SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
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ASTA FUNDING, INC.
___________________________________________________________________________
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
____________________________________________________________________________
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ASTA FUNDING, INC.
210 SYLVAN AVENUE
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NEW JERSEY 07632
Dear Stockholder:
On behalf of the Board of Directors, you are cordially invited to attend the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") of Asta Funding, Inc. (the
"Company") to be held at the Radisson Hotel, 401 South Van Brunt Street,
Englewood, New Jersey, on September 30, 2004 at 11:00 a.m.
The enclosed Notice of Meeting and the accompanying Proxy Statement describe
the business to be conducted at the Meeting. I am also pleased to enclose a
copy of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 30, 2004, and a copy of the Company's 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K,
which contains certain information regarding the Company and its financial
results for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003.
It is important that your shares of Common Stock be represented and voted at
the Meeting. Accordingly, regardless of whether you plan to attend the Meeting
in person, please complete, date, sign and return the enclosed proxy card in
the envelope provided, which requires no postage if mailed in the United
States. Even if you return a signed proxy card, you may still attend the
Meeting and vote your shares in person. Every stockholder's vote is important,
whether you own a few shares or many.
I look forward to seeing you at the Meeting.
Sincerely,
/s/ Gary Stern
Gary Stern
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dated: September 1, 2004
ASTA FUNDING, INC.
210 SYLVAN AVENUE
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NEW JERSEY 07632
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2004
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") of Asta Funding, Inc.
(the "Company") will be held at the Radisson Hotel, 401 South Van Brunt
Street, Englewood, New Jersey, on September 30, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. to consider
and act upon the following:
1. The election of eight directors.
2. The transaction of such other business as may properly come before the
Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Only holders of record of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share, at the close of business on August 19, 2004 will be entitled to vote at
the Meeting. A complete list of those stockholders will be open to examination
by any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the Meeting, during ordinary
business hours at the Company's executive offices at 210 Sylvan Avenue,
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632 for a period of ten days prior to the
Meeting.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/ Mitchell Herman
Mitchell Herman, Secretary
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, MANAGEMENT URGES YOU TO
COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED PROXY AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE IN
THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. YOU MAY REVOKE THE PROXY AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO ITS
EXERCISE.
Dated: September 1, 2004
ASTA FUNDING, INC.
210 SYLVAN AVENUE
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NEW JERSEY 07632
------------------------
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2004
------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Asta Funding,
Inc. (the "Company") for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held
at the Radisson Hotel, 401 South Van Brunt Street, Englewood, New Jersey on
September 30, 2004 at 11:00 a.m., and at any adjournments or postponements
thereof (the "Meeting") for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice
of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. A stockholder giving a proxy has the right
to revoke it by giving written notice of such revocation to the Secretary of
the Company at any time before it is voted, by submitting to the Company a
duly-executed, later-dated proxy or by voting the shares subject to such proxy
by written ballot at the Meeting. The presence at the Meeting of a stockholder
who has given a proxy does not revoke such proxy unless such stockholder files
the aforementioned notice of revocation or votes by written ballot.
This Proxy Statement and the enclosed form of proxy are first being mailed
to stockholders on or about September 1, 2004. All shares represented by valid
proxies pursuant to this solicitation (and not revoked before they are
exercised) will be voted as specified in the proxy. If a proxy is signed but
no specification is given, the shares will be voted "FOR" Proposal 1 (to elect
the Board of Directors' nominees to the Board of Directors).
The solicitation of proxies may be made by directors, officers and regular
employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by mail, telephone,
facsimile or telegraph or in person without additional compensation payable
with respect thereto. Arrangements will be made with brokerage houses and
other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward proxy-soliciting
material to the beneficial owners of stock held of record by such persons, and
the Company will reimburse them for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred
by them in so doing. All costs relating to the solicitation of proxies will be
borne by the Company.
1
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
Only holders of shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share ("Common Stock"), of record on the close of business on August 19, 2004
(the "Record Date"), are entitled to vote at the Meeting. On the Record Date,
the Company had outstanding 13,428,594 shares of Common Stock. Each holder of
Common Stock will have the right to one vote for each share standing in such
holder's name on the books of the Company as of the close of business on the
Record Date with respect to each of the matters considered at the Meeting.
There are no cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of
Directors. Holders of the Common Stock will not have any dissenters' rights of
appraisal in connection with any of the matters to be voted on at the Meeting.
The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of shares entitled to cast
a majority of the votes of all shares entitled to vote will constitute a
quorum for purposes of conducting business at the Meeting. Assuming that a
quorum is present, directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast.
Stockholders vote at the Meeting by casting ballots (in person or by proxy),
which are tabulated, by a person or persons appointed by the Board of
Directors before the Meeting to serve as inspector or inspectors of election
at the Meeting. For purposes of determining the votes cast with respect to the
election of members of the Board of Directors, only those votes cast "for" are
included. Pursuant to Delaware corporate law, abstentions and broker non-votes
are counted only for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present.
2
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information as of August 10, 2004 with
respect to beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock by (i) each
director and executive officer, (ii) each person known by the Company to own
beneficially more than five percent of the Company's outstanding Common Stock,
and (iii) all directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise
indicated, the address of each such person is c/o Asta Funding, Inc., 210
Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632. All persons listed have
sole voting and investment power with respect to their shares unless otherwise
indicated.
NAME AND ADDRESS
OF BENEFICIAL OWNER
------------------- NUMBER PERCENTAGE(1)
--------- -------------
Arthur Stern ...................................... 651,482(2) 4.8%
Gary Stern ........................................ 1,336,558(3) 9.5%
Mitchell Herman ................................... 162,547(4) 1.2%
Herman Badillo .................................... 32,334(5) *
909 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Edward Celano ..................................... 11,668(6) *
2115 Scotch Gamble Road
Scotch Plains, New Jeresy
Harvey Leibowitz .................................. 72,002(7) *
159 West 53rd Street, Apt 229
New York, New York 10019
David Slackman .................................... 11,668(8) *
28 Markwood Lane
East Northport, NY 11731
Alan Rivera ....................................... 5,668(9) *
c/o Asta Funding, Inc.
210 Sylvan Ave
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
Louis A. Piccolo .................................. 1,945(10) *
211 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
Asta Group, Incorporated .......................... 842,000(11) 6.3%
Barbara Marburger ................................. 440,440(12) 3.3%
9 Locust Hollow Road
Monsey, New York 10952
Judith R. Feder ................................... 1,894,000(13) 14.1%
928 East 10th Street
Brooklyn, New York 11230
Stern Family Investors LLC ........................ 716,000(14) 5.3%
GMS Family Investors LLC .......................... 1,162,000(15) 8.7%
All executive officers and directors as a group (9
persons)......................................... 2,285,872(16) 16.0%
- ---------------
* Less than 1%
(1) Any shares of common stock that any person named above has the right to
acquire within 60 days of August 10, 2004, are deemed to be outstanding
for purposes of calculating the ownership percentage of such person, but
are not deemed to be outstanding for purposes of calculating the
beneficial ownership percentage of any other person.
(2) Includes 174,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options
that are exercisable within 60 days of August 10, 2004, and 214,542
shares of common stock owned by Asta Group, Incorporated which shares are
attributable to Arthur Stern based on his percentage ownership of Asta
Group. Excludes 424,000 shares owned by Stern Family Investors LLC which
shares are attributable to Arthur Stern based on his percentage ownership
of such LLC and 2,000 shares owned by GMS Family Investors LLC which
shares are attributable to Arthur Stern based on his percentage ownership
of such LLC. Arthur Stern does not have voting or investment power with
respect to any of the shares held by either LLC and disclaims beneficial
ownership of the shares owned by the LLCs. Also excludes 22,000 shares of
common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are not exercisable
within 60 days of August 10, 2004.
(Footnotes continued on next page)
3
(Footnotes continued from previous page)
(3) Includes 584,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options
that are exercisable within 60 days of August 10, 2004, and 196,656
shares of common stock owned by Gary Stern as custodian for his minor
children and 285,522 shares of common stock owned by Asta Group, which
shares are attributable to Gary Stern based on his percentage ownership
of Asta Group. Excludes 1,400,000 shares owned by GMS Family Investors
LLC which shares are attributable to Gary Stern based on his percentage
ownership of such LLC. Gary Stern does not have voting or investment
power with respect to any of the shares held by the LLC and disclaims
beneficial ownership of the shares owned by the LLC. Also excludes 42,000
shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are not
exercisable within 60 days of August 10, 2004, and 196,656 shares of
common stock held by one of his children who is no longer a minor and for
which he disclaims beneficial ownership.
(4) Includes 12,000 shares of common stock owned by Mitchell Herman as
custodian for his minor child. Excludes 62,003 shares of common stock
issuable upon exercise of options that are not exercisable within 60 days
of August 10, 2004.
(5) Represents 32,334 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of
options that are exercisable within 60 days of August 10, 2004. Excludes
62,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are
not exercisable within 60 days of August 10, 2004.
(6) Represents 11,668 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of
options that are exercisable within 60 days of August 10, 2004. Excludes
38,666 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are
not exercisable within 60 days of August 10, 2004.
(7) Includes 64,002 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options
exercisable within 60 days of August 10, 2004. Excludes 31,998 shares of
common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are not exercisable
within 60 days of August 10, 2004.
(8) Represents 11,668 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of
options exercisable within 60 days of August 10, 2004. Excludes 36,666
shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are not
exercisable within 60 days of August 10, 2004.
(9) Represents 5,668 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options
exercisable within 60 days of August 10, 2004. Excludes 11,332 shares of
common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are not exercisable
within 60 days of August 10, 2004.
(10) Represents 1,945 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options
exercisable within 60 days of August 10, 2004. Excludes 3,888 shares of
common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are not exercisable
within 60 days of August 10, 2004.
(11) Asta Group, Incorporated is owned by Arthur Stern, our Chairman of the
Board and an Executive Vice President, Gary Stern, our President and
Chief Executive Officer, and other members of the Stern family, including
Barbara Marburger.
(12) Includes 90,676 shares of common stock owned by Barbara Marburger as
custodian for her minor child and 70,896 shares of common stock owned by
Asta Group, which shares are attributable to Barbara Marburger based on
her percentage ownership of Asta Group. Excludes shares of common stock
held by her children who are no longer minors and for which she disclaims
beneficial ownership. Barbara Marburger is the daughter of Arthur Stern
and the sister of Gary Stern.
(13) Includes 16,000 shares owned directly, 716,000 shares owned by Stern
Family Investors LLC and 1,162,000 shares owned by GMS Family Investors
LLC. Ms. Feder is the manager of each LLC and as such has sole voting and
investment power as to such shares.
(14) A limited liability company of which Judith R. Feder has sole voting and
investment power. Arthur Stern has a 49.5% beneficial interest in the
LLC, his wife, Alice Stern, has a 1% beneficial interest, and a trust for
the benefit of the descendants of Arthur Stern, of which Judith R. Feder
is trustee, has a 49.5% beneficial interest in the LLC.
(15) A limited liability company of which Judith R. Feder has sole voting and
investment power. Gary Stern has a 79.46% beneficial interest in the LLC,
trusts for the benefit of the children of Gary Stern of which Judith R.
Feder is the trustee have a combined 20.43% beneficial interest (10.215%
each), and Arthur Stern has a .11% beneficial interest in the LLC.
(16) Includes 885,285 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options
that are exercisable within 60 days of August 10, 2004. Excludes 310,553
shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are not
exercisable within 60 days of August 10 2004, and the shares owned in the
aggregate by Stern Family Investors LLC and GMS Family Investors LLC.
4
PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
In accordance with the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws,
the number of directors of the Company has been set by the Board of Directors
at eight. At the Meeting, eight directors will be elected by the stockholders
to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their
successors are duly elected and qualified.
All eight nominees named in this proxy statement are currently directors.
For personal reasons, Mitchell Herman has resigned as Chief Financial Officer
of the Company effective September 30, 2004, which is the end of the term of
his Employment Agreement with the Company, and he will not be re-nominated to
the Board of Directors for the upcoming year. Each person named herein as a
nominee for director has consented to serve, and it is not contemplated that
any nominee would be unable to serve, as a director. However, if a nominee is
unable to serve as a director, a substitute will be selected by the Board of
Directors and all proxies eligible to be voted for the Board of Directors'
nominees will be voted for such other person.
The current Board of Directors, based on the recommendation of our
Nominating Committee, nominated the individuals named below for election to
our Board of Directors, and background information on each of the nominees as
of August 10, 2004 is set forth below:
NAME AGE POSITION
- ---- --- --------
Arthur Stern.......................... 83 Chairman of the Board and
Executive Vice President
Gary Stern............................ 51 Director, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Herman Badillo (2).................... 75 Director
Edward Celano (1)(3).................. 65 Director
David Slackman (1) (2)(3)............. 57 Director
Harvey Leibowitz (1)(2)(3)............ 70 Director
Alan Rivera........................... 42 Director
Louis A. Piccolo...................... 52 Director
- ---------------
(1) Member of Audit Committee
(2) Member of Compensation Committee
(3) Member of Nominating Committee
Arthur Stern has been a director and has served as Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Company since the Company's inception in July 1994. Since
1963, Mr. Stern has been President of Asta Group, Incorporated, a consumer
finance company ("Group"). In such capacities, he has obtained substantial
experience in distressed consumer credit analysis and receivables collections.
Gary Stern has been a director and the President and Chief Executive Officer
of the Company since the Company's inception in July 1994. Mr. Stern has been
Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and a director of Group since 1980 and
held other positions with Group prior thereto. In such capacities, he has
obtained experience in distressed consumer credit analysis and receivables
collections.
Herman Badillo has been a director of the Company since September 1995. He
has been a member of Fischbein, Badillo, Wagner & Harding, a law firm located
in New York City, for more than five years. He has formerly served as Special
Counsel to the Mayor of New York City for Fiscal Oversight of Education and as
a member of the Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Badillo
served as a United States Congressman from 1971 to 1978 and Deputy Mayor of
New York City from 1978 to 1979.
Edward Celano has been a director of the Company since September 1995.
Mr. Celano has served as a consultant to Walters and Samuels, Incorporated
since 2003. He was formally a consultant with M.R. Weiser & Co., from 2001 to
2003 and an Executive Vice President of Atlantic Bank from May 1996 to
February 2001. Prior
5
to May 1996, Mr. Celano was a Senior Vice President of NatWest Bank after
having held different positions at the bank for over 20 years.
Harvey Leibowitz has been a director of the Company since March 2000.
Mr. Leibowitz has served as a Senior Vice President of Sterling National Bank
since June 1994. Prior to June 1994, Mr. Leibowitz was employed as a Senior
Vice President and Vice President of several banks and financial institutions
since 1963.
David Slackman has been a director of the Company since May 2002.
Mr. Slackman has served as President, Manhattan Market -- New York of Commerce
Bank since June 2001. Prior to June 2001, Mr. Slackman was an Executive Vice
President of Atlantic Bank of New York from 1994 to 2001 and a Senior Vice
President of the Dime Savings Bank from 1986 to 1994.
Alan Rivera has been a director of the Company since February 2004.
Mr. Rivera has served as Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel of
Millbrook Capital Management Inc. since September 1996. Prior to September
1996, Mr. Rivera was an Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration
and General Counsel of the New York City Economic Development Corporation from
1994 to 1996.
Louis A. Piccolo has been a director of the Company since June 2004.
Mr. Piccolo has served as President of A.L. Piccolo & Co., Inc since 1988.
Prior to 1988, Mr. Piccolo was an Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Alfred Dunhill of London, Inc from 1983 to 1988, and held the same
positions at Debenham's PLC, from 1981 to 1983. From 1977 to 1981, Mr. Piccolo
was a senior accountant at KPMG Peat Marwick.
Arthur Stern is the father of Gary Stern. There are no other family
relationships among directors or officers of the Company.
BOARD ORGANIZATION AND MEETINGS
Composition of the Board of Directors. Since the adoption of the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act in July 2002, there has been a growing public and regulatory focus
on the independence of directors. Recently, Nasdaq adopted amendments to its
definition of independence. Additional requirements relating to independence
are imposed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with respect to members of the Audit
Committee and the Nominating Committee. As noted below, the Board of Directors
has determined that the members of the Audit Committee and the Nominating
Committee satisfy all such definitions of independence. The Board of Directors
has also determined that the following members of the Board satisfy the Nasdaq
definition of independence: Herman Badillo, Edward Celano, Harvey Leibowitz,
David Slackman, Alan Rivera and Louis A. Piccolo.
During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, the Board of Directors held
eight meetings and acted five times by unanimous consent, the Audit Committee
held four meetings and the Compensation Committee held one meeting. During the
2003 fiscal year, each member of the Board of Directors that was a Board
Member during the last fiscal year attended at least 75% of all meetings of
the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors of which such
director was a member. There are two standing committees of the Board of
Directors, each of which is described below. The Company discontinued the
Executive Committee during the last fiscal year.
Compensation Committee. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003,
the Compensation Committee consisted of Herman Badillo (the Chairman), David
Slackman and Harvey Leibowitz. The Compensation Committee is empowered by the
Board of Directors to review the executive compensation of the Company's
officers and directors and to recommend any changes in compensation to the
full Board of Directors.
Audit Committee. The Audit Committee consists of Harvey Leibowitz (the
Chairman), David Slackman and Edward Celano. The Audit Committee is empowered
by the Board of Directors to, among other things: serve as an independent and
objective party to monitor the Company's financial reporting process, internal
control system and disclosure control system; review and appraise the audit
efforts of the Company's independent accountants; assume direct responsibility
for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the
outside auditors and for the resolution of disputes between the outside
auditors and the Company's
6
management regarding financial reporting issues; and provide an open avenue of
communication among the independent accountants, financial and senior
management, and the Board of Directors.
The Audit Committee has selected Eisner LLP to serve as the Company's
independent accountants during the current fiscal year. Eisner LLP served as
the Company's independent accountants during the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2003. A representative of Eisner LLP is expected to be present
at the Annual Meeting to make such statements as Eisner LLP may desire and
will be available to answer appropriate questions from shareholders.
Audit Committee Financial Expert. The Board of Directors has determined
that Harvey Leibowitz is an "audit committee financial expert", as such term
is defined by the SEC. As noted above, Mr. Leibowitz - as well as the other
members of the Audit Committee - has been determined to be "independent"
within the meaning of SEC and Nasdaq regulations.
Audit Committee Charter. The Audit Committee performed its duties during
fiscal 2003 under a written charter approved by the Board of Directors. The
Audit Committee has reviewed the relevant requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act, the proposed rules of the SEC and the proposed new listing standards of
the Nasdaq Stock Market regarding audit committee policies. Although some of
these rules and standards have not been finalized, the Board of Directors has
adopted an amended charter to voluntarily implement certain of the proposed
rules and standards. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is attached hereto
as Exhibit A. The Board of Directors and the Audit Committee intend to further
amend this charter, if necessary, as rules and standards are finalized by the
SEC and the Nasdaq Stock Market to reflect changes in the proposals or
additional requirements.
Independence of Audit Committee Members. The Company's Common Stock is
listed on the Nasdaq National Market and Asta is governed by the listing
standards applicable thereto. All members of the Audit Committee of the Board
of Directors have been determined to be "independent directors" pursuant to
the definition contained in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the National Association of
Securities Dealers' Marketplace Rules and under the SEC's Rule 10A-3.
Audit Committee Report. In connection with the preparation and filing of
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2003:
(1) The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial
statements with the Company's management.
(2) The Audit Committee discussed with the Company's independent auditors
the matters required to be discussed by SAS 61, as may be modified or
supplemented.
(3) The Audit Committee received and reviewed the written disclosures and
the letter from the Company's independent auditors required by the
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with
Audit Committees), as may be modified or supplemented, and discussed with
the Company's independent auditors any relationships that may impact their
objectivity and independence and satisfied itself as to the auditors'
independence.
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee
recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be
included in the 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Audit Committee Members:
Harvey Leibowitz (Chairman)
David Slackman
Edward Celano
The foregoing report of the Audit Committee is not to be deemed "soliciting
material" or deemed to be filed with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent specifically
requested by the Company or incorporated by reference in documents otherwise
filed.
Audit Fees. The Company was billed $130,400 for the audit of the Company's
annual financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2003 and for the
review of the financial statements included in the Company's Quarterly Reports
on Form 10-QSB filed during fiscal 2003.
7
Financial Information Systems Design Implementation Fees. The Company was
not billed for and did not receive any professional services described in
Paragraph (c)(4)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of the SEC's Regulation S-X (in general,
information technology services) from the Company's principal accountant
during the year ended September 30, 2003.
All Other Fees. The Company was billed $96,977 for non-audit services from
the Company's principal accountant during the year ended September 30, 2003.
Such non-audit services were comprised of $76,300 in connection with the
Company's registration statement filed in June 2003, and $20,677 in connection
with due diligence services related to an acquisition not consummated.
Other Matters. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has considered
whether the provision of non-audit services as described above is compatible
with maintaining the independence of the Company's principal accountant.
Of the time expended by the Company's principal accountant to audit the
Company's financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003,
less than 50% of such time involved work performed by persons other than the
principal accountant's full-time, permanent employees.
Nominating Committee. The Board of Directors recently established a
Nominating Committee consisting of David Slackman (the Chairman), Edward
Celano, Harvey Leibowitz. The Nominating Committee is empowered by the Board
of Directors to, among other things, recommend to the Board of Directors
qualified individuals to serve on the Company's Board of Directors and to
identify the manner in which the Nominating Committee evaluates nominees
recommended for the Board.
Nominating Committee Charter. The Board of Directors has adopted a
Nominating Committee charter to govern its Nominating Committee. A copy of the
Nominating Committee's charter is attached hereto as Exhibit B.
Independence of Nominating Committee Members. All members of the Nominating
Committee of the Board of Directors have been determined to be "independent
directors" pursuant to the definition contained in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the
National Association of Securities Dealers' Marketplace rules.
Procedures for Considering Nominations Made by Shareholders. The Nominating
Committee's charter and guidelines developed by the Nominating Committee
describe procedures for nominations to be submitted by shareholders and other
third-parties, other than candidates who have previously served on the Board
of Directors or who are recommended by the Board of Directors. The guidelines
state that a nomination must be delivered to the Secretary of the Company at
the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of
business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th
day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting;
provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days
before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice to be timely
must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day
prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the
later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the close of business on
the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of
such meeting is first made by the Company. The public announcement of an
adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting will not commence a new time
period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a notice as described
above. The guidelines require a nomination notice to set forth as to each
person whom the proponent proposes to nominate for election as a director: (a)
all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in
solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or
is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including such person's written
consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a
director it elected) and (b) information that will enable the Nominating
Committee to determine whether the candidate or candidates satisfy the
criteria established pursuant to the charter and the guidelines for director
candidates.
Qualifications. The charter and guidelines developed by the Nominating
Committee describe the minimum qualifications for nominees and the qualities
or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. Each nominee:
o must satisfy any legal requirements applicable to members of the Board of
Directors;
o must have business or professional experience that will enable such
nominee to provide useful input to the Board of Directors in its
deliberations;
8
o must have a reputation, in one or more of the communities serviced by
Asta and its subsidiaries, for honesty and ethical conduct;
o must have a working knowledge of the types of responsibilities expected
of members of the board of directors of a public company; and
o must have experience, either as a member of the board of directors of
another public or private company or in another capacity, that
demonstrates the nominee's capacity to serve in a fiduciary position.
Identification and Evaluation of Candidates for the Board. Candidates to
serve on the Board of Directors will be identified from all available sources,
including recommendations made by shareholders. The guidelines developed by
the Nominating Committee provide that there will be no differences in the
manner in which the Nominating Committee evaluates nominees recommended by
shareholders and nominees recommended by the Committee or management, except
that no specific process shall be mandated with respect to the nomination of
any individuals who have previously served on the Board of Directors. The
evaluation process for individuals other than existing Board members will
include:
o a review of the information provided to the Nominating Committee by the
proponent;
o a review of reference letters from at least two sources determined to be
reputable by the Nominating Committee; and
o a personal interview of the candidate,
together with a review of such other information as the Nominating Committee
shall determine to be relevant.
Third Party Recommendations. In connection with the 2004 Annual Meeting,
the Nominating Committee did not receive any nominations from any shareholder
or group of shareholders which owned more than 5% of the Company's Common
Stock for at least one year.
9
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of our filings
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, that might incorporate by reference this Proxy Statement,
in whole or in part, the following Performance Graph shall not be incorporated
by reference into any such filings.
The following graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return on our
Common Stock since September 30, 1998, with the cumulative return for the
NASDAQ Stock Market (US) Index and five stocks comprising our peer group index
over the same period, assuming the investment of $100 on September 30, 1998,
and the reinvestment of all dividends. We did not pay any dividends during
this period.
[PERFORMANCE GRAPH OMITTED]
COMPARE 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG ASTA FUNDING, INC.,
NASDAQ MARKET INDEX AND PEER GROUP INDEX
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Asta Funding Inc. 100.00 399.94 836.24 1440.66 1583.77 3787.15
Peer Group Index 100.00 168.99 233.90 55.77 44.93 111.79
NASDAQ Market Index 100.00 161.77 221.30 90.67 72.95 111.90
ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON SEPT. 30, 1998
ASSUMES DIVIDEND REINVESTED
FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPT. 30, 2003
10
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Directors who are employees of the Company do not receive additional
compensation for serving as directors. Each director who is not an employee of
the Company received a fee of $15,000 for fiscal 2003 and will receive a fee
of $16,000 for fiscal 2004 for serving as a member of the Board of Directors.
In addition, each director who is not an employee of the Company receives an
additional fee of $1,000 for attendance at each committee meeting not held on
the date of a regular meeting of the Board of Directors. The Company
reimburses each director for the expenses incurred in connection with
attendance at such meetings.
On November 3, 2003, the Company granted non-qualified stock options
covering 35,000 shares of Common Stock to: Herman Badillo, Edward Celano,
Harvey Leibowitz, and David Slackman at an exercise price of $14.87 per share.
One-third of such options become exercisable on November 3, 2003, 2004 and
2005.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table summarizes certain information relating to the
compensation paid or accrued by the Company for services rendered during the
fiscal years ended September 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001 with respect to the
Company's Chief Executive Officer and each other executive officer whose total
annual salary and bonus are $100,000 or more:
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION
ANNUAL COMPENSATION AWARDS (1)
---------------------------------------- ------------
OTHER SECURITIES
NAME AND ANNUAL UNDERLYING ALL OTHER
PRINCIPAL POSITION SALARY BONUS COMPENSATION OPTIONS/SARS COMPENSATION
------------------ YEAR ($) ($) ($) (#) (2) ($) (3)
---- ------- ------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Gary Stern ............................................. 2003 375,000 250,000 -- 70,000 1,958
President and Chief 2002 325,000 200,000 -- -- 1,722
Executive Officer 2001 300,000 200,000 -- 1,604
Mitchell Herman ........................................ 2003 250,000 125,000 -- 50,000 847
Chief Financial Officer 2002 200,000 100,000 -- -- 718
2001 175,000 100,000 -- -- 694
Arthur Stern ........................................... 2003 275,000 50,000 -- 70,000 --
Chairman 2002 225,000 50,000 -- -- --
2001 225,000 50,000 -- -- --
- ---------------
(1) The Company did not grant any stock appreciation rights, restricted stock
awards or make any long-term incentive plan payout during the fiscal
years ended September 30, 2003, 2002 or 2001.
(2) Comprised solely of incentive stock options and non-qualified stock
options granted under the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan. See "1995
Stock Option Plan."
(3) Includes insurance premium amounts paid by the Company.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
Each of Gary Stern and Mitchell Herman has entered into an Employment
Agreement with the Company, which commenced on October 1, 2001 and will
continue until September 30, 2004. Arthur Stern entered into an Employment
Agreement with the Company on November 11, 2003 which will continue until
November 11, 2006. The Employment Agreements for Arthur Stern, Gary Stern and
Mitchell Herman are collectively referred to as the "Employment Agreements."
The Employment Agreements provide for base annual salaries of $450,000 and
$300,000 for Messrs. Gary Stern and Herman, respectively, effective October 1,
2002. The Employment Agreement for Arthur Stern
11
provides for a base annual salary of $300,000, effective November 11, 2003.
Each of Messrs. Gary Stern, Arthur Stern and Herman may be granted annual
bonuses in the discretion of the Board of Directors. If Messrs. Gary Stern's
or Herman's employment with the Company is terminated for "Disability",
"Cause" (as such terms are defined in the Employment Agreements) or upon
death, the Company will pay either Messrs. Gary Stern or Herman or each of
their respective estates, as the case may be, the base annual salary and other
benefits under the Employment Agreement through the date of termination of
employment. If Messrs. Gary Stern's or Herman's employment with the Company is
terminated "Without Cause" (as such term is defined in the respective
Employment Agreements), the Company will pay either Messrs. Gary Stern or
Herman or each of their respective estates, as the case may be, the base
annual salary and other benefits under the Employment Agreement for the
earlier of 18 months after the date of termination of employment or until such
time such employee becomes a full-time employee of another employer. If Arthur
Stern's employment with the Company is terminated for "Cause" (as such term is
defined in his Employment Agreement), the Company will pay Arthur Stern, the
base annual salary and other benefits under the Employment Agreement through
the date of termination of employment. If Arthur Stern's employment with the
Company is terminated for "Disability" or "Without Cause" (as such terms are
defined in the Employment Agreement), or upon death, the Company will pay
Arthur Stern or his estate, the base annual salary and other benefits under
the Employment Agreement for the remainder of the three year term.
Each of the Employment Agreements contains certain non-competition covenants
and confidentiality provisions. During the term of the Employment Agreements
and for a period of 12 months after the date of termination of the Employment
Agreements, or for such period as the Company will continue to pay Messrs.
Gary Stern, Arthur Stern or Herman, as the case may be, their base salary and
other benefits under the Employment Agreements, Messrs. Gary Stern, Arthur
Stern and Herman, as the case may be, will not, in any geographic area in
which the Company does business as of the date of termination of such
Employment Agreement, directly or indirectly, compete with or be engaged in
the same business as the Company or its subsidiaries.
STOCK OPTION PLANS
1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN
The 1995 Stock Option Plan was adopted in order to attract and retain
qualified directors, officers and employees of and consultants to the Company.
The following description does not purport to be complete and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the full text of the 1995 Stock Option Plan,
which is included as an exhibit to the Company's reports filed with the SEC.
The 1995 Stock Option Plan authorizes the granting of incentive stock
options (as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code")) and non-qualified stock options to eligible employees of
the Company, including officers and directors of the Company (whether or not
employees) and consultants of the Company.
The Company has 1,840,000 shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance
under the 1995 Stock Option Plan and 56,000 shares remain available as of
August 10, 2004. As of August 10, 2004, approximately 101 of the Company's
employees were eligible to participate in the 1995 Stock Option Plan. Future
grants under the 1995 Stock Option Plan have not yet been determined. No
option will vest more than ten years from the date of grant and no option may
be granted after September 14, 2005.
2002 STOCK OPTION PLAN
On March 5, 2002, the Board of Directors adopted the Asta Funding, Inc. 2002
Stock Option Plan (the "2002 Plan"), which plan was approved by the Company's
stockholders on May 1, 2002. The 2002 Plan was adopted in order to attract and
retain qualified directors, officers and employees of and consultants to the
Company. The following description does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2002 Plan,
which is included as an exhibit to the Company's reports filed with the SEC.
12
The 2002 Plan authorizes the granting of incentive stock options (as defined
in Section 422 of the Code) and non-qualified stock options to eligible
employees of the Company, including officers and directors of the Company
(whether or not employees) and consultants of the Company.
The Company has 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance
under the 2002 Plan and 854,167 were available as of August 10, 2004. As of
August 10, 2004, approximately 101 of the Company's employees were eligible to
participate in the 2002 Plan. Future grants under the 2002 Plan have not yet
been determined. No option will vest more than ten years from the date of
grant.
The following tables summarize certain information relating to the grant of
options to purchase Common Stock to the executive officers named in the
Summary Compensation Table.
OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR (1)
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
---------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF TOTAL
SECURITIES OPTIONS/ SARS
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO EXERCISE OF
NAME OPTIONS/ SARS EMPLOYEES IN BASE PRICE EXPIRATION
---- GRANTED (#) FISCAL YEAR ($/SH) DATE
------------- ------------- ----------- ----------
Gary Stern .................................. 70,000(2) 36.8% $14.87 11/3/13
Mitchell Herman ............................. 50,000(2) 26.4% $14.87 11/3/13
Arthur Stern ................................ 70,000(2) 36.8% $14.87 11/3/13
- ---------------
(1) The Company did not grant any stock appreciation rights to its executive
officers in fiscal 2003.
(2) These options vest in three equal annual installments commencing
November 3, 2003.
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISE IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FY-END OPTION/SAR VALUES (1)
VALUE OF
NUMBER OF SECURITIES UNEXERCISED
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY
OPTIONS/SARS OPTIONS/SARS
AT FY-END (#)(1) AT FY-END ($)(2)
SHARES ACQUIRED VALUE --------------------------- ---------------------------
NAME ON EXERCISE (#) REALIZED ($) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
---- --------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
Gary Stern .............. -- -- 562,000 64,000 $6,192,770 $524,340
Mitchell Herman ......... 44,000(3) $478,720 28,666 57,334 $ 173,267 $438,544
Arthur Stern ............ -- -- 233,000 34,000 $2,440,915 $276,240
- ---------------
(1) The Company did not grant any stock appreciation rights.
(2) In accordance with SEC rules, values are calculated by subtracting the
exercise price from the fair market value of the underlying Common Stock.
For purposes of this table, fair market value is deemed to be $13.00, the
fair market value of a share of Common Stock on September 30, 2003
(presumed to equal the last reported sale price of the Common Stock as
reported on the Nasdaq National Market on such date).
(3) Mitchell Herman exercised 22,000 options in fiscal 2003 at an average
exercise price of $4.23.
13
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table gives information about the Company's Common Stock that
may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights under the
Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan and 2002 Stock Option Plan, as of
September 30, 2003. These plans were the Company's only equity compensation
plans in existence as of September 30, 2003.
(C)
NUMBER OF SECURITIES
(A) REMAINING AVAILABLE FOR
NUMBER OF SECURITIES (B) FUTURE ISSUANCE UNDER
TO BE ISSUED UPON WEIGHTED-AVERAGE EQUITY COMPENSATION
EXERCISE OF EXERCISE PRICE OF PLANS (EXCLUDING
PLAN CATEGORY OUTSTANDING OPTIONS, OUTSTANDING OPTIONS, SECURITIES REFLECTED IN
------------- WARRANTS AND RIGHTS WARRANTS AND RIGHTS COLUMN (A))
-------------------- -------------------- -----------------------
Equity Compensation Plans
Approved by Shareholders............. 1,109,500 $2.87 1,482,000
Equity Compensation Plans Not
Approved by Shareholders............. -- -- --
--------- ----- ---------
Total.................................. 1,109,000 $2.87 1,482,000
========= ===== =========
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Pursuant to the rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the
following report regarding compensation policies as they affect the Company's
executive officers is furnished to the stockholders of the Company. The
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, consisting entirely of non-
management directors, approves all policies under which compensation is paid
or awarded to the Company's executive officers. During the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2003, the Compensation Committee consisted of Herman Badillo
(the Chairman), David Slackman and Harvey Leibowitz.
Compensation Philosophy
The Company's executive compensation program is designed to attract and
retain superior executive talent, to provide incentives and rewards to
executive officers who will contribute to the long-term success of the Company
and to closely align the interests of executives with those of the Company's
stockholders. The principal elements of the Company's executive compensation
program consist of: (i) a current compensation program, (ii) a set of standard
benefits and (iii) a long-term benefit program.
The Committee evaluates the level and adequacy of executive compensation
through a process that includes an informal analysis of the compensation
practices of similarly situated entities in the Company's peer group, as well
as those of other receivables management and debt collection companies. The
Committee does not rely on quantitative methods or mathematical formulas in
setting compensation for a particular executive officer. Instead, the members
of the Committee determine appropriate compensation levels after examining a
number of factors, including the compensation practices in the competitive
marketplace, the Company's historical performance and future prospects, the
job responsibilities of each executive, the past and expected contributions of
individual executives and other criteria deemed relevant by the Committee.
Current Compensation Program
The current compensation element focuses upon the executive officer's base
salary and is designed to provide competitive reimbursement for services
rendered. The Company has entered into employment agreements with each
executive officer that specify minimum annual base salaries. See "Employment
Agreements." Under these employment agreements, base salaries for the
executive officers of the Company for 2004 will range from $300,000 to
$450,000. The Committee believes these base salaries are market for
14
comparable positions at peer companies. The executive officer's annual base
salary may be increased as determined by the Board of Directors in its sole
discretion.
Standard Benefits
The Company's standard benefit package consists primarily of the matching
portion of the Company's 401(k) plan, health insurance benefits and
eligibility for annual bonuses.
401(k) Plan
The Company maintains a 401(k) Retirement Plan covering all of its eligible
employees. Matching contributions to the plan are made at the discretion of
the Board of Directors each plan year.
Annual Bonuses
Pursuant to and during the term of their employment agreements, each of the
executive officers shall be eligible to receive bonuses as determined by the
Board of Directors of the Company in its sole discretion.
Long-Term Benefit Program
The Company's long-term benefit element is reflected in the grants and
awards made pursuant to the Company's stock option plans. Stock options are
designed to align the interests of the Company's executives more closely with
those of the stockholders. The Company typically grants stock options at an
exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date
of grant. These options generally vest in three equal annual installments (on
the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant, provided that
the optionee continues to be employed by the Company on such anniversary date)
and are typically exercisable within ten years from the date of grant. The
Committee believes that the granting of stock options provides powerful
incentives for the creation of long-term value for the Company's stockholders
as the full benefit of the stock options cannot be realized unless stock price
appreciation occurs over a number of years. The Company's stock option plans
are administered by the Compensation Committee, which has authority to
determine eligibility, the types and sizes of options, the price and timing of
options, and any vesting (including acceleration of vesting) of options.
1995 Stock Option Plan
The 1995 Stock Option Plan authorizes the granting of incentive stock
options (as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended) and non-qualified stock options to eligible employees of the Company,
including officers and directors of the Company (whether or not employees) and
consultants of the Company. The Company has 1,840,000 shares of Common Stock
authorized for issuance under the 1995 Stock Option Plan and 56,000 shares
remain available as of August 10, 2004. As of August 10, 2004, approximately
101 of the Company's employees were eligible to participate in the 1995 Stock
Option Plan. Future grants under the 1995 Stock Option Plan have not yet been
determined. No option will vest more than ten years from the date of grant and
no option may be granted after September 14, 2005.
2002 Stock Option Plan
The 2002 Stock Option Plan (the "2002 Plan") authorizes the granting of
incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options to eligible employees
of the Company, including officers and directors of the Company (whether or
not employees) and consultants of the Company. The Company has 1,000,000
shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the 2002 Plan and 854,167
were available as of August 10, 2004. As of August 10, 2004, approximately 101
of the Company's employees were eligible to participate in the 2002 Plan.
Future grants under the 2002 Plan have not yet been determined. No option will
vest more than ten years from the date of grant.
15
Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer
As disclosed in the Company's annual report of Form 10-K for the year ended
September 30, 2001, the Company entered into a five-year employment agreement
with Gary Stern, the Company's Chief Executive Officer. See "Employment
Agreements." Pursuant to that agreement, Mr. Stern received a base salary of
$375,000 in 2003. Effective October 1, 2003, Mr. Stern's annual salary was
increased to $450,000. Mr. Stern also received a cash bonus of $250,000 in
2003 under his employment agreement, which was slightly higher than the bonus
paid to Mr. Stern in 2002. The higher bonus paid in 2003 reflected the
Company's financial performance during the year as compared to 2002.
The Committee considered the overall level of Mr. Stern's cash compensation
appropriate in view of Mr. Stern's leadership of the Company through its
evolution into a leading consumer receivables asset management company, the
Company's balance sheet strength and Mr. Stern's contributions to the building
of the Company's infrastructure and the increased capabilities and expertise
of the senior management team put into place by Mr. Stern. The specific bases
for the Committee's determinations regarding Mr. Stern's compensation in 2003
included his aggressive leadership, which resulted in the significant
strengthening of the Company's balance sheet and the Company's competitive
position, his role in completing the Company's July 2003 private offering, his
commitment to the development and implementation of the Company's strategic
plan, his contribution to the building of the Company's infrastructure and his
contributions to the achievement of the Company's performance goals.
This report is submitted on behalf of the Compensation Committee:
Herman Badillo (Chairman)
David Slackman
Harvey Leibowitz
The foregoing report of the Compensation Committee is not to be deemed
"soliciting material" or deemed to be filed with the SEC or subject to
Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent
specifically requested by the Company or incorporated by reference in
documents otherwise filed.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
directors, executive officers and persons holding more than 10% of a
registered class of the equity securities of the Company to file with the SEC
and to provide the Company with initial reports of ownership, reports of
changes in ownership and annual reports of ownership of Common Stock and other
equity securities of the Company. Based solely upon a review of such reports
furnished to the Company, the Company believes that all such Section 16(a)
reporting requirements were timely fulfilled during the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2003, except Herman Badillo exercised options on February 14,
2003 but filed a form 4 on March 4, 2003, and GMS Family Investors, LLC and
Judith Feder crossed the 10% threshold on May 30, 2003 but filed a form 3 on
July 1, 2003. These late filings were inadvertent, and the required filings
were made promptly after noting the failures to file.
CERTAIN RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
From time to time Group makes advances to the Company. During the year ended
September 30, 2003, Group did not make any advances the Company and its
subsidiaries.
The Company has employment agreements with certain of its executive
officers. See "Executive Compensation -- Employment Agreements".
In the future, transactions with officers, directors and affiliates of the
Company are anticipated to be minimal and will be approved by a majority of
the Board of Directors, including a majority of the disinterested members of
the Board of Directors, and will be made on terms no less favorable to the
Company than could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
16
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES TO THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS DESCRIBED ABOVE IN PROPOSAL ONE.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
SEC regulations permit shareholders to submit proposals for consideration at
annual meetings of shareholders. Any such proposals for the Company's Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2005 must be submitted to the Company on
or before May 4, 2005, and must comply with applicable regulations of the SEC
in order to be included in proxy materials relating to that meeting. If a
shareholder notifies the Company after July 18, 2005, of an intent to present
a proposal at the Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2005,
the Company will have the right to exercise its discretionary voting authority
with respect to such proposal, if presented at the meeting, without including
information regarding such proposal in its proxy materials.
The Board of Directors has established a procedure that enables shareholders
to communicate in writing with members of the Board of Directors. Any such
communication should be addressed to the Company's Secretary and should be
sent to such individual c/o Asta Funding, Inc., 210 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood
Cliffs, New Jersey 07632. Any such communication must state, in a conspicuous
manner, that it is intended for distribution to the entire Board of Directors.
Under the procedures established by the Board of Directors, upon the
Secretary's receipt of such a communication, the Company's Secretary will send
a copy of such communication to each member of the Board of Directors,
identifying it as a communication received from a shareholder. Absent unusual
circumstances, at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of
Directors held more than two days after such communication has been
distributed, the Board of Directors will consider the substance of any such
communication.
Pursuant to a policy adopted by the Board, Board members are required to
attend the Company's annual meeting of shareholders. Each of the members of
the Board of Directors, except for Mitchell Herman, attended the Company's
2003 annual meeting of shareholders.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors does not know of any matters, other than those
referred to in the accompanying Notice of the Annual Meeting, to be presented
at the Meeting for action by the stockholders. However, if any other matters
are properly brought before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof, it is
intended that votes will be cast with respect to such matters, pursuant to the
proxies, in accordance with the best judgment of the person acting under the
proxies.
The Company will provide without charge to each person being solicited by
this Proxy Statement, on the written request of any such person, a copy of the
Annual Report of the Company on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2003 (as filed with the SEC), including the financial statements
thereto, and a copy of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 30, 2004. All such requests should be directed to the
Secretary of Asta Funding, Inc., 210 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, New
Jersey 07632.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ Mitchell Herman
Mitchell Herman, Secretary
A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 (EXCLUDING EXHIBITS) AND A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S QUARTERLY
REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2004, ACCOMPANY THIS PROXY
STATEMENT. THESE REPORTS ARE NOT TO BE REGARDED AS PROXY SOLICITING MATERIAL
OR AS A COMMUNICATION BY MEANS OF WHICH ANY SOLICITATION IS TO BE MADE.
17
EXHIBIT A
ASTA FUNDING, INC.
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
I. STATEMENT OF POLICY
The Audit Committee shall assist the Board of Directors (the "Board") of
Asta Funding, Inc. ("Asta") in fulfilling its oversight responsibility by
reviewing the accounting and financial reporting processes of Asta and its
subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company"), the Company's system of internal
controls regarding finance, accounting, legal compliance and ethics, and the
audits of the Company's financial statements. In so doing, it is the
responsibility of the Audit Committee to maintain free and open means of
communications among the Company's Board of Directors, outside auditors and
senior management. The Audit Committee's primary responsibilities and duties
are:
o Serve as an independent and objective party to monitor the Company's
financial reporting process, internal control system and disclosure
control system.
o Review and appraise the audit efforts of the Company's independent
accountants.
o Assume direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention
and oversight of the work of the outside auditors and for the resolution
of disputes between the outside auditors and the Company's management
regarding financial reporting issues.
o Provide an open avenue of communication among the independent
accountants, financial and senior management and the Board.
The Audit Committee will primarily fulfill these responsibilities by
carrying out the activities identified in Section IV of this Charter.
The Company shall be responsible for the providing the Audit Committee with
appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee, in order to
compensate the outside auditors and advisors engaged by or employed by the
Audit Committee.
II. COMPOSITION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee shall consist of at least three "independent" Directors
of Asta and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. An "independent"
Director is defined as an individual who (a) is not an officer or salaried
employee or an affiliate of the Company, (b) does not have any relationship
that, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with his or her exercise of
independent judgment as an Audit Committee member, (c) meets the independence
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the
Nasdaq Stock Market or such other securities exchange or market on which
Asta's securities are traded and (d) except as permitted by the SEC and the
Nasdaq Stock Market or such other securities exchange or market on which
Asta's securities are traded, does not accept any consulting, advisory or
other compensatory fee from the Company.
At least one member of the Audit Committee shall be a "financial expert" as
defined by the SEC and the Nasdaq Stock Market or such other securities
exchange or market on which Asta's securities are traded. Each Audit Committee
member must be able to read and understand financial statements, including a
balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement.
The members of the Audit Committee shall be designated by the full Board
from time to time. The Board shall designate one member of the Audit Committee
to serve as chairperson of the committee.
III. MEETINGS AND MINUTES
The Audit Committee shall meet at least quarterly, with additional meetings
if circumstances require, for the purpose of satisfying its responsibilities.
The Audit Committee shall maintain minutes of each meeting of the Audit
Committee and shall report the actions of the Audit Committee to the Board,
with such recommendations as the Audit Committee deems appropriate.
A-1
IV. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee shall oversee and monitor the Company's accounting and
financial reporting process, internal control system and disclosure control
system, review the audits of the Company's financial statements and review and
evaluate the performance of the Company's outside auditors. In fulfilling
these duties and responsibilities, the Audit Committee shall take the
following actions, in addition to performing such functions as may be assigned
by law, the Company's certificate of incorporation, the Company's bylaws or
the Board.
1. The Audit Committee shall assume direct responsibility for the
appointment, retention and oversight of the work of the outside auditors
and, when appropriate, the replacement of the outside auditors. As part of
the audit process, the Audit Committee shall meet with the outside auditors
to discuss and decide the audit's scope. The Audit Committee shall determine
that the outside audit team engaged to perform the external audit consists
of competent, experienced, auditing professionals. The Audit Committee shall
also review and approve the compensation to be paid to the outside auditors
and shall be authorized to compensate the outside auditors.
2. The Audit Committee shall take, or recommend that the full Board
take, appropriate action to ensure the independence of the outside auditors.
The Audit Committee shall require the outside auditors to advise the Company
of any fact or circumstances that might adversely affect the outside
auditors' independence or judgment with respect to the Company under
applicable auditing standards. The Audit Committee shall require the outside
auditors to submit, on an annual basis, a formal written statement setting
forth all relationships between the outside auditors and the Company that
may affect the objectivity and independence of the outside auditors. Such
statement shall confirm that the outside auditors are not aware of any
conflict of interest prohibited by Section 10A(l) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). The Audit Committee shall actively engage
in a dialogue with the outside auditors with respect to any disclosed
relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence
of the outside auditors.
3. The Audit Committee shall require the outside auditors to advise the
Audit Committee in advance in the event that the outside auditors intend to
provide any professional services to the Company other than services
provided in connection with an audit or a review of the Company's financial
statements ("non-audit services"); provided that such non-audit services are
not listed in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act ("prohibited services").
The Audit Committee shall approve, in advance, any non-audit services to be
provided to the Company by the Company's outside auditing firm.
4. The Audit Committee shall obtain confirmations from time to time from
the Company's outside auditing firm that such firm is not providing to the
Company (i) any prohibited services, or (ii) any other non-audit service or
any auditing service that has not been approved in advance by the Audit
Committee. The Audit Committee shall have the authority to approve the
provision of non-audit services that have not been pre-approved by the Audit
Committee, but only to the extent that such non-audit services qualify under
the de minimus exception set forth in Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Exchange
Act. The Audit Committee shall record in its minutes and report to the Board
all approvals of non-audit services granted by the Audit Committee.
5. The Audit Committee shall meet with the outside auditors, with no
management in attendance, to openly discuss the quality of the Company's
accounting principles as applied in its financial reporting, including
issues such as (a) the appropriateness, not just the acceptability, of the
accounting principles and financial disclosure practices used or proposed to
be used by the Company, (b) the clarity of the Company's financial
disclosures and (c) the degree of aggressiveness or conservatism that exists
in the Company's accounting principles and underlying estimates and other
significant decisions made by the Company's management in preparing the
Company's financial disclosures. The Audit Committee shall then meet,
without operating management or the outside auditors being present, to
discuss the information presented to it.
6. The Audit Committee shall meet with the outside auditors and
management to review the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual
report on Form 10-K and discuss any significant adjustments, management
judgments and accounting estimates and any significant new accounting
policies before such forms are filed with the SEC. The Audit Committee shall
require the outside auditors to report to
A-2
the Audit Committee all critical accounting policies and practices to be
used, all alternative treatments of financial information within generally
accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with the Company's
management, ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and
treatments, the treatments preferred by the outside auditors and other
material written communications between the outside auditors and the
Company's management, including management's letters and schedules of
unadjusted differences.
7. Upon the completion of the annual audit, the Audit Committee shall
review the audit findings reported to it by the outside auditors, including
any comments or recommendations of the outside auditors, with the entire
Board.
8. The Audit Committee shall review all reports received from the
federal and state regulatory authorities and assure that the Board is aware
of the findings and results. In addition, it will meet with the appropriate
members of senior management designated by the Audit Committee to review the
responses to the respective regulatory reports.
9. The Audit Committee shall consider and review with management: (a)
significant findings during the year and management's responses thereto,
including the status of previous audit recommendations and (b) any
difficulties encountered in the course of their audits, including any
restrictions on the scope of activities or access to required information.
10. The Audit Committee shall consider and approve, if appropriate,
changes to the Company's auditing and accounting principles and practices,
as suggested by the outside auditors or management, and the Audit Committee
shall review with the outside auditors and management the extent to which
such changes have been implemented (to be done at an appropriate amount of
time prior to the implementation of such changes as decided by the Audit
Committee).
11. The Audit Committee shall prepare a letter for inclusion in the
Company's proxy statement describing the discharge of the Audit Committee's
responsibilities.
12. The Audit Committee will review and update this Charter periodically,
at least annually, and as conditions may dictate. The Audit Committee
Charter shall be presented to the full Board for its approval of any
changes.
13. Commencing on such date as Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002 (the "Act") becomes effective, the Audit Committee shall obtain
confirmation from the outside auditors at the commencement of each audit
that such firm is a "registered public accounting firm" as such term is
defined under the Act.
14. The Audit Committee shall have the authority to engage independent
counsel and other advisers as it determines necessary to perform its duties.
15. The Audit Committee shall establish procedures for (i) the receipt,
retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding
accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and (ii) the
confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns
regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
16. The Audit Committee shall investigate or consider such other matters
within the scope of its responsibilities and duties as the Audit Committee
may, in its discretion, determine to be advisable.
A-3
EXHIBIT B
ASTA FUNDING, INC.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE CHARTER
PURPOSE OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The purpose of the Nominating Committee is:
o to identify qualified individuals for membership on the Company's board
of directors; and
o to recommend to the board the director nominees for election at the next
annual meeting of stockholders.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Nominating Committee:
o shall consist of not less than three members of the board of directors,
the exact number to be established by the board of directors from time to
time;
o members shall consist solely of individuals who meet the independence
standards set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and in
the listing standards applicable to the Company; and
o members shall be appointed and may be removed by the board of directors.
DUTIES OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Nominating Committee shall:
o establish general criteria for identifying and selecting individuals who
may be nominated for election to the board of directors, which criteria
shall
o reflect, at a minimum, all applicable laws, rules, regulations and
listing standards applicable to the Company, and
o include, without limitation, a potential candidate's experience, areas
of expertise and other factors relative to the overall composition of
the board of directors;
o annually review the size, composition and needs of the board of directors
and make recommendations to the board;
o recommend to the board of directors the director nominees for election at
the next annual meeting of stockholders;
o consider and recommend candidates for appointment to the board to the
extent vacancies arise between annual meetings of stockholders;
o consider director candidates submitted by stockholders, in accordance
with guidelines developed by the Nominating Committee; and
o annually review the Nominating Committee charter and recommend to the
board any changes it deems necessary or desirable.
MEETINGS OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Nominating Committee shall meet as often as necessary to carry out its
responsibilities, but not less than once each year. At the discretion of the
chairperson of the Nominating Committee, but at least once each year, the
members of the Nominating Committee shall meet in executive session, without
any members of management present.
B-1
ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Nominating Committee shall have the authority to do the following, in
its discretion, to the extent it deems appropriate in carrying out its duties
under this Charter:
o delegate any of its responsibilities to a subcommittee or subcommittees;
and
o retain outside counsel and other advisors.
B-2
PROXY
ASTA FUNDING, INC.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004
The undersigned hereby appoints Gary Stern and Mitchell Herman, and
each of them, attorneys and proxies with power of substitution, to vote for and
on behalf of the undersigned at the Asta Funding, Inc. (the "Company") Annual
Meeting of Stockholders to be held on September 30, 2004 and at any adjournments
or postponements thereof (the "Meeting"), upon the following matters and upon
any other business that may properly come before the Meeting, as set forth in
the related Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement, both of which have been
received by the undersigned.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED BY THE
UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF THIS PROXY IS EXECUTED BUT NO DIRECTION IS MADE,
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE BOARD'S NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
ASTA FUNDING, INC.
September 30, 2004
Please date, sign and mail
your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon
as possible.
Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE |X|
1. Election of Directors:
NOMINEES:
---------
|_| FOR ALL NOMINEES O Gary Stern
O Arthur Stern
|_| WITHHOLD AUTHORITY O Herman Badillo
FOR ALL NOMINEES O David Slackman
O Edward Celano
|_| FOR ALL EXCEPT
(See instructions below) O Harvey Leibowitz
O Alan Rivera
O Louis A. Piccolo
INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark
"FOR ALL EXCEPT" and fill in the circle next to each nominee you
wish to withhold, as shown here: O
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
____
To change the address on your account, please check the box at right | |
and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note | |
that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be |___|
submitted via this method.
In their discretion, the above named proxies are authorized to vote upon such
other business as may properly come before the meetintg or any adjournment
thereof and upon matters incident to the conduct of the meeting.
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED. IF NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, THIS PROXY
WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES NAMED IN NAMED AT LEFT,
OR IF ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE NOMINEES BECOMES UNAVAILABLE, FOR ANOTHER NOMINEE
OR OTHER NOMINEES TO BE SELECTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Please sign this proxy and return it promptly whether or not you expect to
attend this Meeting. You may nevertheless vote in person if you attend.
Signature of Stockholder_____________________________________ Date:___________
Signature of Stockholder_____________________________________ Date:___________
NOTE: Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When
shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as
executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full
title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate
name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a
partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.