UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [  ]
Check the appropriate box:
   
[  ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[  ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[  ] Definitive Additional Materials
[  ] Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

 

Marathon Patent Group, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
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[  ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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  (4) Date Filed:
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marathon Patent Group, Inc.

1180 N. Town Center Drive, Suite 100

Las Vegas, NV 89144

 

November 2, 2020

 

To the Shareholders of Marathon Patent Group, Inc.:

 

You are cordially invited to attend Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Marathon Patent Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), to be held at 10:00 AM local time on December 17, 2020, at the Company’s offices at 1180 N. Town Center Drive, Suite 100, Las Vegas, Nevada 89144 to consider and vote upon the following proposals:

 

1. To approve an increase in the number of shares available in the Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan by 5,000,000 shares;
   
2. Approve the election of one Class II Director for the remainder of a three-year term expiring in 2022 and one Class III Director for a three-year term expiring in 2023.
   
3. The ratification of the appointment of RBSM, LLP, as the Company’s independent registered certified public accountant for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.
   
4. The approval, on an advisory basis, of the 2019 compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.
   
5. To transact such other business as may be properly brought before the 2020 Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE FIVE PROPOSALS.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of the Company’s bylaws, the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) has fixed the close of business on October 30, 2020 as the record date for determining the shareholders of the Company entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Accordingly, only shareholders of record at the close of business on October 30, 2020 are entitled to notice of, and shall be entitled to vote at, the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.

 

Please review in detail the attached notice and proxy statement for a more complete statement of matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting.

 

Your vote is very important to us regardless of the number of shares you own. Whether or not you are able to attend the Annual Meeting in person, please read the proxy statement and promptly vote your proxy via the internet, by telephone or, if you received a printed form of proxy in the mail, by completing, dating, signing and returning the enclosed proxy in order to assure representation of your shares at the Annual Meeting. Granting a proxy will not limit your right to vote in person if you wish to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person.

 

  By Order of the Board of Directors:
   
  /s/ Merrick D. Okamoto
  Merrick D. Okamoto,
  Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

   
   

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

The 2020 Annual Meeting of shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Marathon Patent Group, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at the Company’s offices at 1180 N. Town Center Drive, Suite 100, Las Vegas, Nevada 89144, on December 17, 2020 beginning at 10:00 AM local time. At the Annual Meeting, the holders of the Company’s outstanding common stock will act on the following matters:

 

1. To approve an increase in the number of shares available in the Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan by 5,000,000 shares;
   
2. Approve the election of one Class II Director for the remainder of a three-year term expiring in 2022 and one Class III Director for a three-year term expiring in 2023.
   
3. The ratification of the appointment of RBSM, LLP, as the Company’s independent registered certified public accountant for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.
   
4.

The approval, on an advisory basis, of the 2019 compensation of the Company’s named executive officers;

   
5. To transact such other business as may be properly brought before the 2020 Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

 

Shareholders of record at the close of business on October 30, 2020 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the 2020 Annual Meeting and any postponements or adjournments thereof.

 

It is hoped you will be able to attend the 2020 Annual Meeting, but in any event, please vote according to the instructions on the enclosed proxy as promptly as possible. If you are able to be present at the 2020 Annual Meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote in person.

 

Dated: November 2, 2020 By Order of the Board of Directors:
   
  /s/ Merrick D. Okamoto
  Merrick D. Okamoto,
  Chairman of the Board of Directors
 

 

   
   

 

MARATHON PATENT GROUP, INC.

1180 N. Town Center Drive, Suite 100

Las Vegas, NV 89144

 

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

To Be Held December 17, 2020

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

The Board of Directors of Marathon Patent Group, Inc. (the “Company”) is soliciting proxies from its shareholders to be used at the 2020 Annual Meeting of shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held at the Company’s offices at 1180 N. Town Center Drive, Suite 100, Las Vegas, Nevada 89144, on December 17, 2020, beginning at 10:00 AM local time, and at any postponements or adjournments thereof. This proxy statement contains information related to the Annual Meeting. This proxy statement and the accompanying form of proxy are first being sent to shareholders on or about November 7, 2020.

 

ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING

 

Why am I receiving this proxy statement?

 

You are receiving this proxy statement because you have been identified as a shareholder of the Company as of the record date which our Board has determined to be October 30, 2020, and thus you are entitled to vote at the Company’s 2020 Annual Meeting. This document serves as a proxy statement used to solicit proxies for the 2020 Annual Meeting. This document and the Appendixes hereto contain important information about the 2020 Annual Meeting and the Company and you should read it carefully.

 

Who is entitled to vote at the 2020 Annual Meeting?

 

Only shareholders of record as of the close of business on the record date will be entitled to vote at the 2020 Annual Meeting. As of the close of business on the record date, there were 51,403,280 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote. Each common stock shareholder is entitled to one vote for each share of our common stock held by such shareholder on the record date on each of the proposals presented in this proxy statement.

 

May I vote in person?

 

If you are a shareholder of the Company and your shares are registered directly in your name with the Company’s transfer agent, Equity Stock Transfer, you are considered, with respect to those shares, the shareholder of record, and the proxy materials and proxy card, attached hereto as Appendix A, are being sent directly to you by the Company. If you are a shareholder of record, you may attend the 2020 Annual Meeting to be held on December 17, 2020, and vote your shares in person, rather than signing and returning your proxy.

 

If your shares of common stock are held by a bank, broker or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name,” and the proxy materials are being forwarded to you together with a voting instruction card by such bank, broker or other nominee. As the beneficial owner, you are also invited to attend the 2020 Annual Meeting. Since a beneficial owner is not the shareholder of record, you may not vote these shares in person at the 2020 Annual Meeting unless you obtain a proxy from your broker issued in your name giving you the right to vote the shares at the 2020 Annual Meeting.

 

Photo identification may be required (a valid driver’s license, state identification or passport). If a shareholder’s shares are registered in the name of a broker, trust, bank or other nominee, the shareholder must bring a proxy or a letter from that broker, trust, bank or other nominee or their most recent brokerage account statement that confirms that the shareholder was a beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Company as of the Record Date. Since seating is limited, admission to the meeting will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

   
   

 

Cameras (including cell phones with photographic capabilities), recording devices and other electronic devices will not be permitted at the meeting.

 

If my Company shares are held in “street name” by my broker, will my broker vote my shares for me?

 

Generally, if shares are held in street name, the beneficial owner of the shares is entitled to give voting instructions to the broker or nominee holding the shares. If the beneficial owner does not provide voting instructions, the broker or nominee can still vote the shares with respect to matters that are considered to be “routine,” but not with respect to “non-routine” matters, as discussed further below. Your broker will not be able to vote your shares of common stock without specific instructions from you for “non-routine” matters.

 

If your shares are held by your broker or other agent as your nominee, you will need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares and follow the instructions included on that form regarding how to instruct your broker or other agent to vote your shares.

 

What are “broker non-votes”?

 

If you hold shares beneficially in street name and do not provide your broker with voting instructions, your shares may constitute “broker non-votes.” “Broker non-votes” occur on a matter when a broker is not permitted to vote on that matter without instructions from the beneficial owner and instructions are not given. These matters are referred to as “non-routine” matters. Since brokers are permitted to vote on “routine” matters without instructions from the beneficial owner, “broker non-votes” do not occur with respect to “routine” matters.

 

All matters other than Proposal 2 are “routine” matters.

 

The determination of “routine” and “non-routine” matters is determined by brokers and those firms responsible to tabulate votes cast by beneficial owners of shares held in street name and other nominees. Firms casting such votes have generally been guided by rules of the New York Stock Exchange when determining if proposals are considered “routine” or “non-routine”. When a matter to be voted on is the subject of a contested solicitation, banks, brokers and other nominees do not have discretion to vote your shares with respect to any proposal to be voted on.

 

How do I cast my vote if I am a shareholder of record?

 

The link for the material will be posted on our transfer agent’s website: https://www.equitystock.com/shareholders/proxy-voting/marathon-patent-group. If you are a shareholder with shares registered in your name with the Company’s transfer agent, Equity Stock Transfer, on the record date, you may vote in person at the 2020 Annual Meeting or vote by proxy by fax at (646) 201-9006 ATTN: Shareholder Services OR EMAIL: proxy@equitystock.com or internet at proxyvote.equitystock.com or by mail. Whether or not you plan to attend the 2020 Annual Meeting, please vote as soon as possible to ensure your vote is counted. You may still attend the 2020 Annual Meeting and vote in person even if you have already voted by proxy. For more detailed instructions on how to vote using one of these methods, please see the form of proxy card attached to this Schedule 14A and the information below.

 

  To vote in person. You may attend the 2020 Annual Meeting and the Company will give you a ballot when you arrive.
     
  To vote by proxy by fax or internet. If you have fax or internet access, you may submit your proxy by following the instructions provided in this proxy statement, or by following the instructions provided with your proxy materials and on the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction card.
     
  To vote by proxy by mail. You may submit your proxy by mail by completing and signing the enclosed proxy card and mailing it in the enclosed envelope. Your shares will be voted as you have instructed.

 

   
   

 

How do I cast my vote if I am a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of any broker or bank?

 

If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank, dealer or other similar organization, you should have received a proxy card and voting instructions with these proxy materials from that organization rather than from the Company. Simply complete and mail the proxy card to ensure that your vote is counted. Alternatively, you may vote by telephone or over the internet as instructed by your broker or other agent. To vote in person at the 2020 Annual Meeting, you must obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent. Follow the instructions from your broker or other agent included with these proxy materials or contact your broker or bank to request a proxy form.

 

What constitutes a quorum for purposes of the 2020 Annual Meeting?

 

The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote are present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting permitting the conduct of business at the meeting. On the record date, there were 51,403,280 shares of Common Stock and 0 shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote. Accordingly, the holders of 25,701,641 shares eligible to vote must be present at the 2020 Annual Meeting to have a quorum. Proxies received but marked as abstentions or broker non-votes, if any, will be included in the calculation of the number of votes considered to be present at the meeting for purposes of a quorum. Your shares will be counted toward the quorum at the 2020 Annual Meeting only if you vote in person at the meeting, you submit a valid proxy or your broker, bank, dealer or similar organization submits a valid proxy.

 

Can I change my vote?

 

Yes. Any shareholder of record voting by proxy has the right to revoke their proxy at any time before the polls close at the 2020 Annual Meeting by sending a written notice stating that they would like to revoke his, her or its proxy to the Corporate Secretary of the Company; by providing a duly executed proxy card bearing a later date than the proxy being revoked; or by attending the 2020 Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance alone at the 2020 Annual Meeting will not revoke a proxy. If a shareholder of the Company has instructed a broker to vote its shares of common stock that are held in “street name,” the shareholder must follow directions received from its broker to change those instructions.

 

Who is soliciting this proxy – Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?

 

We are soliciting this proxy on behalf of our Board of Directors. The Company will bear the costs of and will pay all expenses associated with this solicitation, including the printing, mailing and filing of this proxy statement, the proxy card and any additional information furnished to shareholders. In addition to mailing these proxy materials, certain of our officers and other employees may, without compensation other than their regular compensation, solicit proxies through further mailing or personal conversations, or by telephone, facsimile or other electronic means. We will also, upon request, reimburse banks, brokers, nominees, custodians and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy materials to the beneficial owners of our stock and to obtain proxies.

 

What vote is required to approve each item?

 

The following votes are required to approve each proposal:

 

Proposal 1 - To approve the increase in shares available under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, “FOR” votes from the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company’s common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter at the 2020 Annual Meeting are required to approve this proposal.
   
Proposal 2 - Election of the Class II director and Class III director requires a plurality (the two nominees receiving the most “FOR” votes) of the votes cast at the 2020 Annual Meeting.
   
Proposal 3 - The ratification of the appointment of RBSM, LLP, as the Company’s independent registered certified public accountant for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. “FOR” votes from the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company’s common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter at the 2020 Annual Meeting are required to approve this proposal.

 

   
   

 

Proposal 4 – Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation requires “FOR” votes from the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company’s common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter at the 2020 Annual Meeting are required to approve this proposal.
   
Proposal 5 - To transact such other business as may be properly brought before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof. “FOR” votes from the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company’s common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter at the 2020 Annual Meeting are required to approve this proposal.

 

Will My Shares Be Voted If I Do Not Return My Proxy Card?

 

If your shares are registered in your name or if you have stock certificates, they will not be voted if you do not return your proxy card by mail or vote at the Annual Meeting. If your broker cannot vote your shares on a particular matter because it has not received instructions from you and does not have discretionary voting authority on that matter, or because your broker chooses not to vote on a matter for which it does have discretionary voting authority, this is referred to as a “broker non-vote.” The New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) has rules that govern brokers who have record ownership of listed company stock (including stock such as ours that is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market) held in brokerage accounts for their clients who beneficially own the shares. Under these rules, brokers who do not receive voting instructions from their clients have the discretion to vote uninstructed shares on certain matters (“routine matters”), but do not have the discretion to vote uninstructed shares as to certain other matters (“non-routine matters”). Neither proposal herein is a routine matter.

 

If your shares are held in street name and you do not provide voting instructions to the bank, broker or other nominee that holds your shares the bank, broker or other nominee does not have authority to vote your unvoted shares on any of the other proposals submitted to shareholders for a vote at the Annual Meeting. We encourage you to provide voting instructions. This ensures your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting in the manner you desire.

 

Can I access these proxy materials on the Internet?

 

Yes. The Notice of Annual Meeting, and this proxy statement and the Appendix hereto are available for viewing, printing, and downloading at https://ir.marathonpg.com/sec-filings. All materials will remain posted on https://ir.marathonpg.com/sec-filings at least until the conclusion of the meeting.

 

What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials?

 

You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this proxy statement and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you may receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which you hold shares. If you are a shareholder of record and your shares are registered in more than one name, you will receive more than one proxy card. Please vote your shares applicable to each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive.

 

How can I find out the results of the voting at the Annual Meeting?

 

Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. Final voting results will be published in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within four business days of the 2020 Annual Meeting.

 

What interest do officers and directors have in matters to be acted upon?

 

No person who has been a director or executive officer of the Company at any time since the beginning of our fiscal year, and no associate of any of the foregoing persons, has any substantial interest, direct or indirect, in any matter to be acted upon, other than the fact that our officers and directors may become the recipients of further grants under our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan which is the subject of Proposal No. 1 to be voted upon in this proxy statement.

 

   
   

 

Who can provide me with additional information and help answer my questions?

 

If you would like additional copies, without charge, of this proxy statement or if you have questions about the proposals being considered at the 2020 Annual Meeting, including the procedures for voting your shares, you should contact David Lieberman, the Company’s Secretary, by telephone at (702) 945-2773.

 

Householding of Annual Disclosure Documents

 

The SEC previously adopted a rule concerning the delivery of annual disclosure documents. The rule allows us or brokers holding our shares on your behalf to send a single set of our annual report and proxy statement to any household at which two or more of our shareholders reside, if either we or the brokers believe that the shareholders are members of the same family. This practice, referred to as “householding,” benefits both shareholders and us. It reduces the volume of duplicate information received by you and helps to reduce our expenses. The rule applies to our annual reports, proxy statements and information statements. Once shareholders receive notice from their brokers or from us that communications to their addresses will be “householded,” the practice will continue until shareholders are otherwise notified or until they revoke their consent to the practice. Each shareholder will continue to receive a separate proxy card or voting instruction card.

 

Those shareholders who either (i) do not wish to participate in “householding” and would like to receive their own sets of our annual disclosure documents in future years or (ii) who share an address with another one of our shareholders and who would like to receive only a single set of our annual disclosure documents should follow the instructions described below:

 

shareholders whose shares are registered in their own name should contact our transfer agent,

 

shareholders whose shares are registered in their own name should contact our transfer agent, Equity Stock Transfer LLC, and inform them of their request by calling them at (212) 575-5757 or writing them at 237 W. 37thStreet, Suite 601, New York, NY 10018.

   
shareholders whose shares are held by a broker or other nominee should contact such broker or other nominee directly and inform them of their request, shareholders should be sure to include their name, the name of their brokerage firm and their account number.

 

   
   

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of our Common Stock and other securities exercisable in the next 60 days as of October 30, 2020: (i) by each of our directors, (ii) by each of the named executive officers, (iii) by all of our executive officers and directors as a group, and (iv) by each person or entity known by us to beneficially own more than five percent (5%) of any class of our outstanding shares. As of October 30, 2020, there were 51,403,280 shares of our common stock outstanding.

 

Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership as of October 30, 2020
Name of Beneficial Owner  Common Stock   RSUs   Warrants   Total   Percentage of Common Stock (%) 
                     
Officers and Directors                         
                          
Merrick Okamoto (1)   767,824    -    -    767,824    1.49 
                          
David Lieberman (2)   154,449    -    -    154,449    * 
                          
James Crawford (Chief Operating Officer) (3)   84,675    -    -    84,675    * 
                          
Fred Thiel (4)   24,800    -    -    24,800    * 
                          
Michael Berg (5)   32,481    -    -    32,481    * 
                          
Michael Rudolph (6)   32,646    -    -    32,646    * 
                          
All Directors and Executive Officers (six persons)   1,096,875    -    -    1,096,875    2.13 
                          
5% Stockholders                         
                          
Two Point One, LLC (7)   3,000,000    -    -    3,000,000    5.84 
                          
Lucky Liefern, LLC (8)   3,000,000    -    -    3,000,000    5.84 

 

(1) Mr. Okamoto also owned 1,819,767 restricted stock units which started vesting in equal quarterly amounts commencing on June 30, 2020.

 

(2) Mr. Lieberman also owned 393,023 restricted stock units which started vesting in equal quarterly amounts commencing on June 30, 2020.

 

(3) Mr. Crawford also owned 245,348 restricted stock units which started vesting in equal quarterly amounts commencing on June 30, 2020.

 

(4) Mr. Thiel also owned 62,500 restricted stock units which started vesting in equal quarterly amounts commencing on June 30, 2020.

 

(5) Mr. Berg also owned 62,500 restricted stock units which started vesting in equal quarterly amounts commencing on June 30, 2020.

 

(6) Mr. Rudolph also owned 62,500 restricted stock units which started vesting in equal quarterly amounts commencing on June 30, 2020.

 

(7) The address for the holder is 53 Palmeras St, Suite 601,San Juan, PR 00901, and Chris Ensey is the managing member.

 

(8) The address for the holder is 850 New Burton Road, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19904, and Paul Prager is the managing member.

 

*Represents less than 1% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company.

 

   
   

 

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

The following table presents information with respect to our officers, directors and significant employees as of the date of this 14A:

 

Name and Address   Age   Date First Elected
or Appointed
  Position(s)
Merrick Okamoto   59   August 13, 2017   Chief Executive Officer
Simeon Salzman   40   October 19, 2020   Chief Financial Officer
James Crawford   45   March 1, 2013   Chief Operating Officer
Fred Thiel   59   April 24, 2018   Director
Michael Rudolph   69   August 17. 2018   Director
Michael Berg   71   August 17, 2018   Director
David Lieberman   75   August 13, 2017   Director

 

Background of officers and directors

 

The following is a brief account of the education and business experience during at least the past five years of our officers and directors, indicating each person’s principal occupation during that period, and the name and principal business of the organization in which such occupation and employment were carried out.

 

Merrick D. Okamoto - Chief Executive Officer

 

Mr. Merrick D. Okamoto, age 59, serves as the President at Viking Asset Management which he co-founded in 2002. Mr. Okamoto is responsible for research, due diligence, and structuring potential investment opportunities. He has been instrumental in providing capital to over 200 private and public companies. He is also responsible for the firm’s trading operations. Prior to Viking, Mr. Okamoto co-founded TradePortal.com, Inc. in 1999 and served as its President until 2001. He was instrumental in developing the proprietary Trade Matrix software platform offered by TradePortal Securities. Mr. Okamoto’s negotiations were key in selling a minority stake in TradePortal.com Inc. to Thomson Financial. Prior to that, he held Vice President positions with Shearson Lehman Brothers, Prudential Securities, and Paine Webber.

 

Simeon Salzman - Chief Financial Officer and Director

 

Mr. Simeon Salzman, age 40, has served as the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of the Las Vegas Monorail Company, a private non-profit 501c(4) entity, since July 2018. The Las Vegas Monorail Company operates a driverless monorail transit system that carries approximately 4,600,000 passengers annually over a 3.9 mile elevated track. There Mr. Salzman was responsible for overseeing all financial functions including audit, treasury and corporate finance. In addition, he was responsible for internal control compliance and management strategy.

 

Prior to the Las Vegas Monorail Company and from May 2015 to July 2018, Mr. Salzman served as the Chief Financial Officer for Wendoh Media and Corner Bar Management for over three years. Wendoh Media operated a weekly publication, a video editing entity, and a digital advertising entity. Corner Bar Management operates four different bars and restaurants in Downtown Las Vegas. Using his previous experience as the Corporate Controller for various managed nightlife, lounges and restaurants at the most prestigious Resort & Casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, Mr. Salzman was able to parlay his skill set revitalizing the various food and beverage establishments operated by Corner Bar Management in Downtown Las Vegas. Through enhanced analytical reviews, budgeting, internal control implementation and reducing overhead, Mr. Salzman was able to save over $1.4 million in aggregate costs and generate EBITDA of over 25% for eight consecutive quarters.

 

Mr. Salzman previously served as the Vice President of Programs and Secretary on the Board of Director’s for Financial Executives International (FEI). Financial Executives International connects senior-level financial executives by defining the profession, exchanging ideas about best practices, educating members and others while working with the government to improve the general economy. He also currently serves as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors of his local neighborhood HOA. Mr. Salzman holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice & Criminology from the University of Maryland, College Park. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

 

   
   

 

James Crawford - Chief Operating Officer

 

Mr. Crawford, age 45, was a founding member of Kino Interactive, LLC, and of AudioEye, Inc. Mr. Crawford’s experience as an entrepreneur spans the entire life cycle of companies from start-up capital to compliance officer and director of reporting public companies. Prior to his involvement as Chief Operating Officer of the Company, Mr. Crawford served as a director and officer of Augme Technologies, Inc. beginning March 2006, and assisted the company in maneuvering through the initial challenges of acquisitions executed by the company through 2011 that established the company as a leading mobile marketing company in the United States. Mr. Crawford is experienced in public company finance and compliance functions. He has extensive experience in the area of intellectual property creation, management and licensing. Mr. Crawford also served on the board of directors Modavox and Augme Technologies, and as founder and managing member of Kino Digital, Kino Communications, and Kino Interactive.

 

Fred Thiel - Director

 

Mr. Thiel, age 59, has been the Chairman of SPROCKET, INC. since June 2017, a Blockchain/Cryptocurrency technology and financial services company whose mission is to reduce the risk and friction of cryptocurrency trading across marketplaces, regions and exchanges by establishing a federation of exchanges that together create a single aggregated global trading market place with large scale liquidity, rapid execution, minimal counter-party risk, and price transparency. From January 2013 until November 2015, Mr. Thiel served as a director of Local Corporation, which was a NASDAQ listed entity which was a leader in on-line local search and digital media, mobile search monetization and programmatic retargeting markets. He served as Chairman of the Board of LOCAL from January 2014 to November 2015 and as its Chief Executive Officer from May 2014 to November 2015. Mr. Thiel has been the principal of Thiel Advisors Inc. since 2013. Thiel Advisors is a boutique advisory firm providing PE and VC firms, as well as public and private company boards of director, with deep technology industry operating expertise and strategic advisory services.

 

Michael Rudolph - Director

 

Mr. Rudolph, age 69, has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Edgehill Group since July 1995, a consulting firm which provides financial management, operational expertise, strategic and tactical advice, project management and change management guidance. In connection therewith, he served as a contract Chief Financial Officer of ConsejoSano, Inc., a Hispanic telehealth provider, from May 2016 to July 2017; as the Chief Financial Officer of Fullbottle Group, Inc., an online advertising agency, from April 2014 to May 2017; as a contract Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrator Officer of Calaborate Inc., a mobile app developer, from October 2013 to April 2014; and as interim Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of a software subsidiary company, Videro LLC and Videro, Inc from July 2011 to September 2015. In addition, Mr. Rudolph provided interim management as CEO and CFO for several online businesses and firms. From January 2001 until March 2016, Mr. Rudolph co-founded and served as Chief Financial Officer and Managing Member of Viking Asset Management, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser (“RIA”) where he was responsible for finance, operations, treasury, audit, tax, legal, compliance and investor relations for the funds and the RIA and had direct management responsibility for 17 full time employees. From November 1989 to June 1995, Mr. Rudolph was the managing director at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., in San Francisco, California, during which he managed non-trading functions for the Institutional Brokerage Division including sales/marketing, operations, compliance, financial planning/reporting and research and managed 10 full time employees and a $4.5 million budget. Mr. Rudolph attended Washington University in St. Louis, MO, where he received his M.B.A. in Finance/Marketing. He received his B.S. in Biochemistry from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, and was a licensed FINRA registered investment advisor from April 2001 to March 2011. Mr. Rudolph has determined to resign as of the date of our 2020 Annual Meeting and Mr. Peter Benz will be put forth as the nominee in his place.

 

Michael Berg - Director

 

Mr. Berg, age 71, has been a practicing accountant for over 30 years. Since May of 2011, he has served on the Board of Directors of Sol Array, a high technology company based in China, which develops next generation solar cells, and serves as an advisor to several small public companies. From September of 1977 until June of 1985, he was an audit manager for Coopers & Lybrand (now PWC) in San Francisco and in January 2008, co-founded and served as the West Coast PIC of PMB Helin Donovan, a 100+ person CPA firm. From September 1988 until December 2000, Mr. Berg served as the Chief Financial Officer of a public real estate company and a high tech manufacturer and a research and development company. He has established several independent companies including EXIS in January 1992, which sold and installed a proprietary software product which he helped develop for distributed general ledgers systems. Most recently, in January 2014, he formed the Registry of Accredited Investors that provides services to investors and companies in Reg D offerings. His industry experience ranges from finance and distribution to high tech, pharma, real estate and construction. Mr. Berg has worked extensively with public companies and has participated in many public offerings in national markets. From January 1989 until October 1996, he was the President of the Board of Directors of the Names Project and formed a not-for-profit called the Permanent Display aimed at creating a San Francisco landmark for the AIDs Quilt. In March 2005, Mr. Berg also helped found Welcome, a 501C (3) that provides homeless outreach in the Upper Polk Street area of San Francisco. Mr. Berg attended San Francisco State University, where he received his B.A. in Accounting, and is a licensed CRFA, CFF and CPA in the States of California and New York.

 

   
   

 

David P. Lieberman - Director

 

Mr. David Lieberman, age 74, is a seasoned business executive with over 40 years of financial experience beginning with five years as an accountant with Price Waterhouse. He has extensive experience as a senior operational and financial executive serving both multiple public and non-public companies. Mr. Lieberman currently serves as the President of Cobra International and Lieberman Financial Consulting where he acts as administrator for several investment groups. Previously he served as CFO and Director for MEDL Mobile Holdings, Inc., and CFO and Director of Datascension, Inc., a telephone market research company that provides both outbound and inbound services to corporate customers, since January 2008 and a director of that company since 2006. From 2006 to 2007, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Dalrada Financial Corporation, a publicly traded payroll processing company based in San Diego. From 2003 to 2006, he was the Chief Financial Officer for John Goyak & Associates, Inc., a Las Vegas-based aerospace consulting firm. Mr. Lieberman attended the University of Cincinnati, where he received his B.A. in Business, and is a licensed CPA in the State of California. Mr. Lieberman retired as our CFO, effective October 19, 2020.

 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

 

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions and also to other employees. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics can be found on the Company’s website at www.marathonpg.com.

 

Family Relationships

 

There are no family relationships between any of our directors, executive officers or directors.

 

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

 

During the past ten years, none of our officers, directors, promoters or control persons have been involved in any legal proceedings as described in Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K.

 

Term of Office

 

Our Board of Directors is comprised of five directors, of which all five seats are currently occupied, and is divided among three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III. Class I directors will serve until the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier resignation, removal or death. Class II directors, will serve until the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier resignation, removal or death. All officers serve at the pleasure of the Board. Class III directors will serve until the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier resignation, removal or death.

 

Director Independence

 

Mr. Fred Thiel, Mr. Michael Berg and Mr. Michael Rudolph are “independent” directors based on the definition of independence in the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”).

 

Committees of the Board of Directors

 

Our Board has established three standing committees: an audit committee, a nominating and corporate governance committee and a compensation committee, which are described below. Members of these committees are elected annually at the regular board meeting held in conjunction with the annual stockholders’ meeting. The charter of each committee is available on our website at www.marathonpg.com.

 

   
   

 

Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee members are currently Mr. Fred Thiel, Mr. Michael Berg and Mr. Michael Rudolph, with Mr. Michael Berg as Chairman. The Audit Committee has authority to review our financial records, deal with our independent auditors, recommend to the Board policies with respect to financial reporting, and investigate all aspects of our business. All of the members of the Audit Committee currently satisfy the independence requirements and other established criteria of NASDAQ.

 

The Audit Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website at http://www.marathonpg.com/. The Audit Committee has sole authority for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm, and responsibility for reviewing and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our interim financial statements and our earnings press releases. The Audit Committee also reviews the independence and quality control procedures of our independent registered public accounting firm, reviews management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal controls, discusses with management the Company’s policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management and will review the adequacy of the Audit Committee charter on an annual basis.

 

Nominating and Governance Committee

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee members are currently Mr. Fred Thiel, Mr. Michael Berg and Mr. Michael Rudolph, with Mr. Michael Rudolph as Chairman. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has the following responsibilities: (a) setting qualification standards for director nominees; (b) identifying, considering and nominating candidates for membership on the Board; (c) developing, recommending and evaluating corporate governance standards and a code of business conduct and ethics applicable to the Company; (d) implementing and overseeing a process for evaluating the Board, Board committees (including the Committee) and overseeing the Board’s evaluation of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company; (e) making recommendations regarding the structure and composition of the Board and Board committees; (f) advising the Board on corporate governance matters and any related matters required by the federal securities laws; and (g) assisting the Board in identifying individuals qualified to become Board members; recommending to the Board the director nominees for the next annual meeting of shareholders; and recommending to the Board director nominees to fill vacancies on the Board.

 

The Nominating and Governance Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website at http://www.marathonpg.com/. The Nominating and Governance Committee determines the qualifications, qualities, skills, and other expertise required to be a director and to develop, and recommend to the Board for its approval, criteria to be considered in selecting nominees for director (the “Director Criteria”); identifies and screens individuals qualified to become members of the Board, consistent with the Director Criteria. The Nominating and Governance Committee considers any director candidates recommended by the Company’s shareholders pursuant to the procedures described in the Company’s proxy statement, and any nominations of director candidates validly made by shareholders in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations and the provisions of the Company’s charter documents. The Nominating and Governance Committee makes recommendations to the Board regarding the selection and approval of the nominees for director to be submitted to a shareholder vote at the Annual Meeting of shareholders, subject to approval by the Board.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The Compensation Committee oversees our executive compensation and recommends various incentives for key employees to encourage and reward increased corporate financial performance, productivity and innovation. Its members are currently Mr. Fred Thiel, Mr. Michael Berg and Mr. Michael Rudolph with Mr. Fred Thiel as Chairman. All of the members of the Compensation Committee currently satisfy the independence requirements and other established criteria of NASDAQ.

 

   
   

 

The Compensation Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website at http://www.marathonpg.com/. The Compensation Committee is responsible for: (a) assisting our Board in fulfilling its fiduciary duties with respect to the oversight of the Company’s compensation plans, policies and programs, including assessing our overall compensation structure, reviewing all executive compensation programs, incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans, and determining executive compensation; and (b) reviewing the adequacy of the Compensation Committee charter on an annual basis. The Compensation Committee, among other things, reviews and approves the Company’s goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, evaluate the Chief Executive Officer’s performance with respect to such goals, and set the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation level based on such evaluation. The Compensation Committee also considers the Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations with respect to other executive officers and evaluates the Company’s performance both in terms of current achievements and significant initiatives with long-term implications. It assesses the contributions of individual executives and recommend to the Board levels of salary and incentive compensation payable to executive officers of the Company; compares compensation levels with those of other leading companies in similar or related industries; reviews financial, human resources and succession planning within the Company; recommend to the Board the establishment and administration of incentive compensation plans and programs and employee benefit plans and programs; recommends to the Board the payment of additional year-end contributions by the Company under certain of its retirement plans; grants stock incentives to key employees of the Company and administer the Company’s stock incentive plans; and reviews and recommends for Board approval compensation packages for new corporate officers and termination packages for corporate officers as requested by management.

 

Changes in Nominating Procedures

 

None.

 

Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight

 

Although we have not adopted a formal policy on whether the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer positions should be separate or combined, we have traditionally determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to partially combine these roles. Due to the small size of the Company, we believe it is currently most effective to have the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer positions partially combined.

 

Our Board is primarily responsible for overseeing our risk management processes. The Board receives and reviews periodic reports from management, auditors, legal counsel, and others, as considered appropriate regarding the Company’s assessment of risks. The Board focuses on the most significant risks facing the Company and our general risk management strategy, and also ensures that risks undertaken by us are consistent with the Board’s risk parameters. While the Board oversees the Company, our management is responsible for day-to-day risk management processes. We believe this division of responsibilities is the most effective approach for addressing the risks facing the Company and that our board leadership structure supports this approach.

 

Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act

 

Section 16(a) of Exchange Act requires our executive officers and directors and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities to file with the Commission initial statements of beneficial ownership, statements of changes in beneficial ownership and annual statement of changes in beneficial ownership with respect to their ownership of the Company’s securities, on Form 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Executive officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission regulations to furnish our Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file.

 

Based solely on our review of the copies of such reports received by us, and on written representations by our officers and directors regarding their compliance with the applicable reporting requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and without conducting any independent investigation of our own, we believe that with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, our officers and directors, and all of the persons known to us to beneficially own more than 10% of our common stock filed all required reports on a timely basis.

 

   
   

 

The following summary compensation table sets forth information concerning compensation for services rendered in all capacities during 2019 and 2018 awarded to, earned by or paid to our executive officers or most highly paid individuals. The value attributable to any option awards and stock awards reflects the grant date fair values of stock awards calculated in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718. As described further in “Note 5 — Stockholders’ Equity - Common Stock Options” in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the assumptions made in the valuation of these option awards and stock awards is set forth therein.

 

Name and Principal Position  Year  Salary   Bonus Awards   Stock Awards   Option Awards   Non-Equity Plan Compensation   Nonqualified Deferred Earnings   All Other Compensation   Total 
       ($)    ($)    ($)    ($)      ($)    ($)    ($)    ($) 
Merrick Okamoto (1)  2019   352,406    -    -    -    -    -    -    352,406 
CEO  2018   58,333    250,000    -    1,263,925    -    -    223,308    1,795,566 
David Lieberman (2)  2019   181,238    -    -    29,666    -    -    -    210,904 
CFO & Director  2018   127,500    35,000    -    50,577    -    -    -    213,077 
James Crawford (3)  2019   120,900    -    -    14,833    -    -    -    135,733 
COO  2018   110,000    5,000    -    25,278    -    -    -    140,278 
Doug Croxall (4)  2019   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Former CEO and Chairman  2018   -    -    -    -    -    -    80,000    80,000 
Francis Knuettel II (5)  2019   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Former CFO & Secretary  2018   64,477    75,000    86,000    -            -    -    -    225,477 

 

(1) Merrick Okamoto entered into a new employment agreement in October 11, 2018 which replaced his prior employment agreement.
(2) David Lieberman entered into a new employment agreement in October 15, 2018 which replaced his prior employment agreement.
(3) James Crawford entered into a new employment agreement in August 30, 2017 which replaced his prior employment agreement.
(4) Doug Croxall entered into a Retention Agreement on August 22, 2017, as amended, pursuant to which his employment with the Company terminated on December 31, 2017.
(5) Francis Knuettel II entered into a Retention Agreement on August 30, 2017 which replaced his prior employment agreement, and his employment with the Company was terminated on April 22, 2018.

 

Employment Agreements

 

On October 11, 2018, we entered into a 2-year Employment Agreement, subject to successive one year extensions, with Merrick Okamoto, pursuant to which Mr. Okamoto will serve as the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Mr. Okamoto shall receive a base salary at an annual base salary of $350,000 (subject to annual 3% cost of living increase) and an annual bonus up to 100% of base salary as determined by the Compensation Committee or the Board. As further consideration for Mr. Okamoto’s services, we agreed to issue Mr. Okamoto 10-year stock options to purchase 1,250,000 shares of Common Stock, with a strike price of $2.32 per share, vesting 50 % on the date of grant and 25% on each 6 months anniversary of the date of grant.

 

   
   

 

On October 15, 2018, we entered into a 2-year Employment Agreement, subject to successive one year extensions, with David Lieberman, pursuant to which Mr. Lieberman will serve as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Pursuant to the terms of the Lieberman Agreement, Mr. Lieberman shall receive a base salary at an annual base salary of $180,000 (subject to annual 3% cost of living increase) and an annual bonus up to 100% of base salary as determined by the Compensation Committee or the Board. As further consideration for Mr. Lieberman’s services, we agreed to issue Mr. Lieberman 10-year stock options to purchase 50,000 shares of Common Stock, with a strike price of $2.32 per share, vesting 50% on the date of grant and 25% on each 6 months anniversary of the date of grant.

 

Directors’ Compensation

 

The following summary compensation table sets forth information concerning compensation for services rendered in all capacities during 2019 and 2018 awarded to, earned by or paid to our directors. The value attributable to any warrant awards reflects the grant date fair values of stock awards calculated in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718. As described further in “Note 5 — Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) — Common Stock Warrants” in our Consolidated Financial Statements, a discussion of the assumptions made in the valuation of these warrant awards.

 

Name  Year   Fees Earned or paid in cash  Stock awards   Option awards  Non-equity incentive plan compensation   Non-qualified deferred compensation earnings  All other compensation   Total
       ($)  ($)   ($)  ($)   ($)  ($)   ($)
David Lieberman                                                      
    2019   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
    2018   5,430   -   -   -   -   -   5,430
Edward Kovalik (1)                                
    2019   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
    2018   8,000   -   -   -   -   -   8,000
Michael Rudolph                                
    2019   20,000   -   -   -   -   -   20,000
    2018   7,500   -   -   -   -   -   7,500
Michael Berg                                
    2019   20,000   -   -   -   -   -   20,000
    2018   7,500   -   -   -   -   -   7,500
Christopher Robichaud (2)                                
    2019   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
    2018   8,000   -   -   -   -   -   8,000
Fred Thiel                                
    2019   20,000   -   -   -   -   -   20,000
    2018   13,069   -   -   -   -   -   13,069

 

(1) Edward Kovalik resigned from all positions with the Company as a board member on June 28, 2018.
(2) Christopher Robichaud resigned from all positions with the Company as a board member on June 28, 2018.

 

Employee Grants of Plan Based Awards and Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

On August 1, 2012, our Board and stockholders adopted the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, pursuant to which 96,154 shares of our common stock are reserved for issuance as awards to employees, directors, consultants, advisors and other service providers, after giving effect to the Reverse Split.

 

On September 16, 2014, our Board adopted the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”), and only July 31, 2015, the shareholders approved the 2014 Plan at the Company’s annual meeting. The 2014 Plan authorizes the Company to grant stock options, restricted stock, preferred stock, other stock-based awards, and performance awards to purchase up to 125,000 shares of common stock. Awards may be granted to the Company’s directors, officers, consultants, advisors and employees. Unless earlier terminated by the Board, the 2014 Plan will terminate, and no further awards may be granted, after September 16, 2024.

 

   
   

 

On September 6, 2017, our Board adopted the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan, subsequently approved by the shareholders on September 29, 2017, pursuant to which up to 625,000 shares of our common stock, stock options, restricted stock, preferred stock, stock-based awards and other awards are reserved for issuance as awards to employees, directors, consultants, advisors and other service providers.

 

On January 1, 2018, our Board adopted the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, subsequently approved by the shareholders on March 7, 2018, pursuant to which up to 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, stock options, restricted stock, preferred stock, stock-based awards and other awards are reserved for issuance as awards to employees, directors, consultants, advisors and other service providers.

 

As of December 31, 2019, and within sixty (60) days thereafter, the following sets forth the option and stock awards to officers of the Company:

 

   Option Awards   Stock awards 
   Number of securities underlying unexercised options (1)   Number of securities underlying unexercised options   Equity incentive plan awards: Number of securities underlying unexercised unearned options   Option exercise price   Option
expiration
date
  Number of shares of units of stock that have not vested   Market value of shares of units of stock that have not vested   Equity incentive plan awards: Number of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested   Equity incentive plan awards: Market or payout value of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested 
   (#) exercisable   (#) unexercisable   (#) unexercisable   ($)      (#)   ($)   (#)   ($) 
Merrick Okamoto   1,250,000    -    -   $2.32   10/12/28   -    -    -    - 
David Lieberman   50,000    -    -   $2.32   10/12/28   -    -    -    - 
David Lieberman   25,000    -    -   $2.04   7/22/2024                    
James Crawford   5,000    -    -   $102.4   10/31/24   -    -    -    - 
James Crawford   2,188    -    -   $29.76   10/14/25   -    -    -    - 
James Crawford   1,875    -    -   $66.64   05/14/24   -    -    -    - 
James Crawford   25,000    -    -   $2.32   10/12/28   -    -    -    - 
James Crawford   12,500        -        -   $2.04   7/22/2024       -       -       -        - 

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

None of our executive officers serves as a member of the Board or Compensation Committee of any other entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our Board.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

None of our executive officers serves as a member of the Board or Compensation Committee of any other entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our Board.

 

   
   

 

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. These persons are required by regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports that they file. We do not report on this compliance.

 

REPORT OF AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

The current members of the Audit Committee are Mr. Thiel, Mr. Rudolph and Mr. Berg, as Chairman.

 

The Audit Committee of the Board, which consists entirely of directors who meet the required independence and experience requirements of Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, has furnished the following report:

 

The Audit Committee assists the Board in overseeing and monitoring the integrity of the Company’s financial reporting process, its compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the quality of its internal and external audit processes. The role and responsibilities of the Audit Committee are set forth in a written charter adopted by the Board, which is available on our website at www.marathonpg.com. The Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, oversight and compensation of our independent public accountant. The Audit Committee reviews with management and our independent public accountant our annual financial statements on Form 10-K and our quarterly financial statements on Forms 10-Q. In fulfilling its responsibilities for the financial statements for fiscal year 2018, the Audit Committee took the following actions:

 

  reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 with management and our independent public accountant;
     
  discussed with our independent public accountant the matters required to be discussed in accordance with the rules set forth by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”), relating to the conduct of the audit; and
     
  received written disclosures and the letter from our independent public accountant regarding its independence as required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee and the Audit Committee further discussed with the accountant its independence. The Audit Committee also considered the status of pending litigation, taxation matters and other areas of oversight relating to the financial reporting and audit process that the Audit Committee determined appropriate.

 

Based on the Audit Committee’s review of the audited financial statements and discussions with management and our independent public accountant, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 for filing with the SEC.

 

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE:

 

Michael Berg (Chair)

 

The foregoing Audit Committee Report does not constitute soliciting material and shall not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other filing of our company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act, except to the extent we specifically incorporate this Audit Committee Report by reference therein.

 

   
   

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

Other than disclosed herein, there were no transactions during the year ended December 31, 2019 or any currently proposed transactions, in which the Company was or is to be a participant and the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

 

Corporate Governance Matters

 

We are committed to maintaining strong corporate governance practices that benefit the long-term interests of our shareholders by providing for effective oversight and management of the Company. Our governance policies, including a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (“Code”) can be found on our website at www.marathonpg.com by following the link to “Investors” and then to “Governance Docs.”

 

Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, effective December 2017, applies to directors, executive officers and employees of the Company. This Code is intended to focus the directors, executive officers and employees on areas of ethical risk, provide guidance to directors, executive officers and employees to help them recognize and deal with ethical issues, provide mechanisms to report unethical conduct, and help foster a culture of honesty and accountability. Each director, executive officer and employee must comply with the letter and spirit of this Code.

 

We require that Directors and executive officers must be loyal to the Company and must act at all times in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders and subordinate self-interest to the corporate and shareholder good. Directors and executive officers should never use their position to make a personal profit. Directors and executive officers must perform their duties in good faith, with sound business judgment and with the care of a prudent person.

 

A “conflict of’ interest” occurs when the private interest of’ a director, executive officer or employee interferes in any way, or appears to interfere, with the interests of the Company as a whole. Conflicts of interest also arise when a director, executive officer or employee, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position as a director, executive officer or employee of the Company. Loans to, or guarantees of the obligations of a director, executive officer or employee or of a member of his or her family, may create conflicts of interest. Directors and executive officers must avoid conflicts of interest with the Company. Any situation that involves, or may reasonably be expected to involve, a conflict of interest with the Company must be disclosed immediately to the Chairman of the Board. This Code does not attempt to describe all possible conflicts of interest that could develop. Some of the more common conflicts from which directors and executive offices must refrain, however, are set out below.

 

● Relationship of Company with third-parties. Directors, executive officers and employees may not engage in any conduct or activities that are inconsistent with the Company’s best interests or that disrupt or impair the Company’s relationship with any person or entity with which the Company has or proposes to enter into a business or contractual relationship.

 

● Compensation from non-Company sources. Directors, executive officers and employees may not accept compensation, in any form, for services performed for the Company from any source other than the Company.

 

● Gifts. Directors, executive officers and employees and members of their families may not offer, give or receive gifts from persons or entities who deal with the Company in those cases where any such gift is being made in order to influence the actions of a director as a member of the Board or the actions of an executive officer as an officer of the Company, or where acceptance of the gifts would create the appearance of a conflict of interest

 

Directors, executive officers and employees must maintain the confidentiality of information entrusted to them by the Company or its customers, and any other confidential information about the Company that comes to them, from whatever source, in their capacity as a director, executive officer or employee, except when disclosure is authorized or required by laws or regulations. Confidential information includes all non-public information that might be of use to competitors, or harmful to the Company or its customers, if disclosed.

 

No waiver of any provisions of the Code for the benefit of a director or an executive officer (which includes without limitation, for purposes of this Code, the Company’s principal executive, financial and accounting officers) shall be effective unless (i) approved by the Board of Directors, and (ii) if applicable, such a waiver is promptly disclosed to the Company’s shareholders in accordance with applicable United States securities laws and/or the rules and regulations of the exchange or system on which the Company’s shares are traded or quoted, as the case may be.

 

   
   

 

PROPOSAL NO. 1

 

TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE FOR ISSUANCE UNDER OUR 2020 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN BY 5,000,000

 

 

On January 1, 2018, our Board adopted the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (“2018 Plan”), subsequently approved by the shareholders on March 7, 2018, pursuant to which up to 2,500,000 shares of our common stock, stock options, restricted stock, preferred stock, stock-based awards and other awards are reserved for issuance as awards to employees, directors, consultants, advisors and other service providers. As of the date of this Schedule 14A, there are no shares of our common stock remaining to be issued thereunder. Upon approval of the amendment to the 2018 Plan, the total number of shares issuable shall be 5,000,000.

 

Reasons for the Proposed Amendment

 

The Company will utilize the increased equity incentives to retain management, employees and directors and also to ensure that management maintains a reasonable level of equity as the Company grows and utilizes equity to raise capital and perhaps engage in acquisitions of symbiotic businesses should the opportunity arise.

 

VOTE REQUIRED

 

Approval of this Proposal 1 requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock casting votes in person or by proxy on this proposal at the Annual Meeting. This proposal is a “non-routine” matter under NYSE Rule 452 on which brokers may not vote without instruction from beneficial owners. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the vote on this proposal.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE NASDAQ MARKETPLACE RULE PROPOSAL.

 

Vote Required

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast for this proposal is required to approve the increase in shares available under the Plan.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 1.

 

   
   

 

PROPOSAL NO. 2

 

THE ELECTION OF TWO DIRECTORS

 

General

 

One Class II director (to replace Michael Rudolph) is to be elected at this Annual Meeting to serve until the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders or until a successor has been elected and qualified, and one Class III director is to be elected at this Annual Meeting to serve until the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders or until a successor has been elected and qualified. Unless otherwise instructed, the persons named in the accompanying proxy intend to vote the shares represented by the proxy for the election of the nominees listed below. Although it is not contemplated that the nominees will decline or be unable to serve as directors, in such event, proxies will be voted by the proxy holder for such other persons as may be designated by the Board, unless the Board reduces the number of directors to be elected. Election of the directors requires a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting.

 

The following table sets forth the nominees for the directors on the Board of Directors. It also provides certain information about the nominees as of the Record Date. Board committee assignments will be reviewed and reassigned as appropriate after the 2020 Annual Meeting.

 

Nominees for Director

 

Name and Address   Age   Date First Elected or Appointed   Position(s)
Merrick Okamoto   59   August 13, 2017   Class III Director
Peter Benz   60   2020 Annual Meeting   Class II Director

 

Merrick Okamoto – as set forth above under Management.

 

Peter Benz- Peter Benz, 60, is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Viking Asset Management, LLC, an asset and investment management company which he founded in 2001. From March 2015 until January 2019, Mr. Benz served as a director of Fluent, Inc, a leading performance marketing company. Since March 26, 2018, Mr. Benz has served as a director of Red Violet, a data analytics company. From June 2016 to May 2018, Mr. Benz served as a director of Lilis Energy Inc., an onshore oil and natural gas exploration and production company. From January 2012 until its merger with Lilis Energy Inc. in June 2016, Mr. Benz served as a director of Brushy Resources, Inc. (formerly known as Starboard Resources, Inc.), an onshore oil and natural gas exploration and production company, and became its Chairman on November 24, 2015. From October 2014 to January 2018, Mr. Benz served as a director of Usell.com, a technology based online market place, and Mr. Benz served as a director and Chairman of the Board of Optex Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of optical systems for the defense industry from November 2014 to August 2018. Mr. Benz earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. The Board of Directors believes Peter Benz is suited to be a director due to his longstanding experience with public companies.

 

Vote Required

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast for this proposal is required to approve the election of Mr. Okamoto and Mr. Benz to serve as Class II directors until the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders and until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier resignation, removal or death.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 2.

 

   
   

 

PROPOSAL NO. 3

 

THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF RBSM LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020

 

The Board of Directors has appointed RBSM LLP (“RBSM”) as our independent registered certified public accounting firm for the fiscal year 2020 and has further directed that the selection of RBSM be submitted to a vote of shareholders at the Annual Meeting for ratification.

 

As previously reported in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 17, 2017, on January 11, 2017, the Company notified SingerLewak LLP (“SingerLewak”) of its dismissal, effective January 11, 2017, as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. SingerLewak served as the auditors of the Company’s financial statements for the period from April 16, 2014 through the date of dismissal. With approval from the Board on January 5, 2017, the Company appointed BDO USA, LLP (“BDO”), effective January 11, 2017, as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2016. As previously reported in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 1, 2017, on November 27, 2017, the Company received notice from BDO that it resigned as the Company’s auditor effective immediately. On November 30, 2017, the Board appointed RBSM as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2017.

 

As described below, the shareholder vote is not binding on the Board. If the appointment of RBSM is not ratified, the Board will evaluate the basis for the shareholders’ vote when determining whether to continue the firm’s engagement, but may ultimately determine to continue the engagement of the firm or another audit firm without re-submitting the matter to shareholders. Even if the appointment of RBSM is ratified, the Board may in its sole discretion terminate the engagement of the firm and direct the appointment of another independent auditor at any time during the year if it determines that such an appointment would be in the best interests of our Company and our shareholders.

 

Representatives of RBSM are expected to attend the Annual Meeting, where they will be available to respond to appropriate questions and, if they desire, to make a statement.

 

Vote Required

 

The affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required for the ratification of the appointment of RBSM as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.

 

   
   

 

PROPOSAL NO. 4

 

ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

As required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, we included a shareholder vote on the frequency of future shareholder votes to approve named executive officer compensation (commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay” vote) in our proxy statement related to our 2014 annual meeting of shareholders. In that vote, which was advisory and nonbinding, our shareholders approved the recommendation of the Board of Directors to hold future say-on-pay votes every three years.

 

We are asking shareholders to approve an advisory resolution on the Company’s 2019 executive compensation as reported in this proxy statement. As described in this proxy statement, our compensation policies and determinations, including those made for fiscal year 2019, have been the product of discussions between our entire Board. Our Compensation Committee will make all compensation decisions regarding executive compensation in future periods. Accordingly, the compensation paid to our named executive officers for fiscal year 2019 is not necessarily indicative of how we will compensate our named executive officers in the future.

 

We urge shareholders to read the “Executive Compensation” section of this proxy statement, as well as the Summary Compensation Table and other related compensation tables and narrative in this proxy statement, which provide detailed information on the compensation of our named executive officers.

 

In accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act, and as a matter of good corporate governance, we are asking shareholders to approve the following advisory resolution:

 

RESOLVED, that the shareholders of Marathon Patent Group, Inc. (the “Company”) approve, on an advisory basis, the 2019 compensation of the Company’s named executive officers disclosed in the Executive Compensation section and the related compensation tables, notes and narrative in the Proxy Statement for the Company’s 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

This advisory resolution, commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay” resolution, is non-binding on the Board. Although non-binding, the Board will review and consider the voting results when making future decisions regarding our executive compensation program.

 

Vote Required

 

Approval of this proposal requires that votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast against the proposal. Because your vote is advisory, the result will not be binding upon the Company. Although not binding, the Compensation Committee of the Board and the Board values the opinions of our shareholders and will consider the outcome of the vote, along with other relevant factors, in deciding whether any actions are necessary to address any concerns raised by the vote and when making future compensation decisions for named executive officers.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THIS PROPOSAL NO. 4.

 

   
   

 

PROPOSAL NO. 5 - OTHER MATTERS

 

The Board knows of no matter to be brought before the Annual Meeting other than the matters identified in this proxy statement. However, if any other matter properly comes before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment of the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy solicited by the Board to vote the shares represented by them in accordance with their best judgment.

 

ANNUAL REPORT

 

Upon written request to Secretary, Marathon Patent Group, Inc. at 1180 N. Town Center Drive, Suite 100, Las Vegas, NV 89144, we will provide without charge to each person requesting a copy of our 2020 Annual Report, including the financial statements filed therewith. We will furnish a requesting shareholder with any exhibit not contained therein upon specific request. In addition, this Proxy Statement, as well as our 2020 Annual Report, and Quarterly Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, are available on our Internet website at www.marathonpg.com.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  
   
/s/ Merrick D. Okamoto  
Merrick D. Okamoto  
Chairman of the Board of Directors  

 

   

 

 

Annex 1