UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 22, 2023
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||
| of incorporation) | ||||||||||||||
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(619 ) 400-1170
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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The Nasdaq Capital Market | ||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Emerging Growth Company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 3.01 Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.
On November 22, 2023, GRI Bio, Inc. (the “Company”) received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department (the “Staff”) of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company that it is not in compliance with the minimum stockholders’ equity requirement for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Notice”) based on the information provided in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) requires that companies listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market with a market value of listed securities of less than $35,000,000 and annual net income of less than $500,000 maintain stockholders’ equity of at least $2,500,000 (the “Stockholders’ Equity Requirement”).
In accordance with Nasdaq rules, the Company was provided 45 calendar days, or until January 6, 2024, to submit a plan to regain compliance with the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement (the “Compliance Plan”). If the Compliance Plan is determined to be acceptable to the Staff, the Staff would have the discretion to grant the Company an extension of 180 calendar days from the date of the Notice to regain compliance with the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement. There can be no assurance that the Compliance Plan will be accepted or that, if it is, the Company will be able to regain compliance. The Notice has no immediate effect on the Company’s continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market, subject to the Company’s compliance with other continued listing requirements. If the Staff does not accept the Compliance Plan, the Staff will provide written notification to the Company that the Compliance Plan has been rejected and that the Company’s common stock is subject to delisting. At that time, the Company may appeal the Staff’s determination to a Nasdaq Hearing Panel.
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this communication may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including statements containing the words “predicts,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “goal,” “target,” “estimate,” “potential,” “may,” “might,” “could,” “see,” “seek,” “forecast” and similar words. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current plans and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties which are, in many instances, beyond the Company’s control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in or contemplated or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the Company’s ability to regain or maintain compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, timely file it's Compliance Plan in accordance with Nasdaq rules and submit a Compliance Plan that is acceptable to the Staff, the potential delisting of the Company’s common stock from The Nasdaq Capital Market due to its failure to comply with the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement and the other risks, uncertainties and factors detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and subsequent filings with the SEC. As a result of such risks, uncertainties and factors, the Company’s actual results may differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements discussed in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. The Company is providing the information in this communication as of this date and assumes no obligations to update the information included in this communication or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Date: November 24, 2023 | GRI BIO, INC. | ||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Leanne Kelly | ||||||||||
| Name: | Leanne Kelly | ||||||||||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||||