Item 3.01. Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or
Standard; Transfer of Listing
Midwest Banc Holdings, Inc. (the "Company"), received a letter from The
Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. ("Nasdaq") on September 15, 2009, notifying it of its
failure to maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 per share on its common
stock over the preceding 30 consecutive business days as required by Nasdaq
Marketplace Rule 5450(a)(1) (the "Bid Price Rule"). The letter stated that the
Company had until March 15, 2010 to demonstrate compliance by maintaining a
minimum closing bid price of at least $1.00 for a minimum of ten consecutive
business days. The Nasdaq letter was issued in accordance with standard Nasdaq
procedures.
If the Company does not regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule by
March 15, 2010, Nasdaq will notify the Company that its common stock is subject
to delisting from Nasdaq. In that event, the Company may be eligible for an
additional grace period if it can transfer its common stock from the Nasdaq
Global Market to the Nasdaq Capital Market. To do this, the Company must meet
the Market's initial listing criteria except for the bid price requirement. To
take advantage of this alternative, the Company must file an application to
transfer its common stock to the Nasdaq Capital Market. If the application is
approved, Nasdaq will notify the Company that it has been granted an additional
180 calendar day compliance period. If the Company is not eligible for an
additional compliance period, Nasdaq will provide the Company with written
notification that its common stock will be delisted. At that time, the Company
may appeal Nasdaq's determination to delist its common stock to a Hearings
Panel.
The deficiency letter has no effect on the listing of the Company's common
stock at this time and its common stock will continue to trade on the Nasdaq
Global Market under the symbol "MBHI."
The Company has previously announced plans to address possible non-compliance
with the bid price requirement by means of a reverse stock split. However, there
can be no assurance that the reverse stock split will be approved by our
stockholders or if approved, that it will be implemented.
Reducing the number of outstanding shares of our common stock through the
reverse stock split is intended, absent other factors, to increase the per share
market price of our common stock. However, other factors, such as our financial
results, market conditions and the market perception of our business may
adversely affect the market price of our common stock. As a result, there can be
no assurance that the reverse stock split, if completed, will result in the
intended benefits described above, that the market price of our common stock
will increase following the reverse stock split or that the market price of our
common stock will not decrease in the future. Additionally, we cannot give
assurances that the market price per share of our common stock after a reverse
stock split will increase in proportion to the reduction in the number of shares
of our common stock outstanding before the reverse stock split. Accordingly, the
total market capitalization of our common stock after the reverse stock split
may be lower than the total market capitalization before the reverse stock
split.
The Company's depositary shares (each of which represents a 1/100 interest in
a share of our Series A Noncumulative Redeemable Convertible Perpetual Preferred
Stock) are listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market. Under Marketplace
Rule 5460(b), if the Company's common stock is not listed for trading on the
Nasdaq Globabl Market, the depositary shares (in order to stay listed on the
Nasdaq Global Market) must meet the continued listing criteria set forth in
Marketplace Rule 5450. At the present time, the depositary shares satisfy these
continued listing criteria.
A copy of the press release issued by the Company on September 21, 2009
announcing the receipt of this letter from Nasdaq is filed herewith as
Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of a
special meeting of the Company's stockholders to approve, among other things,
amendments to its certificate of incorporation and a proposed reverse stock
split. On August 3, 2009, the Company filed a preliminary proxy statement
relating to these proposals and intends to file further amendments to such
preliminary proxy statement with the Securities Exchange Commission ("SEC").
STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY AND OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS ARE URGED TO READ
THE SPECIAL MEETING PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION BECAUSE THEY
CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. The Company's definitive special meeting proxy
statement will be mailed to the Company's stockholders as of a record date to be
established for voting on the proposed reverse stock split. Stockholders will
also be able to obtain a copy of the definitive proxy statement, without charge,
by directing a request to: Midwest Banc Holdings, Inc., 501 West North Avenue,
Melrose Park, Illinois 60160, Attention: Mr. John Pelling. Free copies of these
documents can also be obtained, without charge, at the SEC's internet site
(http://www.sec.gov) or the Company's website (www.midwestbanc.com). In addition
to the special meeting proxy statement, the Company files annual, quarterly and
current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC.
Item 8.01. Other Events
On September 21, 2009, the Company announced that Thomas R. Rosenquist had
died. Mr. Rosenquist, 58, served as a director of the Company and Midwest Bank
and Trust Company and as chairman of the Company's corporate governance and
nominating committee. Attached as Exhibit 99.2 is a copy of the press release
announcing Mr. Rosenquist's death, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
99.1 Press Release of Midwest Banc Holdings, Inc., dated September 21, 2009,
relating to the receipt of the Nasdaq letter.
99.2 Press Release of Midwest Banc Holdings, Inc., dated September 21, 2009,
relating to the death of Director Thomas A. Rosenquist.
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