OTCQB Listing, OTCQB Requirements, OTCQB Reporting

The OTC Markets created the OTCQB Venture Market early-stage and developing U.S. and international companies. To be eligible for quotation on the OTCQB Venture Market, companies must be current in their reporting obligations, have a minimum bid price of $0.01 for their shares, may not be in bankruptcy and must undergo an annual verification and management certification process. These standards are designated to provide transparency and improve the information and trading experience for investors.

The OTC Markets OTCQB Standards for quotation consist of certain regulations adopted by OTC Markets Group to prescribe the rights, privileges and obligations of companies with securities quoted on the OTCQB market. The OTCQB Standards outline for companies and investors the standards that a company must meet to be eligible to be traded on the OTCQB market and describe the initial and ongoing disclosure OTCQB companies must provide to the investing public.

1.   OTCQB Eligibility Standards

To be considered for quotation on the OTC Markets OTCQB, a company must meet all of the following requirements:

• The issuer must provide Audited Financials.  Audited annual financial statements must be prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP or, for International Reporting Companies or Alternative Reporting Companies listed on a Qualified Foreign Exchange, IFRS or an IFRS equivalent, as applicable, containing an audit opinion that is not adverse, disclaimed, or qualified.
• Audits must be conducted by an auditor registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). International Reporting Companies and Regulation A Reporting Companies are exempt from the PCAOB requirement.

Note for Regulation A+ Reporting Companies: The exemption from PCAOB requirements covers initial eligibility only. Subsequent annual financial statements must be Audited by a firm registered with the PCAOB.

• The issuer must provide Current Disclosure. Pursuant to one of the following reporting standards:

1. SEC Reporting Standards: The reporting standard for a Company subject to the reporting obligations under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
2. Regulation A+ Standards: The reporting standard for a Company subject to the reporting obligations under Tier 2 of Regulation A under the Securities Act.
3. Bank Reporting Standard: The reporting standard for a U.S. bank, U.S. bank holding company, U.S. thrift, U.S. thrift holding company or U.S. financial institution that is required to file period reports with its applicable Bank Regulator.
4. International Reporting Standard: The reporting standard for an International Company that is current and fully compliant with the disclosure requirements of Exchange Act Rule 12g3-2(b) and is listed on a Qualified Foreign Exchange.
5. Alternative Reporting Standard: The reporting standard for a Company incorporated in the U.S. that is not an SEC Reporting Company, Bank Reporting Company, Regulation A Reporting Company or International Reporting Company, and that makes disclosure available through the OTC Disclosure & News Service pursuant to the OTCQX and OTCQB Disclosure Guidelines.

• The Issuer’s Shares must have a Bid Price of at least $0.01. The issuer’s shares must have published by a Market Maker in OTC Link ATS with a closing bid price of at least $0.01 (a) for each of the 30 calendar days immediately preceding the Company’s application for OTCQB and (b) as of the date OTC Markets Group approves its application to join the OTCQB market.

If there has been no prior public market for the Company’s securities in the U.S. and FINRA has recently approved a Form 211 relating to the Company’s securities with a bid price equal or greater to $0.01 or the Company’s securities are traded on a Qualified Foreign Exchange at a price equal to or greater than $0.01, then the Company may apply in writing to OTC Markets Group for an exemption from Section 1.1(3)(a) of these OTCQB Standards, which exemption may be granted by OTC Markets Group in its sole and absolute discretion and subject to FINRA approval of the Form 211. The bid price for such Company’s securities must remain over $0.01 for each of the 30 calendar days immediately subsequent to the Company being first quoted on the OTCQB market. For the purposes of the Rule (a) Qualified foreign Exchange is:

1. There must be at least 50 Beneficial Shareholders, each owning at least 100 shares.

2.  The Issuers must be a freely traded Public Float and must be at least 10% of the total shares issued and outstanding of the class of security to be traded on OTCQB.

A Company applying to OTCQB with a freely traded Public Float above 5% but below 10% of the total shares issued and outstanding, and a market value of Public Float of at least $2 million, or that has a separate class of securities traded on a national exchange, may apply in writing to OTC Markets Group for an exemption from this Section 1.1(5), which exemption may be granted by OTC Markets Group in its sole and absolute discretion.

1. The issuer must not be subject to any Bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings.
2. The issuer must not be duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction in which the Company is organized or does business.
3. A company incorporated in the U.S. or Canada must assign a registered Transfer Agent and authorize such Transfer Agent to provide to OTC Markets Group information related to the Company’s securities, including but not limited to shares authorized, shares issued and outstanding, and share issuance history upon OTC Markets Group’s request.

Corporate Governance (Required for Alternative Reporting Standard Only). Alternative Reporting Companies are required to meet the corporate governance standards outlined below:

1. Have a board of directors that includes at least two Independent Directors.
2. Have an Audit Committee, a majority of the members of which are Independent Directors.

A Company applying to OTCQB may submit a written request, which may be granted by OTC Markets Group in its sole and absolute discretion, to be permitted to phase in its compliance with the corporate governance standards as follows:

1. At least one member of the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee must be independent at the time of application.
2. At least two members of the Board of Directors and a majority of the members of the Audit Committee must satisfy the independence requirement within the later of 90 days after the Company begins trading on OTCQB or the time of the Company’s next shareholder meeting. In any event, the independence requirement must be satisfied within one year of the Company joining OTCQB.

1.2  Application Materials

A company that wishes to be admitted to OTCQB must supply the following:

1. OTCQB Application and Agreement
2. OTCQB Application Fee

A Company’s application for admission to OTCQB will not be deemed complete until all of the OTCQB Application Materials are received by OTC Markets Group. The Company will be sent an email confirmation of OTC Markets Group’s receipt of the OTCQB Application Materials.

1.3  Company’s Initial Disclosure Obligations

Once a Company’s OTCQB Application Materials, including applicable fees, have been received by OTC Markets Group, the Company will be granted access to the OTC Disclosure & News Service so that the Company may file its initial disclosures.

Financial Reporting Requirements:

1. SEC Reporting Companies must have filed all reports required to be filed on EDGAR.
2. Regulation A Reporting Companies must have filed all reports required to be filed on EDGAR.
3. Banks Reporting Companies must have filed, through the OTC Disclosure & News Service, all financial reports required to be filed with their Banking Regulator for the preceding two years, including but not limited to audited financial statements for fiscal year ends, or as long as it has been in existence, if less than two years.
4. International Reporting Companies must have filed, in English, through the OTC Disclosure & News Service, all information, with the exception of news releases, required to be made publicly available pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 12g3-2(b) for the preceding two years, or as long as it has been in existence, if less than two years.
5. Alternative Reporting Companies must have filed, through the OTC Disclosure & News Service, an information statement prepared in accordance with the OTCQX and OTCQB Disclosure Guidelines. If the Company was an SEC Reporting Company immediately prior to joining OTCQB and has a current 10-K or 20-F on file with the SEC, or was a Regulation A Reporting Company immediately prior to joining OTCQB and has a current 1-K on file with the SEC, the Company is not required to file an information statement through the OTC Disclosure & News Service, but subsequent to joining OTCQB must file all annual, quarterly, interim and current reports required pursuant to the OTCQX and OTCQB Disclosure Guidelines.

• Verified Company Profile. The Company must login to otciq.com and verify or update the information needed to ensure its Company Profile is current and complete in order to maintain the “Verified Company Profile” designation publicly displayed on www.otcmarkets.com.
• OTCQB Certification. The Company must file, through the OTC Disclosure & News Service, an OTCQB Certification signed by either the CEO or CFO stating the following:

1. The provision under which the Company is registered with the SEC or the applicable exemption from SEC registration, or that the Company is a bank that is non-SEC reporting.
2. The Company is current in its reporting obligations as of the most recent fiscal year end and any subsequent reporting periods and that such information has been filed either on EDGAR or the OTC Disclosure & News Service, as applicable.
3. The Company Profile displayed on otcmarkets.com is current and complete as of the latest practicable date, and includes the total shares outstanding, authorized, and in the Public Float as of that date.
4. The number of Beneficial Shareholders holding at least 100 shares and the number of shares in the Public Float as of the latest practicable date.
5. The Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of each state or jurisdiction in which the Company is organized or does business.
6. Identify any law firm and attorney(s) that acted as the Company’s primary legal counsel in preparing its most recent annual report. Include the firm and attorney name if outside counsel, or name and title if internal counsel. If no attorney assisted in putting together the disclosure, the Company must identify the person or persons who prepared the disclosure and their relationship to the company.
7. Names and addresses of any third-parties engaged by the Company, its officers, directors or controlling shareholders, during the period from the Company’s prior fiscal year end to the date of this OTCQB Certification, to provide investor relations services, public relations services, or other related services to the Company including promotion of the Company or its securities.
8. List of all officers, directors and control persons (control persons are beneficial owners of more than five percent (5%) of any class of the Company’s equity securities), including name, address and percent of shares owned. If any of the beneficial shareholders are corporate entities, provide the name and address of the person(s) owning or controlling such corporate entities and the resident agents of the corporate entities.

• Letter of Introduction. This letter is required for International Reporting Companies that are not on the OTCQX market immediately prior to applying for OTCQB. This letter is not required for Companies that are SEC Reporting, Regulation A Reporting, This letter is not required for Companies that are SEC Reporting, Regulation A Reporting, Alternative Reporting, or Bank Reporting. A Letter of Introduction must be provided by an OTCQB Sponsor. An OTCQB Sponsor must be a firm already approved to sponsor Companies for the OTCQX market and published on the list found on https://www.otcmarkets.com/research/otcqx-sponsors.

     1.  Content of Letter of Introduction for an International Reporting Company.

Each letter may state that it may be relied upon only by OTC Markets Group for purposes of qualification for trading on OTCQB, but not by any other Person or for any other reason. The OTCQB Letter of Introduction must, in substance, make the following statements:

• Sponsor Qualifications. The firm has been approved by OTC Markets Group to serve as a Sponsor for the OTCQX market and continues to satisfy the standards.
• Qualified Foreign Exchange. Confirm that the securities are currently listed on a Qualified Foreign Exchange and have not been delisted, removed or suspended from the Qualified Foreign Exchange.
• Exchange Act Rule 12g3-2(b) Compliance. Based on available information, the OTCQB Sponsor has a reasonable belief that the Company is in compliance with Exchange Act Rule 12g3-2(b) or, if the Company is not in compliance with Exchange Act Rule 12g3-2(b), the OTCQB Sponsor has a reasonable belief that the Company is not required to register under Exchange Act Section 12(g) and is current and fully compliant with the obligations of a Company relying on the exemption from registration provided by Exchange Act Rule 12g3-2(b).

1.4   OTC Markets Group Review of Application

Upon receipt of the OTCQB Application Materials and required disclosures, OTC Markets Group may:

• Require the Company to confirm, clarify or modify any information contained in the OTCQB Application Materials;
• Require the Company to provide a further undertaking, including the submission of a Personal Information Form for any executive officer, director, or beneficial owner of 5% or more of a class of the Company’s securities, or fulfill a further condition, prior to admission;
• Delay admission pending the completion of further due diligence.
• Request additional verifications from a third party as applicable.
• Refuse the application if it determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that the admission of the Company’s securities for trading on OTCQB would be likely to impair the reputation or integrity of OTC Markets Group or be detrimental to the interests of investors.

OTC Markets Group shall notify the Company if its application for OTCQB is approved. If approved, once OTC Markets Group confirms receipt of the Company’s initial Annual Fee, OTC Markets Group shall:

• Designate the Company’s securities as OTCQB traded securities on OTC Markets Group’s websites, market data products, and broker-dealer platforms.
• Permit the Company to identify itself as an OTCQB Company on its websites and investor relations materials, including news releases.
• Entitle Level 2 Quote Display service for the Company’s securities on OTC Markets Group’s websites and the Company’s corporate websites.

2   Requirements for Continued OTCQB Eligibility

2.1   OTCQB Companies have Ongoing Responsibilities as follows:

• Compliance with Standards. The Company is responsible for compliance with these OTCQB Standards and is solely responsible for the content of the information.
• Compliance with Laws. The Company shall comply with applicable Federal Securities Laws, U.S. state securities laws and, if applicable, the securities laws of its country of domicile, and shall cooperate with any U.S. federal or state securities regulator, any U.S. self-regulatory organization, and, if applicable, securities regulators or self-regulatory organizations in its country of domicile.

• Payment of Fees. The Company shall pay an Annual Fee in respect of each year in which its securities continue to be traded on OTCQB. The Annual Fee is set forth in Section 3.2 of these OTCQB Standards. The Annual Fee is due 30 days prior to the beginning of each new annual service period.
• Responding to OTC Markets Group’s Requests. The Company will respond to inquiries and requests from OTC Markets Group from time to time, including any request by OTC Markets Group to provide a further undertaking or fulfill a further condition.

2.2   OTCQB Companies have Ongoing Disclosure Obligations as follows:

• Financial Reporting Requirements. Audited annual financial statements must be prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP or, for International Reporting Companies or Alternative Reporting Companies listed on a Qualified Foreign Exchange, IFRS or an IFRS equivalent, as applicable, containing an audit opinion that is not adverse, disclaimed, or qualified.

Audits must be conducted by an auditor registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). International Reporting Companies are exempt from the PCAOB requirement.

1. SEC Reporting Companies must file all reports required to be filed on EDGAR.
2. Regulation A Reporting Companies must file all reports required to be filed on EDGAR.
3. Bank Reporting Companies must file, through the OTC Disclosure & News Service, all reports required to be filed with the Company’s Banking Regulator including Call Reports and audited Annual Reports.
4. International Reporting Companies must file, through the OTC Disclosure & News Service, all information, in English, required to be made publicly available pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 12g3-2(b).
5. Alternative Reporting Companies must file, through the OTC Disclosure & News Service, all reports required to be filed pursuant to the OTCQX and OTCQB Disclosure Guidelines, including Quarterly Reports and audited Annual Reports.

• Timeliness of Filings. SEC Reporting Companies and Regulation A Reporting Companies must file annual, semi-annual, quarterly and current reports, as applicable, on EDGAR in accordance with applicable SEC rules and regulations. Bank Reporting Companies are required to file their disclosure through the OTC Disclosure & News Service no later than 90 days after the fiscal year end date and quarterly bank regulatory filings no later than 45 days after each fiscal quarter end. International Reporting Companies must file annual and quarterly financial reports immediately after submission to their Primary Regulator. Alternative Reporting Companies must file their Annual Report no later than 90 days after the fiscal year end and their Quarterly Report no later than 45 days after the fiscal quarter end.
• Notice of Inability to Timely File Reports. If a Company that is not an SEC Reporting Company or a Regulation A Reporting Company fails to post, on a timely basis, any annual, semi-annual, quarterly or interim report within the time frame specified in Section 2.2(2), such Company must file through the OTC Disclosure & News Service, no later than one business day after the due date for such report, a notice containing the following requirements:
  1. The notice must be entitled “Notification of Late Filing”.
  2. The notice must state the name of the Company, the type of report (Annual, Quarterly or Interim) that is or will be late, the reason why the report is or will be late, and the date that the Company expects to file the report.
• Maintain Verified Company Profile. At least once every six months, the Company must login to otciq.com and verify its Company Profile or update its Company Profile with the information needed to ensure the Company Profile is current and complete in order to maintain the “Verified Company Profile” designation on www.otcmarkets.com.
• Compliance with Blue Sky Laws. OTCQB has been recognized for the purposes of many U.S. state securities laws governing registration requirements for secondary market transactions. The initial and ongoing disclosure required by these OTCQB Standards may satisfy the applicable secondary trading exemptions for transactions in OTCQB securities, subject to additional conditions under each state’s applicable regulations.
• Annual OTCQB Certification. The Company must file an annual OTCQB Certification signed by either the CEO or CFO containing the statements required in Section 1.3(3) of these Standards. The annual OTCQB Certification must be filed through the OTC Disclosure & News Service after the Company’s Annual report has been filed but no later than 45 calendar days after the Company’s Annual Report due date.
• Interim Event Disclosure.

1. Timely Disclosure of Material News Releases/Developments – An OTCQB Company is expected to release quickly to the public any news or information which might reasonably be expected to materially affect the market for its securities.
2. An OTCQB Company should act promptly to dispel unfounded rumors which result in unusual market activity or price variations.
3. Stock Promotion – All OTCQB Companies are subject to the OTC Markets Group Stock Promotion Policy, as such policy may be amended from time to time. In the event that OTC Markets Group determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that the Company’s OTCQB securities become the subject of promotional activities that have the effect of encouraging trading, OTC Markets Group may require the Company to provide additional public information regarding shareholdings of officers, directors and control persons, confirmation of shares outstanding, and any issuance of shares in the previous two years. The Company shall file such information through the OTC Disclosure & News Service. OTC Markets Group may also require submission of a Personal Information Form for any executive officer, director, or beneficial owner of 5% or more of a class of the Company’s securities.
4. Reverse Merger or Change of Control – In the event the company undergoes a reverse merger transaction or other change of control, the Company shall file, through the OTC Disclosure & News Service, an interim OTCQB Certification signed by the CEO or CFO as of the effective date of the transaction, which includes the statements required in Section 1.3(3) of these OTCQB Standards. OTC Markets Group may require submission of a Personal Information Form for any executive officer, director, or beneficial owner of 5% or more of a class of the Company’s securities. OTC Markets Group may also determine, in its sole and absolute discretion, that a complete review must be completed, which requires the Company to submit a new OTCQB Application and Agreement and a new OTCQB Application fee.
5. Information required to be released quickly to the public under this section 2.2(7) should be disclosed in a press release or through the OTC Disclosure & News Service or through an Integrated Newswire.

• Timely Disclosure of Material News Releases/Developments.

1. An OTCQB Company is expected to release quickly to the public any news or information which might reasonably be expected to materially affect the market for its securities. This is one of the most important and fundamental purposes of the OTCQB market
2. An OTCQB Company should also act promptly to dispel unfounded rumors which result in unusual market activity or price variations.
3. Information required to be released quickly to the public under this Section 2.2(8) should be disclosed in a press release through the OTC Disclosure & News Service or an Integrated Newswire (or a combination of methods).

2.3   Standards for Continued OTCQB Eligibility

To remain eligible for trading on the OTCQB market, the Company shall meet all the following conditions. A Company is required to notify OTC Markets Group immediately upon learning of an event or circumstance that causes noncompliance with these Standards for Continued Eligibility:

• Current Disclosure. Maintain compliance with the Company’s ongoing disclosure obligations under Section 2.2 of these OTCQB Standards.
• Bid Price. Maintain proprietary priced quotations published by a Market Maker in OTC Link with a minimum closing bid price of $0.01 per share on at least one of the prior thirty consecutive calendar day.
• Beneficial Shareholders. Have at least 50 Beneficial Shareholders, each owning at least 100 shares.
• Public Float. Have a freely traded Public Float of at least 10% of the total shares issued and outstanding of the class of security trading on OTCQB.

Alternatively, a Company with a freely traded Public Float above 5% but below 10% of the total shares issued and outstanding, and a market value of Public Float of at least $2 million, or that has a class of securities traded on a national exchange, may apply in writing to OTC Markets Group for an exemption from this Section 2.3(4), which exemption may be granted by OTC Markets Group in its sole and absolute discretion.

A Company must submit updated Public Float information through OTCIQ in the event there is a material change in its Public Float.

• Not be subject to any Bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings;
• Be duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction in which the Company is organized or does business; and
• Transfer Agent. A Company incorporated in the U.S. or Canada must maintain a registered Transfer Agent. Upon the Company’s appointment of a new Transfer Agent, the Company shall notify OTC Markets Group of the name and current address of such Transfer Agent. The Company shall continue to authorize the Transfer Agent to provide to OTC Markets Group information related to the Company’s securities, including but not limited to shares authorized, shares issued and outstanding, and share issuance history upon OTC Markets Group’s request.
• Corporate Governance Standards. If an Alternative Reporting Company fails to comply with the corporate governance requirements set forth in Section 1.1(7) of these OTCQB Standards, the Company shall:
  1. Notify OTC Markets Group immediately upon learning of the event or circumstance that caused the noncompliance; and
  2. Regain compliance with the requirement by the earlier of its next annual shareholders meeting or the date that is one year from the occurrence of the event that caused the noncompliance.

2.4   Procedures for Change in Control Events

• Notification. The Company is responsible for notifying OTC Markets Group upon the completion of transactions resulting in a Change in Control Event.
• OTC Markets Group may, at any time and in its sole and absolute discretion, determine that the Company has undergone a Change in Control Event.
• Review. Once a Change in Control Event has been identified, the Company must submit to OTC Markets Group an OTCQB Change in Control Notification and a new OTCQB Application and associated Application Fee within 20 calendar days. Failure to adhere to the notification’s requirements or comply with or respond to the request for additional materials or documents in a timely manner may result in the Company’s suspension or removal from OTCQB.
• OTCQB Certification. Immediately subsequent to a Change in Control Event, the Company must file a new OTCQB Certification, reflecting any applicable changes.
• Maintain Verified Company Profile. Immediately subsequent to a Change in Control Event, the Company must log in to otciq.com to update and verify its Company Profile with the information needed to ensure the Company Profile is current and complete in order to maintain the “Verified Company Profile” designation on www.otcmarkets.com.

3   OTCQB Fees

3.1   OTCQB Application Fee

At the time the Company’s OTCQB Application and Agreement is submitted to OTC Markets Group, the Company shall pay OTC Markets Group a non-refundable Application Fee of $2,500 (U.S.).

3.2   Annual Fee

The Annual Fee is $12,000 (U.S.) for each twelve-month period, if paid in advance. In the alternative, the Company may opt to pay two semi-annual installments of $6,500 (U.S.).

3.3   OTCQB Change in Control Review Fee

In the event of a Change in Control Event, the Company shall pay OTC Markets Group a non- refundable Change in Control Review Fee of $2,500 (U.S.).

3.4   Fees Non- Refundable

In the event a Company ceases to be traded on the OTCQB market for any reason, no portion of its previously paid ongoing Annual Fee will be refunded.

3.5   Modification of Fees

OTC Markets Group may modify the fees set forth in Sections 3.1 and 3.2 from time to time.

4   Removal, Withdrawal or Suspension of OTCQB Companies

4.1   Removal of OTCQB Companies for Failure to Meet Requirements

• OTC Markets Group may remove the Company’s securities from trading on the OTCQB market for the Company’s failure to meet the requirements set forth in Section 2 of these OTCQB Standards or any other obligations under these OTCQB Standards, which determination shall be made by OTC Markets Group in its sole and absolute discretion, unless such failure is cured within the time frames set forth below:
  2. Filing Delinquency. Companies delinquent in their filings are granted a cure period of 45 calendar days from the original due date set forth in Section 2.2 (2);
  3. Bid Price Deficiency. Companies are granted a cure period of 90 calendar days for failure to maintain the minimum bid price set forth in Section 2.3(2). In the event that the minimum closing bid price for the Company’s common stock falls below $0.01 per share for 30 consecutive days, a grace period of 90 calendar days to regain compliance shall begin, during which the minimum closing bid price for the Company’s common stock must be $0.01 or greater for ten consecutive trading days. In the event that the Company’s closing bid price falls below $0.001 at any time for five consecutive trading days, the Company will be immediately removed from OTCQB.
  4. Public Float or Beneficial Shareholder Deficiency. Companies are granted a cure period of 30 calendar days for failure to maintain the minimum ongoing requirements set forth in Sections 2.3(3) and 2.3(4). A Company may apply in writing to OTC Markets Group for an extension of the 30-day cure period by submitting a plan to cure the deficiency, which extension may be granted by OTC Markets Group in its sole and absolute discretion.
  5. Other Deficiencies. Companies are granted a cure period of 30 calendar days after OTC Markets Group gives the Company notice of any other failure to meet the obligations set forth in Section 2 of these OTCQB Standards.
• OTC Markets Group may, in its sole and absolute discretion, provide additional time to cure, provided, however, that to remain on OTCQB a Company must at all times have on file audited financials dated within the prior 18 months as required to qualify for the Blue Sky securities secondary trading exemptions described in Section 2.2(5) of these OTCQB Standards.
• In the event the Company regains compliance with requirements under Section 2 of these OTCQB Standards subsequent to its Removal Date, OTC Markets Group may, in its sole and absolute discretion, readmit the Company to the OTCQB market under the following conditions:
  1. If the Company regains compliance within 30 calendar days of Removal Date and has not completed or announced a corporate action during this time, OTC Markets Group may readmit the Company to the OTCQB market with no further action required;
  2. If the Company regains compliance within 30 calendar days of Removal Date and has completed or announced a corporate action during this time, the Company must submit a new OTCQB Certification for review and approval by OTC Markets Group;
  3. If the Company regains compliance more than 30 calendar days and less than six months after Removal Date, the Company must submit a new OTCQB Certification for review and approval by OTC Markets Group; and
  4. If the Company regains compliance more than six months after Removal Date, the Company must submit a new OTCQB Application and Agreement. OTC Markets Group will review the Application and Agreement pursuant to Section 1.4 of these of these OTCQB Standards. A new Application Fee is due upon submission of the Application and Agreement.

Note: With respect to items (a) and (b) above, if a Company has not paid its OTCQB Annual Fee and is removed from OTCQB, but subsequently pays such fee within 30 calendar days of the Removal Date and otherwise meets the OTCQB eligibility requirements, the Company may, in OTC Markets Group’s sole and absolute discretion, rejoin OTCQB without submitting a new Application and Agreement or paying a new Application Fee. If no payment is received within 30 days after the service period end date, the prior OTCQB Application and Agreement is void and a new Application and Agreement, and Application Fee, will be required.

4.2   Removal of OTCQB Companies for Public Interest Concern 

OTC Markets Group may remove the Company’s securities from trading on the OTCQB market immediately and at any time, without notice, if OTC Markets Group, in its sole and absolute discretion, believes the continued inclusion of the Company’s securities would impair the reputation or the integrity of OTC Markets Group or be detrimental to the interests of investors.

4.3   Withdrawal of OTCQB Companies       

The Company may voluntarily withdraw from the OTCQB market by providing OTC Markets Group with a minimum of 24 hours written notice, including the effective date of the Company’s withdrawal.

4.4   Temporary Suspension

The Company understands that OTC Markets Group may, at any time, in its sole and absolute discretion, temporarily suspend the Company’s inclusion on the OTCQB market pending the completion of further due diligence.

4.5  Continued Use of Certain Services

Subsequent to (i) removal for failure to meet the requirements of Section 4.1 of the OTCQB Standards, (ii) withdrawal or (iii) suspension from the OTCQB market, the Company may continue to use any OTC Markets Group service for which it is subscribed, except services reserved for the use of Companies with securities traded on the OTCQB market. Any continued use of such services is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the OTCQB Application and Agreement.

Subsequent to the Company’s removal, withdrawal or suspension from the OTCQB market, OTC Markets Group may terminate all services to which a Company is subscribed.

For more information about going public, securities law or our other services please contact a Securities Attorney at Hamilton & Associates Law Group, P.A. 01 Plaza Real S, Suite 202 N, Boca Raton, Florida, (561) 416-8956 or by email at [email protected].   This securities law blog post is provided as a general informational service to clients and friends of Hamilton & Associates Law Group and should not be construed as, and does not constitute, legal and compliance advice on any specific matter, nor does this message create an attorney-client relationship. Please note that the prior results discussed herein do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Hamilton & Associates Law Group, P.A provides ongoing corporate and securities counsel to private companies and public companies listed and publicly traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market, the NYSE MKT or over-the-counter market, such as the OTC Pink, OTCQB and OTCQX. For two decades the Firm has served private and public companies and other market participants in corporate law matters, securities law and going public matters. The firm’s practice areas include, but are not limited to, forensic law and investigations, SEC investigations and SEC defense, corporate law matters, compliance with the Securities Act of 1933 securities offer and sale and registration statement requirements, including Regulation A / Regulation A+ , private placement offerings under Regulation D including Rule 504 and Rule 506 and Regulation S and PIPE Transactions as well as registration statements on Forms S-1, Form F-1,  Form S-8 and Form S-4; compliance with the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including Form 8-A and Form 10 registration statements, reporting on Forms 10-Q, Form 10-K and Form 8-K, Form 6-K and SEC Schedule 14C Information and SEC Schedule 14A Proxy Statements; Regulation A / Regulation A+ offerings; all forms of going public transactions; mergers and acquisitions; applications to and compliance with the corporate governance requirements of national securities exchanges including NASDAQ and NYSE MKT and foreign listings; crowdfunding; corporate; and general contract and business transactions. The firm provides preparation of corporate documents and other transaction documents such as share purchase and exchange agreements, stock purchase agreements, asset purchase agreements and reorganization agreements. The firm prepares the necessary documentation and assists in completing the requirements of federal and state securities laws such as FINRA and DTC for Rule 15c2-11 / Form 211 trading applications, corporate name changes, reverse and forward splits, changes of domicile and other transactions. The firm represents clients in London, Dubai, India, Germany, India and throughout the U.S.