Four Seasons Education Receives Non-Compliance Letter from NYSE Regarding Holders Requirements

Rhea-AI Summary

Four Seasons Education (NYSE: FEDU) has received a non-compliance notice from the NYSE dated January 30, 2025, regarding minimum stockholder requirements. The company currently has fewer than the required 1,200 total stockholders needed for continued NYSE listing.

FEDU has 45 calendar days to submit a business plan demonstrating how it will achieve compliance within 18 months of receiving the notice. The company's ADSs will continue trading on NYSE while it works to address this issue, subject to other listing requirements. FEDU remains compliant with all other NYSE standards, and this notice does not affect its business operations or SEC reporting obligations.

Positive

• Company remains compliant with all other NYSE listing standards
• ADSs continue to trade on NYSE during compliance period
• Business operations and SEC reporting requirements remain unaffected

Negative

• Failed to maintain minimum requirement of 1,200 stockholders
• Risk of potential NYSE delisting if compliance plan fails
• Must develop and execute compliance plan within 18 months

Insights

Securities Compliance Analyst

The NYSE non-compliance notice regarding stockholder requirements represents a significant regulatory challenge for Four Seasons Education, with potential far-reaching implications for investors. The company's market capitalization of just $21.8 million and the nature of this violation suggest underlying concerns about market depth and trading liquidity.

This type of non-compliance typically stems from reduced trading volume and institutional interest, often indicating deeper market structural issues. While the company has 45 days to present a remediation plan and 18 months to achieve compliance, historical patterns show that companies in similar situations face substantial challenges in expanding their shareholder base, particularly given current market conditions and ongoing regulatory scrutiny of Chinese issuers.

Common remediation strategies include reverse stock splits, enhanced investor relations programs, or seeking additional institutional investors. However, these approaches may face heightened challenges given the current geopolitical environment and regulatory landscape for Chinese companies listed on U.S. exchanges.

The immediate trading status remains unchanged, but investors should monitor several key risk factors:

• Potential impact on stock liquidity and trading spreads
• Increased volatility due to reduced market depth
• Risk of eventual delisting if compliance cannot be achieved
• Additional compliance costs associated with remediation efforts

This situation warrants careful attention from stakeholders, as the outcome of the remediation efforts will be important for the company's future market accessibility and investor base development.

SHANGHAI, Feb. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc. ("Four Seasons Education" or the "Company") (NYSE: FEDU), a tourism and education-related service provider in China, today announced that it has received a letter from the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") dated January 30, 2025 (the "Notice"), notifying the Company that it is no longer in compliance with the minimum stockholder requirement for continued listing on NYSE pursuant to Section 802.01 "Continued Listing Criteria" of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, which requires the Company to maintain a number of total stockholders of not less than 1,200.

In accordance with NYSE listing requirements, the Company has 45 calendar days from the receipt of the Notice to respond with a business plan that demonstrates compliance with this continued listing standard within 18 months of receipt of the Notice. The Company is currently evaluating its available options and developing a plan to regain compliance with Section 802.01.

The Notice has no immediate impact on the listing of the Company's ADSs, which will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE, subject to compliance with other continued listing requirements of the NYSE. The Company is currently in compliance with all other NYSE continued listing standards. The NYSE notification does not affect the Company's business operations or its SEC reporting requirements.

About Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc.

Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc. is a service provider of both tourism and education-related services in China. The Company's program, service and product offerings mainly consist of non-academic tutoring programs, school-based tutoring product solutions and training programs for teachers, study camps and learning trips for students, and travel agency services for all age groups.

For more information, please visit https://ir.sijiedu.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements, including the statements relating to the Company's future financial and operating results, are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as "will," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, management's quotations and the Business Outlook section contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company and the industry. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to its ability to attract new students and retain existing students, its ability to deliver a satisfactory learning experience and improving their academic performance, PRC regulations and policies relating to the education industry in China, general economic conditions in China, and the Company's ability to meet the standards necessary to maintain listing of its ADSs on the NYSE or other stock exchange, including its ability to cure any non-compliance with the NYSE's continued listing criteria. All information provided in this press release is as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that its expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties faced by the Company is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual reports on Form 20-F.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:
Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc.
Olivia Li
Tel: +86 (21) 6317-6177
E-mail: IR@fsesa.com 

The Piacente Group, Inc.
Jenny Cai
Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
E-mail: fourseasons@tpg-ir.com 

In the United States:
The Piacente Group, Inc. 
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
E-mail: fourseasons@tpg-ir.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/four-seasons-education-receives-non-compliance-letter-from-nyse-regarding-holders-requirements-302366325.html

SOURCE Four Seasons Education Inc.

FAQ

What NYSE compliance issue does FEDU face in February 2025?

FEDU has fallen below the NYSE's minimum requirement of 1,200 stockholders, receiving a non-compliance notice on January 30, 2025.

How long does FEDU have to submit a compliance plan to NYSE?

FEDU has 45 calendar days from January 30, 2025, to submit a business plan demonstrating how it will regain compliance.

Will FEDU stock continue trading on NYSE during the compliance period?

Yes, FEDU's ADSs will continue trading on NYSE while the company works to address the stockholder requirement issue, subject to other listing requirements.

What is the deadline for FEDU to regain NYSE compliance?

FEDU must demonstrate compliance with the stockholder requirement within 18 months of receiving the notice (January 30, 2025).

Does the NYSE non-compliance notice affect FEDU's business operations?

No, the notice does not affect FEDU's business operations or SEC reporting requirements.