Annuity & Life Re Receives Notice of Potential NYSE Delisting
June 28 2004 - 9:02AM
PR Newswire (US)
Annuity & Life Re Receives Notice of Potential NYSE Delisting
HAMILTON, Bermuda, June 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Annuity and
Life Re (Holdings), Ltd. today announced that it has received a
notice from the New York Stock Exchange stating that the Company is
not in compliance with the NYSE's continued listing standards,
because the average closing price of the Company's common shares
has been below $1.00 for a 30 consecutive trading day period.
Because this is the second time the Company's common share price
has not satisfied the NYSE's continued listing standards, the
Company must submit definitive guidance to the NYSE demonstrating
its ability to bring its share price and average share price back
above $1.00 within a cure period to be agreed upon with the NYSE.
The Company intends to respond promptly to the NYSE's notification
and cooperate fully with the NYSE in satisfying its obligations. If
the NYSE does not accept the Company's response, or if the Company
cannot satisfy the $1.00 share price requirements within the agreed
upon cure period, the NYSE has indicated that it will commence
suspension and delisting procedures with respect to the Company's
common shares. In order to satisfy the NYSE's share price
requirements, the Company is evaluating certain strategic
alternatives and is continuing its efforts to stabilize its
operations and resolve certain significant contingencies. In
addition, as described in the Company's preliminary proxy statement
filed with the SEC on June 18, 2004, the Company will be submitting
to its shareholders at its August 5, 2004 annual general meeting
two proposals that, if approved, will allow the Company's Board of
Directors to implement a reverse stock split by way of a
consolidation of the Company's common share capital at a specified
ratio within a range of one-for-two to one-for-twenty. While the
Board believes the reverse stock split will raise the average
closing price of the Company's common shares above $1.00, there can
be no assurance that such minimum price, if achieved, can be
maintained. In addition, even if such minimum price is achieved and
maintained, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able
to continue to meet the NYSE's other qualitative or quantitative
listing standards for continued listing. As noted above, the
Company has filed a preliminary proxy statement concerning the
reverse stock split, and a definitive proxy statement will be filed
with the SEC and distributed to the Company's shareholders.
Investors are urged to read the definitive proxy statement when it
becomes available, because it will contain important information.
The Company and its directors and executive officers may be deemed
to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the
shareholders in connection with the reverse stock split.
Information regarding these individuals is included in the
preliminary proxy statement and will be included in the definitive
proxy statement. Investors may obtain free copies of the proxy
statements and other documents on the SEC's website at
http://www.sec.gov/. These documents also may be obtained free of
charge by contacting Investor Relations, Annuity and Life Re
(Holdings), Ltd., P.O. Box HM 98, Hamilton, HM AX, Bermuda;
(telephone number (441) 296-7667). The Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for
forward-looking statements made by the Company or on its behalf.
All statements that address operating performance, events, or
developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in
the future are forward-looking statements. These statements are
made on the basis of management's views and assumptions; as a
result, there can be no assurance that management's expectations
will necessarily come to pass. The Company cautions that actual
results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in
forward-looking statements. Important factors that could materially
and adversely affect the Company's operations and financial
condition and/or cause the Company's actual results of operations
or financial condition to differ from those expressed or implied in
the Company's forward-looking statements include, but are not
necessarily limited to, the Company's ability to meet the
obligations associated with its current business and to fund its
continuing operations; the Company's ability to reduce or otherwise
satisfy its collateral obligations; the outcome of pending legal
proceedings involving the Company; the Company's ability to obtain
adequate financial ratings; the ability of the Company's cedents to
manage successfully assets they hold on the Company's behalf; the
Company's success in managing its investments; the Company's
ability to maintain the listing of its common shares on the NYSE;
changes in mortality, morbidity and claims experience; the
Company's ability to make accurate estimates and assumptions
regarding future mortality, persistency, lapses, expenses and
investment performance based upon historical results and
information provided to it by its cedents; the Company's ability to
underwrite business; unanticipated withdrawal or surrender
activity; changes in market conditions, including changes in
interest rate levels; the competitive environment; the impact of
recent and possible future terrorist attacks and the U.S.
government's response thereto; the Company's ability to attract and
retain clients; the loss of a key executive; regulatory changes
(such as changes in U.S. tax law and insurance regulation that
directly affect the competitive environment for the Company's
products); and a prolonged economic downturn. Investors are also
directed to consider the risks and uncertainties discussed in
documents the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and in particular, the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as amended. The Company
does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may
be made from time to time by or on its behalf. DATASOURCE: Annuity
and Life Re (Holdings), Ltd. CONTACT: John Lockwood of Annuity and
Life Re (Holdings), Ltd., +1-441-296-7667
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