Crown Receives Nasdaq Delisting Determination and Plans to Request Reconsideration

Rhea-AI Summary

Crown Electrokinetics (NASDAQ: CRKN) has received a delisting determination from Nasdaq, leading to a trading suspension effective March 5, 2025. The company plans to request reconsideration and appeal the decision. During this process, CRKN's stock will trade on the OTC Market's Pink Current Information tier.

Despite the delisting notice, Crown highlights its improved position:

• Cash balance exceeding $20 million with no debt
• Stock price compliance at $3.40 per share for 22 consecutive business days
• Meets minimum $2.5 million stockholders' equity requirement

The company operates through Crown Construction, providing infrastructure solutions in fiber optics, water service lines, water intake solutions, and XXL diameter pipelines. CEO Doug Croxall emphasizes the company's revenue generation through construction business and their focus on executing growth strategy while the appeal process continues.

Positive

• Cash balance exceeding $20 million
• Zero debt position
• Stock trading at $3.40, above $1.00 minimum requirement
• Stockholders' equity above $2.5M requirement
• Growing revenue from construction business

Negative

• Nasdaq delisting determination received
• Trading suspension from Nasdaq effective March 5, 2025
• Downgrade to OTC Pink Market trading

Insights

Financial Analyst

Crown Electrokinetics (NASDAQ: CRKN) has received a delisting determination from Nasdaq, with trading suspension set for March 5, 2025. The company's shares will transition to the OTC Markets' Pink Current Information tier while management pursues reconsideration and appeals processes.

This development represents a significant regulatory setback that could substantially impact liquidity and institutional investor access. Stocks trading on OTC markets typically experience reduced trading volumes and broader bid-ask spreads compared to Nasdaq-listed securities, potentially affecting shareholder value.

What's particularly concerning is that despite meeting the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement for 22 consecutive days (closing at approximately $3.40 on March 3) and maintaining stockholders' equity above the $2.5 million threshold, Nasdaq still issued the delisting determination. This suggests other compliance issues not fully disclosed in this announcement.

On the positive side, Crown has strengthened its financial position with over $20 million cash and no debt. The company reports expanding business operations and growing revenue through its construction business, focusing on infrastructure solutions including fiber optics and water systems.

The transition to OTC markets creates uncertainty around the stock's near-term trading dynamics, though the company's improved financial metrics and operational expansion provide some counterbalance to these regulatory challenges.

LOS ANGELES, March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crown Electrokinetics Corp. (NASDAQ: CRKN) ("Crown" or the "Company”), a leading provider of innovative technology infrastructure solutions that benefit communities and the environment, today announced that it has received a delisting determination from The Nasdaq Stock Market. The Company intends to submit a request for reconsideration to the Nasdaq Hearings Panel and to otherwise appeal the determination to the Nasdaq Listing and Hearing Review Council as necessary. While Crown pursues those processes, trading in the Company’s common stock will be suspended on Nasdaq effective with the open of the market on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. The Company’s common stock should be eligible to trade on the OTC Market’s Pink Current Information tier effective with the open of the market on March 5, 2024.

Crown today is a fundamentally stronger company than in the past, with expanded business operations, growing revenue, and a strengthened financial position. The Company provides cutting-edge critical infrastructure solutions through its Crown Construction business, specializing in fiber optics, water service lines, water intake solutions, and XXL diameter pipelines. The Company has also significantly improved its financial standing, maintaining a cash balance exceeding $20 million with no debt. Since completing its reverse stock split, Crown has evidenced compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum $1.00 bid price requirement for 22 consecutive business days, closing at approximately $3.40 per share on Monday, March 3, 2025. The Company otherwise satisfies all other applicable criteria for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market, including a significant margin of compliance above the minimum $2.5 million stockholders’ equity requirement.

“Crown has taken all the necessary steps to meet Nasdaq’s listing requirements, and we firmly believe the Company deserves to remain on the exchange,” said Doug Croxall, CEO and Chairman, Crown. “Over the past year, we have consistently generated revenue through our construction business, delivering innovative critical infrastructure solutions, including our proprietary slant wells designed to combat water scarcity. With a strong financial position, over $20 million in cash, no debt, and increasing market demand, Crown is well-positioned for continued expansion. We are actively securing new opportunities across all our businesses, and we remain confident in our ability to drive long-term growth. While we work through the Nasdaq reconsideration/appeal process, our focus remains on executing our strategy, scaling operations, and delivering sustainable value to our shareholders.”

Although Crown will not trade on Nasdaq pending resolution of the reconsideration and appeal processes, Crown’s securities will remain technically listed on Nasdaq pending a final decision. The Company will continue executing its growth strategy and provide updates as appropriate in the interim.

For additional information, please refer to the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") at https://ir.crownek.com/sec-filings.

About Crown
Crown (Nasdaq: CRKN) is an innovative infrastructure solutions provider dedicated to benefiting communities and the environment. Operating across multiple businesses – Smart Windows, and Construction – Crown is developing and delivering cutting edge solutions that are challenging the status quo and redefining industry standards. For more information, please visit www.crownek.com.

Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this news release may be "forward-looking statements" (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) regarding future events or Crown’s future financial performance that involve certain contingencies and uncertainties, including those discussed in Crown’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and subsequent reports Crown files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, in the sections entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that express our intentions, beliefs, expectations, strategies, predictions, or any other statements relating to our future activities or other future events or conditions. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may, and are likely to, differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and Crown Electrokinetic Corporation undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release.

This press release does not constitute a public offer of any securities for sale. Any securities offered privately will not be or have not been registered under the Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Relations
ir@crownek.com

Public Relations
pr@crownek.com

FAQ

What caused Crown Electrokinetics (CRKN) to receive a Nasdaq delisting notice in March 2025?

Crown received a delisting determination from Nasdaq, despite meeting the $1.00 bid price requirement and maintaining compliance with other listing criteria, including stockholders' equity requirements.

Where will CRKN stock trade after the Nasdaq suspension on March 5, 2025?

CRKN stock will trade on the OTC Market's Pink Current Information tier while the company appeals the Nasdaq delisting determination.

What is Crown Electrokinetics' current financial position as of March 2025?

Crown maintains over $20 million in cash, has no debt, and trades at approximately $3.40 per share with stockholders' equity above the minimum $2.5 million requirement.

What are Crown Electrokinetics' main business operations in 2025?

Crown operates through Crown Construction, providing infrastructure solutions including fiber optics, water service lines, water intake solutions, and XXL diameter pipelines.