5800 Failure to Meet Listing Standards
Securities of a Company that does not meet the
listing standards set forth in the Rule 5000 Series are subject to delisting
from, or denial of initial listing on Nasdaq Texas. This Section sets forth
procedures for the independent review, suspension, and delisting of Companies
that fail to satisfy one or more standards for initial or continued listing,
and thus are "deficient" with respect to the listing standards.
The Listings Qualifications Department is responsible for
identifying deficiencies that may lead to delisting or denial of a listing
application; notifying the Company of the deficiency or denial; and issuing
Staff Delisting Determinations and Public Reprimand Letters. Rule 5810 contains
provisions regarding the Listing Qualifications Department's process for
notifying Companies of different types of deficiencies and their corresponding
consequences.
The Hearings Panel, upon timely request by a Company, will
review a Staff Delisting Determination, denial of a listing application, or
Public Reprimand Letter at an oral or written hearing, and issue a Decision
that may, among other things, grant an "exception" to Nasdaq Texas'
listing standards or affirm a delisting. Rule 5815 contains provisions relating
to the hearings process.
The Nasdaq Texas Listing and Hearings Review Council, upon
timely appeal by a Company or on its own initiative, may review the Decisions
of the Hearings Panel. Rule 5820 contains provisions relating to the Listing
Council appeal process.
Finally, the Nasdaq Texas Board of Directors may exercise
discretion to call for review a Listing Council Decision. Rule 5825 contains
provisions related to that process.
Procedures related to SEC notification of Nasdaq Texas' final
Delisting Determinations are discussed in Rule 5830. Rules applicable to
Adjudicators and Advisors are provided in Rule 5835 and general information
relating to the adjudicatory process is provided in Rule 5840.
A Company's failure to maintain compliance with the applicable
provisions of the Rule 5000 Series will result in the termination of the
listing unless an exception is granted to the Company, as described below. The
termination of the Company's listing will become effective in accordance with
the procedures set forth herein, including Rule 5830.
Amended Feb. 27, 2026 (SR-BX-2026-004)
(a) "Adjudicatory
Body" or "Adjudicator" means the Hearings Panel, the Listing
Council, or the Nasdaq Texas Board, or a member thereof.
(b) "Advisor" means an individual
employed by Nasdaq Texas who is advising an Adjudicatory Body with respect to a
proceeding under this section.
(c) "Hearings Department" means the
Hearings Department of the Nasdaq Texas Office of General Counsel.
(d) The "Hearings Panel" is an
independent panel made up of at least two persons who are not employees or
otherwise affiliated with Nasdaq Texas or its affiliates, and who have been
authorized by the Nasdaq Texas Board of Directors.
(e) "Listing Council" means the
Nasdaq Texas Listing and Hearing Review Council.
(f) The "Listing Qualifications
Department" is the department of Nasdaq Texas responsible for evaluating
Company compliance with quantitative and qualitative listing standards and
determining eligibility for initial and continued listing of a Company's
securities.
(g) "Staff" refers to employees of
the Listing Qualifications Department.
(h) "Staff Delisting Determination"
or "Delisting Determination" is a written determination by the
Listing Qualifications Department to delist a listed Company's securities for
failure to meet a continued listing standard.
(i) "Decision" means a written
decision of an Adjudicatory Body.
(j) "Public
Reprimand Letter" means a letter issued by Staff or a Decision of an
Adjudicatory Body in cases where the Company has violated a Nasdaq Texas
corporate governance or notification listing standard (other than one required
by Rule 10A-3 or Rule 10D-1 under the Act) and Staff or the Adjudicatory
Body determines that delisting is an inappropriate sanction. In determining
whether to issue a Public Reprimand Letter, Staff or the Adjudicatory Body will
consider whether the violation was inadvertent, whether the violation
materially adversely affected shareholders' interests, whether the violation
has been cured, whether the Company reasonably relied on an independent advisor
and whether the Company has demonstrated a pattern of violations.
(k) "Office of Appeals
and Review" means the Office of Appeals and Review of the Nasdaq Texas
Office of General Counsel.
Amended Feb. 27, 2026 (SR-BX-2026-004)
When the Listing Qualifications Department determines that a
Company does not meet a listing standard set forth in the Rule 5000 Series, it
will immediately notify the Company of the deficiency. As explained in more
detail below, deficiency notifications are of four types:
(1) Staff Delisting
Determinations, which are notifications of deficiencies that, unless appealed,
subject the Company to immediate suspension and delisting;
(2) notifications of deficiencies for which a
Company may submit a plan of compliance for staff review;
(3) notifications of deficiencies for which a
Company is entitled to an automatic cure or compliance period; and
(4) Public Reprimand Letters, except such
notification type is not available for unresolved deficiencies from the
standards of Rules 5250(c) {Obligation to File Periodic Financial Reports},
5615(a)(4)(D) {Partner Meetings of Limited Partnerships} and 5620(a) {Meetings
of Shareholders}.
Notifications of deficiencies that allow for submission of a
compliance plan or an automatic cure or compliance period may result, after
review of the compliance plan or expiration of the cure or compliance period,
in issuance of a Staff Delisting Determination or a Public Reprimand Letter.
(a) Information Contained in Deficiency Notification and
Delisting Determination
Deficiency notifications and Delisting
Determinations will:
(1) inform the Company of the factual bases
for Staff's determination of deficiency or delisting, and the quantitative or
qualitative standard the Company has failed to satisfy;
(2) provide the Company with instructions
regarding its obligations to disclose the deficiency under Nasdaq Texas Listing
Rules; and
(3) inform the Company:
(A) in the case of a Staff Delisting
Determination, that the Company's securities will be suspended as of a date
certain; the Company has a right to request review of the Delisting
Determination by a Hearings Panel; and that a request for review within seven
days (as set forth in Rule 5815(a)(1)) will stay the suspension;
(B) in the case of a deficiency for which the
Company may submit a plan of compliance for review by Staff, the deadline by
which a plan must be submitted;
(C) in the case of a deficiency for which the
Company is entitled to an automatic cure or compliance period, the expiration
date of the cure or compliance period; and
(D) in the case of a Public Reprimand Letter,
an explanation of why Staff concluded the letter is appropriate and the
Company's right to request review of the Letter by a Hearings Panel.
(b) Company Disclosure Obligations
A Company that receives a notification of
deficiency, Staff Delisting Determination, or Public Reprimand Letter is
required to make a public announcement disclosing receipt of the notification
and the Rule(s) upon which the deficiency is based, and describing each
specific basis and concern identified by Nasdaq Texas in reaching its
determination that the Company does not meet the listing standard. If the
deficiency or Staff Delisting Determination relates to the requirement to file
a periodic report contained in Rule 5250(c)(1) or (2), the Company is required
to make the public announcement by issuing a press release, in addition to
filing any Form 8-K required by SEC rules. In all other cases, the Company may
make the public announcement either by filing a Form 8-K, where required by SEC
rules, or by issuing a press release. Additional information about this
disclosure obligation is provided in IM-5810-1.
As described in Rule
5250(b)(1) and IM-5250-1, the Company must notify Nasdaq Texas’ MarketWatch
Department about the announcement through the electronic disclosure submission
system available at www.nasdaq.net, except in emergency situations when notification
may instead be provided by telephone or facsimile. If the public announcement
is made during Nasdaq Texas market hours, the Company must notify MarketWatch
at least ten minutes prior to the announcement. If the public announcement is
made outside of Nasdaq Texas market hours, the Company must notify MarketWatch
of the announcement prior to 6:50 a.m. ET. The Company should make the public
announcement as promptly as possible but not more than four business days
following receipt of the notification.
Amended Feb. 27, 2026 (SR-BX-2026-004)
Rule 5810(b) requires that a Company make a public announcement
by filing a Form 8-K, where required by SEC rules, or by issuing a press
release disclosing the receipt of (i) a notice that the Company does not meet a
listing standard set forth in the Rule 5000 Series, (ii) a Staff Delisting
Determination to limit or prohibit continued listing of the Company's
securities under Rule 5810 as a result of the Company's failure to comply with
the continued listing requirements, or (iii) a Public Reprimand Letter;
provided, however, that if the notification relates to a failure to meet the
requirements of Rules 5250(c)(1) or (2), the Company must make the public
announcement by issuing a press release. Such public announcement shall be made
as promptly as possible, but not more than four business days following the
receipt of the notification, Staff Delisting Determination, or Public Reprimand
Letter, as applicable. In addition to containing all disclosure required by
Form 8-K, if applicable, the public announcement must describe each specific
basis and concern identified by Nasdaq Texas in its determination that the
Company does not meet the listing standard and identify the Rules upon which
the deficiency is based. For example, if the Listing Qualifications Department
determines to delist a Company based on its discretionary authority under Rule
5101, the Company must include in its public announcement the specific concerns
cited in the Staff Delisting Determination. In addition, a Company may provide
its own analysis of the issues raised in the Staff Delisting Determination.
If the public announcement is not made by the Company within the
time allotted or does not include all of the required information, trading of
its securities shall be halted (if not already halted), even if the Company
appeals the Staff Delisting Determination or Public Reprimand Letter as set
forth in Rule 5815, and Nasdaq Texas may make a public announcement with the
required information. If the company's failure to make this public announcement
is the only basis for a trading halt, Nasdaq Texas would ordinarily resume
trading if Nasdaq Texas makes the public announcement. If the Company fails to
make the public announcement by the time that the Hearings Panel issues its
Decision, that Decision will also determine whether to delist the Company's
securities for failure to make the public announcement.
Rule 5810(b) does not relieve a Company of its disclosure
obligation under the federal securities laws, nor should it be construed as
providing a safe harbor under the federal securities laws. It is suggested that
the Company consult with corporate/securities counsel in assessing its
disclosure obligations under the federal securities laws.
(c) Types of Deficiencies and
Notifications
The type of deficiency at issue determines
whether the Company will be immediately suspended and delisted, or whether it
may submit a compliance plan for review or is entitled to an automatic cure or
compliance period before a Staff Delisting Determination is issued. In the case
of a deficiency not specified below, Staff will issue the Company a Staff
Delisting Determination or a Public Reprimand Letter.
(1) Deficiencies that Immediately
Result in a Staff Delisting Determination
Staff's notice will inform the Company that
its securities are immediately subject to suspension and delisting when:
• a Company fails to timely solicit proxies;
• an Equity Investment Tracking Stock fails to
comply with the additional continued listing requirements in Rule 5222(c) or a
Staff Delisting Determination has been issued with respect to the security such
Equity Investment Tracking Stock tracks;
• the common stock of the REIT in a Paired
Share Unit listed under Rule 5226 becomes separately tradable from the common
stock of the Parent;
• An issuer of non-convertible bonds listed on
Nasdaq Texas fails to meet its obligations on the non-convertible bonds, as set
forth in Rule 5702(b)(2);
• a Subscription Receipt listed under Rule
5420 fails to comply with the continued listing requirements in Rule 5465 or a
Staff Delisting Determination has been issued with respect to the security such
Subscription Receipt is exchangeable for;
• a security fails to meet the continued
listing requirement for minimum bid price and is not eligible to receive a
compliance period as described under Rule 5810(c)(3)(A)(i) or (ii);
• a security of a Company whose business plan
is to complete one or more acquisitions, as described in Rule IM-5101-2, that:
(i) fails to comply with one or more of the requirements set forth in Rule
IM-5101-2, including, without limitation, a failure to complete one or more
business combinations satisfying the requirements set forth in Rule
IM-5101-2(b) within 36 months of the effectiveness of its IPO registration
statement or a failure to meet the requirements for initial listing following a
business combination as described in Rule IM-5101-2(d) and (e); or (ii) in the
case of a Company that qualified for listing pursuant to the alternative
initial listing requirements in Rule 5406 fails to meet the continued listing
requirement in Rules 5452(a)(1) and (3); or
• Staff has determined, under its
discretionary authority in the Rule 5100 Series, that the Company's continued
listing raises a public interest concern.
(2) Deficiencies for which a Company
may Submit a Plan of Compliance for Staff Review
(A) Unless the Company is currently under
review by an Adjudicatory Body for a Staff Delisting Determination, the Listing
Qualifications Department may accept and review a plan to regain compliance
when a Company is deficient with respect to one of the standards listed in
subsections (i) through (vi) below. In accordance with Rule 5810(c)(2)(C),
plans provided pursuant to subsections (i) through (iv) and (vi) below must be
provided generally within 45 calendar days, and in accordance with Rule
5810(c)(2)(F), plans provided pursuant to subsection (v) must be provided
generally within 60 calendar days.
(i) all quantitative deficiencies from
standards that do not provide a compliance period;
(ii) deficiencies from the standards of Rules
5605 {Board of Directors and Committees} or 5615(a)(4)(C) {Independent
Directors/Audit Committee of Limited Partnerships} where the cure period of the
Rule is not applicable;
(iii) deficiencies from the standards of Rules
5620(a) Meetings of Shareholders, 5620(c) Quorum, 5630 Review of Related Party
Transactions, 5635 Shareholder Approval, 5250(c)(3) Auditor Registration,
5255(a) Direct Registration Program, 5608 Recovery of Erroneously Awarded
Compensation, 5610 Code of Conduct, 5615(a)(4)(D) Partner Meetings of
Limited Partnerships, 5615(a)(4)(E) Quorum of Limited Partnerships,
5615(a)(4)(G) Related Party Transactions of Limited Partnerships, or 5640
Voting Rights; or
(iv) failure to make the disclosure required
by Rule 5250(b)(3) {Disclosure of Third Party Director and Nominee
Compensation};
(v) failure to file periodic reports as
required by Rules 5250(c)(1) or (2); or
(vi) failure to meet a
continued listing requirement contained in the Rule 5700 Series.
Amended Feb. 27, 2026 (SR-BX-2026-004)
As provided in Rule 5810(c)(2)(A)(i), the Staff may accept a
plan to regain compliance with respect to quantitative deficiencies from
standards that do not themselves provide a compliance period. Such standards
include:
Rules 5450(b)(1)(A) {Stockholders' Equity},
and 5450(a)(2) {Total Holders}
Rules 5450(b)(3)(A) {Total Assets/Total
Revenue}, 5450(b)(2)(B) {Publicly Held Shares}, and 5450(a)(2) {Total Holders},
and
Rules 5460(a)(1) {Publicly Held Shares} and
5460(a)(4) {Public Holders}.
(B) Staff Alternatives Upon Review of
Plan
Staff may request such additional information
from the Company as is necessary to make a determination, as described below.
In cases other than filing delinquencies and annual meeting deficiencies, which
are governed by Rules 5810(c)(2)(F) and 5810(c)(2)(G), respectively, upon
review of a plan of compliance, Staff may either:
(i) grant an extension of time to regain
compliance not greater than 180 calendar days from the date of Staff's initial
notification, unless the Company is currently under review by an Adjudicatory
Body for a Staff Delisting Determination. If Staff grants an extension, it will
inform the Company in writing of the basis for granting the extension and the
terms of the extension;
(ii) issue a Staff Delisting Determination
letter that includes a description of the basis for denying the extension; or
(iii) issue a Public Reprimand Letter, as
defined in Rule 5805(j).
(C) Timeline for Submission of
Compliance Plans
Except for deficiencies from the standards of
Rule 5250(c)(1) or (2), Staff's notification of deficiencies that allow for
compliance plan review will inform the Company that it has 45 calendar days to
submit a plan to regain compliance with Nasdaq Texas’ listing standard(s).
Staff may extend this deadline for up to an additional 5 calendar days upon
good cause shown and may request such additional information from the Company
as is necessary to make a determination regarding whether to grant such an extension.
(D) Restrictions on Compliance Plans
for Certain Deficiencies
Staff will not accept a plan to achieve
compliance with deficiencies in net income from continuing operations or total
assets and total revenue, since compliance requires stated levels of net income
or assets and revenues during completed fiscal years and therefore can only be
demonstrated through audited financial statements. Similarly, a Company may not
submit a plan relying on partial-year performance to demonstrate compliance
with these standards. A Company may, however, submit a plan that demonstrates current
or near-term compliance with the listing requirement relating to stockholders'
equity or Market Value of Listed Securities.
(E) Failure to Meet the Terms of a
Staff Extension
If the Company does not regain compliance
within the time period provided by all applicable Staff extensions, Staff will
immediately issue a Staff Delisting Determination indicating the date on which
the Company's securities will be suspended unless it requests review by a
Hearings Panel.
(F) Filing Delinquencies
In the case of deficiencies from the standards
of Rule 5250(c)(1) or (2):
(i) Staff's notice shall provide the Company
with 60 calendar days to submit a plan to regain compliance with the listing
standard; provided, however, that the Company shall not be provided with an
opportunity to submit such a plan if review under the Rule 5800 Series of a
prior Staff Delisting Determination with respect to the Company is already
pending. Staff may extend this deadline for up to an additional 15 calendar
days upon good cause shown and may request such additional information from the
Company as is necessary to make a determination regarding whether to grant such
an extension.
(ii) The maximum additional time provided by
all exceptions granted by Staff for a deficiency described in paragraph (i)
above is 180 calendar days from the due date of the first late periodic report
(as extended by Rule 12b-25 under the Act, if applicable). In determining
whether to grant an exception, and the length of any such exception, Staff will
consider, and the Company should address in its plan of compliance, 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.
(G) Annual Meeting
In the case of deficiencies from the standards
of Rules 5620(a) and 5615(a)(4)(D):
(i) Staff's notice shall provide the Company
with 45 calendar days to submit a plan to regain compliance with the listing
standard; provided, however, that the Company shall not be provided with an
opportunity to submit such a plan if review under the Rule 5800 Series of a
prior Staff Delisting Determination with respect to the Company is already
pending. Staff may extend this deadline for up to an additional 15 calendar
days upon good cause shown and may request such additional information from the
Company as is necessary to make a determination regarding whether to grant such
an extension.
(ii) The maximum additional time provided by
all exceptions granted by Staff is 180 calendar days from the deadline to hold
the annual meeting (one year after the end of the Company's fiscal year). In
determining whether to grant an exception, and the length of any such
exception, Staff will consider, and the Company should address in its plan of
compliance, the Company's specific circumstances, including the likelihood that
the Company would be able to hold an annual meeting within the exception period,
the Company's past compliance history, the reasons for the failure to hold the
annual meeting timely, 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.
(3) Deficiencies for which the Rules
Provide a Specified Cure or Compliance Period
With respect to deficiencies related to the
standards listed in (A) - (G) below, Staff's notification will inform the
Company of the applicable cure or compliance period provided by these Rules and
discussed below. If the Company does not regain compliance within the specified
cure or compliance period, the Listing Qualifications Department will
immediately issue a Staff Delisting Determination letter.
(A) Bid Price
A failure to meet the continued listing
requirement for minimum bid price shall be determined to exist only if the
deficiency continues for a period of 30 consecutive business days. Upon such
failure, the Company shall be notified promptly and shall have a period of 180
calendar days from such notification to achieve compliance. Compliance can be
achieved during any compliance period by meeting the applicable standard for a
minimum of 10 consecutive business days during the applicable compliance
period, unless Staff exercises its discretion to extend this 10 day period as
discussed in Rule 5810(c)(3)(H).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Company will
not be considered to have regained compliance with the bid price requirement if
the Company takes an action to achieve compliance and that action results in
the Company’s security falling below the numeric threshold for another listing
requirement without regard to any compliance periods otherwise available for
that other listing requirement. In such event, the Company will continue to be
considered non-compliant until both: (i) the other deficiency is cured and (ii)
thereafter the Company meets the bid price standard for a minimum of 10
consecutive business days, unless Staff exercises its discretion to extend this
10 day period as discussed in Rule 5810(c)(3)(H). If the Company does not
demonstrate compliance with (i) and (ii) during the compliance period(s)
applicable to the initial bid price deficiency, Nasdaq Texas will issue a Staff
Delisting Determination Letter.
(i) Low Priced Stocks
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a failure to
meet the continued listing requirement for minimum bid price shall be
determined to exist if a Company’s security has a closing bid price of $0.10 or
less for ten consecutive business days. Upon such failure, the Listing
Qualifications Department shall issue a Staff Delisting Determination under
Rule 5810 with respect to that security and the security shall be suspended
from trading on Nasdaq; the Company shall be ineligible for any compliance
period otherwise described in this Rule 5810(c)(3)(A). Compliance can be
achieved by meeting the applicable standard for a minimum of 10 consecutive
business days, unless Staff exercises its discretion to extend this 10-day
period as discussed in Rule 5810(c)(3)(H).
(ii) Excessive Reverse Stock Splits
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Company’s
security fails to meet the continued listing requirement for minimum bid price
and the Company has effected a reverse stock split over the prior one-year
period; or has effected one or more reverse stock splits over the prior
two-year period with a cumulative ratio of 250 shares or more to one, then the
Company shall not be eligible for any compliance period specified in this Rule
5810(c)(3)(A) and the Listing Qualifications Department shall issue a Staff Delisting
Determination under Rule 5810 with respect to that security.
(B) Market Makers
A failure to meet the continued listing
requirement for a number of Market Makers shall be determined to exist only if
the deficiency continues for a period of 10 consecutive business days. Upon
such failure, the Company shall be notified promptly and shall have a period of
30 calendar days from such notification to achieve compliance. Compliance can
be achieved by meeting the applicable standard for a minimum of 10 consecutive
business days during the 30 day compliance period.
(C) Market Value of Listed Securities
A failure to meet the continued listing
requirements for Market Value of Listed Securities shall be determined to exist
only if the deficiency continues for a period of 30 consecutive business days.
Upon such failure, the Company shall be notified promptly and shall have a
period of 180 calendar days from such notification to achieve compliance.
Compliance can be achieved by meeting the applicable standard for a minimum of
10 consecutive business days during the 180 day compliance period, unless Staff
exercises its discretion to extend this 10 day period as discussed in Rule
5810(c)(3)(H).
(D) Market Value of Publicly Held
Shares
A failure to meet the continued listing
requirement for Market Value of Publicly Held Shares shall be determined to
exist only if the deficiency continues for a period of 30 consecutive business
days. Upon such failure, the Company shall be notified promptly and shall have
a period of 180 calendar days from such notification to achieve compliance.
Compliance can be achieved by meeting the applicable standard for a minimum of
10 consecutive business days during the 180 day compliance period, unless Staff
exercises its discretion to extend this 10 day period as discussed in Rule
5810(c)(3)(H).
(E) Independent Director, Audit, and
Compensation Committee Rules
If a Company fails to meet the majority board
independence requirement in Rule 5605(b)(1) due to one vacancy, or because one
director ceases to be independent for reasons beyond his/her reasonable
control, the Listing Qualifications Department will promptly notify the Company
and inform it has until the earlier of its next annual shareholders meeting or
one year from the event that caused the deficiency to cure the deficiency.
However, if the Company's next annual shareholders' meeting is held sooner than
180 days after the event that caused the deficiency, then the Company has 180
days from the event that caused the deficiency to cure it.
If a Company fails to meet the audit committee
composition requirements in Rule 5605(c)(2) because an audit committee member
ceases to be independent for reasons outside his/her control, the Listing
Qualifications Department will promptly notify the Company and inform it has
until the earlier of its next annual shareholders meeting or one year from the
occurrence of the event that caused the failure, to cure the deficiency. If the
Company fails to meet the audit committee composition requirement due to one vacancy
on the audit committee, and the Company is not relying upon a cure period for
another member, the Listing Qualifications Department will promptly notify the
Company and inform it that it has until the earlier of its next annual
shareholders meeting or one year from the event that caused the failure to cure
the deficiency. However, if the Company's next annual shareholders' meeting is
held sooner than 180 days after the event that caused the deficiency, then the
Company has 180 days from the event that caused the deficiency to cure it.
If a Company fails to meet the compensation
committee composition requirement under Rule 5605(d)(2)(A) due to one vacancy,
or one compensation committee member ceases to be independent due to
circumstances beyond the member's reasonable control, the Listing
Qualifications Department will promptly notify the Company and inform it has
until the earlier of its next annual shareholders meeting or one year from the
occurrence of the event that caused the failure to comply with this requirement
to cure the deficiency. However, if the Company's next annual shareholders'
meeting is held sooner than 180 days after the event that caused the
deficiency, then the Company has 180 days from the event that caused the
deficiency to cure it.
A Company is not eligible for this cure period
immediately following the expiration of a phase-in period the Company relied on
under Rule 5615(b) upon which the Company was relying, except as provided for
in Rules 5605(b)(1)(B) and 5605(c)(4)(C) and 5605(d)(4)(B). If a Company is not
eligible for this cure period, the Listing Qualifications Department will issue
a Staff Delisting Determination letter to delist the Company's securities.
(F) Reserved
(G) Market Value/Principal Amount
Outstanding of Non-Convertible Bonds
A failure to meet the continued listing
requirement for non-convertible bonds, as set forth in Rule 5702(b)(1)
(requiring non-convertible bonds to have at least $400,000 in market value or
principal amount outstanding) shall be determined to exist only if the
deficiency continues for a period of 30 consecutive business days. Upon such
failure, the Company shall be notified promptly and shall have a period of 180
calendar days from such notification to achieve compliance. Compliance can be
achieved during this 180 calendar day compliance period by meeting the
applicable standard for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days during the
applicable compliance period, unless Staff exercises its discretion to extend
this 10 day period as discussed in Rule 5810(c)(3)(H).
(H) Staff Discretion Relating to the
Price-based Requirements
If a Company fails to meet the Market Value of
Listed Securities, Market Value of Publicly Held Shares, Bid Price, or Market
Value/Principal Amount Outstanding requirements, each of which is related to
the Company's security price and collectively called the "Price-based
Requirements," compliance is generally achieved by meeting the requirement
for a minimum of ten consecutive business days. However, Staff may, in its
discretion, require a Company to satisfy the applicable Price-based Requirement
for a period in excess of ten consecutive business days, but generally no more
than 20 consecutive business days, before determining that the Company has
demonstrated an ability to maintain long-term compliance. In determining
whether to require a Company to meet the applicable Price-based-requirement
beyond ten business days, Staff may consider all relevant facts and
circumstances, including without limitation:
(i) the margin of compliance (the amount by
which a Company exceeds the applicable Price-based Requirement);
(ii) the trading volume (a lack of trading
volume may indicate a lack of bona fide market interest in the security at the
posted bid price);
(iii) the Market Maker montage (the number of
Market Makers quoting at or above $1.00 or the minimum price necessary to
satisfy another Price-based Requirement; and the size of their quotes); and
(iv) the trend of the security price (is it up
or down).
(4) Public Reprimand Letter
Staff's notification may be in the form of a
Public Reprimand Letter in cases where the Company has violated a Nasdaq Texas
corporate governance or notification listing standard (other than one required
by Rule 10A-3 or Rule 10D-1 under the Act) and Staff determines that
delisting is an inappropriate sanction. In determining whether to issue a
public reprimand letter, the Listing Qualifications Department will consider
whether the violation was inadvertent, whether the violation materially
adversely affected shareholders' interests, whether the violation has been
cured, whether the Company reasonably relied on an independent advisor and
whether the Company has demonstrated a pattern of violations.
(d) Additional Deficiencies
The Listing Qualifications Department
continues to evaluate the compliance of Companies while they are under review
by Adjudicatory Bodies and may identify additional deficiencies. Upon
identification of an additional deficiency, Staff will issue an additional
notification of deficiency to the Company and send a copy to the appropriate
Adjudicatory Body.
(1) Staff's notification of the additional
deficiency will conform to the requirements set forth in Rule 5810(a) if:
(A) the matter under review by an Adjudicatory
Body is a Public Reprimand Letter; or
(B) the additional deficiency identified is
one that has an automatic cure or compliance period.
(2) If the additional deficiency is one that
would in the normal course result in immediate suspension and delisting, or one
for which the Company may submit a compliance plan to Staff for review, Staff's
notification will instruct the Company to address the issue to the Hearings
Panel at its hearing, unless the hearing for the original deficiency has
already taken place. If the hearing has already taken place, Staff's
notification will instruct the Company to provide in writing, within a
specified time period, a submission that addresses the deficiency to the
Adjudicatory Body before which its matter is pending.
Amended Feb. 27, 2026 (SR-BX-2026-004)
When a Company receives a Staff Delisting Determination or a
Public Reprimand Letter issued by the Listing Qualifications Department, or
when its application for initial listing is denied, it may request in writing
that the Hearings Panel review the matter in a written or an oral hearing. This
section sets forth the procedures for requesting a hearing before a Hearings
Panel, describes the Hearings Panel and the possible outcomes of a hearing, and
sets forth Hearings Panel procedures.
(a) Procedures for Requesting and
Preparing for a Hearing
(1) Timely Request Stays Delisting
(A) A Company may, within seven calendar days
of the date of the Staff Delisting Determination notification, Public Reprimand
Letter, or written denial of a listing application, request a written or oral
hearing before a Hearings Panel to review the Staff Delisting Determination,
Public Reprimand Letter, or written denial of a listing application. Requests
for hearings should be submitted in writing to the Hearings Department.
(B) Subject to the following limitations, a
timely request for a hearing shall ordinarily stay the suspension and delisting
action pending the issuance of a written Panel Decision.
(i) If the Staff Delisting Determination
relates to deficiencies from the standards of Rule 5250(c)(1) or (2), which
require a Company to timely file its periodic reports with the Commission, the
delisting action will only be stayed for 15 calendar days from the deadline to
request a hearing unless the Company specifically requests and the Hearings
Panel grants a further stay. A request for a further stay must include an
explanation of why such a stay would be appropriate and should be included in
the Company's request for a hearing. Based on that submission and any
recommendation provided by Staff, the Hearings Panel will determine whether to
grant the Company a further stay. In determining whether to grant the stay, the
Hearings Panel will consider the Company's specific circumstances, including
the likelihood that the filing can be made within any exception period that
could subsequently be granted, 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. The Hearings Panel will notify the Company of its
conclusion as soon as is practicable, but in no event more than 15 calendar
days following the deadline to request the hearing. In the event the Hearings
Panel determines not to grant the Company a stay, the Company's securities will
be immediately suspended and will remain suspended unless the Panel Decision
issued after the hearing determines to reinstate the securities.
(ii) A timely request for a hearing will not
stay the suspension of the securities from trading pending the issuance of a
written Panel Decision when the Staff Delisting Determination is related to one
of the following deficiencies:
a. A Company whose application for initial
listing has not been approved prior to consummation of a transaction whereby
the Company combines with a non-Nasdaq Texas entity, resulting in a change of
control of the Company and potentially allowing the non-Nasdaq Texas entity to
obtain a Nasdaq Texas Listing, as described in Nasdaq Texas Rule 5110(a);
b. A Company that has filed for protection
under any provision of the federal bankruptcy laws, or comparable foreign laws,
or that has announced that liquidation has been authorized by its board of
directors and that it is committed to proceed, as described in Nasdaq Texas
Rule 5110(b);
c. A Company whose business plan is to
complete one or more acquisitions, as described in Rule IM-5101-2, which fails
to meet (i) the continued listing requirement in Rules 5452(a)(1) and (3), for
companies that listed pursuant to the alternative initial listing requirements
in Rule 5406; (ii) the requirement set forth in Rule IM-5101-2(b) to complete
one or more business combinations within 36 months of the effectiveness of its
IPO registration statement; or (iii) the requirements for initial listing immediately
following a business combination as required by Rule IM-5101-2; or
d. A
failure to maintain a closing bid price of greater than $0.10 as required by
Rule 5810(c)(3)(A)(i).
In each case, the Company's securities will be
immediately suspended and will remain suspended unless the Panel Decision
issued after the hearing determines to reinstate the securities.
(2) Failure to Request Results in
Immediate Delisting
If a Company fails to request in writing a
hearing within seven calendar days, or fails to timely pay the hearing fee
described in paragraph (3) below, it waives its right to request review of a
Delisting Determination, Public Reprimand Letter, or written denial of an
initial listing application. In the case of a Company's failure to timely
request a hearing or pay the hearing fee for review of a Delisting
Determination, the Hearings Department will take action to suspend trading of
the securities and follow procedures to delist the securities.
(3) Fees
Within seven calendar days of the date of
the Staff Delisting Determination, Public Reprimand Letter, or written denial
of an initial listing application, the Company must submit a non-refundable
hearing fee of $20,000. No payment will be credited and applied towards the
hearings fee unless the issuer has previously paid all applicable fees due to
the Exchange.
(4) Scheduling of Hearings
The Hearings Department will schedule hearings
to take place, to the extent practicable, within 45 days of the request for a
hearing, at a location determined by the Hearings Department. The Hearings
Department will send written acknowledgment of the Company's hearing request
and inform the Company of the date, time, and location of the hearing, and
deadlines for written submissions to the Hearings Panel. The Company will be
provided at least ten calendar days notice of the hearing unless the Company waives
such notice.
(5) Submissions from Company
The Company must provide a written submission
to the Hearings Department, to which Staff may respond in writing, stating with
specificity the grounds on which the Company is seeking review of the Staff
Delisting Determination notification, Public Reprimand Letter, or written
denial of a listing application in accordance with subsection (a)(1) of this
Rule (“Written Submission”). The Company must include in the Written
Submission all legal arguments on which it intends to rely. As
appropriate, the Company’s Written Submission may include a written plan of
compliance and request that the Hearings Panel grant an exception to the
listing standards for a limited time period, as permitted by Rule 5815(c)(1)(A)
or may set forth specific grounds for the Company's contention that the
issuance of a Staff Delisting Determination, Public Reprimand Letter, or denial
of a listing application, was in error, and may also submit public documents or
other written material in support of its position, including any information
not available at the time of the Staff Determination. The Company may
supplement the Written Submission by providing a written update to the Hearings
Department (“Written Update”) no later than two business days in advance of the
hearing. The Written Update may not include any legal argument not raised
by the Company with specificity in the Written Submission. The
Hearings Panel will review the written record, as described in Rule 5840(a),
before the hearing.
(6) Presentation at Hearing
At an oral hearing, the Company may make such
presentation as it deems appropriate, including the appearance by its officers,
directors, accountants, counsel, investment bankers, or other persons, and the
Hearings Panel may question any representative appearing at the hearing.
The Company will not be permitted to introduce any legal argument not raised by
the Company with specificity in the Written Submission required by subsection
(a)(5) of this Rule. Absent solicitation from the Hearings Panel, the
Company will not be permitted to introduce any material information that was
not raised by the Company with specificity in the Written Submission or Written
Update provided for by subsection (a)(5) of this Rule, unless the Company shows
either that the material information did not exist at the time the Company was
permitted to submit a Written Update or the Company shows that exceptional or
unusual circumstances exist that warrant consideration of the newly raised
material information. Exceptional or unusual circumstances would include,
but are not necessarily limited to, material information that was not earlier
discoverable by the Company despite all reasonable measures having been
taken. If the Hearings Panel determines either that the Company has shown
that the material information did not exist at the time the Company was
permitted to submit a Written Update or that the Company has shown exceptional
or unusual circumstances exist that warrant consideration of the newly raised
material information, then the Company will be permitted to introduce such
information at the oral hearing. Staff shall have up to three business
days, or such shorter time as the Hearings Panel requests, following the oral
hearing to respond in writing to the Company’s newly raised material
information. The Company may respond to the Staff’s submission only if
the Hearings Panel requests it do so. Hearings are generally scheduled to
last one hour, but the Hearings Panel may extend the time. The Hearings
Department will arrange for and keep on file a transcript of oral hearings.
(b) Composition of the Hearings Panel
Each Hearing is presided over by at least two
Hearings Panel members, except as provided in Rule 5815(d)(3).
(c) Scope of the Hearings Panel's
Discretion
(1) When the Hearings Panel review is of a
deficiency related to continued listing standards, the Hearings Panel may,
where it deems appropriate:
(A) grant an exception to the continued
listing standards for a period not to exceed 180 days from the date of the
Staff Delisting Determination with respect to the deficiency for which the
exception is granted;
(B) Reserved;
(C) suspend and delist the Company's
securities;
(D) issue a Decision that serves as a Public
Reprimand Letter in cases where the Company has violated a Nasdaq Texas
corporate governance or notification listing standard (other than one required
by Rule 10A-3 or Rule 10D-1 under the Act) and the Hearings Panel
determines that delisting is an inappropriate sanction. In determining whether
to issue a Public Reprimand Letter, the Hearings Panel will consider whether
the violation was inadvertent, whether the violation materially adversely
affected shareholders' interests, whether the violation has been cured, whether
the Company reasonably relied on an independent advisor and whether the Company
has demonstrated a pattern of violations;
(E) find the Company in compliance with all
applicable listing standards; or
(F) 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
Hearings Panel 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 Hearings Panel 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.
(G) In the case of a Company that fails to
hold an annual meeting, the Hearings Panel may grant an exception for a period
not to exceed 360 days from the deadline to hold the annual meeting (one year
after the end of the Company's fiscal year).
(H) In the case of a Company whose business
plan is to complete one or more acquisitions, as described in Rule IM-5101-2,
where the Staff Delisting Determination letter is based on a failure to satisfy
(i) the requirement set forth in Rule IM-5101-2(b) and Rule 5452(a)(3) to
complete one or more business combinations within 36 months of the
effectiveness of its IPO registration statement; or (ii) the requirements for
initial listing immediately following a business combination as required by
Rule IM-5101-2, only reverse a delisting decision where the Panel determines
that the Staff Delisting Determination letter was in error and that the Company
never failed to satisfy the requirement. In such cases, the Panel may not
consider facts indicating that the Company had regained compliance under Rule
5815(c)(1)(E), nor may the Panel grant an exception under Rule 5815(c)(1)(A)
allowing the Company additional time to regain compliance.
(2) When the Hearings Panel's review is of a
Staff denial of an initial listing application, the Hearings Panel may, where
it deems appropriate:
(A) affirm Staff's denial of the application;
(B) conditionally approve initial listing
subject to an exception to the listing standards not to exceed 180 calendar
days from the date of the Staff Delisting Determination with respect to the
deficiency for which the exception is granted; or
(C) approve initial listing on a finding that
the Company meets all initial listing requirements
(3) A Hearings Panel may consider any failure
to meet any quantitative or qualitative standard for initial or continued
listing, including failures previously not considered by Staff. The Company
will be given written notice of such consideration and an opportunity to
respond.
(4) Under the authority described in the Rule
5100 Series, the Hearings Panel may subject the Company to additional or more
stringent criteria for the initial or continued listing of particular
securities based on any event, condition, or circumstance that exists or occurs
that makes initial or continued listing of the securities inadvisable or
unwarranted in its opinion, even though the securities meet all enumerated
criteria for initial or continued listing on Nasdaq Texas.
(d) Hearings Panel Procedures
(1) Panel Decision
After the hearing, the Hearings Department, on
behalf of the Hearings Panel, will issue a Panel Decision that meets the
requirements of Rule 5840(c) and has been approved by each member of the
Hearings Panel. The Panel Decision shall be promptly provided to the Company,
and is effective immediately upon issuance, unless it specifies to the
contrary. The Panel Decision will provide notice that the Company may appeal
the Panel Decision to the Listing Council within 15 calendar days of the date
of the Decision and that the Decision may be called for review by the Listing
Council within 45 calendar days from the date of the Decision.
(2) Form 25 Notification of Delisting
If the Panel issues a Decision to delist the
Company's securities, the Hearings Department will immediately take action to
suspend trading of the securities, unless the Decision specifies to the
contrary. If the Company does not appeal a Decision to delist and the Listing
Council does not call the matter for review, or withdraws its call for review,
Nasdaq Texas will follow the procedures described in Rule 5830 to submit an
application on Form 25 to the SEC to strike the security from listing.
(3) Hearings Panel Deadlock
If, following the hearing, the Hearings Panel
cannot reach a unanimous decision, the Hearings Department will notify the
Company of this circumstance. The Company will be provided an additional
hearing before a Hearings Panel composed of three members who did not
participate in the previous hearing. The Company may decide whether the hearing
will be written or oral, in person or by telephone. The Company may submit any
documents or other written material in support of its request for review,
including information not available at the time of the initial hearing. There
will be no fee for the new hearing. After review by a Hearings Panel convened
pursuant to this paragraph, the Hearings Department on behalf of the Hearings
Panel will issue a Decision that meets the requirements of Rule 5840(c) and
that has been approved by at least a majority of the Hearings Panel.
(4) Procedures Applicable for
Recurring Deficiencies
(A) Discretionary Hearings Panel
Monitor
A Hearings Panel may, after a Company regains
compliance with all applicable listing standards, monitor the Company's
continued compliance for up to one year after the compliance date, if the
Hearings Panel concludes that there is a likelihood that the issuer will fail
to maintain compliance with one or more listing standards during that period.
If the Hearings Panel or the Listing Qualifications Department determines that
a Company under a Hearings Panel Monitor, under this subsection (A), fails any
listing standard during the one-year monitoring period, then, notwithstanding
Rule 5810(c)(2), the Company will not be permitted to provide the Listing
Qualifications Department with a plan of compliance with respect to any
deficiency that arises during the one-year monitoring period, and the Listing
Qualifications Department will not be permitted to grant additional time for
the Company to regain compliance with respect to any deficiency, nor will the
company be afforded an applicable cure or compliance period pursuant to Rule
5810(c)(3). Rather, the Listing Qualifications Department will promptly issue a
Staff Delisting Determination.
(B) Mandatory Hearings Panel Monitor
In the case of a Company that has regained
compliance with the listing standards where the company was granted an
exception by the Hearing Panel for failure to maintain certain levels of
stockholders' equity, to timely file periodic reports, or with the bid price
requirement where the company was ineligible for a compliance period under Rule
5810(c)(3)(A)(i) or (ii), after having been granted an exception to these
continued listing standards by the Hearings Panel, the Hearings Panel will
impose a Hearings Panel Monitor for a period of one year from the date the
company regains compliance. If, within that one year monitoring period the
Listing Qualifications Department finds the Company again out of compliance
with the requirement that was the subject of the exception, then,
notwithstanding Rule 5810(c)(2), the Company will not be permitted to provide
the Listings Qualifications Department with a plan of compliance with respect
to that deficiency and the Listings Qualifications Department will not be permitted
to grant additional time for the Company to regain compliance with respect to
that deficiency, nor will the company be afforded an applicable cure or
compliance period pursuant to Rule 5810(c)(3). Rather, the Listing
Qualifications Department will promptly issue a Staff Delisting Determination.
(C) Panel Monitor Procedures
If a Company receives a Staff Delisting
Determination during a one-year Hearings Panel Monitor under paragraph
(d)(4)(A) or (B) of this Rule, the Company may request review by a Hearings
Panel. Unless indicated otherwise in this subparagraph (C), the hearing will be
conducted in accordance with the procedures outlined in Rule 5815. Upon such a
request, the Hearings Department will promptly schedule a new hearing, with the
initial Hearings Panel or a newly convened Hearings Panel if the initial
Hearings Panel is unavailable. The hearing may be oral or written, at the
Company's election. The Hearings Panel will consider the Company's compliance
history when rendering its Decision. If the Company does not request review of
the Staff Delisting Determination then the Company's securities will be
suspended as described in the Staff Delisting Determination.
(5) Request for Hearings Panel
Reconsideration
A Company may request, in writing, that the
Hearings Panel reconsider a Panel Decision only upon the basis that a mistake
of material fact existed at the time of the Panel Decision. The Company's
request for reconsideration shall be made within seven calendar days of the
date of issuance of the Panel Decision. A Company's request for reconsideration
will not stay a delisting determination or suspension of trading of the
Company's securities, unless the Hearings Panel, before the scheduled date for
suspension, issues a written determination staying the suspension and/or
reversing the determination to delist. A Company's request for reconsideration
will not extend the time for the Company to initiate the Listing Council's
review of the Panel Decision.
If the Hearings Panel
grants a Company's reconsideration request, it will issue a modified Decision
meeting the requirements of Rule 5840(c) within 15 calendar days of the date of
the original Panel Decision, or lose jurisdiction over the matter. If the Listing
Council calls a Panel Decision for review on the same issue that the Company
has requested reconsideration by the Hearings Panel, the Listing Council may
assert jurisdiction over the initial Panel Decision or permit the Hearings
Panel to proceed with the reconsideration and issue a new Decision.
Amended Feb. 27, 2026 (SR-BX-2026-004)
A Company may appeal a Panel Decision to the Listing Council.
The Listing Council may also call for review a Panel Decision on its own
initiative. This Rule 5820 describes the procedures applicable to appeals and
calls for review.
(a) Procedure for Requesting Appeal
A Company may appeal any Panel Decision to the
Listing Council by submitting a written request for appeal and a
non-refundable fee of $15,000 to the Nasdaq Texas Office of Appeals
and Review within 15 calendar days of the date of the Panel Decision. An appeal
will not operate as a stay of the Panel Decision. Upon receipt of the appeal
request and the applicable fee, the Nasdaq Texas Office of Appeals and Review
will acknowledge the Company's request and provide deadlines for the Company to
provide written submissions. No payment will be credited and applied towards
the appeal fee unless the issuer has previously paid all applicable fees due to
the Exchange.
(b) Procedures for Initiating Call for
Review
The Listing Council may also call for review
any Panel Decision upon the request of one or more members of the Listing
Council within 45 calendar days of the date of the Panel Decision. The Office
of Appeals and Review will promptly inform the Company of the reasons for the
review and provide a deadline for written submissions. A call for review by the
Listing Council will not operate as a stay of the Panel Decision, unless the
call for review specifies to the contrary. The Listing Council may withdraw the
call for review of a Panel Decision at any time.
(c) Composition of Listing Council
The Listing Council is a committee appointed
by the Nasdaq Texas Board of Directors pursuant to the Nasdaq Texas By-Laws
whose responsibilities include the review of Panel Decisions by a Hearings
Panel.
(d) Scope of Listing Council's
Discretion
(1) The Listing Council may, where it deems
appropriate, affirm, modify, or reverse the Panel Decision, or remand the
matter to the Listing Qualifications Department or to the Hearings Panel for
further consideration. The Listing Council may grant an exception for a period
not longer than 360 calendar days from the date of the Staff Delisting
Determination with respect to the deficiency for which the exception is
granted. The Listing Council also may issue a Decision that serves as a Public
Reprimand Letter in cases where the Company has violated a Nasdaq Texas
corporate governance or notification listing standard (other than one required
by Rule 10A-3 or Rule 10D-1 under the Act) and the Listing Council
determines that delisting is an inappropriate sanction. In determining whether
to issue a Public Reprimand Letter, the Listing Council will consider whether
the violation was inadvertent, whether the violation materially adversely
affected shareholders' interests, whether the violation has been cured, whether
the Company reasonably relied on an independent advisor and whether the Company
has demonstrated a pattern of violations.
(2) The Listing Council may consider any
failure to meet any quantitative standard or qualitative consideration for
initial or continued listing, including failures previously not considered by
the Hearings Panel. The Listing Council may also consider any action taken by a
Company during the review process that would have constituted a violation of
Nasdaq Texas’ corporate governance requirements had the Company's securities
been trading on Nasdaq Texas at the time. The Company will be afforded written
notice of such consideration and an opportunity to respond.
(3) Under the authority described in the Rule
5100 Series, the Listing Council may subject the Company to additional or more
stringent criteria for the initial or continued listing of particular
securities based on any event, condition, or circumstance that exists or occurs
that makes initial or continued listing of the securities inadvisable or
unwarranted in its opinion, even though the securities meet all enumerated
criteria for initial or continued listing on Nasdaq Texas.
(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.
(5) In the case of a Company that fails to
hold an annual meeting, the Listing Council may grant an exception for a period
not to exceed 360 days from the deadline to hold the annual meeting (one year
after the end of the Company's fiscal year).
(6) The Listing Council may also recommend
that the Nasdaq Texas Board consider the matter.
(e) Listing Council Review Process
(1) Review Generally on Written Record
For each matter before the Listing Council,
whether on appeal for call for review, a subcommittee consisting of at least
two members of the Listing Council will review the written record, as described
in Rule 5840(a). Members of the Listing Council who are not on a subcommittee
will be provided with a written summary of the record prepared by an Advisor,
and may, but will not be required to, review the written record. The Listing
Council shall consider the written record and, at its discretion, may request additional
written materials and/or hold additional hearings. If an oral hearing is
scheduled, it will take place, to the extent practicable, within 45 days of the
date the appeal was submitted or the call for review was initiated.
(2) Record of Proceedings Maintained
A record of the documents considered by the
Listing Council will be kept by the Nasdaq Texas Office of Appeals and Review.
(3) Written Decision Issued
A written Listing Council Decision meeting the
requirements of Rule 5840(c) will be issued after approval by at least a
majority of the Listing Council. The Listing Council Decision will be promptly
provided to the Company and will take immediate effect unless it specifies to
the contrary. If the Listing Council determines to delist the Company, the
securities of the Company will be immediately suspended, unless the Listing
Council Decision specifies to the contrary.
(4) Reconsideration of a Listing
Council Decision
A Company may request, in writing, that the
Listing Council reconsider a Listing Council Decision only upon the basis that
a mistake of material fact existed at the time of the Listing Council Decision.
The Company's request must be made within seven calendar days of the date of
the Listing Council Decision. A Company's request for reconsideration will not
stay a Listing Council Decision unless the Listing Council issues a written
determination staying the Decision. If the Listing Council grants a Company's
reconsideration request, the Listing Council will issue a modified Decision
meeting the requirements of Rule 5840(c) within 15 calendar days of the date of
the original Listing Council Decision, or lose jurisdiction over the matter.
(5) Notice of Board Right to Call
The Listing Council Decision will provide
notice that the Nasdaq Texas Board may call the Listing Council Decision for
review pursuant to provisions in Rule 5825.
(6) Form 25 Notification of Delisting
If the Listing Council
determines to delist the Company and the Nasdaq Texas Board does not call the
matter for review or withdraws its call for review, Nasdaq Texas will follow
the procedures described in Rule 5830 to submit an application on Form 25 to
the Securities and Exchange Commission to delist the security.
Amended Feb. 27, 2026 (SR-BX-2026-004)
(a) Review at Discretion of Board
A Panel Decision, in a matter where the
Hearings Panel has granted the maximum exception period and the Listing Council
is precluded from granting additional time under Rules 5815(c)(1)(F) and
5820(d)(4), or a Listing Council Decision may be called for review by the Board
of Directors of Nasdaq Texas (the "Nasdaq Texas Board") solely upon
the request of one or more Board members not later than the next Nasdaq Texas
Board meeting that is 15 calendar days or more following the date of the Panel or
Listing Council Decision. This review will be undertaken solely at the
discretion of the Nasdaq Texas Board and will not operate as a stay of the
Panel or Listing Council Decision, unless the Board's call for review specifies
to the contrary. At the sole discretion of the Nasdaq Texas Board, it may
withdraw its call for review of a Panel or Listing Council Decision at any time
before issuance of a Decision.
(b) Scope of Discretion of Board
The Board may consider any failure to meet any
quantitative standard or qualitative consideration for initial or continued
listing, including failures previously not considered by the Listing Council.
It may also consider any action taken by a Company during the review process
that would have constituted a violation of Nasdaq Texas’ corporate governance
requirements had the Company's securities been trading on Nasdaq Texas at the
time. The Company will be afforded written notice of such consideration and an
opportunity to respond. Pursuant to the Rule 5100 Series, the Board may subject
the Company to additional or more stringent criteria for the initial or
continued listing of particular securities based on any event, condition, or
circumstance that exists or occurs that makes initial or continued listing of
the securities inadvisable or unwarranted in its opinion, even though the
securities meet all enumerated criteria for initial or continued listing on
Nasdaq Texas.
(c) Review on Written Record
If the Nasdaq Texas Board conducts a
discretionary review, the review generally will be based on the written record
considered by the Hearings Panel or Listing Council. However, the Nasdaq Texas
Board may, at its discretion, request and consider additional information from
the Company and/or from Staff. If the Board considers additional information, a
record of the documents reviewed by the Nasdaq Texas Board will be kept by the
Nasdaq Texas Office of Appeals and Review.
(d) Board Decision
If the Nasdaq Texas Board
conducts a discretionary review, the Company will be provided a written
Decision that meets the requirements of Rule 5840(c). The Nasdaq Texas Board
may affirm, modify or reverse the Panel or Listing Council Decision and may remand
the matter to the Listing Council, Hearings Panel, or staff of the Listing
Qualifications Department with appropriate instructions. The Nasdaq Texas Board
also may issue a Decision that serves as a Public Reprimand Letter in cases
where the Company has violated a Nasdaq Texas corporate governance or
notification listing standard (other than one required by Rule 10A-3 or Rule
10D-1 under the Act) and the Nasdaq Texas Board determines that delisting
is an inappropriate sanction. In determining whether to issue a Public
Reprimand Letter, the Nasdaq Texas Board will consider whether the violation
was inadvertent, whether the violation materially adversely affected
shareholders' interests, whether the violation has been cured, whether the
Company reasonably relied on an independent advisor and whether the Company has
demonstrated a pattern of violations. The Decision of the Nasdaq Texas Board
will take immediate effect, unless it specifies to the contrary, and represents
the final action of Nasdaq Texas. If the Nasdaq Texas Board determines to
delist the Company, the securities of the Company will be immediately
suspended, unless the Nasdaq Texas Board specifies to the contrary, and Nasdaq
Texas will follow the procedures contained in Rule 5830 and submit an application
on Form 25 to the Commission to strike the security from listing.
Amended Feb. 27, 2026 (SR-BX-2026-004)
When Nasdaq Texas has made a final determination to delist a
Company's securities, it will follow procedures consistent with the Act to
strike the security from listing. Nasdaq Texas’ determination to delist a
Company's securities is final when, after a Delisting Determination has been
issued, all available review and appeal procedures and periods available under
these Rules have expired.
Nasdaq Texas will issue a
press release and post a notice on its website announcing its final
determination to remove a security from listing, consistent with Rule 12d2-2
under the Act. Under Rule 12d2-2, Nasdaq Texas must disseminate this public
notice not less than 10 days before the delisting becomes effective and
maintain the website notice until the delisting is effective. Following the
public notification, Nasdaq Texas will file an application on Form 25 with the
Commission to delist the security, and will promptly provide a copy of that
Form 25 to the Company. The delisting of the security becomes effective 10 days
after the Form 25 is filed pursuant to Rule 12d2-2(d)(1) under the Act, unless
the Commission postpones the delisting pursuant to Rule 12d2-2(d)(3).
Amended Feb. 27, 2026 (SR-BX-2026-004)
(a) Ex Parte Communications
(1) No Ex parte Communications
No member of the staff of the Listing
Qualifications Department or its counsel, and no Company representative will
make or knowingly cause to be made an ex parte communication relevant to the
merits of a proceeding under this Section to an Adjudicator or any Advisor.
Similarly, no Adjudicator who is participating
in a Decision with respect to a proceeding under this Section, and no Advisor
with respect to such a proceeding, will make or knowingly cause to be made an
ex parte communication relevant to the merits of that proceeding to a Company
representative, a member of the staff of the Listing Qualifications Department
or its counsel.
(2) An Adjudicator or Advisor who is
participating in or advising with respect to a proceeding who receives, makes,
or knowingly causes to be made an ex parte communication relevant to the merits
of a proceeding will place a copy of it, or its substance if it is an oral
communication, in the record of the proceeding. Staff of the Listing
Qualifications Department or the Company, as applicable, will be permitted to
respond to the ex parte communication, and any response will be placed in the
record of the proceeding.
(b) No Communications Between
Adjudicatory Bodies
(1) Members of a Hearings Panel and their
Advisors who are participating in a proceeding under this Section are
prohibited from making communications relevant to the merits of such proceeding
to members of the Listing Council or the Nasdaq Texas Board or their respective
Advisors.
(2) Members of the Listing Council and their
Advisors are prohibited from making communications relevant to the merits of a
proceeding under this Rule 5800 Series to members of a Hearings Panel who are
participating in such proceeding or their Advisors, or members of the Nasdaq
Texas Board or their Advisors.
(3) Members of the Nasdaq Texas Board and
their Advisors are prohibited from making communications relevant to the merits
of a proceeding under this Rule 5800 Series to members of a Hearings Panel who
are participating in such proceeding or their Advisors, or members of the
Listing Council or their Advisors.
(4) An Adjudicator or Advisor who is
participating in or advising with respect to a proceeding who receives, makes,
or knowingly causes to be made a communication prohibited by paragraphs (1) -
(3) above will place a copy of it, or its substance if it is an oral
communication, in the record of the proceeding. Staff of the Listing
Qualifications Department and the Company will be permitted to respond to the
communication, and any such response will be placed in the record of the
proceeding.
(c) Recusal or Disqualification
No person will serve as a member of a Hearings
Panel, or participate as a member of the Listing Council, the Nasdaq Texas
Board, the staff of the Listing Qualifications Department or Advisor to an
Adjudicator, in a matter as to which he or she has a conflict of interest or
bias, or circumstances otherwise exist where his or her fairness might
reasonably be questioned. In any such case, the person will recuse himself or
herself, or will be disqualified.
(1) Exchange of Biographical
Information
To facilitate the process for recusal and
disqualification, at least five days before any proceeding under this Section,
the Company will provide the Hearings Department or the Advisor to the Listing
Council or the Nasdaq Texas Board, as applicable, with names and biographical
information of each person who will appear on behalf of the Company at the
proceeding, and the Hearings Department or Advisor, as applicable, will provide
the Company and the Staff with names and biographical information of the Adjudicators
for the proceeding; provided, however, that with respect to proceedings before
the Listing Council or the Nasdaq Texas Board, the Advisor to the respective
Adjudicatory Body may post names and biographical information of each
Adjudicator on a publicly available website in lieu of providing them directly
to the Company.
(2) Disqualification Procedures
A Company or the Staff of the Listing
Qualifications Department may file a request to disqualify an Adjudicator. A
request to disqualify will be based upon a reasonable, good faith belief that a
conflict of interest or bias exists or circumstances otherwise exist where the
Adjudicator's fairness might reasonably be questioned, and will be accompanied
by a statement setting forth in detail the facts alleged to constitute grounds
for disqualification, and the dates on which the party learned of those facts.
A request to disqualify must be filed (A) not later than two business days
after the party was provided with the name and biographical information of the
Adjudicator, or (B) if the name and biographical information of the Adjudicator
was posted on a website, not later than two business days after the Company
requested Listing Council review or received notice of discretionary review by
the Listing Council or the Nasdaq Texas Board. A request for disqualification
of an Adjudicator will be decided by the party with authority to order
disqualification of such Adjudicator, as detailed below, who will promptly
investigate whether disqualification is required and issue a written response
to the request.
(A) Nasdaq Texas Board
The Chair of the Nasdaq Texas Board will have
authority to order the disqualification of a Director, and a majority of the
Nasdaq Texas Board excluding the Chair of the Nasdaq Texas Board will have
authority to order the disqualification of the Chair.
(B) Listing Council
A Chair of the Listing Council will have
authority to order the disqualification of a member of the Listing Council, and
a majority of the Listing Council excluding any Chairs of the Listing Council
will have authority to order the disqualification of a Chair of the Listing
Council.
(C) Staff of Listing Qualifications
Department; Panelist of Hearings Panel
The General Counsel of
Nasdaq Texas will have authority to order the disqualification of (i) a member
of the staff of the Listing Qualifications Department reviewing the
qualifications of a Company, (ii) a member of a Hearings Panel, or (iii) an
Advisor to an Adjudicatory Body.
Amended Feb. 27, 2026 (SR-BX-2026-004)
(a) Record on Review
At each level of a proceeding under this
Section, the written record may consist of the following items, as applicable:
correspondence between Nasdaq Texas and the Company; the Company's public
filings; information released to the public by the Company; written
submissions, exhibits, or requests submitted by either the Company or the
Listing Qualifications Department and responses thereto; and any additional
information considered by the Adjudicatory Body as part of the review process.
The written record will be supplemented by the transcript of any hearings held
during the review process and all Decisions issued.
At each level of review under this Section,
the Company will be informed of the contents of the written record. The Company
will be provided a copy of any documents in the record that were not provided
by the Company or are not publicly available, at least three calendar days
before the deadline for Company submissions, unless the Company waives this
production.
If additional issues arising under the Rule
5000 Series are considered, as permitted by the 5800 Series, the notice of such
consideration and any response to such notice shall be made a part of the
record.
(b) Additional Information Requested
or Considered
At each level of a proceeding under this
Section, the Adjudicatory Body, as part of its review:
(1) may request additional information from
the Company or the Listing Qualifications Department; and
(2) may consider additional information
available from other sources it deems relevant. The Company and the Listing
Qualifications Department will be afforded written notice and an opportunity to
address the significance of any information requested or considered, and the
notice, responses to the notice, and the information considered will be made
part of the record.
(c) Contents of Decisions
Each Adjudicatory Body's written Decision will
include:
(1) a statement describing the procedural
history of the proceeding, including investigations or reviews undertaken by
the Listing Qualifications Department;
(2) the quantitative or qualitative standard
that the Company is alleged to have failed to satisfy;
(3) a statement setting forth the findings of
fact with respect to the Company;
(4) the conclusions of the Adjudicatory Body
as to whether the Company has failed to satisfy the quantitative or qualitative
standards for initial or continued listing; and
(5) a statement of the Adjudicatory Body in
support of its disposition of the matter, and, if applicable, the rationale for
any exception to the initial or continued listing requirements granted.
(d) Correction of Clerical Errors
The Hearings Panel and the Listing Council may
correct clerical or other non-substantive errors in their respective Decisions
either on their own motion or at the request of a Company. A copy of any such
corrected Decision will be provided to the Company.
(e) Computation and Adjustment of Time
(1) Except as described in paragraph (2)
below, in counting any time under this Section, the day of the act, event, or
default from which the period of time begins to run, is not to be included. The
last day of the period is included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, federal
holiday, or Nasdaq Texas holiday in which case the period runs until the end of
the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, federal holiday or Nasdaq Texas
holiday.
(2) When Staff determines whether a deficiency
has occurred with respect to the Bid Price, Market Value of Listed Securities,
or Market Value of Publicly Held Shares requirements, the first trading day
that the Bid Price or Market Value is below required standards is included in
computing the total number of consecutive trading days of default. Similarly,
when Staff determines whether a Company has regained compliance with the Bid
Price, Market Value of Listed Securities, or Market Value of Publicly Held Shares
requirements, the first trading day that the Bid Price or Market Value is at or
above required standards is included in computing the total number of
consecutive trading days.
(3) If the Office of General Counsel
determines that notice required to be provided under this Section was not
properly given or that other extenuating circumstances exist, the Hearings
Department may adjust the periods of time provided by the rules for the filing
of written submissions, the scheduling of hearings, or the performance of other
procedural actions by the Company or an Adjudicator, as applicable, to allow
the Company or the Adjudicator the time contemplated by these rules.
(4) A Company may waive any notice period
specified in this Section.
(f) Delivery of Documents
Delivery of any document under this Section
may be made by electronic delivery, hand delivery, facsimile, regular mail or
overnight courier. Delivery will be considered timely if the electronic
delivery, hand delivery, fax, or overnight courier is received on or before the
relevant deadline. If a Company has not specified a facsimile number, e-mail
address, or street address, delivery will be made to the last known facsimile
number, e-mail address, and street address. If a Company is represented by counsel
or a representative, delivery may be made to the counsel or representative.
(g) Document Retention Procedures
Any document submitted to Nasdaq Texas in
connection with a proceeding under this Section will be retained in accordance
with applicable record retention policies.
(h) Documentation of Decisions
The Listing Qualifications Department or the
Advisor to an Adjudicatory Body, as applicable, shall document the date on
which a Decision with respect to a Company is implemented.
(i) Re-Listing of a Company
A Company that has been the subject of a
Decision by an Adjudicatory Body to delist such Company shall be required,
prior to re-listing, to comply with the requirements for initial listing. A
Company that has been suspended but that has not been the subject of such a
Decision shall be required, prior to re-listing, to comply with requirements
for continued listing.
(j) Voluntary Delisting
(1) A Company may voluntarily terminate its
listing upon compliance with all requirements of Rule 12d2-2(c) under the Act.
In part, Rule 12d2-2(c) requires that the Company may delist by filing an
application on Form 25 with the Commission, provided that the Company: (i)
complies with all applicable laws in effect in the state in which it is
incorporated and with the applicable Nasdaq Texas Rules; (ii) provides notice
to Nasdaq Texas no fewer than 10 days before the Company files the Form 25 with
the Commission, including a statement of the material facts relating to the
reasons for delisting; and (iii) contemporaneous with providing notice to
Nasdaq Texas, publishes notice of its intent to delist, along with its reasons
therefore, via a press release and on its web site, it if has one. Any notice
provided on the Company's web site pursuant to Rule 12d2-2(c) must remain
available until the delisting has become effective. The Company must also
provide a copy of the Form 25 to Nasdaq Texas simultaneously with its filing
with the Commission. Nasdaq Texas will provide notice on its web site of the
Company's intent to delist as required by Rule 12d2-2(c)(3).
(2) A Company that seeks to voluntarily delist
a class of securities pursuant to Rule 5840(j)(1) that has received notice from
Nasdaq Texas, pursuant to the Rule 5800 Series or otherwise, that it fails to
comply with one or more requirements for continued listing, or that is aware
that it is below such continued listing requirements notwithstanding that it
has not received such notice from Nasdaq Texas, must disclose this fact
(including the specific continued listing requirement that it is below) in: (i)
its statement of all material facts relating to the reasons for withdrawal from
listing provided to Nasdaq Texas along with written notice of its determination
to withdraw from listing required by Rule 12d2-2(c)(2)(ii) under the Act; and
(ii) its press release and web site notice required by Rule 12d2-2(c)(2)(iii)
under the Act.
(k) Disclosure of Public Reprimand
Letter
A Company that receives an Adjudicatory Body
Decision that serves as a Public Reprimand Letter must make a public
announcement by filing a Form 8-K, where required by SEC rules, or by issuing a
press release disclosing the receipt of the Decision, including the Rule(s)
upon which the Decision was based. As described in Rule 5250(b)(1) and
IM-5250-1, the Company must notify Nasdaq Texas’ MarketWatch Department about
the announcement through the electronic disclosure submission system available
at www.nasdaq.net, except in emergency situations when notification may instead
be provided by telephone or facsimile. If the public announcement is made
during Nasdaq Texas market hours, the Company must notify MarketWatch at least
ten minutes prior to the announcement. If the public announcement is made
outside of Nasdaq Texas market hours, the Company must notify MarketWatch of
the announcement prior to 6:50 a.m. ET. The Company should make the public
announcement as promptly as possible but not more than four business days
following receipt of the Decision.
(l) Disclosure by Nasdaq Texas
In order to maintain the
quality of and public confidence in its market and to protect investors and the
public interest, Nasdaq Texas may, at any level of a proceeding under this Rule
5800 Series, make a public announcement, including by press release, describing
a notification, Public Reprimand Letter, Staff Delisting Determination,
Adjudicatory Body Decision, or other event involving a Company's listing or
trading on Nasdaq Texas.
Amended Feb. 27, 2026 (SR-BX-2026-004)