Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our Board of Directors. The Board of Directors currently consists of five members, four of whom are not “interested persons” of the Company as
defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. We refer to these four individuals as our independent directors. Our Board of Directors elects our officers, who serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The responsibilities of each director
include, among other things, oversight of our investment activity, quarterly valuation of our assets, and oversight of our financing arrangements. The Board of Directors has also established an audit committee, a nominating and corporate governance
committee, a compensation committee, and a special committee and may establish additional committees in the future.
Pursuant to our charter and bylaws, the Board of Directors is divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II, and Class III. Directors are elected for a staggered term of three years each,
with a term of office of one of the three classes of directors expiring each year. Each director will hold office for the term to which he or she is elected or until his successor is duly elected and qualified.
Directors
Information regarding the Board of Directors is as follows:
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Name, Address, and Age(1)
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Position(s) Held with Company
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Terms of Office and Length of Time Served
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Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
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Other Directorships Held by Director
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Interested Directors
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David A. Lorber, 42
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Director
Chief Executive Officer
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Class I Director since 2019; Term expires 2021
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Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company; Co-Founder and Portfolio Manager of FrontFour Capital; Co-Founder and Principal of FrontFour Corp.
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Director of FrontFour Capital; Ferro Corporation.
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Independent Directors
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Arthur S. Ainsberg, 74
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Director
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Class II Director, since 2011; Term expires 2022
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President of Ainsberg Associates
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Former director of AG Mortgage Investment Trust; Nomura Securities International, Inc.; Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc.; Nomura Holding America, Inc.; and National Financial Partners
Corporation
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Name, Address, and Age(1)
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Position(s) Held with Company
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Terms of Office and Length of Time Served
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Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
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Other Directorships Held by Director
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Howard Amster, 73
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Director
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Class I Director since 2020; Term expires 2021
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President, Pleasant Lake Apts. Corp. (since 1992); Principal and registered representative, investment advisor and financial options and operations principal, Ramat Securities Ltd. (since 1998);
Registered Representative, McDonald Partners LLC (2015-July 2020).
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Director, Novation Companies, Inc.; Director and member of the Executive Committee of Horizon Group Properties, Inc.
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Karin Hirtler-Garvey, 63
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Director
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Class III Director since 2011; Term expires 2023
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See “Other Directorships Held by Director During Past 5 Years”
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Director of Barnes and Noble Education; Starboard Value Acquisition Corporation; the New York Academy of Science. Former director of Aratana Therapeutics, Inc.; EVINE Live Inc. (formerly ShopHQ);
SITO Mobile, Ltd.; Higher One Holdings, Inc.; Support.com, Inc.
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Lowell W. Robinson, 71
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Director
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Class III Director since 2019; Term expires 2023
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See “Other Directorships Held by Director During Past 5 Years”
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Director of Barnes and Noble Education; Starboard Value Acquisition Corporation; the New York Academy of Science. Former director of Aratana Therapeutics, Inc.; EVINE Live Inc. (formerly ShopHQ);
SITO Mobile, Ltd.; Higher One Holdings, Inc.; Support.com, Inc.
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The business address of the directors is c/o PhenixFIN Corporation, 445 Park Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10022.
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David A. Lorber is an “interested person” of the Company as defined in the 1940 Act due to his position as Chief Executive Officer of the
Company. He was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company and Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2021. He is a Co-Founder of FrontFour Capital, an investment adviser, and has served as a Portfolio Manager since January
2007. He is also a Co-Founder of FrontFour Corp., an investment adviser, and has been a Principal since January 2011. Previously, Mr. Lorber was a Senior Investment Analyst at Pirate Capital LLC, a hedge fund, from 2003 to 2006. He was an Analyst at
Vantis Capital Management LLC, a money management firm and hedge fund, from 2001 to 2003 and an Associate at Cushman & Wakefield, Inc., a global real estate firm, from 2000 to 2001. Mr. Lorber has served as a director of Ferro Corporation
(NYSE:FOE), a leading producer of specialty materials and chemicals for manufacturers, since May 2013, where he is also Lead Director, Chairman of its Governance & Nomination Committee and a member of its Compensation Committee. From April 2006
until December 2014, Mr. Lorber served as a director of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (formerly GenCorp Inc.) (NYSE:AJRD), a technology-based manufacturer of aerospace and defense products and systems with a real estate segment. He also
previously served as a director of Huntingdon Capital Corp., a real estate company, from January 2010 to May 2013 and was a Trustee for IAT Air Cargo Facilities Income Fund, a real estate company, from January 2009 to December 2009. He also served as
a director of Fisher Communications Inc. (formerly NASDAQ:FSCI), an integrated media company, from April 2009 to March 2012. Mr. Lorber earned his B.S. from Skidmore College.
Mr. Lorber’s position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and his significant financial and investment industry background as well as his board experience and corporate governance awareness from
his current and past service as a director allow him to provide valuable advice and guidance to our Board of Directors.
Independent Directors
Arthur S. Ainsberg is not an “interested person” of the Company as defined in the 1940 Act. Mr. Ainsberg has over 40 years of experience in
the financial services industry and a deep understanding of public and accounting matters for financial service companies. Mr. Ainsberg served as a director, Chairman of the Audit Committee and member of the Compliance Committee of Nomura Securities
International, Inc. (the U.S. based broker-dealer of The Nomura Group) from 1996 through December 2014. In September 2012, Mr. Ainsberg was named to the Board of Directors of Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc., and in July 2013, he was named to
the Board of Directors of Nomura Holding America, Inc., and served on each board through December 2014. In May 2013, Mr. Ainsberg was named to the Board of Directors of AG Mortgage Investment Trust. AG is a NYSE company, structured as a REIT,
investing in various types of mortgage investments and served in such capacity until June 2020. From July 2003 through May 2012, Mr. Ainsberg served as a director for National Financial Partners Corporation, an independent financial services
distribution company. From August 2009 through June 2011, Mr. Ainsberg served as Chief Operating Officer of Lehman Brothers Inc. in liquidation, the largest and most complex bankruptcy in the United States. Prior to this engagement, Mr. Ainsberg
served as the Independent Consultant for Morgan Stanley & Co. from December 2003 until July 2009, under the Global Research Analyst Settlement, and was responsible for selecting and monitoring the providers of independent research for the clients
of Morgan Stanley. Previously, Mr. Ainsberg was Chief Operating Officer at two investment partnerships, Brahman Capital Corp. from 1996 to 2000 and Bessent Capital Corp. during 2001. He also served as Chairman of the New York State Board for Public
Accountancy from 1999 to 2000 and was a member of that board from 1993 to 2001. From 1998 to 2000, he was also a member of the Board of District 10 of the National Association of Securities Dealers. Mr. Ainsberg is also the author of Shackleton: Leadership Lessons from Antarctica (2008) and the co-author of Breakthrough: Elizabeth Hughes, the Discovery of Insulin, and the Making of a Medical Miracle (2010).
Mr. Ainsberg has extensive experience in the financial services industry and a deep understanding of public and financial accounting matters for financial services companies.
Howard Amster is not an “interested person” of the Company as defined in the 1940 Act. Mr. Amster has acted as a General Partner and owner of
apartment projects totaling approximately 900 suites in Cleveland, OH. Since 1998, he has acted Principal and registered representative, investment advisor, and financial options and operations principal of Ramat Securities Ltd. (a formerly
registered securities brokerage firm), engaged in proprietary trading and investments. From 2015 until July 2020, Mr. Amster was a registered representative of McDonald Partners LLC (a registered securities brokerage firm). Since 2001, he has
served as a member of the Board and the Executive Committee and as a major shareholder of Horizon Group Properties Inc., a real estate operating company (formerly a publically held REIT) owning and managing outlet malls, and a shopping center
totaling approximately 2 million square feet of space. Since 2009, Mr. Amster has served as a director of Novation Companies, Inc., a home health care company. From 1988 to January 2020, Mr. Amster was a major shareholder and served as a director
of Maple Leaf Financial and its subsidiary Geauga Savings Bank based in Newbury, OH. He was chairman of its asset-liability committee, and was a member of the loan, personnel, and executive committees. In early 2020, the holding company and the bank
were acquired by Farmers National Banc Corp, (ticker symbol FMNB).
Mr. Amster has extensive experience in the securities industry, has been both an investment advisor and a proprietary investor and has served as a director of various companies in the financial sector.
He also has one of the largest investment positions in the Company, aligning his interests with stockholders.
Karin Hirtler-Garvey is not an “interested person” of the Company as defined in the 1940 Act. Ms. Hirtler-Garvey has served as a Director of
USAA Federal Savings Bank, a privately held consumer bank, where she served as the Compensation Committee Chair from June 2018 to January 2020, and also served as the Risk Committee Chair from December 2013 to June 2018. She also served as a Director
of StarStone, a specialty insurance company, from December 2019 to November 2020, a Director of VA Capital Management, a privately held annuities firm, since August 2018, and a Director of Victory Capital Holdings, a publicly traded asset management
firm, since October 2014, where she chairs the Audit Committee. Ms. Hirtler-Garvey served as a Director of Western World Insurance Group from December 2006 to June 2019, and chaired the Audit Committee from
December 2009 to June 2019, and also served as a Member of its Compensation Committee and Pension Committee from April 2011 to September 2014. From August 2017 to August 2018, she served as a Director of Validus Holdings Ltd., the publicly-traded
parent company of Western World. Ms. Hirtler-Garvey also served on the board of ARO Liquidation Inc., the successor company to Aeropostale, Inc., where she served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors from February 2012 to May 2016. Ms.
Hirtler-Garvey served on the board of Aeropostale from August 2005 to April 2018 where she was the lead independent director and served as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Chairperson of the Audit Committee. From May
2009 to December 2011, Ms. Hirtler-Garvey was the Chief Risk Executive for Ally Financial Inc. From June 2008 to June 2009, Ms. Hirtler-Garvey also served as a Director for Residential Capital LLC, a subsidiary of GMAC. From March 2005 to December
2008, Ms. Hirtler-Garvey was a principal in a start-up real estate development venture based in New Jersey. From 1995 to 2005, Ms. Hirtler-Garvey held various senior level management positions at Bank of America, including Chief Operating Officer,
Global Markets, President of Trust and Credit Banking Products, and Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer for the Wealth and Investment Management division. Ms. Hirtler-Garvey is a C.P.A.
Ms. Hirtler-Garvey has had a lengthy tenure in the financial services industry, where she has accumulated extensive experience in senior management positions.
Lowell W. Robinson is an experienced executive with over thirty years of senior global strategic, financial, M&A, operational, turnaround
and governance experience. From 2007 through 2009, Mr. Lowell served as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of MIVA, Inc. (formerly NASDAQ:MIVA), an online advertising network, after initially joining the company in 2006 as its
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer. Prior to that, Mr. Robinson served as the President of LWR Advisors, LLC, a strategic and financial consulting services firm, from 2002 to 2006. Previously, from 2000 to 2002, he served as the
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer at HotJobs.com Ltd. (formerly NASDAQ:HOTJ), an online recruiting and job search engine that was sold to Yahoo! Inc. Mr. Robinson was the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer
at PRT Group Inc. (formerly NASDAQ:PRTG), a software and IT services company that he helped take public, from 1997 through 1999. Mr. Robinson also previously held senior financial
positions at Advo, Inc. (formerly NYSE:AD), a direct-mail and marketing services company (1994 to 1997), Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C), a multinational diversified financial services corporation (1986 to
1993), Uncle Bens Inc., a leading marketer of rice and a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated (1983 to 1986), and Kraft Foods Inc. (formerly NYSE:KFT), at the time one of the world’s largest food companies (1973 to 1983). He previously served as a
director of each of Aratana Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETX), a commercial-stage biopharma company focused on pet products (May 2018 to July 2019), EVINE Live Inc. (NASDAQ:EVLV) (f/k/a ShopHQ), a digital omnichannel home shopping network (March 2014
to June 2018), SITO Mobile, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SITO), a leading mobile engagement platform provider (April 2017 to June 2017), Higher One Holdings, Inc. (formerly NYSE:ONE), a financial technology company focused on providing cost-saving solutions (June
2014 to August 2016), Support.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPRT), a leading provider of cloud-based software and services (March 2016 to June 2016), The Jones Group, Inc. (formerly NYSE:JNY), an American designer, marketer and wholesaler of branded clothing,
shoes and accessories (2005 to April 2014), and International Wire Group, Inc. (OTCMKTS:ITWG), a manufacturer and marketer of wire products (2003 to 2009). Mr. Robinson’s prior board experience also includes serving as a director of each of
Independent Wireless One Corp., Diversified Investment Advisors Inc. and Edison Schools Inc. Mr. Robinson currently serves on the Board of Directors of Barnes and Noble Education and Starboard Value Acquisition Corporation. Since September 2018, Mr.
Robinson has served on the Board of Directors of The New York Academy of Science, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to driving innovative solutions to society’s challenges by advancing scientific research, education and policy. He previously
was on the boards of The Council for Economic Education, The Metropolitan Opera Guild, the Smithsonian Libraries and the University of Wisconsin School of Business, where he currently is on the Advisory Board for its Department of Economics. Mr.
Robinson earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and B.A. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin.
Mr. Robinson’s broad diversified expertise in various industries, including financial services, corporate finance, M&A and turnaround experience, as well as his experience serving as a director of
numerous public companies makes him well qualified to serve on our Board of Directors.
Executive Officers
Information regarding our executive officers who are not directors of the Company are as follows:
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Name, Address, and Age(1)
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Position(s) Held with Company
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Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
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Ellida McMillan, 52
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Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
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Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer (April 2017 – February 2020) and Chief Accounting Officer, Secretary and Treasurer (November 2013 – April 2017) of Alcentra Capital Corporation.
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The business address of the executive officers is c/o PhenixFIN Corporation, 445 Park Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10022.
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Ellida McMillan is the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer of the Company. She served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief
Operating Officer of Alcentra Capital Corporation, a NASDAQ-traded BDC, from April 2017 until it merged into Crescent Capital BDC, Inc. in February 2020. Previously, beginning in November 2013, she served as Chief Accounting Officer of Alcentra
Capital, Treasurer and Secretary of Alcentra Capital. At Alcentra she built the company’s financial and operating infrastructure, oversaw the IPO and initial NASDAQ listing, as well as assisted in all corporate M&A and strategic processes
involving the BDC.
Board Leadership Structure
Our Board of Directors monitors and performs an oversight role with respect to the business and affairs of the Company, including with respect to investment practices and performance, compliance with
regulatory requirements and the services, expenses and performance of service providers to the Company. Among other things, our Board of Directors oversees the activities of our executive officers and other management personnel responsible for the
Company’s investment portfolio and approves the engagement, and reviews the performance of, our independent registered public accounting firm.
Under the Company’s bylaws, our Board of Directors may designate a Chairman to preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors and meetings of the stockholders and to perform such other duties as
may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors. We do not have a fixed policy as to whether the Chairman of the Board of Directors should be an independent director and believe that we should maintain the flexibility to select the Chairman
and reorganize the leadership structure, from time to time, based on the criteria that is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders at such times.
Presently, Mr. David Lorber serves as the Chairman of our Board of Directors. Mr. David Lorber is an “interested person” (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Company because he is
Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
The currently designated lead independent director of our Board of Directors is Arthur Ainsberg.
Our corporate governance policies include regular meetings of the independent directors in executive session without the presence of interested directors and management, the establishment of the Audit
Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the appointment of a Chief Compliance Officer, with whom the independent directors meet regularly without the presence of interested directors and other
members of management, for administering our compliance policies and procedures.
We recognize that different board leadership structures are appropriate for companies in different situations. We re-examine our corporate governance policies on an ongoing basis to ensure that they
continue to meet the Company’s needs.
Board of Directors Role in Risk Oversight
Our Board of Directors performs its risk oversight function primarily through (a) its three standing committees, which report to the entire Board of Directors and are comprised solely of independent
directors, and (b) active monitoring of our Chief Compliance Officer and our compliance policies and procedures.
As described below in more detail under “Committees of the Board of Directors,” the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its
risk oversight responsibilities. The Audit Committee’s risk oversight responsibilities include overseeing the Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes, the Company’s systems of internal controls regarding finance and accounting, and
audits of the Company’s financial statements. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s risk oversight responsibilities include selecting, researching and nominating directors for election by our stockholders, developing and recommending to
the Board of Directors a set of corporate governance principles, and overseeing the evaluation of the Board of Directors and our management.
Our Board of Directors also performs its risk oversight responsibilities with the assistance of the Chief Compliance Officer. Every quarter, the Board of Directors reviews a written report from the
Chief Compliance Officer discussing the adequacy and effectiveness of the compliance policies and procedures of the Company and its service providers. The Chief Compliance Officer’s quarterly report addresses the following: (a) the operation of the
compliance policies and procedures of the Company and its service providers since the last report; (b) any material changes to such policies and procedures since the last report; (c) any recommendations for material changes to such policies and
procedures as a result of the Chief Compliance Officer’s quarterly review; and (d) any compliance matter that has occurred since the date of the last report about which the Board of Directors would reasonably need to know to oversee our compliance
activities and risks. In addition, the Chief Compliance Officer meets separately in executive session with the independent directors at least once each year.
We believe that our Board of Directors’ role in risk oversight is effective and appropriate given the extensive regulation to which we are already subject as a business development company (“BDC”). As a
BDC, we are required to comply with certain regulatory requirements that control the levels of risk in our business and operations. For example, our ability to incur indebtedness is limited such that our asset coverage must equal at least 200% (or
150% if, pursuant to the 1940 Act, certain requirements are met) immediately after each time we incur indebtedness, we generally have to invest at least 70% of our total assets in “qualifying assets,” and we are not generally permitted to invest in
any portfolio company in which one of our affiliates currently has an investment.
We recognize that different board roles in risk oversight are appropriate for companies in different situations. We re-examine the manner in which the Board of Directors administers its oversight
function on an ongoing basis to ensure that it continues to meet the Company’s needs.
Committees of the Board of Directors
An Audit Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and a Compensation Committee have been established by our Board of Directors. Previous to January 1, 2021, the Company also had a
Special Committee. During the fiscal year of 2020, our Board of Directors held 27 board meetings, six Audit Committee meetings, ten Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meetings, one Compensation Committee meeting, and 32 Special Committee
meetings. All directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board of Directors and of the respective committees on which they serve. We require each director to make a diligent effort to attend all board and committee
meetings as well as each annual meeting of our stockholders.
Audit Committee. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a charter approved by our Board of Directors, a copy of which is available on our website at http://www.phenixfc.com. The charter sets forth the responsibilities of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include selecting the independent registered public accounting firm for the
Company, reviewing with such independent registered public accounting firm the planning, scope and results of its audit of the Company’s financial statements, pre-approving the fees for services performed, reviewing with the independent registered
public accounting firm the adequacy of internal control systems, reviewing the Company’s annual financial statements and periodic filings and receiving the Company’s audit reports and financial statements. The Audit Committee also establishes
guidelines and makes recommendations to our Board of Directors regarding the valuation of our investments. The Audit Committee is responsible for aiding our Board of Directors in determining the fair value of debt and equity securities that are not
publicly traded or for which current market values are not readily available. The Board of Directors and the Audit Committee utilize the services of nationally recognized third-party valuation firms to help determine the fair value of these
securities. The Audit Committee is currently composed of Karin Hirtler-Garvey, Arthur S. Ainsberg, and Lowell W. Robinson, each of whom is independent as set forth in the listing rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (the “NASDAQ
Listing Rules”) and is not an “interested person” (as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Company. Karin Hirtler-Garvey serves as Chair of the Audit Committee. Our Board of Directors has determined that each of Karin
Hirtler-Garvey, Arthur S. Ainsberg, and Lowell W. Robinson is an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined under Item 407 of Regulation S-K, as promulgated under the Exchange Act. Each of Karin Hirtler-Garvey (chair), Arthur S.
Ainsberg, and Lowell W. Robinson meets the current independence and experience requirements of Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operates pursuant to a charter approved by our Board of
Directors, a copy of which is available on our website at http://www.phenixfc.com. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for selecting, researching and nominating directors for
election by our stockholders, selecting nominees to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, developing and recommending to the Board of Directors a set of corporate governance principles and overseeing the evaluation of the
Board of Directors and our management. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently does not consider nominees recommended by our stockholders.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks candidates who possess the background, skills and expertise to make a significant contribution to the Board of Directors, the Company and its
stockholders. In considering possible candidates for election as a director, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee takes into account, in addition to such other factors as it deems relevant, the desirability of selecting directors who:
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are of high character and integrity;
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are accomplished in their respective fields, with superior credentials and recognition;
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have relevant expertise and experience upon which to be able to offer advice and guidance to management;
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have sufficient time available to devote to the affairs of the Company;
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are able to work with the other members of the Board of Directors and contribute to the success of the Company;
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can represent the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders as a whole; and
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are selected such that with the other members of the Board of Directors represent a range of backgrounds and experience.
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The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has not adopted a formal policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees. In determining whether to recommend a
director nominee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers and discusses diversity, among other factors, with a view toward the needs of the Board of Directors as a whole. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee generally
conceptualizes diversity expansively to include, without limitation, concepts such as race, gender, national origin, differences of viewpoint, professional experience, education, skill and other qualities that contribute to the Board of Directors,
when identifying and recommending director nominees. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that the inclusion of diversity as one of many factors considered in selecting director nominees is consistent with the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee’s goal of creating a Board of Directors that best serves the needs of the Company and the interest of its stockholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is currently composed of Arthur S. Ainsberg
(chair), Howard Amster, and Karin Hirtler-Garvey, each of whom is independent as set forth in the NASDAQ Listing Rules and is not an “interested person” (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Company. Mr. Ainsberg serves as Chairman
of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee operates pursuant to a charter approved by our Board of Directors, a copy of which is available on our website
at http://www.phenixfc.com. The Compensation Committee is responsible for formulating and recommending to the full Board of Directors the compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial
Officer and Chief Compliance Officer. Previous to January 1, 2021, when the Company was externally managed, the Compensation Committee was responsible for reviewing and approving the reimbursement by the Company of the compensation of the Company’s
Chief Financial Officer, the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer and their respective staffs. The Compensation Committee is currently composed of Karin Hirtler-Garvey, Howard Amster, Arthur S. Ainsberg, and Lowell Robinson (chair), each of whom is
independent as set forth in the NASDAQ and is not an “interested person” (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Company. Mr. Robinson serves as the Chair the Compensation Committee.
Special Committee. The Special Committee was established for the purpose of assessing the merits of various proposed strategic transactions. In particular, the
Special Committee was granted the authority to, among other things, evaluate and review the terms and conditions of the previously proposed merger of the Company with an affiliate of the Company’s external investment manager and determine whether any
potential alternative transactions were advisable and is fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders (or any subset of its stockholders that the Special Committee determined to be appropriate) in connection with the any
potential alternative transactions. The Special Committee had the authority to select and retain, in its sole discretion, any advisors that they deemed appropriate, including their own independent financial and legal advisors. Until its dissolution
on January 1, 2021, the Special Committee was composed of Arthur S. Ainsberg, Karin Hirtler-Garvey, David A. Lorber, and Lowell W. Robinson, each of whom is independent as set forth in the NASDAQ Listing Rules and is not an “interested person” (as
defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Company. Mr. Lorber served as the chair of the Special Committee.
Communication with the Board of Directors
Stockholders with questions about the Company are encouraged to contact the Company’s investor relations department. However, if stockholders believe that their questions have not been addressed, they
may communicate with the Company’s Board of Directors by sending their communications to Investor Relations, c/o PhenixFIN Corporation, 445 Park Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10022. All stockholder communications received in this manner
will be delivered to one or more members of the Board of Directors.
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, the Company’s directors and executive officers, and any persons holding more than 10% of its common stock, are required to report their beneficial
ownership and any changes therein to the SEC and the Company. Specific due dates for those reports are established by the rules of the Securities and Exchanger Commission, and the Company is required to report herein any failure to file such reports
by those due dates. Based solely on a review of the copies of such reports and written representations delivered to the Company by such persons, we believe that there were no violations of Section 16(a) by such persons during the Company’s fiscal
year ended September 30, 2020.
Code of Ethics
The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics which applies to, among others, our senior officers, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, as well as every officer, director,
employee and access person (as defined within the Company’s Code of Ethics) of the Company. The Company’s Code of Ethics can be accessed via our website at http://www.phenixfc.com. The Company intends to
disclose any amendments to or waivers from any required provision of the Code of Ethics on Form 8-K.