Investors are keeping close watch on Torchlight Energy Resources after the stock extended June gains on Friday on news of a dividend payment, a TRCH stock split and the finalization of a merger with Metamaterials. TRCH stock had more than doubled this month.
Ahead of the merger, Torchlight paid the special Series A Preferred Stock dividend on a 1-for-1 basis to its stockholders of record on June 24. Torchlight also announced that it implemented a 1-for-2 reverse split of TRCH stock. The reverse split became effective after market close on June 25.
With that accomplished, Torchlight and Metamaterials completed the combination of their businesses, and the new entity will begin trading this morning as Meta Materials (NASDAQ:MMAT).
“As a result of the transaction and our recent ATM offerings, META now has over $160 million in cash and a virtually debt free balance sheet with approximately 285 million shares issued and outstanding after the 2 to 1 reverse split. From here, we believe we can now comfortably support our near and long-term growth initiatives,” said Ken Rice, CFO and EVP of Meta Materials.
MMAT Stock Is First of Its Type on Nasdaq
“After 10 years of scientific discovery and application development, Meta Materials is now the first Nasdaq-listed metamaterials company, joining the world’s premier exchange for technology companies,” noted George Palikaras, the company’s founding president and CEO. “We are very excited to showcase how metamaterials ‘go beyond’ conventional materials and chemistry, to offer new and highly sustainable solutions with semiconductor precision, at kilometer scale.”
Metamaterials are a subset of functional materials, according to the company. They are composite structures, consisting of conventional materials such as metals and plastics, that are engineered by scientists to exhibit new or enhanced properties.
For TRCH stock investors, the new focus adds an unfamiliar dimension to what had been an oil and gas exploration and production company based out of Plano, Texas, with a total of four full-time employees. The company’s main focus has historically been on the acquisition and development of highly profitable domestic oil fields, with interests in Texas, including the Permian Basin and the Eagle Ford Shale.
On the date of publication, Robert Lakin did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.
InvestorPlace contributor Robert Lakin is a veteran financial writer and editor, including previous stints with Bloomberg News and as a buyside equity research editor. His Substack newsletter, TLV Strategist, covers the Israel business scene.
