OTC Markets Group (OTCM) to Effect New Eligibility Standards to Improve OTC Markeplace

Effective May 1, 2104, OTC Markets Group will roll-out a set of new eligibility standards for companies looking to trade on the OTCQB® Venture Stage Marketplace. The new measures, which slightly vary according to whether the entity is an SEC, bank, or internationally reporting company, tighten eligibility to improve reliability of information available to investors.

More than 3,000 securities currently trade on the OTCQB, and while OTC Markets has improved the marketplace in the past seven years, feedback from company executives and investors suggest there’s more room for improvement for the venture-stage marketplace. In response, OTC Markets has developed a new set of standards to increase transparency, engagement, and quality of information, and exclude companies most likely to be associated with stock promoters.

The new measures require OTCQB companies seeking to trade on OTCQB to meet a new bid price test of $0.01 and submit an OTCQB Annual Certification signed by the company’s CEO or CFO confirming that the Company Profile on otcmarkets.com is accurate. This certification will be required for any newly qualified security to be publicly quoted by a broker-dealer or when an OTC Pink traded company becomes a current SEC reporting company, beginning May 1, 2014. Companies will also be required to submit an initial application and pay an annual fee for OTCQB, which will now include Level 2 Quotes and the OTC Disclosure & News Service.

When the new criteria take effect next month, companies that do not either meet the new OTCQB standards or qualify for OTCQX® will be traded by broker-dealers on the OTC Pink® marketplace.

Companies already trading on OTCQB will also see changes, as they will be required to meet an annual management certification throughout 2014 and 2015 based on their fiscal year end (FYE). The first set of certifications will be due by July 31, 2014, for companies with a FYE of March 31, 2014.

International Reporting companies will be eligible to upgrade from OTC Pink to OTCQB if they publish their 12g3-2(b) compliant disclosure on otcmarkets.com and verify their company profile. This provides international venture stage companies that cannot meet OTCQX financial standards the ability to join OTCQB and provide their home-market regulated disclosure to U.S. investors.

Also beginning May 2, there will be an annual fee for the OTCQB marketplace of $10,000 per year and a one-time $2,500 application fee. For current OTCQB companies that apply in 2014, the annual fee will be discounted to $7,500 per year for the first two years, and the application fee will be waived.

For more information, visit www.otcmarkets.com

About QualityStocks

QualityStocks is committed to connecting subscribers with companies that have huge potential to succeed in the short and long-term future. We offer several ways for investors to find, evaluate, and learn more about investing in these companies.

Sign up for “The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter” at www.QualityStocks.net

The Quality Stocks Daily Blog http://blog.qualitystocks.net

The Quality Stocks Daily Videos http://videocharts.qualitystocks.net

 The Quality Stocks “Ones to Watch” http://gotstocks.qualitystocks.net

Please see disclaimer on the QualityStocks website: http://disclaimer.qualitystocks.netOTC Markets Group (OTCM) to Effect New Eligibility Standards to Improve OTC Markeplace

Effective May 1, 2104, OTC Markets Group will roll-out a set of new eligibility standards for companies looking to trade on the OTCQB® Venture Stage Marketplace. The new measures, which slightly vary according to whether the entity is an SEC, bank, or internationally reporting company, tighten eligibility to improve reliability of information available to investors.

More than 3,000 securities currently trade on the OTCQB, and while OTC Markets has improved the marketplace in the past seven years, feedback from company executives and investors suggest there’s more room for improvement for the venture-stage marketplace. In response, OTC Markets has developed a new set of standards to increase transparency, engagement, and quality of information, and exclude companies most likely to be associated with stock promoters.

The new measures require OTCQB companies seeking to trade on OTCQB to meet a new bid price test of $0.01 and submit an OTCQB Annual Certification signed by the company’s CEO or CFO confirming that the Company Profile on otcmarkets.com is accurate. This certification will be required for any newly qualified security to be publicly quoted by a broker-dealer or when an OTC Pink traded company becomes a current SEC reporting company, beginning May 1, 2014. Companies will also be required to submit an initial application and pay an annual fee for OTCQB, which will now include Level 2 Quotes and the OTC Disclosure & News Service.

When the new criteria take effect next month, companies that do not either meet the new OTCQB standards or qualify for OTCQX® will be traded by broker-dealers on the OTC Pink® marketplace.

Companies already trading on OTCQB will also see changes, as they will be required to meet an annual management certification throughout 2014 and 2015 based on their fiscal year end (FYE). The first set of certifications will be due by July 31, 2014, for companies with a FYE of March 31, 2014.

International Reporting companies will be eligible to upgrade from OTC Pink to OTCQB if they publish their 12g3-2(b) compliant disclosure on otcmarkets.com and verify their company profile. This provides international venture stage companies that cannot meet OTCQX financial standards the ability to join OTCQB and provide their home-market regulated disclosure to U.S. investors.

Also beginning May 2, there will be an annual fee for the OTCQB marketplace of $10,000 per year and a one-time $2,500 application fee. For current OTCQB companies that apply in 2014, the annual fee will be discounted to $7,500 per year for the first two years, and the application fee will be waived.

For more information, visit www.otcmarkets.com

About QualityStocks

QualityStocks is committed to connecting subscribers with companies that have huge potential to succeed in the short and long-term future. We offer several ways for investors to find, evaluate, and learn more about investing in these companies.

Sign up for “The QualityStocks Daily Newsletter” at www.QualityStocks.net

The Quality Stocks Daily Blog http://blog.qualitystocks.net

The Quality Stocks Daily Videos http://videocharts.qualitystocks.net

 The Quality Stocks “Ones to Watch” http://gotstocks.qualitystocks.net

Please see disclaimer on the QualityStocks website: http://disclaimer.qualitystocks.net