Labaton Sucharow LLP Announces Expanded Securities Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against PlayAGS, Inc. (AGS)

Labaton Sucharow LLP (“Labaton Sucharow”) announces that on August 4, 2020, it filed a securities class action lawsuit, captioned Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System v. PlayAGS, Inc., No. 20-cv-01443 (D. Nev.) (the “Action”), on behalf of its client, Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System (“Oklahoma Police”).

The Action asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and SEC Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired PlayAGS, Inc. (NYSE: AGS) (“PlayAGS” or the “Company”) common stock during the period from May 3, 2018 through August 7, 2019, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). The claims under the Exchange Act have been brought against the Company, certain of its executive officers, and its controlling shareholders at the start of the Class Period.

Additionally, the Action asserts claims under Sections 11, 12(a)(2), and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired PlayAGS common stock: (i) pursuant and/or traceable to the offering materials issued in connection with the Company’s August 2018 secondary offering (the “August 2018 SPO”); and/or (ii) the offering materials issued in connection with the Company’s March 2019 secondary offering (the “March 2019 SPO”) (together, the “Offering Materials”). The Securities Act claims have been brought against the Company, certain of its executives officers and directors, the underwriters for the August 2018 SPO and March 2019 SPO, and PlayAGS’ controlling shareholders at the time of the August 2018 SPO.

The Action expands upon the related and first-filed case captioned: Chowdhury v. PlayAGS, Inc., No. 20-cv-01209 (D. Nev.) (the “Chowdhury Action”). The Chowdhury Action has asserted claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act, on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired PlayAGS securities between August 2, 2018 and August 7, 2019. Pursuant to the notice published on June 25, 2020 in connection with the Chowdhury Action, as required by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, investors wishing to serve as Lead Plaintiff are required to file a motion for appointment as Lead Plaintiff by no later than August 24, 2020.

Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, PlayAGS is a designer and supplier of electronic gaming machines (“EGMs”). The Company’s EGM Segment is its most important business segment, accounting for approximately 95 percent of the Company’s revenue in 2019. Additionally, Oklahoma is PlayAGS’ most important market, accounting for approximately 24 percent of the Company’s revenue in 2019.

The Offering Materials, as well as Class Period statements made by the Company and its executives, repeatedly touted PlayAGS’ purported competitive strengths and key growth strategies. These growth strategies included the optimization of the Company’s older, underperforming EGMs with newer, more profitable EGMs, as well as the placement of new EGMs within its existing markets. Additionally, the Offering Materials, as well as the Company’s Class Period reporting with the SEC, attested to the accuracy of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

The Action alleges, however, that these statements were false and/or misleading because they omitted that: (i) PlayAGS’ growth strategies were failing; (ii) the Company was experiencing major execution issues in Oklahoma; (iii) therefore, the Company’s purported competitive strengths were not reasonably likely to lead to increased revenue; (iv) the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting were not effective; and (v) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

On August 7, 2019, when the Company reported its second quarter 2019 results, PlayAGS shocked the market by reporting a loss per share of $0.21, versus expectations of earnings per share of $0.14. This loss included an impairment of goodwill of $3.5 million and an impairment of intangible assets of $1.3 million. The Company also reported disappointing quarterly revenues and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”). Finally, PlayAGS lowered its full-year 2019 adjusted EBITDA guidance. PlayAGS attributed the weak results to product underperformance at three Oklahoma properties and problems with its placement of 800 incremental EGMs into the Oklahoma market over the past year, as well as the impairment charges.

On this news, PlayAGS stock dropped $8.99 per share, or 52 percent, to close at $8.31 per share on August 8, 2019. By the commencement of this Action, PlayAGS stock was trading as low as $3.58 per share, substantially below the offering price of both the August 2018 SPO and March 2019 SPO.

If you purchased or otherwise acquired PlayAGS stock: (i) during the Class Period; (ii) pursuant and/or traceable to the August 2018 SPO; and/or (iii) pursuant and/or traceable to the March 2019 SPO, and were damaged thereby, you are a member of the “Class” and may be able to seek appointment as Lead Plaintiff. Lead Plaintiff motion papers must be filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada no later than August 24, 2020. The Lead Plaintiff is a court-appointed representative for absent members of the Class. You do not need to seek appointment as Lead Plaintiff to share in any Class recovery in the Action. If you are a Class member and there is a recovery for the Class, you can share in that recovery as an absent Class member. You may retain counsel of your choice to represent you in the Action.

If you would like to consider serving as Lead Plaintiff or have any questions about this lawsuit, you may contact David J. Schwartz, Esq. of Labaton Sucharow, at (800) 321-0476, or via email at dschwartz@labaton.com.

Oklahoma Police is represented by Labaton Sucharow, which represents many of the largest pension funds in the United States and internationally with combined assets under management of more than $2 trillion. Labaton Sucharow has been recognized for its excellence by the courts and peers, and it is consistently ranked in leading industry publications. Offices are located in New York, NY, Wilmington, DE, and Washington, D.C. More information about Labaton Sucharow is available at www.labaton.com.

You can view a copy of the complaint here.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200804006121/en/