Note 13 - Subsequent Event |
3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2024 | |
Notes to Financial Statements | |
Subsequent events |
13.
Subsequent events
In April 2024, the Company issued 510,101 Common Shares to Keystone at an average price of $1.36 per Common Share for cash proceeds of $694,000. In April 2024, the Company's issuances of Common Shares to Keystone reached the Total Commitment of the Committed Equity Facility, i.e. 19.99% of the Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to the execution of the 2023 Committed Equity Facility Agreement. Subsequent to March 31, 2024, the Company issued 81,591 Common Shares under this 2022 ATM Facility at an average price of $1.22 for gross proceeds of $100 thousand ($97 thousand net of share issuance costs).
On April 2, 2024, the Company received a letter (the “Notification Letter”) from Nasdaq stating that the Company was not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) (the “Rule”) because the stockholders’ equity of the Company as of December 31, 2023, as reported in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, was below the minimum requirement of $2.5 million (the "Stockholders’ Equity Requirement"). The Company's stockholder's equity as of March 31, 2024 was positive $0.1 million. As of the date of this report, the Company does not have a market value of listed securities of $35 million, or net income from continued operations of $500,000 in the most recently completed fiscal year or in two of the last three most recently completed fiscal years, the alternative quantitative standards for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The Notification Letter received has no immediate effect on the Company's continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, subject to the Company's compliance with the other continued listing requirements. Pursuant to Nasdaq’s Listing Rules, the Company has 45 calendar days to submit a plan to evidence compliance with the Rule (a “Compliance Plan”). The Company intends to submit a Compliance Plan within the required time, although there can be no assurance that the Compliance Plan will be accepted by Nasdaq. If the Compliance Plan is accepted by Nasdaq, the Company will be granted an extension of up to 180 calendar days from April 2, 2024 to evidence compliance with the Rule. In the event the Compliance Plan is not accepted by Nasdaq, or in the event the Compliance Plan is accepted but the Company fails to evidence compliance within the extension period, the Company will have the right to a hearing before Nasdaq’s Hearing Panel. The hearing request would stay any suspension or delisting action pending the conclusion of the hearing process and the expiration of any additional extension period granted by the panel following the hearing. The Company intends to submit the Compliance Plan on or before May 17, 2024, monitor its stockholders’ equity and, if appropriate, consider further available options to evidence compliance with the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement.
In response to the 2024 Deficiency Letter from Nasdaq received on February 29, 2024 regarding the Private Placement with Hanmi, the Company submitted a plan to regain compliance on April 15, 2024. On April 25, 2024, the Company received a letter (the “April Letter”) from the Listing Qualifications Department (the “Staff”) of Nasdaq notifying the Company of the Staff’s determination that the Company had regained compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) and the Staff has determined that the matter is now closed. Pursuant to the Company's plan to regain compliance, on April 26, 2024, the Company announced that it had amended the warrant agreement with Hanmi to prohibit the exercise of the Hanmi warrants in excess of the Nasdaq 19.99% limitation (the "Nasdaq 19.99% cap"), unless shareholder approval is first obtained to exceed the Nasdaq 19.99% Cap.
On April 29, 2024, the Company entered into (a) a Second Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement with its Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. William G. Rice (the “Rice Amendment”); (b) an Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement with its Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Rafael Bejar (the “Bejar Amendment”); and (c) an Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement with its Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Business Officer, and Corporate Secretary, Mr. Fletcher Payne (the “Payne Amendment”), each of which amended the compensation agreements currently in place with such individuals to harmonize the change of control provisions in the compensation agreements of such individuals.
The Rice Amendment updated the terms of the severance paid to Mr. Rice in connection with a change of control and its potential tax consequences. The amendment also clarified Mr. Rice’s job description and compensation package. Mr. Rice’s annual base salary increased to $648,960 as of January 1, 2024. Mr. Rice is entitled to receive an annual bonus of up to 55% of his current base salary and an annual automobile allowance of $18,000. All other terms of Mr. Rice’s employment agreement remain in full force and effect.
The Bejar Amendment increased Mr. Bejar’s annual base salary to $509,600 as of January 1, 2024 and updated the terms of the severance paid to Mr. Bejar in connection with a change of control. The amendment also added the title of Senior Vice President to Mr. Bejar’s position, and added a provision requiring Mr. Bejar’s cooperation in any internal investigation, any administrative, regulatory or judicial investigation or proceeding, or any dispute with a third party. All other terms of Mr. Bejar’s employment agreement remain in full force and effect.
The Payne Amendment increased Mr. Payne’s annual base salary to $479,440 as of January 1, 2024 and updated the terms of the severance paid to Mr. Payne in connection with a change of control. The amendment also added the titles of Chief Business Officer and Corporate Secretary to Mr. Payne’s position. All other terms of Mr. Payne’s employment agreement remain in full force and effect. |