referencelibrarybanner
Board Diversity
Reference Library - Advanced Search
Find
 


Library 



 
Timeframe
Category
 
Sub-Category
** To make multiple selections, select the first criterion and then press and hold the Ctrl Key **
 
1- 10 of 10 Search Results for:
Libraries:   Listing Council Decisions
Filters:   All Years; All;
 
Search   Clear


Expand All Printer Friendly View Mailto Link 
Page: 1 of 1
Frequently Asked Questions
 Listing Council Decision 2018-3
Identification Number 1663


Rule 5550. Continued Listing of Primary Equity Securities

A Company that has its Primary Equity Security listed on the Capital Market must continue to meet all of the requirements set forth in Rule 5550(a) and at least one of the Standards set forth in Rule 5550(b).  Failure to meet any of the continued listing requirements will be processed in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Rule 5800 Series.  (a) Continued Listing Requirements for Primary Equity Securities: … (2) Minimum bid price of at least $1 per share.

Issue: At issue is whether the Listing Council will review the decision of the Panel where the Company asked that the Council consider only the Company's arguments before the Panel – which the Panel rejected in its decision -- and the Company did not make any arguments on appeal as to why the Panel's decision was incorrect.

Determination: Affirm the decision to suspend and delist the Company.

After a review of the record in this matter, the Listing Council affirms the Panel's decision.  The Company has asserted no grounds whatsoever in its appeal for the Listing Council to reverse the Panel's decision, as reconsidered on July 31, 2018.   In absence of any assertion that the Panel erred in its July 31 decision – a decision which squarely addressed the arguments that the Company made in its request for reconsideration – or that extraordinary circumstances have occurred that call the Panel's decision into question, the Listing Council will not substitute its judgment for that of the Panel.  Simply put, it is not the role of the Listing Council, in considering an appeal that a listed company has submitted to it, to search on its own for grounds to scrutinize the Panel's reasoning.  If the Company has a quarrel with the Panel, then it is the job of the Company – and more pointedly, its advisor – to submit a brief which states those grounds in writing and does so with specificity.  Absent a call for review – which has not occurred in this matter – the job of the Listings Council is to evaluate the arguments that a listed company presents to it on appeal, not to divine those arguments in the first instance.

 

Publication Date*: 11/29/2018 Mailto Link Identification Number: 1663
Frequently Asked Questions
 Listing Council Decision 2018-1
Identification Number 1647
IM-5101-2: Listing of Companies Whose Business Plan is to Complete One or More Acquisitions

Generally, Nasdaq will not permit the initial or continued listing of a Company that has no specific business plan or that has indicated that its business plan is to engage in a merger or acquisition with an unidentified company or companies.

However, in the case of a Company whose business plan is to complete an initial public offering and engage in a merger or acquisition with one or more unidentified companies within a specific period of time, Nasdaq will permit the listing if the Company meets all applicable initial listing requirements, as well as the conditions described below.

(b) Within 36 months of the effectiveness of its IPO registration statement, or such shorter period that the company specifies in its registration statement, the Company must complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the deposit account (excluding any deferred underwriters fees and taxes payable on the income earned on the deposit account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial combination.

Rule 5110(c): Reverse Mergers

(1) A Company that is formed by a Reverse Merger (a "Reverse Merger Company") shall be eligible to submit an application for initial listing only if the combined entity has, immediately preceding the filing of the initial listing application:

(A) traded for at least one year in the U.S. over-the-counter market, on another national securities exchange, or on a regulated foreign exchange, following the filing with the Commission or Other Regulatory Authority of all required information about the transaction, including audited financial statements for the combined entity...

Rule 5505: Initial Listing of Primary Equity Securities

A Company applying to list its Primary Equity Security on the Capital Market must meet all of the requirements set forth in Rule 5505(a) and at least one of the Standards in Rule 5505(b).

(a) Initial Listing Requirements for Primary Equity Securities:
...
(3) At least 300 Round Lot Holders

Issue: May a special purpose acquisition company ("SPAC"), which has failed to consummate a business combination within the 36 month time period prescribed by IM-5101-2, nevertheless avoid de-listing because it expects to consummate a reverse merger prior to the expected date when de-listing would become effective?

Determination: Affirm the Hearing Panel decision to suspend and delist the Company.

The Company, which is a SPAC, acknowledged the ruling of the Hearings Panel that it had failed to consummate a business combination with the 36 month period required by IM-5101-2.

The Company's sole argument for asking the Listing Council to overrule the Hearing Panel decision was that the Company believed that it would be meaningless for the Listing Council to proceed with de-listing the Company's securities given that the Company did not expect Nasdaq, as a practical matter, to be able to finalize the de-listing process before the Company consummated its merger. That is, if the Company consummated its reverse merger before its de-listing became final and effective, then the merged entity would qualify for immediate initial listing on Nasdaq and it would not be subject to seasoning requirements. The Listing Council rejected this argument.

The Listing Council stated that it will not excuse a listed company for its self-acknowledged, numerous, and prolonged violations of the Listing Rules simply because the Company plans to take actions that may ultimately moot any practical impact of the punishment that Nasdaq would otherwise impose upon it. To excuse violations under these circumstances, the Council said, would diminish the importance of the Listing Rules and delegitimize the Listing Council and its work to enforce compliance with the Rules. Public confidence in Nasdaq depends upon the legitimacy of Nasdaq's system of self-regulation. The legitimacy of this system, in turn, requires Nasdaq to hold listed companies consistently accountable when they fail to satisfy the requirements of the Listing Rules. Thus, even if the practical impact of de-listing a company's securities from Nasdaq was likely to be minimal or even nil, the Listing Council determined that it must nevertheless order de-listing when the fair administration of the Listing Rules requires the Listing Council to take such action or renders it appropriate.1

That said, the Listing Council disagreed with the Company that de-listing the Company's securities would be pointless and have no practical effect given the imminence of the Company's merger. In light of the history of this matter, the Listing Council said that it lacked confidence in the Company's latest assertions about the likelihood success of and the timing of its plan to consummate its merger. The Listing Council noted that almost a year has passed since the Company first announced its prospective merger, and the transaction had yet to close despite several assurances by the Company that it would do so. Even during the course of this appeal, the Company changed its position as to when it expected to obtain shareholder approval for the merger.

Moreover, even if the Company did consummate the merger as planned, the Listing Council did not believe that Rule 5110 required Staff to initially list the combined entity. Rule 5101 provides Nasdaq with "broad discretionary authority" over the listing of securities on Nasdaq "in order to maintain the quality of and public confidence in the market, to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade and to protect investors and the public interest." Pursuant to this authority and Nasdaq's Interpretive Material on the application of Rule 5101 (IM-5101-1), Nasdaq may "impose additional or more stringent criteria" to the application of its Rules. Thus, Staff was empowered to determine that because the Company was subject to a pending de-listing decision at the time it executed a reverse merger, the merged entity did not meet the one year prior listing requirement set forth in Rule 5110(c)(1) and must trade over-the-counter for a year prior to initial listing on Nasdaq.

Even if the Listing Council was sympathetic to the Company's plight, the Listing Council noted that it lacked discretionary authority to grant the Company further exceptions from compliance with the Rule 5505. Rule 5505 (the "Public Holder Requirement") a listed company's securities have at least 300 round lot holders. Rule 5820(d)(1) states that the Listing Council may grant an exception for a period not longer than 360 calendar days from the date of the Staff's delisting determination with respect to the deficiency for which the exception is granted; Staff issued its delisting decision for the Company's failure to comply with the Public Holder Requirement in February 2017.

The Listing Council stated that the scope of its authority to grant the Company an exception from the Business Combination Requirement was less certain. Although nothing in the Listing Rules expressly precluded the Listing Council from exercising its discretionary authority to grant exceptions under Rule 5820(d)(1), the nature of IM-5101-2 was such that this limitation could be reasonably implied. The Listing Council agreed with Staff that the Commission seemingly approved the Exchange's rules to list SPACs, in part, because the Exchange assured the Commission that any listed SPACs would face de-listing if they failed to complete a business within 36 months of the effective date of their initial public offering registration statement. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-58228, 73 FR 44794 (July 31, 2008), SR-Nasdaq-2008-013 (July 25, 2008). Even if such a limitation on the Listing Council's authority was not reasonably implied, the Listing Council found good policy reasons for it to refrain from granting SPACs additional time beyond 36 months to complete their business combinations. The Council stated that the inability of a SPAC to execute a business combination, and to do so within the generous three year time period that the Exchange allots to it, strongly indicates that the SPAC is not fit for continued listing on the Exchange. It concluded that the listing of a company's securities for trading on Nasdaq is a mark of distinction that should not be afforded to companies that cannot fulfill in a timely manner even their most basic and fundamental corporate missions.

_______________________________________

[1]The Listing Council noted that, on a dubious basis, the Company created the very scenario that it asked the Listing Council to help it to avoid. That is, the Company filed an appeal of the Hearings Panel decision even though it expressly acknowledged in its appeal that it did not dispute the Hearing Panel's determination that the Company is non-compliant with the Listing Rules and therefore subject to de-listing. By the mere act of filing this appeal, the Company set in motion an appellate process whose only possible effect was to delay a final de-listing action by several months. Although the Listing Council encourages listed companies to file legitimate appeals to vindicate their rights under the Listing Rules, the Listing Council is loathe to reward companies that file frivolous appeals in an effort to game the system and to achieve strategic business goals for themselves. The Listing Council stated that it was especially reticent to reward such behavior when it observes that the companies which engage in it were represented by experienced advisors who are well-versed in the Listing Rules and the procedures of this Listing Council.

Publication Date*: 10/15/2018 Mailto Link Identification Number: 1647
Frequently Asked Questions
 Listing Council Decision 2002-2
Identification Number 688
Rule 4310(c)(2): $2,000,000 net tangible assets/$2,500,000 shareholders’ equity requirement, or its alternatives, for continued listing on the SmallCap Market.
 
Issue: The company no longer satisfied the net tangible assets/shareholders’ equity requirement. The company provided projections and stated it would be in compliance after certain reorganization transactions were consummated.
 
Determination: The company was properly delisted for failure to comply with the net tangible assets/ shareholders’ equity requirement. Even assuming that the company’s projections were accurate, the company would soon fall below the net tangible assets/shareholders’ equity requirement based on the company’s history of losses.
 
* * *
 
Rule 4310(c)(7): 500,000-share public float requirement for continued listing.
 
Issue: The company’s proxy statement reflected that the company had less than 500,000 shares in the public float. The company stated it had in excess of 500,000 shares in the public float, assuming conversion of its preferred stock.
 
Determination: The company was properly delisted for failure to comply with the public float requirements. The public float requirement is based solely on shares issued and outstanding.
 
* * *
 
Rules 4350(c) and 4350(d)(2): Independent director and audit committee composition requirements.
 
Issue: One of the three members of the audit committee beneficially owned approximately 90% of the company.
 
Determination: The company was properly delisted for failure to demonstrate compliance with the independent director and audit committee composition requirements. A director, who has the ability to directly or indirectly control the company through 90% ownership, is an affiliate of the company, as referred to in Listing Rule 4200(a)(14)(A), and accordingly, he is not independent. The company did not disclose in its proxy statement a basis for an exception to the audit committee composition requirements, pursuant to Rule 4350(d)(2)(B).
 
* * *
 
Rules 4350(g) and 4350(e): Annual meeting and proxy solicitation requirements.
 
Issue: The company did not hold an annual shareholder meeting or mail proxy statements for 2½ years, while it was resolving a takeover contest and related litigation.
 
Determination: The company was properly delisted for failure to comply with the annual shareholder meeting and proxy solicitation requirements. An unresolved takeover contest and related litigation is an insufficient reason to violate the proxy solicitation and annual meeting requirements.
 
* * *
 
Rule 4350(h): Requirement for independent review of related party transactions for conflicts of interest.
 
Issue: The company, the chief executive officer, a director and a shareholder group led by the director entered into related party transactions and, as majority shareholders, approved the transactions. The company provided minutes of meeting, reflecting the existence of a special committee of directors.
 
Determination: The company was properly delisted for failure to demonstrate that the company’s audit committee or a comparable body of the board of directors reviewed the transactions for conflicts of interest. The minutes did not reflect that the audit committee or an independent committee reviewed the transactions for conflicts of interests. The minutes did not state whether the special committee reviewed the transactions for conflicts of interests or which directors were on the special committee.
 
* * *
 
Rule 4351: Voting rights requirement.
 
Issue: The company issued convertible preferred shares to investors at a discount to the market price on the date the investors and the company entered into a stock purchase agreement. The company’s majority shareholders approved the transaction. The preferred shareholders had the right to vote their shares on an as-converted basis at the company’s annual shareholder meeting. To determine whether a voting rights violation exists, the preferred shareholders’ voting rights are compared to their relative contribution based on the company’s market value at the time of issuance of the preferred shares. The company stated that for purposes of the voting rights rule, the time of issuance of the preferred stock should be the date the letter of intent was signed, not the date the shares were issued.
 
Determination: The company was properly delisted for failure to comply with the voting rights requirements. In determining whether a voting rights violation exists, the execution date of a non-binding agreement cannot be the basis for determining the value of the securities because the value is not definitive if the agreement is unenforceable and the terms can be changed. The company created a new class of securities that vote at a higher rate than the existing common shareholders, and shareholders cannot otherwise agree to permit a voting rights violation by the company through approval of the transaction.
Publication Date*: 7/31/2012 Mailto Link Identification Number: 688
Frequently Asked Questions
  Listing Council Decision 2012-2
Identification Number 1064

Quantitative Continued Listing Standards

Rule 5450: A Company that has its Primary Equity Security listed on the Global Market must continue to substantially meet all of the requirements set forth in Rule 5450(a) and at least one of the Standards in Rule 5450(b). Failure to meet any of the continued listing requirements will be processed in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Rule 5800 Series. A security maintaining its listing under 5450(b)(3) need not also be in compliance with the quantitative maintenance criteria in the Rule 5500 series.

(a)...
(b) Continued Listing Standards for Primary Equity Securities:

(1) Equity Standard

(A) Stockholders' equity of at least $10 million;
(B) At least 750,000 Publicly Held Shares;
(C) Market Value of Publicly Held Shares of at least $5 million; and
(D) At least two registered and active Market Makers.

(2) Market Value Standard

(A) Market Value of Listed Securities of at least $50 million;
(B) At least 1,100,000 Publicly Held Shares;
(C) Market Value of Publicly Held Shares of at least $15 million; and
(D) At least four registered and active Market Makers.

(3) Total Assets/Total Revenue Standard

(A) Total assets and total revenue of at least $50 million each for the most recently completed fiscal year or two of the three most recently completed fiscal years;
(B) At least 1,100,000 Publicly Held Shares;
(C) Market Value of Publicly Held Shares of at least $15 million; and
(D) At least four registered and active Market Makers.

* * * * *

Rule 5550: A Company that has its Primary Equity Security listed on the Capital Market must continue to meet all of the requirements set forth in Rule 5550(a) and at least one of the Standards set forth in Rule 5550(b). Failure to meet any of the continued listing requirements will be processed in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Rule 5800 Series.

(a) …
(b) Continued Listing Standards for Primary Equity Securities:

(1) Equity Standard: Stockholders' equity of at least $2.5 million;
(2) Market Value of Listed Securities Standard: Market Value of Listed Securities of at least $35 million; or
(3) Net Income Standard: Net income from continuing operations of $500,000 in the most recently completed fiscal year or in two of the three most recently completed fiscal years.

Issue: The company was before the Hearing Panel on an appeal of a Staff determination to delist the company for failing to provide an adequately definitive plan to regain compliance with Rule 5450(b). In reaching its determination that the company’s plan was not definitive, Staff noted that the company did not provide signed agreements or contracts demonstrating the its ability to complete multiple capital raising transactions, the form and timing of which had changed multiple times during the period Staff was reviewing the plan. The Hearing Panel issued a decision that moved the company to the Capital Market and provided an extension through June 2012 to regain compliance with Rule 5550(b). The Listing Council called the Hearing Panel decision for review, yet holding the Listing Council proceedings in abeyance until final action was reached in the Hearing Panel matter. Prior to the expiration of the Hearing Panel extension, the company informed the Listing Council that it would not regain compliance with the listing standards by expiration of the Hearing Panel exception and requested that the Listing Council exercise its authority to stay delisting of the company. The Listing Council did not exercise such authority, and the Hearing Panel thereafter issued a decision to delist the company. The company appealed the Hearing Panel decision to delist the company to the Listing Council.

Determination: Affirm the decision to delist the company.

The company’s estimations both on timing and the amount of capital raised have been consistently over-optimistic and inaccurate. The various milestones set by the company relating to its plan of compliance were not met. With respect to a conversion of notes described in the compliance plan, the company encountered delays in the timeframe set forth to the Staff and the Hearing Panel. The Listing Council was not provided with any update from the company concerning the actual amounts raised through such conversions and the effect such conversions have had in regard to its stockholders’ equity deficit. Given the low price of the company’s shares relative to the currently applicable conversion prices, the Listing Council agrees with Staff’s concern that the company’s note holders will not be motivated to convert their debt to equity. With respect to the private placement and registered direct offerings described in the compliance plan, the company’s description of the offerings was not definitive. The company’s description did not provide milestones, commitments or agreements. The company merely stated that such equity raises would occur sometime following the agreement with the note holders. As recently as August 2012, the company has publicly stated that “it has been difficult so far to attract new equity investments,” which provides further evidence that the company is not likely to close a transaction sufficient to regain compliance in the near term and maintain compliance going forward. As such, the Listing Council agrees with Staff that the company’s plans of compliance have not been definitive[1], and that the company will not likely be able to regain and maintain compliance with continued listing standards.

_______________________________________

[1] Nasdaq FAQs provide guidance to companies on, among other things, what is expected to be presented in plans of compliance (To view these FAQs, click here). These FAQs are clear that such plans should be definitive and, with regard to private placements and other financial arrangements, companies should provide agreements and lists of investors. The Listing Council acknowledges that the determination of whether a plan of compliance is definitive is a matter of judgment and respects Hearing Panel discretion in the exercise thereof. However, in the present case, the Listing Council failed to find, either in the record or in the Hearing Panel decision, a basis for concluding with any confidence that the Company’s plan of compliance was “definitive.” This observation affects neither the Hearing Panel decision of March 2012 nor the Hearing Panel decision of June 2012.

Publication Date*: 12/3/2012 Mailto Link Identification Number: 1064
Frequently Asked Questions
 Listing Council Decision 2014-1
Identification Number 1115
Filing Delinquency and Public Interest
 
Rule 5101: Nasdaq has broad discretionary authority over the initial and continued listing of securities in Nasdaq in order to maintain the quality of and public confidence in its market, to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and to protect investors and the public interest.
 
Rule 5110(b): Nasdaq may use its discretionary authority under the Rule 5100 Series to suspend or terminate the listing of a Company that has filed for protection under any provision of the federal bankruptcy laws or comparable foreign laws, or has announced that liquidation has been authorized by its board of directors and that it is committed to proceed, even though the Company's securities otherwise meet all enumerated criteria for continued listing on Nasdaq. In the event that Nasdaq determines to continue the listing of such a Company during a bankruptcy reorganization, the Company shall nevertheless be required to satisfy all requirements for initial listing, including the payment of initial listing fees, upon emerging from bankruptcy proceedings.
 
Rule 5250(c)(2): Each Foreign Private Issuer shall submit on a Form 6-K, an interim balance sheet and income statement as of the end of its second quarter. This information, which must be presented in English, but does not have to be reconciled to U.S. GAAP, must be provided no later than six months following the end of the Company's second quarter. In the case of a Foreign Private Issuer that is a limited partnership, such information shall be distributed to limited partners if required by statute or regulation in the jurisdiction in which the limited partnership is formed or doing business or by the terms of the partnership's limited partnership agreement.
 
Issue: At issue in this matter is whether the Company should remain listed, yet suspended from trading, notwithstanding that the Company does not comply with Rule 5250(c)(2), which requires the Company to file interim financial reports, or Rule 5110(b) as the Company filed for protection under its home country’s bankruptcy laws. Staff also raised public interest concerns pursuant to Rules 5101 and IM-5101-1. A Panel determined to grant the Company additional time to regain compliance, but subsequently determined to delist the Company for failing regain compliance by the conclusion of the extension.
 
Determination: Reverse the Panel decision to delist the Company.
 
It appears that the Company faced unanticipated delays in the bankruptcy process, including filing of various motions and creditor meetings, which resulted in the Company not regaining compliance within the time granted by the Panel. In its submissions to the Listing Council, the Company states that it is diligently working to obtain all necessary approvals, complete the restructuring, emerge from bankruptcy, and immediately evidence compliance with all applicable requirements for initial listing on the Capital Market well within the discretionary period available to the Listing Council. The Company has made some progress in this regard, reaching a milestone with the court’s approval of the creditors’ plan of settlement. In its brief to the Listing Council, the Company represented that the final settlement with the creditors will be approved by the court within approximately 30 to 45 days after the approval of the plan. The Company also represents that, following its emergence from bankruptcy, it will begin new operations with anticipated bookings of up to approximately $14 million. In its brief to the Listing Council, Staff notes that, because the Company’s shares are currently suspended from trading on Nasdaq and the post-merger company must meet all the requirements for initial listing, it does not object to the Listing Council granting the Company additional time to demonstrate compliance with initial listing standards.
 
The Panel determined to grant the Company the full extent of time available to allow it to regain compliance. When the Company did not meet the terms of the Panel decision, the Panel appropriately moved to delist the Company. The Listing Council has discretionary authority to grant the Company an additional extension of time to regain compliance. In light of the above, the Listing Council believes that allowing the Company to remain listed on Nasdaq yet suspended from trading presents a low risk of investor harm.
 
Accordingly, the Listing Council reverses the Panel decision to delist the Company and grants the Company through July 2014 to emerge from bankruptcy and evidence compliance with all requirements for initial listing on the Capital Market. Nothing in this decision limits the Listing Council from revisiting its determination should it become aware of a change in the facts and circumstances of the matter, which, in the opinion of the Listing Council, warrant modification of its decision.
 
Publication Date*: 8/5/2014 Mailto Link Identification Number: 1115
Frequently Asked Questions
 Listing Council Decision 2012-1
Identification Number 1037
Public Interest
 
Rule 5101: NASDAQ is entrusted with the authority to preserve and strengthen the quality of and public confidence in its market.  NASDAQ stands for integrity and ethical business practices in order to enhance investor confidence, thereby contributing to the financial health of the economy and supporting the capital formation process. NASDAQ Companies, from new public Companies to Companies of international stature, are publicly recognized as sharing these important objectives. NASDAQ, therefore, in addition to applying the enumerated criteria set forth in the Listing Rule 5000 Series, has broad discretionary authority over the initial and continued listing of securities in NASDAQ in order to maintain the quality of and public confidence in its market, to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and to protect investors and the public interest. NASDAQ may use such discretion to deny initial listing, apply additional or more stringent criteria for the initial or continued listing of particular securities, or suspend or delist particular securities based on any event, condition, or circumstance that exists or occurs that makes initial or continued listing of the securities on NASDAQ inadvisable or unwarranted in the opinion of NASDAQ, even though the securities meet all enumerated criteria for initial or continued listing on NASDAQ. In all circumstances where the Listing Qualifications Department (as defined in Listing Rule 5805) exercises its authority under Listing Rule 5101, the Listing Qualifications Department shall issue a Staff Delisting Determination under Listing Rule 5810(c)(1), and in all circumstances where an Adjudicatory Body (as defined in Listing Rule 5805) exercises such authority, the use of the authority shall be described in the written decision of the Adjudicatory Body.
 
Bid Price
 
Rule 5550(a)(2): A Company that has its Primary Equity Security listed on the Capital Market must continue to maintain a minimum bid price of at least $1 per share.
 
Issue: The company was delisted by a Hearings Panel for public interest concerns and for failure to regain compliance with NASDAQ’s minimum bid price requirement.  
 
After granting the company two 180 day compliance periods to regain compliance with the minimum bid requirement, Staff issued a delisting determination. The company appealed the determination to the Hearings Panel. During the Hearings Panel proceedings, Staff determined the company was a public interest concern based on the action it took in writing off substantial loans owed by the company’s CEO, who is also Chairman of the company. On November 16, 2011, the Hearings Panel issued a decision to delist the company based on its non-compliance with the minimum bid price requirement and for public interest concerns. On November 29, 2011, the company appealed the Hearings Panel decision to delist the company to the Listing Council.
 
Bid Price
The company has been, and continues to be, out of compliance with NASDAQ’s bid price requirement. The company failed to regain compliance with the bid price rule by effectuating a reverse stock split, as it had committed to do as a condition of receiving a second 180 compliance period. Staff issued a delisting determination at the expiration of the second compliance period, consistent with Listing Rule 5550(a)(2).
 
Subsequent to Staff’s delisting determination, and the company’s appeal of the matter to the Hearings Panel , the company asserted that it had regained compliance with Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) since its bid price had closed at or above $1.00 for ten trading days. Staff had not made such a determination and was reviewing what it considered suspicious trading in the company’s stock. Upon completion of its preliminary review of the aberrant trading in the company’s stock, Staff determined to extend the period to regain compliance with the bid price requirement to twenty days, consistent with the authority provided by Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(F). Staff based its decision on several facts that led it to believe that the stock was manipulated.
 
The company did not maintain a bid price of $1 or more during the twenty day compliance period, never had a closing bid price significantly over $1, and currently has closing bid prices in the mid 20 cent range, which is near the price it had traded prior to the brief run up in its stock price. The company had committed to effectuate a stock split if its stock was still below $1.00 at the end of the second compliance period, a condition to receiving the second period pursuant to Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A)(ii), yet did not do so. The company did not indicate a willingness to effectuate a reverse stock split during the Hearings Panel proceedings.
 
Public Interest Concerns: Related Party Loan Write Off
Prior to its listing in August 2008, the company extended loans totaling approximately $140 million to two companies controlled by the company’s CEO and largest shareholder for the stated purpose of funding the construction of expressways in China. Subsequently, the loan terms were modified and extended on multiple occasions. Despite receiving only one interest payment on the non-performing notes, the company also froze interest accruals on the non-performing notes and determined to extend $129 million in new loans to the two entities owned and controlled by the Chairman and CEO, in addition to two other companies also owned by him (collectively, the “Non-Performing Loans”).
  
In September 2009, in an attempt to collect on the monies owed by the CEO’s entities, the company entered into a letter of intent to purchase 51% of one of the companies, yet it had to abandon the purchase when it was clear that government approval was not forthcoming. In July 2011, the company announced that its board of directorsors had determined to write off a substantial portion of the Non-Performing Loans. The company also announced that the CEO had offered ownership interest in a commercial, residential real estate and retail shopping mall development project as partial payment of the Non-Performing Loans, and that the board of directorsors was evaluating the proposal. In August 2011, the company issued a press release that announced that the board of directorsors had met and discussed, among other things, the company’s plans to write off the Non-Performing Loans involving the CEO, and taking a 51% interest in a property held by the CEO as a partial offset to the Non-Performing Loans. In a Form 8-K filed with the SEC in October 2011, the company stated that it had entered into agreements to acquire 51% of the entity controlled by the CEO, (the “Development Company”), as described in the company’s prior disclosures. The company also noted that it had recorded provisions for bad debt expense of $149.5 million, or more than 70% of the $210 million owed by the companies controlled by the CEO.
 
In October 2011, Staff informed the company that it had determined that the company’s actions concerning the related party Non-Performing Loans represented a public interest concern, which was an additional basis for delisting pursuant to Listing Rule 5101. As a basis for its determination, Staff asserted that the company failed to undertake sufficient efforts to collect the amounts due on the Non-Performing Loans, instead accepting rights to control a separate related-party company, the value of which was much less than the outstanding principal and interest balances. Staff further noted that the company’s failure to aggressively pursue collection efforts, and the subsequent transactions, were done for the benefit of the CEO and to the detriment of non-affiliated shareholders. In response to the additional basis for delisting, the company claimed that management and the board of directorsors acted in the best interests of the public shareholders with respect to the Non-Performing Loans, noting that it had modified, extended, and deferred interest payments on the loans as a normal response to any non-performing loan and the decision to write off the majority of the loan was made only made after all efforts were exhausted.
 
Public Interest Concerns: CFO Resignation
In mid-December 2011, the company issued a Form 8-K that disclosed that, the company received a letter of resignation on September 21, 2011 from CFO of the company, who was also a company director. The resignation letter was sent to the CEO. The company asserted in the Form 8-K that it did not accept the CFO’s resignation, but that it knew that he did not continue to perform his duties as CFO of the company. There is evidence in the record that the company along with then-company counsel and independent auditors were aware of the CFO’s unambiguous and immediate resignation from the company as a director and CFO. The company appointed an interim CFO a day prior to filing the mid-December 2011 Form 8-K.
 
Notwithstanding the CFO’s resignation several SEC disclosures were subsequently filed with the SEC containing his signature. As detailed in the company’s mid-December 2011 Form 8-K, the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 filed on October 13, 2011, its Quarterly Report on 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, filed on November 14, 2011 and its Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, filed on November 14, 2011, all of which included the resigned CFO’s signatures, had in fact not been prepared or reviewed by the resigned CFO, and the resigned CFO had not personally signed such reports or consented to the use of his signature on such reports. It also appears that the company forged the resigned CFO’s signature on a letter to Staff, dated September 30, 2011 – eight days after his resignation and unknown to him.
 
Determination: Affirmed. After a review of the record in this matter, the Listing Council affirms the Hearings Panel decision.
 
Bid Price
The Listing Council concludes that Staff acted appropriately in delisting the company based on bid price deficiency and its failure to cure the deficiency with a reverse stock split at the end of its second compliance period as it had committed to do. The Listing Council further concludes that it was appropriate for Staff to apply a 20-day compliance period to the bid price deficiency pursuant to Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(F) based on concerns of stock price manipulation. The company asserts that the increases in its stock price and volume are due to the public’s positive reaction to the Development Company acquisition. The Listing Council finds this argument unpersuasive given that the abnormal trading in the company’s stock began over a month after the initial notice of the potential acquisition on, yet days prior to subsequent news concerning the prospective transaction.  The Listing Council further concludes that Hearings Panel acted appropriately in delisting the company for failing to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement. The company was unwilling to effectuate a reverse stock split adequate for it to regain compliance with Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) and the company’s closing bid price was declining during the period from the Hearings Panel  hearing through the issuance of its decision.
 
The company’s revised compliance plan provided to the Listing Council includes a provision to seek authority to effectuate a reverse stock split to regain compliance with Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), which would take approximately 45 to 50 days according to the company. The Listing Council believes that the company has had ample opportunity to cure its bid price deficiency over the 360 days it was afforded by Staff, and as such, the Listing Council finds no reason to reverse the Hearings Panel’s decision to delist the company.
 
Public Interest Concerns: Related Party Loan Write Off
The company wrote off as bad debt approximately $150 million of the $210 million owed under the Non-Performing Loans. The Listing Council believes that it was a reasonable determination to find a public interest concern based on the facts and circumstances. The Non-Performing Loans were made to entities controlled by the company’s Chairman and CEO, who received the benefits of the loans over many years, paying negligible interest and repaying only a fraction of the original amount loaned. The Listing Council is concerned that the company has not acted in the best interest of its public shareholders and believes that the company’s actions with respect to the Non-Performing Loans show a pattern of conduct that, in aggregate, reasonably support a determination that delisting was warranted pursuant to Listing Rule 5101.
 
Public Interest Concerns: CFO Resignation
The Listing Council finds very concerning the apparent forgery of the resigned CFO’s signature on documents filed with the Commission and submitted to NASDAQ, the failure to disclose the CFO’s resignation as CFO and director timely, and the statements made an independent director at the Hearings Panel  hearing, which were misleading and evasive. It is undisputed that the CFO resigned in September 2011. It is also undisputed that the CEO and independent director were notified of resignation at the time of the resignation. Notwithstanding, the CEO and independent director permitted the company to submit documents to the SEC and NASDAQ with the resigned CFO’s signature as the purported CFO. In addition, at the Hearings Panel hearing, which occurred after the resignation of the CFO yet before the appointment of an interim CFO, an independent director stated that he had spoken to the CFO regarding possible manipulation of the company’s stock price. The earliest evidence in the record of NASDAQ’s concern regarding possible manipulation of the company’s stock price was in a request for information sent to the company’s then-counsel on September 22, 2011, a day after the resignation of the CFO from the company. The Listing Council finds the company’s misrepresentations and lack of disclosure concerning CFO’s resignation very troubling and an additional basis to delist the company pursuant to Listing Rule 5101.
 
Rule 5101 provides NASDAQ with “broad discretionary authority” over the listing of securities on NASDAQ “in order to maintain the quality of and public confidence in the market, to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade and to protect investors and the public interest.” This authority stems directly from NASDAQ’s delegated responsibilities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Listing Rule 5101 is not invoked lightly and, in instances in which a public interest concern is identified, the issues are very serious. In the present case, Staff’s concerns over the company’s actions concerning the loans made to the CEO and Chairman were sufficient to find a public interest concern and to delist the company pursuant to Listing Rule 5101. The company’s misrepresentations and lack of disclosure concerning the CFO’s resignation is an independent, and truly troubling, basis for determining the company represents a public interest concern, and thus warrants delisting pursuant to Listing Rule 5101.
 
Publication Date*: 7/31/2012 Mailto Link Identification Number: 1037
Frequently Asked Questions
 Listing Council Decision 2018-2
Identification Number 1648

5101. Preamble to the Rule 5100 Series

Nasdaq is entrusted with the authority to preserve and strengthen the quality of and public confidence in its market. Nasdaq stands for integrity and ethical business practices in order to enhance investor confidence, thereby contributing to the financial health of the economy and supporting the capital formation process. Nasdaq Companies, from new public Companies to Companies of international stature, are publicly recognized as sharing these important objectives.

Nasdaq, therefore, in addition to applying the enumerated criteria set forth in the Rule 5000 Series, has broad discretionary authority over the initial and continued listing of securities in Nasdaq in order to maintain the quality of and public confidence in its market, to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and to protect investors and the public interest. Nasdaq may use such discretion to deny initial listing, apply additional or more stringent criteria for the initial or continued listing of particular securities, or suspend or delist particular securities based on any event, condition, or circumstance that exists or occurs that makes initial or continued listing of the securities on Nasdaq inadvisable or unwarranted in the opinion of Nasdaq, even though the securities meet all enumerated criteria for initial or continued listing on Nasdaq. In all circumstances where the Listing Qualifications Department (as defined in Rule 5805) exercises its authority under Rule 5101, the Listing Qualifications Department shall issue a Staff Delisting Determination under Rule 5810(c)(1), and in all circumstances where an Adjudicatory Body (as defined in Rule 5805) exercises such authority, the use of the authority shall be described in the written decision of the Adjudicatory Body.

IM-5101-1. Use of Discretionary Authority

To further Companies' understanding of Rule 5101, Nasdaq has adopted this Interpretive Material as a non-exclusive description of the circumstances in which the Rule is generally invoked.

Although Nasdaq has broad discretion under Rule 5101 to impose additional or more stringent criteria, the Rule does not provide a basis for Nasdaq to grant exemptions or exceptions from the enumerated criteria for initial or continued listing, which may be granted solely pursuant to rules explicitly providing such authority.

Rule 5250(c)(1): A Company shall timely file all required periodic financial reports with the Commission through the EDGAR System or with the Other Regulatory Authority. A Company that does not file through the EDGAR System shall supply to Nasdaq two (2) copies of all reports required to be filed with the Other Regulatory Authority or email an electronic version of the report to Nasdaq at continuedlisting@nasdaq.com. All required reports must be filed with Nasdaq on or before the date they are required to be filed with the Commission or Other Regulatory Authority. Annual reports filed with Nasdaq shall contain audited financial statements.

Rule 5820(d)(4): In the case of a Company that fails to file a periodic report (e.g., Form 10-K, 10-Q, 20-F, 40-F, or N-CSR), the Listing Council may grant an exception for a period not to exceed 360 days from the due date of the first such late periodic report. The Company can regain compliance with the requirement by filing that periodic report and any other delinquent reports with due dates falling before the end of the exception period. In determining whether to grant an exception, and the length of any such exception, the Listing Council will consider the Company's specific circumstances, including the likelihood that the filing can be made within the exception period, the Company's past compliance history, the reasons for the late filing, corporate events that may occur within the exception period, the Company's general financial status, and the Company's disclosures to the market. This review will be based on information provided by a variety of sources, which may include the Company, its audit committee, its outside auditors, the staff of the SEC and any other regulatory body.

Issue: At issue is whether the Listing Council has discretion to allow a company to remain listed notwithstanding the fact that it was delinquent in filing its periodic financial reports for more than a year prior to the Panel's de-listing determination, when during the pendency of the Company's appeal, the Company filed its delinquent financial reports?

Determination: Affirm the decision of the Hearings Panel to suspend and delist the Company.

The Listing Council agreed with Staff that the Company made no cognizable or persuasive arguments in its briefs that the Panel's delisting determination was made in error. In this regard, the Listing Council noted that the Company itself stated expressly that it does not quarrel with the Panel's determination or its interpretation of the Listing Rules.

Listing Rule 5815(c)(1)(F) provides that the extent of the Panel's discretion to grant a company an exception to Listing Rule 5250(c) is 360 days following the due date of a company's first delinquent periodic report, and that a company may regain compliance with the Listing Rule only by filing its delinquent reports before the end of the exception period. In this instance, the Company requested and it received from the Panel the full 360 day exception period within which to regain compliance. Nevertheless, the Company informed the Panel, on May 4, 2018, that it would not be in a position to regain compliance before the end of the exception period on May 10, 2018. Given that Listing Rule 5815(c)(1)(F) afforded the Panel no further discretion to grant the Company an exception beyond February 23, the Listing Council determined that the Panel had no choice but to de-list the Company.

Moreover, the Listing Council noted that Listing Rule 5820(d)(4) afforded no additional discretion to the Listing Council to grant the Company a further extension. Like Listing Rule 5815(c)(1)(F), Listing Rule 5820(d)(4) states that the Listing Council "may grant an exception for a period not to exceed 360 days from the due date of the first such late periodic report" and that a company "can regain compliance with the requirement by filing … delinquent reports with due dates falling before the end of the exception period."

The Listing Council disagreed with the Company's assertion that Listing Rule 5101 authorized the Listing Council to act as it sees fit, notwithstanding restrictions imposed upon it by other Listing Rules, such as Listing Rule 5820. Although Listing Rule 5101 does state that the Exchange has "broad discretionary authority over the initial and continued listing of securities," the Listing Council noted that the Rule also states immediately thereafter that "Nasdaq may use such discretion to deny initial listing, apply additional or more stringent criteria for the initial or continued listing of particular securities, or suspend or delist particular securities based on any event, condition, or circumstance that exists or occurs that makes initial or continued listing of the securities on Nasdaq inadvisable or unwarranted in the opinion of Nasdaq, even though the securities meet all enumerated criteria for initial or continued listing on Nasdaq." Moreover, the Listing Council observed that IM-5101-01 makes clear that the Listing Council's discretion does not include granting exemptions from Listing Rules to the extent that the Listing Rules do not explicitly authorize such exemptions to be made:

The Listing Council said that, although Nasdaq has broad discretion under Rule 5101 to impose additional or more stringent criteria, the Rule did not provide a basis for Nasdaq to grant exemptions or exceptions from the enumerated criteria for initial or continued listing, which may be granted solely pursuant to rules explicitly providing such authority. Any other interpretation of Listing Rule 5101, it said, would render meaningless the express limits that the Exchange placed upon the authority of the Listing Council elsewhere in the Listing Rules, including in Listing Rule 5820. The Listing Council presumed that the Exchange intended to impose limits on the Listing Council's authority, and it interpreted Listing Rule 5101 accordingly.

Finally, the Listing Council noted that Nasdaq, as a Self-Regulatory Organization, is responsible for maintaining a fair and orderly market and for enforcing its Listing Rules consistently and in a manner that serves the interests of investors and the public. It said that Nasdaq would be acting contrary to these responsibilities if it credited companies for their belated successes in regaining compliance with the Listing Rules. Simply put, the Listing Council remarked that it would be unfair for a basketball referee to allow a team to win a game with a half-court shot – no matter how skillful and impressive that shot may be – if the shot occurs after the buzzer sounds and the game ends.

Publication Date*: 10/15/2018 Mailto Link Identification Number: 1648
Frequently Asked Questions
 Listing Council Decision 2017-2
Identification Number 1368

Filing Delinquency

Rule 5250(c)(1): A Company shall timely file all required periodic financial reports with the Commission through the EDGAR System or with the Other Regulatory Authority. A Company that does not file through the EDGAR System shall supply to Nasdaq two (2) copies of all reports required to be filed with the Other Regulatory Authority or email an electronic version of the report to Nasdaq at continuedlisting@nasdaq.com. All required reports must be filed with Nasdaq on or before the date they are required to be filed with the Commission or Other Regulatory Authority. Annual reports filed with Nasdaq shall contain audited financial statements.

Rule 5820(d)(4): In the case of a Company that fails to file a periodic report (e.g., Form 10-K, 10-Q, 20-F, 40-F, or N-CSR), the Listing Council may grant an exception for a period not to exceed 360 days from the due date of the first such late periodic report. The Company can regain compliance with the requirement by filing that periodic report and any other delinquent reports with due dates falling before the end of the exception period. In determining whether to grant an exception, and the length of any such exception, the Listing Council will consider the Company's specific circumstances, including the likelihood that the filing can be made within the exception period, the Company's past compliance history, the reasons for the late filing, corporate events that may occur within the exception period, the Company's general financial status, and the Company's disclosures to the market. This review will be based on information provided by a variety of sources, which may include the Company, its audit committee, its outside auditors, the staff of the SEC and any other regulatory body.

Issue: At issue is whether the Listing Council has discretion to allow a company to remain listed notwithstanding that it has been and remains delinquent in filing its periodic financial reports for more than a year.

Determination: Affirm the decision to suspend and delist the Company.

In light of the facts and circumstances of this matter, which include the fact that the Company has been delinquent in filing its periodic financial reports with the SEC for more than a year, in violation of Rule 5250(c), and that it has failed to regain compliance with the Rule notwithstanding its receipt from the Staff and the Hearing Panel of multiple extensions of time within which to do so, the Listing Council finds that it lacks discretion under Rule 5820(d)(4) to grant any further compliance extensions, and that delisting of the Company’s securities is required.

Delisting does not bar the Company from applying to relist on Nasdaq, or another U.S. exchange. In this regard, should the Company resolve the issues that give rise to this matter it may reapply to list on Nasdaq.

Lastly, the Listing Council deems to be non-cognizable within the context of the Company’s disciplinary hearing the Company’s request that the Listing Council consider modifying Rule 5820(d)(4) to permit it and companies like it to have a period of time longer than a year to regain compliance with Rule 5250(c). Although the Listing Council may recommend to the Exchange’s Board of Directors amendments to its Rules, the Listing Council lacks authority to unilaterally modify those Rules.

Publication Date*: 5/3/2017 Mailto Link Identification Number: 1368
Frequently Asked Questions
 Listing Council Decision 2017-3
Identification Number 1434

Filing Delinquency

Rule 5250(c)(1): A Company shall timely file all required periodic financial reports with the Commission through the EDGAR System or with the Other Regulatory Authority. A Company that does not file through the EDGAR System shall supply to Nasdaq two (2) copies of all reports required to be filed with the Other Regulatory Authority or email an electronic version of the report to Nasdaq at continuedlisting@nasdaq.com. All required reports must be filed with Nasdaq on or before the date they are required to be filed with the Commission or Other Regulatory Authority. Annual reports filed with Nasdaq shall contain audited financial statements.

Issue: At issue is whether the company should remain listed notwithstanding the fact that it was delinquent in filing its annual report and several quarterly filings notwithstanding its receipt of several prior periods of exemption from Rule 5250(c).

Determination: Affirm the decision to suspend and delist the Company.

In light of the facts and circumstances of this matter, which include the fact that the Company has been delinquent in filing its periodic financial reports with the SEC for a prolonged period of time, in violation of Rule 5250(c), and that it has failed to regain compliance with the Rule notwithstanding its receipt from the Hearing Panel of multiple extensions of time within which to do so, the Listing Council finds that the Company's partial progress in regaining compliance (by filing its delinquent Form 10-K) is inadequate, its request for a further extension is unwarranted, and that delisting of the Company's securities is appropriate, pursuant to Rule 5820(d)(4).

Delisting does not bar the Company from applying to relist on Nasdaq, or another U.S. exchange. In this regard, should the Company resolve the issues that give rise to this matter it may reapply to list on Nasdaq.

Publication Date*: 10/3/2017 Mailto Link Identification Number: 1434
Frequently Asked Questions
 Listing Council Decision 2013-3
Identification Number 1089
Public Interest and Quantitative Continued Listing Standards
 
Rule 5101: Nasdaq has broad discretionary authority over the initial and continued listing of securities in Nasdaq in order to maintain the quality of and public confidence in its market, to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and to protect investors and the public interest.
 
Rule 5110(b): Nasdaq may use its discretionary authority under the Rule 5100 Series to suspend or terminate the listing of a Company that has filed for protection under any provision of the federal bankruptcy laws or comparable foreign laws, or has announced that liquidation has been authorized by its board of directors and that it is committed to proceed, even though the Company's securities otherwise meet all enumerated criteria for continued listing on Nasdaq. In the event that Nasdaq determines to continue the listing of such a Company during a bankruptcy reorganization, the Company shall nevertheless be required to satisfy all requirements for initial listing, including the payment of initial listing fees, upon emerging from bankruptcy proceedings.
 
Rule 5550(b): For continued listing, a Company shall have either:
(1) Equity Standard: Stockholders' equity of at least $2.5 million; (2) Market Value of Listed Securities Standard: Market Value of Listed Securities of at least $35 million; or (3) Net Income Standard: Net income from continuing operations of $500,000 in the most recently completed fiscal year or in two of the three most recently completed fiscal years.
Issue #1: As initially presented to the Listing Council, at issue in this matter is whether the Company should remain listed, yet suspended from trading, notwithstanding that the Company does not comply with Rule 5550(b), which requires the Company to have a minimum of $2.5 million in stockholders' equity, or Rule 5110(b) as the Company filed for protection under Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Staff also raised public interest concerns pursuant to Rules 5101 and IM-5101-1. Staff determined to deny the Company continued listing. On appeal, a Panel initially determined to grant the Company additional time to regain compliance subject to certain milestone, but subsequently determined to delist the Company for failing to meet all of the milestones.
 
Determination #1: Reverse the Panel decision to delist the Company.
 
In its submissions to the Listing Council, the Company notes that it is diligently working to obtain all necessary approvals, complete the restructuring, emerge from bankruptcy, and immediately evidence compliance with all applicable requirements for initial listing on the Capital Market well within the discretionary period available to the Listing Council. Moreover, the Company notes that the its Board of Directors will be reconstituted concurrent with the Company's emergence from bankruptcy so as to ensure the Company's compliance with all applicable board composition and corporate governance criteria upon emergence from bankruptcy.
 
Staff argues that the Company should be delisted because it failed to meet the milestones of the Panel decision and its own deadlines, and it failed to provide evidence that it will satisfy the applicable initial listing standards upon its emergence from bankruptcy. In addition, Staff is concerned that maintaining the Company's listing does not protect investors or the integrity of Nasdaq, notwithstanding that its securities are suspended from trading on Nasdaq. In support of this argument, Staff notes that prospective investors have an expectation that companies listed on Nasdaq meet the requirements of listing.
 
The Listing Council notes Staff's concern, but believes the risk of investor harm is low. The Company has made ongoing disclosure of the status of the bankruptcy and reorganization. Hence investors are aware of the bankruptcy proceedings, and importantly the Company appears to have genuine viable business operations. In this regard, the Company disclosed $328,377,000 in revenues as of the last fiscal quarter. As such, it is unclear to the Listing Council what prospective investor harm is caused by a Company that is suspended from trading on Nasdaq, is traded with minimal volume over the counter, has provided ongoing public disclosure of its bankruptcy proceedings, and has significant other operations. The Listing Council is aware and considered that the Company has not filed its 10-K for the last fiscal year, but it believes for the reasons set forth above that, even with that failure, the risk of investor harm is low.
 
Bankruptcy proceedings can take time to resolve and the bankruptcy in the present case is, at the very least, adversarial. The Listing Council is unable to continue the Company's listing in perpetuity as it has limited discretion to grant a deficient company an extension to its listing on Nasdaq. The Panel previously granted the Company the full extent of its discretionary authority to allow the Company to regain compliance. When faced with clear evidence that the Company would be unable to regain compliance within its discretionary period, the Panel appropriately determined to delist the Company. The Listing Council, however, has additional discretionary authority that it can exercise in this matter. Based on the facts and circumstances of this case and for the reasons stated above, the Listing Council has decided to exercise its discretionary authority and allow the Company to remain listed on Nasdaq, subject to a suspension of trading.
 
Accordingly, the Listing Council reverses the Panel decision to delist the Company.
 
Issue #2: Should the Company remain listed when, subsequent to the issuance of the Listing Council decision, the Company filed for Chapter 7 liquidation, became deficient for not meeting board independence requirements, and became delinquent in paying its listing fees to Nasdaq. Based on the new facts and circumstances, the Listing Council revisited the matter and issued a second decision.
 
Decision #2: Subsequent to the issuance of the Listing Council decision in this matter, Staff notified the Company and Listing Council of two additional deficiencies: (1) Rule 5250(f), which requires payment of applicable Listing Fees and (2) Rule 5605, which requires a majority independent board and independent directors on certain committees. Staff noted that these deficiencies served as additional bases for delisting the Company's securities from Nasdaq. Staff also noted that the bankruptcy proceedings were converted from Chapter 11 bankruptcy to Chapter 7 liquidation. In response, the Company stated that that an interim Trustee was recently appointed and that the election for the permanent Trustee will be held in the near future, and thereafter the decision relating to the payment of the 2013 Nasdaq annual fee, and the timing of payment of such fee, will be made by the permanent Trustee. Last, the Company noted that it still remains possible that the proceeding could be converted back to a Chapter 11 proceeding in the future.
 
In conducting its review of the new facts and circumstances of this matter, the Listing Council considered the entire record reviewed by the Listing Council in issuing its initial decision, as supplemented by Staff's letter and the Company's response noted above. As disclosed by Staff's letter, the facts and circumstances on which the Listing Council based its initial decision have changed. The Company's Chapter 11 reorganization has been converted into Chapter 7 liquidation. The Company represented in its response that it remains possible that the bankruptcy could be converted back to Chapter 11 reorganization. However, the Company provided no information on how or when such a conversion could take place. Therefore, in the absence of any evidence that the Company could emerge from its Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings as an operating company that can comply with the listing requirements on or prior to the expiration of the discretion afforded to the Listing Council, it has determined to delist the Company.
 
Publication Date*: 8/21/2013 Mailto Link Identification Number: 1089
Page: 1 of 1
home_footer_links
Copyright_statement
App Store       Google Play       Listing Center Content RSS Feed
The Nasdaq Stock Market, Nasdaq, The Nasdaq Global Select Market, The Nasdaq Global Market, The Nasdaq Capital Market, ExACT and Exchange Analysis and Compliance Tracking system are trademarks of Nasdaq, Inc.
FINRA® and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.® are registered trademarks of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.