UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers. Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
Departure of Brett Kaufman as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Brett Kaufman’s employment as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of AFC Gamma, Inc. (the “Company”) will terminate effective April 17, 2023 (the “Separation Date”). From the date hereof through the Separation Date, Mr. Kaufman will remain employed by AFC Management, LLC, the Company’s external manager (the “Manager”), but will no longer serve as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company. In connection with his termination, provided that he executes and does not revoke a release of claims in favor of the Company, Mr. Kaufman will receive (i) twelve (12) months’ worth of his current base salary, (ii) his target bonus, (iii) continued payment by the Manager of 100% of the COBRA premiums for him and his dependents for a period of twelve (12) months following the Separation Date, (iv) accelerated vesting of one (1) additional tranche of each of Mr. Kaufman’s outstanding equity awards, and (v) the outstanding options held by Mr. Kaufman shall be exercisable for a period of one (1) year following the Separation Date.
Appointment of Brandon Hetzel as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
On March 17, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) appointed Brandon Hetzel as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company, effective on such date (the “Effective Date”). Mr. Hetzel, age 36, joined the Company in September 2020 as Controller and has been Executive Vice President, Controller of the Company since December 2022. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Hetzel served as VP of Finance for a real estate development and asset management company and prior to that spent seven years with PricewaterhouseCoopers where he was a manager in the REIT audit practice. Mr. Hetzel has over twelve years of real estate and financial management experience focused on real estate and REITs, including multi-family properties, hotels, office buildings, malls, strip centers and condominium development. Mr. Hetzel received a Master of Business Administration, Accounting BSBA and Finance BSBA from the University of Central Florida and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.
The Company did not enter into a new employment agreement or otherwise increase Mr. Hetzel’s compensation in connection with such appointment. Mr. Hetzel is party to an employment agreement with the Manager, dated January 3, 2023 (the “Employment Agreement”), which includes a two-year term that will automatically renew and be automatically extended for additional one-year terms on each subsequent anniversary of January 3, 2023, unless either the Company or Mr. Hetzel provides written notice at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration date. The Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Hetzel will receive an annual base salary of $250,000. Mr. Hetzel will also be eligible to receive annual incentive bonuses, with target bonuses for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 equal to $75,000 and $112,500, respectively. The Employment Agreement also provides that Mr. Hetzel is eligible to receive equity grants under the AFCG Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), under which he received a grant of restricted common stock in January 2023 with a grant date fair value of $100,000, which will vest as to one-third of the grant on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date, and is entitled to receive two additional grants of restricted common stock in January 2024 with grant date fair values of $25,000 and $150,000, respectively, the first of which will be fully vested on the date of grant, and the second of which will vest as to one-third of the grant on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date. The agreement also provides for Mr. Hetzel to participate in the Manager’s benefit plans and programs, and fringe benefit plans and programs, made available by the Manager to its executives generally, as such plans or programs may be in effect from time to time, including eighteen (18) days’ worth of annual vacation days.
The Employment Agreement generally provides that, in the event of a termination of Mr. Hetzel’s employment by the Manager other than for “cause” (which includes a non-renewal of the Employment Agreement term by the Company), or his resignation for “good reason”, he will be entitled to twelve (12) months’ worth of his then-current base salary. The Employment Agreement also includes certain restrictive covenants, including a provision that, during the period of Mr. Hetzel’s employment and for a period of twelve (12) months following a termination of his employment for any reason, he will not compete with the Company or its affiliates or solicit any Company employees or customers.
1
In addition to the compensation that Mr. Hetzel receives under the Employment Agreement, the Company has entered into its standard indemnification agreement with Mr. Hetzel, the form of which was previously filed by the Company as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-251762) initially filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 22, 2021.
There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Hetzel and any other person pursuant to which Mr. Hetzel was appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and there are no family relationships between Mr. Hetzel and any director or executive officer of the Company, and he has no direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
| Item 7.01 | Regulation FD Disclosure. |
On March 20, 2023, the Company issued a press release announcing Mr. Hetzel’s appointment as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. A copy of the Company’s press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.
The information contained in Item 7.01 (including Exhibit 99.1) of this Current Report shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| (d) | Exhibits |
| Exhibit No. | Description | |
| 99.1 | Press Release issued by AFC Gamma, Inc. on March 20, 2023. |
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SIGNATURES
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.
| AFC GAMMA, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Gabriel Katz | |
| Gabriel Katz | ||
| Secretary and Chief Legal Officer | ||
| Date: March 20, 2023 | ||
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Exhibit 99.1
AFC
Gamma, Inc. Announces CFO Transition
WEST PALM BEACH, FL, March 20, 2023 – AFC Gamma, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFCG) ( “AFC Gamma” or the “Company”) today announced that Brandon Hetzel, AFC Gamma’s current Executive Vice President, Controller, has been appointed to serve as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Hetzel’s appointment was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on March 17, 2023.
“Effective immediately, the Board has appointed Brandon Hetzel as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. We are very excited to have Brandon step into the role, as he has been integral to the Company’s success since he joined in September of 2020 and brings with him both detailed knowledge of our business and significant real estate experience, which will be valuable to AFC Gamma as it expands its investment strategy to include traditional commercial real estate,” stated the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Leonard Tannenbaum. He continued, “I want to thank Brett for his leadership and contributions to AFC Gamma during his tenure here, specifically in mentoring Brandon. On behalf of the Board and Company, we wish Brett the best in his future endeavors.”
Mr. Hetzel’s appointment follows the departure of Brett Kaufman, who was previously the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. This move was made as part of the Company’s efforts to rightsize the accounting team.
Mr. Hetzel joined the Company’s external manager in September of 2020 as Controller and has been its Executive Vice President, Controller since December 2022. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Hetzel served as VP of Finance for a real estate development and asset management company and prior to that spent seven years with PricewaterhouseCoopers where he was a manager in the REIT audit practice. Mr. Hetzel has over twelve years of real estate and financial management experience focused on real estate and REITs, including multi-family properties, hotels, office buildings, malls, strip centers and condominium development. Mr. Hetzel received a Master of Business Administration, Accounting BSBA and Finance BSBA from the University of Central Florida and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.
About AFC Gamma, Inc.
AFC Gamma, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFCG) is a publicly-traded, institutional lender that originates, structures and underwrites loans secured by commercial real estate and other types of financing solutions. AFC Gamma targets direct lending and bridge loan opportunities typically ranging from $5 million to $100 million across multiple real estate sectors, with a specialization in lending to state-law compliant cannabis operators. It is based in West Palm Beach, Florida.
INVESTOR CONTACT:
Robyn Tannenbaum
561-510-2293
ir@advancedflowercapital.com
www.afcgamma.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
Rich Myers
Profile Advisors
347-774-1125
rmyers@profileadvisors.com
Cover |
Mar. 17, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Cover [Abstract] | |
| Document Type | 8-K |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Document Period End Date | Mar. 17, 2023 |
| Entity File Number | 001-39995 |
| Entity Registrant Name | AFC GAMMA, INC. |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001822523 |
| Entity Tax Identification Number | 85-1807125 |
| Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code | MD |
| Entity Address, Address Line One | 525 Okeechobee Blvd. |
| Entity Address, Address Line Two | Suite 1650 |
| Entity Address, City or Town | West Palm Beach |
| Entity Address, State or Province | FL |
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code | 33401 |
| City Area Code | 561 |
| Local Phone Number | 510-2390 |
| Written Communications | false |
| Soliciting Material | false |
| Pre-commencement Tender Offer | false |
| Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer | false |
| Title of 12(b) Security | Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share |
| Trading Symbol | AFCG |
| Security Exchange Name | NASDAQ |
| Entity Emerging Growth Company | true |
| Elected Not To Use the Extended Transition Period | false |