Nasdaq 20% Rule: Stockholder Approval Requirements for Securities Offerings | Practical Law (2024)

An overview of the so-called Nasdaq 20% rule requiring stockholder approval before a listed company can issue twenty percent or more of its outstanding common stock or voting power. This Note examines how to apply the rule, make calculations under the rule, claim an exception under the rule and structure transactions to avoid or defer stockholder approval. This Note also offers tips for working with Nasdaq to avoid unnecessary delays. This Note can be used by companies and practitioners before any issuance of common stock, other equity with voting rights or convertible securities and warrants. It is especially useful for smaller reporting companies, many of which are listed on Nasdaq and also for mid-cap and large-cap companies accepting large equity investments.

Nasdaq 20% Rule: Stockholder Approval Requirements for Securities Offerings | Practical Law (2024)

FAQs

Nasdaq 20% Rule: Stockholder Approval Requirements for Securities Offerings | Practical Law? ›

Nasdaq 20% Rule: Stockholder Approval Requirements for Securities Offerings | Practical Law. An overview of the so-called Nasdaq 20% rule requiring stockholder approval before a listed company can issue twenty percent or more of its outstanding common stock or voting power.

What are the rules for shareholder approval on Nasdaq? ›

Pursuant to Listing Rule 5635(a), shareholder approval is required if any director, officer or 5% or greater shareholder has a 5% or greater interest (or such persons collectively have a 10% or greater interest), directly or indirectly, in the company or assets to be acquired or in the consideration to be paid in the ...

What is the shareholder approval 20% rule? ›

The 20% rule provides that a person cannot acquire voting securities if that acquisition would result in that person's, or any other person's, voting power in the company or managed investment scheme exceeding 20%, unless the acquisition is through one of the exceptions.

What is Nasdaq 20% limitation? ›

Under Listing Rule 5635(d), shareholder approval is required in connection with a transaction, other than a public offering, at a price below the Minimum Price involving the sale, issuance or potential issuance by the Company of common stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock), which alone ...

What is the 20 percent rule for Nasdaq warrants? ›

The “20% rule,” as it is commonly known, requires Nasdaq and NYSE-listed companies in certain situations to receive shareholder approval before they can issue 20% or more of their outstanding common stock or voting power in a private offering, such as a PIPE (private investment in public equity).

What is the 20% shareholder approval rule? ›

NYSE 20% Rule: Stockholder Approval Requirements for Securities Offerings. An overview of the so-called New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) 20% rule requiring stockholder approval before a listed company can issue 20% or more of its outstanding common stock or voting power.

What is the rule 5250 for the Nasdaq? ›

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 issuer IM-5250-1 Disclosure of Material Information Rule 5250(b)(1) requires that, except in unusual circ*mstances, Nasdaq Companies disclose ...

What is the Nasdaq 20 rule stockholder approval requirements for securities offerings? ›

Nasdaq 20% Rule: Stockholder Approval Requirements for Securities Offerings | Practical Law. An overview of the so-called Nasdaq 20% rule requiring stockholder approval before a listed company can issue twenty percent or more of its outstanding common stock or voting power.

What is the threshold for shareholder approval? ›

Buyer shareholder approval required when paying with > 20% stock. An acquirer can either use cash or stock or a combination of both as the purchase consideration. An acquirer may also need shareholder approval if it issues more than 20% of its stock in the deal.

What requires shareholder approval? ›

Entering into major corporate transactions (e.g., a merger or asset sale). Electing new directors (depending on corporate governance structure). Approving stock plans and amendments (i.e. Employee Stock Option Plan).

What are Nasdaq requirements? ›

Nasdaq Capital Market companies are required to meet a net income standard of at least $750,000, a minimum public float of 1,000,000 shares, at least 300 shareholders, and a share bid price of at least $4 (with certain exceptions).

What is the 20 percent rule in stocks? ›

Here's a specific rule to help boost your prospects for long-term stock investing success: Once your stock has broken out, take most of your profits when they reach 20% to 25%. If market conditions are choppy and decent gains are hard to come by, then you could exit the entire position.

What are Nasdaq clearly erroneous rules? ›

The terms of a transaction executed on Nasdaq are "clearly erroneous" when there is an obvious error in any term, such as price, number of shares or other unit of trading, or identification of the security.

What is the clawback rule for the Nasdaq? ›

On February 22, 2023, the NYSE and Nasdaq released their respective versions of proposed listing standards, the final versions of which require listed companies to adopt, no later than December 1, 2023, clawback policies providing for the recovery of erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation “received” by ...

What is the $1 dollar rule for Nasdaq compliance? ›

Under certain circ*mstances, to ensure that the company can sustain long-term compliance, Nasdaq may require the closing bid price to equal or to exceed the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement for more than 10 consecutive business days before determining that a company complies.

What is the 19.9% rule? ›

Two-Step Transactions and Share Caps

In order for a cap to satisfy the rules, it must be clear that no more than the threshold amount (19.9%) of securities outstanding immediately prior to the transaction, can be issued in relation to that transaction, under any circ*mstances, without shareholder approval.

What are the Nasdaq rules for shareholder approval equity plans? ›

Listing Rule 5635(c) requires that a Nasdaq listed company seek shareholder approval when it establishes or materially amends a stock option or purchase plan or other arrangement pursuant to which stock may be acquired by officers, directors, employees or consultants.

What constitutes shareholder approval? ›

Proposing amendments may affect the rights and obligations of stockholders, so it is important to get their input. Examples of changes that may require stockholder approval include increasing or decreasing the number of authorized shares, changing voting requirements or altering dividend policies.

Does issuing shares require shareholder approval? ›

Section 312.03(b)(ii) provides that shareholder approval is required prior to the issuance of common stock, or of securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock, where such securities are issued as consideration in a transaction or series of related transactions in which a Related Party has a 5% or greater ...

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