Onconetix faces Nasdaq compliance hurdles, seeks reverse stock split

Published 03/09/2024, 20:22
Onconetix faces Nasdaq compliance hurdles, seeks reverse stock split

Onconetix, Inc. (NASDAQ:ONCO), a pharmaceutical company, has recently encountered significant compliance challenges with Nasdaq's listing standards. On Monday, the company disclosed in a regulatory filing that it received a letter from Nasdaq on July 30, 2024, indicating its acquisition of Proteomedix AG resulted in a "Change of Control" as per Nasdaq Listing Rule 5110(a). Consequently, Onconetix must now meet all initial listing criteria, including a minimum $4.00 share price, before it can proceed with any material changes that would trigger a change of control.

In light of these developments, Onconetix has proposed a reverse stock split to its stockholders, aiming to increase the per-share trading price of its common stock. The proposed amendment would enable the board of directors to effect a reverse stock split at a ratio between 1-for-30 and 1-for-60, at the board's discretion, following stockholder approval. The company plans to address this proposal at its annual meeting scheduled for Thursday.

Previously, Onconetix was notified of non-compliance with the Nasdaq Minimum Bid Price Rule, which requires a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share. The company was granted an extension until September 16, 2024, to regain compliance.

Additionally, Onconetix must address a shortfall in stockholders' equity to meet the Minimum Stockholders' Equity Requirement, with an extension granted until November 4, 2024, to rectify this issue.

Failure to meet these requirements could result in the delisting of Onconetix's common stock from Nasdaq, which would likely lead to trading on an over-the-counter market. This potential outcome could diminish investor interest, analyst coverage, and access to capital, severely impacting the company's liquidity and ability to raise funds.

In other recent news, Onconetix, a biotechnology firm, has reported several significant developments. The company has reduced the exercise price of certain existing warrants to $0.15 per share, with the expectation of raising approximately $1.11 million in gross proceeds.

The funds will be allocated towards working capital and general corporate purposes. Additionally, Onconetix plans to issue new unregistered warrants for up to 22,375,926 shares of common stock at the same reduced price, pending stockholder approval.

In parallel, Onconetix has announced major changes in its executive team. Bruce Harmon, the former CFO, has departed the company and Karina M. Fedasz has been appointed as the interim CFO. Fedasz brings over two decades of experience in financial management and strategic planning.

The company has also engaged CFO Squad LLC for certain accounting services. These are recent developments that reflect the ongoing evolution of Onconetix.

InvestingPro Insights

In the context of Onconetix's current compliance challenges with Nasdaq's listing standards, real-time data and insights from InvestingPro could provide investors with a clearer picture of the company's financial health. As of the last twelve months leading up to Q2 2024, Onconetix's market capitalization stands at a mere $4.04 million, reflecting the company's significant decrease in valuation. This is further compounded by a negative gross profit margin of -57.21%, indicating that the company spends more to produce its goods than it earns from their sale. Additionally, the company's stock has experienced a substantial one-year price total return of -82.18%, highlighting the steep decline in investor confidence and market valuation.

Two InvestingPro Tips that are particularly relevant to Onconetix's situation include the company's significant debt burden and its quick cash burn rate. These factors critically impact Onconetix's ability to meet Nasdaq's initial listing criteria and could influence the decision-making of potential investors. It's worth noting that there are 11 additional InvestingPro Tips available for Onconetix, which can be found at https://www.investing.com/pro/ONCO. These tips provide deeper insights into the company's financial position and market performance, which could be essential for investors considering the implications of the proposed reverse stock split and the company's efforts to comply with Nasdaq's requirements.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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