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): September 12, 2024
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||
(Address of Principal Executive
Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (707 ) 765-9990
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligations of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
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.
As previously reported, on March 14, 2024, Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. (the “Company”) received a letter (the “Notice”) from the Listing Qualifications Department (the “Staff”) of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) informing the Company that because the closing bid price for the Company’s common stock listed on Nasdaq was below $1.00 for 30 consecutive business days, the Company is not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement for continued listing, as set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Minimum Bid Price Requirement”).
In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company had a period of 180 calendar days from March 14, 2024, or until September 10, 2024, to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement.
On August 9, 2024, the Company submitted a request to Nasdaq for a 180-day extension to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. The Company indicated to Nasdaq that it met the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly-held shares and all other initial listing standards for the Nasdaq Capital Market, with the exception of the Minimum Bid Price Requirement, and provided notice of its intention to cure the deficiency during the extended compliance period by effecting a reverse stock split, if necessary. On June 6, 2024, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock at a ratio between 1-for-1.1 and 1-for-25, with the decision of whether to implement such split being subject to the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors.
On September 12, 2024, Nasdaq notified the Company that it had approved the Company’s application to transfer its listing from Nasdaq’s Global Select Market tier to the Capital Market tier. This transfer was effective at the opening of business on Friday, September 13, 2024. Nasdaq also approved an additional 180-day extension to March 10, 2025 to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement, in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A).
The Company intends to continue actively monitoring the closing bid price for the Company’s common stock between now and March 10, 2025, and will consider available options to resolve the deficiency, including effecting a reverse stock split as stated above, and regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement.
If the Company does not regain compliance within the allotted compliance period, Nasdaq will provide notice that the Company’s common stock will be subject to delisting. The Company would then be entitled to appeal that determination to a Nasdaq hearings panel. There can be no assurance that the Company will regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement during this 180-day extension period or maintain compliance with the other Nasdaq listing requirements.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
The Company is including the below update to its risk factors, for the purpose of supplementing and updating the disclosure contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 29, 2024 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2024 and August 8, 2024, respectively.
A copy of the Company's press release, dated September 18, 2024, announcing the grant of the 180-day extension is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Risks Related to our Common Stock
We are not currently in compliance with the continued listing requirements for Nasdaq. If the price of our common stock continues to trade below $1.00 per share for a sustained period or we do not meet other continued listing requirements, our common stock may be delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market, which could affect the market price and liquidity for our common stock and reduce our ability to raise additional capital.
On March 14, 2024, we received written notice (the “Notification Letter”) from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying us that the Company was not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirements set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) requires listed securities maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 per share, and Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A) provides that a failure to meet the minimum closing bid price requirement exists if the deficiency continues for a period of 30 consecutive business days. Based on the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock for the 30 consecutive business days prior to the date of the Notification Letter, the Company did not meet the minimum closing bid price requirement. To regain compliance, the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock must be at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days at any time prior to September 10, 2024.
On August 9, 2024, the Company submitted a request to Nasdaq for a 180-day extension to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. The Company indicated to Nasdaq that it met the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly-held shares and all other initial listing standards for the Nasdaq Capital Market, with the exception of the Minimum Bid Price Requirement, and provided notice of its intention to cure the deficiency during the extended compliance period by effecting a reverse stock split, if necessary. On June 6, 2024, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock at a ratio between 1-for-1.1 and 1-for-25, with the decision of whether to implement such split being subject to the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors.
On September 12, 2024, Nasdaq notified the Company that it had approved the Company’s application to transfer its listing from Nasdaq’s Global Select Market tier to the Capital Market tier. This transfer was effective at the opening of business on Friday, September 13, 2024. Nasdaq also approved an additional 180-day extension to March 10, 2025 to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement, in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A). We continue to monitor the closing bid price of our common stock and consider our available options to resolve our noncompliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. There can be no assurance that we will be able to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement or we will otherwise be in compliance with other Nasdaq listing criteria. If we fail to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement or to meet the other applicable continued listing requirements for the Nasdaq Capital Market in the future, our common stock may be delisted from Nasdaq.
Delisting from Nasdaq could adversely affect our ability to raise additional financing through the public or private sale of equity securities, would significantly affect the ability of investors to trade our securities and would negatively affect the value and liquidity of our common stock. Delisting could also have other negative results, including the potential loss of confidence by employees, the loss of institutional investor interest and fewer business development opportunities. If our common stock is delisted by Nasdaq, the price of our common stock may decline and our common stock may be eligible to trade on the OTC Bulletin Board, another over-the-counter quotation system, or on the pink sheets where an investor may find it more difficult to dispose of their common stock or obtain accurate quotations as to the market value of our common stock. Further, if we are delisted, we would incur additional costs under requirements of state “blue sky” laws in connection with any sales of our securities. These requirements could severely limit the market liquidity of our common stock and the ability of our stockholders to sell our common stock in the secondary market.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
| 99.1 | ||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). | |||||||
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.
| Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. | |||||||||||
| Date: September 18, 2024 | By: | /s/ William Toler | |||||||||
| Name: | William Toler | ||||||||||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||||||||
Exhibit 99.1
Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. Receives 180 Calendar Day Extension from the Nasdaq Stock Market to Regain Compliance with Bid Price Rule
SHOEMAKERSVILLE, Pa., Sep. 18, 2024 – Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HYFM) (the "Company," or "Hydrofarm,"), a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of branded hydroponics equipment and supplies for controlled environment agriculture, announced today that it has received a 180 calendar day extension, until March 10, 2025, from the Nasdaq Stock Market ("Nasdaq"), to regain compliance with Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5550(a)(2) (the "Bid Price Rule"). The Bid Price Rule stipulates that the bid price of the Company's common stock must close at $1.00 per share or more for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days.
The Company will continue to monitor its stock price and plans to pursue available options to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule, including potentially pursuing a reverse stock split. This notification from Nasdaq has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of the Company’s shares, which currently trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “HYFM.”
About Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc.
Hydrofarm is a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of branded hydroponics equipment and supplies for controlled environment agriculture, including grow lights, climate control solutions, growing media and nutrients, as well as a broad portfolio of innovative and proprietary branded products. For over 40 years, Hydrofarm has helped growers make growing easier and more productive. The Company’s mission is to empower growers, farmers and cultivators with products that enable greater quality, efficiency, consistency and speed in their grow projects.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, which address activities, events and developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, but not limited to, information regarding the future economic performance and financial condition of the Company, the plans and objectives of the Company’s management, and the Company’s assumptions regarding such performance and plans are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified as statements that include phrases such as “guidance,” “outlook,” “projected,” “believe,” “target,” “predict,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “strategy,” “may,” “goal,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “likely,” “will,” “should” or other similar words or phrases. Actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking information in this release due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:
The market in which we operate has been substantially adversely impacted by industry conditions, including oversupply and decreasing prices of the products the Company's end customers sell, which, in turn, have materially adversely impacted the Company's sales and other results of operations and which may continue to do so in the future; If industry conditions worsen or are sustained for a lengthy period, we could be forced to take additional impairment charges and/or inventory and accounts receivable reserves, which could be substantial, and, ultimately, we may face liquidity challenges; Although equity financing may be available, the Company's current stock prices are at depressed levels and any such financing would be dilutive; Interruptions in the Company's supply chain could adversely impact expected sales growth and operations; We may be unable to meet the continued listing standards of Nasdaq; Our restructuring activities may increase our expenses and cash expenditures, and may not have the intended cost saving effects; The highly competitive nature of the Company’s markets could adversely affect its ability to maintain or grow revenues; Certain of the Company’s products may be purchased for use in new or emerging industries or segments, including the cannabis industry, and/or be subject to varying, inconsistent, and rapidly changing laws, regulations, administrative and enforcement approaches, and consumer perceptions and, among other things, such laws, regulations, approaches and perceptions may adversely impact the market for the Company’s products; The market for the Company’s products has been impacted by conditions impacting its customers, including related crop prices and other factors impacting growers; Compliance with environmental and other public health regulations or changes in such regulations or regulatory enforcement priorities could increase the Company’s costs of doing business or limit the Company’s ability to market all of its products; Damage to the
Exhibit 99.1
Company’s reputation or the reputation of its products or products it markets on behalf of third parties could have an adverse effect on its business; If the Company is unable to effectively execute its e-commerce business, its reputation and operating results may be harmed; The Company’s operations may be impaired if its information technology systems fail to perform adequately or if it is the subject of a data breach or cyber-attack; The Company may not be able to adequately protect its intellectual property and other proprietary rights that are material to the Company’s business; Acquisitions, other strategic alliances and investments could result in operating and integration difficulties, dilution and other harmful consequences that may adversely impact the Company’s business and results of operations. Additional detailed information concerning a number of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information contained in this release is readily available in the Company’s annual, quarterly and other reports. The Company disclaims any obligation to update developments of these risk factors or to announce publicly any revision to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this release, or to make corrections to reflect future events or developments.
Investor Contact
Anna Kate Heller / ICR
ir@hydrofarm.com