Atari Being Delisted from NASDAQ?

Today Atari was notified by the NASDAQ stock exchange that is subject from delisting from their market.  The company was unable to raise and maintain the $15 million in “market value” needed within 10 straight business days to stay on board.  Atari had been warned last December by NASDAQ of this possibility.
Reports indicate that Atari is appealing the decision, citing a potential outright takeover by parent company Infogrames as the reason.  We’ll keep you posted.  Atari’s official press release follows.

Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR), an interactive entertainment company, announced today that on March 24, 2008 it received a Staff Determination Letter from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department stating that Atari, Inc. has not gained compliance with the requirements of Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4450(b)(3), and that its securities are therefore subject to delisting from The Nasdaq Global Market.
As previously announced, on December 21, 2007, the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department notified Atari, Inc. that, pursuant to Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4450(e)(1), unless the market value of Atari, Inc.’s publicly held shares (which is calculated by reference to Atari, Inc.’s total shares outstanding, less any shares held by officers, directors or beneficial owners of 10% or more) maintains an aggregate market value of $15.0 million or more for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days prior to March 20, 2008, Atari, Inc.’s securities would be subject to delisting. The value of Atari, Inc.’s publicly held shares did not reach that level within the required period. Atari, Inc. intends to request a hearing before a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel in order to appeal the Nasdaq Staff’s determination in light of, among other things, the pending proposal by Infogrames Entertainment SA (IESA) to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock not held by IESA. The hearing request will stay the delisting and, as a result, Atari, Inc.’s securities will remain listed on The Nasdaq Global Market until the Panel issues its decision following the hearing. There can be no assurance that the Panel will grant Atari, Inc.’s request for continued listing on The Nasdaq Global Market.

This post was originally written by the author for TSSZ News.