SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP alerts investors in Astec Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTE) to the April 2, 2019 Lead Plaintiff deadline in the securities class action pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.  If you purchased or otherwise acquired Astec Industries securities between July 26, 2016 and October 22, 2018 (the “class period”) and suffered losses contact Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP.  For more information visit:

https://www.hbsslaw.com/cases/ASTE

or contact Reed Kathrein, who is leading the firm’s investigation, by calling 510-725-3000 or emailing

ASTE@hbsslaw.com .

According to the complaint, during the class period Defendants misled investors about Astec’s pellet plant business.

In a partial disclosure on July 24, 2018, Defendants announced unresolved issues with the Company’s Arkansas wood pellet plant customer and their decision to pay $68 million and forgive about $7 million in receivables in exchange for the customer’s release of Astec from its contractual obligations.  That day, the price of Astec shares fell about 20%, to close at $48.21.

Then, on October 23, 2018, Defendants revealed that Astec could end up owning another pellet plant in Georgia.  In contrast, Defendants previously stated Astec would focus on supplying equipment to the pellet plant industry.  This news drove the price of Astec shares down 25% to close at $35.51 that day.

“We’re focused on investors’ losses, the extent to which investors may have been misled by senior management’s statements, and whether certain insider sales were improper,” said Hagens Berman partner Reed Kathrein.

Whistleblowers:   Persons with non-public information regarding Astec should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program.  Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC.  For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 510-725-3000 or email ASTE@hbsslaw.com .

About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a national investor-rights law firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington with 80+ attorneys in 10 offices across the country.  The Firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation.  More about the firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com .  For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw .

Contact: Reed Kathrein, 510-725-3000