Short selling is the practice of selling securities that the seller does not own but may have borrowed with the intention of buying identical securities back at a later date. A short seller hopes to profit from a decline in the value of the securities between the sale of the borrowed securities and the purchase of the replacement shares, as the short seller expects to pay less in that purchase than it received in the sale. Because it is in the short seller’s best interests for the price of the securities to decline, some short sellers publish, or arrange for the publication of, opinions or characterizations regarding the relevant issuer, its business prospects and similar matters calculated to or which may create negative market momentum, which may permit them to obtain profits for themselves as a result of selling the stock short. Companies, like us, that are subject to unfavorable allegations, even if untrue, may have to expend a significant amount of resources to investigate such allegations and/or defend themselves, including in connection with securityholder litigation against Globe Life Inc. or investigations by regulators related to or prompted by such allegations.
Since April 2024, we have been and continue to be the target of several short sellers who have published reports making allegations about the Company, which resulted in a significant decline in the price of our common stock. In addition, these reports resulted in significant negative publicity against us, damaged our reputation, and exposed us to securities class action litigation. We have already expended significant resources to defend and repair our reputation. We will continue to defend against any unfounded and unsubstantiated claims about our business, our disclosures, and the integrity of our financial statements, which may require us to expend significant resources.
We may be subject to additional short seller reports and activity in the future. The publication of any such commentary regarding us may bring about a temporary, or long term, decline in the market price of our common stock. No assurances can be made that similar declines in the market price of our common stock or negative publicity will not occur in the future, in connection with such commentary by short sellers or otherwise.