8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): October 16, 2023

Elys Game Technology, Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-39170	33-0823179
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

130 Adelaide Street West, Suite 701

Toronto, Ontario M5H 2K4, Canada

 (Address of principal executive offices, zip code)

1-561-838-3325

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

 (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share	ELYS	The Nasdaq Capital Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 3.01 Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

On October 13, 2023, Elys Game Technology, Corp. (the “Company”) received a letter from the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) formally notifying the Company that the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”) has determined to delist Company’s common stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market and would suspend trading of Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, effective at the open of business on October 17, 2023 (the “Delisting Letter”). The Panel made this determination due to the Company’s failure to achieve certain milestones under its plan of compliance, as presented to the Panel on August 1, 2023. A copy of the press release, dated October 16, 2023, announcing Company’s receipt of Nasdaq’s final delisting letter, is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

The Delisting Letter provides that the Company may request the Nasdaq Listing and Hearing Review Council to review the delisting decision within 15 days from the date of the Delisting Letter. The Company is currently carefully evaluating whether such an appeal of Nasdaq’s decision is warranted. The Company’s evaluation will take into account various factors, including the board of directors’ assessment of the likelihood of the Company regaining and maintaining compliance with Nasdaq listing requirements. Additionally, the evaluation will encompass an analysis of the benefits of continuing to be listed on Nasdaq compared to the substantial costs, including the extensive commitment of management’s time and resources for complying with various listing requirements.

The Company has initiated the process of transferring the quotation of its common stock to one of the over-the-counter markets operated by OTC Markets Group Inc. The shares of the Company’s common stock are expected to begin trading on October 17, 2023 and under the symbol “ELYS.”

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this report may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including statements containing the words “predicts,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “goal,” “target,” “estimate,” “potential,” “may,” “might,” “could,” “see,” “seek,” “forecast,” and similar words. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current plans and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties which are, in many instances, beyond the Company’s control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in or contemplated or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the failure to submit a timely appeal to Nasdaq, the ability to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule as a result of the proposed Reverse Split or otherwise in the future, the ability to meet Nasdaq compliance standards, or that Nasdaq will grant the Company any relief from delisting as necessary or whether the Company can agree to or ultimately meet applicable Nasdaq requirements for any such relief, and the other risks, uncertainties and factors detailed in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including in the Company’s Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2022 on Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC. As a result of such risks, uncertainties and factors, the Company’s actual results may differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements discussed in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. The Company is providing the information in this report as of the date hereof and assumes no obligations to update the information included in this report or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ITEM 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release, dated October 16, 2023, titled Elys Game Technology Announces Decision of Nasdaq Hearings Panel To Delist Common Shares.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	Elys Game Technology, Corp.
Dated: October 16, 2023	By:
	Name:	Michele Ciavarella
	Title:	Executive Chairman

EX-99.1

 

Elys Game Technology Announces Decision of Nasdaq Hearings Panel

To Delist Common Shares

NEW YORK, October 16, 2023 – Elys Game Technology, Corp. (“Elys” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ELYS) (BER:3UW), an interactive gaming and sports betting technology company, today announced that on October 13, 2023, the Company received written notice from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company that trading of its common shares will be suspended as of the opening of business on October 17th, 2023 (the “Delisting Letter”).

The Company’s common stock did not maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 (“Minimum Bid Price Requirement”) per share as required by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). Accordingly, the Nasdaq Hearings Panel has determined to delist the Company’s shares from Nasdaq. Nasdaq will complete the delisting by filing a Form 25 Notification of Delisting with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), following the expiration of relevant appeal periods.

The Delisting Letter provides that the Company may request the Nasdaq Listing and Hearing Review Council to review the delisting decision within 15 days from the date of the Delisting Letter. The Company is currently carefully evaluating whether such an appeal of Nasdaq’s decision is warranted. The Company’s evaluation will take into account various factors, including the board’s assessment of the likelihood of the Company regaining and maintaining compliance with the continued listing requirements, through a reverse stock split. Additionally, the evaluation will encompass an analysis of the benefits of continuing to list on Nasdaq compared to the substantial costs, including the extensive commitment of management’s time and resources for complying with various listing requirements.

The Company estimates that its expenses related to maintaining its Nasdaq listing are approximately $1.6 million annually. These expenses are expected to rise significantly in the coming years due to the compliance requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) and ESG initiatives, among others. In anticipation of realizing substantial cost savings, the Company sees opportunities to streamline operations through delisting and deregistration. These benefits include lower operating costs, reduced management time commitment to compliance and reporting activities, and a simplified corporate governance structure. The decision to appeal Nasdaq’s decision will be consistent with the Company’s previously announced cost-saving measures. The Company acknowledges that the delisting and cessation of trading on Nasdaq could have a material adverse effect on the liquidity and trading price of its common shares.

The Company has initiated the process of transferring the quotation of its common stock to one of the over-the-counter markets operated by OTC Markets Group Inc. The shares of the Company's common stock will continue to trade under the symbol "ELYS."

The transition to the OTC markets will not alter the Company's commitment to continue operating as usual. The Company will remain subject to the public reporting requirements of the SEC post-transfer. The Company intends to continue providing information to its stockholders and taking actions within its control to facilitate the quoting of its common stock on the Pink Sheets or another OTC market, thereby ensuring the existence of a trading market for its common stock. However, there is no guarantee that a broker will continue to make a market in the common stock or that trading of the common stock will continue on an OTC market or elsewhere.

 

About Elys Game Technology, Corp.

Elys Game Technology, Corp. is a global gaming technology company operating in multiple countries worldwide. Elys offers its clients a full suite of omnichannel leisure gaming products and services, such as online sports betting, e-sports, virtual sports, online casino, poker, bingo, interactive games, and online slots on a B2C basis in Italy and has B2B operations in five states as well as the District of Columbia in the U.S. market. The Company provides sports betting software, online casino software, services for commercial and tribal casinos, retail betting establishments, and franchise distribution networks.

Elys' vision is to become a global leader in the gaming industry through the development of pioneering and innovative online casino software. Additional information is available on our corporate website at www.elysgame.com.

Investors may also find us on Twitter @ELYS5D; Instagram @elys5d; LinkedIn Elys America; YouTube @Elys5D; and on Facebook @Elys5D.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are identified by the use of the words “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “continue,” “predict,” “potential,” “project,” and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements and include statements regarding Elys. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, the risk factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and its subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

Investor Contact:

Tom Colton and Alec Wilson

Gateway Group, Inc.

949-574-3860

ELYS@gateway-grp.com

XML

Cover	Oct. 16, 2023
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Oct. 16, 2023
Entity File Number	001-39170
Entity Registrant Name	Elys Game Technology, Corp.
Entity Central Index Key	0001080319
Entity Tax Identification Number	33-0823179
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	130 Adelaide Street West
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 701
Entity Address, City or Town	Toronto
Entity Address, State or Province	ON
Entity Address, Country	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	M5H 2K4
City Area Code	561
Local Phone Number	838-3325
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false