Perion Network Ltd.

On April 8, 2024, Perion announced its preliminary financial results for the first quarter of 2024, disclosing that it now expects revenue in the range of $590-$610 million, down from previously expressed expectations of $860-$880 million. The Company attributed the revision to a drop in search advertising pricing due to changes made by Microsoft’s Bing search engine.

On this news, Perion’s stock price fell $8.61, or 40.8%, to close at $12.50 per share on April 8, 2024, thereby injuring investors.

The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Perion’s search advertising business was not a reliable and significant growth driver and was in fact in decline; (2) Perion’s long-term relationship with Microsoft and search services agreement would not provide stability for Perion’s search advertising business; (3) there was an increased risk of Microsoft acting to unilaterally change its advertising pricing and mechanisms to the detriment of Perion while the search services agreement was in place; (4) Perion’s AI technology and Microsoft’s investment in ChatGPT would not protect or grow Perion’s search advertising revenue; and (5) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.