WorldHeart Announces Effectiveness of Reverse Stock Split

World Heart Corporation (WorldHeart or the Company), effected a reverse stock split of 30-to-1 after filing of articles of amendment with Industry Canada under the Canada Business Corporations Act and commenced trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market on a post-consolidation basis on October 28, 2008. The Corporation's shareholders approved the proposal for a reverse stock split at a Special Meeting of Shareholders held on October 9, 2008 and the Board of Directors determined to implement the reverse stock split at a 30-to-1 ratio. Completion of the reverse split is intended to allow WorldHeart to keep its listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market, subject to continued compliance with all of the other listing requirements.
The Company's common shares began trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market on a post-consolidation basis (every thirty common shares of WorldHeart combined into one common share) as of the opening of trading on October 28, 2008 under the symbol "WHRTD" and under a new CUSIP number 980905400. The symbol "WHRTD" will remain in effect until November 25, 2008 and subsequently will resume trading under the symbol "WHRT". The reverse stock split will not affect the ownership of option and warrant holders. Upon the exercise of any options or warrants, resulting shares issued will be issued on a post-consolidation basis. No scrip or fractional certificates will be issued in connection with the reverse stock split. Shareholders who otherwise would be entitled to receive fractional shares because they hold a number of common shares not evenly divisible by thirty will not be entitled to cash compensation and such holders will lose any entitlement to such fractional shares upon surrender of certificate(s) representing such shares.

Registered shareholders of WorldHeart who hold existing physical stock certificates will receive a letter of transmittal from WorldHeart's transfer agent, CIBC Mellon Trust Company, containing instructions on how to receive new share certificates. Shareholders whose certificates are held in "street name" or on deposit with their brokerage firm will need to take no further action.