UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule
14a-101)
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE
14a INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed
by the Registrant [X]
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check
the appropriate box:
[ ]
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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[ ]
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Confidential,
for use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e) (2)
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[X]
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Definitive
Proxy Statement
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[ ]
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Definitive
Additional Materials
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[ ]
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Soliciting
Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
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MANHATTAN
BRIDGE CAPITAL, INC.
(Name
of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X]
No fee required.
[ ]
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1)
Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2)
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3)
Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
(4)
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5)
Total fee paid:
[ ]
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ]
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting
fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of
its filing.
(1)
Amount Previously Paid:
(2)
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3)
Filing Party:
(4)
Date Filed:
MANHATTAN
BRIDGE CAPITAL, INC.
60
Cutter Mill Road
Great
Neck, NY 11021
Notice
of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
To
be held on Friday, June 19, 2020
To
Our Shareholders:
You
are invited to attend the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Manhattan Bridge Capital, Inc. at 9:00 a.m. local time, on Friday,
June 19, 2020, at the offices of Sullivan & Worcester LLP, 1633 Broadway, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10019. However,
we are actively monitoring developments with regard to the coronavirus or COVID-19, and it is possible that the Annual Meeting
may be held solely by means of remote communication. In the event it is not possible or advisable to hold the Annual Meeting in
person, we will announce alternative arrangements for the meeting as promptly as practicable.
The
Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement on the following pages describe the matters to be presented at the meeting.
It
is important that your shares be represented at this meeting to ensure the presence of a quorum. Whether or not you plan to attend
the meeting, we hope that you will have your shares represented by signing, dating and returning your proxy in the enclosed envelope,
which requires no postage if mailed in the United States, as soon as possible. Your shares will be voted in accordance
with the instructions you have given in your proxy.
Thank
you for your continued support.
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Sincerely,
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Assaf
Ran
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President
and Chief Executive Officer
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MANHATTAN
BRIDGE CAPITAL, INC.
60
Cutter Mill Road
Great
Neck, NY 11021
Notice
of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
To
be held on Friday, June 19, 2020
The
Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Manhattan Bridge Capital, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at the offices of Sullivan
& Worcester LLP, 1633 Broadway, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10019, on Friday, June 19, 2020 at 9:00 a.m., local time,
for the purpose of considering and acting upon the following:
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1.
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Election
of five (5) directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their respective successors have been
duly elected and qualified.
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2.
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Advisory
approval of the appointment of Hoberman & Lesser CPA’s, LLP as the Company’s
independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.
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3.
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The
transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment or adjournments thereof.
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However,
we are actively monitoring developments with regard to the coronavirus or COVID-19, and it is possible that the Annual Meeting
may be held solely by means of remote communication. In the event it is not possible or advisable to hold the Annual Meeting in
person, we will announce alternative arrangements for the meeting as promptly as practicable.
The
Company’s Board of Directors has set the close of business on May 1, 2020 as the record date for the determination of shareholders
entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting, or any adjournment or adjournments thereof. A complete list of such shareholders
will be available for examination by any shareholder at the meeting. The meeting may be adjourned from time to time without notice
other than by announcement at the meeting.
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By order of the Board of Directors
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Vanessa Kao
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Secretary
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Great
Neck, New York
May
19, 2020
IMPORTANT:
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IT
IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES YOU HOLD. WHETHER OR NOT YOU
PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND MAIL IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
RETURN ENVELOPE. THE PROMPT RETURN OF PROXIES WILL ENSURE A QUORUM AND SAVE THE COMPANY THE EXPENSE OF FURTHER SOLICITATION.
EACH PROXY GRANTED MAY BE REVOKED BY THE SHAREHOLDER APPOINTING SUCH PROXY AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS VOTED. IF YOU RECEIVE
MORE THAN ONE PROXY CARD BECAUSE YOUR SHARES ARE REGISTERED IN DIFFERENT NAMES OR ADDRESSES, EACH SUCH PROXY CARD SHOULD BE
SIGNED AND RETURNED TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF YOUR SHARES WILL BE VOTED.
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We
appreciate your giving this matter your prompt attention.
IMPORTANT
NOTICE REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
FOR
THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020
The
proxy materials for the Annual Meeting, including the Annual Report and the Proxy Statement are also
available
at http://www.manhattanbridgecapital.com/meeting-2020.html
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MANHATTAN
BRIDGE CAPITAL, INC.
60
Cutter Mill Road
Great
Neck, NY 11021
PROXY
STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To
be held on Friday, June 19, 2020
Proxies
in the form enclosed with this Proxy Statement are solicited by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Manhattan
Bridge Capital, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or any derivative thereof)
to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held at the offices of Sullivan &
Worcester LLP, 1633 Broadway, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10019, on Friday, June 19, 2020 at 9:00 a.m., local time, for
the purposes set forth in the Notice of Meeting and this Proxy Statement. However, we are actively monitoring developments with
regard to the coronavirus or COVID-19, and it is possible that the Annual Meeting may be held solely by means of remote communication.
In the event it is not possible or advisable to hold the Annual Meeting in person, we will announce alternative arrangements for
the meeting as promptly as practicable. The Company’s principal executive offices are located at 60 Cutter Mill Road, Suite
205, Great Neck, NY 11021. The approximate date on which this Proxy Statement, the accompanying Proxy and Annual Report for the
year ended December 31, 2019 will be mailed to shareholders is May 19, 2020.
IMPORTANT
NOTICE REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
FOR
THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020
The
proxy materials for the Annual Meeting, including the Annual Report and the Proxy Statement are also available at http://www.manhattanbridgecapital.com/meeting-2020.html
THE
VOTING AND VOTE REQUIRED
Record
Date and Quorum
Only
shareholders of record at the close of business on May 1, 2020 (the “Record Date”), are entitled to notice of and
vote at the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, there were 9,629,735 outstanding shares of our common stock, par value $0.001
per share (the “Common Shares”). Each Common Share is entitled to one vote. Common Shares represented by each properly
executed, unrevoked proxy received in time for the Annual Meeting will be voted as specified. Common Shares were our only voting
securities outstanding on the Record Date. A quorum will be present at the Annual Meeting of shareholders when such shareholders
owning a majority of the Common Shares outstanding on the Record Date are present at the meeting in person or by proxy.
Voting
of Proxies
The
persons acting as proxies (the “Proxyholders”) pursuant to the enclosed Proxy will vote the shares represented as
directed in the signed proxy. Unless otherwise directed in the proxy, the Proxyholders will vote the shares represented by the
proxy: (i) for the election of the director nominees named in this Proxy Statement; (ii) for the advisory approval of the appointment
of Hoberman & Lesser CPA’s, LLP (“H&L”) as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 2020; and (iii) in their discretion, on any other business that may come before the Annual Meeting and any
adjournments of the Annual Meeting.
All
votes will be tabulated by the inspector of election appointed for the Annual Meeting, who will separately tabulate affirmative
and negative votes, abstentions and broker non-votes. All shares represented by valid proxies will be voted in accordance with
the instructions contained therein. In the absence of instructions, proxies will be voted FOR each of the director nominees in
Proposal No. 1 and FOR Proposal No. 2. A proxy may be revoked by the shareholder giving the proxy at any time before it is voted
at the Annual Meeting, by written notice addressed to and received by the Secretary of the Company or Secretary of the Annual
Meeting, and a prior proxy is automatically revoked by a shareholder giving a subsequent proxy or attending and voting in person
at the Annual Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Meeting, however, in and of itself, does not revoke a prior proxy. In the case
of the election of directors, shares represented by a proxy which are marked “WITHHOLD AUTHORITY” to vote for all
director nominees will not be counted in determining whether a plurality vote has been received for the election of directors.
Shares represented by proxies that are marked “ABSTAIN” on any other proposal will not be counted in determining whether
the requisite vote has been received for such proposal. In instances where brokers are prohibited from exercising discretionary
authority for beneficial owners who have not returned proxies (“broker non-votes”), including with respect to the
election of directors, those shares will not be included in the vote totals and, therefore, will have no effect on the outcome
of the vote.
Voting
Requirements
Election
of Directors. The election of the five director nominees will require a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting.
Votes may be cast in favor of or withheld with respect to each nominee. Votes that are withheld will be excluded entirely from
the vote and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.
Advisory
Approval of the Appointment of Independent Auditors. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter by
stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the appointment of H&L as the Company’s independent
auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. An abstention from voting on approval of auditors will be treated as “present”
for quorum purposes. However, since an abstention is not treated as a “vote” for or against the matter, it will have
no effect on the outcome of the vote.
Proposal
No. 1
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
The
current members of our Board are Lyron Bentovim, Eran Goldshmit, Michael J. Jackson, Phillip Michals and Assaf Ran. All five directors
are to be elected at the Annual Meeting. All directors hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until their
successors are duly elected and qualified.
It
is intended that votes pursuant to the enclosed proxy will be cast for the election of the five nominees named below. In the event
that any such nominee should become unable or unwilling to serve as a director, the Proxy will vote for the election of an alternate
candidate, if any, as shall be designated by the Board. Our Board has no reason to believe these nominees will be unable to serve
if elected. Each nominee has consented to be named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected. All five nominees are currently
members of our Board. There are no family relationships among any of the executive officers or directors of the Company.
Our
director nominees and their respective ages as of the Record Date are as follows:
Name
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Age
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Position
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Assaf
Ran
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54
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Founder,
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
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Lyron
Bentovim (1)
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50
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Director
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Eran
Goldshmit (1)(2)(3)
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53
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Director
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Michael
J. Jackson (1)(2)(3)
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55
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Director
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Phillip
Michals (1)(2)(3)
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50
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Director
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(1)
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Member
of the Audit Committee.
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(2)
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Member
of the Compensation Committee.
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(3)
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Member
of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.
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Set
forth below is a brief description of the background and business experience of our director nominees:
Assaf
Ran, our founder, has been our Chief Executive Officer, president and chairman since our inception in 1989. Mr. Ran has 31
years of senior management experience leading public and private businesses. Mr. Ran started several yellow page businesses from
the ground up and managed to make each one of them successful. Mr. Ran’s professional experience and background with us,
as our director since March 1999, have given him the expertise needed to serve as one of our directors.
Lyron
Bentovim has been a member of the Board since December 2008. Mr. Bentovim currently serves as The President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Glimpse Group, a virtual reality and augmented reality company as well as a Managing Partner at Darklight Partners
in New York, NY. Darklight Partners is a strategic advisor to small and mid-size public and private companies. Prior to Darklight
Partners, from July 2014 to August 2015, Mr. Bentovim was Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer of Top Image Systems
(Nasdaq: TISA), and from March 2013 to July 2014, Mr. Bentovim served as Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer of NIT
Health and Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer and managing director at Cabrillo Advisors. From August 2009 until
July 2012, Mr. Bentovim has served as the Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of Sunrise Telecom, Inc. Prior
to joining Sunrise Telecom, Inc., from January 2002, Mr. Bentovim was a Portfolio Manager for Skiritai Capital LLC, an investment
advisor based in San Francisco. Mr. Bentovim has over 20 years of management experience, including his experience as a member
of the board of directors at Blue Sphere, RTW Inc., Ault, Inc., Top Image Systems Ltd., Three-Five Systems Inc., Sunrise Telecom
Inc., and Argonaut Technologies Inc. Prior to his position in Skiritai Capital LLC, Mr. Bentovim served as the President, Chief
Operating Officer and co-founder of WebBrix, Inc. Additionally, Mr. Bentovim spent time as a Senior Engagement Manager with strategy
consultancies USWeb/CKS, the Mitchell Madison Group LLC and McKinsey & Company Inc. Mr. Bentovim has an MBA from Yale School
of Management and a law degree from the Hebrew University. Mr. Bentovim’s professional experience and background with other
companies and with us have given him the expertise needed to serve as one of our directors.
Eran
Goldshmit has been a member of the Board since March 1999. Since August 2001, he has been the president of the New York Diamond
Center, New York, NY. From December 1998 until July 2001, Mr. Goldshmit was the general manager of the Carmiel Shopping Center
in Carmiel, Israel. Mr. Goldshmit received certification as a financial consultant in February 1993 from the School for Investment
Consultants, Tel Aviv, Israel, and a BA in business administration from the University of Humberside, England, in December 1998.
Mr. Goldshmit’s professional experience and background with other companies and with us have given him the expertise needed
to serve as one of our directors.
Michael
J. Jackson has been a member of the Board since July 2000. Since May 2017, Mr. Jackson has been the Chief Financial Officer
of Radius Global Market Research. From March 2016 through April 2017, Mr. Jackson served as the Chief Financial Officer and executive
vice president of both Ethology, Inc., a digital marketing agency, and Tallwave, LLC, a business design and innovation agency.
From April 2007 through February 2016, he was the Chief Financial Officer and the executive vice president of iCrossing, Inc.,
a digital marketing agency. From October 1999 to April 2007, he was the executive vice president and Chief Financial Officer of
AGENCY.COM, a global Internet professional services company. He served as the chief accounting officer of AGENCY.com from May
2000 and as its corporate controller from August 1999 until September 2001. From October 1994 until August 1999, Mr. Jackson was
a manager at Arthur Andersen, LLP and Ernst and Young. Mr. Jackson also served on the New York State Society Auditing Standards
and Procedures Committee from 1998 to 1999 and served on the New York State Society’s SEC Committee from 1999 to 2001. Mr.
Jackson holds an M.B.A. in Finance from Hofstra University and is a certified public accountant. For the five years ended May
2008, Mr. Jackson was a member of the board of directors of Adstar, Inc. (OTC PINK: ADST). Mr. Jackson’s professional experience
and background with other companies and with us have given him the expertise needed to serve as one of our directors.
Phillip
Michals has been a member of the Board since rejoining our Board in June 2019. Mr. Michals is the CEO/Executive Chairman of
A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, a full service investment banking and wealth management firm. Mr. Michals has also been a partner
in RG Michals since 1999 and affiliated with an independent firm from 2010 to 2018. His responsibilities were primarily in business
development. He was also a partner for over 10 years at MSCI, an advisory/consulting firm that consulted for Member firms of NYSE
and FINRA. Mr. Michals currently has his Series 7, 63, 24, 99, and 65 licenses and received his Bachelor of Science from University
of Delaware. Mr. Michal’s professional experience and background with other companies and with us have given him the expertise
needed to serve as one of our directors.
The
Board recommends a vote FOR the election of each of the director nominees
and
proxies that are signed and returned will be so voted
unless
otherwise instructed.
*
* * * *
Proposal
No. 2
ADVISORY
APPROVAL OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT
AUDITORS
H&L
has been our independent registered public accounting firm since November 2014 when Hoberman, Goldstein & Lesser, CPA’s,
P.C. (“HG&L”), our independent registered public accounting firm at the time, effectively resigned when the ownership
interest in HG&L changed and formed H&L as a new successor entity to HG&L. As a result, H&L was engaged as our
new independent registered public accounting firm. One or more representatives of H&L is expected to be at the Annual Meeting
and will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate
questions from our shareholders.
Selection
of the independent accountants is not required to be submitted to a vote of our shareholders for ratification. In addition, the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires the Audit Committee to be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight
of the audit work of the independent auditors. The Audit Committee expects to appoint H&L to serve as independent auditors
to conduct an audit of our accounts for the 2020 fiscal year. However, the Board is submitting this matter to our shareholders
as a matter of good corporate practice. If the shareholders fail to vote on an advisory basis in favor of the selection, the Audit
Committee will take that into consideration when deciding whether to retain H&L and may retain that firm or another without
re-submitting the matter to the shareholders. Even if shareholders vote on an advisory basis in favor of the appointment, the
Audit Committee may, in its discretion, direct the appointment of different independent auditors at any time during the year if
it determines that such a change would be in our and our shareholders’ best interests.
The
Board recommends a vote FOR this proposal
and
proxies that are signed and returned will be so voted
unless
otherwise instructed
*
* * * *
EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
The
following table identifies our executive officers as of the Record Date:
Name
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Age
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Position
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In
Current Position Since
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Assaf
Ran (1)
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54
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President
and Chief Executive Officer
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1989
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Vanessa
Kao (2)
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42
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Chief
Financial Officer, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary
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2011
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(1)
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Mr.
Ran’s biographical information is provided above.
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(2)
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Ms.
Kao has been our Chief Financial Officer, vice president, treasurer and secretary since rejoining us in June 2011. From January
2014 through April 2016, she was also the Chief Financial Officer of Jewish Marketing Solutions LLC. Since April 2016, she
has been serving as a consultant to Jewish Marketing Solutions LLC. From July 2004 through April 2006, she served as our assistant
Chief Financial Officer. From April 2006 through December 2013, she was the Chief Financial Officer of DAG Jewish Directories,
Inc. Ms. Kao holds an M.B.A. in Finance and MIS/E-Commerce from the University of Missouri and a Bachelor degree of Business
Administration in Finance from the National Taipei University in Taiwan.
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CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Code
of Ethics
We
have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and other persons performing
similar functions, as well as our subsidiary, MBC Funding II Corp. Our current Code of Ethics is posted on our web site at www.manhattanbridgecapital.com.
We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding an amendment to, or waiver from, a provision
of our Code of Ethics by posting such information on the website address specified above.
Director
Independence
The
Board has determined, in accordance with Nasdaq’s Stock Market Rules, that: (i) Messrs. Jackson, Goldshmit, Bentovim and
Michals (the “Independent Directors”) are independent and represent a majority of its members; (ii) Messrs. Jackson,
Goldshmit, Bentovim and Michals, as the members of the Audit Committee, are independent for such purposes; and (iii) Messrs. Jackson,
Goldshmit and Michals, as the members of the Compensation Committee, are independent for such purposes. In determining director
independence, the Board applies the independence standards set by the Nasdaq. In its application of such standards the Board takes
into consideration all transactions with Independent Directors and the impact of such transactions, if any, on any of the Independent
Directors’ ability to continue to serve on the Board.
Board
and Committees
During
fiscal year 2019, the Board held three meetings, our Audit Committee held four meetings, our Compensation Committee held one meeting,
and our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee held one meeting. All directors attended or participated by telephone in
all meetings of the Board and of the Board’s committees on which each applicable director served. It is the Company’s
policy that directors are invited and encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting. All of our then current directors attended or participated
by telephone in our annual meeting held in 2019.
We
have three standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.
Each committee is made up entirely of independent directors as defined under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”) and Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. The members of the Audit Committee are Michael Jackson, who serves as chairman,
Eran Goldshmit, Lyron Bentovim and Phillip Michals. The members of the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance and
Nominating Committee are Michael Jackson, Eran Goldshmit and Phillip Michals. Current copies of each committee’s charter
are available on our website at www.manhattanbridgecapital.com.
Audit
Committee. The Audit Committee oversees our accounting and financial reporting processes, internal systems of accounting
and financial controls, relationships with auditors and audits of financial statements. Specifically, the Audit Committee’s
responsibilities include the following:
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selecting,
hiring and terminating our independent auditors;
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●
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evaluating
the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent auditors;
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approving
the audit and non-audit services to be performed by the independent auditors;
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●
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reviewing
the design, implementation and adequacy and effectiveness of our internal controls and critical policies;
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●
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overseeing
and monitoring the integrity of our financial statements and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as they
relate to our financial statements and other accounting matters;
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●
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with
management and our independent auditors, reviewing any earnings announcements and other public announcements regarding our
results of operations; and
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●
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preparing
the report that the SEC requires in our annual proxy statement.
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The
Board has determined that Michael Jackson is qualified as an Audit Committee Financial Expert pursuant to Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation
S-K. Each Audit Committee member is independent, as that term is defined in Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and their relevant experience is more fully described above.
Compensation
Committee. The Compensation Committee assists the Board in determining the compensation of our officers and directors.
Specific responsibilities include the following:
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approving
the compensation and benefits of our executive officers;
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●
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reviewing
the performance objectives and actual performance of our officers; and
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●
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administering
our stock option and other equity and incentive compensation plans.
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The
Compensation Committee is comprised entirely of directors who satisfy the standards of independence applicable to compensation
committee members under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the Compensation Committee
did not utilize the services of a compensation consultant.
Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee assists the Board by identifying
and recommending individuals qualified to become members of the Board. Specific responsibilities include the following:
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●
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evaluating
the composition, size and governance of the Board and its committees and making recommendations regarding future planning
and the appointment of directors to our committees;
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●
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establishing
a policy for considering shareholder nominees to the Board;
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●
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reviewing
our corporate governance principles and making recommendations to the Board regarding possible changes; and
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●
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reviewing
and monitoring compliance with our code of ethics and insider trading policy.
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Board
Leadership Structure
Mr.
Ran has served as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President since our inception in 1989. Our By-Laws give the
Board the flexibility to determine whether the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer should be held by the same person
or by two separate individuals. Each year, the Board evaluates our leadership structure and determines the most appropriate structure
for the coming year based upon its assessment of our position, strategy, and our long term plans. The Board also considers the
specific circumstances we face and the characteristics and membership of the Board. At this time, the Board has determined that
having Mr. Ran serve as both the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is in the best interest of our shareholders. We believe
this structure makes the best use of the Chief Executive Officer’s extensive knowledge of our business and personnel, our
strategic initiatives and our industry, and also fosters real-time communication between management and the Board.
The
Board’s Oversight of Risk Management
The
Board recognizes that companies face a variety of risks, including credit risk, liquidity risk, strategic risk, and operational
risk. The Board believes an effective risk management system will (1) timely identify the material risks that we face, (2) communicate
necessary information with respect to material risks to senior executives and, as appropriate, to the Board or relevant Board
committee, (3) implement appropriate and responsive risk management strategies consistent with our risk profile, and (4) integrate
risk management into our decision-making. The Board encourages and management promotes a corporate culture that incorporates risk
management into our corporate strategy and day-to-day business operations. The Board also continually works, with the input of
our management and executive officers, to assess and analyze the most likely areas of future risk for us.
Delinquent
Section 16(a) Reports
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock,
to file reports regarding ownership of, and transactions in, our securities with the SEC and to provide us with copies of those
filings. Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms received by us, or written representations from certain reporting
persons, except for the Form 3 filed on July 3, 2019 by Phillip Michals, who became a director on June 21, 2019, we believe that
during fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, all filing requirements applicable to our officers, directors and ten percent beneficial
owners were complied with.
Audit
Committee Report
The
Audit Committee oversees our financial reporting process on behalf of the Board. The Audit Committee consists of four members
of the Board who meet the independence and experience requirements of Nasdaq and the SEC.
The
Audit Committee retains our independent registered public accounting firm and approves in advance all permissible non-audit services
performed by them and other auditing firms. Although management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and
the reporting process including the systems of internal control, the Audit Committee consults with management and our independent
registered public accounting firm regarding the preparation of financial statements, the adoption and disclosure of our critical
accounting estimates and generally oversees the relationship of the independent registered public accounting firm with our Company.
The
Audit Committee reviewed our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019, and met with management to discuss
such audited financial statements. The Audit Committee has discussed with H&L, our independent accountants, the matters required
to be discussed pursuant to the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCOAB”)
and the SEC. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from H&L required by applicable requirements
of the PCOAB regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and
has discussed with H&L its independence from us and our management. Based on its review and discussions, the Audit Committee
recommended to the Board that our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 be included in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year then ended for filing with the SEC.
|
AUDIT
COMMITTEE:
|
|
|
|
Michael
J. Jackson, Chairman
|
|
Eran
Goldshmit
|
|
Lyron
Bentovim
|
|
Phillip
Michals
|
Shareholder
Communications
The
Board has established a process to receive communications from shareholders. Shareholders and other interested parties may contact
any member (or all members) of the Board, or the non-management directors as a group, any Board committee or any chair of any
such committee by mail or electronically. To communicate with the Board, any individual director or any group or committee of
directors, correspondence should be addressed to the Board or any such individual director or group or committee of directors
by either name or title. All such correspondence should be sent c/o Corporate Secretary at 60 Cutter Mill Road, Suite 205, Great
Neck, NY 11021.
All
communications received as set forth in the preceding paragraph will be opened by the Secretary for the sole purpose of determining
whether the contents represent a message to our directors. Any contents that are not in the nature of advertising, promotions
of a product or service, patently offensive material or matters deemed inappropriate for the Board will be forwarded promptly
to the addressee. In the case of communications to the Board or any group or committee of directors, the Secretary will make sufficient
copies of the contents to send to each director who is a member of the group or committee to which the envelope or e-mail is addressed.
Executive
Compensation
The
following Summary Compensation Table sets forth all compensation earned by or paid to, in all capacities, during the years ended
December 31, 2019 and 2018 by (i) the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and (ii) the most highly compensated executive officers,
other than the CEO, who were serving as executive officers and whose total compensation exceeded $100,000 (the individuals falling
within categories (i) and (ii) are collectively referred to as the “Named Executives”):
Summary
Compensation Table
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
|
All Other Compensation
($) (1)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Assaf Ran
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and President
|
|
2019
|
|
$
|
254,167
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
7,625
|
|
|
$
|
261,792
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
$
|
305,000
|
|
|
$
|
78,000
|
|
|
$
|
9,150
|
|
|
$
|
392,150
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vanessa Kao
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer, Vice President,
|
|
2019
|
|
$
|
144,000
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
4,320
|
|
|
$
|
148,320
|
|
Treasurer and Secretary
|
|
2018
|
|
$
|
137,000
|
|
|
$
|
26,000
|
|
|
$
|
4,110
|
|
|
$
|
167,110
|
|
(1)
Company’s matching contributions are made pursuant to its Simple IRA Plan.
Employment
Contracts
We
have an employment agreement with Assaf Ran, our President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to which: (i) Mr. Ran’s
employment term renews automatically on June 30th of each year for successive one-year periods unless either party gives to the
other written notice at least 180 days prior to June 30th of its intention to terminate the agreement; (ii) Mr. Ran receives a
current annual base salary of $305,000 and annual bonuses as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board, in its sole
and absolute discretion, and is eligible to participate in all executive benefit plans established and maintained by us; and (iii)
Mr. Ran agreed to a one-year non-competition period following the termination of his employment. If the employment agreement is
terminated by Mr. Ran for “good reason” (as defined in the employment agreement) he shall be paid (1) his base compensation
up to the effective date of such termination; (2) his full share of any incentive compensation payable to him for the year in
which the termination occurs; and (3) a lump sum payment equal to 100% of the average cash compensation paid to, or accrued for,
him in the two calendar years immediately preceding the calendar year in which the termination occurs. Mr. Ran voluntarily agreed
to forgo his base salary for the months of November and December 2019 in an aggregate amount of $50,833. The Compensation Committee
approved an annual bonus of $78,000 to Mr. Ran in 2018.
Restricted
Stock Grant
In
September 2011, upon shareholder approval at the 2011 annual meeting of shareholders, we granted 1,000,000 restricted common shares
(the “Restricted Shares”) to Mr. Ran, our Chief Executive Officer. Under the terms of the restricted shares agreement,
among other things, Mr. Ran may not sell, convey, transfer, pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of the Restricted Shares until
the earliest to occur of the following: (i) September 9, 2026, with respect to 1/3 of the Restricted Shares, September 9, 2027
with respect to an additional 1/3 of the Restricted Shares and September 9, 2028 with respect to the final 1/3 of the Restricted
Shares; (ii) the date on which Mr. Ran’s employment is terminated by us for any reason other than for “Cause”
(i.e., misconduct that is materially injurious to us monetarily or otherwise, including engaging in any conduct that constitutes
a felony under federal, state or local law); or (iii) the date on which Mr. Ran’s employment is terminated on account of
(A) his death; or (B) his disability, which, in the opinion of his personal physician and a physician selected by us prevents
him from being employed with us on a full-time basis (each such date being referred to as a “Risk Termination Date”).
If at any time prior to a Risk Termination Date Mr. Ran’s employment is terminated by us for Cause, or by Mr. Ran voluntarily
for any reason other than death or disability, Mr. Ran will forfeit that portion of the Restricted Shares which has not previously
vested. Mr. Ran has the power to vote the Restricted Shares and will be entitled to all dividends payable with respect to the
Restricted Shares.
In
connection with the Compensation Committee’s approval of the foregoing grant of Restricted Shares, the Compensation Committee
consulted with and obtained the concurrence of independent compensation experts and informed Mr. Ran that it had no present intention
of continuing its prior practice of annually awarding stock options to Mr. Ran as Chief Executive Officer. Also, Mr. Ran advised
the Compensation Committee that he would not seek future stock option grants.
Termination
and Change of Control Arrangement
In
the event of termination, Mr. Ran will not be entitled to receive any severance and any non-vested options will be automatically
forfeited. If at any time prior to a Risk Termination Date Mr. Ran’s employment is terminated by us for cause or by Mr.
Ran voluntarily for any reason other than death or disability, Mr. Ran will forfeit that portion of the Restricted Shares which
have not previously vested. If Mr. Ran is terminated for any reason other than for cause, the Restricted Shares become immediately
transferable.
Compensation
of Directors
During
2019, the annual cash compensation paid to each independent member of the Board was $10,000, plus an additional $300 for each
committee meeting attended. In June 2019, the Compensation Committee elected to increase the annual cash compensation paid to
each independent member of the Board to $12,000, effective beginning in fiscal year 2020.
The
table below summarizes the compensation paid to our independent directors for the year ended December 31, 2019. Mr. Ran’s
compensation is described below under “Executive Compensation.”
Director
Compensation
Name
(a)
|
|
Fees Earned or Paid
in Cash ($)
|
|
Michael Jackson
|
|
$
|
11,800
|
|
Eran Goldshmit
|
|
$
|
11,800
|
|
Lyron Bentovim
|
|
$
|
11,200
|
|
Phillip Michals (1)
|
|
$
|
5,600
|
|
(1)
|
Mr.
Michals rejoined the Board in June 2019.
|
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The
following table sets forth information concerning outstanding equity awards to the Named Executives as of December 31, 2019.
Name
|
|
Stock Awards
Number of Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have Not Vested (#)
|
|
|
Market Value of Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have Not Vested ($)
|
|
Assaf Ran
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and President
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
6,360,000
|
(1)(2)
|
(1)
|
Calculated
based on the closing market price of $6.36 at the end of the last completed fiscal year on December 31, 2019.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Mr.
Ran may not sell, convey, transfer, pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of the Restricted Shares until the earliest to occur
of the following: (i) September 9, 2026, with respect to 1/3 of the Restricted Shares, September 9, 2027 with respect to an
additional 1/3 of the Restricted Shares and September 9, 2028 with respect to the final 1/3 of the Restricted Shares; (ii)
the date on which Mr. Ran’s employment is terminated by us for any reason other than for “Cause;” or (iii)
on a Risk Termination Date. If at any time prior to a Risk Termination Date Mr. Ran’s employment is terminated by us
for Cause or Mr. Ran voluntarily terminates his employment for any reason other than death or disability, Mr. Ran will forfeit
that portion of the Restricted Shares which have not previously vested.
|
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions
Except
for the compensation arrangements described above, no director, executive officer, principal stockholder holding at least 5% of
our Common Shares, or any family member thereof, had or will have any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction,
or proposed transaction, during Fiscal Year 2019 in which the amount involved in the transaction exceeded or exceeds the lesser
of $120,000 or one percent of our total assets at the end of Fiscal Year 2019.
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
The
following table, together with the accompanying footnotes, sets forth information, as of the Record Date, regarding the beneficial
ownership of our common shares by all persons known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding common shares, each
Named Executive, each director, and all of our directors and executive officers as a group:
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Amount of Beneficial
Ownership (1)
|
|
|
Percentage of Class
|
|
Executive Officers and Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assaf Ran (2)
|
|
|
2,572,500
|
|
|
|
26.7
|
%
|
Vanessa Kao
|
|
|
8,236
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Michael Jackson
|
|
|
35,000
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Eran Goldshmit
|
|
|
10,978
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Lyron Bentovim
|
|
|
38,887
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Phillip Michals
|
|
|
101,058
|
|
|
|
1.1
|
%
|
All executive officers and directors as a group (6 persons)
|
|
|
2,766,659
|
|
|
|
28.7
|
%
|
*Less
than 1%
(1)
|
A
person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities that can be acquired by such person within 60 days from the Record
Date upon the exercise of options and warrants or conversion of convertible securities. Each beneficial owner’s percentage
ownership is determined by assuming that options, warrants and convertible securities that are held by such person (but not
held by any other person) and that are exercisable or convertible within 60 days from the Record Date have been exercised
or converted. Except as otherwise indicated, and subject to applicable community property and similar laws, each of the persons
named has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares shown as beneficially owned. All percentages are determined
based on 9,629,735 shares outstanding on the Record Date.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Includes
1,000,000 Restricted Shares granted to Mr. Ran on September 9, 2011, which was approved by shareholders at our 2011 annual
meeting of shareholders. Mr. Ran may not sell, convey, transfer, pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of the Restricted Shares
until the earliest to occur of the following: (i) September 9, 2026, with respect to 1/3 of the Restricted Shares, September
9, 2027 with respect to an additional 1/3 of the Restricted Shares and September 9, 2028 with respect to the final 1/3 of
the Restricted Shares; (ii) the date on which Mr. Ran’s employment is terminated by us for any reason other than for
“Cause;” or (iii) on a Risk Termination Date. If at any time prior to a Risk Termination Date Mr. Ran’s
employment is terminated by us for Cause or Mr. Ran voluntarily terminates his employment for any reason other than death
or disability, Mr. Ran will forfeit that portion of the Restricted Shares which have not previously vested. Mr. Ran’s
address is c/o Manhattan Bridge Capital, Inc., 60 Cutter Mill Road, Suite 205, Great Neck, New York 11021.
|
Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees and Other Matters
The
aggregate fees billed by our principal accounting firm, H&L, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as
follows:
2019
The
aggregate fees incurred during 2019 for our principal accountant were $65,500, covering the audit of our annual financial statements
and the review of our financial statements for the first, second and third quarters of 2019.
2018
The
aggregate fees incurred during 2018 for our principal accountant were $65,500, covering the audit of our annual financial statements
and the review of our financial statements for the first, second and third quarters of 2018.
There
were no audit-related fees billed by our principal accountant during 2019 or 2018.
There
were no tax fees billed by our principal accountant during 2019 or 2018.
No
other fees, beyond those disclosed above, were billed during 2019 or 2018 except that we were billed $21,500 in 2018 by our principal
accountant for services rendered in connection with our Registration Statement on Form S-3 for our public offering in July 2018.
Pre-Approval
Policies and Procedures
Our
Audit Committee approved the engagement with H&L. These services were pre-approved by our Audit Committee to assure that such
services do not impair the auditor’s independence from us.
MISCELLANEOUS
Other
Matters
Management
knows of no matter other than the foregoing to be brought before the Annual Meeting, but if such other matters properly come before
the meeting, or any adjournment thereof, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy will vote such proxy on such matters
in accordance with their best judgment.
Solicitation
of Proxies
The
accompanying proxy is solicited by and on behalf of our Board, whose notice of meeting is attached to this Proxy Statement, and
the entire cost of the solicitation of proxies will be borne by us. Proxies may be solicited by directors, officers and regular
employees of ours, without extra compensation, by telephone, telegraph, mail or personal interview. Solicitation is not to be
made by specifically engaged employees or paid solicitors. We will also request that brokers, nominees, custodians and other fiduciaries
forward soliciting materials to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by such brokers, nominees, custodians and other
fiduciaries. We will also reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable expenses
for sending proxies and proxy material to the beneficial owners of our Common Shares.
Shareholder
Proposals for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
Shareholders
who intend to have a proposal considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for presentation at our 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act must submit the proposal to our Secretary at our offices at 60 Cutter Mill Road,
Suite 205, Great Neck, NY 11021, in writing not later than January 19, 2021. Shareholders who wish to present a proposal at our
next annual meeting of stockholders without the inclusion of such proposal in our proxy materials must advise our Secretary of
such proposals in writing by April 7, 2021.
Householding
of Annual Meeting Materials
Some
banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may be participating in the practice of “householding” proxy statements
and annual reports. This means that only one copy of our proxy statement or annual report may have been sent to multiple shareholders
in your household. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of either document to you if you call or write us at the following
address or phone number: 60 Cutter Mill Road, Suite 205, Great Neck, NY 11021, (516) 444-3400. If you want to receive separate
copies of the annual report and proxy statement in the future or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive
only one copy for your household, you should contact your bank, broker, or other nominee record holders, or you may contact us
at the above address and phone number.
Certain
information contained in this Proxy Statement relating to the occupations and security holdings of our directors and officers
is based upon information received from the individual directors and officers.
WE
WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT CHARGE, A COPY OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019, INCLUDING FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES THERETO, BUT NOT INCLUDING EXHIBITS, TO EACH OF OUR SHAREHOLDERS OF RECORD ON THE RECORD DATE AND TO
EACH BENEFICIAL SHAREHOLDER ON THAT DATE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST MADE TO OUR SECRETARY. A REASONABLE FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR COPIES
OF REQUESTED EXHIBITS.
PLEASE
DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE IN THE ENCLOSED RETURN ENVELOPE. A PROMPT RETURN OF YOUR PROXY
CARD WILL BE APPRECIATED AS IT WILL SAVE THE EXPENSE OF FURTHER MAILINGS.
EVERY
SHAREHOLDER, WHETHER OR NOT HE OR SHE EXPECTS TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON, IS URGED TO EXECUTE THE PROXY AND RETURN
IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED BUSINESS REPLY ENVELOPE.
|
By
order of the Board of Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vanessa
Kao
|
|
Secretary
|
Great
Neck, New York
May
19, 2020
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