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.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.
The
Securities-Class-Action-Settlements-2020-Review-and-Analysis Report is available at Cornerstone.com
