales of $1,572 million.
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products. Net sales from the Semiconductor Operations for the first quarter of
fiscal 2001 were $1.558 million.
39. On June 21, 2001, the Company issued a press release entitled “Micron
Technology, Inc., Reports Consolidated Results for Third Fiscal Quarter 2001.” The release
stated in part:
Micron Technology, Inc., today announced an after-tax net loss from continuing
operations for the third quarter of $301 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, on
$818 million of net sales. The third quarter loss from continuing operations
includes a pre-tax inventory write down of approximately $260 million. For the
first nine months of fiscal 2001, the Company reported net income from
continuing operations of $54 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, on $3,456
million of net sales.
Net sales from the Company's semiconductor operations for the third quarter of
fiscal 2001 decreased 24% compared to the immediately preceding quarter as a
result of an approximate 35% decline in the Company's overall average selling
price per megabit, partially offset by an approximate 20% increase in megabit
shipments. The Company's aggregate work in process and finished goods
inventories, as measured in megabits, were considerably higher at the end of the
third quarter, principally due to the acquisition of the KMT wafer fab.
40. On September 25, 2001, the Company issued a press release entitled “Micron
Technology. Inc., Reports Consolidated Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2001.” The
Micron Technology, Inc., today announced a net loss for the fourth quarter of
fiscal 2001 of $576 million, or $0.96 per diluted share, on $480 million of net
sales. For the fiscal year ended August 30, 2001, the Company had a net loss
from continuing operations of $521 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, on $3,936
million of net sales. For fiscal year 2000, the Company had net income from
continuing operations of $1,548 million, or $2.63 per diluted share, on net sales of
$6,362 million.
In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001, the Company recorded an aggregate charge of
$191 million ($118 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, net of taxes) for the write-
down of its equity investment in Interland, Inc. (formerly Micron Electronics,
Inc.), and subsequent contribution of its Interland shares to the Micron
Technology Foundation. In addition, the loss for the fourth quarter includes the
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Average selling prices for the Company's semiconductor memory products in the
fourth quarter of fiscal 2001 decreased approximately 55% compared to the third
quarter and decreased approximately 85% compared to the fourth quarter of the
prior year. This precipitous drop in average selling prices led to a 79% drop in the
Company's net sales when comparing the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001 to the
fourth quarter of fiscal 2000. The effect of the lower average selling prices on the
Company's net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001 was partially offset by a
higher level of megabit shipments. Megabit shipments in the fourth quarter of
fiscal 2001 increased approximately 30% compared to the third quarter and
approximately 45% compared to the fourth quarter of the prior year. The
Company's megabit shipments for fiscal year 2001 increased approximately 50%
compared to fiscal 2000. Megabit inventories in work in process and finished
goods increased slightly in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter of
fiscal 2001.
“The global economy is facing stiff challenges from which our industry is
certainly not exempt,” said Steve Appleton, Micron's Chief Executive Officer.
“However, Micron is poised with one of the strongest balance sheets in the
industry, an excellent complement of people resources, an industry leading
process technology and a resolve to emerge from these troubled times as the
strongest semiconductor memory manufacturer in the world. Our manufacturing
implementation of 0.13: process technology should position us very positively for
2002.”
41. On December 18, 2001, the Company issued a press release entitled “Micron
Technology, Inc., Reports Consolidated Results for First Quarter 2002.” The release stated in
part:
Micron Technology, Inc., today announced a net loss for the first quarter of fiscal
2002 of $266 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, on $424 million of net sales.
These results compare to a net loss of $576 million, or $0.96 per diluted share, on
$480 million of net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001 and income from
continuing operations of $360 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, on $1,572
million of net sales for the first quarter a year ago.
. . . Average selling prices for the Company's semiconductor memory products for
the first quarter of fiscal 2002 decreased 24% when compared to the preceding
quarter and decreased 88% when compared to the first quarter a year ago.
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42. On March 21, 2002, the Company issued a press release entitled “Micron
Technology, Inc., Reports Consolidated Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2002.”
Micron Technology, Inc., today announced a net loss for the second quarter of
fiscal 2002 of $30 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, on net sales of $646
million. These results compare to a net loss of $266 million, or $0.44 per diluted
share, on net sales of $424 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2002 and a net
loss from continuing operations of $4 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, on net
sales of $ 1.066 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2001.
Net sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2002 were 52% higher compared to the
first quarter of fiscal 2002 as a result of an approximate 70% increase in average
selling prices for the Company's products, partially offset by an approximate 10%
decrease in megabit shipments. The Company's finished goods inventories
declined significantly during the quarter, and reached minimum levels at quarter
end. Megabit production in the second quarter of fiscal 2002 was approximately
30% lower than the first quarter, attributable to the Company's efforts to reduce
its manufacturing cycle times and the effects of scheduled holiday downtime.
43. On June 18, 2002, Micron issued a press release entitled “Micron Technology,
Inc. Confirms Industry-Wide Investigation.” Therein, the Company, in relevant part, stated:
The Company informed the Antitrust Division that it will cooperate fully with the
Division’s investigation. “Micron does not believe it has violated U.S. antitrust
laws,” said Micron VP of Corporate Affairs, Kipp Bedard. “The DRAM business
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44. On June 25, 2002, the Company issued a press release entitled “Micron
Technology, Inc. Reports Consolidated Results for the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2002.” The
Micron Technology, Inc., today announced a net loss for the third quarter of fiscal
2002 of $24 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, on net sales of $771 million.
These results compare to a net loss of $30 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, on
net sales of $646 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2002 and a net loss from
continuing operations of $301 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, on net sales of
$818 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2001.
Net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2002 were 19% higher compared to the
immediately preceding quarter ended February 28, 2002 due to 44% higher
average selling prices. Although average selling prices were higher for the third
quarter of fiscal 2002, prices declined from early April through the end of the
quarter due to adverse market conditions. Megabits sold by the Company in the
third quarter of fiscal 2002 were 17% lower than in the second quarter, and
megabits of finished goods inventories increased significantly as compared to the
end of the second quarter.
45. On September 24, 2002, the Company issued a press release entitled “Micron
Technology, Inc., Reports Results for the Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2002.” The release
stated in part:
Micron Technology, Inc., today announced results of operations for its fourth
quarter and fiscal year ended August 29, 2002, with operating losses of $468
million and $ 1,025 million, respectively, on net sales of $748 million and $2,589
million, respectively. Operating results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002
include a write-down of $174 million to record inventories of semiconductor
products at their estimated market values.
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46. On December 17, 2002, the Company issued a press release entitled “Micron
Technology, Inc., Reports Results for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2003.” The release stated
in part:
Micron Technology, Inc., today announced results of operations for the first
quarter of its 2003 fiscal year which ended November 28, 2002. The Company
recognized an operating loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2003 of $297 million
and a net loss of $316 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, on sales of $685
million. These results compare to an operating loss of $468 million on sales of
$748 million for the immediately preceding quarter and an operating loss of $452
million on sales of $424 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2002. These
operating results include charges for write-downs of inventories to their estimated
market values of $91 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2003, $174 million for
the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002 and $173 million for the first quarter of fiscal
2002. Absent the effect of the first quarter of fiscal 2003 write-down and the
effects of previous write-downs of products sold in the first quarter, the
Company's operating loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2003 would have been
$345 million.
Average selling prices per megabit for the Company's semiconductor products
decreased approximately 12% in the first quarter compared to the immediately
preceding quarter ended August 29, 2002, principally as a result of lower selling
prices for the Company's synchronous DRAM products partially offset by higher
selling prices for DDR products. Megabit sales volumes were modestly higher
comparing the first quarter to the immediately preceding quarter. Synchronous
DRAM products constituted approximately 60% of the first quarter sales as
measured in megabits, as demand allowed the Company to reduce inventories of
these devices. The Company's production in the first quarter was slightly more
than 50% DDR memory.
47. Defendants’ statements described above were materially false and misleading
when made because Defendants failed to disclose the following: (1) that Micron engaged in
illegal anti-competitive behavior to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing the prices of
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DRAM sold to OEMs in violation of § 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act; (2) that Micron’s
financial results throughout the Class Period were materially inflated as a direct result of the
price-fixing conspiracy due to the Company’s illegal behavior of price-fixing; and (3) that the
Company’s financial projections during the Class Period lacked a reasonable basis because they
were issued while the Company involved itself in an illegal price-fixing scheme.
48. On November 11, 2004, Micron issued a press release entitled “Micron
Technology, Inc. Responds to Recent Article.” Therein the Company, in relevant part, stated:
Micron Technology, Inc. today clarified and corrected a recent story about the
company that appeared in the November 3, 2004, issue of Electronics Weekly
regarding the pending U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into pricing
in the DRAM industry.
Appleton stated further, “Micron deplores any effort to fix or stabilize prices and
is committed to rectifying past behavior and ensuring any misconduct will not
recur. Micron is dedicated to strong governance practices and comprehensive
compliance programs. These efforts include global programs to ensure our
employees understand how to interact appropriately with competitors, suppliers
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and customers. Our believe in these principles guides the company’s long-
standing commitment to strong governance practices and our implementation of
up-to-date, comprehensive compliance programs. Micron continues to cooperate
fully and actively with the DOJ in its investigation.”
49. The market for Micron’s securities was open, well-developed and efficient at all
relevant times. As a result of these materially false and misleading statements and failures to
disclose as set forth herein, Micron’s securities traded at artificially inflated prices during the
Class Period. Plaintiff and other members of the Class purchased or otherwise acquired Micron
securities relying upon the integrity of the market price of Micron’s securities and market
50. During the Class Period, Defendants materially misled the investing public,
thereby inflating the price of Micron’s securities, by publicly issuing false and misleading
statements and omitting to disclose material facts necessary to make Defendants’ statements, as
set forth herein, not false and misleading. Said statements and omissions were materially false
and misleading in that they failed to disclose material adverse information and misrepresented
the truth about the Company, its business and operations, as alleged herein.
51. At all relevant times, the material misrepresentations and omissions particularized
in this Complaint directly or proximately caused or were a substantial contributing cause of the
damages sustained by Plaintiff and other members of the Class. As described herein, during the
Class Period, Defendants made or caused to be made a series of materially false or misleading
statements about Micron’s business, prospects and operations. These material misstatements and
omissions had the cause and effect of creating in the market an unrealistically positive
assessment of Micron and its business, prospects and operations, thus causing the Company’s
securities to be overvalued and artificially inflated at all relevant times. Defendants’ materially
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false and misleading statements during the Class Period resulted in Plaintiff and other members
of the Class purchasing the Company’s securities at artificially inflated prices, thus causing the
LOSS CAUSATION
52. During the Class Period, as herein alleged, Defendants knowingly and willfully
participated in a concerted ruse to deceive the market that artificially inflated Micron's stock
price by misrepresenting the Company’s business success and future business prospects which
resulted in fraud or deceit on Class Period purchasers of Micron stock. Initially Defendants were
successful in carrying out their designed market hoax of purposefully misrepresenting the
Company’s business prospects which resulted in short term success, growth and strong future
business prospects. Later, however, when Defendants' veneer of success- made possible by
misrepresentations and fraudulent conduct- was disclosed and became known to the market,
Micron stock fell meteorically as the artificial price inflation came out of Micron’s stock price.
As a result of their purchases of Micron stock during the Class Period, Plaintiff and other
members of the Class suffered economic loss, i.e., damages, under the federal securities laws.
SCIENTER
53. As alleged herein, Defendants acted with scienter in that Defendants knew that
the public documents and statements issued or disseminated in the name of the Company
pleaded herein were materially false and misleading; knew that such statements or documents
would be issued or disseminated to the investing public; and knowingly and substantially
primary violations of the federal securities laws. As set forth elsewhere herein in detail,
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Defendants, by virtue of their receipt of information reflecting the true facts regarding Micron,
their control over, and/or receipt and/or modification of Micron's allegedly materially misleading
misstatements and/or their associations with the Company which made them privy to
alleged herein.
54. During the Class Period, and with the Company's stock trading at artificially
inflated prices, Company insiders sold 132,000 shares of Micron stock for gross proceeds of
$4,536,000. Additionally, during the Class Period, the Company issued more than $632 million
worth of debt and sold over $480 million worth of warrants and completed numerous stock-for-
stock acquisitions.
55. At all relevant times, the market for Micron's securities was an efficient market
a. Micron's stock met the requirements for listing, and was listed and
b. As a regulated issuer, Micron filed periodic public reports with the SEC
on the national circuits of major newswire services and through other wide-ranging public
disclosures, such as communications with the financial press and other similar reporting
services; and
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brokerage firms who wrote reports which were distributed to the sales force and certain
customers of their respective brokerage firms. Each of these reports was publicly available and
56. As a result of the foregoing, the market for Micron's securities promptly digested
current information regarding Micron from all publicly available sources and reflected such
information in Micron's stock price. Under these circumstances, all purchasers of Micron's
securities during the Class Period suffered similar injury through their purchase of Micron's
NO SAFE HARBOR
57. The statutory safe harbor provided for forward-looking statements under certain
circumstances does not apply to any of the allegedly false statements pleaded in this Complaint.
Many of the specific statements pleaded herein were not identified as "forward-looking
statements" when made. To the extent there were any forward-looking statements, there were no
meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those in the purportedly forward-looking statements. Alternatively, to the
extent that the statutory safe harbor does apply to any forward- looking statements pleaded
herein, Defendants are liable for those false forward-looking statements because at the time each
of those forward-looking statements was made, the particular speaker knew that the particular
forward-looking statement was false, and/or the forward-looking statement was authorized
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and/or approved by an executive officer of Micron who knew that those statements were false
when made.
58. Plaintiff repeats and realleges each and every allegation contained above as if
59. During the Class Period, Defendants disseminated or approved the false
statements specified above, which they knew to be, or recklessly disregarded as, materially false
and misleading as those statements contained material misrepresentations and Defendants failed
to disclose material facts necessary to make the statements made not misleading.
60. Defendants violated §10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 in that they:
necessary in order to make statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were
fraud or deceit upon Plaintiff and others similarly situated in connection with their purchases of
61. These Defendants employed devices, schemes and artifices to defraud, while in
possession of material adverse non-public information and engaged in acts, practices, and a
course of conduct as alleged herein in an effort to assure investors of Micron's value and
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performance and continued substantial growth, which included the making of, or the
participation in the making of, untrue statements of material facts and omitting to state material
facts necessary in order to make the statements made about Micron and its business operations
and future prospects in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not
misleading, as set forth more particularly herein, and engaged in transactions, practices and a
course of business which operated as a fraud and deceit upon the purchasers of Micron's
62. The Defendants had actual knowledge of the misrepresentations and omissions of
material facts set forth herein, or acted with reckless disregard for the truth in that they failed to
ascertain and to disclose such facts, even though such facts were available to them. Such
and for the purpose and effect of concealing Micron's operating condition and future business
prospects from the investing public and supporting the artificially inflated price of its securities.
operations and earnings throughout the Class Period, Defendants, if they did not have actual
knowledge of the misrepresentations and omissions alleged, were reckless in failing to obtain
such knowledge by deliberately refraining from taking those steps necessary to discover whether
information and failure to disclose material facts, as set forth above, the market prices of
Micron's securities were artificially inflated during the Class Period. In ignorance of the fact that
market prices of Micron's publicly-traded securities were artificially inflated, and relying directly
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or indirectly on the false and misleading statements made by Defendants, or upon the integrity of
the market in which the securities trade, and/or on the absence of material adverse information
that was known to or recklessly disregarded by Defendants but not disclosed in public statements
by Defendants during the Class Period, Plaintiff and the other members of the Class acquired
Micron securities during the Class Period at artificially high prices and were damaged thereby.
64. At the time of said misrepresentations and omissions, Plaintiff and other members
of the Class were ignorant of their falsity, and believed them to be true. Had Plaintiff and the
other members of the Class and the marketplace known the truth regarding Micron's financial
results, which were not disclosed by Defendants, Plaintiff and other members of the Class would
not have purchased or otherwise acquired their Micron securities, or, if they had acquired such
securities during the Class Period, they would not have done so at the artificially inflated prices
65. By virtue of the foregoing, Defendants have violated Section 10(b) of the
66. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants' wrongful conduct, Plaintiff and
the other members of the Class suffered damages in connection with their purchases and sales of
67. Plaintiff repeats and realleges each and every allegation contained above as if
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68. Each of the Individual Defendants’ primary liability, and controlling person
liability, arises from the following facts: (i) the Individual Defendants were high-level
executives and/or directors at the Company during the Class Period and members of the
Company’s management team or had control thereof; (ii) each of these Defendants, by virtue of
his responsibilities and activities as a senior officer and/or director of the Company was privy to
and participated in the creation, development and reporting of the Company’s internal budgets,
plans, projections and/or reports; (iii) each of these Defendants enjoyed significant personal
contact and familiarity with the other Defendants and was advised of and had access to other
members of the Company’s management team, internal reports and other data and information
about the Company’s finances, operations, and sales at all relevant times; and (iv) each of these
Defendants was aware of the Company’s dissemination of information to the investing public
which they knew or recklessly disregarded was materially false and misleading.
69. The Individual Defendants acted as controlling persons of Micron within the
meaning of Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act as alleged herein. By virtue of their high-level
positions, and their ownership and contractual rights, participation in and/or awareness of the
Company's operations and/or intimate knowledge of the false financial statements filed by the
Company with the SEC and disseminated to the investing public, the Individual Defendants had
the power to influence and control and did influence and control, directly or indirectly, the
decision-making of the Company, including the content and dissemination of the various
statements which Plaintiff contends are false and misleading. The Individual Defendants were
provided with or had unlimited access to copies of the Company's reports, press releases, public
filings and other statements alleged by Plaintiff to be misleading prior to and/or shortly after
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these statements were issued and had the ability to prevent the issuance of the statements or
70. In particular, each of these Defendants had direct and supervisory involvement in
the day-to-day operations of the Company and, therefore, is presumed to have had the power to
control or influence the particular transactions giving rise to the securities violations as alleged
71. As set forth above, Micron and the Individual Defendants each violated Section
10(b) and Rule 10b-5 by their acts and omissions as alleged in this Complaint. By virtue of their
positions as controlling persons, the Individual Defendants are liable pursuant to Section 20(a) of
the Exchange Act. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants' wrongful conduct, Plaintiff
and other members of the Class suffered damages in connection with their purchases of the
2. awarding damages, including interest, to the Plaintiff and the members of the
class;
3. awarding reasonable costs, including attorneys' fees, to the Plaintiff and the
4. for such equitable, injunctive or other relief as the Court may deem proper.
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JURY DEMAND
By: /s/
Philip Gordon, ISBN 1996
Bruce S. Bistline, ISBN 1988
623 West Hays Street
Boise, ID 83702
Tel: (208) 345/7100
Fax: (208) 345-0050
Richard A. Lockridge
Karen H. Riebel
LOCKRIDGE GRINDAL NAUEN P.L.L.P.
100 Washington Avenue South, Suite 2200
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Tel: (612) 339-6900
Fax: (612) 339-0981
James T. Capretz
CAPRETZ & ASSOCIATES
5000 Birch Street, Suite 2500
Newport Beach, CA 92660-2139
Tel: (949) 724-3000
Fax: (949) 757-2635
Diane Nygaard
NYGAARD LAW FIRM, P.A.
Two Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd., Suite 150
Kansas City, MO 64112
Tel: (913) 469-5544
Fax: (913) 469-9370
29