Ralph:
Since you ask, here was what concerned me:
1) He did not know with 100% accuracy just what the new NASDAQ listing requirements were. I asked him something similar to what you asked me, which was "Is the requirement simply that the share price must be $1.00 on Feb. 23rd, or does it need to remain over $1.00 for an extended period of time either before or after that date?" He said he "believed" it only needed to be a $1.00 on Feb. 23rd. That may be correct, I have not verified it. However, my concern was that he didn't know for sure.
2) I asked him if he believed being delisted would be a disaster for shareholders (which I believe, despite the fundamentals). He paused for at least 10 seconds before answering, and his answer was that if they were delisted he felt they could be listed soon after again. Not what I wanted to hear.
3) When it was clear to me that they are going on the assumption that the stock price will be over $1.00 so they wouldn't get delisted, I asked what they were doing to ensure that would happen. One of his answers was that he had friends taking large positions. I did not feel that was a good answer.
4) Whenever I probed about the delisting he tried to focus on the fundamentals, and said, "this should be a 5 or 6 dollar stock. With an acquisition we should be mid-teens." Um, what's he been smoking? When I heard this is when I made my decision to bolt.
5) Just a nit - but it bugs me they said they would be filing in the third week of January, and it turns out they won't.
Now, all that being said, a part of me thinks he simply had to be evasive about this issue because there will be an announcement that will somehow guarantee the stock price will go over $1.00 soon. I really do hope that happens, because I will get back in the stock in a heartbeat. My sole reason for selling is the very real possibility they will be delisted, which I personally believe will be a disaster for shareholders.
Also, let me clarify that my decision is based on my not wanting to lose short-term money. I still believe in the company, and I think they have a future, and the stock will reflect that. I'm just getting out at this time because I can't afford for the stock to be delisted at this time, because I think it would take a long while for me to get my money back in that case.
Once the question of being delisted is out of the way, I will most likely be back in the stock.
Good luck to all.
-jsc |
