Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

v3.22.2.2
Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies  
Commitments and Contingencies

12.   Commitments and Contingencies

Origination and Modification Fees

Loan origination and modification fees generally range from 1% - 3% each of the original loan principal or the modified loan balance and, generally, are payable at the time the loan is funded or modified. The unamortized portion is recorded as deferred revenue on the balance sheet. At September 30, 2022, deferred revenue was $4,471,800, which will be recorded as income as follows:

Year ending December 31, 2022

    

$

1,583,313

Year ending December 31, 2023

2,687,114

Year ending December 31, 2024

201,373

Total

$

4,471,800

In instances in which mortgages are repaid before their maturity date, the balance of any unamortized deferred revenue is recognized in full at the time of repayment.

Employment Agreements

In February 2017, the Company entered into an employment agreement with John Villano, the material terms of which are as follows: (i) the employment term is five years with extensions for successive one-year periods unless either party provides written notice at least 180 days prior to the next anniversary date of its intention to not renew the agreement; (ii) a base salary of $260,000, which was increased in April 2018, April 2021 and April 2022 to $360,000, $500,000 and $750,000, respectively; (iii) incentive compensation in such amount as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors; (iv) participation in the Company’s employee benefit plans; (v) full indemnification to the extent permitted by law; (vi) a two-year non-competition period following the termination of employment without cause; and (vii) payments upon termination of employment or a change in control. In April 2022, the Company granted 98,425 restricted common shares (having a market value of approximately $500,000) to Mr. Villano. One-third of such shares will vest on January 1, 2023, and an additional one-third will vest on each of January 1, 2024 and 2025.

In July 2022, the Company entered into an employment agreement with John E. Warch, the material terms of which are as follows: (i) the employment term commenced on August 1, 2022 and will continue until terminated by either party; (ii) a base salary of $325,000; (iii) incentive compensation in such amount as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors; (iv) participation in the Company’s employee benefit plans; (v) full indemnification to the extent permitted by law; and (vi) payments upon termination of employment or a change in control.

Unfunded Commitments

At September 30, 2022, the Company had future funding obligations totaling $118,103,785, which can be drawn by the borrowers when the conditions relating thereto have been satisfied.

Other

In the normal course of its business, the Company is named as a party-defendant in connection with tax foreclosure proceedings against properties on which it holds a first mortgage lien. The Company actively monitors these actions and, in all cases, believes there remains sufficient value in the subject property to assure that no loan impairment exists. At September 30, 2022, there were four such proceedings. The unpaid principal balances on the properties that are the subject of these proceedings was approximately $236,000.