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5200. General Procedures and Prerequisites for Initial and Continued Listing on The Nasdaq Stock Market
5205. The Applications and Qualifications Process

(a) To apply for listing on Nasdaq, a Company shall execute a Listing Agreement and a Listing Application on the forms designated by Nasdaq providing the information required by Section 12(b) of the Act.

(b) A Company's compliance with the initial listing criteria will be determined on the basis of the Company's most recent information filed with the Commission or Other Regulatory Authority and information provided to Nasdaq. The Company shall certify, at or before the time of listing, that all applicable listing criteria have been satisfied.

(c) A Company's qualifications will be determined on the basis of financial statements that are either: (i) prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles; or (ii) reconciled to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles as required by the Commission's rules; or (iii) prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, for Companies that are permitted to file financial statements using those standards consistent with the Commission's rules.

(d) A Company that has applied for initial listing on Nasdaq shall file with Nasdaq all reports and other documents filed or required to be filed with the Commission or Other Regulatory Authority. This requirement is satisfied by publicly filing documents through the EDGAR System. All required reports must be filed with Nasdaq on or before the date they are required to be filed with the Commission or Other Regulatory Authority. Annual reports filed with Nasdaq shall contain audited financial statements.

(e) Nasdaq may request any information or documentation, public or non-public, deemed necessary to make a determination regarding a security's initial listing, including, but not limited to, any material provided to or received from the Commission or Other Regulatory Authority. A Company's security may be denied listing if the Company fails to provide such information within a reasonable period of time or if any communication to Nasdaq contains a material misrepresentation or omits material information necessary to make the communication to Nasdaq not misleading.

(f) All forms and applications relating to listing of securities on Nasdaq referenced in the Rule 5000 Series are available on www.nasdaq.com

(g) The computation of Publicly Held Shares, Unrestricted Publicly Held Shares, Market Value of Publicly Held Shares and Market Value of Unrestricted Publicly Held Shares shall be as of the date of application of the Company.

(h) An account of a Member that is beneficially owned by a customer (as defined in Rule 0120) will be considered a holder of a security upon appropriate verification by the Member.

(i) (1) A Company may withdraw its application for initial listing at any time.

(2) A Company that receives a written determination denying its application for listing must, within four business days, make a public announcement in a press release or other Regulation FD compliant manner about the receipt of the determination and the Rule(s) upon which the determination is based, describing each specific basis and concern identified by Nasdaq in reaching its determination. If the public announcement is not made by the Company within the time allotted or does not include all of the required information, Nasdaq will make a public announcement with the required information and, if the Company appeals the determination as set forth in Rule 5815, the Hearings Panel will consider the Company's failure to make the public announcement in considering whether to list the Company.

Adopted March 12, 2009 (SR-NASDAQ-2009-018); amended Feb. 13, 2015 (SR-NASDAQ-2014-102); amended July 5, 2019 (SR-NASDAQ-2019-009), operative Aug. 4, 2019.

5210. Prerequisites for Applying to List on The Nasdaq Stock Market

All Companies applying to list on The Nasdaq Stock Market must meet the following prerequisites:

(a) Registration under 12(b) of the Act

A security shall be eligible for listing on Nasdaq provided that it is:

(1) registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act; or

(2) subject to an exemption issued by the Commission that permits the listing of the security notwithstanding its failure to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b).

(b) Auditor Registration

Each Company applying for initial listing must be audited by an independent public accountant that is registered as a public accounting firm with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, as provided for in Section 102 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 [15 U.S.C. 7212].

(c) Direct Registration Program

All securities initially listing on Nasdaq, except securities which are book-entry only, must be eligible for a Direct Registration Program operated by a clearing agency registered under Section 17A of the Act. A foreign issuer, as defined under Rule 3b-4 under the Act, including a Foreign Private Issuer, shall not be subject to this requirement if it submits to Nasdaq a written statement from an independent counsel in such Company's home country certifying that a law or regulation in the home country prohibits compliance.

(d) Fees

The Company is required to pay all applicable fees as described in the Rule 5900 Series.

(e) Good Standing

No security shall be approved for listing that is delinquent in its filing obligation with the Commission or Other Regulatory Authority or suspended from trading by the Commission pursuant to Section 12(k) of the Act or by the appropriate regulatory authorities of the Company's country of domicile.

(f) Nasdaq Certification

Upon approval of a listing application, Nasdaq shall certify to the Commission, pursuant to Section 12(d) of the Act and the rules thereunder, that it has approved the security for listing and registration. Listing can commence only upon effectiveness of the security's registration pursuant to Section 12(d).

(g) Security Depository

(1) "Securities Depository" means a securities depository registered as a clearing agency under Section 17A of the Act.

(2) For initial listing, a security shall have a CUSIP number or foreign equivalent identifying the securities included in the file of eligible issues maintained by a Securities Depository in accordance with the rules and procedures of such securities depository. This subparagraph shall not apply to a security if the terms of the security do not and cannot be reasonably modified to meet the criteria for depository eligibility at all Securities Depositories.

(3) A Security Depository's inclusion of a CUSIP number or foreign equivalent identifying a security in its file of eligible issues does not render the security "depository eligible" under Rule 11310 until:

(A) in the case of any new issue distributed by an underwriting syndicate on or after the date a Securities Depository system for monitoring repurchases of distributed shares by the underwriting syndicate is available, the date of the commencement of trading in such security on Nasdaq; or

(B) in the case of any new issue distributed by an underwriting syndicate prior to the date a Securities Depository system for monitoring repurchases of distributed shares by the underwriting syndicate is available where the managing underwriter elects not to deposit the securities on the date of the commencement of trading in such security on Nasdaq, such later date designated by the managing underwriter in a notification submitted to the Securities Depository; but in no event more than three (3) months after the commencement of trading in such security on Nasdaq.

(h) Limited Partnerships

No security issued in a limited partnership rollup transaction (as defined by Section 14(h) of the Act), shall be eligible for listing unless:

(i) the rollup transaction was conducted in accordance with procedures designed to protect the rights of limited partners as provided in Section 6(b)(9) of the Act, as it may from time to time be amended, and

(ii) a broker-dealer that is a member of a national securities association subject to Section 15A(b)(12) of the Act participates in the rollup transaction.

The Company shall further provide an opinion of counsel stating that such broker-dealer's participation in the rollup transaction was conducted in compliance with the rules of a national securities association designed to protect the rights of limited partners, as specified in the Limited Partnership Rollup Reform Act of 1993.

In addition to any other applicable requirements, each limited partnership listed on the Exchange shall have a corporate general partner or co-general partner that satisfies the Independent Director and audit committee requirements set forth in the Rule 5600 Series.

Note: The only currently existing national securities association subject to Section 15A(b)(12) of the Act is FINRA. Its rules designed to protect the rights of limited partners, pursuant to the Limited Partnership Rollup Reform Act of 1993, are specified in FINRA Rule 2310.

(i) Reverse Mergers

A security issued by a Company formed by a Reverse Merger shall be eligible for initial listing only if the conditions set forth in Rule 5110(c) are satisfied.

(j) Regulation A Offerings

Any Company listing on Nasdaq in connection with an offering under Regulation A of the Securities Act of 1933 must, at the time of approval of its initial listing application, have a minimum operating history of two years.

(k) Restrictive Market Requirements

(i) Any Company that is listing its Primary Equity Security on Nasdaq in connection with its initial public offering, and that principally administers its business in a Restrictive Market, must offer a minimum amount of securities in a Firm Commitment Offering in the United States to Public Holders that: (a) will result in gross proceeds to the Company of at least $25 million; or (b) will represent at least 25% of the Company’s post-offering Market Value of Listed Securities, whichever is lower.

(ii) Any Company that is conducting a business combination, as described in Rule 5110(a) or IM-5101-2, with an entity that principally administers its business in a Restrictive Market, must have a minimum Market Value of Unrestricted Publicly Held Shares following the business combination equal to the lesser of: (a) $25 million; or (b) 25% of the post-business combination entity’s Market Value of Listed Securities.

(iii) Any Company that is listing its Primary Equity Security on Nasdaq in connection with a Direct Listing, as defined in IM-5315-1, and that principally administers its business in a Restrictive Market, is permitted to list on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or Nasdaq Global Market, provided that the Company meets all applicable listing requirements for the Nasdaq Global Select Market and the additional requirements of IM-5315-1, or the applicable listing requirements for the Nasdaq Global Market and the additional requirements of IM-5405-1. A Company that principally administers its business in a Restrictive Market will not be permitted to list on the Nasdaq Capital Market in connection with a Direct Listing notwithstanding the fact that the company may meet the applicable initial listing requirements for the Nasdaq Capital Market and the additional requirements of IM-5505-1.

(l) As required by SEC Rule 10D-1, any Company listing on Nasdaq must comply with the requirements of Rule 5608 (Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation).

(m) Principal Underwriter

(i) “Principal underwriter” shall have the same definition used in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933.

(ii) Each Company applying for initial listing in connection with a transaction involving an underwriter must have a principal underwriter that is a Member or Limited Underwriting Member, as defined in General 1, Section 1 of the Nasdaq Rules.

Adopted March 12, 2009 (SR-NASDAQ-2009-018); amended Nov. 23, 2009 (SR-NASDAQ-2009-101); amended Nov. 8, 2011 (SR-NASDAQ-2011-073); amended Aug. 24, 2012 (SR-NASDAQ-2012-100), operative Sep. 23, 2012; amended Nov. 7, 2012 (SR-NASDAQ-2012-128); amended July 28, 2019 (SR-NASDAQ-2019-017); amended Oct. 4, 2021 (SR-NASDAQ-2021-007); amended Oct. 2, 2023 (SR-NASDAQ-2023-005); amended Mar. 22, 2024 (SR-NASDAQ-2023-022).

5215. American Depositary Receipts

(a) Eligibility

American Depositary Receipts can be listed on Nasdaq provided they represent shares in a non-Canadian foreign Company.

(b) Computations

In the case of American Depositary Receipts, annual income from continuing operations and Stockholders' Equity shall relate to the foreign issuer and not to any depositary or any other person deemed to be an issuer for purposes of Form F-6 under the Securities Act of 1933. The underlying security will be considered when determining annual income from continuing operations, Publicly Held Shares, Unrestricted Publicly Held Shares, Market Value of Publicly Held Shares, Market Value of Unrestricted Publicly Held Shares, Stockholders' Equity, Round Lot or Public Holders, operating history, Market Value of Listed Securities, average daily trading volume, total assets and total revenue. When calculating the Unrestricted Publicly Held Shares, Market Value of Unrestricted Publicly Held Shares and Round Lot Holders of the underlying security, Nasdaq will only consider restrictions that prohibit the resale or trading of the underlying security on the foreign issuer's home country market.

Adopted March 12, 2009 (SR-NASDAQ-2009-018); amended July 5, 2019 (SR-NASDAQ-2019-009), operative Aug. 4, 2019.

5220. Dually-Listed Securities

Issuer Designation Requirements

Pursuant to Rule 600 of Regulation NMS under the Act, those securities for which transaction reporting is required by an effective transaction reporting plan are designated as national market system securities. A transaction reporting plan has been filed with the Commission covering securities listed on Nasdaq.

IM-5220. Impact of Non-Designation of Dually Listed Securities

To foster competition among markets and further the development of the national market system following the repeal of NYSE Rule 500, Nasdaq shall permit Companies whose securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange to apply also to list those securities on The Nasdaq Global Market. Nasdaq shall make an independent determination of whether such Companies satisfy all applicable listing requirements and shall require Companies to enter into a dual listing agreement with Nasdaq.

While Nasdaq shall certify such dually listed securities for listing on the NGM, Nasdaq shall not exercise its authority under Rule 5220 separately to designate or register such dually listed securities as Nasdaq national market system securities within the meaning of Section 11A of the Act or the rules thereunder. As a result, these securities, which are already designated as national market system securities under the Consolidated Quotation Service ("CQS") and Consolidated Tape Association national market system plans ("CQ and CTA Plans"), shall remain subject to those plans and shall not become subject to the Nasdaq UTP Plan, the national market system plan governing securities designated by Nasdaq. For purposes of the national market system, such securities shall continue to trade under their current one, two, or three-character ticker symbol. Nasdaq shall continue to send all quotations and transaction reports in such securities to the processor for the CTA Plan. In addition, dually listed issues that are currently eligible for trading via the Intermarket Trading System ("ITS") shall remain so and continue to trade on the Nasdaq Intermarket trading platform as they do today.

Through this interpretation, Nasdaq also resolves any potential conflicts that arise under Nasdaq rules as a result of a single security being both a security subject to the CQ and CTA Plans (a "CQS security"), which is subject to one set of rules, and a listed NGM security, which is subject to a different set of rules. Specifically, dually listed securities shall be Nasdaq securities for purposes of rules related to listing and delisting, and shall remain as CQS securities under all other Nasdaq rules. Treating dually listed securities as CQS securities under Nasdaq rules is consistent with their continuing status as CQS securities under the CTA, CQ, and ITS national market system, as described above. This interpretation also preserves the status quo and avoids creating potential confusion for investors and market participants that currently trade these securities on Nasdaq.

For example, Nasdaq shall continue to honor the trade halt authority of the primary market under the CQ and CT Plans. Nasdaq Rule 4120(a)(2) and (3) governing CQS securities shall apply to dually listed securities, whereas Nasdaq Rule 4120(a)(1), (4), (5), (6), and (7) shall not. The fees applicable to CQS securities set forth in Equity 7, Section 100 shall continue to apply to dually listed issues.

Adopted March 12, 2009 (SR-NASDAQ-2009-018); amended Nov. 19, 2018 (SR-NASDAQ-2018-098).

5222. Equity Investment Tracking Stock

(a) Eligibility

(1) An Equity Investment Tracking Stock may be listed under the Rule 5300 Series, the Rule 5400 Series, or the Rule 5500 Series, provided it also meets the additional requirements set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Rule.

(2) Prior to the commencement of trading of any Equity Investment Tracking Stock, Nasdaq will distribute an information circular to its members that describes any special characteristics and risks of trading the Equity Investment Tracking Stock, and Nasdaq's rules that apply to the Equity Investment Tracking Stock, including the rules that:

(A) require members to use reasonable diligence in regard to the opening and maintenance of every account, to know (and retain) the essential facts concerning every customer and concerning the authority of each person acting on behalf of such customer; and

(B) require members in recommending transactions in the Equity Investment Tracking Stock to have a reasonable basis to believe that: (i) the recommendation is suitable for a customer given reasonable inquiry concerning the customer's investment objectives, financial situation, needs, and any other information known by such members, and (ii) the customer can evaluate the special characteristics, and is able to bear the financial risks, of an investment in the Equity Investment Tracking Stock.

(b) Additional Initial Listing Requirements

(1) The issuer of the Equity Investment Tracking Stock must own (directly or indirectly) at least 50% of both the economic interest and voting power of all of the outstanding classes of common equity securities of the issuer whose equity is tracked by the Equity Investment Tracking Stock.

(2) At the time of listing, the issuer of the equity security tracked by the Equity Investment Tracking Stock must not have received a Staff Delisting Determination with respect to such security and must not have been notified about a deficiency, except with respect to a corporate governance requirement where the issuer of the equity security tracked by the Equity Investment Tracking Stock has received a grace period under Rule 5810(c)(3)(E).

(3) An Equity Investment Tracking Stock is only eligible to be listed on the same tier of Nasdaq (Global Select, Global or Capital) as the equity security it tracks.

(c) Additional Continued Listing Requirements

(1) The following additional continued listing requirements apply to Equity Investment Tracking Stocks:

(A) The Equity Investment Tracking Stock must be listed on the same tier of Nasdaq (Global Select, Global or Capital) as the listed equity security it tracks;

(B) the listed equity security or securities whose value is tracked by the Equity Investment Tracking Stock must remain listed on Nasdaq and not be suspended pending delisting;

(C) the issuer of the Equity Investment Tracking Stock must continue to own (directly or indirectly) at least 50% of the economic interest and the voting power of all of the outstanding classes of common equity of the issuer whose equity is tracked by the Equity Investment Tracking Stock; and

(D) the Equity Investment Tracking Stock must continue to track the performance of the listed equity security or securities that was tracked at the time of initial listing.

(2) If any of the requirements of the paragraph (1) above are not met then Nasdaq will determine whether the Equity Investment Tracking Stock meets any other applicable initial listing standard in place at that time. If the Equity Investment Tracking Stock does not qualify for initial listing at that time under another applicable initial listing standard, Nasdaq will halt trading in the security and issue a Staff Delisting Determination pursuant to Listing Rule 5810(c)(1).

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) above, if the listed equity security or securities whose value is tracked by the Equity Investment Tracking Stock is transferred to a different tier of Nasdaq, the Equity Investment Tracking Stock that tracks such security will be automatically transferred to the same tier of Nasdaq, provided the Equity Investment Tracking Stock meets the applicable listing standards.

(d) Deficiency Proceedings Involving a Listed Equity Security whose Value is Tracked by the Equity Investment Tracking Stock

Rule 5222(c)(1)(B) requires the listed equity security or securities whose value is tracked by the Equity Investment Tracking Stock must remain listed on Nasdaq and not be suspended pending delisting. In order to provide investors in the Equity Investment Tracking Stock with notice about the potential delisting of the listed equity security or securities whose value is tracked by the Equity Investment Tracking Stock and to assure orderly trading in the Equity Investment Tracking Stock, additional disclosure and procedural requirements are placed on the Equity Investment Tracking Stock when a listed equity security whose value is tracked by the Equity Investment Tracking Stock is subject to deficiency procedures, as follows:

(1) If the issuer of the listed equity security whose value is tracked by the Equity Investment Tracking Stock makes a public announcement disclosing receipt of a deficiency notification as required by Rules 5250(b)(2) and 5810(b), the issuer of the Equity Investment Tracking Stock must promptly disclose that fact by making a public announcement either by filing a Form 8-K, where required by SEC rules, or by issuing a press release.

(2) Rule 5810(c)(1) provides that Nasdaq Staff will issue a Staff Delisting Determination to an Equity Investment Tracking Stock if a Staff Delisting Determination has been issued with respect to the security such Equity Investment Tracking Stock tracks. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, if the Staff Delisting Determination issued to the security such Equity Investment Tracking Stock tracks is stayed pursuant to the Rule 5800 Series, the suspension of the Equity Investment Tracking Stock also will be stayed and will remain stayed on the same terms that apply to the security such Equity Investment Tracking Stock tracks.

Adopted June 8, 2017 (SR-NASDAQ-2017-058), operative July 8, 2017.

5225. Listing Requirements for Units (other than Paired Share Units)

(a) The Global Select Market and Global Market

(1) Initial and Continued Listing Requirements

(A) All units shall have at least one equity component. All components of such units shall satisfy the requirements for initial and continued listing on the Global Select Market or Global Market, as applicable, or, in the case of debt components, satisfy the requirements of 5225(a)(1)(B), set forth below.

(B) All debt components of a unit, if any, shall meet the following requirements:

(i) the debt issue must have an aggregate market value or principal amount of at least $5 million;

(ii) the issuer of the debt security must have equity securities listed on the Nasdaq Global Market; and

(iii) in the case of convertible debt, the equity into which the debt is convertible must itself be subject to real-time last sale reporting in the United States, and the convertible debt must not contain a provision which gives the company the right, at its discretion, to reduce the conversion price for periods of time or from time to time unless the company establishes a minimum period of ten business days within which such price reduction will be in effect.

(C) All components of the unit shall be issued by the same issuer. All units and issuers of such units shall comply with the initial and continued listing requirements on the Global Select Market or Global Market, as applicable.

(2) Minimum Listing Period and Notice of Withdrawal

In the case of units, the minimum listing period of the units shall be 30 days from the first day of listing, except the period may be shortened if the units are suspended or withdrawn for regulatory purposes. Companies and underwriters seeking to withdraw units from listing must provide Nasdaq with notice of such intent at least 15 days prior to withdrawal.

(3) Disclosure Requirements for Units

Each Nasdaq Global Market issuer of units shall include in its prospectus or other offering document used in connection with any offering of securities that is required to be filed with the Commission under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder a statement regarding any intention to delist the units immediately after the minimum inclusion period. The issuer of a unit shall further provide information regarding the terms and conditions of the components of the unit (including information with respect to any original issue discount or other significant tax attributes of any component) and the ratio of the components comprising the unit. A Company shall also disclose when a component of the unit is separately listed on Nasdaq. These disclosures shall be made on the Company's website, or if it does not maintain a website, in its annual report provided to unit holders. A Company shall also immediately make a public announcement by filing a Form 8-K, where required by SEC rules, or by issuing a press release disclosing, any change in the terms of the unit, such as changes to the terms and conditions of any of the components (including changes with respect to any original issue discount or other significant tax attributes of any component), or to the ratio of the components within the unit. Such public announcement shall be made as soon as practicable in relation to the effective date of the change.

(4) Market Makers

(A) For initial inclusion, a unit shall have at least three registered and active Market Makers.

(B) For continued listing, a unit shall have at least two registered and active Market Makers, one of which may be a Market Maker entering a stabilizing bid.

(b) The Capital Market

(1) Units Issued by a Domestic or Canadian Company

(A) In the case of units, all component parts shall meet the requirements for initial and continued listing.

(B) In the case of units, the minimum period for listing of the units shall be 30 days from the first day of listing, except the period may be shortened if the units are suspended or withdrawn for regulatory purposes. Companies and underwriters seeking to withdraw units from listing must provide Nasdaq with notice of such intent at least 15 days prior to withdrawal.

(C) The issuer of units shall include in its prospectus or other offering document used in connection with any offering of securities that is required to be filed with the Commission under the federal securities law and the rules and regulations thereunder a statement regarding any intention to delist the units immediately after the minimum listing period.

(2) In the case of units issued by a non-Canadian foreign Company, all component parts shall meet the requirements for initial and continued listing.

(3) Market Makers

(A) For initial inclusion, a unit shall have at least three registered and active Market Makers.

(B) For continued listing, a unit shall have at least two registered and active Market Makers, one of which may be a Market Maker entering a stabilizing bid.

Adopted March 12, 2009 (SR-NASDAQ-2009-018); amended Mar. 15, 2010 (SR-NASDAQ-2010-006); amended May 30, 2018 (SR-NASDAQ-2018-041).

5226. Paired Share Units

A "Paired Share Unit" is a security consisting of a share of the common stock of a Company (the "Parent") and a share of the common stock of that Company's controlled subsidiary, which: (1) are attached together; and (2) only can be traded together as a unit pursuant to a pairing agreement. Instead of the requirements in Rule 5225 (except as indicated below), a Paired Share Unit can list on the Nasdaq Global or Global Select Markets if it meets the following requirements:

(a) For initial and continued listing, the controlled subsidiary must be a real estate investment trust (the "REIT") and the Parent must maintain ownership control, including voting control, over the REIT.

(b) For initial listing, the Parent and the REIT must each separately satisfy the entity-level requirements of Rule 5315(f)(3) or Rule 5405(b) (e.g., the stockholders' equity, income, market capitalization, assets, revenue and operating history requirements), as applicable, and the Paired Share Unit must satisfy the security-level requirements of Rule 5315 or Rule 5405 (e.g., the price, Unrestricted Publicly Held Shares, Round Lot Holders, Market Value of Unrestricted Publicly Held Shares, average daily trading volume and Market Maker requirements), as applicable.

(c) For continued listing, the Parent and the REIT must each separately satisfy the applicable entity-level requirements of Rule 5450(b) and the Paired Share Unit must satisfy the applicable security-level requirements of Rules 5450(a) and 5450(b).

(d) For initial and continued listing, the Parent and the REIT must each separately satisfy all other requirements of the listing rules applicable to a Company listing its primary equity security, including, without limitation, the corporate governance requirements in the Rule 5600 Series.

(e) For initial and continued listing, the common stock of the Parent, the common stock of the REIT and the Paired Share Unit must each be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

(f) For initial and continued listing, the common stock of the Parent and the common stock of the REIT, as attached and traded together in the Paired Share Unit, must be the only securities of each of the Parent and the REIT available to public investors.

(g) The provisions of Rules 5225(a)(2) and 5225(a)(3) are applicable to Paired Share Units.

(h) In the event the common stock of the REIT becomes separately tradable from the common stock of the Parent, Nasdaq will immediately issue a Staff Delisting Determination for the Paired Share Unit pursuant to Listing Rule 5810(c)(1), and each of the Parent and the REIT must apply, and each of the Parent and the REIT, and their respective securities, must separately qualify for initial listing to remain listed on Nasdaq.

Adopted May 30, 2018 (SR-NASDAQ-2018-041); amended July 5, 2019 (SR-NASDAQ-2019-009), operative Aug. 4, 2019.

5250. Obligations for Companies Listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market

(a) Obligation to Provide Information to Nasdaq

(1) Nasdaq may request any additional information or documentation, public or non-public, deemed necessary to make a determination regarding a Company's continued listing, including, but not limited to, any material provided to or received from the Commission or Other Regulatory Authority. A Company may be denied continued listing if it fails to provide such information within a reasonable period of time or if any communication to Nasdaq contains a material misrepresentation or omits material information necessary to make the communication to Nasdaq not misleading. The Company shall provide full and prompt responses to requests by Nasdaq or by FINRA acting on behalf of Nasdaq for information related to unusual market activity or to events that may have a material impact on trading of its securities in Nasdaq.

(2) As set forth in Rule 5625, a Company must provide Nasdaq with prompt notification after an Executive Officer of the Company becomes aware of any noncompliance by the Company with the requirements of the Rule 5600 Series.

(b) Obligation to Make Public Disclosure

(1) Disclosure of Material Information

Except in unusual circumstances, a Nasdaq-listed Company shall make prompt disclosure to the public through any Regulation FD compliant method (or combination of methods) of disclosure of any material information that would reasonably be expected to affect the value of its securities or influence investors' decisions. The Company shall, prior to the release of the information, provide notice of such disclosure to Nasdaq's MarketWatch Department at least ten minutes prior to public announcement if the information involves any of the events set forth in IM-5250-1 and the public release of the material information is made between 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m ET. If the public release of the material information is made outside the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m ET, Nasdaq Companies must notify MarketWatch of the material information prior to 6:50 a.m. ET. As described in IM-5250-1, prior notice to the MarketWatch Department must be made 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. For disclosure and notification requirements related to reverse stock splits, please refer to subparagraph (4) below and Rule 5250(e)(7).

(2) Disclosure of Notification of Deficiency

As set forth in Rule 5810(b) and IM-5810-1, a Company that receives a notification of deficiency from Nasdaq is required to make a public announcement by filing a Form 8-K, where required by SEC rules, or by issuing a press release 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 in reaching its determination that the Company does not meet the listing standard. However, note that in the case of a deficiency related 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. As described in Rule 5250(b)(1) and IM-5250-1, the Company must notify Nasdaq's 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 between 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m, the Company must notify MarketWatch at least ten minutes prior to the announcement. If the public announcement is made outside 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m, the Company must notify MarketWatch of the announcement prior to 6:50 a.m. ET.

(3) Disclosure of Third Party Director and Nominee Compensation

Companies must disclose all agreements and arrangements in accordance with this rule by no later than the date on which the Company files or furnishes a proxy or information statement subject to Regulation 14A or 14C under the Act in connection with the Company's next shareholders' meeting at which directors are elected (or, if they do not file proxy or information statements, no later than when the Company files its next Form 10-K or Form 20-F).

(A) A Company shall disclose either on or through the Company's website or in the proxy or information statement for the next shareholders' meeting at which directors are elected (or, if the Company does not file proxy or information statements, in its Form 10-K or 20-F), the material terms of all agreements and arrangements between any director or nominee for director, and any person or entity other than the Company (the "Third Party"), relating to compensation or other payment in connection with such person's candidacy or service as a director of the Company. A Company need not disclose pursuant to this rule agreements and arrangements that: (i) relate only to reimbursement of expenses in connection with candidacy as a director; (ii) existed prior to the nominee's candidacy (including as an employee of the other person or entity) and the nominee's relationship with the Third Party has been publicly disclosed in a proxy or information statement or annual report (such as in the director or nominee's biography); or (iii) have been disclosed under Item 5(b) of Schedule 14A of the Act or Item 5.02(d)(2) of Form 8-K in the current fiscal year. Disclosure pursuant to Commission rule shall not relieve a Company of its annual obligation to make disclosure under subparagraph (B).

(B) A Company must make the disclosure required in subparagraph (A) at least annually until the earlier of the resignation of the director or one year following the termination of the agreement or arrangement.

(C) If a Company discovers an agreement or arrangement that should have been disclosed pursuant to subparagraph (A) but was not, the Company must promptly make the required disclosure by filing a Form 8-K or 6-K, where required by SEC rules, or by issuing a press release. Remedial disclosure under this subparagraph, regardless of its timing, does not satisfy the annual disclosure requirements under subparagraph (B).

(D) A Company shall not be considered deficient with respect to this paragraph for purposes of Rule 5810 if the Company has undertaken reasonable efforts to identify all such agreements or arrangements, including asking each director or nominee in a manner designed to allow timely disclosure, and makes the disclosure required by subparagraph (C) promptly upon discovery of the agreement or arrangement. In all other cases, the Company must submit a plan sufficient to satisfy Nasdaq staff that the Company has adopted processes and procedures designed to identify and disclose relevant agreements or arrangements.

(E) A Foreign Private Issuer may follow its home country practice in lieu of the requirements of Rule 5250(b)(3) by utilizing the process described in Rule 5615(a)(3).

(4) Disclosure of Reverse Stock Split

A Company must make disclosure to the public through any Regulation FD compliant method (or combination of methods) about a reverse stock split no later than 12:00 p.m. ET at least two (2) business days prior to the proposed market effective date.  The Company shall, prior to the release of this information, provide notice of such disclosure to Nasdaq's MarketWatch Department, at least ten minutes prior to public announcement if the public release of the material information is made between 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m ET. If the public release of this information is made outside the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m ET, Nasdaq Companies must notify MarketWatch of the material information prior to 6:50 a.m. ET.  The prior notice of this disclosure must be made to the MarketWatch Department through the electronic disclosure submission system available at www.nasdaq.net, except in emergency situations, as described in IM-5250-1, when notification may instead be provided by telephone or facsimile.  

(c) Obligation to File Periodic Financial Reports

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

(2) Foreign Private Issuer Interim Reports

Each Foreign Private Issuer shall submit on a Form 6-K an interim balance sheet and income statement as of the end of its second quarter. This information, which must be presented in English, but does not have to be reconciled to U.S. GAAP, must be provided no later than six months following the end of the Company's second quarter. In the case of a Foreign Private Issuer that is a limited partnership, such information shall be distributed to limited partners if required by statute or regulation in the jurisdiction in which the limited partnership is formed or doing business or by the terms of the partnership's limited partnership agreement.

(3) Auditor Registration

Each listed Company shall be audited by an independent public accountant that is registered as a public accounting firm with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, as provided for in Section 102 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 [15 U.S.C. 7212].

(d) Distribution of Annual and Interim Reports

(1) Distribution of Annual Reports

Each Company (including a limited partnership) shall make available to Shareholders an annual report containing audited financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries (which, for example, may be on Form 10-K, 20-F, 40-F or N-CSR) within a reasonable period of time following the filing of the annual report with the Commission. A Company may comply with this requirement either:

(A) by mailing the report to Shareholders;

(B) by satisfying the requirements for furnishing an annual report contained in Rule 14a-16 under the Act; or

(C) by posting the annual report to Shareholders on or through the Company's website (or, in the case of a Company that is an investment company that does not maintain its own website, on a website that the Company is allowed to use to satisfy the website posting requirement in Rule 16a-3(k) under the Act), along with a prominent undertaking in the English language to provide Shareholders, upon request, a hard copy of the Company's annual report free of charge. A Company that chooses to satisfy this requirement pursuant to this paragraph (C) must, simultaneous with this posting, issue a press release stating that its annual report has been filed with the Commission (or Other Regulatory Authority). This press release shall also state that the annual report is available on the Company's website and include the website address and that Shareholders may receive a hard copy free of charge upon request. A Company must provide such hard copies within a reasonable period of time following the request.

(2) Distribution of Interim Reports

Nasdaq Companies that distribute interim reports to Shareholders should distribute such reports to both registered and beneficial Shareholders. Nasdaq Companies are also encouraged to consider additional technological methods to communicate such information to Shareholders in a timely and less costly manner as such technology becomes available.

(3) Access to Quarterly Reports

(A) Each Company that is not a limited partnership (limited partnerships are governed by paragraph (B) below) and is subject to Rule 13a-13 under the Act shall make available copies of quarterly reports including statements of operating results to Shareholders either prior to or as soon as practicable following the Company's filing of its Form 10-Q with the Commission. If the form of such quarterly report differs from the Form 10-Q, the Company shall file one copy of the report with Nasdaq in addition to filing its Form 10-Q pursuant to Rule 5250(c)(1). The statement of operations contained in quarterly reports shall disclose, at a minimum, any substantial items of an unusual or non-recurrent nature and net income before and after estimated federal income taxes or net income and the amount of estimated federal taxes.

(B) Each Company that is limited partnership and is subject to Rule 13a-13 under the Act shall make available copies of quarterly reports including statements of operating results to limited partners either prior to or as soon as practicable following the partnership's filing of its Form 10-Q with the Commission. Such reports shall be distributed to limited partners if required by statute or regulation in the state in which the limited partnership is formed or doing business or by the terms of the partnership's limited partnership agreement. If the form of such quarterly report differs from the Form 10-Q, the Company shall file one copy of the report with Nasdaq in addition to filing its Form 10-Q pursuant to Rule 5250(c)(1). The statement of operations contained in quarterly reports shall disclose, at a minimum, any substantial items of an unusual or non-recurrent nature and net income before and after estimated federal income taxes or net income and the amount of estimated federal taxes.

(4) Access to Interim Reports

(A) Each Company that is not a limited partnership and is not subject to Rule 13a-13 under the Act and that is required to file with the Commission, or Other Regulatory Authority, interim reports relating primarily to operations and financial position, shall make available to Shareholders reports which reflect the information contained in those interim reports. Such reports shall be made available to Shareholders either before or as soon as practicable following filing with the appropriate regulatory authority. If the form of the interim report provided to Shareholders differs from that filed with the regulatory authority, the Company shall file one copy of the report to Shareholders with Nasdaq in addition to the report to the regulatory authority that is filed with Nasdaq pursuant to Rule 5250(c)(1).

(B) Each Company that is a limited partnership that is not subject to Rule 13a-13 under the Act and is required to file with the Commission, or Other Regulatory Authority, interim reports relating primarily to operations and financial position, shall make available to limited partners reports which reflect the information contained in those interim reports. Such reports shall be distributed to limited partners if required by statue or regulation in the state in which the limited partnership is formed or doing business or by the terms of the partnership's limited partnership agreement. Such reports shall be distributed to limited partners either before or as soon as practicable following filing with the appropriate regulatory authority. If the form of the interim report provided to limited partners differs from that filed with the regulatory authority, the Company shall file one copy of the report to limited partners with Nasdaq in addition to the report to the regulatory authority that is filed with Nasdaq pursuant to Rule 5250(c)(1).

(5) A Foreign Private Issuer may follow its home country practice in lieu of the requirements of Rule 5250(d)(1), (2), (3) or (4) by utilizing the process described in Rule 5615(a)(3).

(6) The Company shall comply with any obligation of any person regarding filing or disclosure of information material to the Company or the security, whether such obligation arises under the securities laws of the United States or the Company's country of domicile, or other applicable federal or state statutes or rules.

(e) Nasdaq Notification Requirements

Various corporate events resulting in material changes will trigger the requirement for Companies to submit certain forms to Nasdaq as specified below.

All applicable forms can be found at http://www.nasdaq.com/about/listing_information.stm#forms.

(1) Change in Number of Shares Outstanding

The Company shall file, on a form designated by Nasdaq no later than 10 days after the occurrence, any aggregate increase or decrease of any class of securities listed on Nasdaq that exceeds 5% of the amount of securities of the class outstanding.

(2) Listing of Additional Shares

A Company shall be required to notify Nasdaq, except for a Company solely listing American Depositary Receipts, at least 15 calendar days prior to:

(A) (i) establishing or materially amending a stock option plan, purchase plan or other equity compensation arrangement pursuant to which stock may be acquired by officers, directors, employees, or consultants without shareholder approval;

(ii) Nasdaq recognizes that when a Company makes an equity grant to induce an individual to accept employment, as permitted by the exception contained in Rule 5635(c)(4), it may not be practical to provide the advance notice otherwise required by this Rule. Therefore, when a Company relies on that exception to make such an inducement grant without shareholder approval, it is sufficient to notify Nasdaq about the grant and the use of the exception no later than the earlier of: (x) five calendar days after entering into the agreement to issue the securities; or (y) the date of the public announcement of the award required by Rule 5635(c)(4); or

(B) issuing securities that may potentially result in a change of control of the Company; or

(C) issuing any common stock or security convertible into common stock in connection with the acquisition of the stock or assets of another company, if any officer or director or Substantial Shareholder of the Company has a 5% or greater interest (or if such persons collectively have a 10% or greater interest) in the Company to be acquired or in the consideration to be paid; or

(D) issuing any common stock, or any security convertible into common stock in a transaction that may result in the potential issuance of common stock (or securities convertible into common stock) greater than 10% of either the total shares outstanding or the voting power outstanding on a pre-transaction basis.

The notifications required by this paragraph must be made on the Notification Form: Listing of Additional Shares and Nasdaq encourages Companies to file this form as soon as practicable, even if all of the relevant terms are not yet known. Nasdaq reviews these forms to determine compliance with applicable Nasdaq rules, including the shareholder approval requirements. Therefore, if a Company fails to file timely the form required by this paragraph, Nasdaq may issue either a Public Reprimand Letter or a Delisting Determination (pursuant to the Rule 5800 Series).

(3) Record Keeping Change

(A) The Company shall file on a form designated by Nasdaq notification of any change to its name, the par value or title of its security, its symbol, or a similar change, no later than 10 days after the change.

(B) The Company shall also notify Nasdaq promptly in writing of any change in the general character or nature of its business and any change in the address of its principal executive offices.

(C) The Company shall provide at least ten (10) calendar days advance notice to Nasdaq of certain corporate actions relating to non-convertible bonds listed on the Nasdaq Bond Exchange, including redemptions (full or partial calls), tender offers, changes in par value, and changes in identifier (e.g., CUSIP number or symbol), by filing the appropriate form as designated by Nasdaq.

(4) Substitution Listing

The Company shall notify Nasdaq of a Substitution Listing Event (other than a re-incorporation or a change to a Company's place of organization) no later than 15 calendar days prior to the implementation of such event by filing the appropriate form as designated by Nasdaq. For a re-incorporation or change to a Company's place of organization, a Company shall notify Nasdaq as soon as practicable after such event has been implemented by filing the appropriate form as designated by Nasdaq.

(5) Transfer Agent, Registrar, ADR Bank Changes

The issuer of any class of securities listed on Nasdaq, except for American Depositary Receipts, shall notify Nasdaq promptly in writing of any change in the Company's transfer agent or registrar.

(6) Dividend Action or Stock Distribution

In the case of any dividend action or action relating to a stock distribution of a listed stock the Company shall, no later than 10 calendar days prior to the record date of such action:

(i) notify Nasdaq by filing the appropriate form as designated by Nasdaq; and

(ii) provide public notice using a Regulation FD compliant method.

Notice to Nasdaq should be given as soon as possible after declaration and, in any event, no later than simultaneously with the public notice.

(7) Reverse Stock Split

In the case of a reverse stock split, a Company must file a complete Company Event Notification Form no later than 12:00 p.m. ET five (5) business days prior to the proposed market effective date.  The submission must include all information required by the form and a draft of the disclosure required by Rule 5250(b)(4). Nasdaq will not process a reverse stock split unless the requirements set forth in this subparagraph (7) and Rule 5250(b)(4) have been timely satisfied.  If a Company takes legal action to effect a reverse stock split notwithstanding its failure to timely satisfy these requirements, or provides incomplete or inaccurate information about the timing or ratio of the reverse stock split in its public disclosure, Nasdaq will halt the stock in accordance with the procedure set forth in Equity 4, Rule 4120(a)(1). 

(f) Obligation to Pay Fees

The Company is required to pay all applicable fees as described in the Rule 5900 Series.

Adopted March 12, 2009 (SR-NASDAQ-2009-018); amended Apr. 27, 2009 (SR-NASDAQ-2009-040); amended Nov. 5, 2009 (SR-NASDAQ-2009-094), operative Dec. 7, 2009; amended Jan. 15, 2010 (SR-NASDAQ-2010-008); amended Mar. 15, 2010 (SR-NASDAQ-2010-006); amended Mar. 26, 2010 (SR-NASDAQ-2010-041); amended May 14, 2010 (SR-NASDAQ-2010-060), operative June 13, 2010; amended Dec. 3, 2012 (SR-NASDAQ-2012-118); amended Mar. 5, 2013 (SR-NASDAQ-2013-033), operative Mar. 18, 2013; amended Nov. 7, 2014 (SR-NASDAQ-2014-087), operative Jan. 1, 2015; amended July 1, 2016 (SR-NASDAQ-2016-013), operative Aug 1, 2016; amended Nov. 13, 2018 (SR-NASDAQ-2018-070); amended Nov. 13, 2018 (SR-NASDAQ-2018-092); amended Nov. 1, 2023 (SR-NASDAQ-2023-025.

IM-5250-1. Disclosure of Material Information

Rule 5250(b)(1) requires that, except in unusual circumstances, Nasdaq Companies disclose promptly to the public through any Regulation FD compliant method (or combination of methods) of disclosure any material information that would reasonably be expected to affect the value of their securities or influence investors' decisions. Nasdaq Companies must notify Nasdaq at least ten minutes prior to the release to the public of material information that involves any of the events set forth below when the public release of the information is made between 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 pm. ET. If the public release of the material information is made outside of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Nasdaq Companies must notify MarketWatch of the material information prior to 6:50 a.m. ET. Under unusual circumstances Companies may not be required to make public disclosure of material events; for example, where it is possible to maintain confidentiality of those events and immediate public disclosure would prejudice the ability of the Company to pursue its legitimate corporate objectives. However, Nasdaq Companies remain obligated to disclose this information to Nasdaq upon request pursuant to Rule 5250(a).

Whenever unusual market activity takes place in a Nasdaq Company's securities, the Company normally should determine whether there is material information or news which should be disclosed. If rumors or unusual market activity indicate that information on impending developments has become known to the investing public, or if information from a source other than the Company becomes known to the investing public, a clear public announcement may be required as to the state of negotiations or development of Company plans. Such an announcement may be required, even though the Company may not have previously been advised of such information or the matter has not yet been presented to the Company's Board of Directors for consideration. In certain circumstances, it may also be appropriate to publicly deny false or inaccurate rumors, which are likely to have, or have had, an effect on the trading in its securities or would likely have an influence on investment decisions.

Notification to Nasdaq MarketWatch Department

Nasdaq Companies must notify Nasdaq's MarketWatch Department prior to the distribution of certain material news at least ten minutes prior to public announcement of the news when the public release of the information is made from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 pm. ET. If the public release of the material information is made outside of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m, Nasdaq Companies must notify MarketWatch of the material information prior to 6:50 a.m. ET. Except in emergency situations, this notification must be made through Nasdaq's electronic disclosure submission system available at www.nasdaq.net. In emergency situations, Companies may instead provide notification by telephone or facsimile. Examples of an emergency situation include: lack of computer or internet access; technical problems on either the Company or Nasdaq system or an incompatibility between those systems; and a material development such that no draft disclosure document exists, but immediate notification to MarketWatch is important based on the material event.

If a Nasdaq Company repeatedly fails to either notify Nasdaq at least ten minutes prior to the distribution of material news from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m or prior to 6:50 a.m. ET for material news distributed outside of market hours, or repeatedly fails to use the electronic disclosure submission system when Nasdaq finds no emergency situation existed, Nasdaq may issue a Public Reprimand Letter (as defined in Rule 5805(j)) or, in extreme cases, a Staff Delisting Determination (as defined in Rule 5805(h)). In determining whether to issue a Public Reprimand Letter, Nasdaq will consider whether the Company has demonstrated a pattern of failures, whether the Company has been contacted concerning previous violations, and whether the Company has taken steps to assure that future violations will not occur.

Trading Halts

A trading halt benefits current and potential Shareholders by halting all trading in any Nasdaq securities until there has been an opportunity for the information to be disseminated to the public. This decreases the possibility of some investors acting on information known only to them. A trading halt provides the public with an opportunity to evaluate the information and consider it in making investment decisions. It also alerts the marketplace to the fact that news has been released.

Nasdaq's MarketWatch Department monitors real time trading in all Nasdaq securities during the trading day for price and volume activity. In the event of certain price and volume movements, the MarketWatch Department may contact a Company and its Market Makers in order to ascertain the cause of the unusual market activity. The MarketWatch Department treats the information provided by the Company and other sources in a highly confidential manner, and uses it to assess market activity and assist in maintaining fair and orderly markets. A Nasdaq listing includes an obligation to disclose to the MarketWatch Department information that the Company is not otherwise disclosing to the investing public or the financial community. On, occasion, changes in market activity prior to the Company's release of material information may indicate that the information has become known to the investing public. Changes in market activity also may occur when there is a release of material information by a source other than the Company, such as when a Nasdaq Company is subject to an unsolicited take-over bid by another company. Depending on the nature of the event and the Company's views regarding the business advisability of disclosing the information, the MarketWatch Department may work with the Company to accomplish a timely release of the information. Furthermore, depending on the materiality of the information and the anticipated affect of the information on the price of the Company's securities, the MarketWatch Department may advise the Company that a temporary trading halt is appropriate to allow for full dissemination of the information and to maintain an orderly market. The institution of a temporary trading halt pending the release of information is not a reflection on the value of the securities halted. Such trading halts are instituted, among other reasons, to insure that material information is fairly and adequately disseminated to the investing public and the marketplace, and to provide investors with the opportunity to evaluate the information in making investment decisions. A trading halt normally lasts one half hour but may last longer if a determination is made that news has not been adequately disseminated or that the original or an additional basis under Rule 4120 exists for continuing the trading halt.

The MarketWatch Department is required to keep non-public information, confidential and to use such information only for regulatory purposes.

Companies are required to notify the MarketWatch Department of the release of material information included in the following list of events at least ten minutes prior to the release of such information to the public when the public release of the information is made from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 pm. ET. If the public release of the material information is made outside of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m, Nasdaq Companies must notify MarketWatch of the material information prior to 6:50 a.m. ET. It should also be noted that every development that might be reported to Nasdaq in these areas would not necessarily be deemed to warrant a trading halt. In addition to the following list of events, Nasdaq encourages Companies to avail themselves of the opportunity for advance notification to the MarketWatch Department in situations where they believe, based upon their knowledge of the significance of the information, that a temporary trading halt may be necessary or appropriate.

(a) Financial-related disclosures, including quarterly or yearly earnings, earnings restatements, pre-announcements or "guidance."

(b) Corporate reorganizations and acquisitions, including mergers, tender offers, asset transactions and bankruptcies or receiverships.

(c) New products or discoveries, or developments regarding customers or suppliers (e.g., significant developments in clinical or customer trials, and receipt or cancellation of a material contract or order).

(d) Senior management changes of a material nature or a change in control.

(e) Resignation or termination of independent auditors, or withdrawal of a previously issued audit report.

(f) Events regarding the Company's securities — e.g., defaults on senior securities, calls of securities for redemption, repurchase plans, stock splits or changes in dividends, changes to the rights of security holders, or public or private sales of additional securities.

(g) Significant legal or regulatory developments. Regulation FD

(h) Any event requiring the filing of a Form 8-K.

Whenever Nasdaq halts trading in a security of a listed company for any of the reasons set forth above or implements any other regulatory trading halt, Nasdaq will also halt trading in any listed Equity Investment Tracking Stock that tracks the performance of such listed company and any Subscription Receipt that is exchangeable into that security.

Use of Regulation FD Compliant Methods in the Disclosure of Material Information

Regardless of the method of disclosure that a Company chooses to use, Companies are required to notify the MarketWatch Department of the release of material information that involves any of the events set forth above at least ten minutes prior to its release to the public when the public release of the information is made from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 pm. ET. If the public release of the material information is made outside of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m, Nasdaq Companies must notify MarketWatch of the material information prior to 6:50 a.m. ET. When a Company chooses to utilize a Regulation FD compliant method for disclosure other than a press release or Form 8-K, the Company will be required to provide prior notice to the MarketWatch Department of: 1) the press release announcing the logistics of the future disclosure event; and 2) a descriptive summary of the material information to be announced during the disclosure event if the press release does not contain such a summary.

Depending on the materiality of the information and the anticipated effect of the information on the price of the Company's securities, the MarketWatch Department may advise the Company that a temporary trading halt is appropriate to allow for full dissemination of the information and to maintain an orderly market. The MarketWatch Department will assess with Companies using methods of disclosure other than a press release or Form 8-K the timing within the disclosure event when the Company will cover the material information so that the halt can be commenced accordingly. Companies will be responsible for promptly alerting the MarketWatch Department of any significant changes to the previously outlined disclosure timeline. Companies are reminded that the posting of information on the company's website may not by itself be considered a sufficient method of public disclosure under Regulation FD and SEC guidance and releases thereunder, and as a result, under Nasdaq rules.

Adopted March 12, 2009 (SR-NASDAQ-2009-018); amended Nov. 5, 2009 (SR-NASDAQ-2009-094), operative Dec. 7, 2009; amended Jan. 15, 2010 (SR-NASDAQ-2010-008); amended Mar. 5, 2013 (SR-NASDAQ-2013-033), operative Mar. 18, 2013; amended June 8, 2017 (SR-NASDAQ-2017-058), operative July 8, 2017; amended Aug. 3, 2018 (SR-NASDAQ-2018-059), operative Sept. 3, 2018.

IM-5250-2. Disclosure of Third Party Director and Nominee Compensation

Rule 5250(b)(3) requires listed companies to publicly disclose the material terms of all agreements and arrangements between any director or nominee and any person or entity (other than the Company) relating to compensation or other payment in connection with that person's candidacy or service as a director. The terms "compensation" and "other payment" as used in this rule are not limited to cash payments and are intended to be construed broadly.

Subject to exceptions provided in the rule, the disclosure must be made on or through the Company's website or in the proxy or information statement for the next shareholders' meeting at which directors are elected in order to provide shareholders with information and sufficient time to help them make meaningful voting decisions. A Company posting the requisite disclosure on or through its website must make it publicly available no later than the date on which the Company files a proxy or information statement in connection with such shareholders' meeting (or, if they do not file proxy or information statements, no later than when the Company files its next Form 10-K or Form 20-F). Disclosure made available on the Company's website or through it by hyperlinking to another website, must be continuously accessible. If the website hosting the disclosure subsequently becomes inaccessible or that hyperlink inoperable, the company must promptly restore it or make other disclosure in accordance with this rule.

Rule 5250(b)(3) does not separately require the initial disclosure of newly entered into agreements or arrangements, provided that disclosure is made pursuant to this rule for the next shareholders' meeting at which directors are elected. In addition, for publicly disclosed agreements and arrangements that existed prior to the nominee's candidacy and thus not required to be disclosed in accordance with Rule 5250(b)(3)(A)(ii) but where the director or nominee's remuneration is thereafter materially increased specifically in connection with such person's candidacy or service as a director of the Company, only the difference between the new and previous level of compensation or other payment obligation needs be disclosed.

All references in this rule to proxy or information statements are to the definitive versions thereof.

Adopted July 1, 2016 (SR-NASDAQ-2016-013), operative Aug. 1, 2016.

IM-5250-3. Notification and Disclosure of Reverse Stock Splits

A Company conducting a reverse stock split is required to notify Nasdaq of the reverse stock split no later than 12:00 p.m. ET at least five (5) business days prior to the proposed market effective date of the split, in accordance with Rule 5250(e)(7). The Company is also required to provide Nasdaq with a copy of their draft public disclosure within the same time frame. Further, the Company must provide, in accordance with Rule 5250(b)(4), public disclosure of the reverse split no later than 12 p.m. ET at least two (2) business days prior to the proposed market effective date of the reverse stock split, and notice of such disclosure to Nasdaq's MarketWatch Department, at least ten minutes prior to public announcement if the public release of the material information is made between 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m ET. If the public release of this information is made outside the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m ET, Nasdaq Companies must notify MarketWatch of the material information prior to 6:50 a.m. ET. The prior notice of this disclosure must be made to the MarketWatch Department through the electronic disclosure submission system available at www.nasdaq.net, except in emergency situations, as described in IM-5250-1, when notification may instead be provided by telephone or facsimile.

Nasdaq will not process the reverse split until the above requirements have been satisfied, and will halt trading in accordance with the procedure set forth in Equity 4, Rule 4120(a)(1) in the security of any issuer that effects a reverse stock split without meeting the requirements set forth in Rules 5250(b)(4) and (e)(7).

Adopted Nov. 1, 2023 (SR-NASDAQ-2023-025); amended Mar. 1, 2024 (SR-NASDAQ-2024-010).

5255. Direct Registration Program

(a) Except as indicated in paragraph (c) below, all securities listed on Nasdaq (except securities which are book-entry only) must be eligible for a Direct Registration Program operated by a clearing agency registered under Section 17A of the Act.

(b) If a Company establishes or maintains a Direct Registration Program for its Shareholders, the Company shall, directly or through its transfer agent, participate in an electronic link with a clearing agency registered under Section 17A of the Act to facilitate the electronic transfer of securities held pursuant to such program.

(c) Exemption

A foreign issuer, as defined under Rule 3b-4 under the Act, including a Foreign Private Issuer, shall not be subject to this requirement if it submits to Nasdaq a written statement from an independent counsel in such Company's home country certifying that a law or regulation in the home country prohibits compliance.

Adopted March 12, 2009 (SR-NASDAQ-2009-018); amended April 27, 2009 (SR-NASDAQ-2009-040); amended Nov. 7, 2012 (SR-NASDAQ-2012-128).

 
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