There is a great deal of abuse going on in the OTC Bulletin Board Market and a lot of money is being made as result of it. Regulators are trying to deal with the problem but are unable to put a halt to it, unless they take drastic steps which will be detrimental to the small and micro-cap market.
The small and micro-cap market is an essential part in bringing small and mid-size companies public through Reverse merger and Regulation D (504) offering, these are the two most popular methods used by small and mid-size companies to go public.
This two avenues are prefer by small and mid size companies because they simpler and less expensive than the traditional IPO, It can be refer to as a simplified fast track method by which a private company can become a public company.
I described the process in detail how small and mid-size companies can go public in previous articles, if you miss them, you can email me and I will be happy to explain it.
I have over 25 years of experience in the securities industry as market maker and trader. In my own brokerage firm and with a couple of the largest wholesalers in Wall Street. I believe my experience qualify me to write on the subject with clarity and honesty from a birds eye view.
I believe in short selling as a legitimate way of providing liquidity to the market as an essential part market making, that is not what I am referring to.
A short position is established when somebody sells a stock they do not own hoping to be able to buy it bac at a later day for a lower price.
There are several reasons why selling short the stock of companies that have gone public through a reverse merger is profitable and easy, I will identify them and suggest ways that this can be stopped once all for all without affecting the legitimate short seller who are willing to sell and bear the risks associated with carrying a short position. Reason number one (1). Corporate shells, in order for an operating private company to go public in a Reverse merger it must merger with a public shell. A public shell is what remains when a public company is bankrupt or liquidated, also some shell are created as Blank Check companies,
A Blank Check company has shareholder and maybe some cash in its books but nothing else, they are created by enterprising entrepreneurs for the sole purpose of merging an operating private company into it.
What happens is that when the shell owner sell the shell to the private company he retains 5-15% of the shares for himself, on top of collecting any where upward of $500,000.00 for himself. And even if he signed and agreement not to sell for a year, most of these people can not be trusted and will at some point dump the stock or have somebody create a short position in their behalf.
Solution: The shell owner must be made to sell the entire position and be content with the money, which in most cases represents an enormous profit. I don't have anything against anybody making a lot of money, I am all for it because I also stand to make a lot of money, I am against the way they do it.
(2). The shareholder base: In order for a company be listed on the NASDAQ Small-Cap market or the OTC Bulletin Board it must have a specified number of shareholders to qualify for listing.
(2A). Improper due diligence: Prior to purchasing a shell the private company along with the consultant that they retain to assist them in the Reverse merger should do a complete review of the shareholder list. some of those shareholder may have excessive number of shares and the true beneficial owner may be the shell owner or the consultant himself, there are a lot of smooth talking wolves posing as consultant who are operating in conjunction with the shell owner.
Solution: First run the consultant's named and his previous employer through google and see if he has been convicted of any securities related crimes and has been barred from participating in any stock related transactions. Second write the regulator and request that consultants be required to have a website with their name on it, most of this unscrupulous character operate in a stealth manner so that regulators can't detect their activities.
Petition the Securities and Exchange commission requesting a reduction in the number of shareholders require for listing, and if a shell has too many shares outstanding don't buy it!
(3), Market Makers: Market makers in OTC Bulletin Board Securities are permitted to maintain a short position in securities that they are acting as market makers, but what some trader do is they register for a stock and go out sell stock on the bid (the price other market makers are willing to pay) and immediately cease to make a market in the stock and keep the short position.
Technically when a trader does this, he is circumventing the intent of the rule which allows market makers to short a stock in his role as a market maker.
Solution: Require traders to remain acting as market makers until they purchase the stock back, also regulators must make clearing agent to enforce the rules concerning the delivery of the securities on settlement or execute a buy in (buy the stock back and charge the seller) if the seller fails to deliver the stock within the prescribed period of time.
I believe that these reforms will go a long way in altering the climate for participant in Reverse merger, and in removing the vultures the prey on unsophisticated business owner from the market place.
But until the regulators act the responsibility is on the business owner to perform the proper research, if I sound like a crusader maybe that is because the industry has been good to me and I hate to see the vultures taking it over.
Joseph D. Quinones, President of Genesis Corporate Advisors has spent over 25 years in the securities industry. In 1992 he founded JDQ Financial Group, Inc. and proceeded to build it up from a one man operation to the point where it employed many traders, advised numerous client and generate millions in revenues.
If you are thinking about doing a reverse merger and have questions contact us at: www.genesiscorporateadvisors.com
Email: josephquinones@genesiscorporateadvisors.com
best cleaning company Highland Park ..Did you ever have one of those days or weeks... Read More
Many of our nations 400,000 franchisees run their businesses out... Read More
Passion. Passion alone can make your business successful. As an... Read More
Here are some sound debt collection techniques that can be... Read More
No matter what kind of small business you have, you... Read More
One of the best ways to make money in the... Read More
What was your aim when you went into business for... Read More
Think of all of your business ideas as tiny seeds... Read More
I was floored! I couldn't believe what they were saying!... Read More
The following are six essential skills to business success. You... Read More
As stability emerges in the Middle East there will be... Read More
Whether you are an Entrepreneur or Business Professional there are... Read More
Experts urge small business owners to "brand" their business ?... Read More
Lance Armstrong this week won an unprecedented 7th Tour de... Read More
One of the best marketing strategies a business or organization... Read More
After over 30 years of participating in hundreds of businesses,... Read More
Buying a franchise is not for everyone. This guide will... Read More
So there I was ? sitting in the audience of... Read More
There are almost as many opinions and views on marketing... Read More
Some marine biologists feel that the concentration of dead marine... Read More
Let's face it, we all tend to get stuck in... Read More
Where do you find more customers?How do you compete with... Read More
One of the primary concerns all small businesses have is... Read More
WHEN you are operating or planning a small business that... Read More
Last week's question from Anthony R. on how to choose... Read More
high-end home cleaning Winnetka ..The home-based business market, sometimes called the SOHO (small-office/home-office) market,... Read More
If your home business is not performing the way you... Read More
Everything starts with a business plan: If you don't have... Read More
I'll be the first to admit that I went a... Read More
Why does a good business relationship rely on having some... Read More
If you really want to earn more money with your... Read More
Microfiber cleaning towels have been around for about ten years... Read More
No matter what kind of small business you have, you... Read More
There are several well-known truck washes in the Great State... Read More
Shopping for a franchise is easy if you know what... Read More
Some things in business are relatively easy to measure ?... Read More
What was your aim when you went into business for... Read More
At first blush this idea might be difficult to wrap... Read More
The success of your business depends on your ability to... Read More
Articles abound advising the business community how to properly screen... Read More
Maximum efficiency in the cleaning industry is a key to... Read More
As you may already know, asphalt paved parking lots do... Read More
A corporate shell could be liken to a house that... Read More
Remember the cleaning business is all about time ratio to... Read More
If you're organized, smart, capable and willing to work with... Read More
What is the satisfaction & expectation review of the business... Read More
If you are in the pressure washing business and are... Read More
Where do you find more customers?How do you compete with... Read More
Discover How Specialized Cost Containment Creates A New Win-Win Position... Read More
Many physical therapists in private practice have the appearance of... Read More
Small Business |