El Paso Corp.

Investors who purchased El Paso stock between February 2000 and February 2004 filed a class action lawsuit alleging securities fraud after shares, which once traded as high as $74.50 in February 2001, dropped as low as $3.45 in February 2003. The case claimed El Paso mislead investors by inflating revenues, exaggerating profits and hiding debt. Although El Paso did not admit any wrongdoing, it has agreed to a preliminary agreement to settle the shareholder class action for $285 million. (Aug-03-06) [HOUSTON CHRONICLE]