DEF: CreditRiskMonitor.com Annual Meeting & Director Election
Proxy Statement
CreditRiskMonitor.com, Inc. announces its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on August 12, 2026, to elect directors and ratify auditors, with proxy materials available online.
Summary
- CreditRiskMonitor.com, Inc. is holding its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on August 12, 2026, at 9:00 AM Eastern Time in Tarrytown, New York.
- The meeting's agenda includes the election of four directors, ratification of CohnReznick LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for 2026, and any other business properly brought before the meeting.
- Stockholders of record as of June 15, 2026, are entitled to vote.
- Proxy materials and the 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available electronically at www.proxyvote.com.
- The company is a remote-only entity and does not maintain a headquarters.
- A quorum requires a majority of outstanding shares (5,383,751 shares) to be present in person or by proxy.
- Directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast, meaning each nominee receiving at least one vote will be elected.
- Ratification of the auditor requires an affirmative vote of a majority of shares present in person or by proxy.
- The company has 10,767,501 common shares outstanding as of June 15, 2026.
Sentiment
Score: 5
Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this filing as neutral, primarily containing routine procedural information regarding the annual meeting and governance matters, with no significant financial performance updates or strategic shifts disclosed.
Positives
- The company is holding its annual meeting to ensure shareholder participation in governance.
- All current directors are nominated for re-election, indicating board stability.
- The company highlights the potential for Qualified Small Business Stock (QSB) tax benefits for shareholders.
- The Audit Committee has overseen the financial reporting and recommended the inclusion of audited financial statements in the Form 10-K.
- The company has a robust Insider Trading Policy in place to prevent hedging and pledging of securities.
- All directors and executive officers are reported to have complied with Section 16(a) beneficial ownership reporting requirements for fiscal year 2025.
Negatives
- David Reiner, Chief Accounting Officer, ended his employment with the company on February 27, 2026, due to the elimination of his position.
- Brigitte Muehlmann did not intend to stand for re-election to the Board as of April 25, 2025.
- The company does not currently have a lead independent director.
- While Lawrence Fensterstock is an audit committee financial expert, Joshua M. Flum's membership on the Audit Committee is noted despite being the son of the Chairman of the Board.
Risks
- Broker non-votes may impact the election of directors if shareholders do not provide specific voting instructions to their brokers, as director elections are non-routine matters.
- Abstentions will be counted as present but will have the effect of a vote against the ratification of the independent registered public accounting firm.
- The company's stock may meet the criteria for Qualified Small Business (QSB) stock, but shareholders must consult their own tax advisors to confirm eligibility for tax exclusions.
- The expansion of QSB stock rules under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduced changes to holding periods, corporation eligibility, and capital gain exclusion caps, requiring careful consideration by investors.
- The company does not have a formal policy regarding director attendance at annual meetings, though attendance is encouraged.
Future Outlook
The filing does not contain specific forward-looking financial guidance. It primarily focuses on the upcoming annual meeting, director elections, and auditor ratification. The company does mention the potential for Qualified Small Business Stock (QSB) tax benefits, which could be a positive factor for investors holding shares acquired directly from the company under specific conditions.
Management Comments
- Michael I. Flum, Chief Executive Officer and President, signed the notice, urging stockholders to submit their proxy or voting instructions as soon as possible.
- The Board recommends a vote FOR all nominees for director.
- The Board unanimously recommends a vote FOR ratification of CohnReznick LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for 2026.
- The Board believes the current leadership structure, with Jerome S. Flum as Executive Chairman and Michael I. Flum as CEO, best serves the Company and shareholders at this time, given the company's history, position, board composition, and size.
Industry Context
StockSavvy.ai notes that this filing is typical for a publicly traded company preparing for its annual shareholder meeting. The focus on director elections and auditor ratification are standard governance procedures. The discussion around Qualified Small Business Stock (QSB) is a specific tax-related incentive that may be relevant to investors in smaller, growth-oriented companies, potentially impacting investor decisions based on tax implications.
Comparison to Industry Standards
- The election of directors by a plurality of votes cast is a common standard in U.S. corporate governance.
- The ratification of independent auditors by shareholders is a standard practice, though not always legally required, to ensure transparency and shareholder confidence in financial reporting.
- The structure of the Audit, Nominating, and Compensation Committees, or the delegation of their duties to the full board in smaller companies, aligns with varying governance models depending on company size and complexity.
- The disclosure of executive and director compensation, including stock awards, is mandated by SEC regulations and follows established formats for comparison.
- The Pay Versus Performance disclosure is a requirement under Dodd-Frank, intended to provide shareholders with insight into the relationship between executive compensation and company performance, a standard now expected in proxy statements.
Management Changes
| Role | Previous Person | New Person | Effective Date | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Accounting Officer | David Reiner | 2026-02-27 | Elimination of position | |
| Director | Brigitte Muehlmann | 2025-04-25 | Did not intend to stand for re-election | |
| Director | Lawrence Fensterstock | 2025-09-18 | Elected to serve as a non-employee director | |
| Chief Operating Officer | Shyarsh Desai | 2025-03-19 | Board appointment | |
| Chief Financial Officer | Jennifer Gerold | 2024-05-01 | Elected to position | |
| Chief Technology Officer | Madhav Kale | 2025-09-01 | Hired by the Company |
Corporate Governance
| Change Type | Description | Effective Date | Impact Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board Leadership Structure | The Board believes the current structure with Jerome S. Flum as Executive Chairman and Michael I. Flum as CEO best serves the company, despite not having a lead independent director. | Ongoing | Maintains continuity but lacks a designated lead independent director, which could be a governance concern for some investors. |
| Audit Committee Composition | Lawrence Fensterstock is an audit committee financial expert. Joshua M. Flum's membership is noted as being in the best interest of the company despite being the son of the Chairman. | Ongoing | Ensures financial expertise on the committee, but the familial relationship of a member may raise independence questions for some stakeholders. |
| Nominating Committee | Due to the company's size, there is no separate nominating committee; the entire Board handles director candidate screening and nomination. | Ongoing | Streamlines the process for a small company but centralizes nomination responsibilities within the full Board. |
| Risk Oversight | The Board as a whole is responsible for risk oversight, with the Audit Committee focusing on financial reporting risks. | Ongoing | Establishes a clear framework for risk management responsibilities. |
Related Party Transactions
- Flum Partners, with Jerome S. Flum as the controlling general partner, beneficially owns 50.2% of the company's voting securities.
- Jerome S. Flum is the father of Michael I. Flum (CEO and President) and Joshua M. Flum (Director).
- Jerome S. Flum disclaims beneficial ownership of shares owned by Flum Partners and shares owned by his grandchild and Family Trusts.
Stakeholder Impact
- Shareholders: Will vote on director elections and auditor ratification, influencing corporate governance. Potential QSB stock benefits may impact their tax liabilities.
- Management and Employees: Executive compensation details are disclosed, and new appointments (COO, CFO, CTO) indicate ongoing operational focus.
- Auditors: CohnReznick LLP is proposed for re-appointment, continuing their role in financial statement audits.
- Directors: Nominees are up for election, with compensation details provided.
Next Steps
- Stockholders are encouraged to submit their proxy or voting instructions.
- The Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on August 12, 2026.
- The Board will consider the outcome of the shareholder vote on director elections and auditor ratification.
Key Dates
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 1983-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | Jerome S. Flum became Officer or Director |
| 1985-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | Jerome S. Flum appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Chairman of the Board |
| 1999-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | Lawrence Fensterstock joined the Company |
| 2007-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | Joshua M. Flum became Officer or Director |
| 2009-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | Company's 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan (2009 Plan) was in effect |
| 2019-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | Michael I. Flum became Officer or Director |
| 2020-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan (2020 Plan) was adopted |
| 2023-07-12T00:00:00.000Z | Effective date for non-employee directors to receive $2,000 per quarter |
| 2023-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | Lisa Reisman became Officer or Director |
| 2024-10-01T00:00:00.000Z | Effective date for the audit committee financial expert to receive $3,000 per quarter |
| 2024-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | Jennifer Gerold joined the Company as Chief Monetization Officer |
| 2025-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | Shyarsh Desai joined the Company |
| 2025-03-19T00:00:00.000Z | Shyarsh Desai appointed Chief Operating Officer |
| 2025-09-18T00:00:00.000Z | Lawrence Fensterstock was elected to serve as a non-employee director |
| 2025-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | Madhav Kale joined the Company as Chief Technology Officer |
| 2025-12-31T00:00:00.000Z | Fiscal year end for financial reporting |
| 2026-02-27T00:00:00.000Z | David Reiner's employment with the Company ended |
| 2026-06-15T00:00:00.000Z | Record date for stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting |
| 2026-06-29T00:00:00.000Z | Proxy materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders were made available to stockholders |
| 2026-08-12T00:00:00.000Z | Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held |
| 2027-03-15T00:00:00.000Z | Deadline for stockholder proposals to be received for inclusion in the next annual meeting proxy statement |
| 2027-06-14T00:00:00.000Z | Deadline for stockholders intending to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company's nominees to provide notice |
Keywords
Proxy Statement, Annual Meeting, Stockholders, Directors, Election, Auditors, CreditRiskMonitor.com, SEC Filing, Corporate Governance, Executive Compensation, Shareholder Voting
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