FORT COLLINS, Colo., April 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Statera Biopharma (NASDAQ:STAB) (the “Company”), a biopharmaceutical company creating next-generation immune therapies that focus on immune restoration and homeostasis, today announced the Company received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) on April 19, 2022 indicating that, because the Company has not yet filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the “Form 10-K”), the Company does not comply with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) for continued listing.
On March 31, 2022, the Company filed a Form 12b-25 Notification of Late Filing (the “Form 12b-25”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and issued a press release announcing, among other things, that the Company was unable to file its Form 10-K within the prescribed time period. The Company indicated that it was unable to complete its financial statements for the full year 2021 due to a delay experienced in completing its financial statements and other disclosures in the Annual Report.
As previously disclosed, Nasdaq granted an exception giving the Company a new deadline of April 15, 2022 to file its Form 10-K.
As a result of this additional delinquency, the Company must submit to Nasdaq a plan to regain compliance by June 20, 2022. If the plan is accepted by Nasdaq, the Company must implement the plan to regain compliance by the date that is 180 days after the due date of the Form 10-K or October 17, 2022. The Company intends to submit a timely plan. There is no assurance, however, that the Company’s plan will be accepted by Nasdaq nor that the Company will successfully implement its plan. If the Company does not regain compliance with the allotted compliance period(s), including any extensions that may be granted by Nasdaq, Nasdaq may provide notice that the Company’s common stock will be subject to delisting.
Further on April 13, 2022, the Company announced it was no longer in compliance with several of the Nasdaq Stock Market’s rules. Details of this non-compliance is set out below.
On March 25, 2022, Randy Saluck and Lea Verny, each a member of the board of directors (the “Board”) of the Company, resigned from their positions as members of Board, effective immediately. At the time of their resignations, Mr. Saluck and Ms. Verny each served on the audit, nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees of the Board.
First, under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(b)(1), a majority of the directors on the Board must be independent directors, as defined under the Nasdaq rules. As of the effective time of the resignations of Mr. Saluck and Ms. Verny, the Board is comprised of one director who is independent under the Nasdaq Listing Rules and two directors who are not independent.
Second, under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(c)(2)(A), the audit committee of the Board must be comprised of at least three independent directors, as defined under the Nasdaq rules. As of the effective time of the resignations of Mr. Saluck and Ms. Verny, the audit committee of the Board is comprised of one director who is independent under the Nasdaq Listing Rules.
Third, under Nasdaq Listing Rules 5605(d)(2)(A) and 5605(d)(5), the compensation committee of the Board must be comprised of at least two independent directors, as defined under the Nasdaq …
