NaturalShrimp Inc (SHMP)

[12Retyr]

Natural Shrimp Announces Filing of Application to List on Cboe US

https://ir.naturalshrimp.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/159/natural-shrimp-announces-filing-of-application-to-list-on

Company also Extending Engagement with Investment Banking Partner to Underwrite Capital Raise

DALLAS, April 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural Shrimp Incorporated (OTCQB: SHMP), a Biotechnology Aquaculture Company (the "Company") that has developed and patented the first seafood-focused commercially operational RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture System), is pleased to announce that the Company has filed an initial application to list its securities on the Chicago Board of Options Exchange (Cboe US) BZX exchange (the "Exchange"). In addition, the Company has extended its engagement with its investment banking partner to underwrite a capital raise concurrent with the Cboe US listing.

The Company has also begun the restructuring process of its existing debt and mezzanine securities in order to meet Cboe US' shareholders' equity requirements and has identified a lead investor of up to $1.5M of an anticipated capital raise of between $5M-$10M.

Historically, for micro- and small-cap companies in particular, there were only two options when choosing a senior exchange on which to execute their initial public offering, uplisting or cross-listing transaction: the Nasdaq Capital Market (Nasdaq) or the NYSE American (NYSE). As recently as mid-2023, a third option emerged when Cboe Global Markets made it possible for companies to list on its U.S. market. This has now made it possible for micro- and small-cap companies to choose an alternative for their stakeholders' benefit.

While Cboe US as a senior exchange is new for issuers, Cboe is not new to the exchange arena, having just celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023 as a world leader in options trading, including having run stock exchanges in several countries over the last decade, including the U.S. where it has become home to over 650 ETFs. Now, Cboe US is channeling that expertise toward building out this third senior exchange for public companies. NaturalShrimp is excited to be a benefactor of that for its stakeholders.

Gerald Easterling, CEO of Natural Shrimp stated "After several weeks of meetings and due diligence, Natural Shrimp is pleased to announce this next step in our evolution. This listing will expose the company to many more institutional investors in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. We believe that we have completed all the requirements and documentation to quickly move to this exchange. Also, we are expecting to extend our investment banking relationship as part of this process."

William Delgado, CFO of Natural added "We have been working on the uplist process for the better part of two years. The predominant small cap uplist exchange has seen a significant reduction in both the number of uplists and IPOs. We have been in discussions with the Cboe US for the past several weeks and truly believe that their new platform is going to change the micro and small cap marketplace and be of significant benefit to NaturalShrimp and provide liquidity to our shareholders."

The Company expects to announce new market opportunities, completion and capitalization of its existing facilities, and new domestic and international expansion opportunities in the coming weeks.

About Natural Shrimp