Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). This notice has no immediate effect on our Nasdaq listing, and we were granted 180 calendar days, or until March 25, 2024, to regain compliance with this requirement. On February 6, 2024, we participated in a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel, subsequent to which we were granted an extension until May 13, 2024, subject to certain conditions, to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement.
As of March 26, 2024, we had not regained compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement, since the closing bid price of our securities had not been at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days. To cure the deficiency, we intend to conduct the reverse stock split of our common stock for which we are seeking stockholder approval in this proxy statement.
Even after we implement the reverse stock split for which we are seeking approval, we cannot assure you that our share price will comply with the requirements for continued listing of our common stock on Nasdaq in the future or that we will comply with the other continued listing requirements. If our common stock is delisted from Nasdaq, our common stock would likely trade in the over-the-counter market.
If our shares were to trade on the over-the-counter market, selling our common stock could be more difficult because smaller quantities of shares would likely be bought and sold, and transactions could be delayed. In addition, in the event our common stock is delisted, broker-dealers have certain regulatory burdens imposed upon them, which may discourage broker-dealers from effecting transactions in our common stock, further limiting the liquidity of our common stock. These factors could result in lower prices and larger spreads in the bid and ask prices for our common stock.
Such delisting from Nasdaq and continued or further declines in our share price could also greatly impair our ability to raise additional necessary capital through equity or debt financing and could significantly increase the ownership dilution to stockholders caused by our issuing equity in financing or other transactions.
In light of the factors mentioned above, our Board of Directors approved the reverse stock split as a potential means of increasing the share price of our common stock above $1.00 per share and of maintaining the share price of our common stock above $1.00 per share in compliance with Nasdaq requirements.
Authorized Shares of Common Stock
We are currently authorized under our Certificate of Incorporation to issue up to a total of 65,000,000 shares of capital stock, comprised of 60,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. While the reverse stock split would decrease the number of outstanding shares of our common stock, it would not change the number of authorized shares under our Certificate of Incorporation. Consequently, the reverse stock split would have the effect of increasing the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under our Certificate of Incorporation. Our Board of Directors believes that such an increase is in our and our stockholders’ best interests, as it would provide us with greater flexibility to issue shares of common stock in connection with possible future financings as under our equity incentive plans and for other general corporate purposes.
As of March 28, 2024, there were 15,401,706 shares of our common stock outstanding. Assuming a 1-for-5 reverse stock split is effected, there will be approximately 3,080,341shares outstanding. Assuming a 1-for-25 reverse stock split is effected, there will be approximately 616,068 shares outstanding.
Potential Increased Investor Interest
In approving the proposal authorizing the reverse stock split, the Board of Directors considered that our common stock may not appeal to brokerage firms that are reluctant to recommend lower priced securities to their clients. Investors may also be dissuaded from purchasing lower priced stocks because the brokerage commissions, as a percentage of the total transaction, tend to be higher for such stocks. Moreover, the analysts at many brokerage firms do not monitor the trading activity or otherwise provide coverage of lower priced stocks.
There are risks associated with the reverse stock split, including that the reverse stock split may not result in a sustained increase in the per share price of our common stock.