Fintech
Zoom Video Shareholder Alert: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $50,000 In Zoom Video Communications, Inc. To Contact The Firm
New York, New York–(Newsfile Corp. – April 20, 2020) – Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, reminds investors in Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (“Zoom” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: ZM) of the June 8, 2020 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.
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If you invested in Zoom stock or options between April 18, 2019 and April 6, 2020 and would like to discuss your legal rights, click here: http://www.faruqilaw.com/ZM. There is no cost or obligation to you.
You can also contact us by calling Richard Gonnello toll free at 877-247-4292 or at 212-983-9330 or by sending an e-mail to [email protected].
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Attn: Richard Gonnello, Esq.
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Telephone: (877) 247-4292 or (212) 983-9330
The lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of all those who purchased Zoom securities between April 18, 2019 and April 6, 2020 (the “Class Period”). The case, Drieu v. Zoom Video Communications, Inc. et al., No. 5:20-cv-02353 was filed on April 7, 2020.
The lawsuit focuses on whether the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) Zoom had inadequate data privacy and security measures; (2) contrary to Zoom’s assertions, the Company’s video communications service was not end-to-end encrypted; (3) as a result of all the foregoing, users of Zoom’s communications services were at an increased risk of having their personal information accessed by unauthorized parties, including Facebook; (4) usage of the Company’s video communications services was foreseeably likely to decline when the foregoing facts came to light; and (5) as a result, the Company’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
On July 8, 2019, during intraday trading hours, security researcher Jonathan Leitschuh linked an article published by him that day to his Twitter account, which allegedly exposed a flaw allowing hackers to take over Zoom webcams. According to the article, “[a] vulnerability in the Mac Zoom Client allows any malicious website to enable your camera without your permission,” and “[t]he flaw potentially exposes up to 750,000 companies around the world that use Zoom to conduct day-to-day business.”
On this news, the Company’s stock price fell from $91.88 per share on July 5, 2019 to $90.76 per share on July 8, 2019: a $1.12 or 1.22% drop.
Then, on July 11, 2019, public interest research center the Electronic Privacy Information Center filed a complaint against Zoom before the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), alleging that the Company “placed at risk the privacy and security of the users of its services,” that “Zoom intentionally designed their web conferencing service to bypass browser security settings and remotely enable a user’s web camera without the consent of the user,” and that, “[a]s a result, Zoom exposed users to the risk of remote surveillance, unwanted videocalls, and denial-of-service attacks.” The complaint also alleged that “[w]hen informed of the vulnerabilities Zoom did not act until the risks were made public, several months after the matter was brought to the company’s attention,” that “Zoom exposed its users to a wide range of harms, many of which are ongoing,” and that the Company’s “business practices amount to unfair and deceptive practices under Section 5 of the FTC Act, subject to investigation and injunction by the [FTC].”
On this news, Zoom’s stock fell $1.32 per share, or 1.42%, to close at $91.40 per share on July 11, 2019.
On March 26, 2020-in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place orders from multiple national and local governments, as businesses increasingly turned to Zoom’s video communication software to facilitate remote work activity – Motherboard, Vice Media’s technology news subsegment, reported that Zoom’s “privacy policy do[es] [not] make clear . . . that the iOS version of the Zoom app is sending some analytics data to Facebook, even if Zoom users don’t have a Facebook account,” and that “Zoom is not forthcoming with the data collection or the transfer of it to Facebook.”
Then, on March 27, 2020, Zoom issued a statement by Defendant Yuan, disclosing “a change that [Defendants] have made regarding the use of Facebook’s SDK” after being “made aware on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, that the Facebook SDK was collecting device information unnecessary for us to provide our services.” Yuan admitted that “[t]he information collected by the Facebook SDK did not include information and activities related to meetings such as attendees, names, notes, etc., but rather included information about devices such as the mobile OS type and version, the device time zone, device OS, device model and carrier, screen size, processor cores, and disk space,” and that, “therefore [Defendants] decided to remove the Facebook SDK in [the] iOS client and have reconfigured the feature so that users will still be able to log in with Facebook via their browser.”
The next trading day, on March 30, 2020, the New York Times reported that Zoom is under scrutiny by the office of New York State Attorney General, Letitia James, “for its data privacy and security practices.” According to the article, James’s “office sent Zoom a letter asking what, if any, new security measures the company has put in place to handle increased traffic on its network and to detect hackers” in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result of these disclosures, the Company’s stock price fell from $151.70 on March 27, 2020 to $121.93 per share on April 2, 2020: a $29.77 or 19.62% drop.
On April 6, 2020, New York City’s Department of Education announced that it had banned the use of Zoom in the city’s classrooms, and the city’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, disclosed that there had “been an effort by the Department of Education to work with that company to ensure the privacy of our students to make sure their information could not be accessed wrongly,” but that “[t]he chancellor and the team at the Department of Education do not believe the company has cooperated.” Consequently, the city’s Department of Education instead recommended Google or Microsoft Teams for classroom communications purposes amid the state’s shelter-in-place order during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On this news, the Company’s stock price fell from $128.20 per share on April 3, 2020 to $122.94 per share on April 6, 2020: a $5.26 or 4.10% drop.
The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. 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. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Zoom’s conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.
Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.
Fintech is on an accelerated trajectory of investment, collaboration, and innovation. This pulse tracks the most significant developments in the sector, from high-profile investments to global platform expansions. Each update in this briefing serves as a key indicator of where the industry is headed.
1. European Fintechs Face Regulatory Pressures Amid New Investment Surge
The European fintech sector finds itself at a crossroads with increasing scrutiny and rising costs due to stringent regulations. While investments continue to flow into the continent’s financial technology companies, challenges in meeting new compliance requirements, especially around data privacy and cybersecurity, create a complex landscape for scaling. This tension between opportunity and operational limitations might affect European fintechs’ growth strategies.
Source: Financial Times
2. Shopify, Slack Founders Join Peter Thiel in Fintech Investment Push
Tobi Lütke of Shopify and Stewart Butterfield of Slack, along with investor Peter Thiel, have co-invested in a new fintech initiative that aims to bolster small business access to capital. By merging technology with a streamlined funding model, this new initiative targets underserved SMBs, highlighting a broader trend of high-profile tech leaders pivoting to fintech investment. The participation of Lütke and Butterfield signals increased cross-sector collaboration in fintech, bringing expertise from e-commerce and communication technology into the financial arena.
Source: Yahoo Finance
3. Lean Technologies Raises $67.5 Million to Drive Fintech Innovation in the Middle East
Riyadh-based fintech platform Lean Technologies recently secured a $67.5 million Series B investment round, aiming to expand its operations across the Middle East. This funding reflects growing investor interest in emerging markets and the potential of Middle Eastern fintech to bridge regional gaps in financial services access. As Lean Technologies broadens its service offerings, the funding will support further technological integration and scalability across financial ecosystems in the region.
Source: Fintech Global
4. Apollo Global Management Invests in Fintech for Private Offerings Support
Apollo Global Management has taken steps to enhance its services for private offerings by investing in specialized fintech solutions. This development signifies a growing trend among private equity firms to adopt fintech as a core component in their service expansion, particularly for personalized client services. Apollo’s strategy of integrating fintech solutions into private offerings marks a strategic shift toward digitalization within traditional financial sectors.
Source: Bloomberg
5. Juniper Research Names 2025’s Future Leaders in Fintech
Juniper Research has revealed its picks for the top future leaders in fintech for 2025. This list emphasizes innovation in fields such as AI, open banking, and decentralized finance, highlighting startups that exhibit potential for reshaping industry standards. As these up-and-coming firms push the boundaries of traditional finance, they exemplify the rising tide of next-generation financial technology poised to become industry mainstays.
Source: Globe Newswire
Conclusion
The convergence of seasoned tech giants with fintech, new funding rounds for region-specific platforms, and the rise of future industry leaders underscore the momentum of the fintech sector. Each of these stories reflects a broader narrative: fintech is not only diversifying in services but also rapidly integrating into traditional finance and tech, paving the way for a transformative era.
The post Fintech Pulse: Evolving Fintech Investments and Partnerships Signal Industry Transformation appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.
In this edition of Fintech Pulse, we delve into groundbreaking announcements from the 2024 Hong Kong Fintech Week, spotlight strategic collaborations fostering financial accessibility, and examine significant profit growth in global fintech companies. Here’s our comprehensive breakdown of the latest happenings in fintech.
1. Bairong’s Full-Scenario AI Products Showcase at Hong Kong Fintech Week
Source: PRNewswire
At the 2024 Hong Kong Fintech Week, Bairong showcased its range of AI-driven solutions designed to support the digital transformation of financial institutions. Their new “full-scenario” suite aims to enhance data analysis, financial risk management, and credit scoring. The offering underscores Bairong’s strategic vision to advance financial decision-making with AI technology that serves a variety of sectors, including banking, insurance, and asset management.
This development aligns with broader industry trends emphasizing the power of AI to bridge operational gaps in traditional finance. Bairong’s solutions promise to optimize financial workflows, identifying high-risk factors in real-time. The commitment to developing comprehensive, adaptable AI tools demonstrates Bairong’s ambition to stay at the forefront of AI-powered fintech innovations.
2. SBI and APIX Establish Innovation Hub to Propel Fintech Partnerships
Source: The Paypers
SBI Holdings, Japan’s major financial services group, recently announced the launch of an Innovation Hub in partnership with APIX to advance fintech collaboration and innovation. The hub will serve as a catalyst for startups and financial technology firms to collaborate, leveraging APIX’s open innovation platform for API exchange.
Through this hub, SBI and APIX aim to address critical technological needs in the fintech sector. Startups and established firms can collaborate on new technologies and bring forward interoperable systems for the industry. This initiative marks a new phase in fintech alliances, where regulatory support and open innovation can accelerate fintech growth on a global scale.
3. Wise’s Record Profits Point to Growing Market Dominance
Source: MSN
British fintech giant Wise reported a 55% surge in profits, driven by an expanding customer base and increased market share. The company’s cross-border payment solutions are seeing widespread adoption, as it provides individuals and businesses with affordable currency exchange options, bypassing high fees associated with traditional banks.
Wise’s success underscores the current demand for transparent, low-cost international payments. As the firm continues to focus on product expansion and market penetration, its financial trajectory showcases how fintech firms can challenge the status quo in cross-border transactions, maintaining profitability while serving a rapidly growing user base.
4. Parker Secures $20 Million Series B Funding for Fintech Data Suite
Source: Forbes
Fintech startup Parker raised $20 million in a Series B funding round, with the goal of expanding its suite of financial data tools. Parker’s product range enables small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to gather and analyze data, facilitating more informed financial decisions. This funding reflects investor confidence in the need for specialized financial data tools tailored to SMEs, a sector often underserved in financial innovation.
By addressing the needs of smaller businesses, Parker is positioning itself as a key player in the niche market of financial data, which has typically been dominated by larger corporate-focused platforms. This funding round highlights the growing trend of venture capital backing for niche fintech solutions aimed at smaller, agile businesses.
5. The Payments Group and HubPeople’s Cash Payments Initiative for Online Daters
Source: PRNewswire
The Payments Group, a digital payments solution provider, announced a collaboration with HubPeople, an online dating platform, to integrate cash payment solutions for over 100 million users globally. This partnership aims to reach users who may not have access to traditional banking or prefer alternative payment methods.
The initiative points to the broader trend of payments inclusivity in fintech, whereby payment firms are making financial transactions more accessible for underserved communities. By integrating cash payment solutions, The Payments Group and HubPeople highlight the importance of flexibility in payment options, acknowledging the diverse financial preferences of users worldwide.
Industry Implications and Observations
These stories collectively reveal several key trends and insights about the evolving fintech landscape. The focus on AI, digital collaboration hubs, profitability through transparency, specialized data tools, and inclusive payment solutions are reshaping financial services. Fintech’s current trajectory indicates a robust push towards not only digital transformation but also inclusivity and global accessibility.
As financial technology continues to innovate, these advancements illustrate the increasing overlap between technology and finance, as well as the potential for fintech to foster inclusive growth. With companies like Bairong and Wise setting benchmarks for AI and cross-border payments, respectively, and emerging startups like Parker developing new, data-centric tools, fintech’s future promises a dynamic shift towards improved service and enhanced user engagement.
The post Fintech Pulse: Industry Innovations and Partnerships Drive Global Fintech Forward appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.
In today’s dynamic fintech landscape, developments range from notable appointments to industry conferences, global ranking achievements, and the ongoing struggle between digital innovation and traditional cash reliance. This op-ed-style daily briefing dives into key updates and their potential impacts on the fintech industry, touching on politics, corporate shifts, and emerging trends.
1. Trump’s Potential Impact on Fintech: Policy Shifts and Market Reactions
As Donald Trump continues to be a central figure in U.S. politics, his stance on financial regulations and fintech could significantly influence the sector’s future. Historically, Trump has advocated for deregulation, which benefited banks and other financial services firms. His policies were known to relax certain compliance requirements, which made it easier for fintech companies to expand.
Under Trump’s administration, fintech firms might anticipate reduced regulatory constraints, particularly for newer sectors such as crypto and online lending. This relaxed stance could lower compliance costs for startups, allowing more resources to flow into technology and product innovation. However, a deregulated environment also increases the risk of market manipulation and consumer harm, raising concerns among advocates for tighter oversight.
The question remains whether a Trump-influenced regulatory environment would favor long-term fintech innovation or lead to an environment that could increase risks for both investors and consumers. As debates continue, fintech companies may need to be agile in adjusting to potential policy changes.
Source: Forbes
2. Hong Kong’s Love for Cash: Fintech Growth Stymied by Cultural Preferences
Hong Kong’s journey toward a cashless society faces a unique cultural hurdle—its residents’ affinity for cash, particularly among taxi drivers. Despite the proliferation of digital wallets and payment platforms in Asia, cash remains king in this metropolis. The attachment to cash among certain groups, especially cab drivers, poses a significant challenge for fintech companies aiming to promote mobile and digital payments in Hong Kong.
This resistance to cashless options highlights the complexities of fintech adoption, where technology alone cannot drive transformation without aligning with user behavior. For Hong Kong, overcoming this challenge may require fintech firms to develop hybrid solutions that incorporate cash with digital functionality or offer incentives for digital adoption. Until then, Hong Kong’s fintech ambitions will remain somewhat constrained by the cultural fondness for cash.
This preference for cash also has implications for Hong Kong’s broader economy. If the city cannot shift toward digital transactions, it may fall behind other financial hubs in terms of fintech innovation and integration.
Source: Bloomberg
3. Dave Inc. Joins the KBW Fintech Conference: Setting the Stage for New Partnerships
Next week, Dave Inc. is set to participate in KBW’s annual Fintech Conference, a major industry event in New York City. Scheduled for November 14, the conference will bring together industry leaders, investors, and innovators. Dave Inc.’s involvement underscores its ongoing commitment to establishing new partnerships and tapping into emerging fintech trends.
For Dave, a prominent U.S.-based neobank, participating in high-profile conferences like this not only enhances visibility but also presents networking opportunities with potential investors and partners. The company’s growth strategy focuses on making financial services more accessible and affordable for underserved communities. With industry leaders present, the conference may foster collaborative efforts, especially in areas such as lending, personal finance, and digital banking.
The KBW Fintech Conference could provide Dave Inc. with critical insights and alliances to further its mission, potentially accelerating product innovation and geographical expansion.
Source: GlobeNewswire
4. MeridianLink’s Recognition in IDC Fintech Rankings: A Boost in Reputation
MeridianLink has recently been recognized in IDC’s Global Fintech Rankings, securing a spot in the Top 50. This accolade acknowledges the company’s commitment to digital transformation within the financial services sector, where it focuses on providing cloud-based software solutions for banks, credit unions, and financial institutions.
Being named to this prestigious list elevates MeridianLink’s reputation within the fintech community. This recognition could help MeridianLink secure more significant contracts with major financial institutions, as industry recognition often leads to increased trust among potential clients. Additionally, this placement in the IDC rankings may serve as a strategic advantage when pursuing funding and partnerships in a competitive market.
This recognition is a testament to MeridianLink’s innovation in fintech, showing how its cloud-based solutions align with industry trends toward digital-first financial services.
Source: Business Wire
5. Leadership Change at Alliant Credit Union: Navigating Transition with New Interim CEO
Alliant Credit Union has named Ken Schaafsma as the interim CEO following the departure of Dennis Devine. Schaafsma, who was previously the CFO, will guide the organization through this transitional phase as it searches for a permanent CEO. Leadership changes in financial institutions often signal shifts in strategic focus or operational adjustments, and Schaafsma’s background in finance could mean an emphasis on fiscal discipline and profitability.
As a credit union with a significant member base, Alliant’s choice of leadership may influence its approach to digital services and customer engagement. With Schaafsma’s familiarity with the organization’s financial health, his interim tenure may bring stability during this transitional period.
In an industry undergoing rapid digital transformation, Alliant Credit Union’s ability to maintain a clear strategic vision and leadership stability will be crucial in keeping pace with fintech competitors.
Source: Fintech Futures
The post Fintech Pulse: The Latest Trends and Insights Shaping Fintech appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.
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