13. Settlement with CEDE & Co.
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12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2014
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Settlement With Cede Co. | |
13. Settlement with CEDE & Co. |
In 2001, a total of 3,047,403 shares of common stock of the Company that were held in street (nominee) name by Cede & Co. of the Depository Trust Co. (the Cede Shares) were ordered cancelled by a federal district court relating to litigation initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission against the Company and its former Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Either before or after the courts order (the timing of which is unknown to the Company), the Cede Shares, at that time were held directly or indirectly by the former CEO and were placed with Cede & Co. in nominee name. In furtherance of the courts order, the physical certificates relating to the Cede Shares should have been returned to the Companys stock transfer agent, NATCO, for cancellation. This did not occur. Rather, Cede & Co. retained the stock certificates representing the Cede Shares and continued to treat the Cede Shares as outstanding and free trading shares of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, NATCO, in furtherance of then Company counsels instructions, cancelled the Cede Shares on the Companys books and records in 2005, and, in furtherance thereof, reduced the Companys outstanding shares of common stock by 3,047,403.
In 2013, Cede & Co. has requested, in effect, that, inasmuch as the Cede Shares continue to be within its system, the Cede Shares be reinstated on the Companys books and records and that the outstanding shares of the Company be increased by 3,047,403. Although the Company believes Cede & Co.s request is misplaced, particularly since it appears that Cede & Co. had prior notice of the courts order cancelling the Cede Shares, the Company has elected to avoid litigation with Cede & Co. and instead has elected to reinstate the Cede Shares.
In December 2013, the Company approved the reinstatement of 3,047,403 shares of common stock of the Company with a fair value of $3,108,347 and recorded as part of Operating Expenses in 2013 in the accompanying consolidated Statement of Operations. The fair value of the shares was determined based on the trading price of the Companys shares on December 16, 2013, the date of the Companys Board of Directors approved such reinstatement. |