Notice Of Filing Securities Class Action Against The Southern Company

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP ("Robbins Geller") (http://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases/southerncompany/) today announced that an institutional investor has commenced a class action on behalf of purchasers of The Southern Company ("Southern Company") (NYSE:SO) common stock during the period between April 25, 2012 and October 29, 2013 (the "Class Period").  This action was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and is captioned Monroe County Employees' Retirement System v. The Southern Company, et al., No. 17-cv-00241-MHC.

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than 60 days from today.  If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, please contact plaintiff's counsel, Darren Robbins of Robbins Geller at 800/449-4900 or 619/231-1058, or via e-mail at [email protected]. If you are a member of this class, you can view a copy of the complaint as filed at http://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases/southerncompany/. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member.

The complaint charges Southern Company and certain of its officers and directors with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Southern Company is a utility holding company based in Atlanta, Georgia.  Southern Company's operating subsidiaries include public utility companies located throughout the Southeastern United States, including Mississippi Power, Georgia Power, Alabama Power, Southern Power and Gulf Power.

In 2006, Southern Company announced plans for a "clean coal" plant to be built in Kemper County, Mississippi (the "Kemper Plant") by its subsidiary, Mississippi Power.  At the time the project broke ground in 2010, a funding package of almost $1 billion in U.S. Department of Energy grants and Internal Revenue Service tax credits was in place, provided that construction of the plant was completed by May 2014. 

The complaint alleges that during the Class Period, defendants made false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose adverse information regarding the progress of the Kemper Plant, assuring investors that the project would be completed by the critical May 2014 deadline, even when cost overruns and other delays began to materialize.  As a result of defendants' false statements and/or omissions, Southern Company common stock traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period.

Then on October 30, 2013, the Company announced its third quarter 2013 financial results, disclosing an after-tax charge of $93 million "related to increased cost estimates for the construction" of the Kemper Plant.  In addition, defendants disclosed in an earnings conference call the same day that the in-service date for the Kemper Plant would be delayed until year-end 2014.  As a result of these revelations, the price of Southern Company common stock declined significantly.

Plaintiff seeks to recover damages on behalf of all purchasers of Southern Company common stock during the Class Period (the "Class").  The plaintiff is represented by Robbins Geller, which has expertise in prosecuting investor class actions and extensive experience in actions involving financial fraud.

Contact:
Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
Darren J. Robbins, 800-449-4900
655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900
San Diego, CA  92101
[email protected]

SOURCE Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

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