PENNINGTON, N.J., Dec 02, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. ("OPT" or the "Company") announces that
it intends to cancel the admission of its common shares (the "Shares")
to trading on the AIM Market ("AIM") of the London Stock Exchange (the
"Cancellation" or "de-listing"). It is anticipated that the Cancellation
will become effective at 07.00 GMT on Friday, 14 January 2011.
OPT will maintain its listing on NASDAQ Global Market ("NASDAQ"), which
accounts for the bulk of the trading in its shares, and is facilitating
an orderly transfer of its UK-held Shares to the US stock processing
system.
Reasons for the De-listing
In arriving at the decision to de-list from AIM, the Directors of OPT
have taken the following matters into account:
(i) the relative inactivity, in terms of share trading volume, of the
Shares on AIM compared to that on NASDAQ;
(ii) the removal of the ongoing costs associated with the Company's
continuing compliance with the AIM Rules and maintaining the quotation;
and
(iii) the Company's securities will continue to be traded on NASDAQ.
OPT was admitted to AIM in October 2003 and subsequently obtained a
listing on NASDAQ in April 2007. Since being listed on NASDAQ, the
Company's stock has experienced significantly higher liquidity in the US
market compared with AIM. This is based on data provided by Yahoo
Finance, NASDAQ and AIM with respect to average daily volume of Shares
traded and the average number of monthly trades.
For these reasons, the Directors of OPT believe that the burden of
maintaining the AIM quotation outweighs the benefits that the Company
receives from its listing on AIM. The Directors unanimously agree that
the de-listing will not interfere with, or inhibit, the Company's
business. The Directors have therefore concluded that it is in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders to cancel its admission to
AIM and maintain the listing of its securities on NASDAQ to enable all
shareholders to continue to trade their Shares in the future.
Ocean Power Technologies Limited, based in Warwick, UK, remains fully
committed to growing OPT's business in the United Kingdom and Europe.
Effect of the De-listing
The principal effects of the de-listing will be:
-
The Shares will no longer be traded on AIM
-
The Company's Depositary Interest and CREST facility will be cancelled
-
The Company will no longer be required to comply with the AIM Rules or
any of the corporate governance requirements for companies trading on
AIM
-
Nomura Code Securities will cease to be the nominated advisor and
broker to the Company
-
The Company will maintain its listing on NASDAQ, where its Shares will
continue to be traded, and it will continue to comply with all the
obligations of NASDAQ and the Securities and Exchange Commission rules
in the US. All holders on the UK register on 19 January 2011 will be
placed on the US register and will be issued a Direct Registration
System ("DRS") advice statement by the Company's registrar and
transfer agent, Computershare
-
The Shares will remain freely transferable
Prior to 14 January 2011, shareholders may continue to have their
Depositary Interests cancelled and have the underlying shares deposited
into the US stock processing system, the Depository Trust & Clearing
Corporation ("DTCC"), by contacting the UK-based Global Transaction Unit
of Computershare at +44 (0)870 702 0003, ext. 1075.
Shareholders wishing to ask further questions about this process should
contact Computershare at +44 (0)870 703 6162 or the Company's CFO and
company secretary, Brian Posner, on +1 609 730 0400, ext. 242.
Expected Timetable
|
13 January 2011 at 16.30 GMT
|
|
Trading of Shares held as UK Depositary Interests ceases
|
|
|
|
|
14 January 2011 at 07.00 GMT
|
|
Cancellation of trading on AIM becomes effective
|
|
|
|
|
18 January 2011 at 16.30 GMT
|
|
Shares held as UK Depositary Interests are transferred to the NASDAQ
listing and such Shares will be placed on the US Register in the
Direct Registration System the following day
|
|
|
|
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain "forward-looking statements" that are within
the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's
current expectations about its future plans and performance, including
statements concerning the impact of marketing strategies, new product
introductions and innovation, deliveries of product, sales, earnings and
margins. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of
assumptions and estimates which could be inaccurate and which are
subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially
from those anticipated or expressed in any forward-looking statement
made by the Company. Please refer to the Company's most recent Form 10-K
for a further discussion of these risks and uncertainties. The Company
disclaims any obligation or intent to update the forward-looking
statements in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date of
this release.
About Ocean Power Technologies
Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPTT and London Stock Exchange
AIM: OPT) is a pioneer in wave-energy technology that harnesses ocean
wave resources to generate reliable and clean and
environmentally-beneficial electricity. OPT has a strong track record in
the advancement of wave energy. The Company participates in a $150
billion annual power generation equipment market. OPT's proprietary
PowerBuoy(R) system is based on modular, ocean-going buoys that capture
and convert predictable wave energy into clean electricity. The Company
is widely recognized as a leading developer of on-grid and autonomous
wave-energy generation systems, benefiting from over a decade of
in-ocean experience. OPT is headquartered in Pennington, New Jersey with
an office in Warwick, UK. More information can be found at www.oceanpowertechnologies.com.

SOURCE: Ocean Power Technologies, Inc.
Ocean Power Technologies, Inc.
Charles F. Dunleavy, +1 609 730 0400
Chief Executive Officer
or
Brian M. Posner,
Chief Financial Officer
or
Nomura Code Securities Limited
Juliet Thompson, Richard Potts, +44 20 7776 1200
or
Media Contact:
Corfin Public Relations Limited
Neil Thapar, Claire Norbury, +44 20 7596 2860