Mangoceuticals, Inc. Initiates Investigation into Potential Stock Manipulation Scheme Following Recent Reverse Stock Split

Rhea-AI Summary

Mangoceuticals (NASDAQ: MGRX) has initiated an investigation into potential stock manipulation following its October 16, 2024 reverse stock split. The company identified suspicious trading patterns and an unusual surge in shareholder accounts. The Depository Trust Company (DTC) requested 213,327 additional shares for fractional share 'round-up', representing about 9% of MangoRx's 2.4 million post-split outstanding shares.

Prior to the split, MangoRx had approximately 5,000 shareholders, but trading patterns suggest a potential increase of over 200,000 accounts post-split. The company observed numerous high-frequency single-share transactions around the split date. CEO Jacob Cohen has denied DTC's request pending investigation completion. MangoRx notes similar patterns to those reported by Upexi Inc. (NASDAQ:UPXI), which experienced comparable irregularities in their recent reverse stock split.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Potential stock manipulation affecting share value
• DTC requesting 9% dilution through additional share issuance
• Suspicious increase from 5,000 to over 200,000 shareholder accounts
• Irregular trading patterns potentially affecting stock integrity

Insights

Legal Expert

The investigation into potential stock manipulation following MangoRx's reverse stock split reveals serious concerns about market integrity. The key red flags include:

• An unprecedented increase from 5,000 shareholders to potentially over 200,000 accounts post-split
• Suspicious high-frequency single-share transactions
• DTC's request for 213,327 additional shares for fractional share "round-ups", representing 9% of total outstanding shares

The similarity to Upexi's case, where five brokerages requested 19% of outstanding shares for round-ups, suggests a potential broader market manipulation scheme. The CEO's decision to withhold issuing additional shares pending investigation is a prudent legal move to protect shareholder interests and comply with securities regulations. This situation could lead to regulatory scrutiny from the SEC and potential legal proceedings against responsible parties if manipulation is proven.

Market Research Analyst

The suspected manipulation scheme could significantly impact MGRX's market dynamics and valuation. The artificial creation of numerous small shareholder accounts through high-frequency trading appears designed to exploit the reverse split's round-up provision, potentially diluting existing shareholders' value. With a market cap of only 6.2 million, the requested 213,327 additional shares would represent substantial dilution. The parallel with Upexi's experience suggests this might be a systematic exploitation of reverse splits in micro-cap stocks. This situation could lead to increased volatility and decreased investor confidence in MGRX's stock, potentially affecting its ability to maintain NASDAQ listing requirements.

DALLAS, TX, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mangoceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: MGRX) (“MangoRx” or the “Company”), a company focused on developing, marketing, and selling men’s health and wellness products via a secure telemedicine platform, today announced that it has launched an investigation into potential stock manipulation related to and following its recent reverse stock split, which was effective as of October 16, 2024. This decision follows a comprehensive review of highly irregular trading patterns and an unprecedented increase in the number of shareholder accounts, factors that collectively raise concerns about potential stock manipulation.

This investigation also follows a recent request the Company received from the Depository Trust Company Corporation (DTC) whereby DTC requested from MangoRx’s transfer agent delivery of an additional 213,327 shares of MangoRx’s common stock reflecting the “round-up” of fractional shares outstanding on a post-reverse split basis. This requested amount represents approximately 9% of MangoRx’s total issued and outstanding shares based on a total of approximately 2.4 million shares outstanding on a post-reverse split basis, before such rounding.

Prior to the reverse split, MangoRx had approximately 5,000 total shareholders (including record shareholders and non-objecting beneficial owners). However, the substantial share request suggests an unprecedented increase in shareholder accounts, potentially indicating an increase of more than 200,000 accounts post-split – a scenario that warrants an additional investigation.

To facilitate this unprecedented increase in shareholder accounts, MangoRx observed a nearly impossible pattern of trading activity, including tens of thousands of high-frequency single-share transactions leading up to and immediately following the effective date of the reverse split. These transactions, unique in their volume and frequency by the Company’s record, have contributed to suspicions of possible manipulation in a broader scheme.

To ensure the integrity of MangoRx’s shareholder base, Jacob Cohen, the Company’s Founder and CEO, has denied DTC’s request in issuing and delivering these additional shares until a thorough investigation can be completed. Mr. Cohen commented, “our priority is to protect the interests of our shareholders, the integrity of the Company’s market value and uphold transparency. MangoRx is committed to conducting a full investigation to address any irregularities and ensure accountability across all parties involved.”

MangoRx believes that such irregularities may be similar to those identified by Upexi, Inc. (NASDAQ:UPXI) (“Upexi”), as announced in a recent press release. Upexi observed a similar pattern of trading activity leading up to and post its recent reverse stock split, as well as an extraordinary increase in shareholder accounts post-split. Upexi disclosed that five brokerage firms requested over 200,000 round-up shares of Upexi common stock—nearly 19% of Upexi’s total outstanding shares post-split. Upexi further disclosed that this surge represented an approximately 40-fold increase in individual shareholder accounts, with requests concentrated within a narrow, three-day trading window between the reverse split announcement and its effective date.

About MangoRx

MangoRx is focused on developing a variety of men’s health and wellness products and services via a secure telemedicine platform. To date, the Company has identified men’s wellness telemedicine services and products as a growing sector and especially related to the area of erectile dysfunction (ED), hair growth, hormone replacement therapies, and weight management. Interested consumers can use MangoRx’s telemedicine platform for a smooth experience. Prescription requests will be reviewed by a physician and, if approved, fulfilled and discreetly shipped through MangoRx’s partner compounding pharmacy and right to the patient’s doorstep. To learn more about MangoRx’s mission and other products, please visit www.MangoRx.com or on social media @Mango.Rx.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“forward-looking statements”). These forward-looking statements represent the Company’s current expectations or beliefs concerning future events and can generally be identified using statements that include words such as “estimate,” “expects,” “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “forecast,” “likely,” “will,” “target” or similar words or phrases. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of the Company’s control which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, relating to, among other things: the investigation into, outcome of the investigation regarding, and potential lawsuits, claims and actions regarding, a potential stock manipulation scheme relating to the Company’s common stock following the Company’s recent reverse stock split; the outcome of certain outstanding legal matters, claims and allegations, the requirement that the Company spend cash and management’s resources on such matters, even if the Company ultimately prevails in such matters, risks associated with certain counterparties to lawsuits having significantly greater resources than us, settlements we may choose to enter into in the future and the terms thereof, and potential regulatory reviews, inquiries or lawsuits, which are brought about by claims made in private lawsuits; the review and evaluation of strategic transactions and their impact on shareholder value; the process by which the Company engages in evaluation of strategic transactions; the outcome of potential future strategic transactions and the terms thereof; the ability of the Company to raise funding, the terms of such funding, and dilution caused thereby; our ability to meet the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq; our ability to maintain the listing of our common stock on Nasdaq; our ability to commercialize our patent portfolio; our ability to obtain Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios for our ED product in Mexico, the costs thereof and timing associated therewith; our ability to obtain additional funding and generate revenues to support our operations; risks associated with our products which have not been, and will not be, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“ FDA ”) and have not had the benefit of the FDA’s clinical trial protocol which seeks to prevent the possibility of serious patient injury and death; risks that the FDA may determine that the compounding of our products does not fall within the exemption from the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“ FFDCA Act ”) provided by Section 503A; risks associated with related party relationships and agreements; the effect of data security breaches, malicious code and/or hackers; competition and our ability to create a well-known brand name; changes in consumer tastes and preferences; material changes and/or terminations of our relationships with key parties; significant product returns from customers, product liability, recalls and litigation associated with tainted products or products found to cause health issues; claims, lawsuits and litigation relating to our intellectual property, including allegations that our intellectual property infringes on the intellectual property of others, costs related to any such claims or lawsuits and resources required to expend in connection therewith; our ability to innovate, expand our offerings and compete against competitors which may have greater resources; our significant reliance on related party transactions and risks associated with related party relationships and agreements; the projected size of the potential market for our technologies and products; risks related to the fact that our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jacob D. Cohen has significant voting control over the Company; risks related to the significant number of shares in the public float, our share volume, the effect of sales of a significant number of shares in the marketplace; dilution caused by recent offerings; conversion of outstanding shares of preferred stock and the rights and preferences thereof, the fact that we have a significant number of outstanding warrants to purchase shares of common stock and other convertible securities, the resale of which underlying shares have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, dilution caused by exercises/conversions thereof, overhang related thereto, and decreases in the trading price of our common stock caused by sales thereof; our ability to build and maintain our brands; cybersecurity, information systems and fraud risks and problems with our websites; changes in, and our compliance with, rules and regulations affecting our operations, sales, marketing and/or our products; shipping, production or manufacturing delays; regulations we are required to comply with in connection with our operations, manufacturing, labeling and shipping; our dependency on third-parties to prescribe and compound our products; our ability to establish or maintain relations and/or relationships with third-parties; potential safety risks associated with our products, including the use of ingredients, combination of such ingredients and the dosages thereof; the effects of changing rates of inflation and interest rates, and economic downturns, including potential recessions, as well as macroeconomic, geopolitical, health and industry trends, pandemics, acts of war (including the ongoing Ukraine/Russian conflict and war in Israel) and other large-scale crises; our ability to protect intellectual property rights; our ability to attract and retain key personnel to manage our business effectively; overhang which may reduce the value of our common stock; volatility in the trading price of our common stock; and general consumer sentiment and economic conditions that may affect levels of discretionary customer purchases of the Company’s products, including potential recessions and global economic slowdowns. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements we make in this release are reasonable, we provide no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks and uncertainties.

More information on potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included from time to time in the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s filings with the SEC, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter September 30, 2024, and subsequent reports. These filings are available at www.sec.gov and at our website at https://www.mangoceuticals.com/sec-filings. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any person acting on behalf of the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements referenced above. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on the Company’s future results. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. The Company cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Finally, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements after the date of this release, except as required by law, and takes no obligation to update or correct information prepared by third parties that are not paid for by the Company. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Follow MangoRx on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/mango.rx
https://x.com/mango_rx
https://www.facebook.com/MangoRxOfficial

FOR INVESTOR RELATIONS
Mangoceuticals Investor Relations
Email: investors@mangorx.com

FAQ

What triggered MGRX's stock manipulation investigation in December 2024?

MGRX initiated the investigation after observing suspicious trading patterns and an unprecedented increase in shareholder accounts following their October 16, 2024 reverse stock split, along with DTC's request for 213,327 additional shares.

How many additional shares did DTC request from MGRX after the reverse split?

DTC requested 213,327 additional shares from MGRX for fractional share 'round-up', representing approximately 9% of the company's 2.4 million post-split outstanding shares.

What was MGRX's shareholder count before and after the October 2024 reverse split?

MGRX had approximately 5,000 shareholders before the reverse split, with trading patterns suggesting a potential increase to over 200,000 accounts after the split.