Median settlement value in 2020 declined 13% from 2018/2019 levels.
Washington—Despite the unprecedented economic disruption that the COVID-19 pandemic caused in 2020, settlements in securities class actions generally continued at a pace typical of recent years, according to a new Cornerstone Research report released today.
The report, Securities Class Action Settlements—2020 Review and Analysis, found that courts approved 77 settlements totaling $4.2 billion in 2020, compared to 74 settlements totaling $2.1 billion the previous year. There were six mega settlements (equal to or greater than $100 million) in 2020, ranging from $149 million to $1.2 billion. Excluding settlements over $1 billion, total settlement values declined by 4% in 2020 over 2019.
“Any disruption in settlement rates as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have been temporary, with the overall number of settlements for 2020 in line with recent years. It will likely be at least a couple of years before we learn whether COVID-19-related allegations have had an impact on other settlement trends.”
The median settlement value of $10.1 million in 2020 fell 13% from 2019 (adjusted for inflation) but was still 19% higher than the prior nine-year median. The average settlement amount in 2020 was $54.5 million, representing a 15% increase over the prior nine-year average.
The report also analyzed “simplified tiered damages,” a measure of potential shareholder losses. In 2020, median “simplified tiered damages” at $326 million was the second highest in the last decade.
Author Commentary
Laura E. Simmons, a Cornerstone Research senior advisor and report coauthor: “Any disruption in settlement rates as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have been temporary, with the overall number of settlements for 2020 in line with recent years. It will likely be at least a couple of years before we learn whether COVID-19-related allegations have had an impact on other settlement trends.”
Laarni T. Bulan, a Cornerstone Research principal and report coauthor: “In several respects, after an unusual year in 2019, cases settled in 2020 represented a return to levels prevalent in prior years. However, one prominent trend continuing from 2019 is an increase in the size of issuer defendant firms.”