Welcome to the Southern Company Securities Settlement Website

This website has been established to provide general information related to the proposed settlement of the case known as Monroe County Employees’ Retirement System, et al. v. The Southern Company, et al., No. 1:17-cv-00241-WMR (the "Litigation"), pending before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (the "Court"). The capitalized terms used on this website, and not otherwise defined, shall have the same meanings ascribed to them in the Stipulation of Settlement (the "Stipulation") dated September 8, 2020, which can be found and downloaded by clicking on the Case Documents tab above. Your rights may be affected by the Settlement if you purchased or otherwise acquired The Southern Company ("Southern Company" or the "Company") common stock during the period between April 25, 2012 and October 30, 2013, inclusive (the “Class Period”).

The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP represents you and other Class Members. You will not be charged for these lawyers. They will be paid from the Settlement Fund to the extent the Court approves their application for fees and expenses. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.

WHAT IS THIS LAWSUIT ABOUT?

As more fully described in the Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Class Action (the "Notice"), the Consolidated Complaint for Violation of the Federal Securities Laws (the “Complaint”), filed on June 12, 2017, alleges that Defendants violated §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. More specifically, Plaintiffs allege that throughout the Class Period, Defendants allegedly made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose adverse information regarding the progress of a clean coal power plant in Kemper County, Mississippi, which, according to the Complaint, caused the price of Southern Company common stock to trade at artificially inflated prices, until the market learned of the alleged false and misleading statements or omissions, and the Company’s stock price declined. Defendants deny each and all of Plaintiffs’ allegations. Defendants contend that they did not make any false or misleading statements and that they disclosed all information required to be disclosed by the federal securities laws.

In December 2019, the Settling Parties requested that the Court stay the case through March 2020 to permit mediation efforts, which request was granted. On February 20, 2020, the Settling Parties attended an in-person mediation with David M. Murphy, Esq. of Phillips ADR. In advance of the mediation, the Settling Parties exchanged and provided to Mr. Murphy detailed mediation statements and replies, which addressed the strengths and weaknesses of each side’s case. Although the Settling Parties negotiated in good faith, no settlement was reached, and litigation efforts continued. While litigation was ongoing, the Settling Parties continued settlement discussions through Mr. Murphy. On August 15, 2020, the Settling Parties reached an agreement-in-principle to resolve the Litigation, and executed a Term Sheet memorializing their agreement. The agreement included, among other things, the Settling Parties’ agreement to settle the Litigation in return for a cash payment of $87,500,000.00 for the benefit of the Class, subject to the negotiation of the terms of a Stipulation of Settlement and approval by the Court. The Stipulation (together with the Exhibits thereto) reflects the final and binding agreement between the Settling Parties.

WHAT DOES THE SETTLEMENT PROVIDE?

The Settlement, if approved, will result in the creation of a cash settlement fund of $87,500,000.00 (the “Settlement Amount”). The Settlement Amount and any interest it earns constitute the “Settlement Fund.” The Settlement Fund, after deduction of Court-approved attorneys’ fees and expenses, Notice and Administration Expenses, Taxes, and any other fees or expenses approved by the Court, is the “Net Settlement Fund.” If the Settlement is approved by the Court, the Net Settlement Fund will be distributed to eligible Authorized Claimants—i.e., Members of the Class who timely submit valid Proofs of Claim—in accordance with this proposed Plan of Allocation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Although the information in this website is intended to assist you, it does not replace the information contained in the Notice and Stipulation, both of which can be found and downloaded by clicking on the Case Documents tab above. We recommend that you read the Notice and other relevant case documents carefully.

YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THIS SETTLEMENT

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES