SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. Files Class Action Suit Against Astoria Financial Corporation

WILMINGTON, Del., May 01, 2017 -- Rigrodsky & Long, P.A.:

Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. announces that it has filed a class action complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York on behalf of holders of Astoria Financial Corporation (“Astoria”) (NYSE:AF) common stock in connection with the proposed acquisition of Astoria by Sterling Bancorp (“Sterling”) announced on March 7, 2017 (the “Complaint”).  The Complaint, which alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against Astoria, its Board of Directors (the “Board”), and Sterling, is captioned Parshall v. Astoria Financial Corporation, Case No. 2:17-cv-02165 (E.D.N.Y.).

If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, please contact plaintiff’s counsel, Seth D. Rigrodsky or Gina M. Serra at Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., 2 Righter Parkway, Suite 120, Wilmington, DE 19803, by telephone at (888) 969-4242; by e-mail at [email protected]; or at http://rigrodskylong.com/contact-us/. 

On March 6, 2017, Astoria entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Sterling.  Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, shareholders of Astoria will receive 0.875 shares of Sterling common stock for each share of Astoria stock they own (the “Proposed Transaction”).

Among other things, the Complaint alleges that, in an attempt to secure shareholder support for the Proposed Transaction, defendants issued materially incomplete disclosures in a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on April 5, 2017.  The Complaint alleges that the Registration Statement, which recommends that Astoria stockholders vote in favor of the Proposed Transaction, omits material information necessary to enable shareholders to make an informed decision as to how to vote on the Proposed Transaction, including material information with respect to Astoria’s financial projections, the analyses performed by Astoria’s financial advisor, and the background of the Proposed Transaction.  The Complaint seeks injunctive and equitable relief and damages on behalf of holders of Astoria common stock. 

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than June 30, 2017.  A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.  Any member of the proposed 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.

Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., with offices in Wilmington, Delaware and Garden City, New York, regularly prosecutes securities fraud, shareholder corporate, and shareholder derivative litigation on behalf of shareholders in state and federal courts throughout the United States.

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CONTACT:                                                                                             

Rigrodsky & Long, P.A.
Seth D. Rigrodsky
Gina M. Serra
(888) 969-4242
(302) 295-5310
Fax: (302) 654-7530
[email protected] 
http://www.rigrodskylong.com