SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 19, 2006
ASTA FUNDING, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware 0-26906 22-3388607
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(State Or Other (Commission (IRS Employer
Jurisdiction Of File Number) Identification No.)
Incorporation)
210 Sylvan Avenue
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (201) 567-5648
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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ITEM 5.02. COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS.
On December 19, 2006, the Board of Directors of Asta Funding, Inc.,
(the "Company") approved base salary increases of five percent (5%) for the
following officers for fiscal 2007: Gary Stern, the Company's President and
Chief Executive Officer, and Arthur Stern, the Company's Executive Vice
President. The Board approved a base salary increase of fifteen percent (15%)
for Mitchell Cohen, the Company's Chief Financial Officer for fiscal 2007.
As a result of these increases, the new annual base salaries for these
executive officers, effective January 1, 2007, are as follows:
Gary Stern $577,500
Arthur Stern $357,000
Mitchell Cohen $270,000
Additionally, the Company's Board of Directors approved a one-time
year-end cash bonus of $50,000 to be paid to each of Arthur Stern and Mitch
Cohen, and a cash bonus of $100,000 to be granted to Gary Stern.
The Board of Directors also approved a grant of 15,000 shares of
restricted stock of the Company to be made to each of Arthur Stern, Gary Stern
and Mitchell Cohen. The shares of restricted stock shall vest in three equal
installments. The first installment shall vest 90 days from the date of grant,
the second, one year and 90 days from the date of grant, and the third shall
vest two years and 90 days from the date of grant.
ITEM 8.01. OTHER EVENTS.
The Board of Directors also approved at the meeting an increase in
annual cash compensation paid to non-employee directors of the Company of
$10,000 per director. Each director who is not an employee of the Company shall
receive, for fiscal 2007, a fee of $30,000. The Board also approved an increase
in cash compensation paid to those directors selected to chair certain
committees of the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee Chair will receive a
fee $7,500 for fiscal 2007. The Chair of the Compensation Committee will receive
a fee of $5,000 for fiscal 2007.
In addition, the Board approved a grant of 3,000 shares of restricted
stock and 3,000 options to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company, to
each non-employee director of the Company. The exercise price of the stock
options is $28.75 per share. The shares of restricted stock and the stock
options shall each vest in three equal annual installments. The first
installment shall vest 90 days from the date of grant, the second, one year and
90 days from the date of grant, and the third shall vest two years and 90 days
from the date of grant.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
ASTA FUNDING, INC.
By: /s/ Mitchell Cohen
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Mitchell Cohen
Chief Financial Officer
Date: December 22, 2006
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