`
`Case 1:19-cv-11247-AT Document 1 Filed 12/09/19 Page 1 of 14
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
`-------------------------------------- X
`:
`GREGORY TESNAR,
`:
`
`:
`:
`:
`:
`:
`:
`:
`:
`:
`:
`:
`Defendants.
`-------------------------------------- X
`
`
`Plaintiff, Gregory Tesnar (“Plaintiff”), by his undersigned attorneys, alleges upon personal
`
`knowledge with respect to himself, and information and belief based upon, inter alia, the
`
`investigation of counsel as to all other allegations herein, as follows:
`
`NATURE OF THE ACTION
`
`1.
`
`This is an action brought by Plaintiff against Fitbit, Inc. (“Fitbit” or the
`
`“Company”) and the members of the Company’s board of directors (collectively referred to as the
`
`“Board” or the “Individual Defendants” and, together with Fitbit, the “Defendants”) for their
`
`violations of Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”),
`
`15 U.S.C. §§ 78n(a) and 78t(a), and SEC Rule 14a-9, 17 C.F.R. § 240.14a-9, in connection with
`
`the proposed merger (the “Proposed Merger”) between Fitbit and Google LLC (“Google”).
`
`2.
`
`On November 1, 2019, Fitbit entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
`
`“Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company’s shareholders will receive $7.35 in
`
`exchange for each share of Fitbit common stock they own (the “Merger Consideration”).
`
`3.
`
`On November 25, 2019, in order to convince Fitbit’s shareholders to vote in favor
`
`of the Proposed Merger, Defendants authorized the filing of a materially incomplete and
`
` 1
`
`
`
`
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`
`-against-
`
`
`FITBIT, INC., JAMES PARK, ERIC N.
`FRIEDMAN, LAURA ALBER, MATTHEW
`BROMBERG, GLENDA FLANAGAN,
`BRADLEY M. FLUEGEL, STEVEN
`MURRAY, and CHRISTOPHER PAISLEY,
`
`
`
`Case No.: _________________
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11247-AT Document 1 Filed 12/09/19 Page 2 of 14
`
`misleading preliminary proxy statement (the “Proxy”) with the Securities and Exchange
`
`Commission (“SEC”), in violation of Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act.
`
`4.
`
`In particular, the Proxy contains materially incomplete and misleading
`
`information concerning certain financial projections for the Company and the valuation analyses
`
`performed by Fitbit’s financial advisor, Qatalyst Partners LP (“Qatalyst”) in support of their
`
`fairness opinion.
`
`5.
`
`The special meeting of Fitbit shareholders to vote on the Proposed Merger is
`
`forthcoming (the “Shareholder Vote”). It is imperative that the material information that has been
`
`omitted from the Proxy is disclosed prior to the Shareholder Vote so Plaintiff can cast an informed
`
`vote and properly exercise his corporate suffrage rights.
`
`6.
`
`For these reasons, and as set forth in detail herein, Plaintiff asserts claims against
`
`Defendants for violations of Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act. Plaintiff seeks to
`
`enjoin Defendants from taking any steps to consummate the Proposed Merger until the material
`
`information discussed herein is disclosed to Fitbit’s shareholders sufficiently in advance of the
`
`Shareholder Vote or, in the event the Proposed Merger is consummated, to recover damages
`
`resulting from the Defendants’ violations of the Exchange Act.
`
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`
`7.
`
`This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Section 27 of the Exchange
`
`Act (15 U.S.C. § 78aa) and 28 U.S.C. § 1331 (federal question jurisdiction) as Plaintiff alleges
`
`violations of Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act.
`
`8.
`
`Personal jurisdiction exists over each Defendant either because the Defendant
`
`conducts business in or maintains operations in this District, or is an individual who is either
`
`present in this District for jurisdictional purposes or has sufficient minimum contacts with this
`
`District as to render the exercise of jurisdiction over the Defendants by this Court permissible
`
` 2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11247-AT Document 1 Filed 12/09/19 Page 3 of 14
`
`under traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice. “Where a federal statute such as
`
`Section 27 of the [Exchange] Act confers nationwide service of process, the question becomes
`
`whether the party has sufficient contacts with the United States, not any particular state.” Sec. Inv’r
`
`Prot. Corp. v. Vigman 764 F.2d 1309, 1305 (9th Cir. 1985). “[S]o long as a defendant has minimum
`
`contacts with the United States, Section of the Act confers personal jurisdiction over the defendant
`
`in any federal district court.” Id. At 1316.
`
`9.
`
`Venue is proper in this District under Section 27 of the Exchange Act and 28
`
`U.S.C. § 1391, because Defendants are found or are inhabitants or transact business in this District.
`
`Fitbit’s common stock trades on New York Stock Exchange, which is headquartered in this
`
`District, Fitbit hired Innisfree M&A Incorporated, which is also headquartered in this District, as
`
`a proxy solicitor for the purpose of the Proposed Merger, and the closing of the Merger Agreement
`
`and Proposed Merger is scheduled to take place in this District rendering venue in this District
`
`appropriate. See, e.g., United States v. Svoboda, 347 F.3d 471, 484 n.13 (2d Cir. 2003) (collecting
`
`cases).
`
`10.
`
`11.
`
`PARTIES
`
`Plaintiff is, and at all relevant times has been, a holder of Fitbit common stock.
`
`Defendant Fitbit is a global manufacturer and marketer of beauty and related
`
`products. The Company’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker
`
`symbol “FIT”.
`
`12.
`
`Individual Defendant James Park is, and has been at all relevant times, a director of
`
`Fitbit.
`
`13.
`
`Individual Defendant Eric N. Friedman is, and has been at all relevant times, a
`
`director of Fitbit.
`
`14.
`
`Individual Defendant Laura Alber is, and has been at all relevant times, a director
`
` 3
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11247-AT Document 1 Filed 12/09/19 Page 4 of 14
`
`of Fitbit.
`
`15.
`
`Individual Defendant Matthew Bromberg is, and has been at all relevant times, a
`
`director of Fitbit.
`
`16.
`
`Individual Defendant Glenda Flanagan is, and has been at all relevant times, a
`
`director of Fitbit.
`
`17.
`
`Individual Defendant Bradley M. Fluegel is, and has been at all relevant times, a
`
`director of Fitbit.
`
`18.
`
`Individual Defendant Steven Murray is, and has been at all relevant times, a director
`
`of Fitbit.
`
`19.
`
`Individual Defendant Christopher Paisley is, and has been at all relevant times, a
`
`director of Fitbit.
`
`20.
`
`The Individual Defendants referred to in ¶¶ 12-19 are collectively referred to herein
`
`as the “Individual Defendants” and/or the “Board”, and together with Fitbit they are referred to
`
`herein as the “Defendants.”
`
`SUBSTANTIVE ALLEGATIONS
`
`Background and the Proposed Merger
`
`Fitbit is a provider of health and fitness devices. The Company's platform combines
`
`I.
`
`21.
`
`connected health and fitness devices with software and services, including an online dashboard
`
`and mobile applications, data analytics, motivational and social tools, personalized insights and
`
`virtual coaching through customized fitness plans and interactive workouts. It offers various fitness
`
`devices, including Fitbit Zip, Fitbit One, Fitbit Flex, Fitbit Flex 2, Fitbit Charge, Fitbit Charge 2,
`
`Fitbit Blaze, Fitbit Charge HR, Fitbit Surge, Fitbit Accessories and Aria. Its platform includes
`
`wearable connected health and fitness trackers, which are wrist-based and clippable devices that
`
`automatically track users’ daily steps, calories burned, distance traveled, and active minutes and
`
` 4
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11247-AT Document 1 Filed 12/09/19 Page 5 of 14
`
`display real-time feedback. Its trackers also measure sleep duration and quality, and its products
`
`track heart rate and global positioning system-based information. It also offers a wireless fidelity
`
`connected scale.
`
`22.
`
`23.
`
`Google is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., one of the largest companies in the world.
`
`On November 1, 2019, Fitbit issued a press release announcing the Proposed
`
`Merger, which states in relevant part:
`
`Fitbit to be Acquired by Google
`
`
`SAN FRANCISCO, 1 November 2019 - Fitbit, Inc. (NYSE: FIT) today announced
`that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Google LLC for
`$7.35 per share in cash, valuing the company at a fully diluted equity value of
`approximately $2.1 billion.
`
`“More than 12 years ago, we set an audacious company vision - to make everyone
`in the world healthier. Today, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved towards
`reaching that goal. We have built a trusted brand that supports more than 28 million
`active users around the globe who rely on our products to live a healthier, more
`active life,” said James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit. “Google is an ideal
`partner to advance our mission. With Google’s resources and global platform, Fitbit
`will be able to accelerate innovation in the wearable’s category, scale faster, and
`make health even more accessible to everyone. I could not be more excited for what
`lies ahead.”
`
`"Fitbit has been a true pioneer in the industry and has created terrific products,
`experiences and a vibrant community of users," said Rick Osterloh, Senior Vice
`President, Devices & Services at Google. "We're looking forward to working with
`the incredible talent at Fitbit, and bringing together the best hardware, software and
`AI, to build wearables to help even more people around the world."
`Fitbit pioneered the wearables category by delivering innovative, affordable and
`engaging devices and services. Being “on Fitbit” is not just about the device - it is
`an immersive experience from the wrist to the app, designed to help users
`understand and change their behavior to improve their health. Because of this
`unique approach, Fitbit has sold more than 100 million devices and supports an
`engaged global community of millions of active users, utilizing data to deliver
`unique personalized guidance and coaching to its users. Fitbit will continue to
`remain platform-agnostic across both Android and iOS.
`
`Consumer trust is paramount to Fitbit. Strong privacy and security guidelines have
`been part of Fitbit’s DNA since day one, and this will not change. Fitbit will
`continue to put users in control of their data and will remain transparent about the
`data it collects and why. The company never sells personal information, and Fitbit
`health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads.
`
` 5
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11247-AT Document 1 Filed 12/09/19 Page 6 of 14
`
`
`The transaction is expected to close in 2020, subject to customary closing
`conditions, including approval by Fitbit’s stockholders and regulatory approvals.
`
`Qatalyst Partners LLP acted as financial advisor to Fitbit, and Fenwick & West
`LLP acted as legal advisor.
`
`24.
`
`The Merger Consideration represents inadequate compensation for Fitbit shares.
`
`In recent quarters, Fitbit has outperformed expectations by beating earnings estimates. Moreover,
`
`just prior to the announcement of the Merger Agreement, reports were made that any offer below
`
`$10 per share would represent insufficient consideration for Fitbit. Given the Company’s strong
`
`recent financial performance and bright economic outlook, it is imperative that shareholders
`
`receive the material information (discussed in detail below) that Defendants have omitted from the
`
`Proxy, which is necessary for shareholders to properly exercise their corporate suffrage rights and
`
`cast an informed vote on the Proposed Merger.
`
`II.
`
`25.
`
`The Proxy Omits Material Information
`
`On November 25, 2019, Defendants filed the materially incomplete and misleading
`
`Proxy with the SEC. The Individual Defendants were obligated to carefully review the Proxy
`
`before it was filed with the SEC and disseminated to the Company’s shareholders to ensure that it
`
`did not contain any material misrepresentations or omissions. However, the Proxy misrepresents
`
`and/or omits material information that is necessary for the Company’s shareholders to make an
`
`informed decision in connection with the Proposed Merger.
`
`26.
`
`The Proxy describes Qatalyst’s fairness opinion and two of the valuation analyses
`
`performed in support of their opinion. Defendants concede the materiality of this information in
`
`citing Qatalyst’s fairness opinion and their valuation analyses among the “material” factors the
`
`Board considered in making its recommendation to Fitbit shareholders. Proxy at 36. However, the
`
`summaries of Qatalyst’s fairness opinion and analyses provided in the Proxy fail to include key
`
`inputs and assumptions underlying the analyses. Without this information, as described below,
`
` 6
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11247-AT Document 1 Filed 12/09/19 Page 7 of 14
`
`Fitbit’s shareholders are unable to fully understand these analyses and, thus, are unable to
`
`determine what weight, if any, to place on Qatalyst’s fairness opinion in determining how to vote
`
`on the Proposed Merger. See Proxy at 40 (“The analyses and factors described below must be
`
`considered as a whole; considering any portion of such analyses or factors, without considering all
`
`analyses and factors, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the process underlying
`
`Qatalyst Partners’ opinion . . . Considering the data set forth below without considering the full
`
`narrative description of the financial analyses, including the methodologies and assumptions
`
`underlying the analyses, could create a misleading or incomplete view of Qatalyst Partners’
`
`financial analyses.”). The following omitted information, if disclosed, would significantly alter the
`
`total mix of information available to Fitbit’s shareholders.
`
`27.
`
`First, for the purpose of preparing its Selected Companies Analysis, Qatalyst
`
`Partners utilized both the consensus of third-party research analysts’ projections (“Analyst
`
`Projections”) and the Company’s management-calculated projections. However, the Proxy only
`
`discloses Fitbit’s management prepared projections. The failure to disclose an entire set of
`
`projections to Fitbit’s shareholders presents an incomplete summary of both the Company’s
`
`projections and the analyses they were used in. Indeed, on page 42, the Proxy concedes that
`
`financial projections “available to Qatalyst Partners for use in its financial analyses in connection
`
`with rendering its opinion to our Board as described in the section captioned ‘—Opinion of
`
`Fitbit’s Financial Advisor’” should be disclosed to shareholders. Thus, the omission of the
`
`Analyst projections renders both the summary of the Selected Companies Analysis and the
`
`summary of the Financial Projections on pages 42-45 of the Proxy misleadingly incomplete.
`
`28.
`
`Next, in summarizing the Illustrative Discounted Cash Flow Analysis prepared
`
`by Qatalyst, the Proxy fails to disclose the following key information used in the analysis: (i) the
`
`inputs and assumptions underlying the 12.5% to 16.5% discount rate, including the company
`
` 7
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11247-AT Document 1 Filed 12/09/19 Page 8 of 14
`
`specific CAPM and WACC components; (ii) the actual terminal values calculated; (iii) the
`
`implied net present value of the forecasted tax attributes; (iv) the amount of cash; and (v) the
`
`number of fully-diluted shares of Fitbit common stock, adjusted, as applicable, for Fitbit RSUs,
`
`Fitbit PSUs, Fitbit Options, and the Warrant.
`
`29.
`
`These key inputs are material to Fitbit shareholders, and their omission renders
`
`the summary of the Illustrative Discounted Cash Flow Analysis incomplete and misleading. As
`
`a highly-respected professor explained in one of the most thorough law review articles regarding
`
`the fundamental flaws with the valuation analyses bankers perform in support of fairness
`
`opinions, in a discounted cash flow analysis a banker takes management’s forecasts, and then
`
`makes several key choices “each of which can significantly affect the final valuation.” Steven
`
`M. Davidoff, Fairness Opinions, 55 Am. U.L. Rev. 1557, 1576 (2006). Such choices include
`
`“the appropriate discount rate, and the terminal value…” Id. As Professor Davidoff explains:
`
`There is substantial leeway to determine each of these, and any change can
`markedly affect the discounted cash flow value. For example, a change in the
`discount rate by one percent on a stream of cash flows in the billions of dollars can
`change the discounted cash flow value by tens if not hundreds of millions of
`dollars….This issue arises not only with a discounted cash flow analysis, but with
`each of the other valuation techniques. This dazzling variability makes it difficult
`to rely, compare, or analyze the valuations underlying a fairness opinion unless full
`disclosure is made of the various inputs in the valuation process, the weight
`assigned for each, and the rationale underlying these choices. The substantial
`discretion and lack of guidelines and standards also makes the process vulnerable
`to manipulation to arrive at the “right” answer for fairness. This raises a further
`dilemma in light of the conflicted nature of the investment banks who often provide
`these opinions.
`
`Id. at 1577-78.
`
`30.
`
`Without the above-omitted information Fitbit shareholders are misled as to the
`
`reasonableness or reliability of Qatalyst’s analysis, and unable to properly assess the fairness of
`
`the Proposed Merger. As such, these material omissions render the summary of the Illustrative
`
`Discounted Cash Flow Analysis included in the Proxy misleading.
`
` 8
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11247-AT Document 1 Filed 12/09/19 Page 9 of 14
`
`31.
`
`Finally, on page 149, the Proxy states that “In connection with the review of the
`
`Merger by our Board, Qatalyst Partners performed a variety of financial and comparative analyses
`
`for purposes of rendering its opinion.” However, only two such analyses were disclosed—the
`
`Selected Companies Analysis and the Illustrative Discounted Cash Flow Analysis—not a variety
`
`of financial and comparative analyses. Page 39 of the Proxy further states:
`
`Qatalyst Partners also reviewed the historical market prices and trading activity for
`our Class A Common Stock and compared our financial performance and the prices
`and trading activity of our Class A Common Stock with that of certain other
`selected publicly-traded companies and their securities. In addition, Qatalyst
`Partners performed such other analyses, reviewed such other information and
`considered such other factors as it deemed appropriate.
`
`(emphasis added). In this passage, the Proxy describes the Selected Companies Analysis and states
`
`that Qatalyst performed “other analyses” in addition to the Selected Companies Analysis. The
`
`Proxy only describes one other analysis—the Illustrative Discounted Cash Flow Analysis.
`
`Therefore, at least one additional analysis—and likely a variety of financial and comparative
`
`analyses—must have been performed, but omitted from the summary provided in the Proxy.
`
`32.
`
`When it comes to summarizing financial information, a company may choose
`
`silence or speech elaborated by the factual basis as then known—but it may not choose half-
`
`truths. The disclosure of only two financial analyses and withholding of the remaining financial
`
`analyses renders the summary of Qatalyst’s financial analyses and fairness opinion misleadingly
`
`incomplete.
`
`33.
`
`In sum, the omission of the above-referenced information renders the Proxy
`
`materially incomplete and misleading, in contravention of the Exchange Act. Absent disclosure
`
`of the foregoing material information prior to the Shareholder Vote, Plaintiff will be unable to
`
`cast an informed vote regarding the Proposed Merger, and is thus threatened with irreparable
`
`harm, warranting the injunctive relief sought herein.
`
` 9
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11247-AT Document 1 Filed 12/09/19 Page 10 of 14
`
`COUNT I
`
`Against All Defendants for Violations of Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act
`
`34.
`
`Plaintiff incorporates each and every allegation set forth above as if fully set forth
`
`herein.
`
`35.
`
`Section 14(a)(1) of the Exchange Act makes it “unlawful for any person, by the
`
`use of the mails or by any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce or of any facility of a
`
`national securities exchange or otherwise, in contravention of such rules and regulations as the
`
`Commission may prescribe as necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection
`
`of investors, to solicit or to permit the use of his name to solicit any proxy or consent or
`
`authorization in respect of any security (other than an exempted security) registered pursuant to
`
`section 78l of this title.” 15 U.S.C. § 78n(a)(1).
`
`36.
`
`Rule 14a-9, promulgated by the SEC pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange
`
`Act, provides that proxy communications shall not contain “any statement which, at the time and
`
`in the light of the circumstances under which it is made, is false or misleading with respect to any
`
`material fact, or which omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements
`
`therein not false or misleading.” 17 C.F.R. § 240.14a-9.
`
`37.
`
`Defendants have issued the Proxy with the intention of soliciting the Company’s
`
`common shareholders’ support for the Proposed Merger. Each of the Individual Defendants
`
`reviewed and authorized the dissemination of the Proxy, which fails to provide critical
`
`information regarding, amongst other things, financial projections for the Company and the
`
`valuation analyses performed Qatalyst in support of their fairness opinion.
`
`38.
`
`In so doing, Defendants made misleading statements of fact and/or omitted
`
`material facts necessary to make the statements made not misleading. Each of the Individual
`
`Defendants, by virtue of their roles as officers and/or directors, were aware of the omitted
`
`
`
`
`10
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11247-AT Document 1 Filed 12/09/19 Page 11 of 14
`
`information, but failed to disclose such information, in violation of Section 14(a). The Individual
`
`Defendants were therefore negligent, as they had reasonable grounds to believe material facts
`
`existed that were misstated or omitted from the Proxy, but nonetheless failed to obtain and
`
`disclose such information to the Company’s shareholders although they could have done so
`
`without extraordinary effort.
`
`39.
`
`The Individual Defendants knew or were negligent in not knowing that the Proxy
`
`is materially misleading and omits material facts that are necessary to render it not misleading.
`
`The Individual Defendants undoubtedly reviewed and relied upon most if not all of the omitted
`
`information identified above in connection with their decision to approve and recommend the
`
`Proposed Merger; indeed, the Proxy states that Qatalyst reviewed and discussed their financial
`
`analyses with the Board, and further states that the Board considered the financial analyses
`
`provided by Qatalyst, as well as their fairness opinion and the assumptions made and matters
`
`considered in connection therewith. Further, the Individual Defendants were privy to and had
`
`knowledge of the financial projections and the details surrounding the process leading up to the
`
`signing of the Merger Agreement. The Individual Defendants knew or were negligent in not
`
`knowing that the material information identified above has been omitted from the Proxy,
`
`rendering the sections of the Proxy identified above to be materially incomplete and misleading.
`
`Indeed, the Individual Defendants were required to, separately, review Qatalyst’s analyses in
`
`connection with their receipt of the fairness opinion, question Qatalyst as to their derivation of
`
`fairness, and be particularly attentive to the procedures followed in preparing the Proxy and
`
`review it carefully before it was disseminated, to corroborate that there are no material
`
`misstatements or omissions.
`
`40.
`
`The Individual Defendants were, at the very least, negligent in preparing and
`
`reviewing the Proxy. The preparation of a proxy statement by corporate insiders containing
`
`
`
`
`11
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11247-AT Document 1 Filed 12/09/19 Page 12 of 14
`
`materially false or misleading statements or omitting a material fact constitutes negligence. The
`
`Individual Defendants were negligent in choosing to omit material information from the Proxy
`
`or failing to notice the material omissions in the Proxy upon reviewing it, which they were
`
`required to do carefully as the Company’s directors. Indeed, the Individual Defendants were
`
`intricately involved in the process leading up to the signing of the Merger Agreement and
`
`preparation and review of the Company’s financial projections.
`
`41.
`
`Fitbit is also deemed negligent as a result of the Individual Defendants’
`
`negligence in preparing and reviewing the Proxy.
`
`42.
`
`The misrepresentations and omissions in the Proxy are material to Plaintiff, who
`
`will be deprived of her right to cast an informed vote on the Proposed Merger if such
`
`misrepresentations and omissions are not corrected prior to the special meeting of Fitbit’s
`
`shareholders. Plaintiff has no adequate remedy at law. Only through the exercise of this Court’s
`
`equitable powers can Plaintiff be fully protected from the immediate and irreparable injury that
`
`Defendants’ actions threaten to inflict.
`
`COUNT II
`
`Against the Individual Defendants for Violations of Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act
`
`43.
`
`Plaintiff incorporates each and every allegation set forth above as if fully set forth
`
`herein.
`
`44.
`
`The Individual Defendants acted as controlling persons of Fitbit within the
`
`meaning of Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act as alleged herein. By virtue of their positions as
`
`officers and/or directors of the Company, and participation in and/or awareness of the Company’s
`
`operations and/or intimate knowledge of the incomplete and misleading statements contained in
`
`the Proxy filed with the SEC, they 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
`
`
`
`
`12
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11247-AT Document 1 Filed 12/09/19 Page 13 of 14
`
`dissemination of the various statements that Plaintiff contends are materially incomplete and
`
`misleading.
`
`45.
`
`Each of the Individual Defendants was provided with or had unlimited access to
`
`copies of the Proxy and other statements alleged by Plaintiff to be misleading prior to and/or
`
`shortly after these statements were issued and had the ability to prevent the issuance of the
`
`statements or cause the statements to be corrected.
`
`46.
`
`In particular, each of the Individual 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 Exchange Act
`
`violations alleged herein, and exercised the same. The Proxy contains the unanimous
`
`recommendation of each of the Individual Defendants to approve the Proposed Merger. They
`
`were thus directly involved in preparing this document.
`
`47.
`
`In addition, as the Proxy sets forth at length, and as described herein, the
`
`Individual Defendants were involved in negotiating, reviewing, and approving the Merger
`
`Agreement. The Proxy purports to describe the various issues and information that the Individual
`
`Defendants reviewed and considered. The Individual Defendants participated in drafting and/or
`
`gave their input on the content of those descriptions.
`
`48.
`
`By virtue of the foregoing, the Individual Defendants have violated Section 20(a)
`
`of the Exchange Act.
`
`49.
`
`As set forth above, the Individual Defendants had the ability to exercise control
`
`over and did control a person or persons who have each violated Section 14(a) and Rule 14a-9
`
`by their acts and omissions as alleged herein. By virtue of their positions as controlling persons,
`
`these defendants are liable pursuant to Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act. As a direct and
`
`proximate result of Individual Defendants’ conduct, Plaintiff will be irreparably harmed.
`
`
`
`
`13
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11247-AT Document 1 Filed 12/09/19 Page 14 of 14
`
`50.
`
`Plaintiff has no adequate remedy at law. Only through the exercise of this
`
`Court’s equitable powers can Plaintiff be fully protected from the immediate and irreparable
`
`injury that Defendants’ actions threaten to inflict.
`
`PRAYER FOR RELIEF
`
`WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment and relief as follows:
`
`A.
`
`Preliminarily enjoining Defendants and all persons acting in concert with them
`
`from proceeding with the special meeting of Fitbit shareholders to vote on the Proposed Merger
`
`or consummating the Proposed Merger, until the Company discloses the material information
`
`discussed above which has been omitted from the Proxy;
`
`B.
`
`Directing the Defendants to account to Plaintiff for all damages sustained as a result
`
`of their wrongdoing;
`
`C.
`
`Awarding Plaintiff, the costs and disbursements of this action, including reasonable
`
`attorneys’ and expert fees and expenses; and
`
`D.
`
`Granting such other and further relief as this Court may deem just and proper.
`
`Plaintiff demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable.
`
`JURY DEMAND
`
`
`Dated: December 9, 2019
`
`
`
`
`
`MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
`
` /s/ Juan E. Monteverde
`Juan E. Monteverde (JM-8169)
`The Empire State Building
`350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4405
`New York, NY 10118
`Tel: (212) 971-1341
`Fax: (212) 202-7880
`Email: jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
`
`Attorney for Plaintiff
`
`
`
`
`
`
`14
`
`