Yoshiharu Intends to Appeal Delisting Notice from Nasdaq

Rhea-AI Summary

Yoshiharu Global Co. (NASDAQ: YOSH) has received a delisting notice from Nasdaq due to non-compliance with Listing Rule 5550(b)(1), which requires maintaining stockholders' equity of at least $2,500,000. The company initially received a notification of non-compliance on August 23, 2024, and was given until February 17, 2025, to achieve compliance based on their submitted plan.

Having failed to regain compliance within the specified timeframe, Nasdaq has scheduled YOSH securities for delisting. The company has until February 25, 2025, to request a hearing to appeal the Staff's determination, which Yoshiharu intends to pursue.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Failed to maintain required $2.5M stockholders' equity for Nasdaq listing
• Failed to regain compliance within provided timeframe
• Facing imminent delisting from Nasdaq
• No further compliance period eligibility

Insights

Financial Analyst

The Nasdaq delisting notice for Yoshiharu Global Co. represents a critical financial crisis point, stemming from the company's inability to maintain the minimum $2.5 million stockholders' equity requirement. This deficiency, persisting since August 2024, signals fundamental balance sheet weakness that goes beyond mere technical compliance issues.

Stockholders' equity, essentially the company's net worth, serves as a important metric for Nasdaq listing eligibility as it indicates financial stability and operational sustainability. The failure to meet this threshold suggests deeper financial challenges, potentially including accumulated losses or significant debt burdens that have eroded the company's equity position.

The upcoming appeal process presents several scenarios:

• If successful, the company would need to present a concrete, credible plan for rapidly improving its financial position
• If unsuccessful, the stock would likely move to the over-the-counter (OTC) market, typically resulting in reduced liquidity and institutional investor interest
• The transition period could create significant volatility and potential selling pressure as some institutional investors may be mandated to divest positions in non-listed securities

Historical precedents in the restaurant sector show that companies facing delisting often struggle to recover, particularly in the current high-interest rate environment where recapitalization options are and expensive. The February 25 appeal deadline provides minimal time for the company to formulate a comprehensive turnaround strategy, suggesting this situation may have been anticipated but solutions proved elusive.

BUENA PARK, Calif., Feb. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yoshiharu Global Co. (NASDAQ: YOSH) ("Yoshiharu" or the "Company"), a restaurant operator specializing in authentic Japanese ramen & rolls, today announced that it has received a notice of delisting from Nasdaq.

On February 18, 2025, the Company received a notification letter (the “Letter”) from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Staff (the “Staff”) of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company that because it remains out of compliance with Listing Rule 5550(b)(1), which requires that the Company maintain stockholders’ equity of at least $2,500,000 for continued listing, Nasdaq has scheduled the Company’s securities for delisting from Nasdaq.

As previously reported on Form 8-K on August 23, 2024, the Company initially received a notification letter from the Staff that the Company was not in compliance with Listing Rule 5550(b)(1). The Company was provided an opportunity to provide Nasdaq with a specific plan to achieve and sustain compliance with all Nasdaq listing requirements, which Nasdaq accepted such plan for compliance provided that the Company achieved compliance by February 17, 2025. However, the Company has not regained compliance within the applicable timeframe and is not eligible for a further period to regain compliance.

Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5800 Series and as stated in the Letter, the Company has until February 25, 2025 to request a hearing to appeal the Staff’s determination. The Company intends to request such a hearing to the appeal the determination.

About Yoshiharu Global Co.

Yoshiharu is a fast-growing restaurant operator and was born out of the idea of introducing the modernized Japanese dining experience to customers all over the world. Specializing in Japanese ramen, Yoshiharu gained recognition as a leading ramen restaurant in Southern California within six months of its 2016 debut and has continued to expand its top-notch restaurant service across Southern California and Las Vegas, currently owning and operating 14 restaurants.

For more information, please visit www.yoshiharuramen.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without limitation, statements regarding our position to execute on our growth strategy, and our ability to expand our leadership position. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's beliefs, plans, goals, objectives, expectations, assumptions, estimates, intentions, future performance, other statements that are not historical facts and statements identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates" or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects, which are based on the information currently available to us and on assumptions we have made. Although we believe that our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects as reflected in, or suggested by, these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that the plans, intentions, expectations or strategies will be attained or achieved. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including those risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our filings with the SEC including our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and subsequent reports we file with the SEC from time to time, which can be found on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Such risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, but are not limited to: that there can be no assurance that the Company will meet Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) during any compliance period or otherwise in the future, that there can be no assurance that the Company will otherwise meet Nasdaq compliance standards, and that there can be no assurance that Nasdaq will grant the Company any relief from delisting as necessary or whether the Company can agree to or ultimately meet applicable Nasdaq requirements for any such relief. We urge you to consider those risks and uncertainties in evaluating our forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Investor Relations Contact:
Larry W Holub
Director
MZ North America
YOSH@mzgroup.us  
312-261-6412

FAQ

Why is Yoshiharu (YOSH) being delisted from Nasdaq?

Yoshiharu is being delisted because it failed to maintain the required $2.5 million minimum stockholders' equity as per Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) and did not regain compliance by the February 17, 2025 deadline.

When did YOSH receive the initial Nasdaq non-compliance notice?

Yoshiharu received the initial non-compliance notice from Nasdaq on August 23, 2024.

What is the deadline for YOSH to appeal the Nasdaq delisting?

Yoshiharu has until February 25, 2025, to request a hearing to appeal the delisting determination.

Will Yoshiharu (YOSH) appeal the Nasdaq delisting decision?

Yes, Yoshiharu has stated its intention to request a hearing to appeal the delisting determination.