Marshall Wace sues crypto data company Lukka to block its new funding

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, Marshall Wace has filed a lawsuit against the cryptocurrency data provider Lukka Inc. to prevent it from advancing a new round of financing, as the investment management company believes that this round of financing would put its two funds at a disadvantage.

On Thursday, Delaware Chancery Court Judge Lori Wil approved Marshall Wace's request, deciding to temporarily halt the proposed financing plan during the expedited proceedings of the lawsuit. Previously, in 2022, Marshall Wace's XO Digital Financial Fund and Eureka Fund invested $50 million in Lukka as part of a Series E preferred stock financing in exchange for certain consent rights that could affect investment actions.

In the lawsuit, Marshall Wace's investment funds accuse Lukka of violating corporate bylaws, stating that this proposed financing requires their consent, but Lukka's lawyers claim that such consent is not necessary. Additionally, they accuse Lukka of reaching a "pay-to-play" financing scheme that unfairly benefits Liberty City Ventures. If the financing is successful, Marshall Wace's repayment priority in a liquidation event would drop from first to behind three new series of senior preferred stock, making it extremely difficult to obtain compensation.

Marshall Wace has expressed a willingness to participate in the financing after terms are modified but was rejected. Lukka's lawyers stated that if the financing is paused, the company would be harmed, as it needs the funds to "continue operations and pay employee salaries."