Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of investors who acquired Next Bridge Hydrocarbons, Inc. (“NBH” or the “Company”) (Private) shares in connection with the Company’s spin-off from Meta Materials, Inc. (“Meta Materials”) on or around December 14, 2022 (the “Class Period”). NBH investors have until May 14, 2024 to file a lead plaintiff motion.

Investors suffering losses on their NBH investments are encouraged to contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss their legal rights in this class action at 888-638-4847 or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com.

In June 2021, NBH, formerly known as Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc. (“Torchlight”) merged with Metamaterial Technologies Inc. In connection with the merger, Torchlight shareholders received shares of non-voting Meta Materials preferred stock, corresponding to the oil and gas assets acquired from Torchlight. Holders of the preferred stock would be entitled to receive proceeds from the sale of oil and gas assets or, if the assets were not sold by a certain date, equity in a spin-off entity.

Then, on December 14, 2022, Meta Materials completed a spin-off of its oil and gas assets into NBH, with holders of Meta Materials preferred stock receiving new shares in NBH. Following the spin-off, Meta Materials reported that the value of the oil and gas assets as of the date of the spin-off was “not substantive” and therefore increased its reserves on notes payable by NBH to Meta Materials that had historically been secured by the oil and gas assets.

The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) NBH’s oil and gas assets were not worth the amounts listed in the immediately preceding paragraph; (2) In truth, NBH’s oil and gas assets were at all relevant times substantively worthless; and (3) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

If you acquired NBH securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020, by telephone at (215) 638-4847 or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com, or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.

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