Amendment: SEC Form 10-K/A filed by Creative Media & Community Trust Corporation
$CMCT
Real Estate Investment Trusts
Real Estate
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM | ||
Amendment No. 1
| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||||||
| For the fiscal year ended | ||||||||
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| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||||||
Commission file number 1-13610
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||||||||
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) | |||||||||||||
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) | ||||||||||||||
| Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: | ||||||||||||||
| Tel Aviv Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||||
| (Title of each class) | (Trading symbol) | (Name of each exchange on which registered) | ||||||||||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ | |||||||
Smaller reporting company | Emerging growth company | |||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Act.) Yes ☐ No ☒
As of June 30, 2024, the aggregate market value of the voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, computed by reference to the average high and low sales prices on the Nasdaq Global Market as of the close of business on June 30, 2024, was approximately $31.5 million. The registrant does not have any nonvoting common equities.
As of April 14, 2025, the registrant had outstanding 754,607 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Principal Accountant Fees and Services ( | |||||||||||
Item 15. | Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules | ||||||||||
Explanatory Note
This Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (this “Amendment”) amends the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Creative Media & Community Trust Corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) for the year ended December 31, 2024, originally filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 7, 2025 (the “Original Form 10-K”).
This Amendment is being filed for the purpose of providing the information required by Items 10 through 14 of Part III of the Annual Report on Form 10-K. This information was previously omitted from the Original Form 10-K in reliance on General Instruction G(3) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K.
In accordance with Rule 12b-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the cover page to the Original Form 10-K and Items 10 through 14 of Part III of the Original Form 10-K are hereby amended and restated in their entirety. In addition, pursuant to Rule 12b-15 under the Exchange Act, the Company is supplementing Item 15 of Part IV of the Original Form 10-K to file the certifications required under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 with this Amendment. Because no financial statements have been included in this Amendment No. 1, certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 have been omitted.
Except as described above, this Amendment does not otherwise change or update any of the disclosures set forth in the Original Form 10-K and does not otherwise reflect any events occurring after the filing of the Original Form 10-K.
Important Note
On January 6, 2025, the Company effected a 1-for-10 reverse stock split (the “January Reverse Stock Split”) on its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”). On April 15, 2025, the Company effected a 1-for-25 reverse stock split (the “April Reverse Stock Split”) on its Common Stock. Unless otherwise specified, all Common Stock and per share of Common Stock amounts set forth in this Amendment have been adjusted to give retroactive effect to both the January Reverse Stock Split and the April Reverse Stock Split.
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PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors” or the “Board”) consists of seven directors. Each was appointed or elected to serve for a one-year term and until his or her successor is elected and qualifies, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal from office.
Set forth below are the names of the persons nominated as directors, their ages, their offices in the Company, if any, their principal occupations or employment for at least the past five years, the length of their tenure as directors of the Company and the names of other public companies in which such persons hold or have held directorships during the past five years.
| Name | Age | Position | ||||||||||||
Douglas Bech | 79 | Director (independent) | ||||||||||||
| John Hope Bryant | 59 | Director (independent) | ||||||||||||
| Marcie Edwards | 68 | Director (independent) | ||||||||||||
| Shaul Kuba | 62 | Director | ||||||||||||
| Richard Ressler | 66 | Director and Chairman of the Board | ||||||||||||
| Avraham Shemesh | 63 | Director | ||||||||||||
| Elaine Wong | 45 | Director (independent) | ||||||||||||
Douglas Bech has served as a director of the Company since March 2014, and since 1997 as founder and chief executive officer of Raintree Resorts International ("Raintree"), a private enterprise engaged in vacation ownership and resort operations in Mexico, the United States and Canada. Prior to founding Raintree, Mr. Bech practiced securities and corporate finance law from 1970 to 1997. Mr. Bech also served as a director of J2 Global, Inc. from November 2000 to October 2021 and from August 1988 through November 2000, he served as a director of eFax.com, a company J2 Global, Inc. acquired in November 2000. In October 2021 Mr. Bech was appointed non-executive chairman of the board of directors of Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc., a company which was spun off to the J2 (now renamed Ziff-Davis) shareholders. Mr. Bech also served as presiding independent director of HollyFrontier Corporation from July 2011 until May 2021, when Mr. Bech retired from its board of directors. Mr. Bech had previously served as a director of Frontier Oil Corporation from 1993 until its merger with Holly Corporation in July 2011. Mr. Bech also served, from 2014 until February 1, 2016, as an independent trust manager of Moody National REIT II, Inc., a registered, non-traded real estate investment trust that acquires limited service hotels in the United States. Mr. Bech’s previous work as a securities and corporate finance lawyer, as a director of other diverse public companies, and his experience as a chief executive officer of a multi-national enterprise provides expertise on corporate governance, legal matters and finance, as well as a general business management perspective to the Board.
John Hope Bryant has served as a director of the Company since November 2022. John Hope Bryant is an American entrepreneur, prominent thought leader, author, philanthropist, and a leading expert in financial literacy and economic inclusion. Referred to as the “conscience of capitalism” by numerous Fortune 500 CEOs, Bryant is the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Operation HOPE, Inc. the Nation’s largest nonprofit provider of financial literacy services for youth and adults. Bryant is also chairman and chief executive officer of John Hope Bryant Enterprises, Bryant Group Ventures and Bryant Group Advisors. Until June 2024, he was the executive chairman of The Promise Homes Company, which is the largest for-profit minority-controlled owner of institutional-quality, single-family residential rental homes in the United States. John Hope Bryant is responsible for financial literacy becoming the official policy of the U.S. federal government. He is the only American citizen to ever inspire the renaming of a building on the White House campus; from the U.S. Treasury Annex Building to the Freedman’s Bank Building, in honor of Lincoln’s unfinished work to teach freed slaves about money, in 1865. Named to the prestigious Forbes BLK50 List in December 2024 and TIME Magazine’s inaugural The Closers List, recognizing 18 global leaders working to close the racial wealth gap, Bryant has dedicated his career to transforming economic systems for underserved communities and ensuring inclusive growth in the AI-driven future. He is a CNBC contributor, host of the iHeart Radio podcast, “Money and Wealth with John Hope Bryant,” a member of the CNBC Global Financial Wellness Council and the CNBC CEO Council, and a best-selling author of six books, including Financial Literacy For All, released April 2024. He is
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one of the only bestselling authors on economics and business leadership in the world today who is African American. Mr. Bryant was selected to serve as a director because of his experience as an entrepreneur and a real estate investor, his leadership skill and his deep connections to the community, all of which are expected to bring valuable insight to the Board.
Marcie Edwards has served as a director of the Company since her appointment by our Board on February 11, 2021. Ms. Edwards served as the general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) from 2014 to 2017. In that capacity, she managed a city agency with an annual budget of more than $6 billion and approximately 10,000 employees. As part of her role at LADWP, she served as a member of the board of the Water and Power Employees’ Retirement Plan, overseeing more than $12 billion in investments. Prior to her tenure at LADWP, Ms. Edwards was the city manager of the City of Anaheim from 2013 to 2014, overseeing an annual budget of more than $1 billion with approximately 3,000 employees, including a fire department, a police department, and a public utility company. From 2000 to 2012, Ms. Edwards was the utility general manager of Anaheim Public Utilities and, prior to 2000, Ms. Edwards spent almost 25 years with LADWP in a variety of positions. From 2019 to 2021, she was chair to the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board as a gubernational appointee. Ms. Edwards served as a board member of S&C Electric Company in Chicago and a member of its audit committee from 2019 and 2021, respectively, until 2024. In 2019, Ms. Edwards was invited to serve a five-year assignment on the Southern California Gas Company’s Advisory Safety Council, which concluded in December 2024. Ms. Edwards has a Master in Public Administration degree from the University of LaVerne. Ms. Edwards’ extensive experience in public administration provides the Board with a strong resource on a variety of important strategic matters.
Shaul Kuba has served as a director of the Company since March 2014 and chief investment officer of the Company since March 2023. Mr. Kuba is a co-founder, principal and president of CIM’s Real Asset Services division with more than 30 years of active real estate, infrastructure and lending experience. Since co-founding CIM Group, L.P. in 1994, Mr. Kuba has been an integral part of building CIM Group, L.P.’s platforms. As a principal and head of CIM Group, L.P.’s Development Group, he is actively involved in the development, redevelopment and repositioning of CIM Group, L.P.’s real estate assets. Additionally, Mr. Kuba is instrumental in sourcing new opportunities and establishing and maintaining relationships with national and regional retailers, hospitality brands and restaurateurs. He serves on CIM Group, L.P.’s Investment, Allocation and Real Asset Management Committees and provides guidance on the diverse opportunities across CIM’s platforms. He also serves as an officer of various affiliates of CIM. Prior to CIM Group, L.P., Mr. Kuba was involved in a number of successful entrepreneurial real estate activities including co-founding Dekel Development, a developer of commercial and multifamily properties in Los Angeles. Mr. Kuba was selected to serve as a director because of his significant experience with the real estate development and sourcing new transactions as a result of his experience with CIM Group L.P., including as co-founder thereof, as well as his leadership roles at CIM Group L.P., all of which are expected to bring valuable insight to the Board of Directors.
Richard Ressler has served as director and chairman of the Company since March 2014. Mr. Ressler is the founder and president of Orchard Capital Corporation (“Orchard Capital”), a firm that provides consulting and advisory services to companies in which Orchard Capital or its affiliates invest. Through his affiliation with Orchard Capital, Mr. Ressler serves in various senior capacities with, among others, CIM, a community-focused real estate and infrastructure owner, operator, lender and developer and the indirect parent of CIM Real Estate Finance Management, LLC, the external manager of CIM Real Estate Finance Trust, Inc. (“CMFT”), Orchard First Source Asset Management Holdings, LLC ( “OFSAM Holdings”), a holding company consisting of asset management businesses, including OFS Capital Management, LLC, a registered investment adviser focusing primarily on investments in middle-market loans and broadly syndicated loans, debt and equity positions in CLOs and other structured credit investments and other registered investment advisers focusing primarily on investments in broadly syndicated loan, and OCV Management, LLC (“OCV”), an investor, owner and operator of technology companies. Mr. Ressler also serves as a board member for various public and private companies in which Orchard Capital or its affiliates invest. Mr. Ressler served as non-executive chairman of the board of Ziff Davis, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZD), formerly known as j2Global, Inc., from 1997 until May 2022 and as its chief executive officer from 1997 to 2000. In addition, he has also served as the chief executive officer and president and as a director of CMFT, a non-listed REIT operated by an affiliate of CIM that invests in net lease core real estate assets as well as real estate loans and other credit investments, since February 2018, and has served as chairman of its board of directors since August 2018. Mr. Ressler has served as the chairman of the investment risk management committee of CMFT since April 2022 and served as a member of the nominating and corporate governance committee from August 2018 to March 2022. Mr. Ressler served as the chief executive officer, president and a director of CIM
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Income NAV, Inc. (“CIM Income NAV”) from February 2018 to December 2021 and as Chairman of the board of directors of CIM Income NAV from August 2018 to December 2021 until CIM Income NAV’s merger with and into CMFT in December 2021. Mr. Ressler served as the chief executive officer, president, and director of Cole Office & Industrial REIT (CCIT III), Inc. (“CCIT III”) from February 2018 and as chairman of its board of directors from August 2018 until CCIT III’s merger with and into CMFT in December 2020. Mr. Ressler also served as a director of Cole Office & Industrial REIT (CCIT II), Inc. (“CCIT II”) from January 2019 until CCIT II’s merger with Peakstone Realty Trust (f/k/a Griffin Realty Trust, Inc. (“GRT”)) in March 2021. The second as a director of Cole Credit Property Trust V, Inc. (“CCPT V”) from January 2019 to October 2019.
Mr. Ressler co-founded CIM Group, L.P. in 1994 and serves as the executive chairman of CIM and as an officer of various affiliates of CIM, including our Administrator and CIM Urban GP. Mr. Ressler co-founded the predecessor of OFSAM Holdings in 2001 and chairs its executive committee. Mr. Ressler co-founded OCV in 2016 and chairs its executive committee. Prior to founding Orchard Capital, from 1988 until 1994, Mr. Ressler served as vice chairman of Brooke Group Limited, the predecessor of Vector Group, Ltd. (NYSE: VGR) and served in various executive capacities at VGR and its subsidiaries. Prior to VGR, Mr. Ressler was with Drexel Burnham Lambert, Inc., where he focused on merger and acquisition transactions and the financing needs of middle-market companies. Mr. Ressler began his career in 1983 with Cravath, Swaine and Moore LLP, working on public offerings, private placements, and merger and acquisition transactions. Mr. Ressler holds a B.A. from Brown University, and J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from Columbia University. Mr. Ressler was selected to serve as a director because of his extensive real estate, business management and finance experience and expertise, in addition to his leadership roles at several public companies, all of which are expected to bring valuable insight to the board of directors.
Avraham Shemesh has served as a director of the Company since March 2014. Mr. Shemesh is a co-founder, principal and president of CIM’s Real Asset Management division with more than 30 years of active real estate, infrastructure and lending experience. Since co-founding CIM Group, L.P. in 1994, Mr. Shemesh has been instrumental in building CIM Group, L.P.’s real estate, infrastructure and debt platforms. He serves on CIM Group, L.P.’s Investment, Allocation, Real Assets Management and Valuation Committees as well as the ICCS, providing guidance on the diverse opportunities available across CIM’s various platforms. Mr. Shemesh is responsible for CIM’s long-time relationships with strategic institutions and oversees teams essential to acquisitions, portfolio management and internal and external communication. He serves as an officer of various affiliates of CIM. In addition, Mr. Shemesh served as a director of CMFT from March 2019 until February 2024. He served as a director of CIM Income NAV from January 2019 to December 2021 when CIM Income NAV merged with CMFT. He also served as the chief executive officer and president and as a director of CCIT II from February 2018, and as chairman of the board of directors of CCIT II from August 2018 until CCIT II’s merger with GRT in March 2021. Until the mergers of such entities with and into CMFT in December 2020, he served as the Chief Executive Officer and as a director of CCPT V beginning in March 2018, as Chairman of the board of directors of CCPT V beginning in August 2018, and as a director of CCIT III beginning in January 2019. Prior to CIM Group, L.P., Mr. Shemesh was involved in a number of successful entrepreneurial real estate activities, including co-founding Dekel Development, a developer of a wide variety of commercial and multifamily properties in Los Angeles. Mr. Shemesh was selected to serve as a director because of his significant experience with the real estate acquisition process and strategic planning as a result of his experience with CIM Group L.P., including as co-founder thereof, as well as his leadership roles at CIM and CMFT, all of which are expected to bring valuable insight to the Board of Directors.
Elaine Wong has served as a director of the Company since May 2022. Ms. Wong was a principal at CIM Group, L.P. and served as its head of marketing & communications from May 2018 until her retirement from CIM at the end of June 2021. Ms. Wong was a member of CIM’s Investment Committee from February 2015 to June 2021. From February 2015 to April 2018, Ms. Wong served as CIM’s global head of partner & co-investor relations. She served at CIM from February 2012 to January 2015 as 1st vice president, global head of fundraising and investor relations, from February 2010 to January 2012 as vice president, fundraising & investor relations, and from April 2007 to January 2010 as associate, investor relations. She was also a director of CMFT from October 2019 to December 2021, a director of CIM Income NAV from October 2019 until its merger with CMFT in December 2021, a director of CCPT V from October 2019 until its merger with CMFT in December 2020 and a director of CCIT II from October 2019 until its merger with GRT in March 2021. Prior to joining CIM, Ms. Wong served from May 2005 to March 2007 as an associate at Perry Capital, LLC, and from July 2001 to April 2005 as an analyst, and then associate in the equities division, financial and strategic management, of Goldman Sachs & Co. Ms. Wong received a
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Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and finance from New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business. Ms. Wong was selected to serve as a director because of her financial background and experience and expertise in investor relations, marketing and communications strategy, and fundraising, all of which are expected to bring valuable insight to the Board.
Executive Officers
Set forth below are the names of the persons who are our executive officers as of the date hereof, their ages and their positions with the Company. Each executive officer will serve until his successor is duly appointed, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal from office.
| Name | Age | Position | ||||||||||||
| David Thompson | 61 | Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||||||
| Barry N. Berlin | 64 | Chief Financial Officer and Secretary; Executive Vice President and Treasurer | ||||||||||||
Shaul Kuba | 63 | Chief Investment Officer | ||||||||||||
David Thompson has been chief executive officer of the Company since March 2019. Mr. Thompson served as the chief financial officer of the Company from March 2014 to March 2019. Mr. Thompson is also a principal, chief financial officer of CIM Group, L.P. and serves on CIM Group, L.P.’s Investment, Valuation Committee and the ICCS. He joined CIM Group, L.P. in 2009. In addition, Mr. Thompson has served as the chief executive officer and trustee of CIM Real Assets & Credit Fund, a closed-ended interval fund that seeks to invest in a mix of institutional-quality real estate and credit assets, since February 2019. Prior to joining CIM Group, L.P. in 2009, Mr. Thompson spent 15 years with Hilton Hotels Corporation, most recently as senior vice president and controller, where he was responsible for worldwide financial reporting, financial planning and analysis, internal control and technical accounting compliance. Mr. Thompson’s experience includes billions of dollars of real estate acquisitions and dispositions in the office, retail, multifamily, hotel, gaming and timeshare sectors, as well as significant capital markets experience. Mr. Thompson began his career as a C.P.A. in the Los Angeles office of Arthur Andersen & Co. Mr. Thompson received a B.S. degree in accounting from the University of Southern California.
Barry N. Berlin has been chief financial officer and secretary of the Company since August 2022. Mr. Berlin has been the executive vice president and treasurer of the Company since October 2008 and was chief financial officer of the Company’s predecessor from June 1993 to March 2014. He has been Chief Financial Officer of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary lending business since 1992 and has been the chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors of that business since 2020. In addition, Mr. Berlin has served in various finance and accounting roles within CIM Group and its affiliates since 2017 and is currently a managing director of CIM Group, L.P., chief financial officer of CIM Real Assets & Credit Fund, a closed-ended interval fund advised by an affiliate of CIM Group, L.P. that is registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, chief financial officer of CIM Capital, LLC, the Company’s operator and an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Mr. Berlin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Florida and is a certified public accountant. Mr. Berlin began his career in public accounting.
Shaul Kuba’s biographical information is set forth above under “Board of Directors.”
Corporate Governance
Company Leadership Structure; Board Role in Risk Oversight
Leadership Structure. The Board does not have a formal policy regarding the leadership structure of the Company and whether the roles of chairman and chief executive officer should be separated, but instead believes that these matters should be determined based on a number of different factors and circumstances, including the Company’s position, history, size, culture, stockholder base, board size and board composition and that, as a result, the appropriate structure may change from time to time as circumstances warrant. Currently, the roles of chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the Company are separated. Our chairman of the board is Mr. Ressler and our chief executive officer is Mr. Thompson.
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Risk Oversight. The Company is exposed to a variety of risks. The entire Board regularly assesses major risks facing the Company and reviews options for their mitigation. The Board may appoint a committee to address a specific risk or to oversee the Company’s response to a specific risk. In particular, the Audit Committee of the Board oversees the Company’s policies with respect to risk assessment and risk oversight and oversees risk with respect to financial reporting matters. The Board also relies on management to bring significant matters to its attention.
The Board believes that the Company’s current leadership structure, including the independent Audit Committee oversight function and the open access of the Board to the Company’s executive officers and senior management as the Board determines is appropriate, supports the oversight role of the Board in the Company’s risk management.
Statement on Corporate Governance
Governance Principles. The Board has adopted a set of Governance Principles that provides a framework for the governance of the Company. The Company’s Governance Principles may be found on the Company’s website at https://shareholders.creativemediacommunity.com/corporate-overview/corporate-governance in the section entitled “Governance Documents.” Such information is not incorporated by reference in this amendment of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Contacting the Board. The Board welcomes your questions and comments. If you would like to communicate directly with the Board, or if you have a concern related to the Company’s business ethics or conduct, financial statements, accounting practices or internal controls, then you may submit your correspondence to the Secretary of the Company, at 5956 Sherry Lane, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75225, or you may call the Ethics Hotline at 1-800-292-4496. All communications will be forwarded to the Audit Committee, which in turn may forward certain communications to the entire Board in its discretion.
Code of Ethics. The Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all directors, officers and employees of the Company, the Operator (as defined below) and the Administrator (as defined below), including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer (the “Code of Ethics”).
If the Board amends any provisions of the Code of Ethics that applies to the Company’s principal executive officer or any other executive officer of the Company or grants a waiver in favor of any such persons, the Company intends to satisfy its disclosure requirements by disclosing the amendment or waiver in a Current Report on Form 8 K filed with the SEC within four business days following such amendment or waiver.
The Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics may be found on the Company’s website at https://shareholders.creativemediacommunity.com/corporate-overview/corporate-governance in the section entitled “Governance Documents.” Such information is not incorporated by reference in this amendment of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Meetings of the Board
The Board held a total of eight meetings during the year ended December 31, 2024. Each director attended at least 75 percent of the aggregate number of Board meetings and the meetings of committees on which he or she served during 2024. Directors are encouraged to attend the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company. The majority of members of our Board virtually attended our 2024 annual meeting of stockholders.
Independent Director Meetings
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The independent directors have at least one regularly scheduled meeting or executive session per year without the presence of other directors and management. Any independent director can request that an additional executive session be scheduled.
Committees of the Board
The Board has the following standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee.
Audit Committee. The Company has a standing Audit Committee that oversees the accounting and financial reporting processes as well as legal, compliance and risk management matters. The Audit Committee consists of Ms. Wong (chairman), Mr. Bryant and Ms. Edwards. The Audit Committee is comprised entirely of directors who meet the independence and financial literacy requirements of Nasdaq and applicable SEC rules. See “—Independence of Directors.” In addition, the Board has determined that Ms. Wong qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in SEC rules.
The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include providing assistance to the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities with respect to oversight of the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, performance and independence, and the performance of the Company’s internal audit function, if any. In accordance with its Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment and oversight of the independent registered public accounting firm, who reports directly to the Committee, approval of the engagement fee of the independent registered public accounting firm and pre approval of the audit services and any permitted non audit services they may provide to the Company. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews the scope of audits as well as the annual audit plan and evaluates matters relating to the audit and internal controls of the Company. Further, the Audit Committee supervises the Company’s compliance with the cybersecurity rule promulgated by the SEC. The Audit Committee holds separate executive sessions, outside the presence of executive management, with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
During 2024, the Audit Committee held five meetings.
The charter for the Audit Committee may be found on the Company’s website at https://shareholders.creativemediacommunity.com/corporate-overview/corporate-governance in the section entitled “Committee Charters.” Such information is not incorporated by reference in this amendment of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Compensation Committee. Our Compensation Committee consists of two of our independent directors: Mr. Bech, who serves as chairman, and Ms. Wong. Our Board has adopted a charter for the Compensation Committee that sets forth its specific functions, powers, duties and responsibilities. Among other things, the Compensation Committee charter calls upon the Compensation Committee to:
•In consultation with senior management, establish the Company’s general compensation philosophy and oversee the development, implementation and administration of compensation plans, policies and programs, if any;
•Oversee compliance of all compensation-related disclosure requirements, including producing an annual Compensation Committee Report for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement in accordance with applicable SEC rules and regulations; and
•Review and make recommendations to the Board regarding any changes in compensation for directors.
During 2024, the Compensation Committee held two meetings.
The charter for the Compensation Committee may be found on the Company’s website at https://shareholders.creativemediacommunity.com/corporate-overview/corporate-governance in the section entitled “Committee
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Charters.” Such information is not incorporated by reference in this amendment of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is comprised of two of our independent directors: Mr. Bech, who serves as chairman, and Ms. Edwards. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee was formed to establish and implement our corporate governance practices and to nominate individuals for election to the Board. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operates pursuant to a written charter adopted by our Board. Among other things, the committee charter calls upon the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to: (i) periodically review the size and composition of the Board and recommend to the Board such modifications to its size and/or composition as are determined by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to be necessary or desirable; (ii) recommend to the Board the director nominees for the next annual meeting of stockholders; and (iii) develop and recommend to the Board a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the Company.
During 2024, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held one meeting.
The charter for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may be found on the Company’s website at https://shareholders.creativemediacommunity.com/corporate-overview/corporate-governance in the section entitled “Committee Charters.” Such information is not incorporated by reference in this amendment of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Director Nomination Procedures
Director Qualifications. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that each member of the Board must possess high personal and professional ethics, integrity and values, and be committed to representing the long term interests of the stockholders, as well as an inquisitive mind, an objective perspective, practical wisdom and mature judgment. In addition, directors must be willing to devote sufficient time to carry out their duties and responsibilities effectively. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is committed to diversity on the Board, values diversity and believes the Board should reflect an appropriate diversity of viewpoints, background, experience, ethnicity, gender, culture and other demographics.
Identifying and Evaluating Nominees. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may consider those factors it deems appropriate in evaluating director candidates as outlined above. The skills and personality of each director should fit with those of the other directors in building a Board that is effective, collegial and responsive to the needs of the Company. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may consider candidates for the Board from any reasonable source, including current board members, stockholders, professional search firms or other persons. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not evaluate candidates differently based on who has made the recommendation. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may hire and pay a fee to consultants or search firms to assist in the process of identifying and evaluating candidates; however, no such consultant or search firm was engaged in the year ended December 31, 2024.
Stockholder Nominees. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider properly submitted stockholder nominees for election to the Board and will apply the same evaluation criteria in considering such nominees as it would to persons nominated under any other circumstances. Any stockholder nominations proposed for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee should include the nominee’s name and sufficient biographical information to demonstrate that the nominee meets the qualification requirements for board service as set forth under “—Director Qualifications.” The nominee’s written consent to the nomination should also be included with the nomination submission, which should be sent in accordance with the provisions of our bylaws and addressed to: Mr. Barry Berlin, Secretary of the Company, 5956 Sherry Lane, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75225.
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Additional information regarding submitting stockholder proposals is set forth in our bylaws. Stockholders may request a copy of our bylaws from the Company’s Secretary, Mr. Barry Berlin, Secretary of the Company, Creative Media & Community Trust Corporation, 5956 Sherry Lane, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75225.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities, to file reports of holdings and transactions in our securities with the SEC. Executive officers, directors and any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the shares of any class of our equity securities are required by applicable regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file with the SEC.
Based solely upon a review of these reports, and upon representations from certain of such persons, we believe that all SEC ownership reporting requirements applicable to our directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 10% of the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share ("Common Stock"), were satisfied on a timely basis during and with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
Insider Trading Policies and Procedures
We have adopted an Insider Trading Policy governing the trading of our securities by the Company’s officers, directors, employees and certain employees of CIM Group, as well as the Company itself, that we believe is reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations and the Nasdaq listing standards. A copy of our Insider Trading Policy is filed as Exhibit 19.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.
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Item 11. Executive Compensation
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Background
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis relates to compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers during fiscal year 2024.
2024 Named Executive Officers
The following individuals were our named executive officers during 2024:
| Name | Title | |||||||
| David Thompson | Chief Executive Officer | |||||||
| Barry N. Berlin | Chief Financial Officer and Secretary; Executive Vice President and Treasurer | |||||||
The Company is externally operated by the Operator, an affiliate of CIM Group, L.P. In addition, CIM Service Provider, LLC (the “Administrator”), a subsidiary of CIM Group, L.P., provides certain administrative services to the Company and its subsidiaries. Mr. Thompson, chief executive officer is employed by an affiliate of the Operator and the Administrator and his compensation is determined by, and paid to him directly by, such affiliate. The Company did not pay Mr. Thompson any compensation in 2024 and 2023. Therefore, the compensation of Mr. Thompson is not discussed in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis.
Mr. Berlin was appointed chief financial officer and secretary of the Company on August 10, 2022. While Mr. Berlin has an employment agreement with the Company as described below under “—Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control,” Mr. Berlin has been jointly employed by the Company and an affiliate of the Operator and the Administrator. In each of 2024 and 2023, Mr. Berlin’s compensation was paid by an affiliate of the Operator and the Administrator. Such affiliate was then reimbursed by the Company. In each of 2024 and 2023, the amount of the reimbursement was based on Mr. Berlin’s time spent working on matters pertaining to the lending business of the Company. In each of 2024 and 2023, such affiliate did not seek reimbursement from the Company for the time that Mr. Berlin spent in his role as Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
Role of Management and the Board in the Compensation Setting Process
Management of the Company and the Board had no role in setting the compensation of Mr. Berlin.
Stockholder Advisory Vote
Because stockholders expressed support for the Company’s executive compensation programs in 2024 by approving such programs, on an advisory basis, and because Mr. Berlin’s terms of employment are governed by the terms of his existing employment agreement, the Compensation Committee did not make any changes to the Company’s executive compensation programs in 2024.
Compensation Policies and Practices in Relation to Risk Management
As of December 31, 2024, the Company had five employees. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee does not believe that the Company’s compensation policies and practices are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
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Use of Independent Compensation Consultant
The Compensation Committee did not engage the services of an independent compensation consultant in 2024.
Determining 2024 Executive Compensation
As described above, Mr. Thompson is employed and paid by an affiliate of the Operator and the Administrator and did not receive any compensation from the Company. Therefore, his compensation is not discussed herein. In each of 2024 and 2023, as described above under “—2024 Name Executive Officers,” Mr. Berlin’s compensation that was attributable to the time that he spent in his role as chief financial officer of the Company was not borne by the Company but by an affiliate of the Operator and the Administrator. Accordingly, the Board did not play a role in determining Mr. Berlin’s compensation.
2024 Base Salary and Annual Cash Incentive
Mr. Berlin’s compensation that was attributable to the time that he spent in his role as chief financial officer of the Company was not borne by the Company but by an affiliate of the Operator and the Administrator as described above under “—2024 Name Executive Officers.” Accordingly, the Board did not play a role in determining Mr. Berlin’s compensation.
Severance and Change in Control Agreements
Mr. Berlin’s employment agreement with the Company provides for a severance payment as specified therein and as described below.
Tax Considerations
Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) generally limits the deductibility of compensation paid to certain executive officers in excess of $1,000,000 in any one year. The Compensation Committee was aware of the impact of Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m), but our named executive officers did not receive compensation from the Company in excess of the $1,000,000 limit. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the tax consequences when determining named executive officer compensation. As in the past, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, reserves the right to make compensation payments that are nondeductible.
Hedging and Pledging Restrictions
The Company believes it is inappropriate for any director, officer or employee of the Company to enter into speculative transactions in the Company’s equity securities. The Company’s Trading Policy prohibits all such persons, and members of their households or immediate family (spouse and minor children), from engaging in all speculative financial transactions involving securities of the Company, including buying and selling put and call options or engaging in short selling, and hedging transactions with respect to securities of the Company, including purchasing financial instruments or entering into transactions (such as prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds) designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of equity securities of the Company. Holding and exercising options or other securities granted under any equity incentive plan of the Company are not prohibited by the Company’s Trading Policy.
Additionally, the Company’s Trading Policy permits pledging of securities of the Company only with the approval of an attorney designated by the Company.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Our Compensation Committee is comprised of two of our independent directors. Neither of them (1) has at any time served as an officer or employee of the Company or (2) has or had any relationship requiring disclosure pursuant to the SEC’s rules regarding related party transactions (i.e., Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K). None of our executive officers has served as a
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director or member of the Compensation Committee of any entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our Board or Compensation Committee.
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee has furnished the following report. The information contained in this “Compensation Committee Report” is not to be deemed “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC, nor is such information to be incorporated by reference into any future filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into such filings.
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the above Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to our Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Douglas Bech, Chairman
Elaine Wong
Summary Compensation Table
The table below sets forth information concerning compensation of each of our named executive officers for the years ended December 31, 2024 and, 2023, respectively. As described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, Mr. Thompson is employed by an affiliate of the Operator and the Administrator and his compensation is determined by, and paid to them directly by, such affiliate. The Company did not pay Mr. Thompson any compensation in 2024 or 2023.
Mr. Berlin has been jointly employed by the Company and an affiliate of the Operator and the Administrator. Mr. Berlin has an employment agreement with the Company, which agreement is described below under “—Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.” Mr. Berlin became the chief financial officer and secretary of the Company in August 2022. In each of 2024 and 2023, Mr. Berlin’s compensation was paid by an affiliate of the Operator and the Administrator. Such affiliate was then reimbursed by the Company based on Mr. Berlin’s time spent working on matters pertaining to the lending business of the Company. The amount of such reimbursement is provided in the table below. In each of 2024 and 2023, such affiliate did not seek reimbursement from the Company for the time that Mr. Berlin spent in his role as chief financial officer of the Company.
| Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary | Bonus | Stock Awards | All Other Compensation(2) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David Thompson | 2024 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer | 2023 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Barry N. Berlin | 2024 | $ | 134,689 | $ | 87,392 | $ | — | $ | 6,487 | $ | 228,568 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary; Executive Vice President and Treasurer(1), (2) | 2023 | $ | 87,500 | $ | 50,000 | $ | — | $ | 3,833 | $ | 141,333 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
___________________
(1) Mr. Berlin was appointed chief financial officer and secretary of the Company on August 10, 2022. Please see the disclosure under the first paragraph of “—Summary Compensation Table” regarding the information provided with respect to Mr. Berlin’s position.
(2) See table below for a breakdown of all other compensation.
All other compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers in the table above consisted of the following:
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| Name | Year | Unused Vacation Pay | Tax Qualified 401(k) Plan | Automobile Allowance | Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Barry N. Berlin | 2024 | $ | — | $ | 2,598 | $ | 2,540 | $ | 1,350 | $ | 6,487 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $ | — | $ | 1,688 | $ | 1,650 | $ | 495 | $ | 3,833 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grants of Plan Based Awards
There were no grants of equity or other plan based awards to our named executive officers during 2024.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
There were no outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2024.
Option Exercises and Stock Vested in 2023
There were no equity awards that were exercised or vested with respect to our named executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
Mr. Berlin is party to an executive employment agreement (an “Executive Employment Agreement”) with the Company, which became effective upon the consummation of a merger between the Company’s predecessor and a fund managed by an affiliate of the Operator and the Administrator on March 11, 2014. Under the Executive Employment Agreement, Mr. Berlin is entitled to a minimum annual salary of $350,000 (provided that, as discussed above under “—Summary Compensation Table,” Mr. Berlin’s compensation was paid by an affiliate of the Operator and the Administrator). The Executive Employment Agreement also entitles Mr. Berlin to health insurance coverage for himself, his wife and his dependent children, and a monthly automobile allowance of $550.
If Mr. Berlin is unable to perform his services due to illness or total incapacity (to be determined based on standards similar to those utilized by the U.S. Social Security Administration), the Executive Employment Agreement entitles Mr. Berlin to receive his full salary for up to one year of such incapacity, reduced by any amounts paid by any Company-provided insurance. If Mr. Berlin’s total incapacity continues beyond one year and he is not thereafter able to devote full time to his employment with the Company, then his employment and his Executive Employment Agreement will terminate.
If Mr. Berlin dies during his employment with the Company before reaching the age of seventy, his estate will be entitled to a payment of two times his annual salary plus unused vacation pay. The Company-paid amount of such death benefits will be made over the course of twelve months, and will be offset by any amounts paid under any group life insurance issued by the Company.
In the event that Mr. Berlin’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause (as defined below), or if Mr. Berlin resigns his employment with the Company, he will be entitled to receive only his base salary then in effect through the date of termination, and all benefits accrued through the date of termination. If the Company terminates Mr. Berlin’s employment without Cause, Mr. Berlin will be entitled to receive a severance payment in an amount equal to his annual base salary then in effect, to be paid out in a lump sum on the 60th day following his termination date, conditioned upon the execution of a general release of claims.
For purposes of the Executive Employment Agreement, “Cause” means (1) the intentional, unapproved material misuse of corporate funds, (2) professional incompetence or (3) acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct of executive’s obligations or otherwise relating to the business of the Company.
Assuming all vacation days are taken and all reasonable business expenses have been reimbursed, based on the Company’s best estimate, assuming the applicable scenario occurred on December 31, 2024, the Company would have owed
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Mr. Berlin $700,000 (representing two times his annual base salary) if he died or $350,000 (representing his annual base salary) if he became disabled or if the Company terminated his employment without Cause.
Pay Versus Performance Table
In accordance with the rules adopted by the SEC, pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, the following table and related disclosure provide information about (i) the “total compensation” of our principal executive officer (the “PEO”) and our other named executive officers (the “Other NEOs”) as presented in “—Summary Compensation Table” above (the “SCT Amounts”), (ii) the “compensation actually paid” to our PEO and our Other NEOs, as calculated pursuant to the SEC’s pay-versus-performance rules (the “CAP Amounts”) and (iii) certain financial performance measures.
Year | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO ($)(1) | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO ($)(1) | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Other NEOs ($)(2) | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Other NEOs ($)(3) | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on Total Shareholder Return: | Net Income (Loss) ($) in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 227,987 | $ | 227,987 | $ | 3.72 | $ | (25,750) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 141,333 | $ | 141,333 | $ | 56.71 | $ | (51,456) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 154,153 | $ | 154,153 | $ | 69.35 | $ | 5,945 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
___________________
(1)Our PEO for each of 2024, 2023 and 2022 was Mr. Thompson, our current chief executive officer. As discussed under “—Summary Compensation Table” above, Mr. Thompson is employed by an affiliate of the Operator and the Administrator and his compensation is determined by, and paid to them directly by, such affiliate. The Company did not pay Mr. Thompson any compensation in any of the foregoing years.
(2) Our other NEO for 2024 and 2023 is Mr. Berlin and our other NEOs for 2022 are Mr. Berlin, our current chief financial officer and secretary, and Mr. Nathan DeBacker, our prior chief financial officer and secretary. The Company did not pay Mr. DeBacker any compensation in 2022. In each of 2024, 2023 and 2022, Mr. Berlin’s compensation was paid by an affiliate of the Operator and the Administrator. Such affiliate was then reimbursed by the Company based on Mr. Berlin’s time spent working on matters pertaining to the lending business of the Company; during 2022, such reimbursement also included Mr. Berlin’s role as executive vice president and treasurer of the Company from January 1, 2022 to August 10, 2022 (when Mr. Berlin assumed the additional role of chief financial officer and secretary). The amount of such reimbursement is provided in the table above, consistent with the amount reported in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year.
(3) The SCT Amount and the CAP Amounts are the same because Mr. Berlin did not receive any equity awards or pension benefits as part of his compensation and therefore the adjustments provided by the applicable rules adopted by the SEC do not apply to Mr. Berlin’s compensation.
(4) Pursuant to applicable SEC disclosure rules, assumes $100 was invested on December 31, 2021.
Description of Relationship Between CAP Amounts and cumulative Total Shareholder Return and Net Income
Mr. Berlin became chief financial officer and Secretary of the Company in August 2022. Prior to that Mr. Berlin was not a “named executive officer” of the Company. Upon Mr. Berlin becoming chief financial officer and secretary of the Company, his compensation was no longer charged to the Company for any services that he performed as chief financial officer and secretary of the Company. Further, the Company relies on CIM Group Management, LLC and its affiliates (collectively, "CIM Group") for its accounting and finance functions. As a result, the Company believes that any comparison between CAP Amounts and total shareholder returns or net income is not meaningful.
Director Compensation
The Company uses a combination of cash and share based compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on the Board. In setting compensation for the independent directors of the Board, the Compensation Committee
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considers, among other things, the substantial time commitment on the part of the directors in fulfilling their duties as well as the skill level it requires of directors. In addition, all members of the Board are reimbursed by the Company for their expenses related to attending meetings of the Board and its committees.
The cash component of each independent director’s compensation is set forth according to the following schedule:
Annual board retainer................................................................................................................ | $55,000 | ||||
Annual audit committee chairman retainer..................................................................................... | $20,000 | ||||
The annual Board retainer and the annual Audit Committee chairman retainer are payable quarterly in advance. No separate retainer is paid for an independent director’s serving as chair of the Compensation Committee or the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
On an annual basis, each director is expected to receive restricted shares of Common Stock valued at $55,000 on the date of grant (based on the closing price of our Common Stock on the date of the grant). These shares vest on the anniversary of the grant if the grantee continues to serve as a director of the Company at such time.
The compensation arrangement for each independent director in 2025 is expected to be substantially the same as the annualized compensation arrangement for the independent directors in 2024, which is set forth in the table below:
Director Compensation in 2024
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our director compensation during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024:
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | Share Awards (1) | Total | |||||||||||||||||
Douglas Bech | $ | 55,000 | $ | 54,786 | $ | 108 | ||||||||||||||
John Hope Bryant | $ | 55,000 | $ | 54,786 | $ | 108 | ||||||||||||||
Marcie Edwards | $ | 55,000 | $ | 54,786 | $ | 108 | ||||||||||||||
Elaine Wong | $ | 75,000 | $ | 54,786 | $ | 108 | ||||||||||||||
___________________
(1)Represents the grant date fair value of the restricted shares or share options, as the case may be, for purposes of ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation. Each of Mr. Bech, Mr. Bryant, Ms. Edwards and Ms. Wong received a grant of 108 restricted shares of Common Stock on August 6, 2024. The grant date fair value of the restricted shares is based on the per share closing price of our Common Stock on August 6, 2024, which was $507.28. As of December 31, 2024, each of Mr. Bech, Mr. Bryant, Ms. Edwards and Ms. Wong held 108 unvested restricted shares of Common Stock.
Messrs. Kuba, Ressler and Shemesh did not receive any compensation (other than the reimbursement of expenses related to attending meetings of the Board and its committees) for their service as directors in the year ended December 31, 2024.
Policies and Practices Related to the Grant of Certain Equity Awards Close in Time to the Release of Material Nonpublic Information
If the Company were to grant equity awards to any named executive officers, the timing, terms and restrictions applicable to such grants would be determined by the Compensation Committee. We do not currently grant new awards of stock options, stock appreciation rights or similar option-like instruments. Accordingly, we do not have a specific policy or practice on the timing of such awards in relation to our disclosure of material nonpublic information. In the event we determine to grant such awards, we will evaluate the appropriate steps to take in relation to the foregoing.
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Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Directors and Executive Officers
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock, Series A Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Series A Preferred Stock”) and Series A1 Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Series A1 Preferred Stock”) as of April 14, 2025 by (1) each named executive officer, (2) each current director and (3) all executive officers and directors as a group. In each case, the percent of class owned reflects the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of April 15, 2025. As of April 15, 2025 no named executive officer or director of the Company owned any Series D Preferred Stock, $0.001 per value per share (“Series D Preferred Stock”).
| Common Stock | Series A Preferred Stock | Series A1 Preferred Stock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name of Beneficial Owner | No. of Shares | Percent of Class | No. of Shares | Percent of Class | No. of Shares | Percent of Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
David Thompson | 102 | * | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Barry N. Berlin | 113 | * | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Richard Ressler | 49,908 | (1)(2) | 6.6% | 568,681 | 14.1% | 36,663 | 0.4% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Avraham Shemesh | 49,593 | (1)(3) | 6.6% | 568,681 | 14.1% | 36,663 | 0.4% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shaul Kuba | 49,593 | (1)(3) | 6.6% | 568,681 | 14.1% | 36,663 | 0.4% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Douglas Bech | 332 | * | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marcie Edwards | 216 | * | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John Hope Bryant | 158 | * | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Elaine Wong | 189 | * | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Directors and Executive Officers as a group (9 persons) | 51,388 | 6.8% | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
__________________
* Less than 1%.
(1) CIM Group, LLC is the indirect sole equity member of each of CIM Urban Sponsor, LLC, CIM CMCT MLP, LLC, CIM Capital Real Property Management, LLC. and CIM Capital IC Management, LLC. CIM Capital IC Management, LLC is the investment adviser of CIM Real Assets & Credit Fund. Because of their positions with CIM Group, LLC, Shaul Kuba, Richard Ressler and Avraham Shemesh, the founders of CIM Group, LLC, may be deemed to beneficially own the 37,414 shares of Common Stock and 568,681 shares of Series A Preferred Stock owned directly by CIM CMCT MLP, LLC, the 1,930 shares of Common Stock owned directly by CIM Urban Sponsor, LLC, the 1,584 shares of Common Stock directly owned by CIM Real Assets & Credit Fund and the 8,480 and 36,663 shares of Common Stock and Series A1 Preferred Stock, respectively, owned directly by CIM Capital Real Property Management, LLC. Messrs. Ressler, Shemesh and Kuba have shared voting and investment power over all of these shares. Each of Messrs. Ressler, Shemesh and Kuba disclaims beneficial ownership of all of these shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
(2) Mr. Ressler has sole voting and investment power over 500 shares of Common Stock held by a subsidiary of a trust formed by Mr. Ressler for the benefit of his family members.
(3) Each of Messrs. Shemesh and Kuba have shared voting and investment power over 185 shares of Common Stock held by each of their respective family trusts, with respect to which they were grantors.
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Beneficial Owners of More than 5% of our Common Stock
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock, Series A Preferred Stock and Series A1 Preferred Stock based on filings with the SEC as of April 14, 2025 by each person known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our Common Stock. In each case, the percent of class owned reflects the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of April 15, 2025.
| Common Stock | Series A Preferred Stock | Series A1 Preferred Stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | No. of Shares | Percent of Class | No. of Shares | Percent of Class | No. of Shares | Percent of Class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Richard Ressler(1) | 49,908 | (2) | 6.6 | % | 568,681 | 14.1 | % | 36,663 | 0.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Avraham Shemesh(1) | 49,593 | (3) | 6.6 | % | 568,681 | 14.1 | % | 36,663 | 0.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shaul Kuba(1) | 49,593 | (3) | 6.6 | % | 568,681 | 14.1% | 36,663 | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CIM CMCT MLP, LLC (1) | 37,414 | 5.0 | % | 568,681 | 14.1% | — | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
___________________
(1)The business address of Messrs. Ressler, Shemesh and Kuba, for the purposes hereof, and the address of CIM CMCT MLP, LLC, is c/o CIM Group, LLC, 4700 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90010. CIM Group , LLC is the indirect sole equity member of each of CIM Urban Sponsor, LLC, CIM CMCT MLP, LLC, CIM Capital Real Property Management, LLC and CIM Capital IC Management, LLC. CIM Capital IC Management, LLC is the investment adviser of CIM Real Assets & Credit Fund. Because of their positions with CIM Group, LLC, Shaul Kuba, Richard Ressler and Avraham Shemesh, the founders of CIM Group, LLC, may be deemed to beneficially own the 37,414 shares of Common Stock and 568,681 shares of Series A Preferred Stock owned directly by CIM CMCT MLP, LLC, the 1,930 shares of Common Stock owned directly by CIM Urban Sponsor, LLC, the 1,584 shares of Common Stock directly owned by CIM Real Assets & Credit Fund and the 8,480 and 36,663 shares of Common Stock and Series A1 Preferred Stock, respectively, owned directly by CIM Capital Real Property Management, LLC. Messrs. Ressler, Shemesh and Kuba have shared voting and investment power over all of these shares. Each of Messrs. Ressler, Shemesh and Kuba disclaims beneficial ownership of all of these shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein
(2) Mr. Ressler has sole voting and investment power over 500 shares of Common Stock held by a subsidiary of a trust formed by Mr. Ressler for the benefit of his family members.
(3) Each of Messrs. Shemesh and Kuba have shared voting and investment power over 185 shares of Common Stock held by each of their respective family trusts, with respect to which they were grantors.
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Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Transactions with Related Persons
Asset Management and Other Fees to Related Parties
CIM Urban and CIM Capital, LLC, an affiliate of CIM Group (“CIM Capital”) are parties to an Investment Management Agreement pursuant to which CIM Urban engaged CIM Capital to provide certain services to CIM Urban. CIM Capital has assigned its duties under the Investment Management Agreement to its four wholly owned subsidiaries: CIM Capital Securities Management, LLC, a securities manager, CIM Capital RE Debt Management, LLC, a debt manager, CIM Capital Controlled Company Management, LLC, a controlled company manager, and CIM Capital Real Property Management, LLC, a real property manager. The “Operator” refers to CIM Capital and its four wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to a Master Services Agreement with the Administrator pursuant to which the Administrator provides or arranges for other service providers to provide management and administration services to the Company and its subsidiaries.
On January 5, 2022, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a Fee Waiver (the “Fee Waiver”) with the Operator and the Administrator with respect to fees that are payable to them under the Investment Management Agreement and the Master Services Agreement, respectively. The Fee Waiver is effective retroactively to January 1, 2022 (the “Effective Date”). Pursuant to the Fee Waiver, the Administrator agrees to voluntarily waive any fees in excess of those set forth in the Fee Waiver, to the extent it would otherwise have been entitled to such additional compensation under the Master Service Agreement, and the Operator agrees to voluntarily waive any fees in excess of those set forth in the Fee Waiver, to the extent it would otherwise have been entitled to such additional compensation under the Investment Management Agreement. Following the end of each quarter, the Administrator will deliver to the Company (i) a calculation of the cumulative fees earned by the Operator and the Administrator under the methodology prescribed by the Fee Waiver from the Effective Date through the end of such quarter and (ii) a calculation of the cumulative fees that would have been earned by the Operator and the Administrator during such period under the Master Services Agreement and the Investment Management Agreement without giving effect to the Fee Waiver. If, in respect of any quarter, the aggregate fees that are payable under the methodology prescribed by the Fee Waiver exceed the aggregate fees that would have been payable under the Master Services Agreement and the Investment Management Agreement, without giving effect to the Fee Waiver, such quarter will be deemed an “Excess Quarter”. For any quarter following an Excess Quarter, the Company (upon the direction of the independent members of the Board) may, at its option and upon written notice to the Administrator, elect to calculate all fees due to the Administrator and the Operator in accordance with the Master Services Agreement and the Investment Management Agreement, without giving effect to the Fee Waiver, from and after such Excess Quarter. Any such election by the Company will be irrevocable, and all fees due to the Administrator and the Operator from and after such election will be calculated in accordance with the Master Services Agreement and the Investment Management Agreement, without giving effect to the Fee Waiver.
The fees payable to the Operator and the Administrator are determined as follows under the Fee Waiver.
1.Base Fee: A base asset management fee (the “Base Fee”) is payable quarterly in arrears to the Operator in an amount equal to an annual rate of 1% (or 0.25% per quarter) of the average of the “Net Asset Value Attributable to Common Stockholders” as of the first and last day of the applicable quarter. Net Asset Value Attributable to Common stockholders is defined as (a) the sum of the Company’s (1) investments in real estate at fair value, (2) cash, (3) loans receivable at fair value and (4) the book value of the other assets of the Company, excluding deferred costs and net of other liabilities at book value, less (b) the Company’s (i) debt at face value, (ii) outstanding preferred stock at stated value, and (iii) non-controlling interests at book value; provided, that, non-controlling interests in any UPREIT operating partnership relating to the Company shall not be excluded. It is likely that the Company will seek to pay some or part of the Base Fee due to the Operator in 2022 in shares of Series A Preferred Stock.
2.Incentive Fee: A revised incentive fee (the “Revised Incentive Fee”) is payable quarterly in arrears to the Administrator with respect to the quarterly core funds from operations in excess of a quarterly threshold equal to 1.75% (i.e., 7.00% on an annualized basis) of the Company’s “Adjusted Common Equity” (as defined below) for such quarter (“Excess Core FFO”) as follows: (i) no Incentive Fee in any quarter in which the Excess Core FFO is $0; (ii)
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100% of any Excess Core FFO up to an amount equal to the product of (x) the average of the Adjusted Common Equity as of the first and last day of the applicable quarter and (y) 0.4375%; and (iii) 20% of any Excess Core FFO thereafter. Revised Incentive Fees payable for any partial quarter will be appropriately prorated.
“Adjusted Common Equity” means Common Equity plus Excluded Depreciation and Amortization. “Common Equity” means Total Stockholders’ Equity minus Excluded Equity. “Total Stockholders’ Equity” means the amount reflected as total stockholders’ equity in accordance with GAAP on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the last day of a given quarter. “Excluded Equity” means the sum of all preferred securities of the Company and its subsidiaries classified as permanent equity in accordance with GAAP on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the last day of a given quarter. “Excluded Depreciation and Amortization” means, for a given quarter, the amount of all accumulated depreciation and amortization of (i) the Company and its subsidiaries and (ii) to the extent allocable to the Company and its subsidiaries, the unconsolidated affiliates, in each case as of the last day of such quarter that corresponds to the periodic depreciation and amortization expense calculated in each case in accordance with GAAP that is a permitted add back to net income calculated in accordance with GAAP when calculating funds from operations.
3.Capital Gains Fee: A capital gains fee (the “Capital Gains Fee”) is payable quarterly in arrears to the Administrator in an amount equal to (i) 15% of the cumulative aggregate realized capital gains minus the cumulative aggregate realized capital losses (in each case since the Effective Date), minus (ii) the aggregate capital gains fees paid since the Effective Date. Realized capital gains and realized capital losses are calculated by subtracting from the sales price of a property: (a) any costs incurred to sell such property, and (b) the current gross value of the property (meaning the property’s original acquisition price plus any subsequent, non-reimbursed capital improvements thereon paid for by the Company).
For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Operator earned asset management fees of $1.8 million and $2.6 million, respectively.
Affiliates of CIM Group (collectively, the “CIM Management Entities”) provide property management, leasing, and development services to CIM Urban. The CIM Management Entities earned property management fees, which are included in rental and other property operating expenses, totaling $2.3 million and $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company also reimbursed the CIM Management Entities $7.7 million and $5.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, for onsite management costs incurred on behalf of the Company, which are included in rental and other property operating expenses. The CIM Management Entities earned leasing commissions of $808,000 and $101,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which were capitalized to deferred charges. For the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the CIM Management Entities earned construction management fees of $1.1 million and $308,000, respectively, and were reimbursed $1.7 million and $1.3 million, respectively, for development management reimbursements. The construction management fees and development management reimbursements were capitalized to investments in real estate.
Pursuant to the Master Services Agreement, we appointed an affiliate of CIM Group as the administrator of Urban Partners GP, LLC. Under the Master Services Agreement, for fiscal quarters prior to April 1, 2020, the Company paid a base service fee (the “Base Service Fee”) to the Administrator initially set at $1,000,000 per year (subject to an annual escalation by a specified inflation factor beginning on January 1, 2015), payable quarterly in arrears. On May 11, 2020, the Master Services Agreement was amended to replace the Base Service Fee with an incentive fee pursuant to which the Administrator was entitled to receive, on a quarterly basis, 15.00% of the Company’s quarterly core funds from operations in excess of a quarterly threshold equal to 1.75% (i.e., 7.00% on an annualized basis) of the Company’s average adjusted common stockholders’ equity (i.e., common stockholders’ equity plus accumulated depreciation and amortization) for such quarter. The amendment was effective as of April 1, 2020 and was further modified by the Fee Waiver described above. No such incentive fee was paid by the Company.
In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Master Services Agreement, the Administrator may receive compensation and/or reimbursement for performing certain services for the Company and its subsidiaries that are not covered by the Base Service
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Fee or the incentive fee arrangement in place between May 11, 2020 and January 5, 2022, as the case may be. During the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, such services performed by the Administrator and its affiliates included accounting, tax, reporting, internal audit, legal, compliance, risk management, IT, human resources, corporate communications, operational and on-going support in connection with the Company’s offering of Preferred Stock. The Company will also reimburse the Administrator for the Company’s share of broken deal expenses that are incurred by the Administrator and its affiliates (i.e., fees and expenses relating to investments that could have been made by the Company but that the Company did not make and/or transactions that could have been executed by the Company but the Company did not consummate, including fees and expenses associated with performing due diligence review and negotiating the terms of such investments or transactions). The Administrator’s compensation is based on the salaries and benefits of the employees of the Administrator and/or its affiliates who performed these services (allocated based on the percentage of time spent on the affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries). For both of the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we expensed $2.3 million for such services, which are included in expense reimbursements to related parties—corporate.
The Company is a party to a Staffing and Reimbursement Agreement with CIM SBA Staffing, LLC, an affiliate of CIM Group, and our subsidiary, PMC Commercial Lending, LLC. The agreement provides that CIM SBA will provide personnel and resources to the Company and the Company will reimburse CIM SBA Staffing, LLC for the costs and expenses of providing such personnel and resources. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company incurred expenses related to services subject to reimbursement by the Company under the agreement of $2.6 million for both such years, in both cases included as expense reimbursements to related parties – lending segment.
CCO Capital, LLC (“CCO Capital”) became the exclusive dealer manager for the Company’s public offering of the Series A Preferred Stock and Series A Preferred Warrants effective as of May 31, 2019. CCO Capital is a registered broker dealer and is under common control with the Operator and the Administrator. The Company’s offering of the Series A Preferred Warrants ended at the end of January 2020. On January 28, 2020, the Company entered into the Second Amended and Restated Dealer Manager Agreement, pursuant to which CCO Capital acted as the exclusive dealer manager for the Company’s public offering of its Series A Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock. The Second Amended and Restated Dealer Manager Agreement was subsequently amended by the Company and CCO Capital to address changes to, among other things, selling commissions and dealer manager fees.
On June 16, 2022, the Company entered into the Third Amended and Restated Dealer Manager Agreement, pursuant to which CCO Capital has been acting as the exclusive dealer manager for the Company’s public offering of its Series A1 Preferred Stock. Thereunder, the Company agreed to compensate CCO Capital, as the dealer manager for the offering, as follows: (1) a dealer manager fee of up to 3.00% of the selling price of each share of Series A1 Preferred Stock sold and (2) selling commissions of up to 7.00% of the selling price of each share of Series A1 Preferred Stock sold. The Company has been informed that CCO Capital generally reallows 100% of the selling commissions on sales of Series A1 Preferred Stock and generally reallows substantially all of the dealer manager fee on sales of Series A1 Preferred Stock to participating broker-dealers. In addition, pursuant to the Third Amended and Restated Dealer Manager Agreement, CCO Capital will no longer solicit or make any offers for the sale of shares of Series A Preferred Stock or Series D Preferred Stock.
In connection with the offering of the Series A Units, Series A Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock, at December 31, 2024 and 2023, $0.0 and $2.5 million, respectively, was included in deferred costs as reimbursable expenses incurred pursuant to the Master Services Agreement and the then applicable dealer manager agreement with CCO Capital, of which $289,000 and $61,000, respectively, was included in due to related parties. CCO Capital incurred non-issuance specific costs of $606,000 and $623,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
At December 31, 2024 and 2023, upfront dealer manager and trailing dealer manager fees of $186,000 and $283,000, respectively, were included in due to related parties. CCO Capital earned upfront dealer manager and trailing dealer manager fees of $546,000 and $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
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Investments with Affiliates of CIM Group
In February 2022, the Company invested with a CIM-managed separate account (the "1910 Sunset JV Partner"), in an unconsolidated joint venture which purchased an office property in Los Angeles, California for a gross purchase price of approximately $51.0 million, of which the Company initially contributed approximately $22.4 million and the 1910 Sunset JV Partner initially contributed the remaining balance. See Note 2 and Note 4 to the Company's financial statements in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information.
In February 2023, the Company and a CIM-managed interval fund (the "1902 Park JV Partner") purchased a multifamily property in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California for a gross purchase price of $19.1 million (excluding transaction costs) (the "1902 Park JV"), with the Company owning a 50% interest. In October 2024, the 1902 Park JV admitted a new third-party co-investor and used part of the net capital contribution of such third party co-investor to satisfy the 1902 Park JV’s mortgage loan in full and the remaining contribution was used to make a distribution of $1.0 million to each of the Company and the 1902 Park JV Partner. Subsequent to this contribution, the Company’s ownership share of the 1902 Park JV was 25.5%. See Note 2 and Note 4 to the Company's financial statements in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information.
In October 2023, the Company and a co-investor affiliated with CIM Group acquired from an unrelated third party a 100% fee-simple interest in a plot of land located in the Sycamore media district of Los Angeles, California for a gross purchase price of $18.0 million (excluding transaction costs) (the "1015 Mansfield JV"). The property has a site area of approximately 44,141 square feet and contains a parking garage that has been leased to a third-party tenant. The Company owns 28.8% of the 1015 N Mansfield JV.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company acquired an interest in four assets from entities indirectly wholly owned by a fund that is managed by affiliates of CIM Group for $282.9 million (exclusive of transactions costs). See Note 3 and Note 7 to the Company's financial statements in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information.
Other
On May 15, 2019, an affiliate of CIM Group entered into an approximately 11-year lease for approximately 32,000 rentable square feet with respect to a property owned by the Company ("4750 Wilshire"). The lease was amended on August 7, 2019 to reduce the rentable square feet to approximately 30,000 rentable square feet. In February 2023, the Company sold an 80% interest in 4750 Wilshire and now holds its retained 20% interest in the property through an unconsolidated joint venture arrangement between the Company and three co-Investors (the "4750 Wilshire JV"). Prior to the sale, for the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recorded rental and other property income related to this tenant of $194,000. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company’s share of the income from the tenant earned by the 4750 Wilshire JV was $170,000. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company’s share of the income from the tenant earned by the 4750 Wilshire JV was $342,000.
On December 27, 2024, lenders originated a first lien mortgage loan of $105 million (the “Mortgage Loan”) to 9460 Wilshire Blvd (BH) Owner, L.P., CIM/11600 Wilshire (Los Angeles), LP and CIM/11620 Wilshire (Los Angeles), LP (collectively, the “Borrowers”) (the “Loan Agreement”), each of which is a subsidiary the Company. In connection with the Loan Agreement, the Company (in such capacity, the “REIT Guarantor”) and CIM Group Investments, LLC, an affiliate of CIM Group (the “CIM Guarantor,” and, together with the REIT Guarantor, the “Guarantor”), delivered a customary non-recourse carveout guaranty to the lenders (the “Guaranty Agreement”), under which (i) the Company agreed to indemnify the lenders with respect to certain “non-recourse carveout events” and to be fully liable for the Mortgage Loan in certain circumstances (e.g., the voluntary bankruptcy of the Borrowers and other insolvency events (collectively, the “Bankruptcy Events”)) and (ii) the CIM Guarantor is jointly and severally fully liable with the Company for the Mortgage Loan in the case of Bankruptcy Events (collectively, the “Guaranties”). The Guaranty Agreement requires Guarantor to maintain a net worth of no less than $105 million and liquid assets of no less than $6 million, in each case, exclusive of the values of the collateral for the Mortgage Loan, provided that in the event of any partial prepayment or partial defeasance of the Mortgage Loan, the above-referenced net worth and liquidity requirements will be reduced in proportion to the principal amount of the Mortgage Loan that is partially prepaid and/or defeased, as the case may be. The Loan Agreement and the Guaranties contain representations, warranties, covenants, events of default and indemnities that are customary for agreements of these types.
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Review, Approval and Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
The Board has adopted a written related person transaction policy. Under the policy, a “Related Person Transaction” includes certain transactions, arrangements or relationships (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which the Company (including any of its subsidiaries) was, is or will be a participant, and in which a related person had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
A “Related Person” is:
Any person who was in any of the following categories during the applicable period:
•a director or nominee for director;
•any executive officer; or
•any immediate family member of a director or executive officer, or of any nominee for director, which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother in law, father in law, son in law, daughter in law, brother in law, or sister in law of the director, executive officer, or nominee for director and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such security holder.
Any person who was in any of the following categories when a transaction in which such person had a direct or indirect material interest occurred or existed:
•any person who is known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our shares; and
•any immediate family member of any such security holder, which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother in law, father in law, son in law, daughter in law, brother in law, or sister in law of such security holder and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such security holder.
A person who has a position or relationship within a firm, corporation or other entity that engages in a transaction with the Company will not be deemed to have an “indirect material interest” within the meaning of “Related Person Transaction” when:
The interest arises only:
•from such person’s position as a director of another corporation or organization that is a party to the transaction; or
•from the direct or indirect ownership by such person and all other persons specified in the definition of “Related Person” in the aggregate of less than 10% equity interest in another person (other than a partnership) which is a party to the transaction; or
•from both such position and ownership; or
•from such person’s position as a limited partner in a partnership in which the person and all other persons specified in the definition of “Related Person” have an interest of less than 10%, and the person is not a general partner of and does not hold another position in the partnership.
Each of the Company’s executive officers is encouraged to help identify any potential Related Person Transaction.
If a new Related Person Transaction is identified, it will initially be brought to the attention of the Chief Financial Officer, who will then prepare a recommendation to the Board and/or a committee thereof regarding whether the proposed transaction is reasonable and fair to the Company.
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A committee comprised solely of independent directors, who are also independent of the Related Person Transaction in question, will determine whether to approve a Related Person Transaction. In general, the committee will only approve or ratify a Related Person Transaction if it determines, among other things, that the Related Person Transaction is reasonable and fair to the Company.
Independence of Directors
Under the corporate governance standards of Nasdaq, a majority of the members of the Board must be independent. In making independence determinations, the Board observes all criteria for independence established by the SEC and Nasdaq. As part of such review, the Board considers transactions and relationships between each director or any member of his or her immediate family and the Company, including (if applicable) those reported under “Related Person Transactions.” The purpose of such review is to determine whether any such relationships or transactions are inconsistent with a determination that a director is independent. Based on the foregoing, the Board has determined that each of Messrs. Bech and Bryant and Ms. Edwards and Ms. Wong are independent directors.
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Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Principal Accounting Firm Fees
Aggregate fees for services rendered to the Company for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 by the Company’s principal accounting firm for such years, Deloitte & Touche, LLP (“Deloitte”), were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
Type of Service | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||
Audit fees (1) | $ | 825,470 | $ | 749,625 | ||||||||||
| Audit-related fees | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Tax fees | 390,357 | 92,964 | ||||||||||||
| All other fees | — | — | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,215,827 | $ | 842,589 | ||||||||||
___________________
(1)Audit fees consisted of professional services performed in connection with (i) the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, (ii) the statutory audits of the financial statements of two subsidiaries of the Company in 2024 and 2023, (iii) the review of financial statements included in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, (iv) procedures related to consents and assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC, (v) other services related to (and necessary for) the audit of the Company’s financial statements and (vi) agreed-upon-procedures in 2023 in connection with a securitization completed by a subsidiary of the Company in 2023.
Pre‑Approval Policies
The Audit Committee’s charter requires review and pre-approval by the Audit Committee of all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by our outside auditors. The Audit Committee pre-approved all audit services provided by our outside auditors during fiscal years 2024 and 2023 and the fees paid for such services. The Audit Committee may, in its discretion, delegate to one or more of its members the authority to pre-approve any audit or non-audit services to be performed by the independent auditors, provided that any such approvals are presented to the Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Amendment:
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
31.1 | ||||||||
31.2 | ||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). | |||||||
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| Creative Media & Community Trust Corporation | |||||||||||
| Dated: | April 30, 2025 | By: | /s/ DAVID THOMPSON | ||||||||
| David Thompson | |||||||||||
| Chief Executive Officer | |||||||||||
| Dated: | April 30, 2025 | By: | /s/ Barry N. Berlin | ||||||||
| Barry N. Berlin | |||||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer | |||||||||||
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