Elias Guerra, in his capacity as Securityholder Representative of former stockholders of Popwallet, Inc. v. Snap Inc.

IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

ELIAS GUERRA, in his capacity
as Securityholder Representative,
and POPWALLET, INC.,

Plaintiffs,
C.A. No. 2024-1009-CDW
v.

SNAP, INC.,

Defendant.

REPORT GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS

Date Submitted: January 8, 2026
Date Decided: May 1, 2026

James S. Green, COLE SCHOTZ PC, Wilmington, Delaware; Tyler Hudson,
WAGSTAFF & CARTMELL LLP, Kansas City, Missouri; Counsel for
Plaintiff Elias Guerra

William M. Lafferty, Susan W. Waesco, Sara Carnahan, MORRIS, NICHOLS,
ARSHT & TUNNELL LLP, Wilmington, Delaware; Counsel for Defendant
Snap Inc.

WRIGHT, M.
The former chief executive officer and co-founder of a company merged

out of existence several years ago claims the acquiring company fraudulently

induced the acquired company and its stockholders to agree to the merger by

misrepresenting the acquiring company’s ability to handle a major change to its

business model. Acting as the duly appointed representative of the acquired

company’s former stockholders, the former CEO wants the transaction

unwound or, alternatively, an award of rescissory damages. The acquiring

company seeks dismissal on multiple grounds, including that this action is

preempted by the federal Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act because

the plaintiff is pursuing representative claims based on state law that arise from

alleged misrepresentations or omissions made in connection with the purchase

or sale of covered securities. For the reasons explained below, I conclude that

state-court adjudication of this action is preempted under the Securities

Litigation Uniform Standards Act and recommend the court grant defendant’s

motion to dismiss.

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Elias Guerra (“Guerra”) is a co-founder and former chief

executive officer of Popwallet, Inc. (“Popwallet”). 1 Defendant Snap, Inc.

(“Snap”) is a Delaware corporation. 2 Popwallet was a Delaware corporation

1 See Verified Am. Compl. (“Am. Compl.”) ¶¶ 2, 11.

2 Id. ¶ 16.
that Snap acquired in 2021. 3 Popwallet was “a mobile wallet marketing

platform that allowed company partners to create and manage mobile wallet

cards and deliver contactless customer experiences that included dynamic

coupons and offers, rebates, loyalty and gift cards as well as other branded

content.” 4 Prior to its merger with Snap, Popwallet “was a successful

marketing partner to large global brands and it began to receive unsolicited

acquisition interest by large technology companies.” 5

A. Snap’s Advertising Business

This action focuses on Snap’s advertising business, which the amended

complaint asserts “heavily depended on [Snap]’s ability to track users’ activity

on their devices, so that advertisers could both target their ads to specific users

based on their interests and measure the effectiveness of those ads.” 6 The

amended complaint explains that, for a time, Apple Inc. “include[d] a data

system known as ‘Identifiers for Advertisers’ (‘IDFA’).” 7 “From its

inception,” the amended complaint maintains that “IDFA was vital for

companies that depended on third-party advertising to create revenue because it

3 Id. ¶¶ 16, 77.

4 Id. ¶ 2.

5 Id. ¶ 3.

6 Id. ¶ 23.

7 Id. ¶ 24.

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allowed targeted advertising to particular users and effective measurement of an

advertisement’s success with a particular user.” 8

This all allegedly changed in June 2020, when Apple “publicly

announced an upcoming change to user data privacy and protection that it

referred to as ‘App Tracking Transparency’ (‘ATT’).” 9 The amended

complaint further explains that “ATT would change IDFA tracking from an

‘opt-out’ option to an ‘opt-in’ option, meaning that a user’s data would not be

subject to IDFA tracking unless that user affirmatively opted into that type of

tracking.” 10 The amended complaint states that the introduction of ATT was

inevitably poised to harm Snap’s advertising business, noting that “[i]n 2020,

roughly 70% of Snap’s advertising revenue derived from users of Apple

devices, including iPhones and iPads[,] and a significant portion of Snapchat’s

265 million daily users used Apple devices to access the platform.” 11

B. Snap’s Professed Confidence in the Face of Market
Changes

Central to this action are Snap’s public statements following the

announcement of ATT. The amended complaint alleges that “Snap

downplayed the severity of [ATT’s] impact and claimed that Apple offered an

8 Id. ¶ 25.

9 Id. ¶ 26.

10 Id. ¶ 27.

11 Id. ¶ 32.

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alternative tool known as SKAdNetwork (‘SKAN’) that would allow Snap and

its advertisers to continue to achieve targeting advertising even if no longer on

an individual basis.” 12 The amended complaint also alleges that Snap

“reassure[d] the market by stating in various ways and in various mediums that

its advertising business was well-equipped to handle the ATT changes and

maintain its strong record of revenue growth.” 13

The amended complaint highlights different public statements Snap or its

representatives made that allegedly show Snap maintained an unreasonably

overconfident public face to the impending changes to digital advertising. 14

Snap’s public statements allegedly “contrasted those of other companies that

relied upon IDFA and third-party advertisers.” 15 The amended complaint

observes that market analysts specifically noted Snap’s professed confidence in

the face of ATT. 16

C. Snap Pursues Popwallet

The amended complaint alleges that Popwallet and Snap began exploring

Snap’s possible acquisition of Popwallet in May 2021. 17 The parties allegedly

12 Id. ¶ 34.

13 Id. ¶ 36.

14 See id. ¶¶ 37–43, 46, 88–89, 101–102.

15 Id. ¶ 38.

16 See id. ¶¶ 44–45.

17 See id. ¶¶ 55–57.

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agreed on purchase terms “which include: a purchase price of $25 million,”

made up “of $20 million in restricted stock and $5 million cash. There was also

$5 million in restricted stock for continuing employees who would join

Snap.” 18 The amended complaint alleges that “Popwallet was amenable to the

restricted stock because, based on Snap’s public statements and filings, Snap

was well-positioned to weather the upcoming ATT changes and continue to

experience its historic growth.” 19 The amended complaint alleges the parties

executed a term sheet, purportedly on July 1, 2021, that reiterated the above

purchase terms. 20

Guerra and nonparty Wes Biggs 21 conducted Popwallet’s due diligence,

on behalf of its stockholders, before the sale closed. 22 Guerra and Biggs

purportedly did so by reviewing Snap’s public statements and filings with the

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). 23

D. Snap Acquires Popwallet

On September 9, “Popwallet’s board of directors unanimously approved

the Merger Agreement and recommended that Popwallet’s stockholders do the

18 Id. ¶ 58.

19 Id.

20 Id.

21 Biggs is a co-founder of Popwallet. See id. ¶¶ 2, 51.
22 Id. ¶ 61.

23 See id. ¶¶ 61, 63.

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same.” 24 On September 11, “Popwallet’s board of directors delivered to

Popwallet’s former stockholders a Consent Solicitation and Information

Statement that contained the Merger Agreement along with other related

documents on which to base their consent to the Snap merger.” 25

The merger closed on October 1. “Popwallet and its stockholders

received 219,042 shares of restricted Snap stock valued at $75.29 per share, the

average stock price for the 20 days prior to one day before close.” 26 “Guerra

signed the Merger Agreement twice. Once as Popwallet’s CEO and once as

Securityholder Representative.” 27 The result of the merger was that Popwallet

was “merg[ed] out of existence[.]” 28

E. Snap’s Performance Drops

The amended complaint alleges that, on October 21, 2021, Snap

“announced that it would for the first time since the year it went public miss the

lower end of its revenue guidance because of significant problems its

advertisers were experiencing with implementing SKAN.” 29 The amended

complaint notes that Snap’s third quarter 2021 report explained that Apple’s

24 Id. ¶ 72.

25 Id. ¶ 73.

26 Id. ¶ 77; see also Transmittal Aff. of Sara Carnahan in Supp. of Def. Snap Inc.’s

Opening Br. in Supp. of Mot. to Dismiss Pls.’ Am. Compl. (“Carnahan Aff.”), Dkt.
24 Ex. A (“Merger Agreement”) § 1.4; id. Ex. A § 3.9(c).
27 Am. Compl. ¶ 78.

28 Id. ¶ 16.

29 Id. ¶ 80.

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changes to user data access “have adversely affected [Snap’s] targeting,

measurement, and optimization capabilities, and in turn affected [its] ability to

measure the effectiveness of advertisements on [its] services.” 30

According to Guerra, “these representations stood in marked contrast to

Snap’s past statements on Apple’s changes to user data access.” 31 The

amended complaint notes that “[a]nalysts attributed the plummeting of Snap’s

stock to Snap’s misrepresentations and omissions[.]”32 Guerra also alleges that

Snap’s after-the-fact disclosures “had a significant impact on the value of its

stock. Snap’s stock price plummet[ted] over 26% in one day—from $75.11 to

$55.14 and wip[ed] out $27 billion in market capitalization.” 33 By the end of

the one-year restriction period, the amended complaint alleges that the price of

Snap’s shares fell to $9.98. 34

F. The California Action

This is not the first action to arise from Snap’s purported

misrepresentation of its preparation for and anticipated performance following

the foregoing market changes. In November 2021, a Snap stockholder filed a

putative class-action against Snap and certain officers in the United States

30 Id. ¶ 81.

31 See id. ¶¶ 82, 84.

32 Id. ¶ 86.

33 Id. ¶ 85.

34 Id. ¶ 98.

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District Court for the Central District of California. 35 The third amended

complaint in the California Action “allege[es] violations of Sections 10(b) and

20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5.” 36 After the

filing of the third amended complaint in the California Action, the defendants

moved to dismiss the action. 37 On September 26, 2023, the district court

granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss. 38 The lead plaintiff appealed that

decision and, on December 20, 2024, the Ninth Circuit reversed the district

court’s dismissal of the action. 39

After the reversal, the parties to the California Action mediated the

dispute and reached a $65 million settlement. 40 Under the settlement

agreement, the settlement class agreed to release:

all claims (including, but not limited to, Unknown
Claims), demands, losses, rights, and causes of
action of any nature and description, that have been
or could have been asserted in the Action or could in

35 Black v. Snap Inc., No. 2:21-cv-08892-GW-RAO (“California Action” and cited as

“Cal. Action”), Dkt. No. 1 (Nov. 11, 2021).
36 Okla. Firefighters Pens. & Ret. Sys. v. Snap Inc., 2024 WL 5182634, at *1 (9th Cir.

Dec. 20, 2024).

37 Carnahan Aff. Ex. L at 1.

38 Id.Notably, the amended complaint in this action lists—in identical order—the
same purported misrepresentations that the district court listed in an opinion
dismissing the California Action’s second amended complaint. Compare id. Ex. K at
9–10, with Am. Compl. ¶ 101(a)–(e).
39 See Snap Inc., 2024 WL 5182634, at *1.

40 Cal. Action, Dkt. No. 199 at 3–4.

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the future be asserted in any forum, whether foreign
or domestic, whether arising under federal, state,
common, or foreign law, which arise out of or relate
to, directly or indirectly: (i) any of the allegations,
transactions, facts, matters, occurrences,
representations or omissions involved, set forth, or
referred to, in the Complaints; and (ii) the purchase,
acquisition, holding, sale, or disposition of Snap
common stock or options by any member of the
Settlement Class during the Settlement Class
Period. 41

The class action administrator for the California Action filed a

supplemental declaration describing the settlement notification process and

reporting on requests for exclusion from the class. 42 The administrator noted

she received 35 valid requests for exclusion from potential settlement class

members. 43 She observed that “34 of these requests were from former

individuals and entities who were former stockholders of Popwallet, Inc., . . .

who acquired Snap common stock as partial consideration for their sale of

Popwallet to Snap during the Class Period, and which transaction is the subject

of pending litigation in Delaware Chancery Court.” 44 The administrator

attached a table listing the 35 potential settlement class members that requested

exclusion from the settlement class. Guerra is not listed by name as a potential

41 Id., Dkt. No. 183-2 at 12.

42 See id., Dkt. No. 197-1.

43 Id. ¶ 10.Four of the opt-out requests were submitted late. Id. One of the tardy
requests appears to be from Biggs. See id. Ex. A at 2.
44 Id., Dkt. No. 197-1 ¶ 10.

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class member that requested exclusion from the settlement, so it is unclear if

Guerra opted out of the settlement. 45

On April 22, 2026, the district court granted the lead plaintiff’s motion

for final approval of class action settlement, as well as the lead plaintiff’s

motion for an award of attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of litigation

expenses. 46

II. PROCEDURAL POSTURE

On September 30, 2024, Guerra, as the sole plaintiff, filed the original

complaint. 47 Guerra identified himself as a party “solely in his capacity as the

Securityholder Representative of all former stockholders of Popwallet, Inc.” 48

The original complaint asserted counts for equitable fraud and common-law

fraud. On January 21, 2025, Snap moved to dismiss the original complaint. 49

Snap argued that Guerra’s claims were preempted by the Securities Litigation

45 See id. Ex. A. At oral argument here, Snap’s counsel asserted that Guerra is a
member of the settlement class. See Tr. of 1-8-2026 Oral Arg. on Def.’s Mot. to
Dismiss, Dkt. 35 (“Tr.”) at 68. Guerra’s counsel did not dispute that assertion,
instead only disputing “that the former Popwallet shareholders are members of that
class.” Id. 69.
46 See Cal. Action, Dkt. No. 199.

47 Dkt. 1.

48 Id. at 1.

49 Dkt. 9.

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Uniform Standards Act (“SLUSA”). 50 The opening brief also argued that

Guerra failed to state a claim for either fraud count. 51

In response to the motion to dismiss, on April 11, Guerra filed the

amended complaint.52 The amended complaint changed Guerra’s denomination

from “Securityholder Representative of former stockholders of Popwallet,” to

just “Securityholder Representative.” 53 Guerra also purported to add Popwallet

as another plaintiff, despite acknowledging Popwallet no longer exists. 54 The

amended complaint keeps the same equitable and common-law fraud counts as

the original complaint but removed many references to Popwallet’s former

stockholders. 55

On April 28, Snap again moved to dismiss. 56 The Motion again argues

this action is preempted by SLUSA and the amended complaint otherwise fails

to state a claim for fraud. 57 The parties completed briefing on August 1. On

50 See id. at 1–2 (citing 15 U.S.C. § 78bb(f)(1)).

51 See id. at 2–3.

52 Am. Compl.

53 Id. 1.

54 Id.; see also id. ¶ 16.

55 See generally Redline Version to Pls.’ Verified Am. Compl., Dkt. 19.

56 Dkt. 21 (“Motion” and cited as “Mot.”).

57 See generally Def. Snap Inc.’s Opening Br. in Support of Its Mot. to Dismiss Pls.’

Verified Am. Compl. (“Opening Br.”), Dkt. 24.

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January 8, 2026, the court held oral argument on the Motion. 58 At that time, I

took the matter under advisement.

III. LEGAL STANDARD

Under SLUSA, a state action “must be dismissed if it is (1) a ‘covered

class action’ (2) based on state law (3) involving a ‘covered security’

(4) alleging either (a) a misrepresentation or omission of a material fact or

(b) the use of any manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance (5) ‘in

connection with’ the purchase or sale of a covered security.” Breakaway Sols.,

Inc. v. Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc., 2004 WL 1949300, at *3 (Del. Ch. Aug. 27,

2004) (citing Zoran v. Genesis Energy, L.P., 195 F. Supp. 2d 598, 603 (D. Del.

2002)).

IV. ANALYSIS

Before I evaluate this action’s preemption under SLUSA, I briefly

address the issue of Popwallet’s inclusion in the amended complaint as a

plaintiff.

A. Popwallet is Not a Plaintiff

The amended complaint acknowledges that Popwallet ceased to exist

upon its merger with Snap. 59 Under Section 259 of the Delaware General

Corporation Law: 60

58 Dkt. 34.

59 See Am. Compl. ¶ 16.

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When any merger or consolidation shall have
become effective under this chapter, for all purposes
of the laws of this State the separate existence of all
the constituent corporations, or of all such
constituent corporations except the one into which
the other or others of such constituent corporations
have been merged, as the case may be, shall cease
and the constituent corporations shall become a
new corporation or be merged into 1 of such
corporations, as the case may be, possessing all
the rights, privileges, powers and franchises as
well of a public as of a private nature, and being
subject to all the restrictions, disabilities and duties
of each such corporations so merged or consolidated;
and all property, rights, privileges, powers and
franchises, and all and every other interest shall be
thereafter as effectually the property of the surviving
or resulting corporation as they were of the several
and respective constituent corporations[.]

8 Del. C. § 259 (emphasis added). A merged corporation that no longer exists,

therefore, passes its rights to the successor entity. This transfer of rights

includes “the power to sue and be sued.” 61

60 8 Del. C. §§ 101–398.

61 See In re First Interstate Bancorp Consol. S’holder Litig., 729 A.2d 851, 868 (Del.

Ch. 1998) (“Upon the effective date of a merger or consolidation, all assets of the
merged corporation, including any causes of action that may exist on its behalf, pass
to the surviving corporation by operation of law.”) (citing 8 Del. C. § 259(a)); Levitt
v. Bouvier, 287 A.2d 671, 673 (Del. 1972) (“Upon the formation of [the new entity],
the rights of the constituent corporations . . . passed to their successor, [the new
entity], pursuant to the agreement of merger and 8 Del. C. § 259.”); see also Paul
Rivera & Kalibrr, Inc. v. Angkor Cap. Ltd., 2024 WL 3873050, at *2 (Del. Ch. Aug.
20, 2024) (a corporation’s “corporate powers included the power to ‘[s]ue and be
sued in all courts and participate, as a party or otherwise, in any judicial
administrative, arbitrative or other proceeding, in its corporate name.’”) (quoting 8
Del. C. § 122(2)).

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When Popwallet merged with Snap, it ceased to exist. Popwallet thus

cannot proceed in this action and is dismissed as a plaintiff. Guerra, acting as

Securityholder Representative on behalf of Popwallet’s former stockholders, is

the only recognized plaintiff. 62

B. This Action is Completely Preempted By SLUSA

As noted above, Guerra asserts two claims against Snap in the amended

complaint: equitable fraud and common-law fraud.

For his equitable fraud claim, Guerra alleges “Snap publicly made

numerous material misrepresentations and omissions meant to induce Popwallet

and its former stockholders to enter into the Merger Agreement with a purchase

price that Snap would pay in inflated stock.” 63 Guerra also alleges “Popwallet,

its board of directors, and Elias Guerra as the Securityholder Representative

justifiably relied on Snap’s public statements and SEC filings in negotiating

and agreeing to the Merger Agreement’s terms because Snap had an

independent duty to provide accurate information to stockholders and the

SEC.” 64 Guerra further alleges he (and Popwallet’s former stockholders) “are

62 Guerra’s argument on this point is trifling. See Answering Br. 21–23. He tries to

transform the issue into one about Popwallet’s “standing,” but this is about
Popwallet’s non-existence and the well-established consequences that flow from it.
Popwallet does not exist anymore, so it cannot be a plaintiff.
63 Am. Compl. ¶ 100.

64 Id. ¶ 106.

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entitled to recission and rescissory damages in an amount to be determined at

trial.” 65

Guerra’s common-law fraud claim makes essentially the same

allegations as the equitable fraud claim. 66 Both fraud claims are state-law

claims that fall within SLUSA’s preemptive scope.

1. This Action is a “Covered Class Action”

The first SLUSA preemption element requires the action to be a “covered

class action.” See Breakaway Sols., 2004 WL 1949300, at *3 (citation

omitted). In the context of single actions, SLUSA defines “covered class

action” as:

(i) any single lawsuit in which—

(I) damages are sought on behalf of more
than 50 persons or prospective class members, and
questions of law or fact common to those persons or
members of the prospective class, without reference
to issues of individualized reliance on an alleged
misstatement or omission, predominate over any
questions affecting only individual persons or
members; or

(II) one or more named parties seek to
recover damages on a representative basis on behalf
of themselves and other unnamed parties similarly
situated, and questions of law or fact common to
those persons or members of the prospective class
predominate over any questions affecting only
individual persons or members[.]

65 Id. ¶ 110.

66 Compare id. ¶¶ 99–110, with id. ¶¶ 111–121.

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15 U.S.C. § 75bb(f)(5)(B). Snap argues that this action meets type (II) because

“Guerra admits that he is not bringing his claims individually, but rather ‘in his

capacity as Securityholder Representative[.]’” 67 Snap observes that Guerra’s

status as Securityholder Representative gives him “‘full power and authority’ to

represent former Popwallet stockholders in ‘all matters’ arising under the

Merger Agreement[.]” 68 Snap next argues that this case falls into either type of

SLUSA’s single-action definitions because the amended complaint “continues

to seek rescissory damages on behalf of the former Popwallet stockholders.” 69

Finally, Snap asserts that the amended complaint raises predominating

questions of law or fact common to Popwallet’s former stockholders. 70

Guerra argues that this case does not fall within SLUSA’s definition

because Guerra is “not seeking damages ‘on behalf of more than 50 persons’

under SLUSA, and common questions do not predominate across the class

because there is no class.” 71 Guerra insists he only seeks “rescission of the

Merger Agreement based on Snap’s fraudulent inducement of Popwallet and

the Securityholder Representative.” 72 Although Guerra concedes his amended

67 Opening Br. 24 (citing Am. Compl. 1).

68 See id. 24–25 (citing Merger Agreement § 10.19(a)).

69 Id. 25.

70 See id. 26.

71 Pls.’ Br. in Response to Snap Inc.’s Mot. to Dismiss, Dkt. 26 (“Answering Br.”) at

13.
72 Id.

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complaint seeks rescissory damages, he says his amended complaint really

seeks only rescission, and that rescissory damages would be an alternative

equitable remedy and not a form of damages. 73

Guerra’s arguments fail. Guerra’s first argument fails because it ignores

SLUSA’s type (II) definition of “covered class.” Type (II) does not impose

type (I)’s “50-plus” requirement.74 Guerra’s second argument fails because the

amended complaint plainly requests damages. 75 The reason Guerra seeks

rescissory damages is obvious: he knows restoration of the status quo ante—

unwinding a transaction that closed 55 months ago and terminated the corporate

existence of Popwallet—is almost certainly infeasible. 76 And when rescission

of a merger is unavailable, this court can award rescissory damages as

73 See id. 21–22, 46–47.

74 See 15 U.S.C. § 75bb(f)(5)(B)(i)(II).

75 See, e.g., Am. Compl. 41 (“Rescission of the Merger Agreement and rescissory

damages in an amount to be determined at trial[.]”).
76 Guerra effectively concedes infeasibility. See Answering Br. 22 (“Plaintiffs . . .
must resort to rescissory damages due to Defendant’s conduct in shutting down
Popwallet as a separate operating company.”); Tr. 37 (arguing the court can award
restitutionary or rescissory relief “in a situation where the companies can’t be restored
to the status quo because Popwallet, the company, can’t be given back because it no
longer exists.”). Infeasibility is a fact-sensitive determination, but the court has found
rescission infeasible sooner than Guerra seeks it here. See Winston v. Mandor, 710
A.2d 831, 833–34 (Del. Ch. 1996) (describing the test for when rescission of a merger
is infeasible and finding rescission infeasible one year after the challenged
transactions closed); see also FdG Logistics LLC v. A&R Logistics Hldgs., Inc., 131
A.3d 842, 864 (Del. Ch. 2016) (“Here, I ‘can conceive of no possible circumstance in
which I would rescind the Merger,’ which closed more than three years ago.”)
(quoting RGC Int’l Invs., LDC v. Greka Energy Corp., 2000 WL 1706728, at *16
n.59 (Del. Ch. Nov. 8, 2000).

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monetary legal relief instead. 77 Guerra is wrong that rescissory damages are a

form of equitable remedy—they are, true to name, damages. 78

Guerra next invokes the Third Circuit’s decision in LaSala v. Bordier et.

Cie 79 to argue that this case does not present predominating questions of fact or

law common to Guerra and Popwallet’s former stockholders because the former

stockholders are not the truly injured parties—Popwallet and Guerra (as the

Securityholder Representative) are. 80 LaSala is distinguishable.

In LaSala, an entity, AremisSoft, “allegedly executed a classic ‘pump-

and-dump’ scheme” and, after being discovered, ultimately petitioned for

Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 519 F.3d at 126. At the same time, “a group of

purchasers of AremisSoft stock” were litigating a federal class-action securities

suit seeking “rescission of their stock-purchase contracts[.]” Id. As part of a

settlement with those stockholders, “the parties to the bankruptcy proceeding

agreed that the plan of reorganization would assign to the [stockholders] all

causes of action owned by AremisSoft.” Id.

77 See In re Tesla, Inc. Deriv. Litig., 351 A.3d 1005, 2025 WL 3689114, at *13 (Del.

Dec. 19, 2025) (“Rescissory damages are the economic equivalent of rescission and
are ‘only available in cases where rescission is warranted but not feasible.’
Rescissory damages are not equitable in nature because they do not return the
aggrieved party to her original position. Rather, rescissory damages are a form of
legal relief that monetarily approximates the remedy of rescission.”) (citations
omitted).
78 See id.

79 519 F.3d 121 (3d Cir. 2008).

80 See Answering Br. 13–15.

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The foregoing stockholders were not directly assigned the causes of

action. Instead, “the plan of reorganization provided for the creation of a state-

law trust . . . to take title to and prosecute the assigned claims for the

[stockholders’] benefit.” Id. at 127. Accordingly, the trustees—not the

stockholders—initiated the LaSala action. Id.

The district court found the state-law breach of fiduciary duty claims in

LaSala were completely preempted under SLUSA. Id. at 128. But the Third

Circuit reversed the district court’s decision. The Third Circuit found those

claims were brought on behalf of AremisSoft’s bankruptcy estate, not

AremisSoft’s stockholders, because the estate was the party that assigned state-

law causes of action to the Trust. Id. at 133. Moreover, the breach of fiduciary

duty claims did not concern the stockholders and, thus, “no questions of law or

fact . . . involve[d] them[.]” 81

The Third Circuit also found that the “persons” relevant under SLUSA

are “the original owners of the claim—those injured by the complained-of

conduct, as those are the persons who might have common questions of law or

81 LaSala, 519 F.3d at 133 (“There are no questions of law or fact that involve them,

much less common ones that predominate over individual ones. Rather, the relevant
issues are (1) whether the Directors were fiduciaries of AremisSoft, (2) whether the
Directors made misrepresentations or traded on inside information in violation of
their fiduciary duties, (3) whether the Banks provided material assistance with the
requisite knowledge to be liable for aiding and abetting, and (4) whether AremisSoft
was damaged by the concerted actions of the Directors and Banks.”) (citing Gotham
P’rs, L.P. v. Hallwood Realty P’rs, L.P., 817 A.2d 160, 172 (Del. 2002)).

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fact related to the claim that predominate over individual questions of law or

fact.” Id. at 134. Accordingly, the Third Circuit reasoned that the assignors of

causes of action (like the bankruptcy estate in LaSala), rather than the

beneficiaries of an assignee (like the stockholders in LaSala) are the “persons”

that SLUSA contemplates. See id. Because the stockholders were not the

assignors of the causes of action, they were not found to be the requisite injured

parties under SLUSA. See id. at 134, 137.

Popwallet’s former stockholders are distinct from the LaSala

stockholders. Guerra brought this action solely as Securityholder

Representative to remedy alleged injuries dealt to Popwallet’s former

stockholders, whom Guerra contracted to represent. 82 In this respect,

Popwallet’s former stockholders are more similar to the bankruptcy estate that

assigned the LaSala plaintiffs its causes of action than they are to the LaSala

stockholders. 83 Although Guerra now argues otherwise in his brief, the

82 See, e.g., Am. Compl. 1; Merger Agreement § 10.19(a); see Pryor v.
IAC/InterActiveCorp, 2012 WL 2046827, at *4 (Del. Ch. June 7, 2012) (“Typically, a
stockholder representative is authorized to act on a group of stockholders’ behalf as
an attorney-in-fact for certain purposes delineated by the relevant agreement.”); see
also Coughlan v. NXP B.V., 2010 WL 1531596, at *3 (Del. Ch. Apr. 15, 2010)
(“Coughlan, as Stockholders’ Representative, is a party in whose name a contract has
been made for the benefit of the GloNav Stockholders, who are admittedly the real
parties in interest. Accordingly, she may bring this action without joining the GloNav
stockholders.”).
83 See LaSala, 519 F.3d at 134 (“[T]he Trust is not bringing its claims ‘on behalf of’

the [stockholders], as SLUSA uses the term, because the [stockholders] are not the
injured parties; rather, the Trust is bringing the claims ‘on behalf of’ AremisSoft.”).

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amended complaint alleges that Popwallet’s former stockholders are the injured

parties on whose behalf Guerra seeks relief. 84 That stockholder injury is the

focus of this action is obvious given the fact that Popwallet is an extinct entity,

and Guerra cannot seek redress for its alleged injuries. 85

Guerra is correct that “both Popwallet and Plaintiff Guerra signed the

Merger Agreement,” 86 but he elides the fact that when he says “Plaintiff

Guerra” he means he signed the Merger Agreement as Securityholder

Representative on behalf of Popwallet’s former stockholders. 87 Guerra also

concedes that Popwallet’s former stockholders conducted their due diligence

through him. 88 At oral argument, Guerra’s counsel referred to the amended

84 Contrast Answering Br. 14 (“Here, as in LaSala, Popwallet and the Securityholder

Representative are the ‘true’ injured parties, not the shareholders.”), with Am. Compl.
¶¶ 13 (“Popwallet’s former stockholders could do nothing but watch and wait while
the one-year embargo on selling their restricted stock played out.”); 61 (“Popwallet
stakeholders through Elias Guerra and Wes Biggs conducted due diligence on Snap
while they continued to engage in weekly conversations with Snap’s corporate
development team.”); 70 (“At no point did Snap disclose to the public, Popwallet, its
board of directors, or its former stockholders that Apple’s ATT change was poised to
severely impact or in fact had already severely impacted Snap’s advertising
revenue[.]”); 100 (“Snap publicly made numerous material misrepresentations and
omissions meant to induce Popwallet and its former stockholders to enter into the
Merger Agreement with a purchase price that Snap would pay in inflated stock.”)
(emphasis added).
85 See 8 Del. C. § 259; supra note 61.

86 Answering Br. 2.

87Merger Agreement, Third Signature Page. Guerra also signed the Merger
Agreement on Popwallet’s behalf. See id., Second Signature Page; see also Am.
Compl. ¶ 78.
88 Am. Compl. ¶ 61.

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complaint’s allegations of stockholder injury as “loose language,”89 but I do not

believe this is so.

Guerra’s original complaint—which did not include Popwallet as co-

plaintiff—focused heavily on the former stockholders’ injuries. In fact, the

original complaint expressly states that Guerra “brings this action on behalf of

Popwallet’s former shareholders for rescissory and other damages caused by

Snap’s misleading and false statements and omissions.” 90 It was only after

Snap first raised SLUSA preemption that Guerra then tried to add Popwallet—

an entity no longer in existence—as a co-plaintiff and cut references to

stockholder injury from the amended complaint. 91

Plaintiffs seeking to avoid SLUSA preemption “cannot ‘avoid its

application through artful pleading that removes the covered words . . . but

leaves in the covered concepts.’” 92 Such is the case here. Although Guerra

attempted to remove references to stockholder injury from the amended

complaint, the substance of the amended complaint remains the same as the

89 Tr. 60.

90 Verified Compl., Dkt. 1 ¶ 96.

91 See generally Redline Version to Pl.’s Verified Am. Compl., Dkt. 19.

92 Atkinson v. Morgan Asset Mgmt., Inc., 658 F.3d 549 (6th Cir. 2011) (quoting Segal

v. Fifth Third Bank, N.A., 581 F.3d 305, 310–11 (6th Cir. 2009), cert. denied, 560
U.S. 925 (2010)). Accord Rowinski v. Salomon Smith Barney Inc., 398 F.3d 294, 304
(3d Cir. 2005) (“Plaintiff also contends that as master of his own complaint, he is
entitled to plead around SLUSA. But SLUSA stands as an express exception to the
well-pleaded complaint rule, and its preemptive force cannot be circumvented by
artful drafting.”).

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original: Guerra, as Securityholder Representative, asserts claims arising from

the theory that Snap fraudulently induced Popwallet’s former stockholders to

acquire Snap stock through the merger at an inflated value. 93

LaSala, therefore, does not support rejection of SLUSA preemption here

because Guerra is a plaintiff representing the interests of injured parties who

authorized his action on their behalf. Popwallet’s former stockholders, not

Guerra or Popwallet, are the “persons” with common questions of fact and law,

and Guerra acts on their behalf. This action is a covered class action under

SLUSA.

2. This Action is Based on State Law

The second SLUSA preemption element asks if the claims asserted in the

state court complaint are state-law claims. See Breakaway Sols., 2004 WL

1949300, at *3 (citation omitted). Guerra’s claims are state-law claims, 94 and

he does not try to argue otherwise. 95

3. This Action Involves a “Covered Security”

The third SLUSA preemption element asks if the action involves a

“covered security.” See id. SLUSA defines “covered security” to follow “the

93 See, e.g., Am. Compl. ¶ 100 (“Snap publicly made numerous material
misrepresentations and omissions meant to induce Popwallet and its former
stockholders to enter into the Merger Agreement with a purchase price that Snap
would pay in inflated stock.”) (emphasis added).
94 See Am. Compl. ¶¶ 99–110 (Count I), ¶¶ 111–121 (Count II).

95 See Answering Br. 11 (arguing “SLUSA is inapplicable because the first, third, and

fifth elements are lacking”); see also id. 10 n.1, 12 n.2, 14.

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standard for a covered security specified in paragraph (1) or (2) of section

18(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, at the time during which it is alleged that

the misrepresentation, omission, or manipulative or deceptive conduct

occurred[.]” 15 U.S.C. § 75bb(f)(5)(E). Relevantly, under Section 18(b) of the

Securities Act of 1933:

A security is a covered security if such security is—

(A) A security designed as qualified for trading in
the national market system pursuant to section 78k-
1(a)(2) of this title that is listed, or authorized for
listing, on a national securities exchange (or tier or
segment thereof); or

(B) A security of the same issuer that is equal in
seniority or that is a senior security to a security
described in subparagraph (A).

Id. § 77r(b)(1). In consideration of the Snap merger, Popwallet’s former

stockholders received restricted shares of Snap’s Class A common stock. 96

Guerra argues this action does not involve a “covered security” under

SLUSA because the shares of Snap that Popwallet’s former stockholders

received in the transaction were restricted and could not be transferred for a

year after the transaction closed. 97

96 See Merger Agreement § 1.4; id. Ex. A § 3.9(c).

97 See Guerra Answering Br. 19 (“Because the restricted and unregistered Snap stock

could not be traded on a national exchange at the time of Snap’s fraud and
misrepresentations, . . . [the] action does not involve ‘covered securities’ under
SLUSA.”); see also Merger Agreement Ex. A § 3.9(c) (“Such Stockholder
acknowledges and agrees that the shares of Parent Common Stock are ‘restricted
securities’ under the United States federal securities Legal Requirements . . . and may

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In response, Snap asserts that the issued stock meets either prong of

SLUSA’s definition. Snap argues that “Section 18(b)(1) [of the Securities Act

of 1933] does not carve out stock that is subject to a time restriction, like that at

issue here.” 98 Snap notes that “the stock acquired by the former Popwallet

stockholders is undisputably Snap Class A common stock.” 99 Accordingly,

Snap argues that, at minimum, Popwallet’s former stockholders received shares

of stock that “have the same seniority as Snap’s publicly traded Class A

common stock.” 100 This argument is correct.

“A senior security has ‘priority over another class as to the distribution of

assets or the payments of dividends.” In re Metro Secs. Litig., 532 F. Supp. 2d

1260, 1298 (E.D. Wash. 2007) (quoting 15 U.S.C. § 77r(d)(4)). The restriction

the Merger Agreement imposes on the Class A Snap stock issued to

Popwallet’s former stockholders only affects transfers of the stock. 101 A

restriction on transferring a stock does not affect the holder of that stock’s right

to receive distributions in accordance with that stock’s class or preference.

not be resold in violation of this Agreement and applicable securities Legal
Requirements.”).
98 Def. Snap Inc.’s Reply Br. in Further Supp. of Mot. to Dismiss Pls.’ Am. Compl.,

Dkt. 28 (“Reply Br.”) at 9.
99 Id.

100 Id. 10.

101 See Merger Agreement Ex. A § 3.9(c) (“Such Stockholder acknowledges and

agrees that the shares of Parent Common Stock are ‘restricted securities’ under the
United States federal securities Legal Requirements . . . and may not be resold in
violation of this Agreement and applicable securities Legal Requirements.”).

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Accordingly, the restricted Class A Snap stock that Popwallet’s former

stockholders received are of the same seniority as Snap’s unrestricted Class A

common stock. The stock is, therefore, a “covered security” under SLUSA,

and the third element of SLUSA preemption is established.

4. The Amended Complaint Alleges Misrepresentations
or Omission of Material Facts

The fourth SLUSA preemption element asks if the complaint alleges

“either (a) a misrepresentation or omission of a material fact or (b) the use of

any manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance.” Breakaway Sols., 2004

WL 1949300, at *3 (citation omitted). In substance, the amended complaint

almost exclusively alleges Snap misrepresented or omitted material facts before

execution of the merger. 102 Guerra concedes this element is met. 103

5. The Alleged Misrepresentations Were Made “in
Connection With” the Purchase or Sale of a Covered
Security

The fifth SLUSA preemption element requires the amended complaint to

allege that the misrepresentations or omissions were made in connection with

the sale or purchase of covered securities. See id. A misrepresentation is “in

102 See, e.g., Am. Compl. ¶¶ 1 (“Unbeknownst to Popwallet, Snap’s stock price was

inflated because of Snap’s fraudulent misrepresentations and half-truths, making the
value that Popwallet received considerably less than it bargained for.”), 100 (“Snap
publicly made numerous material misrepresentations and omissions meant to induce
Popwallet and its former stockholders to enter into the Merger Agreement with a
purchase price that Snap would pay in inflated stock.”).
103 See supra note 95.

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connection with the purchase or sale of a covered security” if it is “material to

the decision by one or more individuals (other than the fraudster) to purchase or

sell a covered security.” Chadbourne & Parke LLP v. Troice, 571 U.S. 377,

387 (2014). This includes stock acquired through a merger. See, e.g., Madden

v. Cowen & Co., 576 F.3d 957, 966 (9th Cir. 2009) (explaining “in connection

with the purchase or sale” of securities has the same broad construction under

both SLUSA and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and

“include[s] a stock-for-stock merger.”) (citing SEC v. Nat’l Sec., Inc., 393 U.S.

453, 467–68 (1969)). 104

Guerra argues the alleged misrepresentations were not “in connection

with” the sale of covered securities, but his argument consists of a page-long

string cite followed by two conclusory sentences. 105 The amended complaint

pleads “Snap publicly made numerous material misrepresentations and

omissions meant to induce Popwallet and its former stockholders to enter into

the Merger Agreement with a purchase price that Snap would pay in inflated

stock[,]” 106 and that Popwallet’s former stockholders (including Guerra) relied

104 See also Sofonia v. Principal Life Ins. Co., 378 F. Supp. 2d 1124, 1132 (S.D. Iowa

2005), aff’d, 465 F.3d 873 (8th Cir. 2006) (“[T]he pivotal question is whether their
acquisition of stock in PFG can qualify as a ‘purchase.’ The Court finds it does.”).
105 See Answering Br. 20–21.

106 Am. Compl. ¶ 100.

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on those misrepresentations when they agreed to the merger and accepted the

merger consideration. 107 The fifth SLUSA preemption element is met.

* * *

Each element of SLUSA preemption is present: this action is a covered

class action based on state law that involves a covered security and alleges

misrepresentations or omissions of a material fact in connection with the

purchase or sale of a covered security. Under SLUSA, this action is preempted

and must be dismissed. 108

V. CONCLUSION

I recommend the court grant defendant’s motion to dismiss. This is a

Final Report under Court of Chancery Rule 144(b)(2). Under Court of

Chancery Rule 144(d)(1), any party who wishes to file exceptions to this report

must file their notice of exceptions by May 12, 2026.

107 Id. ¶ 106.

108 Because SLUSA preemption is sufficient to dispose with the entire case, I do not

address Snap’s arguments that the amended complaint also fails to state claims upon
which relief can be granted.

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